cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MAGEC3 is a prognostic biomarker in ovarian and kidney cancers

Rare variants in MAGEC3, members of the melanoma antigen gene family, are associated with BRCA-independent early onset ovarian cancers, while somatic mutations of this gene have been associated with kidney cancers. In this report, we quantified normal and tumor protein expression of MAGEC3 via immunohistochemistry in N=394 ovarian cancers and N=220 renal cell carcinomas. MAGEC3 protein levels fell into two categories - normal MAGEC3 and MAGEC3 loss - characterized by expression equivalent to normal tissue or significantly lower than normal tissue, respectively. Interestingly, cases with MAGEC3 loss demonstrated better overall survival in both ovarian cancers and renal cell carcinomas, which resembles patient outcomes with BRCA2 loss. MAGEC3 protein expression was associated with upregulation of pathways regulating G2/M checkpoint (NES: 4.13, FDR<0.001) and mitotic spindle formation (NES: 2.84, FDR<0.001). Increased CD8+ cell infiltration, coordinate expression of other cancer testis antigens, and tumor mutational burden were also associated with MAGEC3 expression. To emphasize the impact of these results, we built a prognostic RNA-based model using N=180 cancers of an independent cohort with matching transcriptomic data and tested its performance in two large public cohorts (N=282 ovary and N=606 kidney). Results based on predicted protein scores within these patients validated those discovered in patients with directly measured MAGEC3 protein. The RNA model was reproduced in independent cohorts implying a broader potential for MAGEC3-driven disease etiology and relevance to potential treatment selection. STATEMENT OF TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCEMAGEC3 protein is expressed in multiple tissues and is dysregulated in cancer. In this work, we show that ovarian and kidney cancer patients with loss of MAGEC3 protein have favorable prognosis, indicating that MAGEC3 protein level may be used as a prognostic biomarker. Integrative genomic analysis of patients spanning more than nine cancer types showed an association between MAGEC3 protein and genes affecting stress response, including those involved in cell cycle and DNA damage repair. Additionally, it is correlated with tumor mutational burden in patients with mutated oncogenes. These associations suggest that MAGEC3 protein levels may be used to identify patients with deficient DNA damage repair mechanisms that can be targeted by PARP inhibitors. To operationalize this idea, we use machine learning to predict MAGEC3 protein levels from RNA sequencing data which can facilitate the identification of patients for treatment stratification according to their MAGEC3 status.
Sensitivity and Specificity of Real-World Social Factor Screening Approaches

Health care organizations are increasingly documenting patients for social risk factors in structured data. Two main approaches to documentation, ICD-10 Z codes and screening questions, face limited adoption and conceptual challenges. This study compared estimates of social risk factors obtained via screening questions and ICD-10 Z diagnoses coding, as used in clinical practice, to estiamtes from validated survey instruments in a sample of adult primary care and emergency department patients at an urban safety-net health system. Financial strain, transportation barriers, food insecurity, and housing instability were independently assessed using instruments with published reliability and validity. These four social factors were also being collected by the health system in screening questions or could be mapped to ICD-10 Z code diagnosis code concepts. Neither the screening questions nor ICD-10 Z codes performed particularly well in terms of accuracy. For the screening questions, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) scores were 0.609 for financial strain, 0.703 for transportation, 0.698 for food insecurity, and 0.714 for housing instability. For the ICD-10 Z codes, AUC scores tended to be lower in the range of 0.523 to 0.535. For both screening questions and ICD-10 Z codes, the measures were much more specific than sensitive. Under real world conditions, ICD-10 Z codes and screening questions are at the minimal, or below, threshold for being diagnostically useful approaches to identifying patients’ social risk factors. Data collection support through information technology or novel approaches combining data sources may be necessary to improve the usefulness of these data.
Proteins of nuclear ribonucleoprotein subcomplexes.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the isolation of proteins of nuclear ribonucleoprotein (RNP) subcomplexes. Heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) and some messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules contain internal base methylation at the N 6 -position of adenosine. The substrate for the processing of hnRNA by cleavage, polyadenylation, capping, methylation, and selection for transport to the cytoplasm is not a naked RNA molecule, but the RNP fibril. The nascent hnRNA in chromatin spreads appears in shortened RNP fibrils still attached to the chromatin template. Ribonucleoprotein complexes containing rapidly labeled RNA have also been isolated from purified nuclei and characterized biochemically. Proteins characteristic of RNP comprise a significant fraction of the total chromatin nonhistone proteins. A number of procedures release RNP from purified nuclei. Nuclear rupture by sonication or lysis with detergents can be used; however, contamination by preribosomal RNP and chromatin fragments may obscure subsequent analysis. High salt lysis combined with DNase treatment eliminate the entrapment of RNP in the chromatin gel giving larger yields than by sonication; however, released DNA-binding proteins that are maintained in solution by high salt, may interact with RNP. Gentle extraction procedures with buffered salt solutions, leaving nuclei intact and avoiding exposure to high salt, should minimize rearrangements of nuclear proteins; however they suffer the disadvantage of being lengthy, resulting in considerable cleavage of hnRNA.
Constructing an ethical stereotaxy for severe brain injury: balancing risks, benefits and access.

Societal perceptions of the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment after severe brain injury have been influenced by the legacies of the right-to-die movement and psychosurgery. Here I propose an ethical stereotaxy for severe brain injury that balances risks, benefits and access to this neglected population, in light of advances in cognitive neuroscience.
Evolved Look-Up Tables for Simulated DNA Controlled Robots

We describe our efforts to convert (short) DNA sequences obtained from the NCBI library into control sequences for simulated robots by simultaneously evolving both a look up table to assign codons to robot commands and a look up table to assign codons to numerical values that serve as arguments to those commands. Our simulated robot is loosely modeled after the Khepera robot. When the robot's sensing capabilities are disabled, we are provided with a sophisticated turtle graphics platform. We formulate a fitness function for evaluating the drawings obtained from codon look up tables and we make inter-DNA and intra-DNA comparisons using our evolved tables. Our results suggest that information content can only be weakly extracted from DNA in this way.
SEEPAGE EFFECT ON CHANNEL BANK STABILITY

Canal side slope stability is related to ground water hydraulic gradient, channel flow velocity and initial side slope angle. A quantitative, as well as qualitative, investigation of channel side slope stability is based on an experimental investigation of a trapezoidal channel in a laboratory flume. Various combinations of the aforementioned variables were tested to determine the effect of seepage on channel side slope stability with various hydraulic and geometric conditions in the channel. An empirical relationship is developed for side slope seepage expressing the erosion of the side slope as a function of hydraulic gradient and flow velocity in the channel. At relatively low velocities ( V
Bacterial Genetic Exchange

Exchange of genetic material between bacterial species is mediated by the basic processes of conjugation, transduction and transformation. This exchange is fundamental for bacterial evolution and adaptation in a dynamic environment. Keywords: conjugation; genetic exchange; integrons; pathogenicity islands; transduction; transformation
Surveys of the Colorado Bench and Bar on Colorado's Simplified Procedure for Civil Actions

This report sets forth the results of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System's surveys of Colorado judges and attorneys on Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 16.1 ("Rule 16.1"), conducted in the summer of 2010. Rule 16.1 sets forth a voluntary simplified pretrial procedure for civil actions in general jurisdiction state court involving $100,000 or less. Rule 16.1 arose out of increasing concern over the lack of effective access to civil courts due to the slow, expensive, and often contentious nature of civil discovery, as well as a related concern over declining public confidence in the judicial system. Six years after the rule became effective, these surveys provided Colorado District Court judges and attorneys belonging to the Colorado Bar Association's Litigation Section an opportunity to express their views on the use and effects of the procedure.
EFFECT OF LONGITUDE-DEPENDENT CLOUD COVERAGE ON EXOPLANET VISIBLE WAVELENGTH REFLECTED-LIGHT PHASE CURVES

We use a planetary albedo model to investigate variations in visible wavelength phase curves of exoplanets. Thermal and cloud properties for these exoplanets are derived using one-dimensional radiative-convective and cloud simulations. The presence of clouds on these exoplanets significantly alters their planetary albedo spectra. We confirm that non-uniform cloud coverage on the dayside of tidally locked exoplanets will manifest as changes to the magnitude and shift of the phase curve. In this work, we first investigate a test case of our model using a Jupiter-like planet, at temperatures consistent to 2.0 AU insolation from a solar type star, to consider the effect of H2O clouds. We then extend our application of the model to the exoplanet Kepler-7b and consider the effect of varying cloud species, sedimentation efficiency, particle size, and cloud altitude. We show that, depending on the observational filter, the largest possible shift of the phase curve maximum will be ~2°–10° for a Jupiter-like planet, and up to ~30° (~0.08 in fractional orbital phase) for hot-Jupiter exoplanets at visible wavelengths as a function of dayside cloud distribution with a uniformly averaged thermal profile. The models presented in this work can be adapted for a variety of planetary cases at visible wavelengths to include variations in planet–star separation, gravity, metallicity, and source-observer geometry. Finally, we tailor our model for comparison with, and confirmation of, the recent optical phase-curve observations of Kepler-7b with the Kepler space telescope. The average planetary albedo can vary between 0.1 and 0.6 for the 1300 cloud scenarios that were compared to the observations. Many of these cases cannot produce a high enough albedo to match the observations. We observe that smaller particle size and increasing cloud altitude have a strong effect on increasing albedo. In particular, we show that a set of models where Kepler-7b has roughly half of its dayside covered in small-particle clouds high in the atmosphere, made of bright minerals like MgSiO3 and Mg2SiO4, provide the best fits to the observed offset and magnitude of the phase-curve, whereas Fe clouds are found to be too dark to fit the observations.
Analysis of alignment algorithms with mixed dimensions for dimensionality reduction

SUMMARY We consider an alignment algorithm for reconstructing global coordinates of a given data set from coordinates constructed for data points in small local neighborhoods through computing a spectral subspace of an alignment matrix. We show that, under certain conditions, the null space of the alignment matrix recovers global coordinates even when local point sets have different dimensions. This result generalizes a previous analysis to allow alignment of local coordinates of mixed dimensions. We also extend this result to the setting of a semi-supervised learning problem, and we present several examples to illustrate our results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Getting the News

Modern medical care is a 2-edged sword. Technical advances have improved our ability to diagnosis and treat disease, but they can also create a frightening, painful and bewildering environment for the patient seeking care. In this essay, the author shares his recent encounter with a life-threatening disease, emphasizing the unique contributions of the family physician to patient care, and pointing out some of the pitfalls of new communication tools such as e-mail.
HspBP1, a homologue of the yeast Fes1 and Sls1 proteins, is an Hsc70 nucleotide exchange factor

The yeast FES1 and SLS1 genes encode conserved nucleotide exchange factors that act on the cytoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum luminal Hsp70s, Ssa1p and BiP, respectively. We report here that mammalian HspBP1 is homologous to Fes1p and that HspBP1 promotes nucleotide dissociation from both Ssa1p and mammalian Hsc70. In contrast, Fes1p inefficiently strips nucleotide from mammalian Hsc70, and unlike HspBP1 does not inhibit chaperone-mediated protein refolding in vitro. Together, our data indicate that HspBP1 is a member of this new class of nucleotide exchange factors that exhibit varying degrees of compartment and species specificity.
Reductionism and holistic medicine

Abstract Reductionism is a catchword used more often than understood. When seen as a strategy within the scientific method, reduction loses much of its negative connotations. There is no incompatibility between reductionism as a trend within the history of science and humanism. A holistic account of any subject matter is acceptable within a reductionistic strategy. But holism as a strategy tends to be too narrow; it rules out research programs on a priori grounds. Since reductionism as a strategy is congenial to all scientific findings, no appeal to science itself should convince us to replace the reductionistic strategy. Thus Capra's attempt to show that quantum mechanics and relativity theory point to holism (in medicine) and away from reductionism is misguided.
Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy and percutaneous needle lung aspiration for evaluating the solitary pulmonary nodule.

We reviewed the records and chest roentgenograms of 133 patients who underwent flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) for a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN), defined as a circumscribed density less than or equal to 4 cm in diameter surrounded by aerated lung with no associated radiologic abnormalities. Each patient had a complete medical examination followed by FFB with collection of bronchial washings and brushings, transbronchial biopsy (when technically possible), and postbronchoscopy sputum collection. Subsequently 50 patients underwent percutaneous needle aspiration (NA) and 32 diagnostic thoracotomy (DT). Eighty-two (62 percent) of the evaluations resulted in a histologic diagnosis. Prebronchoscopy sputum was diagnostic in three patients. Of 143 FFBs performed, 27 (19 percent) were diagnostic, and 26 were the first procedure of the evaluation to provide a diagnosis. Following nondiagnostic FFB, a diagnosis was provided by 50 (36 percent) NA, 32 of 32 (100 percent) DT, and 3 of 3 (100 percent) cervical and mediastinal node biopsy procedures. For both FFB and NA, there was a strong correlation between nodule size and diagnostic yield. FFB visualized a vocal cord lesion in five patients and an endobronchial mass in five. The combination of FFB and NA provided a diagnosis in 45 of 51 (88 percent) patients ultimately proved to have a malignant SPN. Neither procedure was diagnostic in any of the 24 patients with a benign SPN. We conclude that FFB and NA have complementary roles in the evaluation of SPN.
The law of one price in the eurocurrency market

Abstract This paper studies the interest rate parity arbitrage condition in the Eurocurrency market in the period 1967 to 1980. The results suggest that this market is relatively efficient, with few opportunities for arbitrage profits. Turbulance associated with external shocks to this market is relatively short-lived: the evidence indicates that the foreign exchange and Eurocurrency markets respond rapidly to monetary shocks.
Oxidative DNA damage in mild cognitive impairment and late-stage Alzheimer's disease

Increasing evidence supports a role for oxidative DNA damage in aging and several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Attack of DNA by reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly hydroxyl radicals, can lead to strand breaks, DNA-DNA and DNA-protein cross-linking, and formation of at least 20 modified bases adducts. In addition, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydic by-products of lipid peroxidation including 4-hydroxynonenal and acrolein can interact with DNA bases leading to the formation of bulky exocyclic adducts. Modification of DNA bases by direct interaction with ROS or aldehydes can lead to mutations and altered protein synthesis. Several studies of DNA base adducts in late-stage AD (LAD) brain show elevations of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHG), 8-hydroxyadenine (8-OHA), 5-hydroxycytosine (5-OHC), and 5-hydroxyuracil, a chemical degradation product of cytosine, in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) isolated from vulnerable regions of LAD brain compared to age-matched normal control subjects. Previous studies also show elevations of acrolein/guanine adducts in the hippocampus of LAD subjects compared to age-matched controls. In addition, studies of base excision repair show a decline in repair of 8-OHG in vulnerable regions of LAD brain. Our recent studies show elevated 8-OHG, 8-OHA, and 5,6-diamino-5-formamidopyrimidine in both nuclear and mtDNA isolated from vulnerable brain regions in amnestic mild cognitive impairment, the earliest clinical manifestation of AD, suggesting that oxidative DNA damage is an early event in AD and is not merely a secondary phenomenon.
Modeling Emergency Evacuation of Individuals with Disabilities in a Densely Populated Airport

Emergency evacuation from airports is an important consideration, given the continuing occurrence of natural and human-caused disasters affecting these locations. These incidents have focused attention on the needs of individuals with disabilities, who are more likely to suffer during emergency situations. The agent-based model presented in this paper can be used by engineering and management professionals in design and planning efforts to estimate the evacuation performance of heterogeneous populations from airports. The model classifies the environment according to accessibility characteristics encompassing various conditions that have a disproportionate effect on the behavior of individuals with disabilities during an evacuation. The results of a simulation experiment demonstrate some of the limitations of the pier airport design and identify which individuals are most at risk: those with lower stamina and those using wheelchairs. The results also reveal areas of the airport that are prone to bottlenecks or clogging.
Aging differentially affects human skeletal muscle amino acid transporter expression when essential amino acids are ingested after exercise.

Summary Background & aims Amino acid transporters have been proposed as regulators of protein synthesis. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether amino acid transporter expression is increased in human muscle following resistance exercise (RE) coupled with essential amino acid (EAA) ingestion, and whether a differential response occurs with aging. Secondly, we aimed to compare this response to a previous study examining RE alone. Methods Young ( n = 7, 30 ± 2 yr) and older men ( n = 6, 70 ± 2 yr) ingested EAA 1 h after RE. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest and 3 and 6 h post exercise to examine amino acid transporter mRNA and protein expression. Results In both age groups, RE + EAA increased mRNA of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)/solute linked carrier (SLC)7A5, sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SNAT2)/SLC38A2, and cationic amino acid transporter 1/SLC7A1 ( p p p p Conclusions RE increases muscle amino acid transporter expression in young and older adults, however, post exercise EAA ingestion enhances amino acid transporter expression only in young indicating that aging may influence the function of specific amino acid transporters.
Building fire simulation model. An overview

Abstract The Building Fire Simulation Model (BFSM) allows the user to examine the interrelationships among fire development, spread of combustion products, and people movement in residential occupancies. It was developed using data from full-scale fire tests conducted by various organizations. In the BFSM, fire growth is defined in terms of discrete stages, called ‘realms’, which define observably different phases of fire growth. The levels of combustion products estimated by the model are based on the realm the fire is in and the time in that realm. The ability of people to escape depends on these estimated levels of combustion products throughout the building being modeled.
A volumetric study of basal ganglia structures in individuals with early-treated phenylketonuria.

Abstract Whereas the impact of early-treated phenylketonuria (ETPKU) on cortical white matter is well documented, relatively little is known regarding the potential impact of this metabolic disorder on deep gray matter structures such as the basal ganglia. The current study used high-resolution (1 mm3) magnetic resonance imaging to investigate bilateral basal ganglia structures (i.e., putamen, caudate nucleus, and nucleus accumbens) in a sample of 13 individuals with ETPKU and a demographically-matched sample of 13 neurologically intact individuals without PKU. Consistent with previous research, we found smaller whole brain volumes in the ETPKU group compared with the non-PKU group. Individuals with ETPKU also had significantly larger putamen volumes than non-PKU individuals. In addition, the degree of putamen enlargement was correlated with blood phenylalanine levels and full scale IQ in the ETPKU group. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that ETPKU-related increases in phenylalanine lead to decreased central dopamine levels thus impacting dopamine-dependent brain regions such as the putamen that play an important role in cognition.
MO‐B‐210A‐01: Digital Dose Reporting

This course will review the availability of digital radiation dose reporting tools An increasing fraction of imaging equipment is capable of measuring its own X‐ray output. Dose and related information is present in many DICOM image headers. Depending on the make/model/software data is in some mix of public and private fields. This information usually reports only the dose associated with the images in the file. DICOM now provides tools for communicating dosimetric and related data in a comprehensive manner. A first‐generation structured report (RDSR), optimized for fluoroscopically guided procedures, was released as part of the 2007 DICOM Standard. Similar structures for mammography and computed tomography are in the 2008 Standard. The RDSR is a DICOM object that is created and managed separately from the creation and storage of images. Even if images are discarded (e.g. fluoroscopy, rejected radiographs), the RDSR will record all of the radiation used during a procedure. All of the data in a RDSR is in public fields, each identified by a DICOM tag or unique concept name. The RDSR always contains patient and examination data, total dose data for the entire procedure. For interventional procedures, the RDSR also contains technical, geometric, and dosimetric data for each individual irradiation. RDSRs are designed to be distributed on a network and captured by free‐standing dose‐management ACTORS as well as by RIS and PACS. The IHE Radiation Exposure Monitoring (REM) Profile gives additional guidance and supplies use cases for RDSR handling. In addition RDSRs can also be stored within an imaging system and manually downloaded. Learning Objectives 1. Understand the availability of dose information in DICOM image headers. 2. Understand the functionality of the new DICOM RDSR and associated components. 3. Understand how to use the RDSR and other dose reporting tools as part of an institutional quality program.
Prediction of Smoking Cessation with Treatment: The Emerging Contribution of Brain Imaging Research

Prediction of Smoking Cessation with Treatment: The Emerging Contribution of Brain Imaging Research
Continuity and change in rural migration patterns, 1950-1995

During the past several decades, rural America has experienced turbulent demographic change. We examine rural age-specific migration data for 1950 to 1995 to ascertain whether the numerous economic, social, and technological factors buffeting nonmetropolitan America have altered migration patterns across age groups and types of counties. Both continuity and change are evident in the analysis. We find differentiation in the migration profiles of certain specialized types of rural counties, as well as temporal variability from decade to decade. No clear longitudinal trend in migration patterns is present, however. In fact, an underlying continuity in age-specific trends has endured through good times and bad.
National cancer data base report on osteosarcoma of the head and neck

BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy overall but is encountered infrequently in the head and neck. Limited data are available on the significance of prognostics factors and results of therapy for patients with head and neck osteosarcoma (HNOS). It is known that surgical therapy is critical to successful outcome. The impact of adjuvant chemotherapy has not been defined well. METHODS The National Cancer Data Base has collected data on cases of HNOS by voluntary accrual from participating hospitals. This database was used to assess patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment, and outcome for an 11-year period extending from 1985 to 1996. RESULTS The data set contained 496 cases of HNOS. Overall, the 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 59.7%. Factors associated with a poor prognosis were age older than 60 years; nonmandibular tumor location; tumor size > 6 cm; histologic type of osteoblastic, not otherwise specified (NOS); advanced disease stage; nonsurgical initial therapy; and positive margins of resection. Increased use of multimodality therapy was noted during the later years of the study. No substantial difference in the 5-year survival rate was noted between treatment with surgery alone (74.7%) and surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy (71.3%), despite the greater prevalence of tumors with poor prognostic factors in the surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy group. CONCLUSIONS Surgery with clear margins is an important factor in successful therapy for patients with HNOS. Improved survival has been noted within the last 2 decades compared with historic controls. Multiple negative prognostic factors have been identified and should be considered in treatment planning. The role of chemotherapy has not been defined well, but its incorporation into treatment of patients with high-risk tumors may improve survival. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11716
Regulation of the immune response by polyamines.

Abstract Regulation of the immune system is accomplished, in part, by numerous soluble factors and small molecules. One such class of regulatory substance may be the polyamines which are present in a variety of tissues. Stimulation of the immune response often occurs by crosslinking of lymphocyte surface proteins, followed by the production of some transmembrane signal. The activation pathway may be interrupted if certain necessary steps are blocked. It is proposed that polyamines exert regulatory influences by modulating crosslink formation; a step catalyzed by the enzyme transglutaminase. A model is outlined which describes the events initiating lymphocyte activation and the role of polyamines in this process. Certain drugs which might mimic the actions of polyamines are also discussed. During evolution of the control of growth processes in cells, relatively simple molecules (the polyamines) may have assumed a pivotal role in initiating and terminating the proliferative response. This idea has been applied to regulation of the immune system.
Novel aryl ether rearrangement catalyzed by lignin peroxidase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract Lignin peroxidase catalyzed the rearrangement of 2-(2-methoxy-4-propylphenoxy)-1,3-dihydroxypropane I to 3-(2-methoxy-4-propylphenoxy)-1,2-dihydroxypropane VI with a maximum product yield of 64%. The reaction was strongly inhibited by oxygen. The enzyme also catalyzed the rearrangement of 2-(2-methoxy-4-propylphenoxy) -1-hydroxypropane IV to form 1-(2-methoxy-4-propylphenoxy)-2-hydroxypropane VIII . When IV was labeled with 18 O in the 1-hydroxyl group, all of the 18 O was retained in the ether oxygen of the product VIII . A mechanism explaining these results involves: (i) one electron oxidation of the substrate to form an aryl cation radical; (ii) nucleophilic attack by the hydroxyl oxygen on the cation radical with release of a proton, resulting in a dioxolane radical intermediate; (iii) cleavage of the latter and subsequent hydrogen abstraction to form the rearranged product.
High-performance carbon nanotube field-effect transistors

We demonstrate carbon nanotube (CNT) field-effect transistors (CNFETs) with the highest current drive (per unit layout width)1 to-date (>100 µA/µm at 400 nm channel length and 1V V DS ), while simultaneously achieving high I ON /I OFF (>5,000). This is the first demonstration of CNFETs with CNT density above 100 CNTs/µm consisting of highly-aligned CNTs and achieving both high current drive and high I ON /I OFF . The current drives of the demonstrated CNFETs approach that of similarly-scaled and similarly-biased silicon-based field-effect transistors in production in major semiconductor foundries.
Economics of Mechanical Ventilation and Respiratory Failure

For patients with acute respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation provides the most definitive life-sustaining therapy. Because of the intense resources required to care for these patients, its use accounts for considerable costs. There is great societal need to ensure that use of mechanical ventilation maximizes societal benefits while minimizing costs, and that mechanical ventilation, and ventilator support in general, is delivered in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. This review summarizes the economic aspects of mechanical ventilation and summarizes the existing literature that examines its economic impact cost effectiveness.
Mandibular growth and function in Archaeolemur

Ontogenetic changes in the morphology of the mandibular symphysis are described in Archaeolemur so as to infer the functional significance of symphyseal fusion in this subfossil Malagasy lemur. The first regions of the symphysis to show a more complex morphology were the lower and anterior borders of the joint and, to a lesser extent, the lingual borders of the superior and inferior transverse tori. During growth, these regions became increasingly rugose and encroached upon a centrally located, smooth, “oval” region, which may have been a principal pathway for neurovascular structures communicating with the unfused joint. In subadults, the symphysis was completely fused except for the lingual surface of the inferior transverse torus, where a patent suture and potential space were present between dentaries. Thus, in Archaeolemur there was an age- and size-related pattern of increased symphyseal ossification or fusion that was complete by adulthood. The morphology of the interlocking bony processes and the sequence of ossification in the symphysis suggest that increased dorsoventral shear stress during mastication was the most likely determinant of symphyseal fusion in Archaeolemur: The allometric pattern of greater symphyseal fusion may be linked to the presence of relatively greater dorsoventral shear in adults due to an increased recruitment of balancing-side jaw-muscle force. There is little indication that the symphysis of juvenile Archaeolemur was buttressed to resist forces associated with “wishboning” during mastication or vertical bending during incision. Our observations, as well as those of others, suggest that symphyseal fusion in primates occurs initially as a response to increased dorsoventral shear during mastication. Therefore, wishboning stress might only become a major determinant of symphyseal form and function in those taxa that develop a fused symphysis to counter increased dorsoventral shear. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Survival and possible trophic function of neonatal spinal cord grafts in the anterior chamber of the eye

Abstract Segments of developing spinal cord and whole spinal ganglia survived indefinitely following implantation into the anterior chamber of the eye. Tissue donors and recipients were of the same highly inbred (isogenic) strain of Fischer rats. The grafts, vascularized by iridial blood vessels, were firmly adherent to the iris below and loosely attached to the cornea above. The transplanted tissues manifested neurons and their processes, glia, myelin constituents, interstitial blood vessels, cellular cholinesterase, and mitochondrial enzyme activity. Well oriented glial-like cells invested the free surfaces of the cord grafts. Several specimens of the spinal cord exhibited an apparent ependymal cell-lined spinal canal or cyst. In the foregoing characteristics the grafts resembled either the grey matter of mature spinal cords or mature ganglia. Evident differences between the cord grafts and mature splnal cords of normal rats were the diminutive cross-sectional area of the implant, primarily due to the absence of peripheral white matter, and a reduction in number, size, or both, of the largest neurons. The transplanted ganglia were also distinguished from normal ganglia by a reduced number of neurons. No readily discernible cellular immune response, other than an initial clean-up of nonviable tissues, was observed in the grafts. Preliminary studies suggest that spinal cord grafts are capable of sustaining coimplanted skeletal muscle. The in oculo preparation evidently is suited to studying the development of neural tissues and the latter's interaction with sensory and effector organs. Portions of the central and peripheral nervous system grafted into the eye may also lend themselves to analysis following pharmacologic, traumatic, and infectious intervention.
Use of the whole-cell patch-clamp method in studies on the role of cAMP in regulating the spontaneous firing of locus coeruleus neurons

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique represents a major advance over conventional intracellular recordings in the study of the modulation of ion channels by intracellular messengers. This report illustrates how application of the whole-cell technique to noradrenergic neurons of the rat locus coeruleus in brain slices has led to the finding that cAMP via its phosphorylation pathway modulates tonic pacemaking in these neurons. In the studies to be described, the particular advantage of the whole-cell technique was that it allowed introduction of macromolecules related to the cAMP pathway (e.g., protein kinase inhibitor and protein kinase A) directly into cells. Furthermore, these studies were carried out in situ, in thick brain slices allowing a direct comparison with a large body of existing extracellular and intracellular data obtained under similar conditions.
Female computer science doctorates: what does the survey of earned doctorates reveal?

Based on the National Center for Education Statistics (2000), in the 1997-1998 academic year 26.7% of earned bachelors' degrees, 29.0% of earned masters' degrees and 16.3% of earned doctorates' degrees in computer science were awarded to women. As these percentages suggest, women are underrepresented at all academic levels in computer science (Camp, 1997). The most severe shortage occurs at the top level---the doctorate in computer science. We know very little about the women who persist to the top level of academic achievement in computer science.This paper examines a subset of data collected through the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). The specific focus of this paper is to identify trends that have emerged from the SED with respect to females completing doctorates in computer science between the academic years 1990-1991 and 1999-2000. Although computer science doctorates include doctorates in information science, prior research (Camp, 1997) suggests that the percentage of women completing doctorates in information science as compared to computer science is low. The specific research questions are:1. How does the percentage of women who complete doctorates in computer science compare to those that complete doctorates in other fields?2. How does the length of time in school and the sources of funding differ for females as compared to males who complete doctorates in computer science?3. Where do women go after completing doctorates in computer science and what positions do they acquire? How do these experiences differ from their male peers?
Alterations in total iron, zinc, and calcium levels and their influence on the hepatic activities of gamma-glutamyl transferase and glucose-6-phosphatase in the host bearing transplantable murine lymphoma.

In this investigation, samples of peritoneal lymph fluid of mice that had been inoculated with Dalton lymphoma (DL) cells were assayed every 5 days for 5 weeks for number of tumor cells (1). Also monitored during the 5 weeks were levels of hepatic γ-glutamyl transferase (γ G-GT) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), as well as serum and hepatic levels of iron, zinc, and calcium.
Update on Transanal NOTES for Rectal Cancer: Transitioning to Human Trials

The feasibility of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) resection for rectal cancer has been demonstrated in both survival swine and fresh human cadaveric models. In preparation for transitioning to human application, our group has performed transanal NOTES rectal resection in a large series of human cadavers. This experience both solidified the feasibility of resection and allowed optimization of technique prior to clinical application. Improvement in specimen length and operative time was demonstrated with increased experience and newer platforms. This extensive laboratory experience has paved the way for successful clinical translation resulting in an ongoing clinical trial. To date, based on published reports, 4 human subjects have undergone successful hybrid transanal NOTES resection of rectal cancer. While promising, instrument limitations continue to hinder a pure transanal approach. Careful patient selection and continued development of new endoscopic and flexible-tip instruments are imperative prior to pure NOTES clinical application.
Angiographic demonstration of no-flow anatomical patency of internal thoracic-coronary artery bypass grafts

To clarify the no-flow situation of the stringlike internal thoracic artery graft, we angiographically examined such grafts by temporarily occluding the recipient coronary artery with a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon and were able to reveal anatomical patency of the internal thoracic artery graft in 2 patients 1 year and 3 years after the operations. Thus, there is a possibility that internal thoracic artery grafts may continuously maintain anatomical patency even under no-flow situations just like nonfunctioning collateral vessels and may function properly later as a graft when the native coronary flow decreases. Also, this angiographic technique can be a new method for detecting anatomical patency of no-flow and functionally closed internal thoracic artery grafts.
Characterization and automatic identification of ECG conduction abnormalities using segmental multiharmonic fourier analysis of gated blood-pool scintigrams

This study of biventricular segmental timing sequences compared patterns of the first-harmonic phase with those of multiharmonic Fourier-analysis-derived parameters to determine their suitability for the classification of patients using an automatic pattern recognition scheme. The study involved nine patients with normal ECGs, six with left bundle branch block, 4 with right bundle branch block, and 6 with right-ventricular pacemakers; all patients had normal left-ventricular function. The segmental sequence described by the time of end systole was similar to that described by the first-harmonic phase, with a lower correlation using the time of maximum filling rate, and a rather poor correlation of the time of maximum ejection rate with the other parameters. Thus, despite theoretical difficulties, timing patterns described by phase best agreed with those of the time of end systole. Intersegmental timing differences were used as criteria for discriminating between groups by means of a sequential logic tree. Using either phase, time of end systole or time of maximum ejection rate, all patients were correctly classified into the four ECG categories. More intersegmental timing differences were useful as criteria for phase (57) than for the time of end systole (45) or the time of maximum ejection rate (30). The first-harmonic phase was more efficient than the time of end systole for separating patient groups. Sequential biventricular timing disorders can be objectively classified using either first-harmonic or multiharmonic Fourier analysis, and their patterns can be automatically recognized and used for classification.
Hypothesis generation in latent growth curve modeling using principal components

While confirmatory latent growth curve analyses provide procedures for testing hypotheses about latent growth curves underlying data, one must first derive hypotheses to be tested. It is argued that such hypotheses should be generated from a combination of theory and exploratory data analyses. An exploratory components analysis is described and illustrated. The analysis can be used to derive hypotheses about the number and form of curves underlying growth phenomena. Alternatives to the components analysis are discussed along with challenges to the implementation of the analysis.
Use of poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate) modified with tetraethyl orthosilicate as sensing material for measurement of humidity

A resistive-type humidity sensor was fabricated by thick film method using the poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate) (poly-AMPS) modified with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the sensing material without protective film or complicated chemical procedures. Parameters that may affect the humidity sensing of material, such as the effect of adding triethylamine (TEA) or diethylamine (DEA), the dosage of TEOS on the capacity resistance to high humidity atmosphere, and the thickness of film were investigates. The characteristics of humidity sensor, such as response time, response linearity, working range, hysteresis, effect of temperature and long-term stability were further studied. The humidity sensor has less hysteresis (<2%), good linearity (R2=0.9989) at the humidity working range of 30–90% RH, long-term stability (at least 31 days) and satisfactory resistance to high humidity atmosphere (95% RH) using the addition of TEOS (16.25%, w/w) and TEA (0.4 ml) into poly-AMPS as the sensing material.
Chemical Thermodynamics: Principles and Applications

Chemical Thermodynamics: Principles and Applications presents a thorough development of the principles of thermodynamics--an old science to which the authors include the most modem applications, along with those of importance in developing the science and those of historical interest. The text is written in an informal but rigorous style, including anecdotes about some of the great thermodynamicists (with some of whom the authors have had a personal relationship), and focuses on 'real' systems in the discussion and figures, in contrast to the generic examples that are often used in other textbooks. The book provides a basic review of thermodynamic principles, equations, and applications of broad interest. It covers the development of thermodynamics as one of the pre-eminent examples of an exact science. A discussion of the standard state that emphasizes its significance and usefulness is also included, as well as a more rigorous and indepth treatment of thermodynamics. Outlines the development of the principles of thermodynamics, including the most modem applications along with those of importance in developing the science and those of historical interest . Provides a basic review of thermodynamic principles, equations, and applications of broad interest. Treats thermodynamics as one of the preeminent examples of an exact science. Provides a more rigorous and indepth treatment of thermodynamics and discussion of a wider variety of applications than are found in more broadly based physical chemistry undergraduate textbooks. Includes examples in the text and exercises and problems at the end of each chapter to assist the student in learning the subject. (Author)
Individual differences in working memory and reading

Individual differences in reading comprehension may reflect differences in working memory capacity, specifically in the trade-off between its processing and storage functions. A poor reader's processes may be inefficient, so that they lessen the amount of additional information that can be maintained in working memory. A test with heavy processing and storage demands was devised to measure this trade-off. Subjects read aloud a series of sentences and then recalled the final word of each sentence. The reading span, the number of final words recalled, varied from two to five for 20 college students. This span correlated with three reading comprehension measures, including verbal SAT and tests involving fact retrieval and pronominal reference. Similar correlations were obtained with a listening span task, showing that the correlation is not specific to reading. These results were contrasted with traditional digit span and word span measures which do not correlate with comprehension.
Dissolution Kinetics of UO2. I. Flow-Through tests on UO2.00 Pellets and Polycrystalline Schoepite Samples in Oxygenated, Carbonate/Bicarbonate Buffer Solutions at 25°C

The modelling of radionuclide release from waste forms is an important part of the performance assessment of a potential, high-level radioactive waste repository. Since spent fuel consists of UO2 containing actinide elements and other fission products, it is necessary to determine the principal parameters affecting UO2 dissolution and quantify their effects on the dissolution rate before any prediction of long term release rates of radionuclides from the spent fuel can be made. As pan of a complex matrix to determine the dissolution kinetics of UO2 as a function of time. pH, carbonate/bicarbonate concentration and oxygen activity, we have measured the dissolution rates at 25°C of: a) UO2.00 pellets; b) UO2.000 powder and c) synthetic dehydrated schoepite. UO3.H2O using a single-pass flow through system in an argon-atmosphere glove box Mixtures of carbonate, and bicarbonate buffers with concentrations ranging from 0.0002 M to 0.02 M and pH values from 8 to 11 have been used. Argon gas mixtures containing oxygen (from 0.002 to 0.2 ann) and carbon dioxide (from 0 to 0.011 atm) were bubbled through the buffers to stabilize their pH values.