cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
To drink or grasp? How bullet ants (Paraponera clavata) differentiate between sugars and proteins in liquids.

Flexibility in behavior can increase the likelihood that a forager may respond optimally in a fluctuating environment. Nevertheless, physiological or neuronal constraints may result in suboptimal responses to stimuli. We observed foraging workers of the giant tropical ant (also referred to as the “bullet ant”), Paraponera clavata, as they reacted to liquid solutions with varying concentrations of sugar and protein. We show that when protein/sucrose concentration is high, many bullet ants will often try to grasp at the droplet, rather than gather it by drinking. Because P. clavata actively hunt for prey, fixed action patterns and rapid responses to protein may be adaptively important, regardless of the medium in which it is presented. We conclude that, in P. clavata, food-handling decisions are made in response to the nutrient content of the food rather than the texture of the food. Further, we suggest that colonies that maintain a mixture of individuals with consistent fixed or flexible behavioral responses to food-handling decisions may be better adapted to fluctuating environmental conditions, and we propose future studies that could address this.
Inquiry into the Structure of Mentation Processes

Study of conditions conducive to breakdown of the human mentation system provides important clues to some basic mechanisms of this system. Sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation, solitary confinement, possibly even dreaming have in common greatly reduced sensory-input inventory and, specifically, lack of human contact or interchange. In these situations relative mental malfunction occurs, signalled by panic behavior, abnormal states such as paranoia, and hallucination. The present article explores the hypothesis that the deviant functioning of mentation under these and similar circumstances results from one particular type of deprivation—that of human interchange—and that such interchange is essential for the development and optimal maintenance of cognitive processes.
Modeling broadband ocean acoustic transmissions with time-varying sea surfaces

Solutions to ocean acoustic scattering problems are often formulated in the frequency domain, which implies that the surface is “frozen” in time. This may be reasonable for short duration signals but breaks down if the surface changes appreciably over the transmission time. Frequency domain solutions are also impractical for source-receiver ranges and frequency bands typical for applications such as acoustic communications (e.g. hundreds to thousands of meters, 1–50kHz band). In addition, a driving factor in the performance of certain acoustic systems is the Doppler spread, which is often introduced from sea-surface movement. The time-varying nature of the sea surface adds complexity and often leads to a statistical description for the variations in received signals. A purely statistical description likely limits the insight that modeling generally provides. In this paper, time-domain modeling approaches to the sea-surface scattering problem are described. As a benchmark for comparison, the Helmholtz inte...
In vivo dynamic studies of hepatocyte function: a computer method for the interpretation of rose bengal kinetics.

Abstract A model for the analysis of 131I rose bengal (rb) kinetics has been formulated based upon the known physiology of the hepatic processing of rose bengal. The method differs from other published techniques of quantitating hepatic function in that the physiology of the individual is considered in the analysis while allowing for the phenomena of regurgitation and blood background. The data are used directly as obtained and not modified prior to analysis. The method is more sensitive in detecting liver dysfunction than previously described single parameter methods. It is felt that this technique may be useful as a screen for hepatic dysfunction and an aid in the differential diagnosis of hepatic disease.
Speechless Emissaries: Refugees, Humanitarianism, and Dehistoricization

Massive displacements of people due to political violence and oppression and the sight-on television and in newspapers-of refugees as a miserable “sea of humanity” have come to seem more and more common. If these displacements, and media representations of them, appear familiar, so too does the range of humanitarian interventions that is routinely activated by the movement of people. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the forms typically taken by humanitarian interventions that focus on refugees as their object of knowledge, assistance, and management, and to trace the effects of these forms of intervention at several different levels.
Posttraumatic stress and myocardial infarction risk perceptions in hospitalized acute coronary syndrome patients.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is related to acute coronary syndrome (ACS; i.e., myocardial infarction or unstable angina) recurrence and poor post-ACS adherence to medical advice. Since risk perceptions are a primary motivator of adherence behaviors, we assessed the relationship of probable PTSD to ACS risk perceptions in hospitalized ACS patients (n= 420). Participants completed a brief PTSD screen 3-7 days post-ACS, and rated their 1-year ACS recurrence risk relative to other men or women their age. Most participants exhibited optimistic bias (mean recurrence risk estimate between “average” and “below average”). Further, participants who screened positive for current PTSD (n=15) showed significantly greater optimistic bias than those who screened negative (p< .05), after adjustment for demographics, ACS severity, medical comorbidities, depression, and self-confidence in their ability to control their heart disease. Clinicians should be aware that psychosocial factors, and PTSD in particular, may be associated with poor adherence to medical advice due to exaggerated optimistic bias in recurrence risk perceptions.
Psychosocial adaptation of orthopedically disabled Mexican children and their siblings

This article reports a study of psychosocial adaptation of orthopedically disabled children and their siblings in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico to determine if the psychodynamic of disability documented in U.S. studies is also found in this group. This was achieved by an examination of disabled-nondisabled differences through comparison of children with disabilities and their siblings on a wide range of psychosocial variables, and assessment of the relationship of disability, school and family factors to behavior problems and self-esteem. The investigation used multiple methods of evaluation, including assessment of physical, behavioral, social, and psychological adaptation. Findings include many predicted differences between disabled and non-disabled children on measures of adjustment, self-esteem and professional expectations; negative correlation of self-esteem with disability; an increase in behavior problems with poor self-esteem; and a decrease in behavior problems with improved self-esteem and increased family and social activities.
Effects of asynchronous stimulation on the human quadriceps femoris muscle.

Abstract Objective: Examine the effects of asynchronously activating motor units of the human quadriceps femoris muscle during electrical stimulation. Methods: Two stimulation channels were used to activate the muscle. One pair of electrodes was placed over the vastus medialis (Channel 1) and another pair was placed over the vastus lateralis (Channel 2). All contractions were isometric. The stimulation frequency was 10Hz for each channel and the effect of varying the delay between the two channels was tested. Results: Synchronous activation of both channels produced the greatest forces and stimulating the muscle 180 degrees out of phase (ie, with a 50-msec delay) produced the least forces. Conclusions: Activating motor units asynchronously under certain conditions will be less efficient than synchronous activation. This study, therefore, helps to define the boundary conditions when asynchronous stimulation may be helpful.
Colon polyp retrieval after cold snaring

Background The removal of small colon polyps by cold snare transection without electrocautery effectively eliminates polyps, and anecdotal reports indicate a low risk of bleeding and perforation. Concerns about using cold snaring have centered on the risk of immediate bleeding and the difficulty in retrieving the polyp. The objective was to determine the retrieval rates of polyps after cold snaring after two different methods of resection and retrieval. Methods Consecutive polyps were identified by a single colonoscopist who chose the technique of polypectomy (hot snare, cold snare, or cold forceps). If cold snaring was chosen, an independent observer assigned the polyp to method A (cold resection of polyp without tenting and then suction of the transected polyp into a trap) or method B (ensnare the polyp, pull it into the colonoscope channel, and then transect it while suctioning). The size and the approximate location of all polyps were recorded and all collected specimens were sent separately for histologic examination. Results Of 519 consecutively encountered polyps, 400 were removed by cold snare: 197 were assigned to method A and 203 to method B. The mean size of polyps that were cold snared was 3.5 mm. The mean time to remove and to retrieve polyps with method A was 14.5 seconds (n=58) and with method B was 18.1 seconds (n=60) ( p =0.03). There were no complications from cold snaring. The rate of successful retrieval with method A was 100% (197 of 197 polyps) and with method B was 98% (199 of 203 polyps) ( p =0.04). Conclusions Cold snare removal of colon polyps is associated with a high polyp retrieval rate. Each of two methods of polyp retrieval was effective. Snare transection without tenting of the polyp, followed by suctioning of the specimen off the polyp site, was more efficient, though the difference in efficiency was minimal. Difficulty or failure to retrieve polyps should not be a concern with regard to cold snare polypectomy.
An apparent n to p transition in reactively sputtered indium-tin-oxide high temperature strain gages

Abstract A robust strain gage based on alloys of indium–tin–oxide (ITO) has been developed, which is capable of measuring strain at temperatures up to 1450 °C. These thin film sensors are ideally suited for in-situ strain measurement in harsh environments since they are non-intrusive, have minimal impact on vibration patterns due to their negligible mass and are robust enough to withstand the high ‘g’ loading associated with rotating components. Thus, this ITO strain gage is well suited to meet instrumentation requirements in advanced propulsion systems. Static strain tests performed at temperatures as high as 1400 °C have resulted in a relatively large and repeatable piezoresistive response. However, in the vicinity of 950 °C, a change in sign of the piezoresistive response from −G to +G was observed, suggesting that the active ITO strain element had been converted from a net ‘n-carrier’ to a net ‘p-carrier’ semiconductor. The ‘n’ to ‘p’ transition has been shown to be reversible over many temperature cycles from room temperature to 1400 °C. This repeatability implies that the carrier species is the predominate factor controlling the observed changes in the resistance and gage factor. Consistent with this change in sign of the gage factor was a change in the sign of the slope of emf vs. temperature (dV/dT) for hot probe measurements made on the same ITO films that were thermally cycled over the temperature range (600 °C to 1300 °C). This finding supports the premise that change in sign of the gage factor from −G to +G occurred within the same temperature range (∼950 °C) and that a change in the charge carrier type was responsible for observed transition in both cases.
MAINTENANCE OF PREGNANCY WITH SUBCUTANEOUS PELLETS OF PROGESTERONE IN OVARIECTOMIZED MICE.

SummaryMice of the CHI and Brown Belt stocks received subcutaneous pellets of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone or progesterone and then were ovariectomized at various stages of pregnancy. The average daily absorption of progesterone from the pellets which was required to ensure fetal survival to term diminished as pregnancy progressed. 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone pellets were ineffective in maintaining pregnancy in castrate mice. When the day of finding the vaginal plug was counted as day 1, duration of pregnancy in the intact untreated CHI mouse was usually 19 or 20 days. In the Brown Belt mouse, it was usually 20 or 21 days.
Cities, traffic, and CO2: A multidecadal assessment of trends, drivers, and scaling relationships

Emissions of CO2 from road vehicles were 1.57 billion metric tons in 2012, accounting for 28% of US fossil fuel CO2 emissions, but the spatial distributions of these emissions are highly uncertain. We develop a new emissions inventory, the Database of Road Transportation Emissions (DARTE), which estimates CO2 emitted by US road transport at a resolution of 1 km annually for 1980–2012. DARTE reveals that urban areas are responsible for 80% of on-road emissions growth since 1980 and for 63% of total 2012 emissions. We observe nonlinearities between CO2 emissions and population density at broad spatial/temporal scales, with total on-road CO2 increasing nonlinearly with population density, rapidly up to 1,650 persons per square kilometer and slowly thereafter. Per capita emissions decline as density rises, but at markedly varying rates depending on existing densities. We make use of DARTE’s bottom-up construction to highlight the biases associated with the common practice of using population as a linear proxy for disaggregating national- or state-scale emissions. Comparing DARTE with existing downscaled inventories, we find biases of 100% or more in the spatial distribution of urban and rural emissions, largely driven by mismatches between inventory downscaling proxies and the actual spatial patterns of vehicle activity at urban scales. Given cities’ dual importance as sources of CO2 and an emerging nexus of climate mitigation initiatives, high-resolution estimates such as DARTE are critical both for accurately quantifying surface carbon fluxes and for verifying the effectiveness of emissions mitigation efforts at urban scales.
A Novel Mechanism for the Formation of Direct Strand Breaks upon Anaerobic Photolysis of Duplex DNA Containing 5-Bromodeoxyuridine

The mechanism of UV-induced cleavage of duplex DNA containing 5-bromodeoxyuridine under anaerobic conditions was investigated via product analysis and kinetic isotope effect measurements using gel electrophoresis. KIEs strongly suggest that strand breaks result from abstraction of the C2‘ hydrogen atom from the 5‘-adjacent nucleotide by deoxyuridin-5-yl (1). It is proposed that under anaerobic conditions the C2‘ radical is subsequently oxidized by the cation radical of adenine. The resulting carbocation undergoes 1,2-hydride migrations from C1‘ and C3‘ competitively, giving rise to cleavage products containing 3‘-phosphate and the novel, labile 3‘-ketone (4). The identity of the latter product is supported by electrospray mass spectrometric analysis of the crude photolysate. The results also suggest that the formation of alkaline labile lesions proceed via hydrogen atom abstraction from the C2‘ position by 1.
Production of multiple cytokines by cultured human melanomas

We screened a panel of 8 primary and 21 metastatic melanoma cell lines for constitutive secretion of cytokines. Melanomas expressed bioactivity for TGF-beta (8/25 lines) and IFN (7/12), but not IL-2. Immunoassays detected IL-1 alpha (4/25), IL-1 beta (12/25), IL-6 (13/29), IL-8 (29/29), TGF-beta 2 (5/12) and GM-CSF (11/29), but not IL-3, IL-4, TNF-alpha, or IFN-gamma. There was no preferential association of cytokine production with cells cultured from primary versus metastatic disease, and only IL-8 was produced by all lines tested. These data demonstrate that cultured melanomas produce a variety of cytokines which are potentially capable of influencing tumor growth in vivo.
Effect of a tobacco cessation continuing professional education program on pharmacists' confidence, skills, and practice-change behaviors

Abstract Objective To evaluate the impact of a tobacco cessation training program on pharmacists' confidence, skills, and practice-change behaviors. Design Quasiexperimental study. Setting Wisconsin during 2002–2003. Participants 25 community pharmacists. Intervention A continuing education training program was developed and implemented using home and live training components consisting of the national tobacco cessation guidelines, including the 5A's counseling process. The home study component included lectures and readings in CD-ROM format. Consistent with self-efficacy theory, the live training was based on exercises that included modeling, rehearsal, and feedback to learners. Main outcome measures Knowledge assessment, pre- and postsurveys assessing confidence and skill levels, and service provision indicators. Results Self-efficacy and perceived ability to counsel patients to quit using tobacco improved significantly after the combined program. No significant change in confidence or perceived skills occurred following home study alone, suggesting value in using a combination of teaching strategies (problem solving, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback). Of participants, 92% received a passing knowledge score and 75% attempted to implement a tobacco cessation service posttraining; more than 50% assisted patients up to 1 year posttraining. A relationship between self-efficacy and service provision was found when practice settings were considered. Conclusion This program increased pharmacists' knowledge and self-efficacy to counsel patients on tobacco use. Further, the majority of pharmacy participants attempted to implement a tobacco cessation service.
A meta-analysis and review of organizational research on job involvement.

The author develops a theoretical framework relating job involvement to its antecedents, correlates, and consequences and reports meta-analyses of 51 pairwise relationships involving job involvement. Results of the meta-analyses support research suggesting that job involvement is influenced by personality and situational variables. Job involvement was strongly related to job and work attitudes but not to role perceptions, behavioral work outcomes, negative "side effects," or demographic variables. Moderator analyses indicated little difference in the strength of relationships based on involvement measure. The author found modest but systematic differences in the strength of relationships between studies of employees of public versus private organizations. He compares and contrasts the results of this study with meta-analytic findings regarding organizational commitment, discusses important theoretical considerations in the research stream, and offers suggestions for future research.
Influence of habitat structure and fruit availability on use of a northeastern stopover site by fall songbirds

Abstract Many studies have suggested that early successional habitats are important for fall migrant and resident birds. In light of this, we studied habitat relationships, preferred fruiting shrub species, and fruit consumption by birds in early successional habitats during the fall at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama, New York, USA. We used transects to count birds in 12 shrub and 6 early successional forest sites during 2008–2009, and collected data to construct habitat models. We examined frugivory using a paired open/enclosed fruit branch experiment and by analyzing fecal samples of birds captured in mist nets. More fall songbirds were detected in shrublands than in forests across the 2 years, although forests with well-developed understories also had high detection levels. Total bird abundance was positively related to fruiting species richness and negatively related to small woody stem (0.0–2.5 cm) abundance. Abundance of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) was positively related to tota...
Changes during the division cycle in bacterial cell wall synthesis, volume, and ability to concentrate free amino acids

Abstract Changes in cell volume, cell wall synthesis, and ability to concentrate reversibly an amino acid were studied in Alcaligenes fecalis . Cell volume and number were measured in a Coulter Counter; cell wall synthesis was followed by means of short-term incorporation of radioactive alanine and methionine; the ability of the cell to concentrate replaceable methionine served as a measure of the concentration of an amino acid. All of these parameters were studied in synchronously dividing cultures. In addition, cell volume and methionine concentration were studied in spheroplasts and in cells leaving the lag and entering the exponential phase of growth. Whereas cell wall synthesis was found to occur at an increasing rate throughout the cell division cycle, cell volume remained constant, except for a rapid increase just before division. The maximum amount of methionine which could be concentrated also remained constant throughout most of the division cycle. In spheroplasts an increase in volume was not accompanied by an increase in ability to concentrate methionine. Cells leaving the lag phase of growth showed an increased ability to concentrate methionine not accompanied by a comparable increase in cell volume. The results indicate that there is no direct relationship between cell volume, ability to concentrate methionine, and cell wall synthesis. However, cell volume and the concentration of replaceable methionine are regulated in conjunction with the division cycle.
SIMULTANEOUS HEAT and MASS TRANSFER DURING the DEEP FAT FRYING of TORTILLA CHIPS

The heating and water loss of a single tortilla chip during deep fat frying was investigated experimentally and the data were analyzed by writing two heat and mass transfer balances. the equations were solved using explicit finite difference technique. Oil uptake as a function of frying time was described by a first order exponential equation. the empirical and theoretical heat and mass transfer agreed well. The effect of oil temperature on the moisture loss and oil uptake as a function of frying time was analyzed. Moisture loss rate increased as temperature increased. the effects of temperature on oil uptake were not significant during the first 15 s of frying, however, the final oil content was higher for the tortilla chip fried at 190C than at 150C for 60 s.
Aromatase, aromatase inhibitors, and breast cancer.

Abstract Estrogens are known to be important in the growth of breast cancers in both pre and postmenopausal women. As the number of breast cancer patients increases with age, the majority of breast cancer patients are postmenopausal women. Although estrogens are no longer made in the ovaries after menopause, peripheral tissues produce sufficient concentrations to stimulate tumor growth. As aromatase catalyzes the final and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of estrogen, inhibitors of this enzyme are effective targeted therapy for breast cancer. Three aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are now FDA approved and have been shown to be more effective than the antiestrogen tamoxifen and are well tolerated. AIs are now a standard treatment for postmenopausal patients. AIs are effective in adjuvant and first-line metastatic setting. This review describes the development of AIs and their current use in breast cancer. Recent research focuses on elucidating mechanisms of acquired resistance that may develop in some patients with long term AI treatment and also in innate resistance. Preclinical data in resistance models demonstrated that the crosstalk between ER and other signaling pathways particularly MAPK and PI3K/Akt is an important resistant mechanism. Blockade of these other signaling pathways is an attractive strategy to circumvent the resistance to AI therapy in breast cancer. Several clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the role of these novel targeted therapies to reverse resistance to AIs. Article from the special issue on ‘Targeted Inhibitors’.
Fission of Rhenium by Intermediate-Energy Helium Ions

Cross sections have been determined radiochemically for twelve nuclides resulting from fission which was induced by the 40.9-MeV ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ ion bombardment of naturally occurring ${\mathrm{Re}}^{185,187}$. The mass distribution was observed to be symmetric, with a full width at half maximum of 23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 mass units. The average number of prompt neutrons emitted per fission event was 1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1, and the total fission cross section was found to be 2.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6 \ensuremath{\mu}b. These results are compared with those from fission of other nuclei.
Effectiveness of a Pharmacist-Based Smoking-Cessation Program and Its Impact on Quality of Life

We conducted a prospective, open-label trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-based, comprehensive, smoking-cessation program with 31 self-referred subjects. A secondary goal was to measure changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during the cessation attempt. The program consisted of weekly, 1-hour group sessions over 12 weeks. It incorporated nicotine replacement therapy (patch, gum) with extensive behavior modification counseling. Trained pharmacists served as program facilitators. Smoking cessation was chemically verified at 3 and 6 months by exhaled carbon monoxide. The patients' HRQOL was measured using the smoking-cessation quality of life questionnaire at baseline, 2 weeks, and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. Chemically verified abstinence rates at 3 and 6 months were 42% (13 patients) and 26% (8 patients), respectively. Among patients who quit, vitality, mental health, and self-control significantly improved during the 3-month program. Six-month cessation rates were modest, although HRQOL improved within 3 months of abstinence.
A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF 17-KETOSTEROIDS, DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE, AND 17-HYDROXYCORTICOSTEROIDS IN SERUM

ABSTRACT A simple procedure is described which permits the determination for clinical purposes of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, 17-ketosteroids and dehydroepiandrosterone in only 10 ml. of serum. The process of extraction and purification of the hydroxycorticosteroids follows the procedure of Nelson-Samuels coupled with the Silber-Porter assay. The method for determination of the 17-ketosteroids incorporates the principles of solvolysis as described by Burstein and Lieberman. This procedure yields results equivalent to those obtained with the more tedious alcohol extraction followed by simultaneous hydrolysis and extraction with ether at pH 1. A clean-up procedure based on the Drekter sodium hydroxide pellet technique has been used and found to aid in improving the specificity of the method. A micro-technique has been developed for the blue chromogen reaction of Allen and applied to the determination of dehydroepiandrosterone. A discussion of the development of the method is included, together with values fo...
Repression of bovine papilloma virus replication is mediated by a virally encoded trans-acting factor

Cells transformed with bovine papilloma virus type 1 mutants in the E6 or E6/7 genes are resistant to high-copy-number amplification of wild-type DNA after supertransfection. Transient and stable replication assays demonstrate this effect. If the supertransfected DNA has a mutation in a newly defined gene (M), this cellular immunity to high-copy-number replication is overcome, resulting in transient replication of the input DNA. In contrast, the resident plasmid does not participate in amplification and is maintained at a constant low copy number. Cotransformation of M- mutants and wild-type DNA into these cells leads to shutoff of replication of both genomes. Thus, M- mutants define a trans-acting negative modulator that regulates viral replication. This function is distinct from the positive factors required for replication. We propose a model that explains why the loss of E6 and E6/7 function leads to immunity of the infected cell.
Blood volume changes in cyanotic congenital heart disease

Abstract Simultaneous red cell volume and plasma volume determinations were performed in 20 patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Significant hypervolemia was shown to result from an increased red cell volume. Plasma volume may be reduced but usually remains within the normal range. The good correlation between the venous hematocrit and red cell volume per kilogram provides the basis for the estimation of the red cell volume from the venous hematocrit. The common clinical practice of estimating the degree of hypoxemia from the red cell volume (or hematocrit) is at best very gross due to the large variability of the red cell volume at any given level of arterial oxygen saturation in patients with cyanotic heart disease. Red cell volume and plasma volume should be independently and simultaneously measured if accurate estimates of total blood volume changes are desired. Blood volume measurements serve as an index and guide in the medical and surgical treatment of polycythemic cyanotic patients.
Improving educational and social programs: a planned variation cross-validation model

Planned Variation evaluations implement and compare two or more promising variations of an educational or social program. In this paper, I argue that Planned Variation evaluations may be especially attractive to teachers and program operators, as well as university-based researchers. The establishment of university-based centers for evaluation could support wide-scale implementation of Planned Variation projects. These projects could facilitate the substitution of effective program variants for ineffective variants, bringing Campbell’s (1984) vision of the experimenting society to reality and fostering the use of research results. This paper contrasts the Planned Variation approach with participatory, empowerment, collaborative, utilization-focused, and black-box experimental approaches. The Planned Variation Cross-Validation Model is described and contrasted with alternative models for fostering improvement in social programs.
Partially hydrolyzed 100% whey protein infant formula and reduced risk of atopic dermatitis: a meta-analysis.

Objective A reduced risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) among healthy infants who received 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed formula (PHF-W) compared with intact protein cow's milk formula (CMF), has been reported in several studies. To validate these observations and estimate the magnitude of this potential association with greater statistical precision, we conducted a meta-analysis of clinical trial and intervention studies. Materials and methods A total of 18 articles representing 12 independent study populations met our inclusion criteria. Results A statistically significant 44% (summary relative risk estimate [SRRE] = 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.40-0.77) reduced risk of atopic manifestations, which included AD, was found among infants receiving PHF-W compared with infants receiving CMF. In a subanalysis of 4 studies that reported results specifically for AD and that were considered of superior methodological quality, the incidence of AD was reduced by 55% (SRRE = 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.70). Conclusions Regardless of study design, infant population, follow-up time, or study location, individual study findings were consistent because a reduced incidence of AD was reported in all of the reviewed studies. Exclusive breast-feeding should be encouraged as the standard for infant nutrition in the first months of life. For infants who are not exclusively breast-fed, feeding with PHF-W instead of CMF reduces the risk of AD in infants, particularly in infants with a family history of allergy.
Using Piecewise Potential Vorticity Inversion to Diagnose Frontogenesis. Part I: A Partitioning of the Q Vector Applied to Diagnosing Surface Frontogenesis and Vertical Motion

Abstract The technique of piecewise potential vorticity (PV) inversion is used to identify the nondivergent wind fields attributed to upper-, middle-, and lower-tropospheric PV anomalies in addition to the irrotational wind with the goal of diagnosing the respective wind fields’ frontogenetic potentialities. Frontogenesis is diagnosed using a piecewise separation of the Q vector into parts associated with the partitioned wind field. Partitioned geostrophic Q vectors are used to diagnose the vertical motion attributed to the upper-, middle-, and lower-tropospheric PV anomalies. Insight gained from this new diagnostic technique is demonstrated by examining a particular case of extratropical marine cyclogenesis resulting from the interaction of an upper-tropospheric short-wave trough with a surface thermal wave. In the early stages of development, the largest contributor to surface frontogenesis was associated with winds attributed to the lower-tropospheric thermal wave. As the cyclone matured, the contribut...
Maintenance of an Intact Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 vpr Gene following Mother-to-Infant Transmission

The vpr sequences from six human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected mother-infant pairs following perinatal transmission were analyzed. We found that 153 of the 166 clones analyzed from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA samples showed a 92.17% frequency of intact vpr open reading frames. There was a low degree of heterogeneity of vpr genes within mothers, within infants, and between epidemiologically linked mother-infant pairs. The distances between vpr sequences were greater in epidemiologically unlinked individuals than in epidemiologically linked mother-infant pairs. Moreover, the infants’ sequences displayed patterns similar to those seen in their mothers. The functional domains essential for Vpr activity, including virion incorporation, nuclear import, and cell cycle arrest and differentiation were highly conserved in most of the sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of 166 mother-infant pairs and 195 other available vpr sequences from HIV databases formed distinct clusters for each mother-infant pair and for other vpr sequences and grouped the six mother-infant pairs’ sequences with subtype B sequences. A high degree of conservation of intact and functional vpr supports the notion that vpr plays an important role in HIV-1 infection and replication in mother-infant isolates that are involved in perinatal transmission.
Functional design of the feeding mechanism in lower vertebrates: unidirectional and bidirectional flow systems in the tiger salamander

There are two basic designs of the aquatic feeding mechanism in lower vertebrates: unidirectional and bidirectional flow systems. Larval salamanders and most fishes posses a unidirectional flow design in which water drawn into the mouth with the prey passes over the gills and exits posteriorly. Metamorphosed salamanders and all other aquatic vertebrates possess a bidirectional system in which water flows into and out of the mouth during a single feeding cycle. We investigated the functional consequences of these two feeding designs in larval and metamorphosed tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) feeding in the water. Buccal cavity pressures were measured during feeding and 1 I variables measured from the pressure traces. Significant differences were found between the larval and metamorphosed salamanders in eight variables. Larval salamanders generate significantly greater negative pressures than do metamorphosed individuals and a principal components analysis of the 1 1 pressure variables completely separates larval from metamorphosed salamanders. Larval individuals are significantly better at capturing elusive prey than are metamorphosed salamanders, apparently because of changes in the structure of the feeding mechanism and the concomitant functional modifications.
Accuracy sensitive word-length selection for algorithm optimization

In typical hardware implementations of an arithmetic-intensive algorithm, designers must determine the word lengths of resources such as adders, multipliers, and registers. This paper presents algorithmic level theory and optimization techniques to select distinct word lengths for each computation which meet the desired accuracy and minimize the design cost for the given performance constraints. The reduction in cost is possible by avoiding unnecessary bit-level computations that do not contribute significantly to the accuracy of the final results. Thus we have introduced a new optimization variable, computation accuracy, into data-path synthesis. Our results show on an average, a 30% reduction in functional-resource area using distinct word lengths as opposed to use of a single optimized word length for the entire algorithm.
Comparison of full-text searching to metadata searching for genes in two biomedical literature cohorts

Researchers have traditionally used bibliographic databases to search out information. Today, the full-text of resources is increasingly available for searching, and more researchers are performing full-text searches. This study compares differences in the number of articles discovered between metadata and full-text searches of the same literature cohort when searching for gene names in two biomedical literature domains. Three reviewers additionally ranked 100 articles in each domain. Significantly more articles were discovered via full-text searching; however, the precision of full-text searching also is significantly lower than that of metadata searching. Certain features of articles correlated with higher relevance ratings. A significant feature measured was the number of matches of the search term in the full-text of the article, with a larger number of matches having a statistically significant higher usefulness (i.e., relevance) rating. By using the number of hits of the search term in the full-text to rank the importance of the article, performance of full-text searching was improved so that both recall and precision were as good as or better than that for metadata searching. This suggests that full-text searching alone may be sufficient, and that metadata searching as a surrogate is not necessary. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High resolution electronic spectroscopy of para- alkyl substituted phenols and tetramethyl cyclobutane-1,3-dione

Fluorescence excitation spectra and dispersed fluorescence spectra are measured for the *• Sq transition of a series of the para-alkyl substituted phenols cooled in a supersonic jet. The series consists of p-cresol, p-ethylphenol, p-propylphenol, p-lsopropylphenol, p-secbutylphenol, p-tert-butylphenol, p-pentylphenol. The p-cresol and p-ethylphenol show a single origin band in the excitation spectra and no Isomers can be seen. The p-isopropylphenol, p-sec-butylphenol and p-tert-butylphenol show two origin bands in the excitation spectra and the doublets are assigned as origin bands of different isomers (elsand trans-isomer). The p-propylphenol and p-pentylphenol show multiple origin bands (more than two) which are assigned as origin bands of several conformera. The energy separations among origin bands of Isomers range from 13 cm~^ for p-sec-butylphenol to 82 cm~^ for p-pentylphenol. For p-propylphenol, the energy separations range from 9 cm'l to 58 cm"! among five origin bands of the isomers. The conformations of isomers for all molecules studied here are understood by assuming the rotation of alkyl substltuents. For all molecules studied, hydrogen bonded structures with water are observed at ~ 350 cm'l lower in energy from the electronic origin bands of the monomer.
Targeting mucosal sites by polymeric immunoglobulin receptor-directed peptides

Polymeric immunoglobulins provide first line humoral defense at mucosal surfaces to which they are specifically transported by the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) on mucosal and glandular epithelial cells. Previous studies from our laboratory suggested that amino acids 402-410 of the Calpha3 domain of dimeric IgA (dIgA) represented a potential binding site for the pIgR. Here by binding human secretory component to overlapping decapeptides of Calpha3, we confirm these residues and also uncover an additional site. Furthermore, we show that the Calpha3 motif appears to be sufficient to direct transport of green fluorescent protein through the pIgR-specific cellular transcytosis system. An alternative approach identified phage peptides, selected from a library by the in vitro Madin Darby Canine Kidney transcytosis assay, for pIgR-mediated transport through epithelial cells. Some transcytosis-selected peptides map to the same 402-410 pIgR-binding Calpha3 site. Further in vivo studies document that at least one of these peptides is transported in a rat model measuring hepatic bile transport. In addition to identifying small peptides that are both bound and transported by the pIgR, this study provides evidence that the pIgR-mediated mucosal secretion system may represent a means of targeting small molecule therapeutics and genes to mucosal epithelial cells.
Clinical potential of mucins in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of ovarian cancer

Summary Knowledge of mucins and their multiple roles in various normal and pathological processes has improved greatly in the past two decades. Mucins belong to a family of glycoproteins characterised by densely O -glycosylated repetitive domains and expressed by various surface epithelial cells. Altered expression of mucins is present in various diseases, including cancer. Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. The most common ovarian cancer is epithelial ovarian carcinoma, which is characterised by few early symptoms, widespread peritoneal dissemination, and ascites at advanced stages that result in poor prognosis. After diagnosis, 5 year survival is only 35–45%. Therefore, improved strategies for early diagnosis and treatment are needed. Because of the surface epithelial origin of epithelial ovarian cancer, mucins are obvious biomolecules for investigation as markers for early diagnosis and as therapeutic targets. We discuss the potential role and clinical usefulness of mucins in early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of ovarian cancer.
MHC Class I Loss Is a Frequent Mechanism of Immune Escape in Papillary Thyroid Cancer That Is Reversed by Interferon and Selumetinib Treatment In Vitro

Purpose: To evaluate MHC class I expression on papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and analyze changes in MHC expression and associated immune activation with current and experimental treatments for thyroid cancer using in vitro PTC cell lines. Experimental Design: MHC class I expression and assessment of tumor-infiltrating leukocyte populations were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. PTC cell lines were analyzed for HLA-ABC expression by flow cytometry following tyrosine kinase inhibitor, IFNα or IFNγ, or radiation treatment. Functional changes in antigenicity were assessed by coculture of allogeneic donor peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) with pretreated or untreated PTC cell lines and measurement of T-cell activation and cytokine production. Results: Both MHC class I and β2-microglobulin expression was reduced or absent in 76% of PTC specimens and was associated with reduced tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including effector (CD3 + , CD8 + , CD16 + ) and suppressor (FoxP3 + ) populations. Treatment of PTC cell lines with the MEK1/2 inhibitor selumetinib or IFN increased HLA-ABC expression. This phenotypic change was associated with increased T-cell activation (%CD25 + of CD3 + ) and IL2 production by PBL cocultured with treated PTC cell lines. Additive effects were seen with combination selumetinib and IFN treatment. Conclusions: MHC class I expression loss is frequent in human PTC specimens and represents a significant mechanism of immune escape. Increased antigenicity following selumetinib and IFN treatment warrants further study for immunotherapy of progressive PTC. Clin Cancer Res; 20(23); 6034–44. ©2014 AACR .
Effect of chromium supplementation on glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose in patients with diabetes mellitus

Chromium (Cr) is a trace element involved in glucose homeostasis. We aim to evaluate and quantify the effects of Cr supplementation on A1C and FPG in patients with T2DM. A systematic literature search of Pubmed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library (from database inception to 11/2014) with no language restrictions sought RCTs or cohort studies evaluating Cr supplementation in T2DM vs control and reporting either change in glycated hemoglobin (A1C) or fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Meta-analysis was conducted on each subtype of Cr supplement separately, and was analyzed by random effects model to yield the weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed by using the I2 statistic. A total of 14 RCTs (n = 875 participants, mean age range: 30 to 83 years old, 8 to 24 weeks of follow-up) were identified (Cr chloride: n = 3 study, Cr picolinate: n = 5 study, brewer’s yeast: n = 4 study and Cr yeast: n = 3 study). Compared with placebo, Cr yeast, brewer’s yeast and Cr picolinate did not show statistically significant effects on A1C. Furthermore, compared to control, Cr chloride, Cr yeast and Cr picolinate showed no effect on FPG, however, brewer’s yeast showed a statistically significant decrease in FPG -19.23 mg/dL (95% CI = -35.30 to -3.16, I2 = 21%, n = 137). Cr supplementation with brewer’s yeast may provide marginal benefits in lowering FPG in patients with T2DM compared to placebo however it did not have any effect on A1C.
Bax, Caspase-2, and Caspase-3 Are Required for Ovarian Follicle Loss Caused by 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide Exposure of Female Mice in Vivo

The industrial chemical, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), kills oocytes within immature follicles in the ovaries of mice and rats and is considered a potential occupational health hazard. It has been reported that VCD-induced follicle loss occurs via a cell death process involving elevated expression of Bax, a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, and increased caspase-3-like activity. We have previously shown that oocytes lacking acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase; an enzyme that generates the proapoptotic stress sensor ceramide), the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), Bax, or caspase-2 are resistant to apoptosis induced by other chemical toxicants. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the functional importance of ASMase, Ahr, Bax, and caspase-2 as well as the related executioner enzyme caspase-3 to VCD-induced ovotoxicity in mice using gene knockout technology. For each gene mutant mouse line, wild-type and homozygous-null female siblings derived from heterozygous matings were given once-daily ...
Three-dimensional stratigraphic evolution of the Miocene Baltimore Canyon region: Implications for eustatic interpretations and the systems tract model

A seismic stratigraphic analysis of Miocene deposits in the Baltimore Canyon region (offshore New Jersey) reveals tremendous threedimensional complexity and challenges traditional approaches to sequence stratigraphic interpretation. Individual sequences vary dramatically in along-strike thickness, revealing the locations of the sediment sources. Within sequences, the lowstand wedge thins dramatically along strike (tens to hundreds of meters) and is interpreted to record variable paleobathymetry along strike. As indicated by sequence thickness distributions, shelf break positions, lithologic composition, and stratigraphic relationships, sequences record sediment migration and progradation across the basin through time. As a result of these depositional complexities, relative sea-level curves, interpreted from parallel dip lines, vary in magnitude and amplitude across the basin. Development of Neogene stratal patterns within the Baltimore Canyon region has been closely linked to glacioeustatic change. Our reconstructions of delta switching and progradation emphasize that Miocene stratal patterns were greatly influenced by autocyclic depositional processes.