cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Which Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Assay Criterion Best Predicts Operative Success?: A Study of 352 Consecutive Patients

Hypothesis The 6 published criteria for predicting curative parathyroid resection by means of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) assay are not equivalent. Design Retrospective review of 352 patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2004. We evaluated 6-month postoperative IOPTH values and serum calcium levels. Setting Tertiary referral center. Main Outcome Measures The IOPTH values at baseline (preincision and preexcision) and at 5 and 10 minutes after parathyroidectomy were reviewed according to the Miami criterion (>50% drop from highest baseline IOPTH level at 10 minutes after excision), criterion 1 (>50% drop from preincision IOPTH level at 10 minutes), criterion 2 (>50% drop from highest baseline IOPTH level at 10 minutes and final IOPTH level within the reference range), criterion 3 (>50% drop from highest baseline IOPTH level at 10 minutes and final IOPTH level less than the preincision value), criterion 4 (>50% drop from highest baseline IOPTH level at 5 minutes), and criterion 5 (>50% drop from preexcision IOPTH level at 10 minutes). Results Criterion 2 had sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 22%, positive predictive value of 97%, and negative predictive value of 6%. Criterion 2 had good agreement with criteria 1 and 3. Of patients whose IOPTH level drop satisfied criterion 2 but not criterion 1, 14% had postoperative hypercalcemia at 6 months. When criterion 2 was not satisfied but criteria 1, 3, 4, and 5 and the Miami criterion were, failure rates were 0%, 4%, 7%, 6%, and 9%, respectively. Conclusions Satisfying criterion 2 had a high operative success but resulted in additional unnecessary surgical exploration. Criterion 1 was better at predicting postoperative normocalcemia than criterion 2.
When Tempo Changes Rhythm: The Effect of Tempo on Nonmusicians' Perception of Rhythm

The present study assessed the effects of tempo differences on listeners' ability to recognize previously heard rhythm phrases. The effect of audible beat on subjects' response accuracy also was examined. Three hundred twenty third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students and nonmusic-major undergraduates heard one of two versions of a 20-item paired-comparison test and indicated whether the second rhythm in each pair was the same or not the same as the first rhythm in the pair. In one test version, a second “voice” accompanied each rhythm at the rate of the steady beat. Rhythm performances at the rate of 100 beats per minute (bpm) were compared to performances at 50, 75, 125, and 150 bpm.The mean number of correct responses for undergraduates was significantly higher than the corresponding means for the third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade subjects, which were not significantly different from one another. Response accuracy across all groups was affected significantly both by the comparison tempo and by the direct...
“Bacillus hackensackii” sp. nov., a novel carbon dioxide sensitive bacterium isolated from blood culture

Abstract An endospore-forming, gram-positive bacillus was isolated from a patient's blood culture. This bacillus did not grow in the presence of 5% carbon dioxide although it grew well in ambient air at 37°C. Although the organism thus is an aerobic bacterium, its sensitivity to increased carbon dioxide concentration places it in a distinct category of gaseous atmospheric requirement: capnophobic. Based on its morphology, growth characteristics, biochemical reactions and a complete 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequence analysis, this microorganism represents a novel Bacillus species. The clinical significance of this isolate is unknown. It is proposed that the bacterium be classified in the genus Bacillus as " Bacillus hackensackii ".
Technical career programs in large research and development laboratories

Ninty-nine large research and development laboratories were queried in a study of nonsupervisory technical career programs for scientists and engineers. Sixty-one responded and 48 of these provided significant information. Almost half of the 48 have technical career programs of varying forms and varying degrees of formality. Although technical career titles and structures are not uniform among laboratories, the survey indicated equivalent salary treatment in management and technical career structures in most instances.
Practical Computer Program for Routine Spirometric Testing Using the “Time-Sharing” Concept

A teletype-computer “time-sharing” concept has been applied to calculation and print-out of standard spirometric measurements. The factors which conditioned development of the software program and selection of hardware, and the steps involved in making the entire system operational are described. The simplicity, flexibility and the low cost and space requirement of this approach are outlined. Data derived from our laboratory using these methods are presented. It is concluded that variations on this basic theme can bring spirometric testing within the reach of a broad range of medical facilities and enhance the detection and management of patients with respiratory disease.
Polarization of D-D neutrons for deuteron energies from 1.9 to 11 MeV

Abstract The polarization of neutrons produced in the D(d, n)He 3 reaction was measured from 1.9 to 11 MeV by employing the technique of rotating the polarization vector with a magnetic field, the neutron detectors remaining fixed. Helium, contained under high pressure in a thin-walled cell, served as the analyzer. The background counts were reduced by observing coincidences between the helium recoils and the scattered neutrons. The polarization at 45° c.m. reaction angle was found to vary monotonically from −0.12±0.02 at 1.9 MeV to +0.30±0.05 at 11 MeV, changing sign at about 4.2 MeV. At several energies angular distributions of the polarization were measured.
Anomalous stress effects on the fluorescence of SrTiO3:Cr3+

Abstract The effect of a uniaxial stress on the fluorescence of Cr 3+ in SrTiO 3 at helium temperatures cannot be described by a linear perturbation of the crystal field at the chromium site. A [111] stress greater than 26.5 kg/mm 2 produces a change in the crystal field from the initial tetragonal field to a trigonal field.
Hepatic clearance of unconjugated bilirubin in cholestatic liver diseases

The hepatic clearance of unconjugated bilirubin-14C from the plasma of 5 patients with cholestatic liver disease was normal when compared with values obtained in healthy young adults. In 1 patient with benign recurrent cholestasis, clearance was the same during an attack of cholestasis (serum bilirubin concentration 25.7 mg/100 ml) as when the patient was in remission (serum bilirubin concentration 0.65 mg/100 ml). We conclude that the hepatic clearance of unconjugated bilirubin may not be altered in hepatic disorders where cholestasis is the predominant feature and that other explanations should be considered when patients with these disorders manifest an increased plasma concentration of unconjugated bilirubin.
Conceptual design of a high-efficiency absorption cooling cycle

Abstract The search for high-efficiency, gas-fired cooling cycles has led to the development of dual-loop absorption machines with cooling coefficients of performance (COPs) in the 1.2 to 1.7 range. This increased performance may call for high generator temperatures, new working fluids or new materials of construction. In most cases, two different sets of working fluids are required. The conceptual design presented here is aimed at obtaining high efficiencies with relatively low temperatures, employing only one set of fluids. The concept consists of two loops coupled in a configuration aimed at minimizing the loss of thermodynamic availability incurred when transferring refrigerant between the loops. The working fluid pair is a solution of lithium bromide-water. The calculated COPs are of the order of 1.8. The cycle relies on an elaborate evaporator-absorber combination. The paper presents the conceptual design, the critical assumptions, and the performance calculations for the concept.
Natural history of parainfluenza virus infection in childhood.

In order to determine the natural history of parainfluenza virus infection in early life, we followed prospectively 130 infants and children from birth or a few months of age for evidence of infection with PV. Using rapid diagnostic techniques, standard tissue culture infectivity, and serologic techniques we were able to document primary PV infection in 92% of these infants, and repeated infection with heterotypic or homotypic PV strains in 49% by 30 months of age. Increasing patient age had no significant effect in reducing the incidence of lower respiratory tract illness as a result of PV infection. Infection with one PV serotype provided no protection against LRTI at the time of subsequent infection with a heterotypic PV strain. In contrast, primary PV infection provided a brief period of immunity to LRTI upon homotypic reinfection. Secretory IgA responses to PV were determined by immunofluorescent techniques. Antibody response to PV strains causing primary infection and heterotypic repeated infection were transient and of low magnitude. Homotypic reinfection resulted in significantly enhaced production of secretory antibody to PV. At least in early life, repeated exposures to PV appear to be essential for maintaining immunity to severe forms of illness caused by PV infection.
Action of urea and certain other amide reagents on crystalline porcine pancreatic amylase

Abstract The inactivation of porcine pancreatic amylase with various concentrations of urea with a fixed concentration of pancreatic amylase was investigated in one series of experiments. The changes in viscosity, absorbance in the ultraviolet, and optical rotation accompanying the loss in amylase activity were likewise determined. It was observed that the rate of inactivation increased rapidly with an increase in the urea concentration. When the enzyme concentration is 1.5 mg/ml or less, the inactivation process follows first-order kinetics. This loss in activity is accompanied by an increase in reduced viscosity and in levorotation of the amylase. A very slight decrease in ultraviolet absorbance intensity was observed. In a second series of experiments, the urea concentration was fixed while the concentration of the amylase was varied. The rate of inactivation increases with a decrease in enzyme concentration. For concentrations greater than 1.5 mg/ml of amylase, the urea-amylase reaction does not follow first-order kinetics. The inactivation by urea is irreversible. Comparative inactivation studies of equimolar solutions of urea and other amide reagents show that the effectiveness in inactivating pancreatic amylase decreases in this order: guanidine > urea > 1,3-dimethylurea > tetramethylurea.
Chemical ecology and olfaction in arthropod vectors of diseases

Hematophagous arthropods (ticks and insects, collectively hereafter referred to as vectors) transmit various life threatening diseases resulting in over one million human deaths annually. Exploiting vertebrates for blood demanded extensive sensory and behavioral adaptations that are apparent across the evolutionary range of vector species, from primitive ticks to advanced dipterans. Since animal senses are biological features that have been shaped by natural selection to promote adaptive behavior, a variety of exciting patterns are apparent in what they sense and how. Vectors display robust olfactory driven behaviors. A distinct yet limited range of volatile organic compounds are parsimoniously used as major cues for tracking in various contexts. These chemicals elicit behaviors such as attraction or repulsion/avoidance while vectors seek habitats, hosts, mates, or oviposition sites. Interestingly, there is a substantial consilience among olfactory structures and function in arthropod vectors, which is also reflected in the parsimonious use of chemical ligands. A detailed analysis of chemosensory signals and reception by these arthropod vectors can be exploited to identify natural ligands that can be used as baits to manipulate vector behaviors.
Toxicity of smoke during chair smoldering tests and small scale tests using the same materials

Toxicological evaluation of smoke produced during smoldering chair tests was undertaken by exposing mice to smoke emitted prior to, as well as following, flaming ignition of the chairs. By exposing several groups of mice, using undiluted smoke from the room containing the chairs, as well as various dilutions of the smoke, different levels of acute lethality were obtained. From these experiments, chairs constructed with polyurethane foam were found to create higher toxic atmospheres than chairs constructed with polyester or cotton fiber cushions. The same materials (polyurethane foam, polyester and cotton fibers) were also thermally decomposed in a small scale system and mice were exposed to the smoke to evaluate acute toxicity. Again polyurethane foam was found to produce smoke more toxic than smoke produced by polyester and cotton fibers. Sensory irritation monitored in mice during the smoldering tests indicated that an intense level of irritation was present long before large amounts of smoke were generated and long before flaming ignition occurred. The phenomenon of eye, nose and throat irritation would therefore be the first effect impeding escape attempts of individuals in a fire situation. Sensory irritation was followed by asphyxiation as evolution of carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide, or both, occurred. The same pattern of responses was observed with smoke generated with the small scale decomposition system.
Structural organization and complete sequence of the human α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase gene: Homology with the α-galactosidase A gene provides evidence for evolution from a common ancestral gene☆

Abstract Human α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (α-GalNAc; EC 3.2.1.49), the lysosomal glycohydrolase that cleaves α-N-acetylgalactosaminyl moieties in glycoconjugates, is encoded by a gene localized to chromosome 22q13→qter. The deficient activity of this enzyme results in Schindler disease, an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the increased urinary excretion of glycopeptides and oligosaccharides containing α-N-acetylgalactosaminyl moieties. Recently, the 3.6-kb full-length α-GalNAc cDNA sequence was isolated and found to have remarkable nucleotide and predicted amino acid homology (55.8 and 46.9%, respectively) with the human α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) cDNA. To investigate the possible evolutionary relatedness of the two glycosidases, the α-GalNAc chromosomal gene was isolated and characterized. Screening of a human genomic DNA cosmid library resulted in the identification of a clone, gAGB-1, with an ∼ 35-kb insert that contained the entire α-GalNAc gene. A single ∼ 15-kb EcoRI fragment of gAGB-1, which contained the complete 3.6-kb cDNA sequence, was digested and the subcloned fragments were sequenced in both orientations. The 13,709-bp α-GalNAc gene had nine exons ranging from 95 to 2028 bp and intronic sequences of 304 to 2684 bp. All exon/intron junctions conformed to the GT AG consensus rule. Analysis of 1.4 kb of 5′ flanking sequence revealed three Sp1 and two CAAT-like promoter elements. This region was GC-rich (56%), but no HTF island was identified. The gene contained six Alu-repetitive elements, all in the reverse orientation. Comparison of the structural organization of the α-GalNAc and the α-Gal A genes revealed that all six α-GalA introns were identically positioned in the homologous α-GalNAc exonic sequence. Two additional introns, 1 and 8, were identified in the α-GalNAc gene. The predicted amino acid sequences of α-GalNAc exons 2 through 7 and those of corresponding α-Gal A exons 1 through 6 were 46.2 to 62.7% identical. In contrast, there was little, if any, similarity between the deduced amino acid sequences of α-Gal A exon 7 and α-GalNAc exons 8 and 9. The remarkable amino acid identity and the identical exonic interruption by six introns of the α-GalNAc and α-Gal A genes suggest that this region in both genes is evolutionarily related and arose through duplication and divergence from a common ancestral gene.
Political Culture, Religion, and the Confederate Battle Flag Debate in Alabama

The American South is beset by a series of widespread and vitriolic debates over the meaning of symbols associated with the short-lived Confederate States of America (1861-1865). The largest propor...
THE DISCRETE MAXIMUM PRINCIPLE IN FINITE-ELEMENT THERMAL RADIATION ANALYSIS

Under certain conditions, usually intense surface heat transfer associated with radiation, finite-element solutions display anomalous behaviors. These behaviors have been traced to the violation of a discrete maximum principle. Here, necessary and sufficient conditions for satisfaction of the discrete maximum principle are discussed. Special elements that satisfy a discrete maximum principle for a wider range of parameters, thereby improving the accuracy of the solution, are introduced into standard finite-element formulations for the heat conduction equation. The improved performance of these elements is then demonstrated by means of a few examples.
The Effects of Work Task Manipulation and Scheduling on Patient Load, Revenue, Eyewear Turnover, and Utilization of Staff and Doctor Time

Abstract In an optometrist's office, staff and doctor tasks were assigned and a new way to schedule patients was tested. In the baseline prior to that, staff were collectively responsible for patient and nonpatient tasks, and each doctor was scheduled to examine two patients each hour. During the task manipulation condition, staff and doctor tasks were assigned to specific individuals. The new schedule allowed the doctors to examine three or four patients each hour. During the task-manipulation condition, the number of appointments and revenue appointments scheduled and kept per doctor hour, and revenue for doctor services increased, and the number of days elapsed between the exam and the day glasses were dispensed decreased for all lens types. When the new schedule was added, the number of appointments scheduled and kept per doctor and staff hour decreased, and the number of revenue appointments kept per doctor hour increased slightly.
Developmental Differences in Menstrual Attitudes

Methodological limitations, both conceptual and statistical, have impeded the investigation of developmental differences in menstrual attitudes. In this study, these methodological problems were addressed in an effort to clarify whether group differences associated with two developmental variables -age and menarcheal status -were related to differences in the attitudes toward menstruation held by early adolescent girls. Findings were that young adolescent girls had two fundamental attitudes toward menstruation: Girls held a set of beliefs about menstruation as something normal and acceptable (Affirmation) and another set of beliefs reflecting their worry about and dislike of menstruation (Worry). No significant developmental differences were found for girls' Affirmation of menstruation; there was a significant association of menarcheal timing and girls' Worry about menstruation, with early maturers more worried than their on-time peers. Implications of results for pubertal education are discussed.
The use of plasma metanephrine to normetanephrine ratio to determine epinephrine poisoning.

Abstract Background Intravenous epinephrine (EPI) is used as a pharmacologic agent to acutely treat patients in cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, there have been several homicide cases where hospitalized patients died due to a purposeful overdose of epinephrine. We measured plasma epinephrine metabolites (metanephrine, MET, and normetanephrine, NMET) to determine if exogenous epinephrine can be distinguished from endogenous epinephrine concentrations in a controlled animal study. Methods Rabbits were subjected to three different protocols. In the physiologic stress group ( n =8), rabbits were immobilized for 30 min in a restraining tube. In the sub-lethal dose ( n =9), 0.01 mg/kg of epinephrine was injected into anesthetized rabbits. In the lethal dose group ( n =8), 1.0 mg/kg of epinephrine was administered into anesthetized rabbits. Blood was collected at regular intervals for up to 480 min. The plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and the serum cortisol concentrations by immunoassay. Results Serum cortisol and plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine concentrations increased in the stressed animals during immobilization demonstrating the endogenous stress model. Following a sub-therapeutic epinephrine dose, plasma metanephrine increased while plasma normetanephrine decreased. The peak plasma metanephrine concentrations were similar to the concentrations observed in the stressed animals; however, the ratio of plasma metanephrine to normetanephrine was significantly different. In the lethal epinephrine dose, both the plasma metanephrine concentrations and ratio of metabolites were significantly greater than those observed in the endogenously stressed animals. Conclusions The ratio of plasma metanephrine to normetanephrine is the best marker to determine the presence of exogenous therapeutic and lethal epinephrine administration. However, there were limitations to the study design that could alter these conclusions.
The impact of chronic hepatitis C and co-morbid illnesses on health-related quality of life

Objectives Determine the relative impact of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and co-morbid illnesses on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 3023 randomly selected veterans with known hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) status who previously completed a veteran-specific HRQoL questionnaire (SF-36V).
Genetic differentiation of quantitative characters between populations or species II: optimal selection in infinite populations

Using a new and more general genetic model called the discrete-allelic state model and assuming discrete-time process, the evolutionary changes of genetic variation of quantitative characters, controlled by a few loci, within and between populations during the process of genetic differentiation of populations or species, are studied under the effects of mutation and centripetal selection in infinitely large populations. While in a finite population and ignoring selection, the rate of change of additive genetic variance depends on mutation and effective population size, traits under optimal selection in infinitely large populations go through the dynamics of a rather complicated form depending on the relative intensities of selection and mutation. When a population, which has reached steady-state by mutation-selection balance, splits into two, in one of which the same optimum genotype holds but in the other the optimum shifts a few standard deviations away from the original optimum, the corresponding daughter population starts differentiating from its sister population by favouring certain class of mutant alleles and discarding others which were originally favoured. During this process of turn over of genes, both the intra- and inter-populational variances undergo a complicated change, and the ratio of the former to the latter is a non-linear function of time of divergence. This pattern is qualitatively very different from the case when selection is absent. The intra-population distribution of genotypic values, during this transition, is shown to deviate considerably from normality. The presence of linkage seems to retard the accumulation of intra-populational genetic variance. The implications of these results are discussed in comparison with the earlier findings of evolutionary models of quantitative traits.
Creating a Mathematical Museum on Your Desk

Travel is unnecessary to see certain objects of mathematical interest, as new technology makes it convenient to be a stay-at-home explorer of 3D mathematical models. With the right equipment, one can create and enjoy a mathematical museum collection without leaving ones office. Figure 1 shows an assortment of physical models on shelves of my office. New technologies—commercially available or under development—allow the creation of physical models that are very compact, intricate, and accurate. These state-of-the-art processes involve the automated (robotic) construction of physical objects by assembling thin cross-sections calculated from the designer's computer file describing the structure to be built. Engineers call these “rapid prototyping” fabrication processes because at present their major application is for quickly making prototypes of parts that are later mass-produced by industrial techniques. However, the more general term “solid freeform fabrication” (SFF) conveys the idea that these objects need be neither rapid—some of these models took a machine three days to build—nor prototypes—for us they are the final result.
Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and prenyltransferase from tomato fruit plastids

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase has been isolated from an extract of tomato fruit plastids and purified 245-fold by fractionation with ammonium sulfate, gel filtration on Bio-Gel A 1.5m, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, and chromatofocusing. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 separated the isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase from a prenyltransferase fraction that catalyzed the conversion of isopentenyl pyrophosphate to acid-labile compounds in the presence of dimethylallyl, geranyl, or farnesyl pyrophosphates. The molecular weights of the isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and prenyltransferase were determined to be 34,000 and 64,000, respectively, by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The only cofactor required by either the isomerase or the prenyltransferase was a divalent cation, either Mg2+ or Mn2+. Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase could also be totally inactivated by 1 X 10(-3) M iodoacetamide, and this property was utilized in the assay of prenyltransferase activity in the presence of contaminating isomerase. The inactivation of isomerase by iodoacetamide is consistent with the stabilization of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase by dithiothreitol. The Km of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase for isopentenyl pyrophosphate was found to be 5.7 X 10(-6).
Anaerobic bacterial dissolution of lead oxide

An anaerobic bacterium (Clostridium sp.) isolated from coal waste solubilized a significant amount of lead oxide (PbO) and to a lesser extent PbSO4, but not Pb‡, PbS, and galena. The rate of Pb dissolution during logarithmic growth of the bacteria in 40 ml of medium containing 3.32 Μmoles of PbO was 0.042 Μmoles/ml/hr. Dissolution of PbO by the bacteria was due to production of organic acids and lowering of the pH of the growth medium. The solubilized metal was bioavailable to the organism as evidenced by lead associated with cell biomass as well as immobilization by a polymer-like substance produced by the organism. These results suggest that under appropriate conditions microbial dissolution of PbO could be significant in the environment.
Erôs, Ontos, and Logos

Abstract A commentary on Catherine Zuckert's Plato's Philosophers, raising questions about the roles of eros and recollection in her thesis. The questions about eros and recollection seek further clarification about the role of being and becoming in Socratic thought.
Co-coking of Hydrotreated Decant Oil/Coal Blends: Effect of Hydrotreatment Severity on the Yield Distribution and Quality of Distillate Fuels

The co-coking of hydrotreated decant oil (DO)/coal blends using a large laboratory-scale delayed coker was studied. DO was hydrotreated at several levels of severity for use in the co-coking work. Increasing the hydrotreatment severity increased the levels of hydrodesulfurization (from 50.6 to 99.0%) and hydrodenitrogenation (from 7.7 to 88.7%). Hydrotreatment resulted in increased amounts of paraffins, saturated cyclics, alkylbenzenes, two-ring aromatics, and hydroaromatics but decreased the amount of three-ring and larger compounds in the liquid. The coke yield from delayed co-coking of hydrotreated DOs and coal blends was observed to be in the range of 15.9–24.4%. Distillate liquid obtained from delayed co-coking increased with hydrotreating severity of DOs (from 71.0 to 76.2%). The boiling point distribution of the distillate liquid products was determined using fractional vacuum distillation. The results from vacuum distillation reveal that the percentage of the liquid products corresponding to jet f...
Approximate analysis of containment/deflection ring responses to engine rotor fragment impact.

The transient responses of containment and/or deflection rings to impact from an engine rotor-blade fragment are analyzed. Energy and momentum considerations are employed in an approximate analysis to predict the collision-induced velocities which are imparted to the fragment and to the affected ring segment. This collision analysis is combined with the spatial finite-element representation of the ring and a temporal finite-difference solution procedure to predict the resulting large transient elastic-plastic deformations of containment/deflection rings. Some comparisons with experimental data are given.
Abstract 785: Leptin-Notch-Wnt axis affects drug resistance in breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Introduction: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive form of the disease whose incidence is disproportionate in obese African American and Latina women. TNBC is commonly associated with acute early onset, poor survival and acquired drug-resistance. Obesity, characterized by high levels of leptin, is frequently found among these ethnic groups. We hypothesize that intact leptin-Notch-Wnt signaling crosstalk affects the development of drug-resistance in TNBC. Objective: To determine whether leptin signaling induces Notch/Wnt pathway crosstalk, decreasing the effectiveness of cisplatin in TNBC cells. Materials & Methods: TNBC cells (MDA MB 231 and HCC1806) and ER+ MCF-7 (as control) were treated with pharmacological doses of leptin and agonists of the Notch and Wnt pathways JAG1-17 mer peptide and Wnt-1, respectively. In addition, the cells were challenged with the leptin receptor, Notch pathway, and Wnt pathway antagonists LPrA2, DAPT, and Wnt-1 respectively. The impact of these molecules on cisplatin anti-cancer effects was also determined. Activation of Wnt (total/pβ-catenin), expression of Notch (Notch 1-4 and JAG1/Dll-4 and targets: survivin/Hey2), cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by Western blot and flow cytometry. β-catenin levels were also investigated by immunofluorescence. We also determined the impact of the inhibition of leptin signaling (via LPrA2) on the expression of Wnt and Notch in DMBA-induced breast cancer from DIO (diet-induced obese) mice. Results: We found that leptin increased the levels of β-catenin mainly in TNBC cells. Similarly, inhibition of leptin signaling decreased Wnt/Notch expression in DMBA/DIO-breast cancer. Interestingly, leptin increased expression of Notch and attenuated the detrimental effects of cisplatin on breast cancer cells. Wnt-1 affected Notch levels but its effects were less pronounced. Conclusions: Leptin is able to induce the Notch and Wnt signaling pathways in breast cancer. Cisplatin effects were attenuated by leptin in TNBC probably through its crosstalk with Wnt and Notch signaling pathways. These results are particularly relevant for TNBC and obese patients, and suggest that leptin inhibition could be useful in increasing the chemotherapeutic effectiveness in TBNC by disrupting leptin-Wnt-Notch crosstalk. [This work was supported in part by NIH/NCI1SC1CA138658-02; NIH/ARRA/3SC1CA138658-02S1 and the Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar Award (to RRGP); CREDO (MSCR) 2R25RR017694-06A1 (to L.S.C); NIH/NIGMS R25 GM058268 and NCRR 5P20RR11104 (to T.Z.M); and facilities and support services at MSM (NIH RR03034 and 1C06 RR18386)]. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 785. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-785
The geography of Washington's world apple: global expressions in a local landscape

Abstract This article explores how the globalization of food and agriculture is linked to local processes of agrarian transformation in the case of the apple industry in the United States. The local, regional history concerning environmental, technological and social change in the apple industry reveals the ways in which the local landscape has changed as this agro-industry has developed and globalized over the last century. Our focus embraces three themes: the social construction of value in fresh apples, the changing structure of the apple industry, and the changing social relations of production as they concern transnational wageworkers. The social constructions of value ascribed to apples in the industry's advertisements aimed at national and international consumers exist in sharp contrast with the local level intensification of farming practices. Changes in farm structure, production technology, labor process and relations, and the composition and settlement patterns of farm labor reflect both the industry's regional development as well as how the globalized apple industry is manifested in the region's development history and geography.
Relating structure and chain dynamics to ballistic performance in transparent epoxy networks exhibiting nanometer scale heterogeneity

Abstract The ballistic performance was examined for a series of broad glass transition temperature epoxy formulations consisting of a di-epoxy monomer crosslinked with bi-modal mixtures of both a rigid, low molecular weight diamine and a flexible, high molecular weight diamine. Interestingly, the resins did not macro-phase separate during cure, but exhibited structural and dynamic heterogeneity on a length scale of a few nanometers, as confirmed by X-ray scattering, dynamic mechanical analysis, modulus-mapped atomic force microscopy, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The nano-structured resins were optically transparent and demonstrated a nearly 300% increase in ballistic energy dissipation relative to the neat resins, as well as when compared to epoxy formulations composed of similar bi-modal blends that exhibited a macro-phase separated structure. The ballistic performance is found to be insensitive to sub-glass transition temperature (T g ) relaxations, but appears to be dependent on both the nano-structure and the Vogel temperature of the high T g component. The study demonstrates a new class of transparent protective materials composed of rigid and flexible components with a fine scale heterogeneous structure.
Disrupting vagal feedback affects birdsong motor control

Coordination of different motor systems for sound production involves the use of feedback mechanisms. Song production in oscines is a well-established animal model for studying learned vocal behavior. Whereas the online use of auditory feedback has been studied in the songbird model, very little is known about the role of other feedback mechanisms. Auditory feedback is required for the maintenance of stereotyped adult song. In addition, the use of somatosensory feedback to maintain pressure during song has been demonstrated with experimentally induced fluctuations in air sac pressure. Feedback information mediating this response is thought to be routed to the central nervous system via afferent fibers of the vagus nerve. Here, we tested the effects of unilateral vagotomy on the peripheral motor patterns of song production and the acoustic features. Unilateral vagotomy caused a variety of disruptions and alterations to the respiratory pattern of song, some of which affected the acoustic structure of vocalizations. These changes were most pronounced a few days after nerve resection and varied between individuals. In the most extreme cases, the motor gestures of respiration were so severely disrupted that individual song syllables or the song motif were atypically terminated. Acoustic changes also suggest altered use of the two sound generators and upper vocal tract filtering, indicating that the disruption of vagal feedback caused changes to the motor program of all motor systems involved in song production and modification. This evidence for the use of vagal feedback by the song system with disruption of song during the first days after nerve cut provides a contrast to the longer-term effects of auditory feedback disruption. It suggests a significant role for somatosensory feedback that differs from that of auditory feedback.
Chapter 6 Assessment and mathematics education reform in the united states

Abstract Amid calls to reform U.S. school mathematics instruction, current assessment practices are also being examined, challenged and modified. Standardized, multiple-choice tests are widely used in the U.S. and have been reported to influence negatively the content and form of both classroom instruction and classroom assessment. Evidence that teachers may modify their instruction based on the content and form of externally-mandated tests has led some reformers to devise an assessment-driven strategy to change mathematics instruction. Many efforts are underway to develop alternatives to multiple-choice items for the assessment of mathematical proficiency. The promise of this strategy is illustrated by examining the California Assessment Program. Limitations of this strategy include the dilemma of linking educational reform to externally-mandated testing; the technical difficulty of constructing reliable, valid alternatives to multiple-choice items; and the likelihood that changes in assessment will not alone lead to the educational reform being sought.
Biographical Dictionary of the American Left

a collection of essays on some 275 individuals, including important figures from the 19th century and a few from the New Left, most of them (about 75 percent) born between 1870 and 1920 and prominent in the major left wing organizations of the first half of the 20th century. Choice
The effects of beam spreading on Fourier transform spectra

Abstract It is well known that non-collimated radiation degrades the resolution of spectra obtained with a Michelson interferometer by causing the appearance of fringes other than the central fringe. That wavelength-dependent effect, however, is accompanied by a second, wavelength-independent effect which also degrades the modulation. The second effect, caused by the spreading of the beam within the interferometer with attendant decrease in intensity of the beam from the moving mirror, becomes important as the mirror displacement (and consequently the resolution) is increased.
Pulmonary Embolus Presenting as the Initial Manifestation of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Recent literature suggests that pulmonary embolus secondary to renal cell carcinoma may be more common than previously suspected. Renal tumors are known for their ability to metastasize early, often before the primary lesion is apparent. A patient with renal cell carcinoma and having massive pulmonary tumor embolus is presented. Attention was called to the occult tumor by the identification of clear cell carcinoma in the pulmonary embolic material. Pulmonary embolectomy and surgical extirpation of the primary tumor resulted in long-term survival.
Phytoplankton response to waste-water nutrient enrichment in continuous culture

Three marine phytoplankton, Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher, Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin, and Thalassiosira pseudonana (3H) Hasle & Heindal, were grown on waste water-sea water mixtures in continuous-flow monocultures. P. tricornutum increased in biomass with increasing waste-water additions until a mixture of about 40 % waste water-60 % sea water was reached. The other species did not increase in biomass beyond a 20 % waste water-80 % sea water mixture and even showed some inhibition at higher waste water additions. The carbon/nitrogen (CN) ratio of the algae was consistently below 6 when nitrogen was not limiting growth, but increased with decreasing dilution rate under nitrogen-limiting conditions, depending on whether NH4+-N or NO3−-N was the main nitrogen source. Species dominance in enriched cultures is controlled by a complex interaction of environmental factors. By altering the chemical composition (CN ratio) of dominant phytoplankton such as P. tricornutum in mass culture through control of nitrogen source and concentration, it may be possible to increase the nutritional value of these organisms so that they represent a balanced diet for the growth of herbivorous shellfish.
Case report 592

A case is presented in which a donor site for a bone graft from the proximal end of the tibia caused diagnostic difficulty. The bony defect produced in such procedures is easily confused with a variety of neoplastic and neoplasm-like lesions. The clinical history, use of immediate postoperative films, and knowledge concerning the common sites for obtaining bone graft donor tissue are critical in offering the correct diagnosis.
Wave Variable Based Force Control

Wave variable controllers maintain passive communication across time delays in telerobotics. As passive elements, wave variable controllers interact well with other passive elements, such as P.D. controllers and masses, and use a combination of force and velocity signals to apply force feedback. Currently we are exploring the use of wave variable controllers with large non-backdrivable industrial-type slave devices where dynamics are dominated by inertial and frictional forces. The objective is to integrate force sensor measurements into wave variable controllers to provide low frequency force feedback and hide the slave’s friction and inertia from the user in the presence of a communication time delay. This paper presents and uses a wave variable based approach to design force control. The resulting wave variable based force controller is converted to power variables and shown to be similar to traditional force controllers. A 1-DOF telerobotic system is used to experimentally show the wave variable based force control combines with the enhanced stability properties of the wave communication channel to produce robust slave side force control. The resulting system is better able to maintain force control with rigid environments then a traditional controller both with and without communication time delay.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
WHAT KIND OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY

The subject of industrial policy in the United States has taken on something of a Rorschach quality of late, in whose ink blots people perceive their fondest hopes and direst fears. Organized labor, many Democrats and liberals, and a fair sampling of business leaders see it as a primary means of reestablishing U.S. industrial pre‐eminence. Many conservatives and professional economists view it as a misguided assault on the free market. Some left‐leaning intellectuals perceive it as a means of maintaining the hegemony of business, labor, and government elites. Lost in the ideological shuffle is a description of what U.S. industrial policy is coming to be, and a set of practical steps to improve it.
Metamorphic programming: unconventional high performance

A programming methodology that violates most of the rules of good programming has shown spectacular reductions in simulation times on several benchmarks. Applying this technique in logic-level VLSI circuit simulation also improved simulation performance. For a new VLSI circuit, faster simulation translates into faster time to market, so even the most peculiar programming type is worth exploring if the carrot is increased performance. Discovering efficient and effective metamorphic programming techniques across a range of problems outside simulation will require a concerted effort across the software community. The most important problem is the lack of metamorphic constructs in mainstream high-level languages.
Factors influencing wine consumption in Southern California consumers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to further examine factors influencing the intention to drink wine. Building on studies conducted among British and Australian wine drinkers, this study was undertaken among Southern California wine drinkers in an effort to provide cross‐cultural comparison of wine consumption motivations and intentions.Design/methodology/approach – Using a two‐step methodology (including qualitative interviews and surveys), the influence of both attitudes and subjective norms on the intention to drink wine is examined.Findings – This current research shows a significant influence of the perceived health benefits of wine consumption among Southern California wine drinkers.Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to Southern California wine consumers and may lack generalizability. Future research endeavors should focus on expanding the study to include a wider population within the USA and include analysis of additional variables such as gender, ethnicity, amount and ...
Signal reconstruction from signed Fourier transform magnitude

In this paper, we show that a one-dimensional or multidimensional sequence is uniquely specified under mild restrictions by its signed Fourier transform magnitude (magnitude and 1 bit of phase information). In addition, we develop a numerical algorithm to reconstruct a one-dimensional or multidimensional sequence from its Fourier transform magnitude. Reconstruction examples obtained using this algorithm are also provided.
Immune Pathogenesis of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Group A β-Hemolytic Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS)

Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with group A b-hemolytic streptococcal infections or PANDAS, is a well characterized autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system producing childhood-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder and tic disorders, and a spectrum of psychiatric comorbidity accompanying exacerbations. Recent advances in the understanding of the postulated pathophysiology had led to effective interventions with immune modulatory therapy. This article reviews the current understanding, diagnosis and management of PANDAS.
Non-stereoselective reversal of neuropathic pain by naloxone and naltrexone: involvement of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)

Although activated spinal cord glia contribute importantly to neuropathic pain, how nerve injury activates glia remains controversial. It has recently been proposed, on the basis of genetic approaches, that toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) may be a key receptor for initiating microglial activation following L5 spinal nerve injury. The present studies extend this idea pharmacologically by showing that TLR4 is key for maintaining neuropathic pain following sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI). Established neuropathic pain was reversed by intrathecally delivered TLR4 receptor antagonists derived from lipopolysaccharide. Additionally, (+)-naltrexone, (+)-naloxone, and (-)-naloxone, which we show here to be TLR4 antagonists in vitro on both stably transfected HEK293-TLR4 and microglial cell lines, suppressed neuropathic pain with complete reversal upon chronic infusion. Immunohistochemical analyses of spinal cords following chronic infusion revealed suppression of CCI-induced microglial activation by (+)-naloxone and (-)-naloxone, paralleling reversal of neuropathic pain. Together, these CCI data support the conclusion that neuron-to-glia signaling through TLR4 is important not only for initiating neuropathic pain, as suggested previously, but also for maintaining established neuropathic pain. Furthermore, these studies suggest that the novel TLR4 antagonists (+)-naloxone and (-)-naloxone can each fully reverse established neuropathic pain upon multi-day administration. This finding with (+)-naloxone is of potential clinical relevance. This is because (+)-naloxone is an antagonist that is inactive at the (-)-opioid selective receptors on neurons that produce analgesia. Thus, these data suggest that (+)-opioid antagonists such as (+)-naloxone may be useful clinically to suppress glial activation, yet (-)-opioid agonists suppress pain.