cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-term Effects of Mulligan's Mobilization With Movement on Pain, Function, and Emotional Aspects in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Case Series

Abstract Objective To evaluate the short-term effects of Mulligan's mobilization with movement (MWM) on pain, physical function, emotional aspects, and proprioceptive acuity after a 2-week treatment period and throughout a 3-week follow-up period. Methods A single group of 30 participants (60.96 ± 5.16 years) with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) was evaluated. The protocol involved 5 evaluations moments, before (baseline) and after 2 weeks of intervention (24 hours after the last session), and at 3-week follow-up. The intervention included 3 Mulligan's MWM techniques. The variables evaluated were pain (pressure pain threshold and Visual Numeric Scale), physical function (range of motion, proprioceptive acuity, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) and emotional aspects (Beck Depression Inventory). Analysis of variance for repeated measures was used considering a significance level of 5%. Results At the second evaluation (after intervention), the pressure pain threshold presented higher values for rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and patellar tendon sites and reduced values for the Visual Numeric Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index compared with baseline. Also, during the follow-up period, all variables returned close to baseline levels. Proprioceptive acuity and range of motion did not present significant changes. Conclusion Scores for pain relief, physical function, and emotional aspects improved after a course of MWM in this single group of individuals with KOA. Mobilization with movement had limited outcome during follow-up. It suggests that future clinical trials on the use of MWM for KOA should be considered.
Therapeutic Application of Cannabis in Medicine and Its Relevance to Thoracic Surgery

Background Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States. As cannabis use rises in popularity and its legalization continues to expand, the scientific community must address the controversy between beneficial and adverse effects of cannabis consumption. Methods We performed a comprehensive literature review to study the medicinal and pathologic effects of cannabis use, with emphasis on its association with cancer pathophysiology and thoracic surgery. Results We found evidence that cannabis products often contain carcinogenic materials and that their use is associated with the development of certain head and neck cancers, but not lung cancer. Indeed, several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that cannabis may have a therapeutic role in cancer given the antiproliferative effects of its active compounds such as δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Cannabis-derived products have also been shown to be effective treatments for chronic pain, neuropathy, spasticity, and as antiemetics. Conclusions We acknowledge that additional studies are required to elucidate the long-term effects of cannabis products and that many potential biases and limitations exist in the literature due to self-reporting and limited survey studies. Appropriate stewardship over cannabis use among our patient population will likely determine its full implications in both oncologic and perioperative outcomes.
Immunohistochemical HER2 score correlates with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-positive primary breast cancer

The accuracy of biomarker assessment in breast cancer (BC) is paramount for therapy decisions and informs prognosis. We investigated neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) response in HER2-positive BC with respect to immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) results. We aimed to determine the role of HER2 protein expression in predicting NAC response and long-term outcome in two HER2-positive groups: IHC 3 + versus IHC 2 + ISH amplified groups. This retrospective study included 192 consecutive HER2 + primary BCs diagnosed from 2007 to 2019 treated with NAC and HER2-targeted agent (NACH). There were 158 HER2 3 + and 34 HER2 2 + ISH + cases. Clinicopathological parameters and long-term outcomes were analyzed. The Pathological Complete Response (pCR) rate was 85.7% (72/84) in ER-/HER2 + BCs and was lower in ER + /HER2 + BCs (42.6%, 46/108). The pCR was 55.1% (86/156) in the HER2 3 + group and was only 17.6% in HER2 2 + ISH + group (p < 0.001). Patients who achieved pCR in HER2 2 + ISH + group did not show a significantly higher HER2/CEP17 ratio or HER2 copy number. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were significantly higher in pCR compared to non-pCR cases (p = 0.011 and p = 0.015, respectively). There is significant heterogeneity in response to the NACH regimens in HER2 + cases. Our findings indicate that HER2 IHC score and ER expression determine NACH response in HER2 + BC. We recommend considering HER2 protein expression and ISH value to better select patients and assess the response for HER2-targeted therapy.
Millennial-Scale Environmental Variability in Late Quaternary Deep-Sea Sediments from the Demerara Rise, NE Coast of South America

We carried out a rock magnetic study of two deep-sea gravity cores from the Demerara Rise, NE South America. Our previous studies provided radiocarbon and paleomagnetic chronologies for these cores. This study presents detailed rock magnetic measurements on these cores in order to characterize the rock magnetic mineralogy and grain size as indicators of the overall clastic fraction. We measured the magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic remanence, and isothermal remanence and demagnetized the remanences at several alternating field demagnetization levels. The magnetic intensities estimate the magnetic material concentration (and indirectly the overall clastic fraction) in the cores. Ratios of rock magnetic parameters indicate the relative grain size of the magnetic material (and indirectly the overall clastic grain size). Rock magnetic intensity parameters and rock magnetic ratios both vary systematically and synchronously over the last 30,000 years in both cores. There is a multi-millennial-scale cyclicity, with intervals of high magnetic intensity (high magnetic and clastic content) with low magnetic ratios (coarser magnetic and clastic grain size), alternating in sequence with intervals of low magnetic intensity with high magnetic ratios (finer grain size). There is also a higher-frequency millennial-scale variability in intensity superposed on the multi-millennial-scale variability. There are nine (A–I) multi-millennial-scale intervals in the cores. Intervals A, C, E, G, and I have high magnetic and clastic content with coarser overall magnetic and clastic grain size and are likely intervals of enhanced rainfall and runoff from the NE South American margin to the coastal ocean. In contrast, intervals B, D, F, and H have lower clastic flux with finer overall grain size, probably indicating lower continental rainfall and runoff. During the Holocene, high rainfall and runoff intervals can be related to cooler times and low rainfall and runoff to warmer times. The opposite pattern existed during the Pleistocene, with higher rainfall and runoff during interstadial conditions and lower rainfall and runoff during stadial conditions. We noted a similar pattern of Pleistocene multi-millennial-scale variability in a transect of deep-sea sediment cores along the NE Brazilian margin, from the Cariaco Basin (~10 N) to the NE Brazilian margin (~1° N–4° S). However the NW part of this transect (Cariaco Basin, Demerara Rise, Amazon Fan) has an out-of-phase relationship with the SE part of the transect (NE Brazilian margin) between warm–cold and wet–dry conditions. One possible cause of the high–low rainfall and runoff patterns might be oscillation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), with higher rainfall and runoff associated with a more southerly average position of the ITCZ and lower rainfall and runoff associated with a more northerly average position of the ITCZ.
Long term outcomes and complications of reno-portal anastomosis in liver transplantation: results from a propensity score-based outcome analysis.

Introduction Diffuse splanchnic vein thrombosis (DSVT) remains a serious challenge in liver transplantation (LT). Reno-portal anastomosis (RPA) has previously been reported as a valid option for management of patients with DSVT during LT. The aim of this study was to evaluate posttransplant renal function and surgical outcomes of patients with DSVT who underwent RPA during LT. Methods Between January 2005 and December 2017, 1,270 patients underwent LT at our institution, including 16 with DSVT managed with RPA (RPA group). We compared renal function and surgical outcomes in these patients to outcomes in 48 propensity-score (PS) matched patients without thrombosis (control group), using a 1:3 matching model. Results The two groups had similar rates of postoperative portal vein thrombosis (PVT), renal dysfunction as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and overall postoperative complications (Clavien grade III), although the RPA group had a higher incidence of postoperative upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (31.3% vs 4.2%; p=0.009) that had no clinical consequence. There were no significant differences in five-year graft and patient survival rates between the groups (p=0.133 and p=0.166, respectively). Conclusion RPA is an established technique in the management of patients with DSVT during LT, with comparable outcomes to patients without thrombosis. Our report is the first to demonstrate similar surgical outcomes, including long-term renal function, in LT recipients with or without RPA.
Multiple Tumor-Associated Intracranial Aneurysms Adjacent to a Suprasellar Germ Cell Tumor: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Introduction Tumor-associated intracranial aneurysms are rare and not well understood. Case presentation We describe a 4-year-old female with multiple intracranial aneurysms intimately associated with a suprasellar germ cell tumor (GCT). We provide the clinical history, medical, and surgical treatment course, as well as a comprehensive and concise synthesis of the literature on tumor-associated aneurysms. Discussion We discuss mechanisms for aneurysm formation with relevance to the current case, including cellular and paracrine signaling pertinent to suprasellar GCTs and possible molecular pathways involved. We review the complex multidisciplinary treatment required for complex tumor and cerebrovascular interactions.
Preparation of Drosophila Larval Blood Cells for Single-cell RNA Sequencing

Recent advances in single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies provide unprecedented opportunities to identify new cell types and characterize cell states. One of the most important requirements for performing scRNA-seq is to obtain high-quality single cells in suspension. Recently, we used this approach to characterize Drosophila blood cells (hemocytes). Here, we provide a detailed protocol for obtaining single hemocytes in suspension, which can be used for microfluidics-based scRNA-seq platforms. This protocol involves the simple bleeding of third instar larvae and the subsequent purification of the hemolymph using either Optiprep-based gradient centrifugation or traditional centrifugation methods to obtain single hemocytes of high quality for scRNA-seq. Importantly, this method for single-hemocyte preparation is straightforward and reproducible, with negligible issues associated with cell viability as the entire procedure involves no enzymatic dissociation. Graphic abstract: Workflow for the preparation of Drosophila larval blood cells in suspension. Hemocytes (blood cells) of the sessile and circulatory compartments of larvae are derived by simple bleeding and purification using gradient centrifugation. Blood cells are counted and subsequently encapsulated by microfluidics-based scRNA-seq platforms. Blood cells represented in the schematic are derived from third instar larvae of the genotype Hemolectin-GAL4.Delta, UAS-2xEGFP (BDSC stock #30140).
Organizational Capacity for Change and Strategic Ambidexterity: Flying the Plane While Rewiring It

Purpose – Successful firms must exploit existing markets while simultaneously exploring new market opportunities. However, skills required to do both simultaneously are often at odds with each other. To reconcile this dilemma, the authors aim to discuss the new concept of “strategic ambidexterity,” which is conceptualized as the ability to simultaneously pursue exploitation and exploratory strategies in ways that lead to enhanced organizational effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conceptually integrate literature from organizational theory, strategic management, and marketing to yield three new theoretical propositions.Findings – It is argued that a relatively new dynamic capability, organizational capacity for change, is the primary antecedent of strategic ambidexterity and that this relationship is moderated by environmental uncertainty and organizational slack.Originality/value – Most organizational and marketing theories rely on linear assumptions and models. However, twenty-first century organizations must reconcile competitive realities that are often nonlinear in nature. This study provides a conceptual framework which transcends traditional thinking, and provides a comprehensive yet concise framework for researching this new competitive reality further.
A Meta-analysis of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Studies Examining the Reliability of Effects on Language Measures

Abstract Background Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a brain stimulation technique used to examine causal relationships between brain regions and cognitive functions. The effects from tDCS are complex, and the extent to which stimulation reliably affects different cognitive domains is not fully understood and continues to be debated. Objective/hypothesis To conduct a meta-analysis of studies examining the effects of single-session anodal tDCS on language. Methods The meta-analysis examined the behavioral results from eleven experiments of single-session anodal tDCS and language processing in healthy adults. The means and standard deviations of the outcome measures were extracted from each experiment and entered into the meta-analyses. In the first analysis, we examined the effects of single-session tDCS across all language studies. Next, a series of sub-analyses examined the effects of tDCS on specific tasks and stimulation protocols. Results There was a significant effect from anodal single-session tDCS in healthy adults compared to sham ( P = 0.001) across all language measures. Next, we found significant effects on specific stimulation protocols (e.g., offline measures, P = 0.002), as well as specific tasks and electrode montages (e.g., verbal fluency measures and left prefrontal cortex, P = 0.035). Conclusions The results indicate that single-session tDCS produces significant and reliable effects on language measures in healthy adults.
Credit Risk Assessment and Racial Minority Lending at the Farm Service Agency

The nature of credit risk assessment and basis of loan approval decisions of the Farm Service Agency are analyzed in the aftermath of the black farmers' 1997 class action suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This study did not uncover convincing evidence of racial discrimination against nonwhite borrowers under a binomial logistic framework based on the probability of a loan application's approval. Moreover, the collective use of more stringent and objective credit-scoring measures usually employed by commercial lenders is less evident in the Farm Service Agency's evaluation of loan applications.
Social Science Discourse and the Biopolitics of Terrorism

This article weaves social science discourse into the fabric of a genealogy of terrorism. The power struggles associated with the US lead global war on terrorism are producing many new objects of knowledge and possible lines of research (e.g., Islamic terrorists, jihadists, suicide bombers, experts on counterterrorism, and ISIS). This process is modeled as a cycle involving power struggles and power elite orchestrated political victimage rituals and a biopolitics of knowledge. This dynamic is explored in terms of social science discourse and the biopolitics of terrorism. The limits of current thinking in “counterterrorism” and the possibilities of future research are highlighted.
Professionalism’s Second Wave: A Sampling of Issues Arising within Legal Education

American law schools possess dual identities as graduate schools and professional schools. The professional identity has been elevated by recent attention paid to professional values as part of a curricular trilogy that also encompasses doctrine and skills. The focus on values is the “first wave” of professionalism, which is now being followed by a “second wave” reflecting the students’ exposure to professional (or unprofessional) conduct within the law school community. This article provides illustrations of such learning experiences and comments on how law schools should shape or improve them.
Teaching NeuroImages: Sacral spine chloroma

A 23-year-old man with recurrent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) underwent successful reinduction and was judged posttherapy to be in complete remission. Soon thereafter, he complained of pain in his left buttock radiating into his left posterior thigh. Neurologic examination was unremarkable. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated a left S2 lesion suggestive of a nerve sheath tumor (figure 1). An open biopsy was performed that revealed a chloroma pathologically (figure 2), sometimes referred to as a myeloid sarcoma.1,2 Most chloromas are found in patients with recurrent AML and are overwhelmingly intracranial.1 Infrequently, chloromas are paraspinal, and in this location present with epidural spinal cord compression.2 Intraspinal invasion by a chloroma is rare. Systemic evaluation confirmed recurrent AML, for which he was successfully treated with reinduction and whole-body irradiation followed by an allogeneic transplant. He is currently disease-free and neurologically asymptomatic 1 year posttransplant.
Focal hepatic lesions: detection by dynamic and delayed computed tomography versus short TE/TR spin echo and fast field echo magnetic resonance imaging.

Eighteen patients with focal hepatic lesions were evaluated with two computed tomographic (CT) techniques including dynamic sequential bolus contrast CT and delayed contrast CT, and 3 magnetic resonance (MR) techniques including a spin echo pulse sequence with TE/TR of 21/310 msec and 2 fast field echo sequences using a TE/TR of 15/300 msec and 80° flip angle (T1-weighted) and TE/TR of 15/500 msec and 10–20° flip angle (T2-weighted). We concluded that CT, using delayed contrast and dynamic sequential bolus contrast techniques, was consistently superior to the 3 MR pulse sequences used on our imagers in terms of number of lesions detected, lesion-to-liver contrast, and quality of scan.
Lymphoma and venous thromboembolism: influence on mortality.

ABSTRACT Background The population-based incidence of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has not been established, and the effect of VTE on survival is not clear. Aim To determine the incidence of acute VTE in California residents diagnosed with lymphoma, and to determine the effect of acute VTE on survival. Methods We used the California Cancer Registry coupled with the California Patient Discharge database to identify incident cases with lymphoma, 1991-1997, and the incidence of first-time VTE in these patients. Multivariable models were constructed to evaluate risk of developing acute VTE within 2 years, and a proportional hazard model was used to predict death within 2 years, using acute VTE as a time-dependent covariate. Results There were 16,755 patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; 29% had low-grade, 66% intermediate/aggressive grade and 5.6% had high-grade lymphoma. Acute VTE developed in 3.6% of the patients by year 1 and 4.0% by the end of year 2. Significant predictors of acute VTE included advanced stage lymphoma, number of chronic comorbidities and advancing age. Significant predictors of death within 2 years included diagnosis of acute VTE, advanced stage disease, increasing number of co-morbidities, age over 75 years and intermediate or high grade histopathology. The effect of acute VTE on death increased as the time between lymphoma diagnosis and VTE diagnosis increased (HR = 1.7 95%CI:1.5-1.9 for VTEs Conclusions Acute VTE developed frequently in patients with lymphoma, and VTE was a strong predictor of decreased survival. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A simulation comparison of group technology with traditional job shop manufacturing

A simulation model of an actual job shop was used to compare group technology with traditional job shop manufacturing. The experiment compared shops which had four different layouts, designed to emphasize different features of traditional job shops and group technology shops, and four distributions of demand for end items. The group technology shops exhibited superior performance in terms of average move time and average set-up time. The traditional job shops had superior performance in queue related variables (average queue length, average waiting time, work-in-process inventory, etc.). This was caused by group technology's dedication of machines. The effects of the queue related variables outweighed the effects of average move time and average set-up time: the average flow time was shorter in the traditional job shop than in the group technology shops.
Fixed-node quantum Monte Carlo for molecules

The ground‐state energies of H2, LiH, Li2, and H2O are calculated by a fixed‐node quantum Monte Carlo method, which is presented in detail. For each molecule, relatively simple trial wave functions ΨT are chosen. Each ΨT consists of a single Slater determinant of molecular orbitals multiplied by a product of pair‐correlation (Jastrow) functions. These wave functions are used as importance functions in a stochastic approach that solves the Schrodinger equation by treating it as a diffusion equation. In this approach, ΨT serves as a ‘‘guiding function’’ for a random walk of the electrons through configuration space. In the fixed‐node approximation used here, the diffusion process is confined to connected regions of space, bounded by the nodes (zeros) of ΨT. This approximation simplifies the treatment of Fermi statistics, since within each region an electronic probability amplitude is obtained which does not change sign. Within these approximate boundaries, however, the Fermi problem is solved exactly. The e...
Strengthening Authentication with Privacy-Preserving Location Verification of Mobile Phones

Mobile devices are increasingly used in security-sensitive contexts such as physical access control and authorization of payment transactions. In this paper we contribute a mechanism to verify whether a mobile device currently resides within a geographical area at a given time, thus enabling the use of the location as an additional authentication factor. Trustworthiness, privacy, and practicability are central to our mechanism. In particular, to provide trustworthy location information, our mechanism uses the location of the phone as detected by the Mobile Network Operator instead of relying on the location detected by the phone itself, which can be manipulated. We have followed a privacy-by-design approach to ensure that sensitive information, e.g., location and subscriber data, are only revealed to parties with a need to know. Privacy safeguards are realized using anonymous credentials, an established privacy-enhancing technology. Finally, our mechanism is practical and has little requirements on the mobile phone beyond the ability to run computations on anonymous credentials, as well as Internet and mobile network connectivity. These requirements are fulfilled by most smartphones in the market.
Self-reported benefits of t'ai chi practice by older women.

Self-rated health is a powerful and consistent predictor of self-care capability and health outcomes including mobility, morbidity, and mortality. Exercise is important for health and functioning of older adults. Although daily physical activity is advocated for reducing many health risks and maintaining mobility, older women are generally not heeding the message. Exercise interventions for older women should be age appropriate. T’ai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, involves an integration of the mind and body in slow, circular movements and changes in the center of gravity. Although there is a growing body of literature on the health benefits of t’ai chi exercises, few studies focus on the self-assessment of health benefits of t’ai chi for older women. This within-participants, single-factor study of women aged 72 to 96 years resulted in statistically significant improvement in self-assessed health as well as numerous self-reported benefits after 3 months of t’ai chi exercise participation.
Behavior of iron aluminides in oxidizing and oxidizing/sulfidizing environments

Abstract Fe3Al alloys have potential as structural materials and coatings for use in hostile environments because they form protective scales at very low oxygen partial pressures at elevated temperatures. Weight gains and parabolic rate constants were small for exposures to dry air at 800 and 900°C. Chromium additions to Fe3Al resulted in higher initial rates of oxidation in dry air at 800 and 900°C and substantially increased overall reaction rates in a very aggressive oxidizing/sulfidizing mixed gas when greater than 2 at.%. There was some evidence that an α-alumina layer formed during extended air exposure at 900°C. The ability to rapidly form an oxide layer appeared to limit damage caused by any loss of scale during thermal cycling. Preoxidation reduced the corrosion of Fe3Al5%Cr in the oxidizing/sulfidizing gas, but aluminizing this alloy to form an FeAl coating appeared to be the best way to assure long-term protection in sulfidizing environments.
The human amygdala. I. Electrophysiological responses to odorants

Nine patients had an amygdalotomy for attempted relief of intractable seizures and, as an aid for localization, recordings were made from the amygdala and later computer analyzed. The background activity is 3–18 c/sec; in response to odorants sinusoidal bursts are seen, synchronous with inspiration at 12–24 c/sec, but mainly 40–70 c/sec. Each odorant is associated with a given group of frequency components. However, for many different odorants the number of these components is restricted and the hypothesis is presented that odor discrimination in man's amygdala is not determined by which components are present, but the patterning of the components according to their amplitude. Odorants within the same odor class produced similar patterns of response. Epileptiform activity was recorded in two different forms, one in response to odors, similar in frequency to the slower bursts, except for sharper configurations, at times progressing to clinical seizures and the second as an insertion discharge from an advancing electrode, similar in frequency to the faster bursts. These latter data suggest that the repertoire of a given neural system or structure may be limited to specific frequencies but the configuration or patterning of these frequencies define the different states of the structure.
An overview of psychiatric treatment approaches to three offender groups.

The chances for successful management of three groups of mentally ill offenders—insanity acquittees, sexual offenders, and offenders with alcohol problems—can be maximized by using specific diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for each group. The recommended model for treatment of insanity acquittees is based on a single administrative organization to oversee treatment programs, which include dearly defined inpatient and outpatient components and careful monitoring of conditional release to the community. Techniques for the diagnosis of sexual offenders include bioimpedance and physiological measures of sex hormone levels and penile tumescence. Medication with antiandrogens and cognitive behavioral treatment using covert sensitization and operant aversion are among the appropriate therapeutic modalities. Treatment of persons charged with alcoholrelated crimes should be matched to the severity of the alcohol problem. Legal intervention supplemented by brief treatment programs may be effective for offender...
Crisis child care: an intervention for at-risk families.

Crisis child care programs provide parents in crisis with a break from the stresses of childrearing and provide at-risk children with a safe environment. This study describes parenting stress as th...
SIGNIFICANCE OF PHYLOGENETIC SYSTEMATICS FOR THE BIOGEOGRAPHY OF THE MARINE RED ALGAE

Hovencamp (1997) recommends that geographical information can be extracted from cladistic analyses of phylogenetic data in which the Earth's history is resolved in terms of vicariance events that established barriers to migration. Nodes in a cladogram that specify two sister groups which do not overlap in their distributions are taken as evidence for a vicariance event and the sequential order of cladogram nodes leads to a procedure whereby the sequence of vicariance events can be reconstructed. For red algae, two such events are the persistence of the northward extension of the eastern end of Gondwanaland across a cool to warm temperature gradient with the formation of present-day Australasia, and the opening of the Tethyan Ocean followed by closure of the Tethyan Seaway between Africa and Eurasia. Phylogenetic hypotheses related to the first of these events are seen among genera belonging to the Bonnemaisoniaceae, Gracilariaceae, Kallymeniaceae, Gigartinaceae, and Delesseriaceae. A Tethyan origin and distribution is exemplified in part by families that comprise the Solieriaceae complex. Orders such as the Rhodymeniales, Halymeniales and the families Ceramiaceae and Rhodomelaceae contain taxa that fall partly into the first and partly into the second category. Phylogenies are constructed from rbcL sequence data and compared to the morphological evidence. The biogeographical speculations resulting from these observations are preliminary in nature and can only be confirmed or refuted with addtional data and more refined analytical techniques.
Electron correlation effects in aliphatic non-bonded interactions: comparison of n-alkane MP2 and HF geometries

The geometries of several n-alkanes were determined by HF/6-311G∗∗ and MP2/6-311G∗∗ gradient optimization. The results make it possible to study the effects of electron correlation on non-bonded aliphatic interactions by comparing structures devoid of dispersion forces (HF/6-31 IG∗∗) with those in which the dispersion forces are switched on (MP2/6-311 G∗∗). Conformations with trans bonds T (C-C-C-C torsions 180°), and gauche bonds G (C-C-C-C torsions 60°) were investigated, including T and G n-butane; TT, TG, and GG n-pentane; and TTT, GTT, TGG, GTG, and GGG n-hexane. When geometries are optimized at the MP2/6-311G∗∗ level, rotamer energies do not increase with the number of individual G bonds as expected, because GGG O.3 kcal mol−1) is larger in the MP2-optimized geometries than previously allowed (0.16 kcal mol−1). In general, in all rotamers with G torsions, small contractions in torsional angles (< 5°) cause non-bonded distances in the attractive region of the van der Waals potential to be shorter in MP2 structures than HF geometries, in contrast to 1,4 interactions, which are practically invariant. Specifically, average 1,5 non-bonded distances in GG pentane, and TGG and GGG hexane shrink by 0.22 to 0.27 A; by 0.06 to 0.08 A in TG pentane, and GTT and GTG hexane; and they are essentially unchanged in TT sequences. The results emphasize the importance of accurate geometries in conformational analyses: when the bond lengths and angles of a molecular model are wrong, calculated energies are also wrong, because non-bonded interactions are incorrectly evaluated.
Property rights and payment to patients for cell lines derived from human tissues: An economic analysis

The increasing potential for commercial applications in biotechnology has given rise to new legal and ethical questions with regard to ownership of human tissue. As the potential value of human cells and tissue has risen, so have donors' calls for a share in the profits. However, in a recent California ruling (John Moore vs the Regents of the University of California), the court once again held to its traditional position that individuals do not hold property rights in their own tissue and cells. We will show that, in the rare case where tissue value may be determined prospectively, a one-time payment (and, hence granting a property right) is efficient. Moore is such a case. In general, however, the transactions costs of granting full property rights to donors of tissue and cells outweigh the benefits of such a change in policy.
SU-E-J-31: Biodynamic Imaging of Cancer Tissue and Response to Chemotherapy

Purpose: To measure intracellular motions inside three-dimensional living cancer tissue samples to establish a novel set of biodynamic biomarkers that assess tissue proliferative activity and sensitivity or resistance to chemotherapy. Methods: Biodynamic imaging (BDI) uses digital holography with low-coherence low-intensity light illumination to construct 3D holograms from depths up to a millimeter deep inside cancer tissue models that include multicellular tumor spheroids and ex vivo cancer biopsies from canine non-Hodgkins lymphoma and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) mouse explants. Intracellular motions modulate the holographic intensity with frequencies related to the Doppler effect caused by the motions of a wide variety of intracellular components. These motions are affected by applied therapeutic agents, and BDI produces unique fingerprints of the action of specific drugs on the motions in specific cell types. In this study, chemotherapeutic agents (doxorubicin for canine lymphoma and oxoplatin for ovarian) are applied to the living tissue models and monitored over 10 hours by BDI. Results: Multicellular spheroids and patient biopsies are categorized as either sensitive or insensitive to applied therapeutics depending on the intracellular Doppler signatures of chemotherapy response. For both lymphoma and EOC there is strong specificity to the two types of sensitivities, with sensitive cell lines andmore » biopsies exhibiting a global cessation of proliferation and strong suppression of metabolic activity, while insensitive cell lines and biopsies show moderate activation of Doppler frequencies associated with membrane processes and possible membrane trafficking. Conclusion: This work supports the hypothesis that biodynamic biomarkers from three-dimensional living tumor tissue, that includes tissue heterogeneity and measured within 24 hours of surgery, is predictive of near-term patient response to therapy. Future work will correlate biodynamic biomarkers with progression free survival times. This work is supported by NIH 1R01EB016582 and NSF 1263753-CBET. Nolte, Turek and An have a financial interest in Animated Dynamics, Inc. that will be licensing technology from Purdue University.« less
Spectrophotometric determination of silicon in bismuth borosilicate glass by flow injection

Abstract A spectrophotometric flow-injection method for the determination of silicate based on heteropoly blue formation is presented. The proposed reagent gives a wider dynamic range than previously reported flow-injection procedures. The bismuth interference reported for the spectrophotometric method is eliminated in sample preparation and the method is applied to the determination of silicon in bismuth borosilicate glass. Results are compared to spectrophotometric and inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectrometric determinations.
Effect of childlessness on nursing home and home health care use.

Abstract This study examines the likelihood of nursing home and home health care use for childless older Americans. Four research questions are addressed: (1) Are the childless elderly at a greater risk of nursing home and home health care use? (2) Is it childlessness per se or not having children with particular characteristics that affects the likelihood of using these formal long-term care services? (3) Does having additional children beyond the first one have a significant effect on the use of these services? (4) Are the effects of childlessness different on the likelihood of nursing home and home health care use? Longitudinal data from the first (1993) and second (1995) waves of the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old Survey (AHEAD) and multinomial logistic regression models are used for the analyses. Separate models are developed for women and men, each controlling for a variety of demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related characteristics of sample persons. Findings indicate childles...
Toll-like Receptor 2 Signaling in CD4+ T Lymphocytes Promotes T Helper 17 Responses and Regulates the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Disease

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have previously been shown to play critical roles in the activation of innate immunity. Here, we describe that T cell expression of TLR2 regulates T helper 17 (Th17) cell responses. Stimulation with TLR2 agonists promoted Th17 differentiation in vitro and led to more robust proliferation and Th17 cytokine production. Using the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, we found that TLR2 regulated Th17 cell-mediated autoimmunity in vivo and that loss of TLR2 in CD4(+) T cells dramatically ameliorated EAE. This study thus reveals a critical role of a TLR in the direct regulation of adaptive immune response and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
A Three-Generation Study of Chinese Immigrant Extended Family Child Caregiving Experiences in the Preschool Years

Chinese immigrant families often migrate to the U.S. with unique family characteristics including long separations between parents and children, as well as multigenerational family living. Research has shown that the intergenerational interactions within immigrant families are important for the psychological well-being of both parents and children, but has yet to document how grandparent and extended family member child rearing experiences may promote positive and/or negative well-being. This mixed-methods study aimed to understand such experiences in a low-income urban community. Results are discussed with respect to theory regarding how extended family childrearing dynamics impact both parent and child well-being.
The effect of predilatation on coronary angioplasty-induced vessel wall injury

Fifty-four patients presenting with stenotic lesions in a major coronary artery visually estimated by diagnostic angiography to be greater than 90% but less than 100% were randomized to one of two angioplasty regimens, predilatation (group 1) or no predilatation (group 2). In group 1, the artery was initially dilated with a 2 mm balloon followed by a balloon that was considered by the operator to be the definitive size to fully dilate the target vessel. In group 2, the artery was dilated with a balloon deemed the definitive size to complete the angioplasty procedure. There were no statistical differences between groups with respect to age, sex, history of unstable angina, or prior acute myocardial infarction. There were also no significant differences in the angiographic characteristics of the coronary lesions including artery location, lesion length, concentric or eccentric morphology, tubular versus discrete stenosis, calcium in lesions, or lesions on a bend. Following angioplasty, luminal filling defects were present in 5% of the predilated group and in 9% of the nonpredilated group (p = NS). The incidence of luminal border haziness at the dilatation site did not differ between groups, seven (35%) in group 1 versus eight (24%) in group 2. Angiographic evidence of a linear dissection at the angioplasty site was also similar between groups, one (5%) in group 1 versus five (15%) in group 2. Occlusive complications were witnessed in 10% of the predilated group and 12% of the nonpredilated group (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Recent Research in Radio Communication

A review of the literature describing research investigations in the field of radio communication, published in the United States and other countries during the past year and more, indicates the progress being made in this field. For each of the 5 principal classifications into which radio communication research is found to be divided, a summary of recent progress is included as part of this article, and a bibliography totaling 104 items gives reference to the principal articles in these 5 divisions.
Photodegradation of DOC in a shallow prairie wetland: evidence from seasonal changes in DOC optical properties and chemical characteristics

Wetlands across the Canadian prairies are typically shallow ( 10 mg l−1). Studies have shown that DOC in such shallow wetlands is not as reliable an indicator of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) attenuation as it is in clearwater. Changes in DOC character and composition as a result of sunlight exposure might provide a reasonable explanation for this observation. To test this, we investigated seasonal changes in DOC optical and chemical properties in a shallow prairie wetland over a 2-year period. Although DOC concentration increased at least two-fold from spring until fall, DOC specific absorption (at 350 nm) and fluorescence decreased by 30 and 32%, respectively, for the same period. In both years, seasonal decreases in DOC molecular weight and size (from measurements of tangential filtration and mass electrospray mass spectrometry) were reflected in concomitant increases in spectral slope. 13C NMR analysis of DOC isolated on XAD-8 resins revealed a 49% decrease in aromatic moieties when spring values were compared to those in the fall. As well, δ13C signatures of this isolated DOC became heavier seasonally. In a short term photodegradation experiment (6 days) we noted a 47% decline in DOC specific absorption coefficients at 350 nm and a 15% increase in spectral slope when water exposed to the total light spectrum was compared to that of a dark control. Taken together, all of these observations were consistent with the occurrence of seasonal DOC photodegradation in shallow prairie wetlands and underlined the importance of this process in shaping DOC character and composition in these hydrologically dynamic systems. Our data also indicates that constant mixing and shallow depths in these wetlands were factors which enhanced DOC photodegradation. Although the high DOC concentrations of prairie wetlands should theoretically offer protection for their biota, seasonal photodegradation of DOC means that these systems may not be as protected as their high DOC concentrations suggest.
Correlation between pre-operative diagnosis and post-operative pathology reading in pediatric neck masses—A review of 281 cases ☆

Abstract Objective Describe the pre-operative diagnosis correlation of pediatric neck masses with the final post-operative pathology reading. Evaluate if added imaging studies were associated with higher frequency of correct diagnosis. Study design Retrospective case series review. Setting Tertiary Academic Medical Center. Subjects and methods Data was collected from 281 pediatric patients with an undiagnosed neck mass that underwent open biopsy from January 1986 to December 2011. Data collection included pre-operative accuracy and relative contributions of clinical clues and imaging studies. Results Pre-operative and post-operative diagnoses match varied for each category of diagnoses. The difference in distribution of correct pre-operative diagnoses between 6 categories of neck masses was statistically significant. The highest number of cases with correct pre-op diagnosis was seen with congenital masses which were correctly diagnosed with 75% of cases (n = 109), followed by benign tumors which were diagnosed with 73.7% of cases (n = 19). When CT scans were included in the pre-op work up, it was associated with a non-significant trend toward a less frequent correlation between pre and post-operative diagnosis in congenital, nodal inflammatory and miscellaneous masses. However, with regards to the diagnosis of benign tumors, CT scan was associated with a trend toward higher proportion of correct pre-op diagnosis. In cases where US was included in the evaluation, we found a trend toward less frequent correlation with post op diagnosis in benign tumors, nodal inflammatory, non-nodal inflammatory and miscellaneous diagnoses and an increase in accuracy for congenital masses. Conclusion Certain types of pediatric neck masses are easy to diagnose likely due to their classic presentation. Failure to diagnose masses often occurs when the clinical picture is vague or non-specific. Ancillary imaging studies do not always correlate with increased accuracy of diagnosis, particularly when the clinical clues are typical.
Use of the transform exit sequence in printing and as a framework for the solution of complex problems

This paper is both a review of previous research and development and a description of new work for the IBM PSF/2 and PSF/6000 printing products. These products are best characterized as complex queue drivers, originally designed to allow fast printers to be driven directly from the existing print subsystems of OS/2® and AIX®, respectively. The new work extends the capability of these products by providing a framework that broadly redefines the way in which print queues can relate to printers, other queues, and other programs, without requiring any changes to the spooling system. This technical advance is based on the twin ideas of the transform exit and the transform exit sequence, which are examined in detail. Using this technology, both PSF/2 and PSF/6000 treat the largest mainframe-attached printers as local desktop printers, allowing LAN communities to print directly on mainframe printers from LAN applications. Other interesting uses of this technology include routing print jobs to the printers appropriate for their data types, improvements in printer throughput, automated print-job archiving, and improved system management, each of which is covered in some detail in the paper. Although some of these solutions can also be provided by extending the capabilities of the spooling systems and some have been addressed in particular environments and applications, the transform exit sequence framework does not depend on changes to the spooling system, allowing it to be used in a wide variety of current and future operating systems.
Buspirone pharmacokinetics in autistic children

Background/Aims PET studies of alpha[C-11]methyl-tryptophan show that brain serotonin synthesis is elevated between 2 and 6 years of age. This process is disrupted in autistic children suggesting that the 5HT1A agonist buspirone might be useful in treating autism. Since there are no published PK data in young children, we studied the disposition of buspirone in autistic children aged 2 to 6 years. Methods Subjects (5 males, 3 females) received a single oral dose of buspirone solution[2.5 mg for 2–3 year olds (n=5); 5.0 mg for 4–6 year olds (n=3)]. Blood was collected for 8 hours and plasma assayed for buspirone and the major metabolite 1-pyrimidylpiperazine (1-PP) using LC-MS. Results The mean peak concentration of buspirone was 1101± 827 pg/mL with a median tmax of 0.5 hours. Oral clearance (Cl/F) averaged 91.5 L/hr/kg with an elimination half-life of 1.5±0.15 hours. Peak concentrations of 1-PP were 5.7-fold higher than for buspirone with a metabolite half-life of 4.1 hours. There was no evidence of non-linearity in buspirone or 1-PP disposition over the dose range studied. Conclusions The data indicate extensive metabolism in young children. Plasma concentrations and PK parameters for buspirone and 1-PP were similar to values observed in older children receiving 7.5–15 mg doses. Doses of 2.5–5 mg should be appropriate for younger children. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P31–P31; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.009