cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Support and Adjustment to Myocardial Infarction, Angioplasty, and Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

In this chapter we examine social support during three acute cardiac events: myocardial infarction (MI), angioplasty, and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The first event, MI, is life threatening and is characterized by sudden onset as a result of coronary artery thrombosis. Patients are commonly hospitalized for 7 to 10 days, and recovery periods (including participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs) can range up to 6 weeks or longer. Close to one half of the 1.3 million persons experiencing MI each year survive to leave the hospital (Garrity, 1981). Of these, approximately 10% will die during the following year. Subsequently, nonfatal reinfarctions occur at an average annual rate of 3%, and coronary artery disease deaths occur at a rate of 5%, three to four times higher than that of the general population (Kannel, Sorlie, & McNamara, 1979). Myocardial impairment and severity of the underlying disease are the strongest predictors of early mortality (Henning et al., 1979; Sanz, Castaner, Betriu, & Magria, 1982). Three to five percent of patients will undergo CABG surgery within 3 months following an MI (Davidson, 1983).
Comment on "Light-scattering investigation of alpha and beta relaxation near the liquid-glass transition of the molecular glass Salol"

Cummins and collaborators [Phys. Rev. A 46, 3343 (1992)] have interpreted their recent dynamic light-scattering data on supercooled liquid Salol in terms of mode-coupling theory. They asserted that critical slowing down occurs at a temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ which is much above ${\mathit{T}}_{0}$ where extrapolated relaxation times in the liquid diverge and above ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{g}}$ where the liquid falls out of equilibrium and forms a glass. We argue that this interpretation is incompatible with dielectric susceptibility data on the same material.
Occupational Aspirations and Early Career-Choice Patterns of Adolescents with and without Learning Disabilities.

The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) database was used to examine the influence of gender and learning disability status on the occupational aspirations and career-choice patterns of adolescents at grades 8 and 10. Results indicated that adolescents with learning disabilities displayed different career-choice patterns and strategies than their nondisabled peers at two points early in the career-exploration stage: Youth with learning disabilities were less likely to aspire to high-prestige occupations and were more likely to be indecisive about future occupational alternatives. Females with learning disabilities appeared to be at particularly high risk of setting limits on their occupational futures. In terms of career-choice patterns, nondisabled youth were more likely to identify occupations within a particular prestige level and remain consistent from grade 8 to grade 10. By comparison, youth with learning disabilities were more likely to express lower or indecisive aspirations in...
Numerical algorithm for the growth of human tumor cells and their responses to therapy

Abstract We investigate a system of delay partial differential equations that models the growth of human tumor cells and their responses to therapy. The model includes unknown parameters that need to be estimated according to experimental data. We introduce a numerical algorithm, which shortens the computational time for solving the model equations and estimating their parameters. Numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithm and show correspondence between predicted and experimental data.
Studies of Motor Function in Schizophrenia: I. Speed of Tapping

Resume Comme partie d'une investigation de la schizophrenie on a fait une etude de la vitesse du mouvement avec un appareil modifie de taper a clefs alternees. Les groupes ont compris 123 sujets schizophrenes, 60 normaux, et 13 maniaco-depressifs, sur quelques-uns desquels on a repete 1'experience une fois ou plus a des intervalles de trois mois. Les schizophrenes ont donne des resultats moyens moins eleves d'une facon signifiante et ont montre une plus grande variation que les normaux. Le premier groupe a montre des progres de seance tandis que le dernier n'a montre aucun changement. Les schizophrenes sont devenus aussi moins variables dans les seances suivantes. Les correlations dans les seances et entre les seances indiquent une coherence elevee. Une analyse faite des facteurs de selection, des facteurs ayant relation a la situation experimentale, et des facteurs ayant relation a la condition psychotique ont indique que l'âge, la duree de la psychose, et les niveaux d'education et d'occupation ont joue...
A visual analysis of spatio-temporal data associated with human movement

Extracting patterns from large amounts of spatio-temporal data is a challenging yet important area of active study. To address this problem we have developed a visualization system that collects and intuitively displays both the gathering and moving tendencies of people in a closed environment. Two distinct graphics techniques were applied to data collected using RFID technology. The system uses time-weighted area sampling for highlighting popular areas of the information space which is combined with CIELAB color-coding for depicting directional patterns within the data. A series of usability tests were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed system as an analytic tool for the user. The experimental results demonstrate the system's effectiveness in identifying valuable patterns within a vast collection of spatio-temporal data. This visualization technique is applicable to a wide variety of data pertaining to both space and time.
Recognizing breadth-first search trees in linear time

Abstract A linear-time algorithm for the following problem is presented: Given an undirected graph G=(V,E) and a spanning tree T of G, determine whether Tcan be the outcome of a breadth-first search on G, and if so, find all possible roots of the breadth-first search.
Search of Plant Introduction Proso Millets for Fall Armyworm Resistance

The North Central Plant Introduction Station collection of proso millets, Panicum milliaceum L., was evaluated for resistance to fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Of the 153 lines evaluated, 8 were selected as resistant and 2 were selected as susceptible and retested. P.I. 176653 consistently was more resistant than the other seven lines when larval feeding weights, pupal weights, and larval development times on these lines were compared with those on the susceptible checks.
A fundamental dichotomy for Julia sets of a family of elliptic functions

We investigate topological properties of Julia sets of iterated elliptic functions of the form g = 1/℘, where ℘ is the Weierstrass elliptic function, on triangular lattices. These functions can be parametrized by C — {0}, and they all have a superattracting fixed point at zero and three other distinct critical values. We prove that the Julia set of g is either Cantor or connected, and we obtain examples of each type.
Large field early light adaptation.

Abstract Thresholds for a 2°, 10 msec test flash (TF) were determined as a function of its onset asynchrony (SOA) with a 14°, 2000 msec adapting field (AF). The TF was located 7° in the peripheral retina and it contained light passing through a Wratten 74 filter (i.e. 535 nm). The AF was either green (Wratten 74) or red (Wratten 29; ≥ 605 nm). The luminance levels of the red AF's were selected to produce equivalent TF thresholds to green AF's of −2, −1 and 0 log mL at +995 SOA (i.e. the middle of the adapting interval). Equated red and green AF's produced similar on-response functions at −2 and −1 log mL. The cone activity in the red AF's had minimal effect upon rod threshold. For the 0 log mL condition, green AF's caused a slightly faster threshold rise and a larger on-response than did the equivalent red AF. At this level cones are detecting the TF against the green AF.
Detection of oxidative mutagens in an urban air-particulate extract: a preliminary study.

Abstract The Ames assays strains TA98 and TA100 have been useful in characterizing complex mixtures from organic solvent extracts of particles from diesel-powered vehicles, ambient air, and other sources. In this paper we report preliminary experiments using TA102, a bacterial strain that detects compounds that can oxidize DNA, to characterize the mutagenicity of an ambient air sample collected in Ann Arbor, MI. Four sets of ambient air filters were collected in duplicate over a period of several days. The mutagenicities of methylene chloride extracts of these filters were compared using strains TA98, TA100 and TA102. The concentration-mutagenicity data for TA98 and TA100 were linear over the concentration range 0–200 μg extract/plate. The mutagenicity of the extracts using TA102 was much lower than the other two strains and was non-linear over the concentration range tested. These results suggest that it would be difficult to use TA102 to identify the oxidative mutagens present in an ambient air particulate extract.
High-Throughput Screening Assay for the Identification of Compounds Regulating Self-Renewal and Differentiation in Human Embryonic Stem Cells

High-throughput screening (HTS) of chemical libraries has become a critical tool in basic biology and drug discovery. However, its implementation and the adaptation of high-content assays to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been hampered by multiple technical challenges. Here we present a strategy to adapt hESCs to HTS conditions, resulting in an assay suitable for the discovery of small molecules that drive hESC self-renewal or differentiation. Use of this new assay has led to the identification of several marketed drugs and natural compounds promoting short-term hESC maintenance and compounds directing early lineage choice during differentiation. Global gene expression analysis upon drug treatment defines known and novel pathways correlated to hESC self-renewal and differentiation. Our results demonstrate feasibility of hESC-based HTS and enhance the repertoire of chemical compounds for manipulating hESC fate. The availability of high-content assays should accelerate progress in basic and translational hESC biology.
Predation by Dragonfly Naiads Anax junius on Young Crawfish Procambarus clarkii

Anax junius (Odonata: Aeschnidae) predation on young crawfish, Procambarus clarkii, was measured in the laboratory. Predation rates (0.066–1.16 crawfish/day) were estimated at 25, 15, and 5 C and for two sizes of crawfish (11–20 and 21–30 mm total length). Naiad predation increased with increasing temperature and decreasing crawfish size. At 5 C, naiads had no significant effect on survival of large crawfish but did significantly reduce survival of small crawfish. At 15 and 25 C, predation rates were significantly affected by temperature and prey size. Relative naiad abundance in a 0.8 ha crawfish pond was estimated from September through May. Larger naiads (head width, >6.5 mm; total length, >30 mm) capable of preying on young crawfish were not present until after most crawfish had reached invulnerable sizes. Large naiads, as a result, may not affect crawfish production under normal management conditions.
Propaganda studies in American social science: The rise and fall of the critical paradigm

During the 1920s and 1930s, a critical framework for analysis of social influence, called propaganda analysis, gained sway in American social science. The epistemic rationale of the paradigm was its ability to explain the phenomenon of modern mass persuasion. The paradigm's ideological appeal came through its ability to widen citizen participation in society and its match with postwar disillusionment and Depression‐era skepticism. By the late 1930s, the epistemic germ of propaganda analysis was weakened by the growing tendency to equate science with statistical and experimental methods; and its ideological roots were withered by attacks on social critics and demands for academe to aid in national mobilization. Critical propaganda studies were displaced by a rival paradigm, called communication research, the latter able to render useful and politically noncontroversial wartime and postwar service to government and private grantors.
Parenteral Monoacetoacetin and Liver Regeneration Interaction After Partial Hepatectomy in the Rat

Parenteral nutrients can be used to manipulate cell proliferation after partial hepatectomy. The relationship among macronutrients—glucose, monoacetoacetin, amino acids— and liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was investigated. Male rats were anesthetized, received a 70% hepatectomy, and received a low-dose infusion of (1) glucose or (2) monoacetoacetin and a high-dose infusion of (3) glucose, (4) glycerol-glucose, or (5) monoacetoacetin-glucose beginning 6 hours after surgery. The five nonprotein nutrient combinations were infused with and without amino acids. Rats were killed 48 hours after partial hepatectomy, and the label and mitotic indices were determined. Each of the five treatments had a higher label index with amino acids present than with amino acids absent. Low-dose glucose and monoacetoacetin as well as high-dose glucose and glucose-glycerol had higher mitotic indices with amino acids than without amino acids. High-dose monoacetoacetin-glucose was associated with a greater mitotic in...
Factors Influencing Publication of Research Results: Follow-up of Applications Submitted to Two Institutional Review Boards

Objective. —To investigate factors associated with the publication of research findings, in particular, the association between "significant" results and publication. Design. —Follow-up study. Setting. —Studies approved in 1980 or prior to 1980 by the two institutional review boards that serve The Johns Hopkins Health Institutions—one that serves the School of Medicine and Hospital and the other that serves the School of Hygiene and Public Health. Population. —A total of 737 studies were followed up. Results. —Of the studies for which analyses had been reported as having been performed at the time of interview, 81% from the School of Medicine and Hospital and 66% from the School of Hygiene and Public Health had been published. Publication was not associated with sample size, presence of a comparison group, or type of study (eg, observational study vs clinical trial). External funding and multiple data collection sites were positively associated with publication. There was evidence of publication bias in that for both institutional review boards there was an association between results reported to be significant and publication (adjusted odds ratio, 2.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.63 to 3.94). Contrary to popular opinion, publication bias originates primarily with investigators, not journal editors: only six of the 124 studies not published were reported to have been rejected for publication. Conclusion. —There is a statistically significant association between significant results and publication. (JAMA. 1992;267:374-378)
Emergency peripartum hysterectomy and associated risk factors

OBJECTIVE: Peripartum hysterectomy at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center was reviewed and associated risk factors were identified. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive and cohort analysis from January 1985 to June 1990 was carried out. Adjusted relative risks for hysterectomy with 95% confidence intervals for identified risk factors were calculated where possible. RESULTS: There were 123 cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomy (incidence of 1 .3/1000 births). Indications for hysterectomy were primarily placenta accreta ( n = 61), uterine atony ( n = 25), unspecified uterine bleeding ( n = 19), and uterine rupture ( n = 14). The relative risk of emergency hysterectomy was 95.5 (95% confidence interval 66.7 to 136.9) for cesarean delivery, 10.78 (95% confidence interval 7,56 to 15.37) for prior cesarean delivery, and 97,29 (95% confidence interval 70.28 to 134.70) for placenta previa. CONCLUSIONS: Cesarean delivery, prior cesarean delivery, placenta previa, placenta accreta, and uterine atony were identified risk factors for emergency peripartum hysterectomy.
The stimulation-seeking motive: Relationship to conceptual category breadth

A hypothesis that breadth of categorization would increase linearly with increases in the stimulation-seeking motive was tested on 43 males and 43 females, using Pettigrew’s Category Width measure and a measure of individual differences in the stimulation-seeking motive. The results did not Support the work of Taylor and Levitt (1967). There was a slight trend toward between stimulation seeking and category breadth but the and earlier work suggested the conclusion that there is no reliable seeking motive and conceptual category breadth.
Influence of vitamin D and starvation on cartilage glycogen and serum calcium and phosphate

SummaryGlycogen content of the rachitic rat tibial epiphyseal cartilage is determined during healing induced by vitamin D or starvation. Rachitic rat cartilage contained 8.61 μmoles glycogen per gram net weight of tissue. Following a single dose of vitamin D (4000 I.U.) the glycogen content was not significantly altered at 24 hours, but was decreased to 6.16, 5.50 and 4.45 μmoles at 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively. Fasting caused a rapid decrease in the glycogen content to 4.45 and 2.50 μmoles at 24 and 48 hours respectively. Vitamin D treated rat cartilage oxidized glucose to a greater extent than the corresponding untreated controls. It is suggested that glucose and glycogen metabolism stimulates the formation of calcifiable matrix by the cartilage cell. Fasting for 48 hours caused a marked fall in serum calcium and a rise in serum phosphorus level.
Fault detection and identification in an intelligent restructurable controller

The fault detection and identification problem in an intelligent restructurable controller is addressed using a combination of algorithmic and artificial intelligence methods. An architecture is developed to address this problem. The integration of a variety of distinct knowledge representations and diagnostic reasoning techniques, and the system design and implementation is facilitated by the introduction of a novel knowledge representation graph.
Critical issues in assessing the behavioral effects of amphetamine

Amphetamine induces a behavioral syndrome in mammals that includes a variety of repetitive behaviors. An integral component of this syndrome in humans is the presence of a thought disturbance not unlike that manifest in idiopathic paranoid schizophrenia. The consistent pattern of behavioral changes produced by amphetamine across species, when considered in light of the psychosis it elicits in humans, has suggested to many that these drug-induced changes in animals may provide a model of the endogenous psychosis in humans. Amphetamine-induced changes in open-field behavior in the rat have been the most widely studied in attempts to formulate a model for investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying amphetamine psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia in humans and for testing the therapeutic efficacy of new antipsychotic drugs. The procedures used to assess the behavioral response to amphetamine, however, typically include rating scales or automated recordings that by their very nature ignore those components of the behavioral response that may be most critical for developing a viable animal model of the naturally occurring psychosis. Further, open-field behavior is often recorded during arbitrarily selected intervals without consideration for the multiphasic nature of the entire amphetamine response. We discuss how incomplete descriptive analyses of the amphetamine behavioral response in rats has led to confusion in the literature and describe behavioral research that is paradigmatic of the work we believe is most likely to eventuate in significant progress in the field.
Pneumatic transfer system and sample rotator for Linac irradiations

Abstract An instrument is described which permits reproducible irradiations to be performed in the bremsstrahlung beam of a linear accelerator.
Electronic resources and acquisitions budgets: SUNY statistics, 1994‐2000

The amount of electronic resources available in academic libraries has greatly increased in the past several years, and a number of writers have commented that electronic resources are replacing acquisitions in other formats. To see how an increase in acquisitions of electronic resources was affecting overall acquisitions, statistics for the libraries of the State University of New York (SUNY) were examined, and a related survey was done of librarians at those institutions. One conclusion was that the amount spent on electronic resources has not continually increased, but in fact decreased in some years. Another conclusion was that although electronic resources are consuming a higher proportion of the overall acquisitions budget, at least in the SUNY system the money is not necessarily coming at the expense of acquisitions in other formats.
Photochemistry and synthesis of stereoisomers of vitamin A

Article de synthese sur la photoisomerisation de polyenes en vitamines A. Synthese d'isomeres de la vitamine A et apparentes. Separation d'isomeres. Spectres
Oyxgen and temperature effects on soybean seed coat respiration rates.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) seed coat respiration rates in response to changing O2 concentration and temperature were examined experimentally and with a mathematical analysis. The experimental observations showed seed coat respiration rates were sensitive to O2 concentration below 0.25 micromole O2 cm−3. There was a steady decline in respiration rates from the saturating O2 concentration down to about 0 to 0.03 micromole O2 per cubic centimeter. Seed coat respiration rates were found to change linearly with temperature between 8 and 28°C. The explanation for these results was sought by examining the diffusion of O2 into the vascular bundles of the soybean seed coat. Differential equations describing O2 uptake in two distinct zones of the vascular bundle were solved. The outer zone was assumed to be O2 saturated and respiration proceeded at a constant rate per unit volume. The inner zone was assumed to have respiration rates which were linearly dependent on O2 concentration. The solution of this mathematical model showed considerable similarity with the experimental results. Respiration rates were predicted to saturate at about 0.31 micromole O2 per cubic centimeter and to decrease curvilinearly below that concentration. While the mathematical model predicted an exponential response in respiration rate to temperature, it was found that the exponential response is difficult to distinguish from a linear response in the temperature range studied experimentally. Consequently, both the experimental and theoretical studies showed the importance of O2 diffusion into soybean seed coat vascular bundles as a potential restriction on respiration rates. In particular, it was suggested that increases in the total length of the vascular bundles in the soybean seed coat was the major option for increasing the total respiratory capability.
A Dynamic Professional Development School Partnership in Science Education

The author describes the evolution of a traditional on-campus secondary science methods course into a dynamic field- and campus-based professional development school collaboration. Whereas science teaching methods were taught in an isolated and independent course, they are now integrated within an interdependent experiential semester that carefully integrates teaching methods, professional seminars, interpersonal relations, classroom management, reading strategies, and multicultural education into a dynamic fieldbased curriculum for preservice teachers. A faculty team from the Kansas State University (KSU) Department of Secondary Education conducted a series of meetings to establish a collaborative climate in which to investigate the benefits of simultaneous reform of preservice teacher education and the professional development of inservice teachers. School-based teacher counterparts in mathematics and science piloted several models, performed action research, and worked toward simultaneous improvement b...
Vesselize: a system for analysis and visualization of magnetic resonance angiography.

V ESSEL ANATOMY and pathology are difficult to assess from magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) source images due to the complexity of vessel shape. We presenta system that enables high-quality three-dimensional visualization of MRA necessary for surgical planning. The system includes both standard tools and recent innovations, which improve speed and visualization quality. The system operates on a mid-range PC with sufficient memory to process MRA. Vesselize offers an easy-to-use graphical user interface to the clinician in a familiar windowing environment. The application was developed using Visual C++, OpenGL, and Win32 SDK and is functional on any Windows (NT, 9x; Microsoft, Redmond, WA) platform. Standard visualization
Restricted range approximate solutions of nonlinear differential systems with boundary conditions

Abstract This paper develope uniform approximate solutions to systems of nonlinear differential equations with boundary conditions using restricted range approximations. In the process of deriving the approximations an existence theorem is generated for solutions of nonlinear equations. Also, an algorithm is provided for computing these approximations.
Predictors of progression to severe Alzheimer’s disease in an incidence sample

Abstract Background Little is known about factors influencing time to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Incident cases of AD in the Cache County Memory Study were identified. Severe AD was defined as Mini-Mental State Examination score of ≤10 or Clinical Dementia Rating Scale score of 3; cases with either Mini-Mental State Examination score of ≥16 or Clinical Dementia Rating Results Sixty-eight of 335 cases of incident AD developed severe dementia. In bivariate analyses, female gender, less than high school education, at least one clinically significant Neuropsychiatric Inventory domain at baseline, and the youngest and oldest ages exhibited shorter time to severe AD. In competing risk analysis, subjects with mild or at least one clinically significant Neuropsychiatric Inventory domain score, and subjects with worse health were more likely to progress to severe dementia or death. Conclusions Demographic and clinical variables predict progression to severe AD. Further study should examine whether these relationships are causal or correlational.
Increased standardized uptake value in the primary lesion predicts nodal or distant metastases at presentation in lung cancer.

Standardized uptake value (SUV) has been linked to tumor aggressiveness and long-term prognosis. Based on the hypothesis that positron emission tomography (PET) SUV serves as a surrogate for biologic aggression, we investigated whether SUV in the primary lesion, independent of size, correlates with the presence of nodal or distant metastases at the time of presentation. We retrospectively reviewed computed tomography (CT) scan, PET scan, and histologic findings of consecutive patients in our lung cancer referral population evaluated between December 15, 2000 and April 15, 2004. Only patients with primary non–small-cell lung cancer and pathologic confirmation of nodal status or conventionally accepted non-PET proof of distant metastases were included for analysis. One hundred thirty-nine patients had complete results, including CT, PET, and independent confirmation of nodal or distant disease. The stage distribution was as follows: 33 IA, 24 IB, 5 IIA, 9 IIB, 21 IIIA, 8 IIIB, and 39 IV. Simple logistic regression analysis demonstrated a highly significant correlation between SUV of the primary lesion and the presence of nodal or distant metastases at the time of presentation (P = 0.0036). When odds ratios were calculated, a 13% increase in the likelihood of nodal/ distant disease was found for every unit increase in SUV. We conclude that PET SUV, independent of size, is a marker of biologic aggression. Elevated SUV in the primary lesion at presentation should prompt high suspicion and mandates meticulous search for nodal or distant disease.
Does schooling reduce fast-start response latencies in teleosts?

Abstract 1. 1. Response latencies, denned as the time between a d.c. electric shock and initiation of a fast-start (startle response) were measured for eight species of teleosts. 2. 2. Fast-start response latencies varied from 10 to 36 cm. Highest values were found for individuals of two solitary species, Etheostoma caeruleum and Cottus cognatus. Lowest values were found for Esox and Salwo gairdneri. 3. 3. Schooling in Perca flavescens, Lepomis macrochirus and Pimephales promelas significantly reduced fast-start response latencies by 7–16 msec. A 4 msec. reduction for Notropis cornutus was not significant. 4. 4. No reduction in fast-start response latency was found for Pimephales promelas given the illusion of a school or for individuals greater than 15 cm from a school. 5. 5. The observed variation in fast-start response latency would favour attack success of predators and escape success for schooled, but not solitary, presumptive prey.
SU-E-T-115: Dose Perturbation Study of Self-Expandable Metal and Polyester Esophageal Stents in Proton Therapy Beams

Purpose: This work investigates dose perturbations due to Self-expandable metal and polyester esophageal stents undergoing proton radiotherapy for esophageal cancer. Methods: Five commercially available esophageal stents made of nitinol (Evolution, Wallflex and Ultraflex), stainless steel (Z-Stent) and polyester (Polyflex) were tested. Radiochromic film (GafChromic EBT3 film, Ashland, Covington, KY) wrapped around a stent and a 12cc syringe was irradiated with 2CGE (Cobalt Gray Equivalent) of proton beam in a custom fabricated acrylic phantom. An air-hollow syringe simulates the esophagus. Results: The Z-stent created the largest dose perturbations ranges from -14.5% to 6.1% due to the steel composition. The WallFlex, Evolution and Ultraflex stents produced the dose perturbation ranges of (−9.2%∼8.6%), (−6.8%∼5.7%) and (−6.2%∼6.2%), respectively. The PolyFlex stent contains the radiopaque tungsten markers located top, middle and bottom portions. When the focal cold spots induced by the markers were excluded in the analysis, the dose perturbation range was changed from (−11.6%∼6.4%) to (−0.6%∼5.0%). Conclusion: The magnitude of dose perturbation is related to material of a metallic stent. The non-metallic stent such as PolyFlex shows relatively lower dose perturbation than metallic stents except a radiopaque marker region. Overall Evolution and Ultraflex stent appear to be less dose perturbations. The largest dose perturbationsmore » (cold spots) were located at both edges of stents in distal area for the single proton beam irradiation study. The analysis of more than two proton beam which is more typical clinical beam arrangement would be necessary to minimize the doe perturbation effect in proton ratiotherapy.« less
From entangled membranes to eclectic morphologies: cubic membranes as subcellular space organizers.

The identification of evolutionary conserved membrane morphologies whose architecture is governed by cubic symmetry — cubic membranes — adds a new dimension to cell membrane functions and, perspicuously, to their role in subcellular space organization. Through analysis of electron micrographs, three families of cubic membranes have been unequivocally identified in which one or more (parallel) membranes, described by periodic cubic surfaces, partition space into two or more independent, albeit convoluted, subspaces of membrane potential determined dimensions. The choice of a particular cubic symmetry is suggested to be due to its activity. Here the architecture and function of multiple (≥ 3) subspace organization in classical membrane bound organelles is addressed. As it can be precisely determined with cubic membranes suggests that they can be employed as a reference morphology.
The surface chelate effect.

The presence of a surface chelate effect is established in the model system of Cu2+ adsorption on a self-assembled monolayer of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHA) on Au. The formation constant of Cu2+ with the MHA surface was found to be 119 ± 3.2 times greater than that of Cu2+ with succinic acid (HOOC−(CH2)2−COOH), and 213 ± 4.0 times greater than that of Cu2+ with glutaric acid (HOOC−(CH2)3−COOH) in aqueous solutions. Both of these molecules are known to chelate to metal ions forming seven- and eight-membered rings. The greater surface chelate effect is attributed to the presence of the two-dimensional array of ligands on the surface. We believe the surface chelate effect demonstrated here is of general significance to adsorption on molecular surfaces and should depend strongly on chemical functionality and monolayer structure.
Abstract 2298: Cell-specific effects of BRafV600E expression disrupt gliogenesis and lead to astrocytoma formation.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Within the adult mammalian brain the asymmetric distribution of cell-fate determinants during mitosis maintains a balance between differentiated and self-renewing cells. We have previously shown that disruption of asymmetric divisions in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) causes cells to aberrantly self-renew and fail to differentiate, giving rise to oligodendroglioma (Sugiarto et al. Cancer Cell; 2011; 20; 320-40). Here we proposed to address whether asymmetric divisions are also disrupted in precursors of malignant astrocytoma, a highly aggressive and therapy resistant type of glioma. The constitutively active BRaf mutant BRafV600E is mutated in a subset of malignant astrocytoma alongside deletion of Cdkn2a, and can transform NSCs into astrocytoma precursors (Huillard et al. PNAS; 2012; 109; 8710-5). We used BRafCA mice (Dankort et al. Genes Dev. 2007; 21; 379-84) with Cre recombinase-activated expression of BRafV600E and deletion of Ink4a/Arf to generate an in situ model of NSC-derived malignant astrocytoma. In vivo studies to assess asymmetric division and related defects were complemented by studies of BRafV600E expressing, Ink4a/Arf-deleted neurosphere cells in cell-based assays of asymmetric division, self-renewal and differentiation. Our results provide unprecedented evidence that BRafV600E, although uniformly expressed in NSC and their progeny, disrupts asymmetric divisions in a cell-type specific manner. NSCs continue to divide asymmetrically but their progeny, including OPC, divide more symmetrically and exhibit defects in differentiation and proliferation. These defects are reversible with BRafV600E-specific inhibitor PLX4720, and are associated with increased expression of the mitotic kinase polo-like kinase 1, increased pERK and decreased pAKT. These data describe a mechanism by which NSC-targeted expression of BRafV600E may generate numerous subpopulations of tumor cells with distinct characteristics. This heterogeneity may mirror that seen in malignant astrocytoma, which has often been associated with high incidence of therapy resistance (Burger et al. Cancer. 1985; 56; 1106-11). Citation Format: Robin G. Lerner, Yuichiro Ihara, Brian Reichholf, Dian Qu, Sista Sugiarto, Amelie Griveau, David James, Martin McMahon, Claudia Petritsch. Cell-specific effects of BRafV600E expression disrupt gliogenesis and lead to astrocytoma formation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2298. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2298
Clustering, simulation, and neural networks in real-world applications

Real-world applications of neural networks often involve simulation and clustering. Reduction of subjective decisions and increasing the potential for real-time automation of cluster evaluation is a target of the cluster check (CC) method suggested here. CC quantitatively assess the variation within a cluster, produces a `central' pattern for a cluster which is robust in the presence of wide variation and skewed data, and suggests a measure for the distance between clusters. Such a measure of the effectiveness of a segmentation scheme is helpful in many applications, including traditional analysis, neural systems, fuzzy systems and evolutionary systems. This work reports successful use of the CC and companion analytic procedures to measure the consistency of movement of neuroanatomical tracer down neural pathways associated with injection sites (tract tracing). Opposite injection sites produce distinctive L shaped accumulations of tracer in different locations. Consistency of pathways for particular injection sites varies from 0.10 to 0.20 out of a possible 0.80. The pathway rejected by the nonparametric statistics and subdivided by Kohonen's self organizing map (SOM) measures 0.20. These quantitative results are consistent with the expert qualitative inspection traditionally accepted in the study of neuronanatomy of the rat olfactory bulb and tubercle. This work suggests further application of the CC and companion techniques to fault detection, identification and recovery of systems for control of diabetes and systems for control of missiles. Use of managerial decisions in the supervisory portions of these systems may also be facilitated by the consistency measure and distance metric allowing reinforcement of consistent decisions and focus on areas needing reconsideration. Automation of such procedures may facilitate real-time, robust and fault-tolerant control by adding a capability for evaluation needed for automated reinforcement and/or selection in neural, fuzzy and evolutionary systems. © (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An improved recombinant mammalian cell expression system for human transforming growth factor-β2 and -β3 preparations

Transforming growth factor-beta2 and -beta3 (TGF-beta2 and -beta3) are important members of TGF-beta family which play important roles in the growth, maintenance, and repair processes of developing embryos, neonates, and adults. Preparation of large quantities of these two cytokines, which is necessary for structural studies and other applications, has proven to be extremely difficult. We have developed a novel Chinese hamster ovary cell-based expression system for high-level expression and high recovery of recombinant human TGF-beta2 and -beta3. In this system, we used a mammalian expression vector which contains a glutamine synthetase coding region for amplification, together with a modified TGF-beta2 or -beta3 open reading frame for expression. The leader peptide of TGF-beta2 or -beta3 was replaced by that from the V-J2-C region of a mouse immunoglobulin kappa-chain, and a poly-histidine tag was inserted immediately after the leader sequence to facilitate protein purification without changing the mature TGF-beta2 or -beta3 amino acid sequence. In addition, the extreme N-terminal cysteine residue of TGF-beta2 or -beta3 was replaced by a serine residue. The resulting expression constructs produced two stable cell clones expressing 10 mg of TGF-beta2 and 8 mg of TGF-beta3 per liter of spent medium. The purification scheme involved the use of two simple chromatographic steps with a typical yield of 5 mg of TGF-beta2 and 4 mg of TGF-beta3. This method represents a significant improvement over previously published methods and may be applicable to other TGF-beta superfamily members. We further confirmed that latent TGF-beta2 and -beta3 can be activated by proteolysis and glycolysis, which have not been reported before.
Perforated perivaterian duodenal diverticulitis

Summary The details of five cases of perforated perivaterian duodenal diverticulitis are presented. The difficulty in establishing the correct diagnosis of this severe and potentially lethal inflammation preoperatively is emphasized. Moreover, at celiotomy its discovery may depend solely upon the recognition of a phlegmon lateral to the duodenum. A method of diverticulectomy is described which reduces the likelihood of injury to the common bile duct.
Heterogeneous dislocation nucleation from surfaces and interfaces as governing plasticity mechanism in nanoscale metals

We report the results of constant strain rate experiments on electroplated, single crystalline copper pillars with diameters between 75 and 525 nm. At slow strain rates, 10−3 s−1, pillar diameters with 150 nm and above show a size-dependent strength similar to previous reports. Below 150 nm, we find that the size effect vanishes as the strength transitions to a relatively size-independent regime. Strain rate sensitivity and activation volume are determined from uniaxial compression tests at different strain rates and corroborate a deformation mechanism change. These results are discussed in the framework of recent in situ transmission electron microscopy experiments observing two distinct deformation mechanisms in pillars and thin films on flexible substrates: partial dislocation nucleation from stress concentrations in smaller structures and single arm source operation in larger samples. Models attempting to explain these different size-dependent regimes are discussed in relation to these experiments and existing literature revealing further insights into the likely small-scale deformation mechanisms.
Near-infrared spectra of the Galilean satellites - Observations and compositional implications

Reflectivity spectra of the trailing and leading sides of Io, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede are analyzed which were obtained at an altitude of 41,000 ft from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory with circular variable filter-wheel spectrometers in the spectral region from 0.7 to 5.5 microns. The data are compared with laboratory spectrum and with synthetic spectra constructed on the basis of simple multiscattering theory. The 2.9-micron feature in Callisto's spectra is attributed primarily to bound water; the fractional amounts of water-ice cover on the trailing and leading sides of Ganymede and on the leading side of Europa are estimated. The bare-ground areas on Ganymede are shown to have reflectivity properties comparable to those of Callisto's surface in the studied spectral region, and the surfaces of both satellites are found to contain significant quantities of bound water. It is suggested that minor but significant amounts of ferrous-bearing material (either ferrous salts or alkali feldspars) can account for the 1.35-micron feature of Io.
Oncologist patient-centered communication with patients with advanced cancer: exploring whether race or socioeconomic status matter

Sir – High-quality care for patients with advanced cancer relies on effective, patient-centered communication between oncologists and their patients.1 Ideally all patients should experience such communication with their oncologists; however, research suggests that race and socioeconomic status (SES) may affect whether providers use a patient-centered approach.2,3 These differences in communication may contribute to health disparities. We examined if race and SES influence patient-centered communication among patients with advanced cancer.
Engineering opportunities in manufacturing

Electrical manufacturing offers many opportunities for the engineering graduate. Broad, intensive fundamental training rather than specialization is required, because co-ordination of knowledge from various branches of engineering is required. The scope of positions in the industry, ranging from technical to nontechnical by successive steps from research to sales and advertising, is outlined in this article.
Nanogenerators and piezotronics

• Nanogenerators are primarily developed based on piezoelectric and triboelectric effects for converting mechanical energy into electricity.
Marine Gammaridea (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the Indian region. Family Ampithoidae

This paper deals with 6 species of marine gammaridean amphipods belonging to the family Ampithoidae. The specimens described were collected from Mandapam (Gulf of Mannar), India and Thankasserry (Quilon, Kerala), India. The collection includes 3 new species, namely Ampithoe (Ampithoe) serraticauda, Ampithoe (Pleonexes) auriculata and Cymadusa imbroglio. Ampithoe (Ampithoe) kergueleni Stebbing (1888) is a new record for this region, while Ampithoe (Ampithoe) ramondi Audouin (1826) and Cymadusa filosa Savigny (1816), the two well-known tropicopolitan members, are briefly redescribed. The study supports Barnard's (1970, p. 23) contention that the genus Pleonexes Bate (1857) (since reduced to subgeneric status under the genus Ampithoe Leach, 1814) represents only “a grade of evolution”, but suggests that the structure of the 1st maxillary and mandibular palps and the outer lobes of the lower lip should also be taken into consideration, in combination with the telsonic processes, for distinguishing Pleonexes from Ampithoe. Based on this concept, a reappraisal of some of the species of the genera is suggested. The subgenus Ampithoe is created to hold those species of Ampithoe showing typical characteristics of the genus.
Activation of protein kinase C by 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]-3-pyridine carboxylic acid methyl ester (Bay K 8644), a calcium channel agonist, in alveolar type II cells☆

A role for calcium channels in the regulation of surfactant secretion is suggested by the observation that endothelin-1-stimulated surfactant secretion is inhibited by calcium channel blockers. 1,4-Dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]-3-pyridi ne carboxylic acid methyl ester (Bay K 8644), a dihydropyridine derivative, stimulates voltage-dependent and non-voltage-dependent calcium channels in a number of cell types. This study demonstrates that Bay K 8644 increased phosphatidylcholine (PC) secretion in isolated lung epithelial type II cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 of 100 +/- 8 nM (mean +/- SEM, N = 6). The secretagogue effect of Bay K 8644 was independently decreased in the absence of external calcium, or in the presence of nifedipine, a calcium channel antagonist, or inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC). Bay K 8644 increased intracellular calcium from 130 +/- 8 to 230 +/- 14 nM (N = 6, P < 0.05), an effect that was blocked by nifedipine. Bay K 8644 also increased the membrane-associated PKC activity in a concentration-dependent manner. In the membranes from Bay K 8644-stimulated cells, the increase in calcium-dependent PKC was greater than that in the calcium-independent PKC, suggesting preferential translocation of calcium-dependent PKC to the membranes. We suggest that both elevated calcium and activation of PKC are required for calcium agonist Bay K 8644-induced surfactant secretion in type II cells.
An investigation of the morning dissipation of the valley wind by means of a one-dimensional model

A simple numerical model is constructed to investigate the time-history of the dissipation of the valley wind system. The local wind system is considered as a thermally induced circulation. The Coriolis force, effect of slope of the valley floor and advection of heat and momentum are not considered in this study. The non-dimensional forms of the heat-diffusion and momentum equations along the direction of the valley axis are numerically integrated with a set of specified initial conditions, boundary conditions and assumed heat sources (and sinks). Three cases are presented in this report. The numerical solutions are in good agreement with the observed features of the dissipation of the valley wind provided that a relative heat source at ridge-line level and a relative heat sink at the ground are hypothesized.