cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CoH3: The Coupled-Channels and Hauser-Feshbach Code

We present an overview of the optical model and Hauser-Feshbach theory code CoH3, which focuses on the nuclear reaction calculations in the keV to tens of MeV region. The code consists of three major sections that include the one-body potential mean-field theory, the coupled-channels optical model, and the Hauser-Feshbach statistical theory. There are other segments to complete the whole reaction mechanisms, such as the direct/semidirect radiative capture process, pre-equilibrium process, and prompt fission neutron emission. We outline the special features in CoH3 as well as some satellite tools, and discuss some issues in the standard applications of the Hauser-Feshbach theory.
General Introduction to Head and Neck Cancer: Etiology, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Staging, Prevention, and Treatment

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a term used for cancers originating from lip and oral cavity, salivary glands, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. The global incidence of head and neck cancer was 4.9% of all cancers and stood sixth among the top 10 most common types of cancers based on the estimated number of new cases according to Globocan world cancer data for the year 2018. The rate of incidences for different types of HNC varied in different continents based on the relative exposure of the population to various HNC-causing exposomes. Among the several exposomes, tobacco exposure has been found to be the predominant factor contributing to the development of HNC, and its usage in combination with alcohol has been found to increases its risk even more. HNC is of significant concern because approximately two-thirds of patients with HNC are diagnosed at stage III or IV. Therefore, this chapter discusses in detail the exposomes triggering HNC, their symptoms, diagnosis, reason for delayed diagnosis, staging of HNC, measures for prevention, and their stagewise treatment.
Increases in Load Carriage Magnitude and Forced Marching Change Lower-Extremity Coordination in Physically Active, Recruit-Aged Women

The objective was to examine the interactive effects of load magnitude and locomotion pattern on lower-extremity joint angles and intralimb coordination in recruit-aged women. Twelve women walked, ran, and forced marched at body weight and with loads of +25%, and +45% of body weight on an instrumented treadmill with infrared cameras. Joint angles were assessed in the sagittal plane. Intralimb coordination of the thigh-shank and shank-foot couple was assessed with continuous relative phase. Mean absolute relative phase (entire stride) and deviation phase (stance phase) were calculated from continuous relative phase. At heel strike, forced marching exhibited greater (P 25% of body weight, forced marching may increase risk of injury due to inhibited energy attenuation up the kinetic chain and lack of variability to disperse force across different supportive structures.
The Role of Immunotherapy to Overcome Resistance in Viral-Associated Head and Neck Cancer

A subset of head and neck cancers arising in the oropharynx and the nasopharynx are associated with human papillomavirus or Epstein-Barr virus. Unfortunately, limited treatment options exist once patients develop recurrent or metastatic disease in these cancers. Interest has risen in utilizing novel strategies including combination immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, and adoptive cellular therapy, to improve treatment response and outcomes. Several ongoing studies are investigating the potential to overcome resistance to standard of care chemoradiation therapy with monotherapy or combination immunotherapy strategies in these viral-associated head and neck cancers.
Network Assisted Analysis of De Novo Variants Using Protein-Protein Interaction Information Identified 46 Candidate Genes for Congenital Heart Disease

De novo variants (DNVs) with deleterious effects have proved informative in identifying risk genes for early-onset diseases such as congenital heart disease (CHD). A number of statistical methods have been proposed for family-based studies or case/control studies to identify risk genes by screening genes with more DNVs than expected by chance in Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) studies. However, the statistical power is still limited for cohorts with thousands of subjects. Under the hypothesis that connected genes in protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks are more likely to share similar disease association status, we develop a Markov Random Field model that can leverage information from publicly available PPI databases to increase power in identifying risk genes. We identified 46 candidate genes with at least 1 DNV in the CHD study cohort, including 18 known human CHD genes and 35 highly expressed genes in mouse developing heart. Our results may shed new insight on the shared protein functionality among risk genes for CHD.
Accumulation and Metabolism of Phosphatidyl-CMP1 (CDP-Diglyceride) in the Pineal Gland of the Rat

The pineal gland receives its innervation from the superior cervical ganglion via adrenergic fibers. When intact rat pineal glands are incubated in vitro with 32Pi in the presence of the adrenergic neurotransmitter, norepinephrine (3 μM to 3 mM), alterations in phospholipid metabolism occur which result in increased incorporation of label into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol (l, 2). This phenomenon is analogous to those found in many other tissues in response to neurotransmitters or other stimuli. A comprehensive review of this so-called phospholipid effect has recently appeared (3). Such stimulation in the pineal gland is also produced by phenylephrine and can be counteracted by phenoxybenzamine or phentolamine, observations which lead to the conclusion that the effect is mediated by α-adrenergic receptors and that such receptors, previously undetected in the pineal gland, exist in a functionally active form in this organ (4).
Efectos de la hipoxia crónica sobre el desarrollo y reproducción de la rata

In rats exposed daily for four hours at simulated altitudes of 25,000 feet, growth was slow, delayed puberty and life span was reduced by 50%. 25,000 feet daily, exposures produce severe testicle injury, which does not improve with acclimatization. The reproduction was completely inhibited in both sexes. At 18,000 feet playback occurs with low efficiency. The reduced litter size was associated with a decreased number of successful implantations and fetal resorption. Daily exposure of adult rats to 25,000 feet produced marked testicular damage after twelve exposures. Marked lesion was produced with few exhibitions (4) when done at weekly intervals. The time must be considered in the development of testicular injury after exposure to high altitudes. After the severe testicular damage occurred in rats was only possible to complete recovery of normal structure when all exposures ended. Exposure to ten day intervals prevents the slight recovery. After producing polycythemia in rats by short daily exposures, it was possible to maintain this status polycythemic exhibitions every two or three days; Longer idle periods produced the return of normal blood picture. The main pathological findings in rats exposed daily for prolonged periods, were the presence of 1) vegetations on the heart valves; 2) fibrous and fatty changes in left ventricular wall, 3) myocardial heart and kidney, occasionally ssociates with thrombus and embolism, and 4) hematuria and enterorrhagia.
Do higher status and more autonomous women have longer birth intervals?: Results from Cebu, Philippines

Abstract We look at whether women's status and autonomy affect birth-to-conception intervals using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) in the Philippines. We followed 1123 married, fecund women, aged 25–49, for up to 5 years. In a 1994–1995 survey, women were asked about the timing of their last birth. In 1998–2000, women were asked about any pregnancies since the 1994–1995 survey. Using these two surveys, we calculated birth to conception intervals. Women were censored if they reached their 50th birthday during follow-up. We measure autonomy based on whether the wife has the final say in 10 household decisions as measured in the 1994–1995 survey. Using Cox proportional hazards models we find that women with more decision-making autonomy have significantly longer birth-to-conception intervals in unadjusted models. After adjustment for age, wealth, education, other socio-economic variables, and women's status, decision-making autonomy remained a significant predictor in all models. This effect remains even after adjusting for contraceptive use, implying that autonomy influences birth-to-conception intervals through other mechanisms above and beyond increased contraceptive use. Additionally, few of the women's status variables were significantly associated with time to next conception. Women who had their first birth later in life were more likely to conceive during the observation period suggesting that they may be having shorter birth intervals in order to “catch up” with their peers. Maternal and child health-care efforts can help women achieve their desired spacing goals by supporting women's autonomy—in addition to ensuring they have accurate information and a range of contraceptive options.
Differential gene expression in the auditory system

Hearing disorders affect over 10% of the population and this ratio is dramatically increasing with age. Development of appropriate therapeutic approaches requires understanding of the auditory system, which remains largely incomplete. We have identified hearing-specific genes and pathways by mapping over 15000 cochlear expressed sequence tags (ESTs) to the human genome (NCBI Build 35) and comparing it to other EST clusters (Unigene Build 183). A number of novel potentially cochlear-specific genes discovered in this work are currently being verified by experimental studies. The software tool developed for this task is based on a fast bidirectional multiple pattern search algorithm. Patterns used for scoring and selection of loci include EST subsequences, cloning-process identifiers, and genomic and external contamination determinants. Comparison of our results with other programs and available annotations shows that the software developed provides potentially the fastest, yet reliable mapping of ESTs.
New developments in atherosclerosis: clinical potential of PCSK9 inhibition

Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a secreted 692-amino acid protein that binds surface low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) and targets it toward lysosomal degradation. As a consequence, the number of LDLRs at the cell surface is decreased, and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) clearance is reduced, a phenomenon that is magnified by gain-of-function mutations of PCSK9. In contrast, loss-of-function mutations of PCSK9 result in increased surface LDLR and improved LDL-C clearance. This provides the rationale for targeting PCSK9 in hypercholesterolemic subjects as a means to lower LDL-C levels. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against PCSK9 that block its interaction with the LDLR have been developed in the past decade. Two companies have recently received the approval for their anti-PCSK9 mAbs by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Regeneron/Sanofi, with alirocumab (commercial name--PRALUENT(®)) and, Amgen with evolocumab (commercial name--Repatha™). The introduction of anti-PCSK9 mAbs will provide an alternative therapeutic strategy to address many of the unmet needs of current lipid-lowering therapies, such as inability to achieve goal LDL-C level, or intolerance and aversion to statins. This review will focus on the kinetics of PCSK9, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anti-PCSK9 mAbs, and recent data linking PCSK9 and anti-PCSK9 mAbs to cardiovascular events. Moreover, it will highlight the unanswered questions that still need to be addressed in order to understand the physiologic function, kinetics, and dynamics of PCSK9.
Bio-inspired microstructures in collagen type I hydrogel.

This article presents a novel technique to fabricate complex type I collagen hydrogel structures, with varying depth and width defined by a single fabrication step. This technique takes advantage of reactive ion etching lag to fabricate three-dimensional (3-D) structures in silicon. Then, a polydimethylsiloxane replica was fabricated utilizing soft lithography and used as a stamp on collagen hydrogel to transfer these patterns. Endothelial cells were seeded on the hydrogel devices to measure their interaction with these more physiologically relevant cell culture surfaces. Confocal imaging was utilized to image the hydrogel devices to demonstrate the robustness of the fabrication technique, and to study the cell–extracellular matrix interaction after cell seeding. In this study, we observed that endothelial cells remodeled the sharp scallops of collagen hydrogel structures and compressed the structures with low degree of slope. Such patterning techniques will enhance the physiological relevance of existing 3-D cell culture platforms by providing a technical bridge between the high resolution yet planar techniques of standard lithography with more complex yet low resolution 3-D printing methods. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2193–2197, 2015.
The Two Deaths of Lady Macduff : Antimetaphysics, Violence, and William Davenant's Restoration Revision of Macbeth

Stephen White and Gianni Vattimo have argued in favor of weak ontological thought. Particularly for White, weak ontology's contestable fundamentals are a superior response to strong ontologies, including the violence linked to them. I make a historically comparative evaluation of their arguments. The evaluation draws on William Davenant's Restoration revision of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Davenant's play defends Charles II's sovereignty against the strong ontological claims of orthodox Anglicans. Lady Macduff's much expanded role and the death she suffers, in contrast to her counterpart in Shakespeare's Folio, are key vehicles for this defense. Davenant's revisions are linked in this interpretation to Charles II's Happy Act of Indemnity and Oblivion of 1660. Also explored are new connections between Macduff and the witches. I argue Davenant exemplifies a contingency unanticipated by weak ontology advocates: he is both antifoundational and in favor of violence. Antifoundational arguments aid more political per...
Isolated phosphorylcholine binding lymphocytes. I. Use of a cleavable crosslinking reagent for solid-phase adsorbent isolation of functional antigen binding cells.

Abstract Isolation and characterization of BALB/c lymphocytes specific for phosphorylcholine is described. The isolation protocol utilizes phosphorylcholine coupled to gelatin coated plates via the cleavable crosslinking reagent N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldiothio)propionate (SPDP). The procedure is rapid, requiring only 1–2 h and conducted entirely at 0–4°C. Hapten binding cells are eluted by vigorous pipetting at 4°C with medium containing 20% fetal calf serum. Approximately 70% of isolated cells rebind antigen as assessed using a PC Brucella abortus rosette assay while 50% express the TEPC15 idiotype. Approximately 85% of isolated and idiotype positive cells are B cells while the remainder are T cells. Limiting dilution analysis revealed that approximately 1 5 of PC binding cells isolated from the spleens of normal mice respond to lipopolysaccharide plus dextran sulfate by production of anti-PC antibody. Approximately 1 11 respond to PC Brucella abortus and 1 250 respond to PC sheep erythrocytes plus primed T cells by anti-PC antibody production. The results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique for isolation of highly enriched, functional, antigen specific lymphocytes.
Changes in Numbers of Leukocytes in Immune Organs of Juvenile Coho Salmon after Acute Stress or Cortisol Treatment

Abstract We examined the effects of acute stress and cortisol treatment on the number of leukocytes (normalized for fish body weight) in the blood, thymus, spleen, and anterior kidney of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. In acutely stressed or cortisol-fed fish, the numbers of leukocytes increased significantly in the thymus and anterior kidney, and decreased significantly in blood and spleen within 1 d after treatment. Numbers of cells in the anterior kidney, blood, and spleen returned to control levels by 3 d after treatment, but cell numbers in the thymus remained significantly greater than control values until 3–7 d after acute stress. Although dietary cortisol resulted in increased plasma cortisol titers and caused the same changes in leukocyte distribution as those caused by acute stress, the magnitude or duration of elevated cortisol levels and leukocyte numbers were not correlated. These results suggest that, although increased plasma cortisol titers induced by stress may be involved in t...
Regulation of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate metabolism in liver.

Abstract The pyridoxal 5′-phosphate content of liver in vivo and of hepatocytes in vitro remains unaltered in the presence of excess unphosphorylated vitamin B6 precursors. Studies with isolated hepatocytes and subcellular fractions show that while product inhibition of pyridoxine phosphate oxidase does not limit synthesis sufficiently to account for the phenomenon, inhibition of phosphatase activity produces striking increases in pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentration. Protein-binding protects it against degradation by the phosphatase. The data suggest that protein-binding and the enzymatic hydrolysis of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, synthesized in excess, act jointly to preserve the constancy of the cellular content of this coenzyme.
Cross sections for (n, xn) reactions between 7.5 and 28 MeV

A total of 236 cross sections for ($n, \mathrm{xn}$) reactions have been measured at neutron energies between 7.5 and 28 MeV, using radiochemical techniques. Cross sections for ($n, {n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) and ($n, 2n$) reactions are reported on $^{193}\mathrm{Ir}$; ($n, 2n$) cross sections on $^{45}\mathrm{Sc}$ and $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$; ($n, 2n$) and ($n, 3n$) cross sections on $^{89}\mathrm{Y}$, $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}$, and $^{107}\mathrm{Ag}$; ($n, 2n$), ($n, 3n$), and ($n, 4n$) cross sections on $^{169}\mathrm{Tm}$, $^{175}\mathrm{Lu}$, $^{191}\mathrm{Ir}$, $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$, and $^{203}\mathrm{Tl}$; ($n, 3n$) and ($n, 4n$) cross sections on $^{151}\mathrm{Eu}$; and ($n, 4n$) cross sections on $^{205}\mathrm{Tl}$. Neutron fluences were determined by either the $^{27}\mathrm{Al}(n, \ensuremath{\alpha})^{24}\mathrm{Na}$ or the $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}(n, 2n)^{89}\mathrm{Zr}$ reactions appropriately combined with proton-recoil telescope measurements. The excitation functions are compared with calculations based on a model incorporating both compound-nucleus and preequilibrium decay modes. Cross sections for the $^{27}\mathrm{Al}(n, \ensuremath{\alpha})^{24}\mathrm{Na}$ reaction between 21 and 26 MeV are also reported.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{27}\mathrm{Al}(n, \ensuremath{\alpha})$, $E=21.4\ensuremath{-}4\ensuremath{-}26.0$ MeV; $^{45}\mathrm{Sc}(n, 2n)$, $E=14.1\ensuremath{-}28.1$ MeV; $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}(n, 2n)$, $E=16.2\ensuremath{-}28.1$ MeV; $^{89}\mathrm{Y}(n, 2n)$, ($n, 3n$), $E=14.1\ensuremath{-}28.1$ MeV; $^{107}\mathrm{Ag}(n, 2n)$, ($n, 3n$), $E=13.4\ensuremath{-}28.1$ MeV; $^{151}\mathrm{Eu}(n, 3n)$, ($n, 4n$) $E=14.8\ensuremath{-}28.0$ MeV; $^{169}\mathrm{Tm}(n, 2n)$, ($n, 3n$), ($n, 4n$), $E=8.6\ensuremath{-}28.0$ MeV; $^{191}\mathrm{Ir}(n, 2n)$, $E=8.6\ensuremath{-}24.5$ MeV; $^{191}\mathrm{Ir}(n, 3n)$, ($n, 4n$), $E=16.2\ensuremath{-}28.0$ MeV; $^{193}\mathrm{Ir}(n, n)$, $E=7.6\ensuremath{-}14.7$ MeV; $^{193}\mathrm{Ir}(n, 2n)$, $E=8.6\ensuremath{-}21.2$ MeV; $^{197}\mathrm{Au}(n, 2n)$, ($n, 3n$), ($n, 4n$), $E=8.6\ensuremath{-}28.1$ MeV; $^{203}\mathrm{Ti}(n, 2n)$, ($n, 3n$), ($n, 4n$), $E=8.6\ensuremath{-}28.0$ MeV; $^{205}\mathrm{Tl}(n, 4n)$, $E=23.3\ensuremath{-}28.0$ MeV; $\mathrm{Zr}(n, xn)$, $E=14.1\ensuremath{-}28.1$ MeV; $\mathrm{Lu}(n, xn)$, $E=8.5\ensuremath{-}28.0$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E)$. Estimated $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}(n, 2n)$, ($n, 3n$), $^{175}\mathrm{Lu}(n, 2n)$, ($n, 3n$), ($n, 4n$), $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E)$. Comparison with combined statistical and preequilibrium model.RADIOACTIVITY $^{189,190}\mathrm{Ir}$, $^{193}\mathrm{Ir}^{m}$; measured ${T}_{\frac{1}{2}}$.
The assessment of material handling strategies in dealing with sudden loading: influences of foot placement on trunk biomechanics.

Sudden unexpected loading has been identified as a risk factor of work-related low back pain (LBP). This study investigated the effects of different foot placements and load-releasing locations on trunk biomechanics under an unexpected sudden loading event. Fifteen subjects experienced sudden release of a 6.8-kg external load from symmetric or asymmetric directions while maintaining four different foot placements. The results showed that subjects experienced on average 4.1° less trunk flexion, 6.6 Nm less L5/S1 joint moment and 32.0 N less shear force with staggered stance with the right foot forward (the most preferred placement) compared with wide stance (the least preferred placement). Asymmetric load-releasing positions consistently resulted in smaller impacts on trunk biomechanics than symmetric positions. The findings suggest that staggered stance and asymmetric load-holding position can be used as a protective load-handling posture against LBP caused by sudden loading.
Estrogen-induced tumors: changes in the vasculature in two strains of rat.

The influence of estrogen on the vasculature of the pars distalis has been studied in two strains of rat that differ in estrogen responsiveness. (Fischer 344 rats are highly estrogen-responsive in comparison to Sprague-Dawley rats.) Ovariectomized adults were implanted with silastic capsules containing 17 β-estradiol benzoate. Control and experimental animals were sacrificed 10 and 20 days after implantation of the silastic capsules. Pituitary weights and plasma prolactin were elevated dramatically in estrogen-treated Fischer rats in comparison to more moderate increases in Sprague-Dawley rats. Although both strains exhibited the hypertrophy of mammotrophs expected after estrogen stimulation, the vasculature in Fischer rats was dramatically altered from normal. The pars distalis of the 20-day, estrogen-treated Fischer rats contained well-formed arteries. In addition, capillaries frequently were disrupted, contributing to the formation of hemorrhagic lakes unlined by an endothelium. Even in intact capillaries, basal laminae delimiting the pericapillary spaces often were disrupted or absent. Perivascular connective tissue cells were prominent within the perivascular spaces and often contained rumerous, large lysosomal dense bodies as well as clusters of small dumbbell-shaped bodies. These granule clusters also were apparent adjacent to the perivascular space within parenchymal cells, most frequently within follicular cells. The vasculature of Sprague-Dawley rats maintained a more normal appearance after estrogen treatment, although perivascular connective tissue cells did appear activated and basal laminae delimiting the pericapillary spaces were disrupted occasionally. However, no capillaries were disrupted, nor were any hemorrhagic lakes evident, and no arteries were present. The results indicate that in some strains of rat, estrogen may influence the integrity of the pars distalis vasculature, including the possibility of stimulating vascular reorganization and arteriogenesis. If stimulation of arteriogenesis decreases normal hypothalamic inhibition of mammotrophs, this could be an important factor underlying the formation of prolactinomas.
SENSITIVITY OF HUMAN PROSTATIC CARCINOMA CELL LINES TO LOW DOSE RATE RADIATION EXPOSURE

AbstractPurpose: Low dose rate radioemitters, such as125 I,103 Pd, and sup 89 Sr, have been used both for local and systemic treatment of prostate cancer. Most normal cells exposed to ionizing radiation characteristically activate cell cycle checkpoints, resulting in cell cycle arrest at the G1/S and G2/M transition points. Cancer cells are typically quite sensitive to radiation killing late in the G2 phase of the replicative cell cycle. Furthermore, most cancer cells accumulating at the G2/M transition point as a result of low dose rate radiation exposure appear to become sensitive to further low dose rate irradiation. For this reason, protracted exposure of cancer cells to low dose rate radiation has been proposed to result in increased cancer cell killing as compared with brief exposures of cancer cells to high dose rate radiation. Since many human prostatic carcinomas contain somatic genome alterations targeting genes which affect the cell cycle and radiation-associated cell cycle checkpoints, we eval...
Mathematics and poetry: How wide the gap?

Despite the differences between mathematics and poetry, there are common threads enough to show that essential elements of mathematics are humanistic. In fact, the only way to avoid seeing anything poetic in mathematics is to read its language in a purely formalistic fashion, paying attention to denotation and the laws of logic, and to nothing else.
Adaptive parameter estimators for a class of non‐linear systems

Adaptive algorithms for parameter estimation of a class of non-linear systems are developed in this paper. The salient feature of these algorithms is that there is no need to solve any Lyapunov equation, which may prove useful in dealing with high-dimensional systems. Since the algorithms are constructed by using the accessible system signals, the derivatives of these signals are not required. It is shown that the presented algorithms include the existing method as a special case. A numerical example is included to demonstrate the method. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Moderating Effect of Individual Differences on the Relationship between the Framing of Training and Interest in Training.

The moderating effect of individual differences on the relationship between framing training as ‘basic’ or ‘advanced’ and interest in training was examined for technical and nontechnical content areas. Participants were 109 working-age adults (mean age = 38.14 years, SD = 12.20 years). Self-efficacy and goal orientation were examined as moderators. Results showed a three-way interaction between performance orientation (a dimension of goal orientation reflecting the desire to demonstrate competence in an achievement setting), age, and frame for technical training and a three-way interaction between performance orientation, self-efficacy, and frame for nontechnical training. Implications for future research as well as framing training to enhance interest are discussed.
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)-induced alterations in vitamin A and thyroid hormone concentrations in the rat during lactation and early postnatal development

In experimental animals fed standard laboratory diets, penta-BDE mixtures can decrease circulating thyroid hormone and liver vitamin A concentrations. A substantial number of pregnant women and their children have marginal vitamin A status, potentially increasing their risk of adverse effects to penta-BDE exposure. The current study investigated the effects of maternal gestational and lactational penta-BDE exposure on thyroid hormone and vitamin A homeostasis in rats of sufficient vitamin A (VAS) or marginal vitamin A (VAM) status and their offspring. Dams were administered daily oral doses of 18 mg/kg DE-71 (a penta-BDE mixture) or a corn oil vehicle from gestation day 6 through lactation day (LD) 18. Thyroid hormone and vitamin A homeostasis were assessed in plasma and tissues of LD 19 dams and postnatal day (PND) 12, 18, and 31 pups. DE-71 exposure induced hepatomegaly in VAS and VAM pups at all timepoints and increased testes weights at PND 31. While liver vitamin A concentrations were low in DE-71 treated dams and pups, plasma retinol concentrations and plasma retinol binding protein levels were only low in VAM animals exposed to DE-71. DE-71 exposure lowered plasma thyroxine concentrations in VAS and VAM dams and pups. Plasma thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations were high in VAM dams exposed to DE-71, suggesting that marginal vitamin A status enhances the susceptibility to thyroid hormone axis disruption by DE-71. These results support the concept that marginal vitamin A status in pregnant women may increase the risk for PBDE-induced disruptions in vitamin A and thyroid hormone homeostasis.
Static analysis of accessed regions in recursive data structures

This paper presents a heap analysis algorithm that characterizes how programs access regions within recursive data structures, such as sublists within lists or subtrees within trees. The analysis precisely computes cyclicity, reachability, and heap access region information for programs with destructive updates.The algorithm uses a shape graph abstraction of the heap that identifies connected, single-entry heap regions, whose entries are directly accessible from the stack. The edges of the shape graphs encode reachability information. This yields a more compact heap representation compared to the existing abstractions, making the analysis more efficient. Furthermore, the algorithm expresses heap access information using labels on the nodes of the shape graphs. The labels characterize the concrete locations that abstract nodes represent and make it possible to compare the sets of concrete locations modeled by nodes in different shape graphs. The labels allow the analysis to express the heap access information with respect to the nodes at a particular program point, for instance at the beginning of the current procedure. Our analysis is able to precisely and efficiently compute heap access region information for complex heap manipulations such as a recursive quicksort program that sorts a list in-place, using destructive updates.
Local Protein Synthesis and Spine Morphogenesis: Fragile X Syndrome and Beyond

Behavioral experiences can modulate neural networks through changes in synaptic morphology and number. In contrast, abnormal morphogenesis of dendritic spines is associated with cognitive impairment, as in Fragile X syndrome. Dendritic or synaptic protein synthesis could provide the specificity and speed necessary for spine morphogenesis. Here, we highlight locally translated proteins shown to affect synaptic morphology (e.g., Fragile X mental retardation protein).
Space shuttle measurements: clouds of atmospheric metal atoms and ions

We report on the utility of a spectrograph flown on the Space Shuttle that measured ionospheric constituents including metal atoms and ions. The distribution of ions is shown for an organized pillar of magnesium ions extending more than 140 km of altitude.
HALOGENATED MONOTERPENE PRODUCTION IN REGENERATED PLANTLET CULTURES OF OCHTODES SECUNDIRAMEA (RHODOPHYTA, CRYPTONEMIALES)

Three genera of macrophytic red algae (Ochtodes, Plocamium, and Portieria) contain novel halogenated monoterpenes. To develop an in vitro system for studying halogenated monoterpene production, a laboratory tissue culturewas established for Ochtodes secundiramea (Montagne) Howe (Cryptonemiales, Rhizophyllidaceae). Specifically, callus cells were induced from thallus explants of O. secundiramea plants. Shoot primordia regenerated from callus cells and developed into plantlets that released tetraspores. A sporeling from one of these tetraspores was selected for further culture. Axenic plantlets were cultivated in ESS-enriched natural seawater. Thallus tissue was cut into small pieces before subculture. Each plantlet grew as a symmetrical array of highly branched shoot tissues emanating from a common center, ultimately assuming a spherical shape of 20 mm diameter 4 weeks after subculture. Specific growth rates of over 20% per day were attained in bubble-aerated flask culture at an optimal temperature of 26° C and photosynthetic saturation light intensity of 200 μmol photons.m - 2 .s - 1 . The cultured plantlets contained myrcene and seven halogenated monoterpenes, based on gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of dichloromethane extracts. Although bromomyrcene was the dominant acyclic halogenated monoterpene, the cyclic halogenated monoterpenes chondrocole C and ochtodene were also produced by the O. secundiramea plantlet cultures. Halogenated monoterpene production at light-saturated growth conditions increased with decreasing nitrogen availability below 1.0 mM medium nitrate concentration (N:P ratios of 1.6:1 to 32:1). The halogenated monoterpene yield was insensitive to medium nitrate concentrations above 1.0 mM (N:P ratios of 32:1 to 320:1), where the bromomyrcene yield was 1700 μg per gram of dry cell mass.
Improving detection of driver genes: power-law null model of copy number variation in cancer

In this paper, we study Copy Number Variation (CNV) data. The underlying process generating CNV segments is generally assumed to be memory-less, giving rise to an exponential distribution of segment lengths. In this paper, we provide evidence from cancer patient data, which suggests that this generative model is too simplistic, and that segment lengths follow a power-law distribution instead. We conjecture a simple preferential attachment generative model that provides the basis for the observed power-law distribution. We then show how an existing statistical method for detecting cancer driver genes can be improved by incorporating the power-law distribution in the null model.
Effects of membrane fatty acid composition on sodium-independent phenylalanine transport in Ehrlich cells.

We have examined Na+-independent phenylalanine transport in Ehrlich cells having different degrees of membrane fatty acid saturation. These differences were produced by growing the cells in mice fed a fat-free chow supplemented with either sunflower seed oil or coconut oil. Plasma membranes isolated from the cells grown on sunflower oil were enriched with polyenoic fatty acid, especially 18∶2, whereas those isolated from the cells grown on coconut oil were enriched in monoenoic fatty acids, primarily 16∶1 and 18∶1. Arrhenius plots of phenylalanine uptake showed two transitions. The temperatures of these transitions were different in the two cell preparations; 17 C and 24 C for the cells enriched in polyenoic fatty acids, 19 C and 28 C for those enriched in monoenoic fatty acids. Therefore, this transport system is sensitive to changes in the fatty acid composition of the lipid phase in which it operates. The activation energies, however, were the same in both cell preparations; 14, 8 and 4 kcal/mol. There also was no significant effect of the lipid modifications on either the K′m or V′max of this transport process. The K′m for phenylalanine uptake from a choline medium remained constant as the temperature was raised from 17 C to 37 C, whereas the V′max showed about a two-fold increase in both cell types. Phenylalanine exodus from the cells into an amino acid-free suspending medium, analyzed using first-order kinetics, also was not influenced by these membrane fatty acid modifications. The changes in the transition temperatures probably reflect differences in the degree of fatty acid unsaturation of lipids that surround and interact with the phenylalanine carrier. Such differences, however, do not appreciably influence the catalytic activity of this transport system.
Total productivity management

Abstract In June 1989, Georgetown University Hospital (GUH) implemented an internally developed, Model 204 DBMS-based comprehensive Decision Support tool, the Financial Performance Report (FPR). FPR was designed to bring order out of management reporting chaos by integrating labor productivity reporting and cost accounting in a progressively detailed display that provides the basis for “Total Productivity Management”. This paper will describe the philosophy that lead to developing the tool, the objectives, the system components, and the principal features of the report.
Self-affirmation counteracts the effects of burdens on judgments of distance

Abstract When a person's capacity for physical movement is diminished, judgments of the environment change—unless, perhaps, the person is able to self-affirm. We observed as in previous work that physical burdens altered judgments of distance. When participants wore a heavy backpack rather than a light one, they estimated a landmark to be significantly farther away. Crucially, self-affirmation eliminated this effect. When participants self-affirmed prior to making judgments, the weight of the backpack had no effect on distance estimates. The influence of self-affirmation was not accounted for by effects of self-affirmation on mood or by increased thoughts of supportive friends and family among the self-affirmed. These data reveal a simple strategy for counteracting the effects that bodily constraints can have on visual judgments. They also expose the far reaching effects of self-affirmation, which can counteract reactions not only to psychological challenges but to physical ones as well.
Risks and benefits of estrogen therapy for a male-to-female transsexual with a prothrombin gene mutation.

Objective: We present the case of a male-to-female transsexual person in her 20s requesting hormone therapy in the setting of a history of a deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus and carryin...
Gound clutter rejection for airborne radar using doppler compensation

An innovative approach is introduced to reject ground clutter in space-time domain for airborne radar. The new algorithm is first compensating the Doppler shift due to the antenna movement in the beam-time domain; and then a simple MTI cancelling is applied to remove the transformed ground clutter with near-zero Doppler frequency.
Enhanced sensitivity of LC-MS analysis of permethylated N-glycans through online purification.

Aberrant glycosylation of proteins and lipids has been implicated in many human diseases, thus prompting the need for reliable analytical methods that permit reliable quantification of glycans originating from biological specimens. MS of permethylated glycans is currently employed to monitor disease related aberrant glycosylation of proteins and lipids. However, enhancing the sensitivity of this type of analysis is still needed. Here, analysis of permethylated glycans at enhanced sensitivity is attained through miniaturized solid-phase permethylation as well as on-line solid-phase purification. Solid-phase permethylation method was miniaturized by reducing the amount of sodium hydroxide beads (one-third the original amount) packed in microspin columns. The efficiency of glycan permethylation was not adversely affected by this reduction. On-line solid-phase purification of permethylated N-glycans derived from model glycoproteins, such as fetuin, α-1 acid glycoprotein and ribonuclease B, offered more sensitive and reproducible results than off-line liquid-liquid and solid-phase extractions. On-line solid-phase purification method described here permitted a seventy-five percent increase in signal intensities of permethylated glycans relative to off-line purification methods. This is mainly due to the minimized sample handling associated with an on-line cleaning procedure. The efficiency and utility of on-line solid-phase purification was also demonstrated for N-glycans derived from human blood serum. On-line solid-phase purification permitted the detection of 66 N-glycan structures, while only 58 glycan structures were detected in the case of samples purified through liquid-liquid extraction. The intensities of the 58 structures that were detected in both cases were seventy-five percent higher for samples that were purified through the described method.
One-dimensional Riemann solvers and the maximum entropy closure

Abstract The maximum entropy closure for the two-moment approximation of the neutron transport equation is presented. We use a robust Roe-type Riemann solver to solve the resulting moment equations. We also present three boundary conditions to use with this method. The ghost cell method effectively implements the Mark boundary condition by placing phantom cells just outside the physical system. This method is extremely simple to implement and gives reasonable results. The boundary Eddington factor method implements the Marshak boundary condition. While it yields good results at boundaries with incoming neutrons, it does not do so well at vacuum boundaries. The partial numerical flux method is an extension of the Marshak boundary condition, allowing us to specify extra angular information about the incoming neutron distribution. The neutron flux calculations with this method are generally the best out of the three boundary conditions presented here. Several simple steady-state and time-dependent problems illustrate the qualities, both good and bad, of the maximum entropy closure.
Determination of field amplitude and synchronous phase using the beam-induced signal in an unpowered superconducting cavity

At the Spallation Neutron Source superconducting linear accelerator, RF fields excited by a pulsed, high-intensity drifting beam in an unpowered superconducting cavity are measured with the cavity control circuit, in order to determine the synchronous phase and to calibrate the pickup probe of the cavity. Measurement errors arising from noise and from the excitation of other pass-band modes in the cavity are analyzed. The phase change due to beam acceleration as well as due to cavity detuning is computed with a model which is described in this paper. Simulation results show excellent agreement with measurements performed in drifting beam experiments. The measured cavity synchronous phase and accelerating gradient determined from the drifting beam measurements are in good agreement with those obtained from a time-of-flight based technique.
INTRINSIC EFFICIENCIES OF SPHERICAL NaI(Tl) DETECTORS.

Comparing intrinsic efficiencies of spherical NaI /Tl/ detectors with efficiencies of cylindrical NaI/Tl/ detectors
Isolation and characterization of a cloned rat insulin gene

Abstract The two nonallelic genes, insulin I and II of the rat, are separated by at least 7 kb of DNA. There is no obvious similarity in the sequence organization surrounding each gene, although the coding regions of the genes themselves share extensive homology. In three strains of rat, the insulin II gene lies predominantly on a 4.0 kb Eco RI restriction fragment, whereas the insulin I gene is located on a 9.4 kb Eco RI fragment in the Hooded strain, on a 7.2 kb Eco RI fragment in the Osborne-Mendel strain, and on both a 9.4 and a 7.2 kb Eco RI fragment in Sprague-Dawley rats. The 9.4 kb Eco RI fragment from Hooded rat DNA was isolated using the lambda cloning system, and the nucleotide sequence of this isolated rat insulin I gene and adjacent regions was determined. A translation in one frame of the sequence of the cloned gene confirms the protein sequence determined for rat pre-proinsulin I. The coding region of this gene lacks intervening sequences, although a presumptive intervening sequence of 119 bp is located in the 5′ untranslated region preceding the prehormone sequence. The junctions around the 119 bp segment are identical to those which flank intervening sequences of other eucaryotic genes, AGGT. The site of polyadenylation was determined by direct sequence comparison with rat insulin cDNA clones, and a potential 5′ "capping" site is proposed. A DNA sequence preceding this 5′ "capping" site in the rat insulin I gene, TATAAAGC, is homologous to corresponding regions in other eucaryotic genes that have been proposed as putative promoter sites for the initiation of transcription.
Characterization of a spontaneously arising murine squamous cell carcinoma (SCC VII) as a prerequisite for head and neck cancer immunotherapy.

Background To develop novel therapeutic approaches for patients with head and neck malignancies, poorly immunogenic murine models of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) need to be defined. Methods The phenotype, growth characteristics, and responsiveness to tumor-specific T-cell transfer of a spontaneously arising murine SCC (SCC VII) were characterized. Results SCC VII expresses major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules yet is resistant to tumor-specific T-cell killing and relatively insensitive to killing mediated by lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. Intradermal tumors are reproducibly established after vaccination of 5 × 104 cells, and systemic micrometastases are apparent after intravenous administration of 2.5 × 104 cells. Immunotherapy of 3-day lung metastases using tumor-specific T cells and systemic interleukin-2 (IL-2) was ineffective in reducing the number of metastases in vivo. Conclusions SCC VII is a poorly immunogenic murine squamous cell cancer, which represents an ideal model for preclinical testing of immunotherapeutic approaches for patients with SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 899–906, 2001.
Brain metastases from malignant melanoma: Conventional vs. high-dose-per-fraction radiotherapy

This report examines the records of 72 patients who received various regimens of radiotherapy for cerebral metastases from malignant melanoma at NYU Medical Center. Treatment consisted of whole-brain irradiation, either with dose fractions of 300 cGy (conventional fractionation, CF) or 500-600 cGy (high-dose-per-fraction, HDF) to a total of 3000 cGy. Two-thirds of the patients responded to radiotherapy as measured by improvement of at least one functional level. No difference in response could be attributed to dose schedules, either overall or in the subgroups of patients who had solitary or multiple brain metastases. Median survival was not significantly affected by fractionation schedule; however, patients who had solitary metastases survived longer, probably because of the nature of their disease. Treatment related toxicity was more frequent in the HDF group. The subgroup of patients who had their only clinically demonstrable lesion grossly excised prior to treatment survived more than twice as long as other patients. We conclude that radiotherapy is effective in palliating symptoms for these patients. Our data does not support the use of HDF techniques in the treatment of patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma.
Predicting process windows for pattern density multiplication using block copolymer directed self-assembly in conjunction with chemoepitaxial guiding layers

Pattern density multiplication using directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) is a technique capable of producing patterns with small pitches utilizing guiding template patterns printed as larger feature sizes and pitches. One method for achieving this density multiplication is to utilize chemoepitaxy based on a guiding underlayer that is nominally topographically flat but which is composed of a pinning region, or stripe if referring to lamellae, which will chemically prefer one microphase of the BCP, as well as a second region that is often referred to as “neutral” to both phases of the BCP. In most conceptions of such a chemoepitaxial approach for alignment of lamellae patterns, the pinning stripe is typically the width of a single lamellae of the phase separated BCP, while the neutral stripe is some odd number of lamellae widths. In this work, detailed simulation studies have been performed to elucidate the effects of variables such as guiding stripe size, chemical composition of the neutral stripes, and small topography on the process window of DSA pitch sub-division patterning processes. A simple but novel technique has been developed and utilized to quantify the level of alignment of a simulated BCP film to an underlying guiding pattern. Such process windows and lithographic parameters have been studied for different pitch sub-division conditions including 1:3 and 1:5 pinning stripe:neutral stripe width ratios. It is found that the center of the processing window occurs at a composition of the “neutral stripe” such that it is slightly to somewhat strongly preferential to the type of polymer of opposite type to that attracted by the pinning stripe, and that this ideal “neutral stripe” composition becomes more neutral as the density multiplication increases.