cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Allelic variation in PtGA20Ox associates with growth and wood properties in Populus spp.

Populus tomentosa is an economically important tree crop that produces wood for lumber, pulp, paper, and biofuels. Wood quality traits are likely to be strongly affected by the plant hormone gibberellic acid (GA), which regulates growth. GA20Ox encodes one of the major regulatory enzymes of GA biosynthesis and may therefore play a large role in growth and wood quality. Here, linkage disequilibrium (LD) studies were used to identify significant associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within PtGA20Ox and growth and wood-quality traits of P. tomentosa. We isolated a full-length GA20Ox cDNA from Populus tomentosa by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR; this 1401 bp cDNA clone had an open reading frame of 1158 bp and encoded a protein of 385 amino acids. PtGA20Ox transcripts were maximally expressed in the mature xylem of vascular tissues, suggesting that PtGA20Ox is highly expressed and specifically associated with secondary xylem formation. Resequencing the PtGA20Ox locus of 36 individuals identified 55 SNPs, and the frequency of SNPs was 1/31 bp. The 29 most common SNPs (frequency>0.1) were genotyped in an association population (426 individuals) that was also phenotyped for key growth and wood quality traits. LD did not extend over the entire gene (r2<0.1, within 500 bp), demonstrating that a candidate-gene-based LD approach may the best way to understand the molecular basis underlying quantitative variation in this species. SNP- and haplotype-based association analyses indicated that four SNPs (false discovery rate Q<0.05) and 14 haplotypes (P<0.05) were significantly associated with growth and wood properties. The phenotypic variance explained by each SNP ranged from 3.44% to 14.47%. The SNP markers identified in this study can be applied to breeding programs for the improvement of growth and wood-property traits by marker-assisted selection.
The Effects of Food Stamps on Food Expenditures: Reply

There are two reasons why it may be appropriate to use sampling weights in estimating a simple linear model, Y = XB + e, on cross-sectional data obtained via a survey with a stratified sample design in which the allocation of the sample across the strata is not proportional to the distribution of the population across those strata. First, the mean of the disturbance term, e, may not be independent of the sample strata. If the model were well specified, the mean of the disturbance term would be constant across strata and equal to zero; however, sample size limitations, a large number of sample strata, and complexity in the relationship of the dependent variable to the sample strata may prevent the estimation of a well-specified model. Second, the variance of the disturbance term may not be independent of the sample strata, resulting in heteroskedasticity. Researchers who use sampling weights in estimating linear models on complex sample survey data typically do so for the first of the above two reasons. They do so because they recognize that, despite their best efforts to the contrary, their models may be misspecified in ways that may result in variation in the mean value of the disturbance terms across strata, thereby implying that estimates of the model parameters would vary across strata if separate estimates were obtained by stratum.' In lieu of separate estimation by stratum, which may be infeasible for reasons that are discussed below, they estimate their models on the sample-weighted data, giving each stratum the same relative importance in the computation of the parameter estimates that it has in the population. Under these conditions, DuMouchel and Duncan note that the weighted parameter estimator, B,, is a consistent estimator of the population B, whereas the unweighted OLS estimator, Bo, may not be. They point out that this procedure is analogous to the use of the sample-weighted mean as an estimator of the population mean when there is variation in the stratum means and disproportionate sampling across strata.
Identification of the cartilage α 1(XI) chain in type V collagen from bovine bone

Type V collagen prepared from bovine bone was resolved into three distinct α-chains by high performance liquid chromatography and gel electrophoresis. Peptide mapping established two chains as α 1(V) and α 2(V) as expected and the third as the cartilage α 1(XI) chain (previously thought to be unique to cartilage). In adult bone, the type V collagen fraction was richer in α 1(XI) chains than in fetal bone (about 1/3 of the chains in the adult). How these polypeptides are organized into native molecules is not yet clear, though the stoichiometry suggests cross-type heterotrimers between the type V and XI chains.
New routes to poly(benzylenebenzimidazoles)

Abstract Reaction of 3,3′-diaminobenzidine with either 3,3,7,7-tetraphenyltetrathiopyromellitide or α , α ′-dibromo-2,5-dicyano- p -xylene produced new polymers which are stable up to 350°C. In the latter case, the solution polymerization was completed in 24 h at reflux temperature in quantitative yields with inherent viscosity of 0.66 dl g −1 ; the dark coloured polymer would dissolve only in formic or sulphuric acid. In the former case, however, an orange coloured solid having inherent viscosity of 0.09 dl g −1 was obtained in quantitative yields; this polymer was soluble in a number of solvents such as chloroform, ethanol, benzene and DMF.
Cardiac patients and spouses: family functioning and emotions.

This study examined the relationships among satisfaction with family function and emotional states of a nonprobability sample of sixty-six myocardial infarction (AM patients and their spouses who w...
Weighted Norm Inequalities for Fractional Integrals with an Application to Mean Convergence of Laguerre Series

We prove norm inequalities with exponential weights for the Riemann?Liouville fractional integral. As an application, we show for certain functions that their Laguerre expansions will converge in theLpnorm for somepoutside the standard range of (4/3,4).
Decentralized stabilization of a new class of linear discrete large scale systems with delay

A class of linear, discrete, time-invarying, multivariable, decentralized systems with delays in the interconnections are considered here. We show that if the interconnection matrices among the subsystems satisfy so called "lower zero" patterns, then the composite system can always decentrally stabilizable. Furthermore, an arbitrary degree of stability the closed loop overall system is attainable.
Distribution and Induction of Cytochrome P450 1A1 and 1A2 in Rat Brain

Cytochromes P450 1A1 and 1A2 are involved in the oxidation of a wide spectrum of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. Although their presence has been repeatedly confirmed in brain tissue, reports regarding their distribution in the brain are often contradictory. In the present study the possibility was examined that CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 are localized and inducible in the brain-CSF barrier and regions with a leaky blood brain barrier, where they may serve as a protective metabolic barrier. CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 levels were determined in subcellular fractions of multiple brain regions, as well as tissue homogenates of circumventricular organs, and the meninges by Western blotting and catalytic activity in control male rats and rats treated with the inducer beta-naphthoflavone (BNF). In control animals CYP1A1 immunoreactive protein was undetectable in regional brain microsomes or whole tissue homogenates of the arachnoid, dura mater, choroid plexus, pineal gland, median eminence, and pituitary. However, low levels of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity were observed in homogenates of the arachnoid, dura mater, choroid plexus, pineal gland, and pituitary. Western blotting revealed only low levels of CYP1A2 immunoreactive protein in brain microsomes from the cortex, cerebellum, brainstem, thalamus, hippocampus, and striatum from control animals. Following BNF treatment, EROD activity was induced 12-42-fold in the arachnoid, choroid plexus, dura mater, pineal gland, pituitary, and median eminence. Western blot analysis revealed CYP1A1 to be induced in the arachnoid, dura mater, choroid plexus, pineal gland, and pituitary, while CYP1A2 was undetectable. No induction of CYP1A1 or CYP1A2 protein was observed in brain microsomes from the olfactory bulb, cortex, striatum, hippocampus, cerebellum, or brainstem following BNF treatment, providing that the arachnoid membranes and choroid plexus had been carefully removed prior to brain dissection. Neither CYP1A1, 1A2 protein, nor EROD activity were detected in purified brain mitochondria, regardless of treatment or region. In conclusion, catalytically active CYP1A1 is located in the meninges as well as certain circumventricular organs, is inducible by BNF, and appears to be absent or expressed constitutively at very low levels in the majority of the brain parenchyma. The localization of CYP1A1 in the blood-CSF barrier and circumventricular tissues likely plays a role in protecting the brain from xenobiotics.
Sociodemographic representation in published studies of cocaine abuse pharmacotherapy

Abstract This study evaluated: (1) the reporting of sociodemographic characteristics of research subjects in published outpatient studies of cocaine abuse pharmacotherapy; (2) the association of study characteristics with such reporting and with the distribution of characteristics; and (3) the comparison of sociodemographic characteristics in the research subjects with those of a community-based sample of cocaine abusers who had sought treatment. Medline search identified 68 articles on cocaine abuse outpatient pharmacotherapy published from 1983 to 1993 in an English language, peer-reviewed journal. Sociodemographic characteristics of research subjects (n=1802) were compared with those of respondents (weighted n=135) to the National Comorbidity Survey (1990–1992), who reported at least one cocaine-related problem and had sought substance abuse treatment. Only three (4.4%) articles reported all six of the following sociodemographic characteristics of their subjects: 82.4%, reported mean age; 58.8%, race/ethnicity; 85.3%, sex; 22.1%, employment status; 13.2%, educational status; and 5.9%, socioeconomic status/income. Compared to survey respondents, research subjects were significantly more likely to be African–American and live in the Northeast region of the US and marginally more likely to be male and currently unemployed. These findings indicate that many published articles do not follow currently recommended guidelines for describing sociodemographic characteristics of research subjects and that, aside from race/ethnicity and geographic location, research subjects are fairly comparable in basic sociodemographic characteristics to the larger population of treatment-seeking individuals with cocaine-related problems.
Is irrelevant cleavage the price of antisense efficacy

Abstract Antisense oligonucleotides are useful reagents for the suppression of gene expression. Their mechanism of action in eukaryotic cells appears to depend heavily on the activity of RNase H, a ubiquitous enzyme that cleaves the mRNA strand of an RNA-DNA duplex. However, the stringency requirements of RNase H are very low, and as little as a 5-base complementary region of oligomer to target may be sufficient to elicit RNase H activity. This would result in scission of nontargeted mRNAs, or what is known as “irrelevant cleavage.” One strategy to reduce RNase H competency that has been employed is modification of the oligonucleotide backbone, replacing phosphodiester linkages with uncharged methylphosphonates, which are not RNase H competent. Another strategy involves replacement of deoxyribonucleic acid with 2′-O-alkylribonucleic acid. A third strategy, eliminating RNase H dependency entirely, requires activation of RNase P. The relative merits of these strategies will be discussed in the context of selective inhibition of gene function.
Examination of Ni-base superalloy diffusion couples containing multiphase regions

Abstract Four Ni-base superalloy diffusion couples with multiphase regions were studied. The diffusion couples contained single-phase (γ), two-phase (γ + MC carbide) and three-phase (γ + γ′ + MC carbide) regions. Measured average composition profiles were in good agreement with the diffusion simulation predictions. The measured and predicted γ′ phase fraction profiles showed similar trends; however, there were some discrepancies in the predicted position of the γ + γ′ + MC/γ + MC boundary. Phase fraction profiles and optical metallography were used to determine the type and direction of the moving phase region boundaries.
Tissue Distribution of Electrolytes, 47Ca and 28Mg in Experimental Hyper- and Hypoparathyroidism

The effects of experimental hyper- and hypoparathyroidism on plasma and tissue distribution of electrolytes and tissue exchangeability with 47Ca and 28Mg were studied in dogs following acute renal pedicle ligation. In hyperparathyroidism, plasma concentrations of Mg and inorganic phosphorus as well as Ca were increased. A greater accumulation of Ca occurred in some tissues and a lesser accumulation in others than in acute hypercalcemia of comparable severity and the fractional rate of exchange of tissue Ca was 30% more rapid than in control and acute hypercalcemic dogs. Bone exchange of Ca was not significantly increased. Cell Mg concentrations were not appreciably altered by hyperparathyroidism except for a significant 9 % decrease in myocardium, but the fractional rate of exchange of tissue Mg was increased. Acid-soluble phosphorus concentrations were decreased in 3 tissues and Na and Cl concentrations were decreased by 10 to 25 % in 4 tissues. In hypoparathyroidism, in addition to a decreased plasma Ca...
Small-angle neutron scattering studies of model protein denaturation in aqueous solutions of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

Abstract As we advance our understanding, ionic liquids (ILs) are finding ever broader scope within the chemical sciences including, most recently, pharmaceutical, enzymatic, and bioanalytical applications. With examples of enzymatic activity reported in both neat ILs and in IL/water mixtures, enzymes are frequently assumed to adopt a quasi-native conformation, even if little work has been carried out to date toward characterizing the conformation, dynamics, active-site perturbation, cooperativity of unfolding transitions, free energy of stabilization, or aggregation/oligomerization state of enzymes in the presence of an IL solvent component. In this study, human serum albumin and equine heart cytochrome c were characterized in aqueous solutions of the fully water-miscible IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [bmim]Cl, by small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering. At [bmim]Cl concentrations up to 25 vol.%, these two proteins were found to largely retain their higher-order structures whereas both proteins become highly denatured at the highest IL concentration studied here (i.e., 50 vol.% [bmim]Cl). The response of these proteins to [bmim]Cl is analogous to their behavior in the widely studied denaturants guanidine hydrochloride and urea which similarly lead to random coil conformations at excessive molar concentrations. Interestingly, human serum albumin dimerizes in response to [bmim]Cl, whereas cytochrome c remains predominantly in monomeric form. These results have important implications for enzymatic studies in aqueous IL media, as they suggest a facile pathway through which biocatalytic activity can be altered in these nascent and potentially green electrolyte systems.
Tyrosine aminotransferase from Drosophila hydei salivary glands: Characterization, purification, and antibody production

Abstract Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) is an inducible enzyme in Drosophila hydei. This enzyme is characterized by a sharp pH optimum of 6.8. K m values of 4.97 × 10−5 M, 1.07 × 10−4 M and 6.01 × 10−6 M were obtained for tyrosine, α-ketoglutarate and pyridoxine respectively. There was substrate inhibition with high concentrations of α-ketoglutarate. The enzyme was purified from salivary glands by a series of chromatographic steps. The purified enzyme showed a single protein band on both native and SDS polyacrylamide gels. The enzyme activity co-migrated with the single protein band on the native gels. Antibody prepared against the purified protein induced a single precipitin line in Ouchterlony double diffusion gels using either whole larva homogenates or purified TAT as antigen.
Intensity and half-width measurements in the 1·525 μm band of acetylene☆

Abstract Line intensities at 150°K and 295°K, self-broadened half-widths at 171°K, 200°K, 250°K and 295°K, and hydrogen-broadened half-widths at 171°K, 200°K and 295°K have been measured in the ν1+v3 band of C2H2 at 1·525 μm. The absolute intensity of the band has been determined independently by employing the Wilson-Wells-Penner-Weber technique. Our best estimate for the absolute intensity of the band is Sv=7·82 ± 0·07 cm−2 atm−1 at 295°K. Line intensities calculated using this value of Sv are in good agreement with the measured intensities at the two extreme temperatures of 150°K and 295°K considered in the present study, thereby not suggesting any significant intensity anomalies. Line positions have been measured for the first time for this band for R(29)−P(25).
Complexation and Molecular Speciation in the Silica Sol−Gel Process Characterized by Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion-Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

The sol-gel reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate have previously been characterized by various instrumental methods, each revealing different aspects of the reactions that eventually form glass, SiO 2 . In this paper, we use electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS) to characterize the hydrolysis and condensation intermediates based on alkali and transition metal ion attachment to ionize the intermediates. Sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate and nickel(II) nitrate hexahydrate were added to solutions containing tetraethyl orthosilicate, electrosprayed, and the resulting species observed. Sodium ion binds nonspecifically to silicates, whereas nickel produces a tris-tetraethyl orthosilicate nickel(II) complex. Sodium-bound dimers were also observed; they could be dissociated without damage to the silicate backbone by infrared multiphoton dissociation. It is thus possible to observe all of the hydrolysis products (OH exchanged for OCH 2 CH 3 ) for a given silicate oligomer as well as different silicate oligomers.
Distributed-directory scheme: Stanford distributed-directory protocol

The Stanford distributed-directory (SDD) cache-coherence protocol, based on a singly linked list of distributed directories, is examined. Sharing-list additions and removals are explained diagramatically. Reads, writes, pending signals, replacement, and synchronization are discussed. Replacing lines linked in a list is done by invalidating the lower part of the list. A doubly linked list may be used to patch the list in case of replacements. However, in practice, performance improvement depends on the list lengths and access patterns. A distributed-directory cache-coherence protocol allows efficient implementation of locks at minimal extra cost. The SDD protocol allows a lock implementation that minimizes network traffic. >
Taxation of Rice Exports and Economic Development in Thailand

T HERE are divergent points of view in the analysis of the external and internal incidence of Thailand's export tax on rice. In the area of external incidence there is the theoretical argument that since Thailand produces only 4.5 percent of the world rice production, Thailand has very little effect on the world price of rice, and the incidence of her export tax is almost totally domestic. The opposing argument is that Thailand exports 20 percent of the rice in world trade and consequently Thai authorities can exert some degree of market power on prices and a substantial part of the incidence of the export tax falls on foreign countries. The conflict about the internal incidence of the export tax revolves around how heavily the burden of the tax falls on the farmer.
Radioactive assay for tyrosine aminotransferase

Abstract A new radioactive assay for tyrosine aminotransferase activity which employs organic extraction to separate product from substrate is described. The assay is suitable for many samples, has a very low background, and is sensitive enough to measure 2 picograms of enzyme.
Dab2ip Regulates Neuronal Migration and Neurite Outgrowth in the Developing Neocortex

Dab2ip (DOC-2/DAB2 interacting protein) is a member of the Ras GTPase-activating protein (GAP) family that has been previously shown to function as a tumor suppressor in several systems. Dab2ip is also highly expressed in the brain where it interacts with Dab1, a key mediator of the Reelin pathway that controls several aspects of brain development and function. We found that Dab2ip is highly expressed in the developing cerebral cortex, but that mutations in the Reelin signaling pathway do not affect its expression. To determine whether Dab2ip plays a role in brain development, we knocked down or over expressed it in neuronal progenitor cells of the embryonic mouse neocortex using in utero electroporation. Dab2ip down-regulation severely disrupts neuronal migration, affecting preferentially late-born principal cortical neurons. Dab2ip overexpression also leads to migration defects. Structure-function experiments in vivo further show that both PH and GRD domains of Dab2ip are important for neuronal migration. A detailed analysis of transfected neurons reveals that Dab2ip down- or up-regulation disrupts the transition from a multipolar to a bipolar neuronal morphology in the intermediate zone. Knock down of Dab2ip in neurons ex-vivo indicates that this protein is necessary for proper neurite development and for the expression of several major neuronal microtubule associated proteins (MAPs), which are important for neurite growth and stabilization. Thus, our study identifies, for the first time, a critical role for Dab2ip in mammalian cortical development and begins to reveal molecular mechanisms that underlie this function.
Palmitoylation regulates plasma membrane–nuclear shuttling of R7BP, a novel membrane anchor for the RGS7 family

The RGS7 (R7) family of RGS proteins bound to the divergent Gβ subunit Gβ5 is a crucial regulator of G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in the visual and nervous systems. Here, we identify R7BP, a novel neuronally expressed protein that binds R7–Gβ5 complexes and shuttles them between the plasma membrane and nucleus. Regional expression of R7BP, Gβ5, and R7 isoforms in brain is highly coincident. R7BP is palmitoylated near its COOH terminus, which targets the protein to the plasma membrane. Depalmitoylation of R7BP translocates R7BP–R7–Gβ5 complexes from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. Compared with nonpalmitoylated R7BP, palmitoylated R7BP greatly augments the ability of RGS7 to attenuate GPCR-mediated G protein–regulated inward rectifying potassium channel activation. Thus, by controlling plasma membrane nuclear–shuttling of R7BP–R7–Gβ5 complexes, reversible palmitoylation of R7BP provides a novel mechanism that regulates GPCR signaling and potentially transduces signals directly from the plasma membrane to the nucleus.
Kondo-lattice screening in a d-wave superconductor

We show that local moment screening in a Kondo lattice with d-wave superconducting conduction electrons is qualitatively different from the corresponding single Kondo impurity case. Despite the conduction-electron pseudogap, Kondo-lattice screening is stable if the gap amplitude obeys $\Delta <\sqrt{\tk D}$, in contrast to the single impurity condition $\Delta <\tk$ (where $\tk$ is the Kondo temperature for $\Delta = 0$ and D is the bandwidth). Our theory explains the heavy electron behavior in the d-wave superconductor Nd_{2-x}Ce_{x}CuO_{4}.
Molecular mechanisms of renal development

The biology of renal development has become increasingly complex because technical advances in genetics and cell biology have been used to study this aspect of embryogenesis. The molecular biology and genetics of renal development may seem inconsequential and frustrating to the practicing clinician, but insight into fundamental mechanisms of renal development are necessary to understand clinical breakthroughs that will occur in the future. As a basis for appreciating these concepts, specific paradigms of renal development are illustrated and the investigative strategies used to develop them are summarized in this article.
EPIDEMIC TREMOR, AN ENCEPHALOMYELITIS AFFECTING YOUNG CHICKENS

A new disease having a characteristic and well defined symptom complex is described as occurring in young chickens in four New England states. Tremor, principally of the head and neck, and progressive ataxia are the characteristic symptoms, either or both of which may be present in a single bird. Age at onset in field epidemics ranges from 3 days to 6 weeks, with a majority of cases reported at 3 weeks. Morbidity in commercial flocks ranges from 5 to 50 per cent; mortality in affected hatches may be 50 per cent. The disease may or may not recur in successive hatches, and in the same flock in successive years. Although birds may survive an attack of the disease, nervous symptoms persist in a majority of cases. There is no evidence that nutritional factors are involved. Normal chickens have not contracted the disease by contact with affected birds. The disease has been reproduced in normal chickens by intracerebral inoculation of brain and spinal cord from affected birds. Twenty brain-to-brain passages have been made up to the present time. The incubation period in laboratory passages ranges from 6 to 44 days with symptoms appearing usually between 21 and 28 days. The proportion of inoculated birds developing symptoms has increased with successive passages. The infective agent in the brain has survived in 50 per cent glycerine for 69 days. No organism has been cultivated. The disease has been reproduced after inoculation with bacteriologically sterile filtrates obtained with Seitz and Berkefeld N filters. Attempts to demonstrate the presence of the infective agent in the chicken embryo have been inconclusive. Chicks hatched from eggs laid by birds which had survived the disease were not infected, nor were they immune to inoculation at 6 weeks of age. The characteristic lesion of the disease consists of microscopic focal collections of glia cells, perivascular infiltration, degeneration of Purkinje's cells, and degeneration of nerve cells. Foci of infiltration are present throughout the brain and spinal cord. In the viscera of birds from field epidemics, microscopic focal infiltrations of cells of the lymphoid series are often found. Their presence is most notable in the pancreas and heart. No cell inclusions have been demonstrated.
Experimentally Induced Osteoarthritis in Guinea Pigs

Developing osteoarthritis, surgically induced in the right hind knee joint of guinea pigs by different procedures (A or B), was studied in animals maintained on either minimal or supplemented levels of dietary vitamin C. Procedure A, consisting of transecting the anterior cruciate and major portion of the medial collateral ligaments, resulted in a slower developing and less severe form of the disease than procedure B which also included a partial menisectomy. Regardless of the surgical procedure used, animals on minimal levels of ascorbate always exhibited more severe pathology than those on high levels. When compared with controls, a significant enhancement of acid phosphatase characterized arthritic cartilage in both supplemented and minimal diet groups, although the increase was 2-fold greater in the latter. In addition, a significant elevation of arylsulfatase A and B activities was observed only in the minimal diet group. Early stages of pathology in both diet groups were characterized by formation of repair cartilage which stained strongly with Safranin O on histologic sections. As the disease progressed, pitting, ulcerations, and eburnation occurred in the minimal diet group. Cartilage weight in normal joints was greater for guinea pigs kept on high levels of vitamin C. It is likely that this stimulated synthesis of cartilage in the supplemented animals protected against the erosion of the articular cartilage which characterized the more severe disease process in the guinea pigs on minimal levels of ascorbate.
New data aid estimate of ocean's plastic content

Experts estimate that 5.25 trillion plastic particles—weighing in at nearly 269,000 tons—are floating in the world's oceans. A new paper in the open access journal PLOS ONE (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.011191) about the abundance of plastic in the oceans combines data from 24 expeditions between 2007 and 2013. These expeditions cover all five subtropical gyres—areas of high pressure where seawater churns and sinks—as well as Australian coastal waters, the Bay of Bengal, and even the Mediterranean Sea.
Analysis of racial disparities in stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer care and outcomes in a Tertiary Gynecologic Oncology Referral Center

Abstract Objective To examine disparities in delivery of care and survival according to racial classification among White and African-American women with Stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing initial treatment in a tertiary referral center setting. Methods All consecutive patients diagnosed with Stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer between 1/1/95 and 12/31/08 were identified and clinic-pathologic variables retrospectively collected. Differences in initial treatment paradigm, surgical and adjuvant therapy, and overall survival according to racial classification were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results A total of 405 patients (White, n =366; African-American, n =39) were identified. There were no significant differences according to racial classification in age, CA125, ASA class, histology, tumor grade, the frequency of initial surgery (90.4% vs 82.1%, p =0.06), optimal residual disease (73.0% vs 69.2%, p =0.28), no gross residual disease (51.4% vs 53.8%, p =0.49), and platinum-taxane chemotherapy (88.3% vs 87.2%, p =0.55). The median overall survival for White patients was 50.5months (95%CI=43.2–57.9months), compared to 47.0 (95%CI=36.2–57.8) months for African-Americans ( p =0.57). On multivariate analysis, age, tumor grade 3, serum albumin Conclusions Among women undergoing initial treatment for ovarian cancer at a tertiary referral center, African-American patients were as likely as White patients to undergo cytoreductive surgery, be left with minimal post-surgical residual disease, and receive appropriate chemotherapy. With equal access to gynecologic oncology care and multidisciplinary cancer resources, the survival disparities according to race observed in population-based studies are largely mitigated.
Metabolism of peptide amino acids by Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in a complex medium.

Metabolic flux analysis is a useful tool for unraveling relationships between metabolism and cell function. Material balancing can be used to provide estimates of major metabolic pathway fluxes, provided all significant metabolite uptake and production rates are measured. Potential sources of metabolizable material in many serum-free media formulations are low molecular weight digests of biological material such as yeast extracts and plant or animal tissue hydrolysates. These digests typically contain large amounts of peptides, which may be utilized as amino acids. This article demonstrates the need for accounting for amino acids liberated from peptides in order to accurately estimate pathway fluxes in Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in a complex (hydrolysate containing) medium. A simplified model of central carbon metabolism provides the framework for analyzing external metabolite measurements. Redundant measurements are included to ensure the consistency of data and assumed biochemistry by comparing redundant measurements with their predicted values from a minimum data set, and by expressing the degree of agreement using a statistical "consistency index." The consistency index tests whether redundancies are satisfied within expected experimental error. For chemostat steady states of CHO cultures grown in a hydrolysate-supplemented medium, consistent data were obtained only when amino acids liberated from peptides were taken into account.
Teaching optical engineering to electrical engineering undergraduates

We describe a one-semester undergraduate course in optical engineering that has been taught at University of Central Florida since 1985 to junior and senior students of electrical engineering. The choice of topics emphasizes first-order system-engineering calculations, rather than the more traditional theoretical viewpoint often found in junior/senior-level optics courses. Representative topics include: paraxial raytracing, field of view and F/#, diffraction-limited resolution, Fresnel equations, radiometric/photometric units, paraxial flux transfer, blackbody radiation, detector responsivity and sensitivity, shot noise, Johnson noise, and laser-beam propagation. Homework problems emphasize estimation of magnitudes, as well as more exact numerical calculations. We have found this approach to be accessible to typical engineering undergraduates, and to be a good foundation for entry-level practitioners.
Outpatient Mastectomy and Breast Reconstructive Surgery

Background In the United States, post-mastectomy breast reconstruction is a state (all 51 jurisdictions) and federally mandated benefit. Outpatient mastectomy, which could lower use of breast reconstruction, may raise concerns about whether patients receive adequate post-mastectomy care.
Probable Impact of Low-Fat Dairy Products on the Dairy Industry

I wish it were possible for those of us who work in dairy economics to make measurements with the precision and confidence of those who work in the field of dairy technologT. Unfortunately, economists have so far not been able to harness infrared rays to assist them in their analysis. The subject assigned to me, The Probable Impact of Low-Fat Dairy Products on the Dairy Industry, is a broad one. I t is not possible to discuss this subject in isolation. Because there is a great deal of interest in the milk supply situation at the present time, I shall fi~st give you a brief picture of the dairy situation now.
Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) in the pathogenesis of epithelial cancers

LKB1 acts as a master kinase, with its major protein targets being the family of AMPKs. Through activation of multiple signaling pathways, LKB1’s main physiologic functions involve regulating cellular growth, metabolism, and polarity. Germline mutations in LKB1 result in Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, a rare cancer susceptibility syndrome. In addition, multiple LKB1 mutations have been identified in sporadic cancers, especially those of the lung. Recent studies from a variety of murine models have helped characterize LKB1’s role in the pathogenesis of epithelial cancers. In some tumor types, LKB1 might function chiefly to suppress cell growth or invasion, while in other cases, it may serve to prevent metastasis. Moreover, molecular signatures of individual tumors likely influence LKB1’s operational role, as multiple studies have shown that LKB1 can synergize with other tumor suppressors and/or oncogenes to accelerate tumorigenesis. To date, LKB1 has been considered mainly a tumor suppressor; however, some studies have suggested its potential oncogenic role, mainly through the suppression of apoptosis. In short, LKB1 is a tissue and context-specific kinase. This review aims to summarize our current understanding of its role in the pathogenesis of epithelial cancers.
Examination of Limitations Associated with Observing Driver Distraction

Studies that use direct observation to investigate drivers' cell phone use have been conducted by NHTSA since 2002. The limitations of these studies were identified in a naturalistic driving study conducted at the University of Michigan. In direct observation studies of drivers' cell phone use, observations are typically conducted at intersections, providing the observer with enough time to accurately observe the behavior but limiting data to one location along the roadway. This may be a limitation of large-scale observation usage studies, which, in turn, translates into a research hypothesis that when stopped at intersections, drivers use their cell phones more frequently. Through a combination of in-field observers and video data collection, more than 3,500 vehicles were observed to determine the difference in cell phone use between drivers upstream and those at the intersection. Signalized intersections were found to have a higher rate of text messaging cell phone use, with the highest percentage obser...
Bacterial Catabolism of Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP).

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a metabolite produced primarily by marine phytoplankton and is the main precursor to the climatically important gas dimethylsulfide (DMS). DMS is released upon bacterial catabolism of DMSP, but it is not the only possible fate of DMSP sulfur. An alternative demethylation/demethiolation pathway results in the eventual release of methanethiol (MeSH), a highly reactive volatile sulfur compound that contributes little to the atmospheric sulfur flux. The activity of these pathways control the natural flux of sulfur released to the atmosphere. Although these biochemical pathways and the factors that regulate them are of great interest, they are poorly understood. Only recently have some of the genes and pathways responsible for DMSP catabolism been elucidated. Thus far, six different enzymes have been identified that catalyze the cleavage of DMSP, resulting in the release of DMS. In addition, five of these enzymes appear to produce acrylate, while one produces 3-hydroxypropionate. In contrast, only one enzyme, designated DmdA, has been identified that catalyzes the demethylation reaction producing methylmercaptopropionate (MMPA). The metabolism of MMPA is performed by a series of three coenzyme-A mediated reactions catalyzed by DmdB, DmdC, and DmdD. Interestingly, Candidatus Pelagibacter ubique, a member of the SAR11 clade of Alphaproteobacteria that is highly abundant in marine surface waters, possessed functional DmdA, DmdB, and DmdC enzymes. Microbially mediated transformations of both DMS and methanethiol are also possible, although many of the biochemical and molecular genetic details are still unknown. This review will focus on the recent discoveries in the biochemical pathways that mineralize and assimilate DMSP carbon and sulfur, as well as the areas for which a comprehensive understanding is still lacking.
Serum UDP-galactosyl transferase as a potential biomarker for breast carcinoma

UDP-galactose:N-acetylglucosamine galactosyltransferase (GT) is a membrane-bound enzyme active in the biosynthesis of the carbohydrate moiety of glycoproteins and glycolipids. A soluble form of GT, present in human serum, has recently been found to be elevated in the presence of various neoplasms. In this study, GT levels were measured in randomized serum samples obtained from normal controls (group I, n = 49), patients with benign breast disease (group II, n = 46), disease controls (group III, n = 50), patients with primary breast carcinoma (group IV, n = 53), and untreated metastatic breast cancer (group V, n = 23). Although substantial serum GT elevations were observed in individual control patients with active inflammatory or metabolic diseases, the mean GT levels were significantly higher in the groups with breast carcinoma (P < 0.001, 0.001, 0.02; P < 0.001, 0.001, 0.001 for groups IV and V vs groups, 1, II, and III, respectively). Furthermore, when serum GT levels were correlated with the properative clinical stage of breast cancer, significant elevations were found in 14.3% (3/21) of stage I, 66.7% (8/12) of stage II, 78.6% (11/14) of stage III, and 96.5% (28/29) of stage IV patients. These data indicate that serum GT levels are elevated in the presence of breast carcinoma and that the enzyme elevations correlate positively with the clinical stage of disease. Serum GT may be potentially useful in the detection of recurrent breast carcinoma and as a marker of tumor response to therapy for advanced disease.
One-dimensional equivalent circuit simulation of a photodiode-based spatial light modulator

A one-dimensional (1-D) equivalent circuit model for an optically addressed, photodiode-based spatial light modulator (SLM) is presented. The model is first verified for a liquid crystal (LC)-based SLM via a 1-D experimental version of the device followed by a detail simulation using SPICE. It was found that the optical performance of the LC-SLM was most sensitive to the liquid crystal thickness, substrate doping concentration, and the photodiode leakage current. This model can be a useful tool for the analysis of the optical performance (such as photosensitivity and image uniformity) of a variety of photodiode-based SLMs as a function of their structural and operating parameters.
A monoclonal antibody IMab-1 specifically recognizes IDH1R132H, the most common glioma-derived mutation

IDH1 (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1) mutations have been identified as early and frequent genetic alterations in astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and oligoastrocytomas as well as secondary glioblastomas. In contrast, primary glioblastomas very rarely contain IDH1 mutations, although primary and secondary glioblastomas are histologically indistinguishable. The IDH1 mutations are remarkably specific to a single codon in the conserved and functionally important Arg132 in IDH1. In gliomas, the most frequent IDH1 mutations (>90%) were G395A (R132H). In this study, we immunized mice with R132H-containing IDH1 (IDH1(R132H)) peptide. After cell fusion using Sendai virus envelope, the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which specifically reacted with IDH1(R132H), were screened in ELISA. One of the mAbs, IMab-1 reacted with the IDH1(R132H) peptide, but not with wild type IDH1 (IDH1(wt)) peptide in ELISA. In Western-blot analysis, IMab-1 reacted with only the IDH1(R132H) protein, not IDH1(wt) protein or the other IDH1 mutants, indicating that IMab-1 is IDH1(R132H)-specific. Furthermore, IMab-1 specifically stained the IDH1(R132H)-expressing cells in astrocytomas in immunohistochemistry, whereas it did not react with IDH1(R132H)-negative primary glioblastoma sections. In conclusion, we established an anti-IDH1(R132H)-specific monoclonal antibody IMab-1, which should be significantly useful for diagnosis and biological evaluation of mutation-bearing gliomas.
An examination of alternative work arrangements in private accounting practice

Employees are requesting more flexibility in their work schedules to be able to integrate work with other aspects of their family and personal lives. While alternative work arrangements are being offered at progressively more companies, it is unclear whether the work culture accepts these arrangements as a viable work alternative. Here we examine the extent to which flextime and telecommuting arrangements impact management accountants' performance evaluations, job commitment, and career progression as compared to working a traditional schedule. We also examine whether these arrangements are perceived as being less acceptable for men than for women. One‐hundred sixty management accountants from 90 companies participated in our experiment. The results indicate that participation in alternative work arrangements did not impact perceptions of current task performance or job commitment. However, participation led to significantly lower perceptions of long‐term career potential.
A practical solution to the minimal design problem

In the past few years several techniqnes for solving the minimal design problem have appeared in the literature. In this paper, a new algorithm is presented which has computational advantages over existing techniques of solving the minimal design problem. The procedure is illustrated with a physical multivariable example.
Cognitive and Psychosocial Consequences of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Among Middle-Aged, Older, and Oldest-Old Adults in the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study (LHAS)

This study examined the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on cognitive and psychosocial functioning among middle-aged (45-64 years), older (65-89 years) and oldest-old adults (90 years and over) in the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study (LHAS). Analyses of pre- and post-disaster cognitive data showed storm-related decrements in working memory for the middle-aged and older adults, but not for the oldest-old adults. Regression analyses confirmed that measures of social engagement and storm-related disruption significantly predicted pre- to post-disaster differences in short-term and working memory performance for the middle-aged and older adults only. These results are consistent with a burden perspective on post-disaster psychological reactions. Implications for current views of disaster reactions are discussed.
Impact of obesity on oral contraceptive pharmacokinetics and hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian activity.

Abstract Background This study was conducted to determine whether increased body mass index (BMI) affects oral contraceptive (OC) pharmacokinetics and suppression of hypothalamic���pituitary���ovarian (HPO) axis activity. Study Design Ovulatory reproductive-age women with normal weight (BMI 2 ; n =10) and with obesity (BMI >30 kg/m 2 ; n =10) received OCs for two cycles (prospective cohort). Subjects were admitted for two 48-h inpatient stays at the beginning and end of the hormone-free interval. Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (LNG) levels were evaluated during both inpatient stays. Gonadotropin pulsatility (follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone) was measured during the second inpatient stay. Estradiol (E 2 ) and progesterone (P) were measured daily during inpatient stays and twice per week in Cycle 2. Results BMI was greater in the obese compared to the normal-BMI group [37.3 kg/m 2 (SD, 6.0) vs. 21.9 kg/m 2 (SD, 1.6); p .05) women exhibited E 2 levels consistent with development of a dominant follicle and P levels consistent with ovulation (2/10 vs. 1/10) during Cycle 2. Conclusions Compared to women with normal BMI, obese women exhibit differences in OC pharmacokinetics that are associated with greater HPO activity.
The role of laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery in the new millennium

With the introduction of bilateral ovarian wedge resection (BOWR) in 1935, Stein and Leventhal were the first to describe an effective treatment for the chronic anovulation and associated infertility resulting from what was later to become known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Since that time, many less invasive methods of ovulation induction and enhancement have been developed. While the success of medical ovulation induction led to the almost complete replacement of BOWR by the late 1970's, the presence of a group of women who are not optimally treated by medical methods has maintained the interest in surgical approaches. Surgical and nonsurgical methods of treatment for anovulatory women have continued to be refined. This manuscript reviews this literature and attempts to provide a framework for the role that modern surgical methods of ovulation induction might play in the current scheme of treatment for anovulatory infertility in women with PCOS.