cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of radiographs and computed tomography for measurement of kidney size in healthy chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)

Abstract Background Chinchillas, being small mammals, are subject to many of the urinary disorders that affect other companion animals. In cats and dogs, relationships between renal length and the presence of renal pathology have been well documented through the use of diagnostic imaging. Radiography and computed tomography (CT) are two commonly utilized diagnostic imaging modalities for assessing renal pathology. Presently, there are no published data on chinchilla kidney size and appearance using radiography or CT. This study aimed to determine healthy adult chinchilla renal size and correlate renal size to L2 body length and aortic diameter by use of radiography and CT. Methods Twenty-eight healthy adult chinchillas with no clinical evidence of renal disease were placed under sedation for acquisition of radiographs and CT imaging. Both kidneys were measured on the radiographic views (right lateral, left lateral and ventrodorsal), when identifiable. Renal length, L2 body length and abdominal aortic diameter were measured on CT multiplanar reformatted images in specified planes and windows. Results In 25% (7/28) of chinchillas, the renal length of either kidney could not be obtained on any of the three radiographic views due to superimposition of fluid and ingesta within the alimentary tract. Both the right and left kidney were identified on CT images in 100% of chinchillas (28/28). The left renal and right renal 95% confidence intervals from the dorsal plane CT images were 2.26 – 2.33 cm and 2.31 – 2.39 cm, respectively. No correlation was found between kidney length, L2 body length and diameter of the abdominal aorta on CT images. Conclusions Based on dorsal plane CT imaging, normal chinchilla renal length is proposed to be between 2.25–2.4 cm. Clinical Relevance Radiographic evaluation of chinchilla renal length is greatly limited due to their large fluid- and ingesta-filled colon and cecum, as is typical of animals that are hindgut fermenters. Through establishment of a normal CT reference interval for renal length and the ever-increasing clinical utility of CT, clinicians can better evaluate chinchilla renal length and identify alterations that may indicate pathologic processes.
An inverse elastic method of crack identification based on sparse strain sensing sheet

Reliable damage detection over large areas of structures can be achieved by spatially quasi-continuous structural health monitoring enabled by two-dimensional sensing sheets. They contain dense arr...
Abstract 504: p27 transcriptionally coregulates STAT3 to drive cancer stem cells

p27 is a cell cycle inhibitor and a tumor suppressor. It can also regulate cellular processes including migration and transcription through mechanisms independent of its CDK-inhibitory role. In cancers, p27 C-terminal phosphorylation by PI3K-activated kinases, AKT, RSK1, and SGK1 at T157 and T198 alters p27 protein-protein interactions and shifts p27 from CDK-inhibitor to an oncogene. Previously, our group showed that CDK-binding defective p27pT157pT198 phosphomimetic (p27CK-DD) upregulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the metastatic potential of cancer cell lines. In addition to its action to promote EMT, p27 appears to promote CSC expansion and or maintenance. Here we demonstrated that C-terminally phosphorylated p27 increases CSC properties, including tumor sphere formation and CSC markers. p27CK-DD increases the expression of several embryonic stem cell transcription factors (ES-TFs), including SOX2, NANOG and cMYC, which are known to drive embryonic stem cell self-renewal and to promote CSC expansion. A human phospho-kinase array showed Pyk2 is activated by p27CK-DD. We demonstrated that Pyk2 activation and its binding to p27 are dependent on phosphorylation of p27 at T198 and T157. Treatment with a Pyk2 inhibitor, and PYK2-knockdown by siRNA or shRNA revealed that Pyk2 is a key mediator of the increase in tumor spheres, ALDH1 activity and ES-TFs in cancer cells expressing abundant C-terminally phosphorylated p27. Pyk2 enhances STAT3 phosphorylation and activation. We identified that C-terminally phosphorylated p27 recruits STAT3 to form p27-Pyk2-STAT3 complex leading to STAT3 activation. p27/STAT3 complexes co-localize to the nucleus and co-occupy chromatin. We confirmed by ChIP-qPCR that p27/STAT3 bind and activate the cMYC promotor. Altogether, in breast cancer cells with high p27pT157pT198 or expressing p27CK−DD, STAT3 is partly activated by Pyk2 and interacts with p27. p27 is a STAT3 coregulator, whose assembly and chromatin association is governed by p27 phosphorylation. These data reveal a novel mechanism whereby p27-driven Pyk2 activation promotes CSC expansion and tumor progression via transcriptionally activation of the STAT3 and its target genes. Citation Format: Seyedehfatemeh Razavipour, Kibeom Jang, Hyunho Yoon, Minsoon Kim, Miyoung Shin, Dekuang Zhao, Joyce Slingerland. p27 transcriptionally coregulates STAT3 to drive cancer stem cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 504.
Cultura e a consulta de medicina geral e familiar: um caso de síndroma de Dhat

Introducao : A sindroma de Dhat consiste na preocupacao em que a perda de semen seja causadora de perda de energia vital e, consequentemente, de doenca. Ocorre principalmente em homens jovens e sul-asiaticos e apresenta-se sob a forma de sintomas inespecificos (como fraqueza, tristeza e ansiedade). Com este caso pretende-se discutir a importância do contexto sociocultural de um utente e a sua abordagem em cuidados de saude primarios. Descricao do caso : Descreve-se o caso de um homem de 44 anos, natural do Bangladesh, sem antecedentes pessoais ou familiares relevantes. Membro de uma familia nuclear em fase IV do ciclo de vida de Duvall no pais de origem, emigrou para Portugal em 2010, onde vive sozinho. Sem seguimento anterior na USF, pediu consulta nao programada por queixas de fraqueza e ansiedade com um mes de evolucao e sensacao de morte iminente desde ha poucos dias. Associava os sintomas a emissao de um liquido branco durante a miccao. Negou contactos sexuais nos ultimos sete anos. Tendo em conta a hipotese diagnostica de sindroma de Dhat realizou-se escuta ativa, com reconhecimento do sofrimento e tranquilizacao do utente. Foram marcadas consultas de reavaliacao, as quais o utente aderiu e durante as quais a relacao terapeutica medico-doente foi sendo estabelecida, com melhoria progressiva da sintomatologia referida. Comentario : A multiculturalidade assume um papel cada vez mais relevante nas sociedades. O medico de familia, como prestador de cuidados de primeira linha, pode ter um papel importante na identificacao de sindromas culturais. O conhecimento desta sindroma em particular permitiu uma abordagem individualizada, evitando medidas terapeuticas desadequadas, com evolucao favoravel do caso.
A Case for Elevating the Edge to be a Peer of the Cloud

Over the last 20 years, mobile computing has evolved to encompass a wide array of increasingly data-rich applications. Many of these applications were enabled by the Cloud computing revolution, which commoditized server hardware to support vast numbers of mobile users from a few large, centralized data centers. Today, mobile's next stage of evolution is spurred by interest in emerging technologies such as Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Autonomous Vehicles. New applications relying on these technologies often require very low latency response times, increased bandwidth consumption, and the need to preserve privacy. Meeting all of these requirements from the Cloud alone is challenging for several reasons. First, the amount of data generated by devices can quickly saturate the bandwidth of backhaul links to the Cloud. Second, achieving low-latency responses for making decisions on sensed data becomes increasingly difficult the further mobile devices are from centralized Cloud data centers. And finally, regulatory or privacy restrictions on the data generated by devices may require that such data be kept locally. For these reasons, enabling next-generation technologies requires us to reconsider the current trend of serving applications from the Cloud alone.
An Approach to Automatically Label and Order Brain Activity/Component Maps.

Background: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a brain imaging technique that provides detailed insights into brain function and its disruption in various brain disorders. The data-dri...
Phenotype spaces

The topological viewpoint on spaces of phenotypes presented in Stadler et al. (J Theor Biol 213:241–274, 2001) is revisited, and a quantified version is proposed. While necessary probabilistic information can be encoded in a topological- like fashion, it turns out that it is not reflected adequately by the concept of continuity. We propose alternative models, but the behavior of maps make these models non-topological in fundamental ways.
Isolated Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy Is More Effective at Improving Meniscal Symptoms in Comparison With Mechanical Symptoms in Patients With Concomitant Untreated Chondral Lesions.

Purpose To rank Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questions from most to least improvement after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) and compare improvement of meniscal versus mechanical symptoms. Methods A secondary analysis of the Chondral Lesions and Meniscus Procedures (ChAMP) Trial was performed. Inclusion criteria were age 30 years or older with degenerative meniscal tear failing nonoperative management, with or without associated unstable chondral lesions. No chondral debridement was performed. Responses to the 42 KOOS questions ranged from 0 (extreme problems) to 4 (no problems), and were answered preoperatively and at 1 year after isolated APM. The 1-year mean change, or delta (Δ), was calculated for each KOOS question and the Δ for meniscal and mechanical symptoms were statistically compared. Results Greatest improvement in 135 eligible patients was observed for questions about (1) awareness of knee problems (Δ = 1.93, standard deviation [SD] = 1.38), (2) frequency of knee pain (Δ = 1.93, SD = 1.29), (3) degree of difficulty while twisting/pivoting on the injured knee (Δ = 1.88, SD = 1.13), (4) degree of difficulty while running (Δ = 1.67, SD = 1.30), and (5) being troubled by lack of confidence in the knee (Δ = 21.67, SD = 1.11). Least improvement was observed for questions about: (1) degree of difficulty while getting on/off the toilet (Δ = 0.94, SD = 0.96), (2) feel grinding or hear clicking when the knee moves (Δ= 0.90, SD = 1.25), 3) degree of difficulty while getting in/out of the bath (Δ= 0.88, SD = 1.00), (4) knee catches/hangs up during movement (Δ= 0.80, SD = 1.09), and (5) the ability to straighten the knee fully (Δ= 0.54, 1.44). There was greater improvement for the KOOS questions pertaining to meniscal versus mechanical symptoms (P Conclusions KOOS symptoms as reported by subjects’ responses to the questions pertaining to the frequency of knee pain, twisting/pivoting, running, squatting, and jumping showed the most improvement 1 year after isolated APM, whereas those relating to mechanical symptoms improved the least. Focusing on meniscal rather than mechanical symptoms may help surgeons better identify patients expected to benefit from APM. Level of Evidence IV, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.
Similar Healthcare Utilization and 1-Year Patient-Reported Outcomes between Cemented and Cementless Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Cementless fixation for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has gained traction with the advent of newer fixation technologies. This study assessed (1) healthcare utilization (length of stay (LOS), nonhome discharge, 90-day readmission, and 1-year reoperation); (2) 1-year mortality; and (3) 1-year joint-specific and global health-related patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) among patients who received cementless versus cemented TKA. Patients who underwent cementless and cemented TKA at a single institution (July 2015-August 2018) were prospectively enrolled. A total of 424 cementless and 5,274 cemented TKAs were included. The cementless cohort was propensity score-matched to a group cemented TKAs (1:3-cementless: n = 424; cemented: n = 1,272). Within the matched cohorts, 76.9% (n = 326) cementless and 75.9% (n = 966) cementless TKAs completed 1-year PROMs. Healthcare utilization measures, mortality and the median 1-year change in knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS)-pain, KOOS-physical function short form (PS), KOOS-knee related quality of life (KRQOL), Veteran Rand (VR)-12 mental composite (MCS), and physical composite (PCS) scores were compared. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for PROMs was calculated. Cementless TKA exhibited similar rates of median LOS (p = 0.109), nonhome discharge disposition (p = 0.056), all-cause 90-day readmission (p = 0.226), 1-year reoperation (p = 0.597), and 1-year mortality (p = 0.861) when compared with cemented TKA. There was no significant difference in the median 1-year improvement in KOOS-pain (p = 0.370), KOOS-PS (p = 0.417), KOOS-KRQOL (p = 0.101), VR-12-PCS (p = 0.269), and VR-12-MCS (p = 0.191) between the cementless and cemented TKA cohorts. Rates of attaining MCID were similar in both cohorts for assessed PROMs (p > 0.05, each) except KOOS-KRQOL (cementless: n = 313 (96.0%) vs. cemented: n = 895 [92.7%]; p = 0.036). Cementless TKA provides similar healthcare-utilization, mortality, and 1-year PROM improvement versus cemented TKA. Cementless fixation in TKA may provide value through higher MCID improvement in quality of life. Future episode-of-care cost-analyses and longer-term survivorship investigations are warranted.
Determination and confirmation of malachite green and leucomalachite green residues in salmon using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with no-discharge atmospheric pressure chemical ionization.

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method was developed to quantitate and confirm residues of leucomalachite green (LMG) in salmon tissue after their conversion to chromic malachite green (MG) in the extraction process. The method uses no-discharge atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) in conjunction with an ion-trap instrument to generate product-ion spectra. In the sample preparation procedure, salmon tissue is extracted with acetonitrile/buffer, the LMG residue is partitioned into methylene chloride, the LMG is converted to MG using an organic oxidizing agent, and the MG is isolated on alumina/propylsulfonic acid solid-phase extraction cartridges. The method was validated by fortifying salmon with different levels of LMG, and then detecting the residue as MG. The LC/MS conditions, including a comparison of electrospray and no-discharge APCI, were evaluated and optimized. MG was not confirmed in any of the control tissue extracts, and all fortified samples analyzed during validation met the confirmation criteria as described. In addition to providing confirmatory data, this method can provide an alternative method for quantitation of MG in salmon. The recoveries of LMG, measured as MG by this LC/MS method, at fortification levels of 1-10 ng/g were very high (86-109%), with low relative standard deviation(RSD) values (6.4-13%). The results agreed very closely with those obtained for the same extracts using an LC/VIS procedure, indicating that matrix suppression was not an issue. The presence of LMG in salmon tissue samples fortified at 0.25 ng/g was confirmed by this method, with an average recovery of 70.1% and an RSD of 12.0%. Sample extracts from fish exposed to MG were also analyzed.
Automated Robotic Cell Configuration for Electronics Assembly

This paper addresses some of the issues in configuring electronics assembly cell. Robotic cell for electronics assembly is used as an example here. The methodology uses the component and board information to generate the functional requirements of the robot. The assignment of the components to the various cells to facilitate efficient assembly is also performed in conjunction with the functional requirements generation. Finally a methodology is proposed for the complete configuration of the assembly cell.
Asymmetric information and agenda control: The bases of monopoly power in public spending

Abstract A pervasive empirical finding, widely known as the ‘flypaper effect’, is that lump-sum intergovernmental grants generate considerably greater public spending by the recipient jurisdiction than would be predicted by equivalent shifts in personal income in that jurisdiction. Moreover, such observations are inconsistent with standard median voter models of the political process. We posit a model in which it is in the interest of suppliers of a collectively provided good not to generate full information to voters about outside aid. The empirical results are consistent with ‘flypaper’ and suggest that voters are very poorly informed about outside grants.
Neutral C 19 -steroids and steroid sulfates in human pregnancy. VI. Quantification of plasma testosterone in cord venous blood.

Abstract Plasma testosterone was quantitated in cord venous blood of 40 normal newborns of primiparous women delivered vaginally at term. The method consisted of purification by thin layer, paper and column chromatography and measurement by competitive binding assay utilizing sex steroid binding protein (BSP) of maternal plasma obtained in late pregnancy. Values were corrected for blank (if necessary) and recovery of the internal standard. Mean and standard deviation were 22 ± 14 ng % plasma. No difference was found between female and male newborns. Reasons for the considerably higher values of other investigators are discussed.
Further results on complex Chebyshev FIR filter design using a multiple exchange algorithm

In a previous paper, the author presented a multiple exchange algorithm for designing optimal complex Chebyshev finite impulse response (FIR) filters. This algorithm tackles the complex Chebyshev approximation problem by systematically solving a sequence of subproblems in which each subproblem is defined over a selected set of distinct frequency points. It is pointed out that the approach employed in the previous paper for solving the subproblem, which is based on an efficient implementation of Lawson's algorithm, may encounter numerical difficulties. To alleviate this problem, a new approach which implements Lawson's algorithm with the same computational efficiency as the previous approach while possessing better numerical property is derived. >
Volcanism, Cold Temperature, and Paucity of Sunspot Observing Days, 1818-1858: A Connection

During the interval of 1818-1858, several curious decreases in the number of sunspot observing days per year are noted in the observing record of Samuel Heinrich Schwabe, the discoverer of the sunspot cycle, and in the reconstructed record of Rudolf Wolf, the founder of the now familiar relative sunspot number. These decreases appear to be nonrandom in nature and often extended for 13 yr (or more). Comparison of these decreases with equivalent annual mean temperature (both annual means and 4-yr moving averages). as recorded at Armagh Observatory (Northern Ireland), indicates that the temperature during the years of decreased number of observing days trended downward near the start of' each decrease and upward (suggesting some sort of recovery) just before the end of each decrease. The drop in equivalent annual mean temperature associated with each decrease, as determined from the moving averages, measured about 0.1-0.7 C. The decreases in number of observing days are found to be closely related to the occurrences of large, cataclysmic volcanic eruptions in the tropics or northern hemisphere. In particular, the interval of increasing number of observing days at the beginning of the record (i.e., 1818-1819) may be related to the improving atmospheric conditions in Europe following the 1815 eruption of Tambora (Indonesia; 8 deg. S), which previously, has been linked to "the year without a summer" (in 1816) and which is the strongest eruption in recent history, while the decreases associated with the years of 1824, 1837, and 1847 may, be linked, respectively, to the large, catacivsmic volcanic eruptions of Galunggung (Indonesia; 7 deg. S) in 1822, Cosiguina (Nicaragua) in 1835, and, perhaps, Hekla (Iceland; 64 deg. N) in 1845. Surprisingly, the number of observing days per year, as recorded specifically b), SchAabe (from Dessau, Germany), is found to be linearly correlated against the yearly mean temperature at Armagh Observatory (r = 0.5 at the 2 percent level of significance); thus. years of fewer sunspot observing days in the historical record seem to indicate years of probable cooler clime, while years (if many sunspot observing days seem to indicate years of probable warmer clime (and Vice versa). Presuming this relationship to be real, one infers that the observed decrease in the number of observing days near 1830 (i.e., during "the lost record years" of 1825 to 1833) provides a strong indication that temperatures at Armagh (and, perhaps, most of Europe, as well) were correspondingly cooler. If true, then, the inferred cooling may have resulted from the eruption of Kliuchevsoi(Russia; 56 deg. N) in 1829.
Microchannel plate image readouts: in search of high resolution and count rate

The search for the ultimate imaging performance in microchannel plate (MCP) detector systems invariably ends in compromise between competing factors in both the operational and performance arenas. We discuss these compromises in the context of the trade-offs made by current state-of-the-art readout techniques. We present an alternative readout scheme with the potential to rival current readout technologies. This readout scheme uses novel position encoding strategies such as charge comparison amongst a subset of readout electrodes combined with a signal timing method to obtain low resolution charge measurement which enables it to provide high spatial resolution at high count rates. We describe results of a readout simulation using measured data from an electronic breadboard to predict performance. We discuss how this scheme could be adapted to provide the capability for simultaneous event imaging and higher count rates by implementing parallelism.
Investigation of the neutral-solution etch process for refractive SOE antireflective surfaces

Antireflection of optically clear glass used in photovoltaic concentrator refractive secondary optical elements (SOEs) was investigated using the neutral-solution etch process. Test coupons and SOEs made from barium zinc glass, which does not solarize under ultraviolet exposure, were successfully etched at the center-point process variable conditions at 87 degrees C and 24 hours. Reflectance of the plano-plano coupons dropped from 7.7% to 0.8%, with a corresponding increase in transmission from 91.7% to 98.5%. The etching process uses nonhydrofluoric relatively nontoxic chemicals in a low-cost process well-suited for use by photovoltaic system manufacturers during production. >
Suppression of melanotroph carcinogenesis leads to accelerated progression of pituitary anterior lobe tumors and medullary thyroid carcinomas in Rb +/- mice

Mice with a single copy of the retinoblastoma gene ( Rb +/− ) develop a syndrome of multiple neuroendocrine neoplasia. They usually succumb to fast-growing, Rb-deficient melanotroph tumors of the pituitary intermediate lobe, which are extremely rare in humans. Thus, full assessment of Rb role in other, more relevant to human pathology, neoplasms is complicated. To prevent melanotroph neoplasia while preserving spontaneous carcinogenesis in other types of cells, we have prepared transgenic mice in which 770-bp fragment of pro-opiomelanocortin promoter directs expression of the human RB gene to melanotrophs (Tg POMC-RB ). In three independent lines, transgenic mice crossed to Rb +/− background are devoid of melanotroph tumors but develop the usual spectrum of other neoplasms. Interestingly, abrogation of melanotroph carcinogenesis results in accelerated progression of pituitary anterior lobe tumors and medullary thyroid carcinomas. A combination of immunologic tests, cell culture studies, and tumorigenicity assays indicates that α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone, which is overproduced by melanotroph tumors, attenuates neoplastic progression by decreasing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Taken together, we show that cell lineage–specific complementation of Rb function can be successfully used for refining available models of stochastic carcinogenesis and identify α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone as a potential attenuating factor during progression of neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Bank Consolidation and Performance: The Argentine Experience

We examine a large panel of more than 100 banks from Argentina to study the effects of bank consolidation on performance between December 1995 and December 2000, a period of heavy bank consolidation and relative calm. Overall, we find a positive and significant effect of bank consolidation on bank performance. Bank returns increase with consolidation, and insolvency risk is reduced. Additionally, the study suggests that mergers and privatizations have a beneficial effect on bank returns. The effects of a bank acquisition on return on equity is, however, negative. Acquisitions do not seem to have any effect on risk-adjusted returns. The study also finds that a bank`s insolvency risk is reduced significantly through mergers and privatization and is unrelated to bank acquisitions.
Chemiluminescence from polytetrafluoroethylene

The chemiluminescence emission from commercial samples of polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE (Halon G-80 and Halon G-10), was studied at temperatures between 25 and 172°C. The emission intensity decreased on extended heating, removal of the surface layer, solvent extraction, or changing from an atmosphere of oxygen to an inert atmosphere. Films of PTFE deposited from the vapor phase showed comparatively little chemiluminescence under these conditions. Ozone-induced chemiluminescence was observed at 37°C from G-10 but not from G-80, or from films deposited from the vapor phase. The chemiluminescence intensity from ozone and G-10 was not reduced by solvent extraction.
Neuropathic Arthropathy: A Report of Two Cases

Summary: The case histories of two patients suffering from neuropathic arthropathy are presented. One of them had Charcot“s disease of the lumbar spine secondary to a syphilitic infection. The second case, who was thought to have syringomyelia, gave a history of recurrent dislocation of the (R) shoulder. Clinical and radiological, examination of this joint suggested that it was of the neuropathic type. The pathophysiology and treatment of Charcbt's joints is briefly discussed.
Biomedia in the time of animation

How does mediated time become human (historically, affectively)? What can the results of an attention to ‘new’ mediation tell us about duration as embodiment and about becoming human in time? This essay approaches the question of when we become post/human through an exploration of anatomical images that mark the connection between bodies/embodiment and the historical reproduction of knowledge. These transhistorical images offer competing glimpses of the reproduction of bodies in time and the temporality of mediated embodiment. The various modes of mediation that these images embody impose or evade a transtime, a temporality caught up in the production of mediated time as a form of bio-reproduction.
The k-Version of Finite Element Method for Initial Value Problems: Mathematical and Computational Framework

This paper presents a mathematical and computational framework for initial value problems (IVP) in which the numerical approximations can be of higher order global differentiability in space and time and the resulting computational processes are unconditionally stable. This is accomplished using Hk, p scalar product spaces containing basis functions of degree p = (p1,p2), p1 and p2 being the degrees of local approximation in space and time and order k = (k1, k2), k1 and k2 being orders of the scalar product space in space and time and ensuring that the integral forms are space-time integral forms that are space-time variationally consistent (STVC). It is shown that order of the scalar product space k (in space and time) is an intrinsically important independent parameter in all finite element computations for IVP in addition to the discretization length h and the degree p of the local approximations, thus in all finite element computations all quantities are dependent on h, p and k. Hence, we have k-versi...
Abstract LB-375: Development of new compounds specifically targeting prostate cancer bone metastases

Introduction: Bone metastases are a major cause of morbidity for men with prostate cancer (PCa). Although PCa cells produce osteoblastic metastases, there is an initial and ongoing osteoclast (OC)-mediated osteolytic phase that is essential for PCa bone metastases. OC-mediated bone resorption is dependent upon OC secretion of bone acid phosphatase. PCa cells in bone secrete high levels of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) which differs from BAP in that PAP enzymatic activity is inhibited by tartrate and glyceric acid, whereas BAP is tartrate-resistant. Hypothesis: PAP secreted by human PCa cells in bone acts similarly to OC-derived bone acid phosphatase to degrade bone matrix and enhance PCa bone-targeting and growth in bone. We developed new compounds consisting of glyceric acid or tartrate (known PAP inhibitors) conjugated to a bisphosphonate to inhibit PCa bone metastases. Methods: PCa bone metastases derived from 7 patients were immunostained for androgen receptor (AR), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and PAP expression. The VCaP human PCa cell line derived from a vertebral metastases was inoculated intratibially into SCID mice (n=8) and bone lesions immunostained for AR, PSA, and PAP. Co-cultures of MC3T3 osteoblasts and VCaP cells were treated with tartrate and the effects on cell number, PAP and bone alkaline phosphatase (ALP) secretion measured by ELISA. Glyceric Acid and Tartaric acid were then conjugated with alendronate and the effects of these new conjugates on PAP enzymatic activity were compared to alendronate alone and tartrate alone. Results: Human PCa bone lesions (7/7) had strongly positive expression of PAP, with little AR or PSA expression. 8/8 SCID mice inoculated with VCaP cells intratibially developed osteoblastic VCaP lesions and these similarly had high PAP expression and no PSA expression. Tartrate addition to co-cultures of VCaP and MC3T3 osteoblasts reduced MC3T3 cell numbers and ALP secretion. In vitro testing of the conjugates revealed that the glyceric acid-alendronate conjugate inhibited PAP enzymatic activity but the tartrate-alendronate conjugate and alendronate alone had no significant inhibitory activity. Discussion: We have evidence that PAP secretion by PCa cells enhances their bone metastatic ability. We have developed new bone-targeting agents that consist of alendronate conjugated to PAP-inhibitory small molecules for further development as oral agents to prevent and treat PCa bone metastases. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-375.
Psychological abuse between parents: associations with child maltreatment from a population-based sample.

Abstract Objective This study examined the association between partner psychological abuse and child maltreatment perpetration. Methods This cross-sectional study examined a population-based sample of mothers with children aged 0–17 years in North and South Carolina ( n = 1,149). Mothers were asked about the occurrence of potentially neglectful or abusive behaviors toward their children by either themselves or their husband/partner in the past year. Partner psychological abuse was categorized as no psychological abuse (reference), husband perpetrates, wife perpetrates, or both perpetrate. Outcome measures for psychological and physical abuse of the child had four categories: no abuse (reference), mother perpetrates, father/father-figure perpetrates, or both parents perpetrate, whereas child neglect was binary. Adjusted relative risk ratios (aRRRs), adjusted odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with regression models. A relative risk ratio was the ratio of odds ratios derived from multinomial logistic regression. Results Children were at the greatest risk of maltreatment when parents psychologically abused each other versus no abuse: the aRRR for child psychological abuse by the mother only was 16.13 (95% CI: 5.11, 50.92) compared to no abuse, controlling for child age, gender, Medicaid welfare, and mother's level of education. Both parents psychologically abuse each other versus no abuse also results in an aRRR of 14.57 (95% CI: 3.85, 55.16) for child physical abuse by both parents compared to no abuse. When only the husband perpetrates toward the wife, the odds of child neglect was 5.29 times as much as families with no psychological abuse (95% CI: 1.36, 20.62). Conclusions Partner psychological abuse was strongly related to child maltreatment. Children experienced a substantially increased risk of maltreatment when partner psychological abuse was present in the homes. Practice implications This study observed that intimate partner psychological abuse significantly increased risk of child maltreatment. Increased public awareness of partner psychological abuse is warranted. Primary prevention should include education about the seriousness of partner psychological abuse in families. Domestic violence and child welfare agencies must recognize the link between partner psychological abuse and child maltreatment and work together to develop effective screening for each of these problems.
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits Na(+)-H+ exchange by stimulating membrane phosphoinositide turnover and increasing cytosolic calcium in CaCo-2 cells

We have examined the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] on the phosphoinositol signal transduction pathway in the human colon cancer-derived cell line CaCo-2 and have studied the regulation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and pH (pHi) by this secosteroid. CaCo-2 cells were prelabeled with [3H]myoinositol and treated with 10(-8) M 1,25-(OH)2D3 or vehicle for 90 sec. 1,25-(OH)2D3 caused a decrease in labeled phosphatidylinositol-4-5-bis-phosphate and an increase in labeled inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Treatment with 10(-8) M 1,25-(OH)2D3 for 90 sec also raised the cellular content of diacylglycerol. In a dose-dependent manner, 1,25-(OH)2D3 caused the translocation of protein kinase-C activity from the cytosolic to the membrane fraction, which occurred after as little as 15 sec of exposure to the secosteroid, peaked at about 1-5 min, and then returned toward baseline values. In these CaCo-2 cells, baseline [Ca2+]i was 258 +/- 2 nM (mean +/- SE), as assessed using the fluorescent dye fura-...
Stimulation of A1 adenosine receptors mimics the electroencephalographic effects of sleep deprivation

N6-Cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), an A1 adenosine receptor agonist, increased EEG slow-wave activity in nonREM sleep when administered either systemically (0.1-3 mg/kg) or intracerebroventricularly (3.5-10 micrograms) in the rat. The power spectrum of EEG changes (as calculated by Fourier analysis) matched that produced by total sleep deprivation in the rat. The effects of CPA on the nonREM-sleep EEG were dose-dependent. These findings suggest that adenosine is an endogenous mediator of sleep-deprivation induced increases in EEG slow-wave activity, and therefore that increased adenosine release is a concomitant of accumulation of sleep need and may be involved in homeostatic feedback control of sleep expression.
The myoepithelial defense: a host defense against cancer

The behavior of human tumors depends not only on the nature of the tumor cells themselves but also on the modifying effects of various normal host cells such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. One cell type, however--the myoepithelial cell--has not been studied scientifically. Myoepithelial cells normally surround ducts and acini of glandular organs such as the breast and salivary glands and contribute to the synthesis of a surrounding basement membrane. This relationship suggests that myoepithelial cells may exert paracrine effects on glandular epithelium and also regulate the progression of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive carcinoma. Myoepithelial tumors, in turn, tend to be benign or low-grade neoplasms that exhibit the rare property of accumulating rather than degrading extracellular matrix material. To better understand the nature of myoepithelial tumors, as well as the possible role of normal myoepithelial host cells in cancer, we have established immortal cell lines and a number of transplantable xenografts from various human myoepithelial tumors of the salivary gland and breast. The cell lines exhibit a normal myoepithelial phenotype and the xenografts continue to accumulate an abundant extracellular matrix. Further ultrastructural, immunocytochemical, molecular, and biochemical studies reveal that myoepithelial cells secrete relatively low levels of matrix-degrading proteinases but relatively high levels of maspin and various other anti-invasive proteinase inhibitors, that some of these inhibitors accumulate within the myoepithelial matrix, and that myoepithelial cells can induce epithelial morphogenesis (spheroid formation) and inhibit tumor-cell invasion in vitro. Myoepithelial cells, which surround normal breast ducts and DCIS, have also been found to selectively express maspin and certain proteinase inhibitors in situ. These inherent myoepithelial properties are likely to contribute to the low-grade nature of myoepithelial neoplasms and advance our hypothesis that host myoepithelial cells regulate the progression of in situ to invasive carcinoma by providing an important host defense against cancer invasion.
Minimal helix surfaces in Nn×ℝ

An immersed surface M in Nn×ℝ is a helix if its tangent planes make constant angle with ∂t. We prove that a minimal helix surface M, of arbitrary codimension is flat. If the codimension is one, it is totally geodesic. If the sectional curvature of N is positive, a minimal helix surfaces in Nn×ℝ is not necessarily totally geodesic. When the sectional curvature of N is nonpositive, then M is totally geodesic. In particular, minimal helix surfaces in Euclidean n-space are planes. We also investigate the case when M has parallel mean curvature vector: A complete helix surface with parallel mean curvature vector in Euclidean n-space is a plane or a cylinder of revolution. Finally, we use Eikonal f functions to construct locally any helix surface. In particular every minimal one can be constructed taking f with zero Hessian.
An airborne LiDAR-based methodology for vineyard parcel detection and delineation

An airborne lidar-based technique to delineate vineyard parcels from surrounding land uses is proposed and assessed in the Texas Hill Country American Viticultural Area near Austin, Texas, USA. Although most vineyard site analyses are based on multispectral aerial and satellite images, this study takes advantage of the height-based uniqueness of vineyard land uses inherent in the vine-trellising structure to differentiate vineyard areas from non-vineyard areas. A normalized digital surface model was created from lidar data and smoothed with a focal statistics method to identify vine rows and delineate vineyard land-use parcels. A simple unsupervised classification of the three study sites was performed to identify low vegetation areas. The vineyard areas were extracted from the low vegetation class and compared with manually digitized versions. The results suggest that lidar-based data sets can efficiently differentiate vineyard from non-vineyard land use. Our study yielded a mean classification accuracy of 97.55% and successfully extracted vineyard parcel area mean accuracy 88.79%.
The MRI brain correlates of depressed mood, anhedonia, apathy, and anergia in older adults with and without cognitive impairment or dementia.

Objectives We examined the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlates of depressed mood, apathy, anhedonia, and anergia in older adults with and without cognitive impairment or dementia. Methods This analysis included 270 community-dwelling older adults (59% male; 79% Caucasian; mean age 74.4 years) who were recruited into a multi-center longitudinal observational study of subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD).The distribution of cognitive status included: cognitively intact (38%), cognitively impaired (27%), or demented (35%). All subjects underwent MRI and 41% were classified as having subcortical lacunes. MRI measures included cortical gray and white matter volumes, lacunar volumes in subcortical white and gray matter structures, volume of white matter hyperintensities, and total hippocampal volume. Depressed mood, anhedonia, anergia, and apathy apparent at the time of assessment were assessed using a behavioral assessment Associations between neuropsychiatric symptoms and MRI variables were evaluated using logistic regression. Results Subjects with neuropsychiatric symptoms were more likely to be cognitively impaired or demented than those without neuropsychiatric symptoms. In multivariate models controlling for cognitive status, age, gender, and education, higher lacunar volume in white matter was independently associated with the presence of all four neuropsychiatric symptoms. Conclusions We report an association between the lacunar volumes in the white matter and depressed mood, anhedonia, apathy, and anergia, thus supporting the role of subcortical ischemic vascular disease in the pathogenesis of late-life neuropsychiatric disorders. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Taste Panel Preference Correlated with Lipid Composition of Barley Dried Distillers' Grains

Milled barley dried distillers' grains (DDG), bleached DDG, defatted DDG and bleached, defatted DDG were added to oatmeal cookies at 15% flour replacement levels. Sensory evaluation indicated that defatting significantly improved the acceptability of both DDG and bleached DDG. A consumer panel found oatmeal cookies and cookies containing defatted DDG to be equally accpetable followed, in decreasing order of preference, by cookies containing DDG, blanched, defatted DDG and bleached DDG. Thin-layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography indicated that, compared to literature values for barley, DDG and bleached DDG contained increased quantities of free fatty acids (FFA) and reduced amounts of unsaturated fatty acids in both the FFA and triacylglycerol fractions.
Superconducting materials - Cobalt oxide layers

For over 15 years, layered copper oxides have held pole position in the race to higher superconducting temperatures. The first layered superconductor to replace copper with cobalt reveals both similarities and differences in their properties.
Amyloids and Are Generated Intracellularly in Cultured Human Neurons and Their Secretion Increases with Maturation

Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of amyloid beta (Abeta) in neurons (NT2N) derived from a human embryonal carcinoma cell line (NT2) by steady state metabolic radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation. We show here that Abeta is present intracellularly since trypsin digestion of intact NT2N cells at 4 degrees C did not eliminate the Abeta recovered in cell lysates. To determine whether both Abeta40 and Abeta42 are produced intracellularly, quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed using COOH-terminal end-specific anti-Abeta monoclonal antibodies. Sandwich ELISA detected intracellular Abeta40 and A++beta42 in NT2N cell lysates at a ratio of 3:1, whereas secreted Abeta40 and Abeta42 were recovered in medium conditioned by NT2N cells at a ratio of approximately 20:1. Metabolic steady state and pulse-chase labeling studies demonstrated a 2-h delay in the detection of cell-associated Abeta40/Abeta42 in the medium, suggesting that Abeta is generated at a slow rate intracellularly prior to its secretion. Finally, as NT2N cells mature over time in culture, the secretion of Abeta40 and Abeta42 increases more than 5-fold over 7 weeks. This increase in the secretion of Abeta40/Abeta42 in NT2N cells as a function of time may recapitulate a similar phenomenon in the aging brain.
Distinct influences of tandem repeats and retrotransposons on CENH3 nucleosome positioning.

Background Unique structural characteristics of centromere chromatin enable it to support assembly of the kinetochore and its associated tensions. The histone H3 variant CENH3 (centromeric histone H3) is viewed as the key element of centromere chromatin and its interaction with centromere DNA is epigenetic in that its localization to centromeres is not sequence-dependent.
Detection in vivo of protein-DNA interactions within the lac operon of Escherichia coli.

Studies of the sequence-specific binding of proteins to DNA have so far relied on in vitro experiments using cloned restriction fragments containing the relevent DNA sequences1–6. We have applied the genomic sequencing technique of Church and Gilbert7 to show that the interactions observed in vitro occur in vivo. We use this approach to study the binding of regulatory proteins to the lac operon in vivo and detect changes in the reactivity (inhibition or enhancement) of guanines to methylation by dimethyl sulphate caused by the proximity of proteins to the N-7 atom of these guanines1,5. We can detect the simultaneous binding of the catobolite gene activator protein (CAP) and the Lac represser to their specific recognition sequences, and following induction of the lac operon we observe effects that are related to RNA polymerase binding or RNA elongation. We have successfully used oligonucleotide probes as short as 17 bases to display genomic sequence.
Pulsed wavelength tuning and continuous wave operation of distributed Bragg reflector quantum cascade lasers

We demonstrated 37 cm−1 pulsed wavelength tuning, and 500 mW CW output power at 20 °C and 4.74 μm wavelength with a SMSR of 30 dB, using DBR QCLs unmounted and mounted epi-down, respectively.
The Kornai effect and soft budget constraints

Abstract The Kornai effect refers to situations where soft budget constraints lead to higher input demands. This paper studies the Kornai effect under different scenarios: nonrandom subsidy rate, random subsidy rate, and random and endogenous subsidy rate; and gives sufficient, sometimes necessary and sufficient, conditions for the Kornai effect to exist.
Chaos and direct numerical simulation in turbulence

We show that direct numerical simulation will yield turbulent flowfields which are strongly dependent upon computer hardware and software. A computed flow trajectory is apparently uncorrelated to the true solution of a flowfield if it is allowed to evolve over a long time, and hence is called a pseudo-orbit. This is due to the trajectory instability of chaotic turbulent flows. All is not lost, however; a long-time average of flow quantities can now be computed using a pseudo-orbit by invoking the shadowing lemma. For the inviscid flow, this time average tends to approach asymptotically the phase average as predicted by the classical ergodic theorem. Although the inviscid two-dimensional flow has no real physical importance, the existence of canonical (equilibrium) distribution permits us to examine the accuracy of time averaging based on the pseudo-orbit and its inherent limitations.