cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECTS OF CHOLINE AND RELATED COMPOUNDS ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER.

Twenty-three structurally related compounds were tested as choline substitutes in the diet of D. melanogaster to determine the specificity of different structural groups in the growth action of the choline molecule. None of the substitutes completely replaced choline in the diet, indicating that the intact choline molecule is essential for maximal growth action. The single most important group is the hydroxyl group. It must be located terminally and on the 2-carbon for the maximal growth effect. Three methyl groups are essential for maximal growth action, but they are not employed in transmethylation. The sulfur analogue is effective at low concentrations but is toxic at higher concentrations, indicating the importance of the nitrogen atom. A comparison of dietary requirements indicated that the choline requirements for the growth of Drosophila, the growth of Neurospora choline-requiring mutants, perosis-prevention in the chick, and fatty liver prevention in the rat have a basic similarity. It is suggested that choline is required as a phospholipid entity by all of these organisms. The insects differ in their abilities to utilize quaternary ammonium compounds which have carbon groups associated with the 2-carbon. D. melanogaster can use carnitine, deoxycarnitine, and β-methylcholine in place of choline, apparently converting deoxycarnitine to carnitine and carnitine in turn to β-methylcholine. This contrasts with the specific carnitine requirement of the beetles of the family Tenebrionidae. D. melanogaster can also convert betaine aldehyde to choline.
A postfabrication technique for identification of prosthetic devices.

Two postfabrication procedures for placing a computer-generated identification label on a dental prosthetic device, using a special denture base preparation bur, a computer-generated and laser-printed label, and autopolymerizing acrylic resin or light-polymerized gel are described.
Global rural diabetes prevalence: a systematic review and meta-analysis covering 1990-2012.

Abstract Aim To investigate diabetes prevalence in rural areas globally and how it has changed over time in high-income countries (HIC) and low-middle income countries (LMIC). Methods We systematically searched four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL) for studies reporting rural prevalence of diabetes between January 1990 and January 2012. We used random effect meta-analysis to estimate pooled prevalence and metaregression to identify factors that may be associated with our estimates. Findings We included 109 population-based surveys involving 1,100,746 individuals. Pooled global rural prevalence of diabetes was 6.8% (95% confidence intervals: 6.1–7.6) with no gender difference. Considering five-year increments between 1985 and 2011, when studies were conducted, global rural prevalence was 5.7% (3.5–7.9) during 1985–1989 and 8.7% (6.8–10.7) during 2005–2011. In LMICs, rural diabetes prevalence was 1.8% (1.0–2.6) during 1985–1989 and 7.5% (5.6–9.5) during 2005–2011. In HICs, rural diabetes prevalence was 8.2% (6.0–10.4) during 1985–1989 and 14.3% (8.7–20) in the most recent period. Conclusion Diabetes prevalence has increased in all rural areas globally but relative growth was faster in LMIC than HIC rural areas. These data suggest a need to expand diabetes surveillance to rural areas using standardized measures, as well as the need to devise and deploy appropriate prevention and control interventions.
Inertial platform synthesis employing observers to accommodate disturbances and coupling

The design of a multivariable control system is treated. Observer theory is utilized in the design and disturbance inputs are accounted for. The observer is only required to reconstruct the states of the plant associated with the "slow" modes of the system. The parameter insensitivity (gain margin) needed is obtained in this way. The observer parameters are selected so as to maximize gain margin and to minimize disturbance transmittances. The errors introduced in neglecting the "fast" modes are also taken into account.
A prospective study of the incidence of the purple glove syndrome.

Summary: Purpose: Phenytoin (PHT) has been widely used intravenously for the treatment of seizures since 1956, and for many years, it has been considered first-line therapy for status epilepticus. It is routinely administered intravenously in emergency departments and hospitals for patients who have had isolated seizures and for many patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures who are unable to receive oral medication. Adverse reactions from PHT have been widely studied for years, but in the past decade, new adverse reactions have been identified. One of these adverse reactions is the purple glove syndrome (PGS), characterized by edema, discoloration, and pain distal to the site of i.v. administration of PHT. Because there have been no prospective reports of the incidence of PGS, the objective of the study was to report the incidence of this syndrome. Methods: We enrolled 179 consecutive exposures to i.v. PHT at Henry Ford Hospital. Distal portions of the upper extremities were examined and digitally photographed by one of the authors (J.G.B.). The photos were blindly evaluated by the third author (G.L.B.) for PGS. Demographic and pertinent medical history was recorded for all patients, and outcome for those who experienced PGS was recorded. Associations between PGS, demographic, and medical history information were assessed. Results: In only three of the 179 exposures did PGS develop. In both patients, the severity of the clinical picture was mild and did not required prolonged hospitalization or specialized treatment. Conclusions: PGS is an infrequent and mild adverse effect of i.v. PHT administration.
In vivo reprogramming of murine cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes

The reprogramming of adult cells into pluripotent cells or directly into alternative adult cell types holds great promise for regenerative medicine. We reported previously that cardiac fibroblasts, which represent 50% of the cells in the mammalian heart, can be directly reprogrammed to adult cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro by the addition of Gata4, Mef2c and Tbx5 (GMT). Here we use genetic lineage tracing to show that resident non-myocytes in the murine heart can be reprogrammed into cardiomyocyte-like cells in vivo by local delivery of GMT after coronary ligation. Induced cardiomyocytes became binucleate, assembled sarcomeres and had cardiomyocyte-like gene expression. Analysis of single cells revealed ventricular cardiomyocyte-like action potentials, beating upon electrical stimulation, and evidence of electrical coupling. In vivo delivery of GMT decreased infarct size and modestly attenuated cardiac dysfunction up to 3 months after coronary ligation. Delivery of the pro-angiogenic and fibroblast-activating peptide, thymosin b4, along with GMT, resulted in further improvements in scar area and cardiac function. These findings demonstrate that cardiac fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into cardiomyocyte-like cells in their native environment for potential regenerative purposes. Heart failure affects over 14 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of death in adults and in children. Because postnatal cardiomyocytes (CMs) have little or no regenerative capacity, therapies are limited at present. The introduction of exogenous stem-cell-derived CMs holds promise, but also challenges, including delivery, integration, rejection and cellular maturation 1–3 . Reprogramming adult fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that are similar to embryonic stem cells addresses some issues 4–6 , but others, including efficient directed differentiation into CMs and effective delivery, remain. A new generation of reprogramming technology involves transdifferentiating one adult somatic cell type directly into another 7–11 . We reported direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into CM-like cells in vitro by expressing three transcription factors: Gata4, Mef2c and Tbx5 (GMT) 7 . As observed in reprogramming to iPSCs, the percentage of fibroblast cells fully reprogrammed to beating CMs in vitro was small, but far more were partially reprogrammed, much like preiPSCs that can become fully pluripotent with additional stimuli 12 . We posited that cardiac fibroblasts may reprogram more fully in vivo in their native environment, which might promote survival, maturation, and coupling with neighbouring cells. If so, the vast pool of cardiac fibroblasts in the heart could serve as an endogenous source of new CMs for regenerative therapy.
A chromatographic and interferometric study of the diffusion flame around a simulated fuel drop

The structure of the diffusion flame surrounding a simulated burning drop of n -hepatane was investigated. The drop was examined while burning at atmospheric pressure in a uniform air flow field at several air velocities. The composition and temperature profiles along several radial lines around the drop were determined by means of gas chromatography and optical interferometry. The composition analysis yielded concentrations of the fuel vapor as well as O 2 , CO 2 , CO, N 2 , CH 4 , C 2 H 2 , and C 2 H 4 in dried samples. The composition and temperature profiles were used to evaluate the mass and heat-flux distributions around the drop. The radiative heat-flux distributions from gas and soot were also evaluated. It was found that the flame structure varies markedly around the drop and that the air velocity has a large effect on the temperature profiles. At high air velocities, double-peaked temperature profiles were observed in the trailing half of the flame. Radiation, often ignored in the past, was found to be about 40% of the total heat transferred to the drop. Gas radiation is about 10% of the total radiation, the remainder being due to soot.
Disaggregating data on Asian and Pacific Islander women to assess cancer screening.

Background: Although incidence of cancer is increasing among Asian-American and Pacific-Islander (AAPI) women, their low cancer screening rates are inadequately addressed. Furthermore, the traditional approach of studying the diverse AAPI nationalities as one group hides important intra- and inter-group ethnic differences in cancer screening, as well as lack of representativeness because the surveys are not administered in any AAPI language. To address these problems, this study compared cancer screening rates among particular AAPI groups and non-AAPIs living in an ethnically diverse region. Methods: This study was conducted in 2001–2002 using data from the 1999–2000 Los Angeles County Health Survey, a population-based telephone survey that relied on random-digitdialing techniques. Cervical and breast cancer–screening rates were measured, and key determinants of screening using bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression were assessed. Results: AAPIs had lower screening rates than whites, with significant variation among AAPI subgroups. Moreover, AAPI women were less likely to have undergone cervical cancer screening compared to white women, independent of major demographic, socioeconomic, and health status factors. Determinants for receipt of cancer screening differed for AAPIs and whites. Immigration factors were significant barriers to cancer screening for AAPIs. Conclusions: These findings support the evidence of disparities in receipt of cancer screening services among subgroups of AAPI women. Additionally, these findings highlight the importance of disaggregating the heterogeneous AAPI population to identify higher-risk subgroups and facilitate development of effective targeted interventions.
Mechanisms of Epi-Detected Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy

Epi-detection is indispensible for stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) imaging of opaque samples. We present an analysis of the mechanisms underlying the generation of epi-detected SRS signals. By study of forward- and epi-detected SRS signals from pharmaceutical films of controlled thickness and scatterer density, we show that the epi-detected SRS signal arises from the backscattering of the forward-propagating probe photons. Furthermore, we show that both forward- and epi-detected SRS signal intensity linearly depends on the local oscillator power at the detector at the same slope. Under the same excitation conditions, stimulated Raman loss produces a larger epi-detected signal than stimulated Raman gain due to the larger scattering cross section of light with a shorter wavelength.
Repeat colonoscopy after endoscopic polypectomy.

The records of all patients undergoing endoscopic polypectomy between December 1979 and December 1982 were reviewed. One hundred seventy-two patients underwent colonoscopic polypectomy in the absence of carcinoma or inflammatory bowel disease. Of these, the polyp could not be retrieved in 4, and 19 were lost to follow-up. One hundred forty-nine patients underwent subsequent endoscopy from one to four years after the initial polypectomy. Seventy-five (50.3 percent) of the patients developed new polyps. Although 61 of the 75 patients with new polyps were identified in the first two years, new polyps were noted throughout all four years. The presence of multiple polyps on the initial examination was statistically significant in predicting new polyps. The age and sex of the patients, size of the polyps, and the presence of atypia did not identify patients at higher risk for new polyps. The data indicate that new polyps are more likely to develop in patients who had a previous, polyp. It would appear that annual examinations should be performed until two successive examinations are negative. Following a second negative examination, reexamination at two- or three-year intervals, unless symptomatic, would appear to be adequate.
Collaborations in stem cell science.

Increasingly, the name of the game in stem cell science is collaboration. This takes many forms. We at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) feel strongly that scientists from academia and industry, both within and outside California, can frequently achieve more by working together than they can by going it alone. From the outset, we have emphasized this notion and are gratified to see so many teams that we have funded working together in the midst of exciting scientific advances on both a national and even international level. This article highlights CIRM’s collaborative strategies and brings you up to date on the extent of our program in this regard.
Semantic information and sensor networks

Embedded Networked Sensing involves untethered, networked devices tightly coupled to the physical world, to monitor and interact with it. Raw sensor observation can be annotated with semantic metadata to provide interpretation and context for it. In this paper, we discuss what, why and how of semantic sensor data and semantic sensor networks. Specifically, we explore (i) benefits of augmenting sensor data with semantics, (ii) domain-specific and spatio-temporal problems to be addressed, (iii) role of knowledge representation and reasoning (Semantic Web technology), and (iv) standardization efforts underway to make sensor-related data and sensor observations widely available.
Fractal conductance fluctuations in generic chaotic cavities

It is shown that conductance fluctuations due to phase coherent ballistic transport through a chaotic cavity generically are fractals. The graph of conductance vs externally changed parameter, e.g., magnetic field, is a fractal with dimension D=2-\ensuremath{\beta}/2 between 1 and 2. It is governed by the exponent \ensuremath{\beta} (\ensuremath{\leqslant}2) of the power-law distribution P(t)\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{t}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\beta}}}$ for a classically chaotic trajectory to stay in the cavity up to time t, which is typical for chaotic systems with a mixed (chaotic and regular) phase space. The phenomenon should be observable in semiconductor nanostructures and microwave billiards. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Quantum algorithms for predicting the properties of complex materials

A central goal in computational materials science is to find efficient methods for solving the Kohn-Sham equation. The realization of this goal would allow one to predict properties such as phase stability, structure and optical and dielectric properties for a wide variety of materials. Typically, a solution of the Kohn-Sham equation requires computing a set of low-lying eigenpairs. Standard methods for computing such eigenpairs require two procedures: (a) maintaining the orthogonality of an approximation space, and (b) forming approximate eigenpairs with the Rayleigh-Ritz method. These two procedures scale cubically with the number of desired eigenpairs. Recently, we presented a method, applicable to any large Hermitian eigenproblem, by which the spectrum is partitioned among distinct groups of processors. This "divide and conquer" approach serves as a parallelization scheme at the level of the solver, making it compatible with existing schemes that parallelize at a physical level and at the level of primitive operations, e.g., matrix-vector multiplication. In addition, among all processor sets, the size of any approximation subspace is reduced, thereby reducing the cost of orthogonalization and the Rayleigh-Ritz method. We will address the key aspects of the algorithm, its implementation in real space, and demonstrate the nature of the algorithm by computing the electronic structure of a metal-semiconductor interface.
ESEEM Studies of Peptide Nitrogen Hyperfine Coupling in Tyrosyl Radicals and Model Peptides

Tyrosyl radicals are important in long-range electron transfer in several enzymes, but the protein environmental factors that control midpoint potential and electron transfer rate are not well understood. To develop a more detailed understanding of the effect of protein sequence, we have performed 14N and 15N electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) measurements on tyrosyl radical, generated either in polycrystalline tyrosinate or in its 15N-labeled isotopomer, by UV photolysis. 14N-ESEEM was also performed on tyrosyl radical generated in tyrosine-containing pentapeptide samples. Simulation of the 14N- and 15N-tyrosyl radical ESEEM measurements yielded no significant isotropic hyperfine splitting to the amine or amide nitrogen; the amplitude of the anisotropic, nitrogen hyperfine coupling (0.21 MHz) was consistent with a dipole-dipole distance of 3.0 A. Density functional theory was used to calculate the isotropic and anisotropic hyperfine couplings to the amino nitrogen in four different tyrosyl radical conformers. Comparison with the simulated data suggested that the lowest energy radical conformer, generated in tyrosine at pH 11, has a 76 degrees Calpha-Cbeta-C1'-C2' ring and a -73 degrees C-Calpha-Cbeta-C1' backbone dihedral angle. In addition, the magnitude, orientation, and asymmetry of the nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor were derived from analysis of the tyrosyl radical 14N-ESEEM. The simulations showed differences in the coupling and orientation of the nuclear quadrupole tensor, when the tyrosinate and pentapeptide samples were compared. These results suggest sequence- or conformation-induced changes in the ionic character of the NH bond in different tyrosine-containing peptides.
Development of Print Awareness in Language-Disordered Preschoolers

This study examined print awareness and related oral language abilities in language-disordered and normally developing preschoolers. Twenty subjects, ages 3:1 to 6:5 (years:months), were shown high...
Infection-dependent phenotypes in MHC-congenic mice are not due to MHC: can we trust congenic animals?

Background Congenic strains of mice are assumed to differ only at a single gene or region of the genome. These mice have great importance in evaluating the function of genes. However, their utility depends on the maintenance of this true congenic nature. Although, accumulating evidence suggests that congenic strains suffer genetic divergence that could compromise interpretation of experimental results, this problem is usually ignored. During coinfection studies with Salmonella typhimurium and Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-congenic mice, we conducted the proper F2 controls and discovered significant differences between these F2 animals and MHC-genotype-matched P0 and F1 animals in weight gain and pathogen load. To systematically evaluate the apparent non-MHC differences in these mice, we infected all three generations (P0, F1 and F2) for 5 MHC genotypes (b/b, b/q and q/q as well as d/d, d/q, and q/q) with Salmonella and TMEV.
Thermohaline Stratification of the Indonesian Seas: Model and Observations*

The Indonesian Throughflow, weaving through complex topography, drawing water from near the division of the North Pacific and South Pacific water mass fields, represents a severe challenge to modeling efforts. Thermohaline observations within the Indonesian seas in August 1993 (southeast monsoon) and February 1994 (northwest monsoon) offer an opportunity to compare observations to model output for these periods. The simulation used in these comparisons is the Los Alamos Parallel Ocean Program (POP) 1/6 deg (on average) global model, forced by ECMWF wind stresses for the period 1985 through 1995. The model temperature structure shows discrepancies from the observed profiles, such as between 200 and 1200 dbar where the model temperature is as much as 38C warmer than the observed temperature. Within the 58‐288C temperature interval, the model salinity is excessive, often by more than 0.2. The model density, dominated by the temperature profile, is lower than the observed density between 200 and 1200 dbar, and is denser at other depths. In the model Makassar Strait, North Pacific waters are found down to about 250 dbar, in agreement with observations. The model sill depth in the Makassar Strait of 200 m, rather than the observed 550-m sill depth, shields the model Flores Sea from Makassar Strait lower thermocline water, causing the Flores lower thermocline to be dominated by salty water from the Banda Sea. In the Maluku, Seram, and Banda Seas the model thermocline is far too salty, due to excessive amounts of South Pacific water. Observations show that the bulk of the Makassar throughflow turns eastward into the Flores and Banda Seas, before exiting the Indonesian seas near Timor. In the model, South Pacific thermocline water spreads uninhibited into the Banda, Flores, and Timor Seas and ultimately into the Indian Ocean. The model throughflow transport is about 7.0 Sv (Sv [ 106 m3 s21) in August 1993 and 0.6 Sv in February 1994, which is low compared to observationally based estimates. However, during
Minimizing the number of basis functions in chip-package co-simulation using lauerre-FDTD

Interaction between the chip and package at the system level needs to be predicted in the design process for saving time and cost, which requires chip-package co-simulation. Laguerre-FDTD is an unconditionally stable FDTD scheme which is attractive for chip-package co-simulation since its time-step is not limited by the Courant condition. In Laguerre-FDTD, the transient waveform of the field of interest is represented as the weighted sum of Laguerre basis functions. Therefore, the number of basis functions used in the simulation is directly related to both the simulation run time and the accuracy. Normally, there is a tradeoff between simulation run time and the accuracy. However, this paper proposes a novel solution to minimize the number of basis functions while increasing the accuracy of the output transient waveform of interest. The method for maximizing the efficiency in terms of run time and improving the accuracy of simulation described in this paper is a key step for the automation and practical use of the transient simulation technique using Laguerre polynomials.
Implementing a portable Multi-threaded Graph Library: The MTGL on Qthreads

Developing multi-threaded graph algorithms, even when using the MTGL infrastructure, provides a number of challenges, including discovering appropriate levels of parallelism, preventing memory hot spotting, and eliminating accidental synchronization. In this paper, we have demonstrated that using the combination of Qthreads and MTGL with commodity processors enables the development and testing of algorithms without the expense and complexity of a Cray XMT. While achievable performance is lower for both the Opteron and Niagara platform, performance issues are similar. While we believe it is possible to port Qthreads to the Cray XMT, this work is still on-going. Therefore, porting work still must be done to move algorithm implementations between commodity processors and the XMT. Although it is likely that the Qthreads-version of an algorithm will not be as optimized as a natively implemented version of the algorithm, such a performance impact may be an acceptable trade-off for ease of implementation.
Choosing remedies after accidents: Counterfactual thoughts and the focus on fixing “human error”

The present research is motivated by an interest in why organizational decision makers so often respond to accidents with remedy plans that focus narrowly on correcting human error rather than more environment-focused plans or more encompassing plans. We investigated the role of counterfactual thinking in the decision-making tendency toward human-focused plans. Our experiments indicated that even in a domain where human-focused remedies were not otherwise appealing, many participants decided on human-focused remedies after they had generated an “if only” conjecture about the accident. This reflects that human actions are often selected as the focus of “if only” conjectures and, importantly, that this focus “locks in” and carries through to subsequent remedy decisions. Our hypothesis that remedy plans are produced from “if only” thoughts was supported over several alternative interpretations. We discuss implications for research on the relation between counterfactual thinking and adaptive learning.
Comments on broadcast channels

The key ideas in the theory of broadcast channels are illustrated by discussing some of the progress toward finding the capacity region. The capacity region is still unknown.
Minichromosome Analysis of Chromosome Pairing, Disjunction, and Sister Chromatid Cohesion in Maize

With the advent of engineered minichromosome technology in plants, an understanding of the properties of small chromosomes is desirable. Twenty-two minichromosomes of related origin but varying in size are described that provide a unique resource to study such behavior. Fourteen minichromosomes from this set could pair with each other in meiotic prophase at frequencies between 25 and 100%, but for the smaller chromosomes, the sister chromatids precociously separated in anaphase I. The other eight minichromosomes did not pair with themselves, and the sister chromatids divided equationally at meiosis I. In plants containing one minichromosome, the sister chromatids also separated at meiosis I. In anaphase II, the minichromosomes progressed to one pole or the other. The maize (Zea mays) Shugoshin protein, which has been hypothesized to protect centromere cohesion in meiosis I, is still present at anaphase I on minichromosomes that divide equationally. Also, there were no differences in the level of phosphorylation of Ser-10 of histone H3, a correlate of cohesion, in the minichromosomes in which sister chromatids separated during anaphase I compared with the normal chromosomes. These analyses suggest that meiotic centromeric cohesion is compromised in minichromosomes depending on their size and cannot be maintained by the mechanisms used by normal-sized chromosomes.
Orbiting ions in the Debye shielding cloud around dust particles in weakly collisional plasmas

Inside the plasma sheath of a negatively charged dust grain, ions lose energy in occasional collisions with neutrals. Thus, trapped ions with negative energy may be created that contribute to the electrostatic shielding of the dust's charge. A kinetic model is solved for the fraction of the trapped ions in the Debye cloud as a function of dust size. The relative number of trapped ions in the Debye cloud reaches a maximum at dust size a//spl lambda//sub D//spl ap/0.3(T/sub e//T/sub i/)/sup -0.6/, where /spl lambda//sub D/ is the Debye length and T/sub e/ and T/sub i/ are the electron and ion temperatures, respectively. More than 50% of Debye shielding may be due to ions that are trapped.
Cell biology of cancer: BRCA1 and sister chromatid pairing reactions?

A significant portion of familial breast/ovarian cancer patients harbors a mutation in Breast Cancer Associated gene 1 (BRCA1). Cells deficient for BRCA1 exhibit chromosome aberrations such as whole chromosome duplications, translocations, inter-sister gaps and gene mis-regulation. Here, new evidence is reviewed that defects in sister chromatid cohesion may contribute directly to cancer cell phenotypes - especially those of BRCA1 mutant cells. Further linking cohesion to BRCA1-dependent tumorigenesis are reports that BRCA1-associated components (DNA helicase, RFC, PCNA and genome surveillance factors) are required for efficient sister chromatid cohesion. Other cohesion factors (WAPL, EFO2/ESCO2 and hSecurin) are tightly correlated with various cell-type specific carcinogenesis, in support of a generalized model for cohesion in cancer. Recent findings further reveal that a reciprocal relationship exists in that DNA damage induces new Ctf7/Eco1-dependent sister chromatid pairing reactions that, in turn, are...
Image‐guided ThinPrep Papanicolaou tests and cotesting with high‐risk human papillomavirus in women aged 30 years and older in a low‐risk private practice population

BACKGROUND: Screening for cervical cancer precursors has evolved considerably with the introduction of new technologies to improve the early detection of disease. The objective of this study was to analyze the accuracy and effectiveness of combined screening with cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) testing in a low-risk population of women aged ≥30 years. METHODS: Consecutive unselected samples from a group of 1871 women aged ≥30 years were screened with image-guided ThinPrep tests and HR-HPV tests during a 6-month period. Histologic follow-up was reviewed among women with positive HR-HPV tests. RESULTS: A total of 85 (4.5%) women had positive HR-HPV tests. In 48 HR-HPV–positive women with follow-up biopsies, 41 (85%) were found to have histologic abnormalities. Thirty-three (1.9%) women with cytologically normal Papanicolaou (Pap) tests harbored HR-HPV, and a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ lesion was detected in 1 (16%) of 6 women with histologic follow-up. Conversely, 2 (28%) of 7 women with high-grade intraepithelial lesion on cytology tested negative for HR-HPV during the same period. A case of serous carcinoma with atypical glandular cells on cytology was also negative for HR-HPV, as expected. CONCLUSIONS: In this low-risk population of women aged ≥30 years, histology-confirmed CIN2+ lesions were identified in women with negative cytology and positive HR-HPV tests, as well as in those with positive cytology and negative HR-HPV tests. Because both cytology and HPV testing alone missed significant lesions, cotesting with Pap and HR-HPV in women aged ≥30 years appears to be a reasonable option in a low-risk population. (Cancer Cytopathol) 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Flawed Executions, the Anti-Death Penalty Movement, and the Politics of Capital Punishment

“Suddenly realized grievances” (Useem 1980; Walsh 1981) play an important but largely unacknowledged role in the struggle over capital punishment in the United States. One form such grievances may take is that of “flawed executions”—executions in which public sensibilities are offended by a breakdown in routine procedures of convicting murderers and putting them to death. This paper discusses four ways in which executions may be flawed: executions may be technically botched, convicts may not play their assigned roles, the prescribed solemnity of the death chamber may be compromised, and finally, irregularities in conviction and sentencing may come to light. When abolitionist organizations and the press make issues of these flaws, they become factors in death penalty politics. An analysis of newspaper coverage suggests that flawed convictions, in which possibly innocent persons either suffer or narrowly escape execution, are especially potent threats to public support for capital punishment. The paper concludes by stressing the centrality of social movement organizations and the media in transforming underpublicized or affect-neutral events into suddenly realized grievances.
Stand characteristics and downed woody debris accumulations associated with a mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) outbreak in Colorado

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.)-dominated ecosystems in north-central Colorado are undergoing rapid and drastic changes associated with overstory tree mortality from a current mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) outbreak. To characterize stand characteristics and downed woody debris loads during the first 7 years of the outbreak, 221 plots (0.02 ha) were randomly established in infested and uninfested stands distributed across the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado. Mountain pine beetle initially attacked stands with higher lodgepole pine basal area, and lower density and basal area of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii (Parry)), and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. var. lasiocarpa) compared to uninfested plots. Mountain pine beetle-affected stands had reduced total and lodgepole pine stocking and quadratic mean diameter. The density and basal area of live overstory lodgepole declined by 62% and 71% in infested plots, respectively. The mean diameter of live lodgepole pine was 53% lower than pre-outbreak in infested plots. Downed woody debris loads did not differ between uninfested plots and plots currently infested at the time of sampling to 3 or 4-7 years after initial infestation, but the projected downed coarse wood accumulations when 80% of the mountain pine beetle-killed trees fall indicated a fourfold increase. Depth of the litter layer and maximum height of grass and herbaceous vegetation were greater 4-7 years after initial infestation compared to uninfested plots, though understory plant percent cover was not different. Seedling and sapling density of all species combined was higher in uninfested plots but there was no difference between infested and uninfested plots for lodgepole pine alone. For trees � 2.5 cm in diameter at breast height, the density of live lodgepole pine trees in mountain pine beetle-affected stands was higher than Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and aspen, (Populus tremuloides Michx.), in diameter classes comprised of trees from 2.5 cm to 30 cm in diameter, suggesting that lodgepole pine will remain as a dominant overstory tree after the bark beetle outbreak. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Future trends in the supply and demand for radiation oncology physicists

Significant controversy surrounds the 2012 / 2014 decision announced by the Trustees of the American Board of Radiology (ABR) in October of 2007. According to the ABR, only medical physicists who are graduates of a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Inc. (CAMPEP) accredited academic or residency program will be admitted for examination in the years 2012 and 2013. Only graduates of a CAMPEP accredited residency program will be admitted for examination beginning in the year 2014. An essential question facing the radiation oncology physics community is an estimation of supply and demand for medical physicists through the year 2020. To that end, a Demand & Supply dynamic model was created using STELLA software. Inputs into the model include: a) projected new cancer incidence and prevalence 1990–2020; b) AAPM member ages and retirement projections 1990–2020; c) number of ABR physics diplomates 1990–2009; d) number of patients per Qualified Medical Physicist from Abt Reports I (1995), II (2002) and III (2008); e) non-CAMPEP physicists trained 1990–2009 and projected through 2014; f) CAMPEP physicists trained 1993–2008 and projected through 2014; and g) working Qualified Medical Physicists in radiation oncology in the United States (1990–2007). The model indicates that the number of qualified medical physicists working in radiation oncology required to meet demand in 2020 will be 150–175 per year. Because there is some elasticity in the workforce, a portion of the work effort might be assumed by practicing medical physicists. However, the minimum number of new radiation oncology physicists (ROPs) required for the health of the profession is estimated to be 125 per year in 2020. The radiation oncology physics community should plan to build residency programs to support these numbers for the future of the profession.
Biphasic locomotor response to intra-accumbens dopamine in a nonhuman primate.

Abstract Locomotor activity of ten squirrel monkeys, Saimiri sciureus , was evaluated by means of a photocell activity cage following intracranial application of dopamine (DA). A biphasic response consisting of an initial quiet period followed by increased locomotor activity was seen following intra-accumbens DA, 12.5–100 μg bilaterally. Both the length of the quiet phase and intensity of locomotor activity were positively related to DA dose. Intra-caudate DA (50 μg) was significantly less effective in producing locomotor effects. The specificity of the DA response was substantiated by dose-related inhibition with both systemic (0.1 or 0.05 mg/kg) and intra-accumbens (2–10 μg) administration of the DA antagonist haloperidol. Additionally, the intra-accumbens application of haloperidol was found to be ineffective in inducing catalepsy, a state readily produced by systemically administered haloperidol.
Surface Plasmon Enhanced Photoluminescence in InAs Quantum Dots by Spherical Ag Nanoparticles

Reported is the photoluminescence enhancement due to surface plasmon from the metallic nanoparticles that are linked to the surface of a GaAs capped InAs quantum dots. In this study, spherical silver (Ag) nanoparticles are investigated where the different densities of Ag nanoparticles are deposited on four InAs/GaAs quantum dot samples. The PL enhancement due to Ag nanoparticles has been observed to be improved with increasing nanoparticle density. The photoluminescence enhancement is interpreted in terms of enhanced scattering from the surface plasmon excited in the Ag nanoparticles.
Identifying Hispanics in Existing Databases Effect of Three Methods on Mortality Patterns of Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Whites

This study compares death certificate designations to other methods of identifying Hispanics. Three methods of identifying Hispanics—death certificate, U.S. census Spanish-surname list, and a revis...
Twentieth century thinning of Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, and its relationship to climate, lake calving, and glacier run-off

Mendenhall Glacier is a dynamic maritime glacier in southeast Alaska that is undergoing substantial recession and thinning. The terminus has retreated 3 km during the 20th century and the lower part of the glacier has thinned 200 m or more since 1909. Glacier-wide volume loss between 1948 and 2000 is estimated at 5.5 km 3 . Wastage has been the strongest in the glacier’s lower reaches, but the glacier has also thinned at higher elevations. The shrinkage of Mendenhall Glacier appears to be due primarily to surface melting and secondarily to lake calving. The change in the average rate of thinning on the lower glacier, 2 m a � 1 since 1982, agrees qualitatively with observed warming trends in the region. Mean annual temperatures in Juneau decreased slightly from 1947 to 1976; they then began to increase, leading to an overall warming of f1.6 jC since 1943. Lake calving losses have periodically been a small but significant fraction of glacier ablation. The portion of the terminus that ends in the lake is becoming increasingly vulnerable to calving because of a deep pro-glacial lake basin. If current climatic trends persist, the glacier will continue to shrink and the terminus will recede onto land at a position about 500 m inland within one to two decades. The glacier and the meltwaters that flow from it are integral components of the Mendenhall Valley hydrologic system. Approximately 13% of the recent average annual discharge of the Mendenhall River is attributable to glacier shrinkage. Glacier melt contributes 50% of the total river discharge in summer. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Technical feasibility and intermediate outcomes of using a handcrafted, area-preserving, bifurcated Y-graft modification of the Fontan procedure.

Objectives To demonstrate the technical feasibility and describe intermediate outcomes for the initial patients undergoing handcrafted, area-preserving, Y-graft modification of the Fontan procedure. Methods A retrospective review of a pilot study was undertaken to describe preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative results. Results Six patients underwent successful procedures and remain alive 3 to 4 years later. The median age at operation was 3.3 years, and median weight was 13.2 kg. Five operations were done without cardiopulmonary bypass and no intraoperative pressure gradients were found. Five patients were extubated by postoperative day 1, Fontan pressures were 12 to 14 mm Hg, transpulmonary gradients were 6 to 8 mm Hg, and no renal or hepatic function abnormalities were found. Length of stay was 10 to 64 days. One patient required venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for previously undiagnosed plastic bronchitis (64-day stay); another required reoperation for an incidentally diagnosed aortic thrombus (44-day stay). One patient had occlusion of a Y-graft limb noted on magnetic resonance imaging follow-up at 3 months. Catheterization showed excellent hemodynamic parameters and no Fontan obstruction. Occlusion was believed to be due to right-sided pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and widely discrepant flow (80%) to the right lung leading to low flow in the left limb. Conclusions The area-preserving, bifurcated Y-graft Fontan modification is technically feasible and shows excellent intermediate outcomes. Additional study is required to determine whether the advantages seen in the computational models will be realized in patients over the long-term, and to optimize patient selection for each of the various Fontan options now available.
Self-absorption effects on alpha-induced atmospheric nitrogen fluorescence yield

Nitrogen fluorescence induced by radiation can be used to detect the presence of radioactive contamination in the environment. Contamination quantification from the fluorescence signal requires: the source’s effective alpha spectrum; the specific radiation quantum fluorescence efficiency; optical attenuation length in air of the fluorescence signal; the absolute throughput and quantum efficiency of the optical instrumentation; calibration of the instrumentation; and radiation transport modeling of the “effective” array exposure rate given the alpha particle spectrum. Field testing conducted on optical instrumentation measured the nitrogen fluorescence yield generated by 241Am alpha emissions. Laboratory studies of 241Am via alpha spectrometry determined whether the presence of solids on source surfaces produced sufficient self-absorption to decrease fluorescence. Results from the laboratory studies provided correction to the effective alpha-source activity values in a model of the earlier optical-sensor field measurements, and determined the air fluorescence efficiency of alpha particles generated by the 241Am sources used in the field experiments.
Persistent genomic instability in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced by ionizing radiation and DNA-damaging agents.

Abstract Brennan, R. J. and Schiestl, R. H. Persistent Genomic Instability in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Induced by Ionizing Radiation and DNA-Damaging Agents. Radiat. Res. 155, 766–775 (2001). A “hypermutable” genome is a common characteristic of cancer cells, and it may contribute to the progressive accumulation of mutations required for the development of cancer. It has been reported that mammalian cells surviving exposure to γ radiation display several highly persistent genomic instability phenotypes which may reflect a hypermutability similar to that seen in cancer. These phenotypes include an increased mutation frequency and a decreased plating efficiency, and they continue to be observed many generations after the radiation exposure. The underlying causes of this genomic instability have not been fully determined. We show here that exposure to γ radiation and other DNA-damaging treatments induces a similar genomic instability in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A dose-dependent increase ...
Meeting student expectations in a quantity food production lab/simulated restaurant environment

The purpose of this research study is to identify and evaluate student expectations prior to enrollment in a quantity food production lab/simulated restaurant environment. Web-­‐based questionnaires were distributed to students at three four-­‐year universities in the United States, who were required to take a quantity food production lab in order to meet graduation requirements. The questionnaire covered topic areas including material supplements and topics covered, expectations of the teacher, sources of influence, and real world applicability. Respondents had high expectations of technology and online components being used in the course. There was a higher expectation of learning back-­‐of-­‐house tasks such as knife skills and food portioning, compared to front-­‐of-­‐the house skills like customer service and staffing. When compared to previous literature, the traits respondents expected of their teachers were similar to those identified in prior studies; this included approachability, timeliness, organization, and subject area knowledge. Two-­‐sample t-­‐tests were performed on several responses to determine if any significant differences existed between males and females; no significance was found.
Personal Discount Rates: Evidence from the Tobacco Buyout Program

The tobacco buyout program affected a number of southern states, including Kentucky, providing a unique opportunity to study how individuals actually make choices involving large sums of money. This natural experiment, allowed us to measure the personal discount rates for Kentucky tobacco farmers, who are heterogeneous in terms of age, education, income, and other economic and non-economic factors. Results of our analysis suggest that personal characteristics, such as confidence, experienced interruptions in the regular family routine, defensive avoidance and attitude toward various sources of information, not an individual's demographic profile, influence the personal discount rate.
Models for Copper Dynamic Behavior in Doped Cadmium dl-Histidine Crystals: Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Crystallographic Analysis.

Electron paramagnetic resonance and crystallographic studies of copper-doped cadmium dl-histidine, abbreviated as CdDLHis, were undertaken to gain further understanding on the relationship between site structure and dynamic behavior in biological model complexes. X-ray diffraction measurements determined the crystal structure of CdDLHis at 100 and 298 K. CdDLHis crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with two cadmium complexes per asymmetric unit. In each complex, the Cd is hexacoordinated to two histidine molecules. Both histidines are l in one complex and d in the other. Additionally, each complex contains multiple waters of varying disorder. Single crystal EPR spectroscopic splitting (g) and copper hyperfine (ACu) tensors at room temperature (principal values: g = 2.249, 2.089, 2.050; ACu = −453, −30.5, −0.08 MHz) were determined from rotational experiments. Alignments of the tensor directions with the host structure were used to position the copper unpaired dx2-y2 orbital in an approximate p...