cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of young age on coronary adaptations to left ventricular pressure overload hypertrophy in sheep.

Abstract Objectives. This study attempted to determine the effect of young age on changes in coronary conductance and capillary density with left ventricular pressure overload hypertrophy. Mechanisms responsible for age differences in perfusion capacity were examined. Background. Hypertension in adults causes alterations in the coronary vasculature, resulting in diminished coronary perfusion capacity and myocardial ischemia. These processes are worsened in adults by advanced age. Young age may provide advantages in coronary adaptation to hypertension. Methodes. Coronary conductance was examined in conscious chronically instrumented 10-week old lambs and adult sheep with progressive ascending aortic stenosis of 6-week9s duration and age-matched control sheep by means of the microsphere technique and vasodilators. Capillary density was measured post-mortem. Results. Adult sheep with aortic stenosis had a decrease in left ventricular subendomyocardial capillary density by 17% and maximal coronary conductance with adenosine by 67%. In the nonhypertrophied right ventricle, maximal coronary conductance was depressed by 47%, whereas capillary density was normal, implying an effect of coronary hypertension on resistance vessels. In contrast, lambs with aortic stenosis maintained normal left ventricular capillary density, maximal coronary conductance and coronary reserve and had relatively little impairment of conductance in the right ventricular coronary bed (−15%, p = NS). Similar responses were found with other vasodilators, isoproterenol and chromonar. Conclusions. Young age confers advantages to coronary adaptation to left ventricular pressure overload, including angiogenesis proportionate to hypertrophy, resulting in normal capillary density and coronary conductance. There is also less hypertension-induced impairment of coronary conductance distinct from the effects of hypertrophy.
Aircraft-produced Ice Particles in a Highly Supercooled Altocumulus Cloud

Abstract On 25 October during the 1986 Project FIRE Intensive Field Observations experiment, a NCAR King Air mission conducted over a ground-based polarization lidar site at Wausau, Wisconsin, sampled a highly supercooled (−28° to −31°C) altocumulus perlucidus layer. Ground-based photography shows the concurrent formation of a contrail, which glaciated and gradually spread until producing an ice crystal optical display. According to wind-advected flight tracks, the aircraft-produced ice particles (APIP)-affected cloud volume was later sampled during zenith lidar measurements, indicating a ∼1.0 m s−1 horizontal dispersion rate, and accidentally repenetrated by the aircraft during a spiral descent. In situ data obtained during the legs generating the APIP measured average liquid-water contents of 0.02–0.05 gm−3, mean droplet diameters of 12–15 μm, and droplet concentrations of 20–25 cm−3. The resampling of the APIP region yielded ice crystal concentrations of 242 I−1 at the original leg altitude, and 36 1−1...
Descartes, Pascal, and the Epistemology of Mathematics: The Case of the Cycloid

This paper deals with the very different attitudes that Descartes and Pascal had to the cycloid—the curve traced by the motion of a point on the periphery of a circle as the circle rolls across a right line. Descartes insisted that such a curve was merely mechanical and not truly geometric, and so was of no real mathematical interest. He nevertheless responded to enquiries from Mersenne, who posed the problems of determining its area and constructing its tangent. Pascal, in contrast, saw the cycloid as a paradigm of geometric intelligibil- ity, and he made it the focus of a series of challenge problems he posed to the mathematical world in 1658. After dealing with some of the history of the cycloid (including the work of Galileo, Mersenne, and Torricelli), I trace this difference in attitude to an underlying difference in the mathematical epistemologies of Descartes and Pascal. For Descartes, the truly geometric is that which can be expressed in terms of anite ratios between right lines, which in turn are expressible as closed polynomial equations. As Descartes pointed out, this means that ratios between straight and curved lines are not geometrically admissible, and curves (such as the cycloid) that require them must be banished from geometry. Pascal, in contrast, thought that the scope of geometry included curves such as the cycloid, which are to be studied by em- ploying inanitesimal methods and ratios between curved and straight lines.
Abstract 1364: Epigenetic regulation of SPARC in ovarian cancer

Epithelial Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies as most patients are diagnosed at late stages. Despite aggressive surgical debulking and cytoreduction, recurrence is common with poor patient survival. Constitutive progressive inflammation is the hallmark of OvCa and is contributed by the interaction of transformed OvCa cells with cues from the peritoneal microenvironment, activating multiple signaling pathways that converge in the (trans)activation of NFκB which not only induces the transcription of myriad inflammatory mediators but represses tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) creating a vicious circle of disease progression, recurrence and chemoresistance. Therefore there is a pressing need to identify new diagnostic, prognostic biomarkers as well as new. Our earlier studies indicated Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine SPARC is a tumor suppressor in OvCa in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we found that SPARC suppresses OvCa cells interactions with environmental cues within the peritoneal milieu. We also found that the expression of SPARC was decreased in established OvCa cell lines and microdissected OvCa cells from advanced tumors consistent with hypermethylated of its promoter. However, the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of SPARC in OvCa (and other morbidities) are unraveled. Mapping of SPARC promoter revealed consensus binding sites for NFB subunits. Pharmacologic inhibition of NFκB as well as knockdown of p65-RelA and p50 subunits restored SPARC expression and function in OvCa cells. Furthermore, treatment of OvCa cells with demethylating agent 5′azacytidine indicated that NFκB-mediated SPARC repression is due to methylation. In OvCa tissue microarrays, the expression of SPARC in cancer cells inversely correlated with nuclear p65-RelA and DNMT3a expression. Together these findings indicate that activated NFκB integrates inflammatory signals to exert epigenetic pressure suppressing tumor cell SPARC through promoter methylation. Citation Format: Dylan P. Matthews, Sherine Taylor, Neveen A. Said. Epigenetic regulation of SPARC in ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1364. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1364
THE TRANSFORMATION FUNCTION REVISITED

Introduction The transformation function for two‐sector production models has been used extensively in the international trade and general equilibrium literature. It has been derived both graphically and mathematically from individual sector production functions that are assumed to be linearly homogeneous. The result has been a convex set possessing first derivatives that have frequently been used. However, there seems to be a lack of research on further properties attributable to the transformation function. The purpose of this paper is to analyze these additional properties. We begin by proving that the transformation function is linearly homogeneous in all of its arguments. We then derive the standard first derivatives of the transformation function providing their usual economic interpretation. Finally, we conclude by deriving and interpreting the second‐order derivatives of the transformation function.
Design and management of hybrid electrical energy storage systems for regulation services

Regulation services (RS) play an important role in maintaining the stability of electric grids by correcting for short-term mismatches between electricity generation and demand. RS providers dynamically supply electricity to the grid or consume electricity from it, in response to regulation signals, in return for economic compensation. This capability is commonly realized through large-scale electrical energy storage (EES) systems based on batteries. However, the highly transient nature of the regulation signals implies that the batteries used for RS are subject to frequent charge and discharge cycles, leading to shortened battery life and thereby impacting the profitability of RS. In this work, we explore the use of hybrid EES (HEES) systems, which combine batteries and supercapacitors, to improve the profitability of RS. HEES systems have the potential to reduce the cost of providing RS by utilizing supercapacitors to respond to the high-frequency components of the regulation signal, prolonging battery life. However, realizing this potential presents several challenges. First, the benefits of HEES systems are profoundly impacted by the allocation of capacity to batteries and supercapacitors. This is because the reduction in battery replacement cost due to the use of supercapacitors must be traded off against the increased upfront cost for supercapacitors. Second, HEES systems introduce the problem of how to manage the power flows to the batteries and supercapacitors so as to realize maximum benefits. To address these challenges, we present a framework for the design and management of a HEES system, so as to maximize profit from the perspective of an RS provider. At design time, we propose a capacity optimization framework that determines the best allocation of capacity to batteries and supercapacitors. During system operation, the proposed management scheme selects how the different storage devices are orchestrated considering their characteristics, as well as the incoming regulation signal. Our experiments suggest that, with the proposed capacity optimization and management framework, the use of HEES systems can improve the profit of RS providers by 79%–196%.
Effects of alkanols and halothane on rat brain muscarinic and α-adrenergic receptors

Effects of the primary alcohols ethanol, butanol, pentanol and of halothane were measured on the binding functions of muscarinic and α-adrenergic receptor preparatoins in rat brain homogenates, with the use of the antagonists 3H-quinuclidinyl benzilate and 3H-WB-4101. IC50 concentrations of the alkanols for the muscarinic and α-receptors respectively were: ethanol, 2.0 M and 1.4 M; butanol, 0.24 M and 0.16 M; heptanol, 3.7 × 10−3 M and 2.6 × 10−3. The plot of IC50 values versus number of carbon atoms in the alkanol was linear and of the same slope as the plot of membrane fluidity changes, thus indicating the importance of the membrane/water partition coefficient of the alkanol. Halothane at clinical concenrations had no effect on the receptors, although significant inhibitino of radioligand binding was produced by 2.5 M halothane, and inhibition was complete in presence of 17.5 mM anesthetic. From the correlation of receptor binding inhibitions with membrane fluidity changes reported by other workers, it is suggested that the activity of membrane receptors may be modulated by the fluidity of their membranes.
Energetics and Kinetics of SNARE Zippering

SNARE proteins drive membrane fusion by assembling into a four-helix bundle in a zippering process. The energetics and kinetics of SNARE zippering have not been well characterized, but are critical to understand the functions of brains and other basic cellular processes, as well as their associated diseases. We used high-resolution optical tweezers to observe in real time a long-sought SNARE assembly intermediate in which only the membrane-distal N-terminal half of the bundle is assembled. Our finding supports the zippering hypothesis, but suggests that zippering proceeds through three sequential binary switches, not continuously, in the N- and C-terminal halves of the bundle and the linker domain. The half-zippered intermediate was stabilized by externally applied force which mimicked the repulsion between apposed membranes being forced to fuse. This intermediate then rapidly and forcefully zippered, delivering free energy of 36 kBT to mediate fusion. Thus, the synaptic SNARE complex seems perfectly evolved for precise regulation of neurotransmitter release: Slow assembly of the membrane-distal half allows control of vesicle priming by regulatory factors that can accelerate this step. The discrete pause in the half-zippered state in the presence of a force load enables clamping and thus regulation of release at this stage. Finally, the membrane-proximal domain zippers at the diffusion-controlled rate limit to allow neurotransmitter to be released.
NMR Imaging of Solids with a Surface Coil

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging [1] usually exploits the dependence of the resonance frequency (generally in the rf band) on the magnetic field strength to map spatial position onto a frequency spectrum. The magnetic field strength is given a known spatial dependence and the spins are uniformly excited with an rf field. The uniform rf field is generally produced inside a cylindrical rf coil.
Asexual Evolution: Can Species Exist without Sex?

Most explanations for the existence of species involve a role for sex. A new study of a group of asexual rotifers supports the idea that selection for a common ecological niche can produce a pattern that mimics sexual species, even in the absence of sex.
Clinical, laboratory, and transesophageal echocardiographic correlates of interatrial septal thickness: a population-based transesophageal echocardiographic study.

Background The determinants of interatrial septal (IAS) thickening ("lipomatous hypertrophy"), a common echocardiographic finding in the elderly, are poorly defined. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical, laboratory, and transesophageal echocardiographic correlates of IAS thickening in the general population. Methods The thickness of the IAS was measured by transesophageal echocardiography in 384 patients (median age: 66 years; range: 51-101 years; 53% men) participating in a population-based study (Stroke Prevention: Assessment of Risk in a Community). The associations between atherosclerosis risk factors, clinical cardiovascular disease, aortic atherosclerotic plaques, and IAS thickness were examined. Results Age and body surface area (BSA) were significantly associated with IAS thickness (median: 6 mm; range: 2-17 mm). IAS thickness increased by 12.6% per 10 years of age (95% confidence interval: 9.0-16.4%) adjusting for sex and BSA, and increased by 7.0% per 0.1 m 2 BSA (confidence interval: 5.0-9.2%) adjusting for age and sex. Overall, age, sex, and BSA accounted for 22.5% of the variability in IAS thickness. Current smoking (20.4% increase in IAS thickness in current smokers) and hypertension treatment (8.5% increase in treated patients) were associated with increased IAS thickness, adjusting for age, sex, and BSA ( P P > .3). Conclusions IAS thickening is an age-associated process. Atherosclerosis risk factors are weakly associated with IAS thickening, whereas atherosclerotic vascular disease is not.
Micrografting of ASBVd-infected Avocado (Persea americana) plants

Shoot tips (meristem plus 2-3 leaf primordia) from in vitro-germinated avocado seedlings of 2 ASBVd-infected cultivars were micrografted in vitro onto decapitated seedlings from 2 ASBVd-free cultivars, and plants were recovered. Shoot tips consisted of two different sizes, i.e., 0.5 mm but 0.5 mm than from those that were <0.5 mm (10.3%). RT-PCR demonstrated that ASBVd replicated in all micrografts from infected sources irrespective of the scion size, while no ASBVd was detected in micrografts from plants that tested negative. ASBVd therefore cannot be eliminated by in vitro micrografting.
Preservation Effects on Stable Isotope Analysis of Fish Muscle

Abstract We evaluated the effect of salt and formalin-ethanol sample preservation on carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures of fish muscle tissue. We found statistically significant effects of the tissue preservation technique on both δ13C and δ15N; however, the magnitude of change was small and directionally uniform. Isotopic shifts were similar to those observed in previous studies in which formalin was used to preserve samples of quail blood and muscle and sheep blood. Because salt preservation caused minimal isotopic shifts (+0.13‰ δ13C, +0.72‰ δ15N), we propose salt as an easy, inexpensive preservation technique for biological samples collected in remote field settings. Specimens preserved with formalin and ethanol were minimally affected by preservation (−1.12‰ δ13C, +0.62‰ δ15N) and therefore may be suitable for ecological applications of stable isotope analysis when carbon and nitrogen sources are differentiated by more than 2‰. Further research is required to evaluate potential long-term storage...
Unlikely Crusader: John Eldred Swearingen and African-American Education in South Carolina

Although not a well-known figure either in educational or South Carolina history, John Eldred Swearingen had a profound impact on the schools of the Palmetto State. Guiding the schools to transition from 19th-century academies to 20th-century schools, Swearingen held office from 1907–1922. During these years, Swearingen oversaw unprecedented legislation impacting attendance, funding, and curriculum. Swearingen's stance on African American education was unlike many of his contemporaries—he used a variety of methods to improve education and raiseconsciousness amongst his White politician counterparts. All of these facts would make him a worthy subject of biographical study; however, that he achieved all these things while blind makes his life and career all the more worthy. Almost as overlooked as Swearingen's contributions to South Carolina is the role the state played in the Brown v. Board of Education decision via the Briggs v. Eliott case. Drawing from Swearingen's own words, the papers of his contempor...
Detection of polymorphisms in bovine toll-like receptors 3, 7, 8, and 9 ☆

The toll-like receptors (TLRs) detect molecular signatures of invaders known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Ten members of the TLR family have been identified in cattle to date and 4 of these recognize PAMPs specific to viruses (TLRs 3, 7, 8, 9). The objective of this work was to detect polymorphisms in the genomic sequences of bovine TLRs 3, 7, 8, and 9. To achieve this objective, a panel of nine breeds representing Bos taurus and Bos indicus was assembled for sequencing and comparison with the Bovine Genome Project sequence. Comparative sequence analysis revealed a total of 139 polymorphisms, which include single-nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion-deletion polymorphisms. Of the 139 polymorphisms, 88% (N=123) are novel. In addition, the protein domain architecture of these four TLRs was examined between human, mouse, cow, and dog, which revealed several regions of conservation in the TLR variable leucine-rich-repeat patterning.
Left-ventricle segmentation in real-time 3D echocardiography using a hybrid active shape model and optimal graph search approach

Quantitative analysis of the left ventricular shape and motion patterns associated with left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning in congestive heart failure. Real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE) used for LVMD analysis is frequently limited by heavy speckle noise or partially incomplete data, thus a segmentation method utilizing learned global shape knowledge is beneficial. In this study, the endocardial surface of the left ventricle (LV) is segmented using a hybrid approach combining active shape model (ASM) with optimal graph search. The latter is used to achieve landmark refinement in the ASM framework. Optimal graph search translates the 3D segmentation into the detection of a minimum-cost closed set in a graph and can produce a globally optimal result. Various information-gradient, intensity distributions, and regional-property terms-are used to define the costs for the graph search. The developed method was tested on 44 RT3DE datasets acquired from 26 LVMD patients. The segmentation accuracy was assessed by surface positioning error and volume overlap measured for the whole LV as well as 16 standard LV regions. The segmentation produced very good results that were not achievable using ASM or graph search alone.
Ultra-thin film solid oxide fuel cells utilizing un-doped nanostructured zirconia electrolytes

Abstract Aliovalently-doped zirconia (ZrO 2 ) systems such as yttria-stabilized ZrO 2 (YSZ) have been explored as ionic conductors for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) owing to their high ionic conductivity and exceptional mechanical and chemical stability. Thin film micro-SOFCs (μ-SOFCs) with free-standing membranes create an opportunity for reduced temperature operation with the need to engineer the various materials components. In this study, we have fabricated μ-SOFCs composed of nominally pure ZrO 2 electrolytes (down to sub-10 nm thickness) prepared by room temperature photon-assisted oxidation of Zr precursor metal films and nanoporous Pt electrodes and report on fuel cell performance up to ∼500 °C in hydrogen. The μ-SOFCs exhibit maximum power density of ∼33 mW cm −2 with open circuit voltage of ∼0.91 V at 450 °C. The electrolyte thickness-dependent functional properties of the μ-SOFCs are discussed in detail along with thermo-mechanical stability and microstructural studies. The results could serve as a benchmark to understand doping effects in designing thin film fast-ion conducting zirconia-based electrolytes for low temperature fuel cell operation.
Culture and self-construal as predictors of responses to accommodative dilemmas in dating relationships

The present study tests and extends existing research about the effects of culture and self-construal on reports of accommodative dilemmas in dating relationships. Data were collected from members of three different regional cultures: U.S. mainland, Hawaii, and South Korea. Using a four-factor self-construal model, two hypotheses were posited: (i) members of collectivistic cultures tend to enact accommodation (loyalty, voice) more and nonaccommodation (neglect, exit) less than do their individualistic counterparts; and (ii) bicultural self-construal is more strongly associated consistently with accommodation than are the other three self-construal types. These hypotheses received support. Collectivism–individualism was related consistently with the type of accommodation, and the four self-construal types also displayed a reliable pattern of associations with accommodation and nonaccommodation. Post-hoc assessments revealed that the four-factor model predicted self-reported accommodation better than did th...
Abnormality of chromosome 11 in patients withfeatures of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Two unrelated children with features of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome have been found to havepartial duplication of chromosome 11p. A review of six other reported cases of partial duplication of 11p revealed features of this syndrome not previously recognized. We suggest that karyotype studies with banding techniques should be done in children with features of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and developmental delay or retardation.
Effect of N2 ∕ Ar Gas Mixture Composition on the Chemistry of SiCBN Thin Films Prepared by RF Reactive Sputtering

In this work we report the deposition and characterization of amorphous thin films of silicon boron carbon nitride (SiCBN). The SiCBN thin films were deposited in a radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering system using reactive cosputtering of silicon carbide (SiC) and boron nitride (BN) targets. Films of different compositions were deposited by varying the ratios of argon and nitrogen gas in the sputtering ambient. Surface characterization of the deposited films was performed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and optical profilometry. Studies reveal that the chemical state of the films is highly sensitive to nitrogen flow ratios during sputtering. Surface analysis shows that smooth and uniform SiCBN films can be produced using this technique.
A new synthesis ofL-talose and preparation of its adenine nucleosides

Abstract Methyl 2,3- O -isopropylidene-5,6-di- O -methylsulfonyl-β- D -allofuranoside, prepared by a route starting from D -glucose and its conversion to 1,2:5,6-di- O -isopropylidene-α- D -allofuranose and D -allose, has been used as the starting material for a new synthesis of L -talose. The configuration at C-5 was inverted with NaOAc in hot DMF, resulting in the L -talofuranoside derivative from which the acetyl groups were removed to give methyl 2,3- O -isopropylidene-α- L -talofuranoside. Hydrolysis of the latter yielded L -talose. Methyl 2,3- O -isopropylidene-α- L -talofuranoside was used as the starting material in a six-step synthesis of 9-α- L -talofuranosyladenine. L -Talose was acetylated and coupled with the base to give 9-α- L -talopyranosyladenine. 9-α- L -Talofuranosyladenine was a slow-reacting substrate for calf intestinal adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4) and an inhibitor of the growth of leukemia L1210 cells in vitro.
National trends in oropharyngeal cancer surgery and the effect of surgeon and hospital volume on short-term outcomes and cost of care.

Objectives/Hypothesis: The past 2 decades have witnessed an increase in the use of chemoradiation in the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer. We sought to characterize contemporary patterns of oropharyngeal cancer surgical care and the effect of volume on surgical care and short-term outcomes. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, temporal trends in oropharyngeal cancer surgical care were evaluated in 75,828 cases performed from 1993 through 2008, and relationships between volume and mortality, complications, length of stay, and costs were evaluated in 29,030 cases performed from 2003 through 2008 using regression analysis, adjusting for patient and provider characteristics. Results: Oropharyngeal cancer surgery from 2001 through 2008 was associated with increased use of high-volume hospitals (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; P = .016); an increase in tonsil (OR, 1.4; P < .001) and tongue base (OR, 1.3; P = .001) tumors; an increase in patients aged 40 to 64 years (OR, 1.5; P < .001); a decrease in partial glossectomy (OR, 0.8; P < .001), pharyngectomy (OR, 0.8; P = .003), mandibulectomy (OR, 0.6; P < .001) and laryngectomy procedures (OR, 0.6; P < .001); and an increase in prior radiation (OR, 1.7; P = .026), advanced comorbidity (OR, 1.4; P = .007), and wound complications (OR, 1.5; P = .029), compared to 1993 through 2000. High-volume hospitals were significantly associated with pharyngectomy (OR, 2.6; P = .001), while high-volume surgeons were associated with flap reconstruction (OR, 1.6; P = .005) and prior radiation (OR, 2.6; P = .013). After controlling for all other variables, a statistically significant interaction was observed between high-volume surgeons and high-volume hospitals, with reduced hospital-related costs for surgery performed by high-volume surgeons at high-volume hospitals. Conclusions: These data reflect changing trends in the epidemiology and primary management of oropharyngeal cancer, with meaningful differences in the type of surgical care provided by high-volume providers.
Influence of a volatile compound on formation of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas

Suppression of VAM infection in the presence of potassium permanganate indicates that an easily oxidizable compound(s) have a largely stimulatory effect on VAM infection.
Risk of acquiring human papillomavirus from the plume produced by the carbon dioxide laser in the treatment of warts

Abstract Background: The documented presence of human papillomavirus DNA in the plume after carbon dioxide laser treatment of warts has raised questions about the risk of transmission of human papillomavirus to laser surgeons. Objective: We sought to define more clearly the risks to surgeons of acquiring warts from the CO 2 laser plume. Methods: A comparative study was conducted between CO 2 laser surgeons and two large groups of population-based control subjects (patients with warts in Olmsted County and at the Mayo Clinic from 1988 to 1992). Conclusions were drawn about the risks to surgeons of acquiring warts from the CO 2 laser plume. Results: There was no significant difference ( p = 0.569 ) between the incidence of CO 2 laser surgeons with warts (5.4%) and patients with warts in Olmsted County from 1988 to 1992 (4.9%). There was a significant difference between the incidence of plantar ( p = 0.004), nasopharyngeal ( p = 0.001), and genital and perianal warts ( p = 0.004 ) in the study group and in patients with warts treated at the Mayo Clinic from 1988 to 1992. No significant difference was found between physicians who had acquired warts and those who were wart free, on the basis of the failure to use gloves ( p = 0.418), standard surgical masks ( p = 0.748), laser masks ( p = 0.418), smoke evacuators ( p = 0.564), eye protection ( p = 0.196), or full surgical gowns ( p = 0.216). Finally, the incidence rates of surgeons with warts per 1000 person-years did not increase significantly ( p = 0.951) as the length of time that the CO 2 laser was used to treat warts increased. Conclusion: When warts are grouped together without specification of anatomic site, CO 2 laser surgeons are no more likely to acquire warts than a person in the general population. However, human papillomavirus types that cause genital warts seem to have a predilection for infecting the upper airway mucosa, and laser plume containing these viruses may represent more of a hazard to the surgeon.
Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Immunosensor for Oral Cancer Biomarker IL-6 Using Carbon Nanotube Forest Electrodes and Multilabel Amplification

Squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck (HNSCC) are associated with immune, inflammatory, and angiogenic responses involving interleukin-6 (IL-6). This article reports an ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor for human IL-6 and proof-of-concept studies of IL-6 detection in HNSCC cells. Single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) forests with attached capture antibodies (Ab1) for IL-6 were used in an electrochemical sandwich immunoassay protocol using enzyme label horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to measure very low (≤30 pg mL−1) and elevated levels of IL-6. Two levels of multienzyme labeling were used to measure a broad concentration range of IL-6 in a representative panel of HNSCC cells. Secondary antibodies (Ab2) attached to carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes with 106 HRP labels per 100 nm gave the highest sensitivity of 19.3 nA mL (pg IL-6)−1 cm−2 and the best detection limit (DL) of 0.5 pg mL−1 (25 fM) for IL-6 in 10 μL of calf serum. For more concentrated samples, biotinylated Ab2 bound to streptavid...
Accelerated phase of Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

![Figure][1] An 18-month-old girl with a diagnosis of Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) presented with severe bacterial skin infection. Recurrent episodes of bacterial infections began at the age of 2 months. On physical examination, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, skin
Translational Research on Vaccines: Influenza as an Example

Influenza vaccine development is reviewed as an example of ongoing translational research, which is moving fundamental advances in biology into useful products. The types of new influenza vaccines span the gamut of modern biology research and include new methods of vaccine production (tissue culture compared with egg-produced vaccine). New vaccines being studied include recombinant proteins, polynucleotide vaccines, conjugate vaccines, peptides, expression vectors, and live attenuated vaccines; new adjuvants are being explored to reduce the quantity of antigen needed. The benefits of using reverse genetics are explored. The limits of translational research for predicting clinical results after wide use of vaccines are discussed, including one example of “overinterpretation” of data; some questions should be left to phase IV experience to answer. The pipeline for new influenza vaccines is robust, and recent investment by government and industry in newer vaccines will bring several new products to clinical use. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2007) 82, 745–749; doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100419; published online 31 October 2007
Heritable variation in the inflorescence replacement program of Arabidopsis thaliana

Owing to their sessile habits and trophic position within global ecosystems, higher plants display a sundry assortment of adaptations to the threat of predation. Unlike animals, nearly all higher plants can replace reproductive structures lost to predators by activating reserved growing points called axillary meristems. As the first step in a program aimed at defining the genetic architecture of the inflorescence replacement program (IRP) of Arabidopsisthaliana, we describe the results of a quantitative germplasm survey of developmental responses to loss of the primary reproductive axis. Eighty-five diverse accessions were grown in a replicated common garden and assessed for six life history traits and four IRP traits, including the number and lengths of axillary inflorescences present on the day that the first among them re-flowered after basal clipping of the primary inflorescence. Significant natural variation and high heritabilities were observed for all measured characters. Pairwise correlations among the 10 focal traits revealed a multi-dimensional phenotypic space sculpted by ontogenic and plastic allometries as well as apparent constraints and outliers of genetic interest. Cluster analysis of the IRP traits sorted the 85 accessions into 5 associations, a topology that establishes the boundaries within which the evolving Arabidopsis genome extends and restricts the species’ IRP repertoire to that observable worldwide.
The sensitivity and specificity of computerized databases for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To examine the accuracy of a computerized medical database for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods The complete medical records of all prevalent cases of RA (according to the 1987 American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria) on January 1, 1987 were reviewed to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of database diagnoses compared with those obtained by medical record review. Agreement between database and medical record diagnoses was calculated using the kappa statistic. Results Computerized database diagnoses of RA had a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 74%, a positive predictive value of 57%, and a negative predictive value of 94% compared with diagnoses based on clinical information abstracted from the complete medical record. Agreement between database and medical record diagnoses was poor (kappa = 0.54). Conclusion The sole reliance on such databases for the diagnoses of RA can result in substantial misdiagnosis.
National Cloud Computing Principles: Guidance for Public Sector Authorities Moving to the Cloud

Governments around the world are actively seeking to leverage the many benefits of cloud computing while also ensuring that they manage risks that deployment of the new technologies can raise. While laws and regulations related to the privacy and security of government data may already exist, many were drafted in the "pre-cloud" era and could therefore benefit from an update and revision. This paper explores some of the concepts that should be incorporated into new or amended laws that seek to guide public sector entities as they move their data and workloads to the cloud.
Facilitatory Effect of High Protein Intake on Subsequent Consumption of an Ammo-acid Imbalanced Diet

IT is now well known that at low levels of dietary protein, imbalances and excesses in the amino-acid content of the diet depress growth and food intake in rats. Increasing the casein-level from a value of 9 to 18 per cent eliminates the depression of appetite and the retardation of growth resulting from ingestion of a diet containing 3 per cent l-leucine1. In the work recorded here, we have examined the possibility that the higher basal protein level may act in part to increase the generalized capacity of the organism to metabolize and dispose of excess amino-acid loads.
Woody plant damage by African elephants in relation to leaf nutrients in western Zimbabwe

The relationship between elephant damage and leaf nutrient concentration across tree species was investigated in a semi-arid savanna in western Zimbabwe with the purpose of investigating possible nutritional factors influencing elephant feeding preferences in Kalahari sand woodlands. The presence of elephant damage was recorded in all trees above 1 m in height, and leaf samples were collected from all tree species encountered in 12 vegetation plots during the late dry season. Elephant damage was positively correlated with leaf calcium, magnesium, potassium and protein concentration, but not with sodium, phosphorus or fibre. Tree species associated with sandy soils appeared to be less preferred by elephants and to have lower nutrient concentrations than species occurring on more fertile soils, such as species associated with termite mounds. Elephant damage may suppress recruitment in preferred tree species in these woodlands. This notion was supported by (1) the fact that 44% of all trees surveyed had had their main stems broken by elephants, a situation that leads to a multi-stemmed growth form with limited vertical growth; and (2) the negative correlation between the height of damaged trees and elephant damage across species.
Competitive inhibition of dexamethasone binding to the glucocorticoid receptor in HTC cells by tryptophan methyl ester

Abstract We have previously reported that the binding of adrenal and sex steroid hormones to specific receptors is inhibited by a variety of protease inhibitors and substrates, including tryptophan methyl ester (TME). Now, using the method of Scatchard, we report on the effect of D-TME on the binding of [3H]-dexamethasone to the glucocorticoid receptor found in HTC cells. We find that the measured equilibrium dissociation constant of [3H]-dexamethasone for HTC cytosol is raised from 3.10 ± 0.32 × 10−9 M in the absence of TME to 7.3 ± 0.63 × 10−9 M in the presence of 5 mM TME, and 10.1 ± 0.60 × 10−9 M in the presence of 7.5 mM TME. The maximal number of [3H]-dexamethasone binding sites is 5.5 × 10−13 moles per mg protein and is unaltered by d -TME. Therefore, we conclude that TME, a competitive inhibitor of chymotrypsin is also a competitive inhibitor of dexamethasone binding to the glucocorticoid receptor in HTC cells. This conclusion supports the hypothesis that the TME binding site and the dexamethasone binding site are partially contigous.
S. O. Lilienfeld and N. G. Waller, “A great pioneer of clinical science remembered: Introduction to the special issue in honor of Paul E. Meehl”. Journal of Clinical Psychology 61(10) 2005, 1201–1207

Originally published in J Clin Psychol 61: 1201–1207, 2005 Through an oversight on the part of Special Issue Co-Editor Scott O. Lilienfeld, Dr. Joel Weinberger was not listed as a co-author of the article “In Praise of Clinical Judgment: Meehl's Forgotten Legacy,” in the Introduction (p. 1205) to the Journal of Clinical Psychology Special Issue in Honor of Paul E. Meehl (Vol. 61, Issue 10, October, 2005). The Introduction should have noted that this article was co-authored by Drs. Drew Westen and Joel Weinberger. Dr. Lilienfeld sincerely apologizes for the error.
Relapse in the skull after myeloablative therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma.

Patterns of relapse were determined for 20 high-risk neuroblastoma patients treated with chemotherapy, surgery, primary and metastatic site radiation (21 Gray), myeloablative chemotherapy, peripheral blood stem cell rescue, and 13- cis -retinoic acid. The median follow-up duration after transplant is 21 months (range, 8-34 months). The event-free survival and overall survival at 2 years were 45 and 75%, respectively. There were 2 primary site recurrences. Metastatic sites that became MIBG-scan negative on induction chemotherapy were not irradiated. Four patients relapsed in irradiated metastatic sites, 3 in the skull, 1 in the liver. Failure also occurred at 2 skull sites treated with chemotherapy only, and at 5 new sites: 1 skull, 2 distant lymph nodes, and 2 bones other than skull. Eight of 20 patients had skull metastasis at presentation; 6 were irradiated and 3 were controlled. Skull metastasis warrants more aggressive evaluation and treatment.
Structure of the cat's retina after occlusion of the retinal circulation.

Abstract A photocoagulator was used to occlude small arteries in the cat's retina, and the structure of the retinal areas thereby deprived of blood was examined by light microscopy. In these areas the fiber, ganglion cell, inner plexiform, horizontal cell and outer plexiform layers appear to degenerate completely, while the receptor cells and a small number of bipolar cells were seen to survive. The outer nuclear layer was largely unaffected; the photoreceptor elements appeared quite intact. The animals used survived closure of the retinal arteries by 9–25 days.
Geographic Information Abstractions: Conceptual Clarity for Geographic Modeling

Just as we abstract our reality to make life intellectually manageable, we must create abstractions when we build models of geographic structure and process. Geographic information abstractions with aspects of theme, time, and space can be used to provide a comprehensive description of geographic reality in a geographic information system (GIS): In the context of geographic modeling a geographic information abstraction is defined as a simultaneous focus on important characteristics of geographic content, structure, and process while temporarily suppressing certain details—rather than elimination or deletion of detail. Geographic information abstractions can be used in a database design process to develop a more realistic description of reality in the form of a database model. The geographic information abstraction types are: classification, generalization, aggregation, and association. They are used to structure a descriptive GIS database model by using an example from urban transportation. The embedding ...
Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Complexes with MM Triple and Quadruple Bonds (M = Mo, W) at 1064 nm by Degenerate Four-Wave Mixing

Measurements of the third-order nonlinear optical responses of solutions of the metal−metal multiply bonded complexes Mo2(OPri)6, W2(OBut)6, M2(NMe2)6, M2(O2CBut)4, and M2Cl4(PMe3)4 (M = Mo, W), using picosecond degenerate four-wave mixing at 1064 nm, are reported. These complexes display only very small instantaneous electronic polarizations when excited with cross-polarized beams. When the excitation beams are similarly polarized, a significant third-order optical response is detected, which is attributable to the formation of bulk thermal excitation gratings. Time-dependent measurements support this view.
Early evidence of the ballgame in Oaxaca, Mexico

As a defining characteristic of Mesoamerican civilization, the ballgame has a long and poorly understood history. Because the ballgame is associated with the rise of complex societies, understanding its origins also illuminates the evolution of socio-politically complex societies. Although initial evidence, in the form of ceramic figurines, dates to 1700 BCE, and the oldest known ballcourt dates to 1600 BCE, the ritual paraphernalia and ideology associated with the game appear around 1400 BCE, the start of the so-called Early Horizon, defined by the spread of Olmec-style symbols across Mesoamerica. Early Horizon evidence of ballgame paraphernalia both identical to and different from that of the Gulf Coast Olmec can be seen on figurines from coastal Chiapas and the central highlands of Mexico, respectively. The Mexican state of Oaxaca, however, has yielded little data on early involvement in the ballgame. The discovery of a ballplayer figurine in the Mixteca Alta region of Oaxaca demonstrates the early participation of this region in the iconography and ideology of the ballgame. In lieu of an actual ballcourt, the focus may have been on the symbolic component of ballplayers and their association with supernatural forces, as part of emerging leaders’ legitimization strategies.
Relationship of Hla‐Dw3 and Hla‐B8 to Sjögren'S Syndrome

Nineteen patients with Sjogren's syndrome were evaluated for the presence of HLA-B8 and HLA-Dw3. HLA-B8 was found in 57.8% of patients and 20.1% of 96 controls (P less than 0.001). HLA-Dw3 was detected in 73.7% of the patients and 24.0% of controls (P less than 0.0001). Statistical evaluation of the association of both antigens with Sjogren's syndrome revealed that the primary association was with HLA-Dw3 (P less than 0.005). Patients with HLA-Dw3 had a lower mean parotid salivary flow rate (0.8 +/- 0.3 ml/10 minutes/gland versus 5.6 +/- 1.2 ml/10 minutes/gland, P less than 0.0004) and a more intense lymphocytic infiltration into labial salivary glands (focus score 7.2 +/- 0.9 versus 3.4 +/- 0.9, P less than 0.04) than did patients without HLA-Dw3. The difference in the intensity of the lymphocytic infiltration was even more significant when patients with both HLA-Dw3 and HLA-B8 were compared with patients with neither antigen (focus score 7.5 +/- 1.0 versus 2.8 +/- 0.8, P less than 0.02). In addition, all patients with severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca had both antigens. Our observations suggest that a number of genes may interact to determine susceptibility and severity in Sjogren's syndrome.
Behavioral and cellular effects of serotonin on locomotion and male mating posture in Ascaris suum (Nematoda)

The site and mode of action of serotonin on locomotion were investigated in the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum. Injection of serotonin into Ascaris immediately caused paralysis in animals that were generating locomotory waveforms. Injected serotonin also increased body length and decreased the number of propagating body waves. Similar injections into the male tail produced a ventral tail curl. Injection of N-acetyl-serotonin had no effect on the generation of locomotory waveforms, but increased the body length and decreased the number of body waves in the waveform. Other biogenic amines were also tested but were much less potent.
Upstream approaches to reducing socioeconomic inequalities in health

. The facts are well known:• the risk of adverse health outcomesincreases with a decreasing level ofsocioeconomic position;• this relationship is widespread, beingfound in most places and during mostperiods of time;• generally speaking it is found for all agegroups;• it is found for most, with a few exceptions,health outcomes; and• while the inverse relationship is ubiquitous,the strength of the association variesbetween groups, places, and over time. Itis also clear that there has been anexplosion of interest in the relationshipbetween socioeconomic factors andhealth outcomes. For example, a searchof MEDLINE citations that included oneor more of the descriptors “social class,socioeconomic factors, income, orpoverty,” revealed a level trend at around120 publications per month.From the early 1980’s onward, there wasa dramatic increase in the rate of publica-tion with over 220 per month by June of2000
The Energy Loss of Low Energy Protons in Some Gases

Experimental values for the energy loss of protons in ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, He, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, A, Kr, ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O, C${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, and C${\mathrm{Cl}}_{4}$ have been obtained in the region from 10 to 80 kev. The energy loss ($\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}E}{\ensuremath{\Delta}x}$) can be expressed for the elementary gases measured in terms of a single curve, with two constants $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}E}{\ensuremath{\Delta}x}=Lf(\mathrm{ME})$. The energy loss per atom is independent of the target density over the range 0 to 1.5-mm Hg, and the energy loss for compound gases is equal to the sum of their components.