cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance Evaluation Of A Fourth-Generation Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner

One of the first American Science and Engineering Co. (AS&E) CT scanners installed in a clinical environment is operational at the University of Colorado Medical Center. The performance characteristics of several aspects of this stationary detector array scanner have been measured. Included in these characteristics are the resolution capabilities of the scanner in terms of MTF for high contrast objects, and the perceptability capabilities for objects of lower contrast. Other characteristics include patient dose, beam profiles, CT number linearity, noise, algorithm dependences, and the performance of selected electromechanical features such as patient bed incrementing and light beam/radiation field coincidence. Equipment and techniques for measuring these quantities are described. Although data are presented solely for the CT scanner, the procedures for evaluation of performance and periodic quality control may be generalized to other CT scanners. A summary of quality assurance tests being performed and a brief description of these tests in tabular form are presented.
THE INTERPLAY OF T CELL RESPONSES TO VIRAL AND AUTOIMMUNE EPITOPES

The examination of the immune T cell response to herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigen glycoprotein D (gD) in an ongoing infection has revealed a uniquely broad range of antigenic determinants seen. This has been shown in the murine T cell response to gD determinants where over 60% of the overlapping peptides are recognized as opposed to 1 of 30 peptides seen when gD was injected in Freund’s adjuvant. This has also been seen in the response to local autoantigens when the HSV infection is produced by corneal scarification. Furthermore, analysis of the response to the autoantigen, Golli myelin basic protein (MBP), present in the developing thymus is explored.
Relation between percolation and particle coordination in binary powder mixtures

Abstract Deformation processing of composite materials is often affected by the percolation of inclusions, which may form a connective network supporting a significant part of the applied pressure and to hinder the densification of the matrix powder. By numerical simulation it was found that the critical volume fraction of inclusions required to form the first percolative cluster strongly depends on the inclusion to matrix particle size ratio. Moreover the fraction of inclusions belonging to a connective cluster is a size-ratio-insensitive function of the inclusion-inclusion coordination number. Using this correlation and an analytical model for particle coordination, a simple scheme is proposed to predict the percolation within bimodal powder mixtures. Interest of these results for understanding pressure transmission during processing of particulate composites is also discussed.
Dianomy: Understanding Religious Women's Moral Agency as Creative Conformity

This essay seeks to contribute to work on moral agency of religious women through the creative naming of a dynamic that is emerging in recent scholarship. Drawing on fieldwork in Iran in 2004, I argue that prominent models of agency based on autonomy, heteronomy, and theonomy are unable take into account both religious influence on and individual creativity of women's actions. I propose the neologism, "dianomy," meaning dual-sources of the moral law, to account for moral agency that relies neither exclusively upon the self as a source of moral authority nor exclusively upon religious traditions. Dianomy also attempts to comprehend creative ruptures in obedience to tradition, even when these innovations are unintentional. Such a concept is particularly important in order to correct past tendencies to ignore or even negate feminist politics that do not resist or strategically reform religious norms. With dianomy, tactical moves, actions that are not "freely chosen," and even happy accidents can be studied as productive within traditional religious communities. I call these types of actions, which confound the actions theorized by autonomy, heteronomy, and theonomy, "creative conformity.".
The trimethylammonium headgroup of choline is a major determinant for substrate binding and specificity in choline oxidase

Choline oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of choline to glycine betaine via two sequential flavin-linked transfers of hydride equivalents to molecular oxygen and formation of a betaine aldehyde intermediate. In the present study, choline and glycine betaine analogs were used as substrates and inhibitors for the enzyme to investigate the structural determinants that are relevant for substrate recognition and specificity. Competitive inhibition patterns with respect to choline were determined for a number of substituted amines at pH 6.5 and 25 degrees C. The Kis values for the carboxylate-containing ligands glycine betaine, N,N-dimethylglycine, and N-methylglycine increased monotonically with decreasing number of methyl groups, consistent with the trimethylammonium portion of the ligand being important for binding. In contrast, the acetate portion of glycine betaine did not contribute to binding, as suggested by lack of changes in the Kis values upon substituting glycine betaine with inhibitors containing methyl, ethyl, allyl, and 2-amino-ethyl side chains. In agreement with the inhibition data, the specificity of the enzyme for the organic substrate (kcat/Km value) decreased when N,N-dimethylethanolamine, N-methylethanolamine, and the isosteric substrate 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol were used as substrate instead of choline; a contribution of approximately 7 kcal mol(-1) toward substrate discrimination was estimated for the interaction of the trimethylammonium portion of the substrate with the active site of choline oxidase.
A ‘Fruitless Obsession with Accuracy’: The Uses of Sensemaking in Public Sector Performance Management

Abstract Sensemaking provides a framework for understanding and interpreting managers' working lives, based on a thorough critique of rational choice models. It refutes rational choice, and aims not to predict, prove or control but simply to explain: the making of sense. This article, based on the author's original prizewinning MBA thesis, presents research undertaken in 2005–2006 on the uses of sensemaking in understanding local government organisations' contrasting experiences of performance management systems: an internal system in Canadian city government, and an externally-imposed system in the form of the now abandoned Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) in British local government. Key literature utilised includes social and organisational psychologist Karl Weick, British complexity theorists such as Ralph Stacey, and a literature on the politics of organisational behaviour (such as Guy Peters et al.). A critique of rational choice and summary of sensemaking precedes an account of phenomenol...
Chromosome abnormalities in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Less information is available on the cytogenetic abnormalities in marrow cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) than on abnormalities in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL); nonetheless, some patterns of karyotypic change in ALL are evident. Even with banding, about 50% of patients appear to have a normal karyotype. The modal chromosome number tends to be higher in ALL than in ANLL. Every patient with B-cell ALL has had an abnormality of one chromosome No. 14 that involved the translocation of material to the end of the long arm. Among seven reported cases, the translocation was from 8q in three patients and 11q in one. Cells with a haploid or near-haploid (24 to 35) chromosome number have been reported in five patients with ALL and in four patients in a lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myelogeneous leukemia. The karyotype in the four ALL patients whose cells were analyzed with banding was remarkably consistent. All patients had the haploid number, usually with both sex chromosomes, plus an additional No. 10, 18, and 21. Evolution of the karyotype, which occurs in the leukemic cells of about 50% of patients, involves cells of patients who had an initially normal or an initially abnormalmore » karyotype. The evidence regarding a correlation between the presence of an abnormal clone prior to treatment and response to treatment is contradictory at present. Some chromosome abnormalities, such as the presence of a Philadelphia (Ph/sup 1/) chromosome, a 14q+chromosome, or a haploid clone, are associated with a relatively short survival.« less
Thin-film Mach-Zehnder lithium niobate optical modulator on silicon substrates with V π L of 4 V·cm

Y-cut lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder optical modulators with record-low half-voltage length-product of 4 V·cm are demonstrated. A novel fabrication method that allows low-loss, high-index-contrast waveguides of lithium niobate on silicon substrate is used.
PHOSPHOLIPASE D IN CELLULAR SENESCENCE

Cellular senescence appears to be an important part of organismal aging. Cellular senescence is characterized by flattened enlarged morphology, inhibition of DNA replication in response to growth factors, inability to phosphorylate the pRb tumor suppressor protein, inability to produce c-fos or AP-1 and overexpression of a variety of genes, notably p21 (CIP-1/WAF-1) and p16(INK). It is now clear that certain early mitotic signals become defective with the onset of senescence. Among these is the PLD/PKC pathway. Evidence suggests that activation of PLD and PKC is critical for mitogenesis. Recent data suggest that the defect in PLD/PKC in cellular senescence is a result of elevated cellular ceramide levels which inhibit PLD activation. It appears that the elevated ceramide is a result of neutral sphingomyelinase activation. Ceramide acts to inhibit the activation of PLD by possibly three mechanisms, inhibiting activation by Rho, translocation to the membrane and gene expression. Addition of ceramide to young cells not only inhibits PLD but also recapitulates all the standard measures of cellular senescence as described above.
Ethanol directly stimulates dihydrotestosterone conversion to 5α-androstan-3α, 17β-diol and 5α-androstan-3β, 17β-diol in rat liver

Abstract The present results demonstrate for the first time in rat liver, that low ethanol concentrations (2.2 and 22 mM) directly stimulate dihydrotestosterone conversion to 5α-androstan-3α, 17β-diol and 5α-androstan-3β, 17β-diol. Because this effect was blocked by 4-methylpyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, or by the addition of a saturating NADH concentration, this action probably is mediated by hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity through elevation of the NADH/NAD + ratio. It remains to be determined whether this effect of ethanol actually reduces circulating and/or target tissue dihydrotestosterone levels; nevertheless, it is tempting to speculate that this action, in part, is responsible for the reported adverse effects of alcohol on male reproductive functions.
Complete physical simulation of the entangling-probe attack on the Bennett-Brassard 1984 protocol

We have used deterministic single-photon two qubit (SPTQ) quantum logic to implement the most powerful individual-photon attack against the Bennett-Brassard 1984 (BB84) quantum key distribution protocol. Our measurement results, including physical source and gate errors, are in good agreement with theoretical predictions for the Renyi information obtained by Eve as a function of the errors she imparts to Alice and Bob's sifted key bits. The current experiment is a physical simulation of a true attack, because Eve has access to Bob's physical receiver module. This experiment illustrates the utility of an efficient deterministic quantum logic for performing realistic physical simulations of quantum information processing functions.
Holocene Relative Sea-Level History of Novaya Zemlya, Russia, and Implications for Late Weichselian Ice-Sheet Loading

We present six new radiocarbon-dated emergence curves that provide a detailed record of postglacial emergence of northern Novaya Zemlya and ages which constrain the emergence of Vaygach Island in the southern archipelago. Radiocarbon ages on Hiatella sp. from a lateral moraine in Russkaya Gavan' and abundances of foraminifea in a marine core from Nordenskiold Bay, 300 km south of our study area, indicate that coastal deglaciation occurred prior to ∼10,000 cal yr B.P. However, postglacial emergence commenced ∼7000 cal yr B.P., with stabilization of global sea level. The total emergence is 13–11 m above sea level (asl) with apparent uplift rates of 1–2 mm/yr for the past 2000 yr, indicating modest glacier loads ( 11,000 cal yr B.P.) deglaciation, or both. The isobase pattern, showing no east–west tilt across Novaya Zemlya, and offshore moraines suggest a separate ice-dispersal center over Novaya Zemlya for the later stages of the Late Weichselian glacial cycle and possibly earlier.
Changes in premarital counseling as related to older cohorts of married couples

Abstract Within a sample of 256 current and former members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), it was found that the longer the time since husbands or wives had married, the less likely they were to report that premarital counseling had been available and voluntary, that it involved mre hours of training, and that they had participated in it. However, the reported effectiveness of their premarital counseling experience was not significantly related to years since marriage. It is possible that even though the quality of premarital counseling may have improved over time, the challenges and complexity of marriage may have changed at a similar rate, resulting in no net change in the perceived effectiveness of such interventions .
The role of aortic wall CT attenuation measurements for the diagnosis of acute aortic syndromes

Abstract Objectives To determine if measurements of aortic wall attenuation can improve the CT diagnosis of acute aortic syndromes. Methods CT reports from a ten year period were searched for acute aortic syndromes (AAS). Studies with both an unenhanced and a contrast enhanced (CTA) series that had resulted in the diagnosis of intramural hematoma (IMH) were reviewed. Diagnoses were confirmed by medical records. The attenuation of aortic wall abnormalities was measured. The observed attenuation threshold was validated using studies from 39 new subjects with a variety of aortic conditions. Results The term “aortic dissection” was identified in 1206, and IMH in 124 patients’ reports. IMH was confirmed in 31 patients, 21 of whom had both unenhanced and contrast enhanced images. All 21 had pathologic CTA findings, and no CTA with IMH was normal. Attenuation of the aortic wall was greater than 45 HUs on the CTA images in all patients with IMH. When this threshold was applied to the new group, sensitivity for diagnosing AAS was 100% (19/19), and specificity 94% (16/17). Addition of unenhanced images did not improve accuracy. Conclusions Measurements of aortic wall attenuation in CTA have a high negative predictive value for the diagnosis of acute aortic syndromes.
Validity of residents' self-reported cardiovascular disease prevention activities: the Preventive Medicine Attitudes and Activities Questionnaire.

Abstract Background. This article describes the development, reliability, and validity of three cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention subscales—CVD prevention behaviors, perceived importance, and perceived effectiveness—of the Preventive Medicine Attitudes and Activities Questionnaire (PMAAQ). Methods. The PMAAQ was administered three times to University of Minnesota family practice residents (178) over 2 years (91% response rate). Stability measures were calculated, and validity was demonstrated in four ways: content validity through an expert panel; calculation of internal consistency reliabilities; demonstration of divergent validity; and external validation via a separate chart review. Results. High internal consistency reliabilities among the subscales were seen (Cronbach's α = 0.77 to 0.92). Divergent validity was verified by low intercorrelations among the subscales (r = −0.23 to 0.27). Two-month test–retest scores ranged from Cronbach's α = 0.47 to 0.64. Significant correlations were seen between the chart review scale and both the CVD behaviors subscale and the PMAAQ smoking scale (r = 0.25 and 0.36, respectively). Conclusions. Results indicate that the PMAAQ can validly and reliably measure residents' CVD prevention behaviors and provide insight into their preventive health care attitudes. Further, the independence among the subscales suggests that importance and effectiveness by themselves do not affect behavior and that other factors are likely to be important in influencing physician behavior change.
Mutual antipathies in the peer group as a moderating factor in the association between community violence exposure and psychosocial maladjustment.

This chapter focuses on the moderating role of inimical peer relationships in the association between community violence exposure and children's functioning difficulties. A series of hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that community violence exposure is consistently related to psychosocial maladjustment only for children who are involved in a relatively high number of mutual antipathies with peers.
Somatostatin inhibits basal and vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated hormone release by different mechanisms in GH pituitary cells.

Somatostatin (SRIF) inhibits both basal and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VlP)-stimulated hormone secretion by the GH4C1 clonal strain of rat pituitary tumor cells. We have previously shown that SRIF inhibits cAMP accumulation stimulated by VIP but does not alter basal cAMP levels in this cell line. To determine the importance of changes in cAMP accumulation in the mechanism of SRIF action, we have compared the effect of SRIF on hormone release stimulated by VIP and two other secretagogues which increase effective intracellular cAMP concentrations: forskolin and 8-Bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP). VIP stimulated GH and PRL secretion to the same maximal extent (220% of control) with similar ED50 values (0.37 ± 0.03 and 0.43 ± 0.08 nM, mean ± SE, respectively). SRIF (100 nM) reduced maximal VIP-stimulation of both GH and PRL release from 220 to 140% of control; however, it did not significantly change the ED50 values for VIP. The effect of SRIF on VIP-stimulated hormone release parallels its action on VlP-stimulated...
Drug-abusing fathers: Patterns of pair bonding, reproduction, and paternal involvement

Despite concerns about compromise of fathering as a public policy issue, very little is known about the status of drug-abusing men as parents. In this pilot study, 50 men enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment completed a structured research interview designed to generate basic information about patterns of pair bonding, reproduction, and paternal involvement. Descriptive analysis of these data highlighted a number of trends in the nature of fathering that, although at odds with popular stereotypes, were similar to trends noted in research conducted with other populations of disenfranchised men. Consistent with a developmental-ecological perspective on parenting, the findings suggest that historical and situational influences interact within this population to compromise socially responsible efforts to function as a parent. The results also raise questions about the extent to which public policy initiatives designed to promote more responsible fathering are reaching this population, and they highlight ways that the drug abuse treatment system might better support men interested in being a more effective parent.
Corona Losses at 230 Kv With One Conductor Grounded

Tests have been made to determine the increase in corona losses on a high voltage transmission line, due to the grounding of one of the conductors. The corona losses under this condition of operation, which may occur on a transmission system not having the neutral solidly grounded, are shown to be considerably increased over the more usual operation with all 3 conductors at the same voltage. This corona loss may increase the in-phase component of current, with a consequent effect on the operation of Petersen coils. The conductors of the line used in these tests were hollow copper conductors composed of interlocking segments.
Sexual Dimorphism in Catasetum Orchids: Forcible Pollen Emplacement and Male Flower Competition

Orchids of the Neotropical genus Catasetum have sexually dimorphic flowers; that is, male and female flowers are distinctly different in shape and color. Male flowers forcibly attach a large pollinarium onto euglossine bees. Euglossa bees leave the male flower in response to pollinarium emplacement by Catasetum ochraceum and subsequently avoid male but not female flowers. This evidence suggests that sexual dimorphism promotes pollination. The aversion of the bee to pollinarium attachment and its avoidance of male flowers thereafter apparently reflect competition among male flowers that probably evolved concurrently with sexual dimorphism. Among Catasetum species, the extent of dimorphism is correlated with the degree of apparent aversion caused by the male flower (weight of the pollinarium). Thus, aversive pollinarium emplacement can account for widespread sexual dimorphism in Catasetum and for interspecific variations in its expression.
Interconnection Protocols for Interorganization Networks

This paper analyzes the technical implications of interconnecting networks across organization boundaries. Such Interorganizational Networks (ION's) are used increasingly to support exchange of CAD/CAM data between manufacturers and subcontractors, software distribution from vendors to users, customer input to suppliers' orderentry systems, and the shared use of expensive computational resources by research laboratories, as examples. We begin by demonstrating that interorganization connections are not satisfied by traditional network design criteria of connectivity and transparency. A primary high-level requirement is access control, and therefore, participating organizations must be able to limit connectivity and make network boundaries visible. We summarize an approach to access control in ION's, based on nondiscretionary control, that allows interconnecting organizations to combine gateway, network, and system-level mechanisms to enforce cross-boundary control over invocation and information flow while minimizing interference with internal operations [6], [4]. The focus of this paper is on the underlying interconnection protocols that are needed to support these access control mechanisms. We describe in detail a particular protocol, called a visa scheme [7]. The visa scheme uses access control servers to authorize a session request and visas to authenticate that successive packets belong to the authorized connection. Control is distributed among the ION participants and each may make its own design tradeoffs between performance and trust. In order to support interorganization communication two (or more) organizations must be able to communicate with one another's access control servers and their respective packet-level gateways and nodes (source/destination) must implement the visa scheme. The security of the proposed mechanism varies according to the security of an organization's components (access control server, gateway, and select hosts) and the encryption function used. The visa scheme's purpose is to allow an organization to modify and trust only those internal systems that require ION access; all other internal systems are inaccessible from and to the ION gateway. We conclude by comparing and contrasting the visa approach to the use of higher level gateways.
A NUMERICAL MODEL OF THE SLOWLY VARYING TROPICAL CYCLONE IN ISENTROPIC COORDINATES

Abstract A diagnostic axisymmetric model in isentropic coordinates is developed to study the effect of differential heating on the dynamics and energetics of the steady-state tropical cyclone. From the thermal forcing specified by various heating distributions, slowly varying solutions for the mass and momentum fields are obtained by an iterative technique. The theory of available potential energy for open systems is utilized to study the energy budget for the hurricane. In the slowly varying state, the gain of available potential energy by diabatic heating and lateral boundary processes balances the conversion of potential to kinetic energy that, in turn, offsets frictional dissipation. For a domain of radius 500 km, the boundary flux of available potential energy is about 40 percent of the generation by diabatic heating. For a domain of radius 1000 km, however, the boundary flux is about 15 percent of the generation. Horizontal and vertical mixing are studied through the use of constant exchange coeffic...
Modeling the Mechanics of Crystallizable Shape Memory Polymers With Two Crystallizing Phases for Crystallization Under Constant Strain

Shape Memory Polymers are a promising class of smart materials with applications ranging from biomedical devices to aerospace technology. SMPs have a capacity to retain complex temporary shapes involving large deformations and revert back to their original shape when triggered by external stimuli such as heat. Crystallizable SMPs are a subclass of SMPs where the transient shape is retained by formation of a crystalline phase and return to the original shape is due to melting of this crystalline phase [1]. Recently CSMPs with multiphase polymer networks containing two different crystallizable segments have been reported which have the capability to switch between three shapes when stimulated by changes in temperature [2,4]. These properties open up many new possibilities for applications. Our research is focused upon modeling the mechanics associated with these CSMPs. The model is developed using a framework based upon theory of multiple natural configurations [3]. The developed model is then used to simulate results for typical boundary value problems.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A Switchless, $Q$ -Band Bidirectional Transceiver in 0.12- $\mu$ m SiGe BiCMOS Technology

A fully-integrated Q-band (40-45 GHz) bidirectional transceiver is demonstrated in a 0.12-μm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The RF front-end design eliminates the need for transmit/receive switches by demonstrating a novel PA/LNA circuit. The transceiver has a transmit conversion gain of 35 dB with a 3-dB bandwidth of 4 GHz. The OP1dB is 8.5 dBm and Psat is 9.5 dBm. The transceiver has a receive conversion gain of 34 dB with a 3-dB bandwidth of 3 GHz. The noise figure is 4.7 dB and OP1dB is - 5 dBm at 43 GHz. The chip consumes 119.4 mW when transmitting and 54 mW when receiving, and overall chip size is 1.6 mm × 0.8 mm including pads. To the author's knowledge, this work represents the first switchless millimeter-wave bidirectional transceiver in a CMOS or BiCMOS process.
Environmental Effects Upon the Mobility of Older People

This is a study of environmental determinants of mobility among older people, comparing mobility behaviors and attitudes among residents of two cities of similar size but markedly different in phys...
The coulometric generation of chromate ion from the silver-silver chromate electrode: titration of lead(II)

Abstract The electrochemical behavior of the Ag/Ag2CrO4 electrode is described. The efficiency of the cathodic generation of chromate ion as a function of current density, supporting electrolyte and pH, and the optimal conditions for preparation of the electrodes are discussed. The electrode is useful for the coulometric titration of lead(II) in aqueous and in 50 % ( v v ) acetone solutions. At the microequivalent level of lead, the titration error is 1–2%.
Characterization of Gd, Yb and Nd doped barium cerates as proton conductors

Abstract BaCeO3-based ceramics with Gd, Yb and Nd dopants were synthesized using conventional ceramic powder methods and were characterized by the following measurements: complex impedance to measure the bulk and grain boundary conductivity; the water uptake or loss in different environments; and the influence of normal and heavy water uptake on the conductivity of the samples. Conductivity and gravimetric measurements of all the samples show strong evidence of proton conduction, including a classical hydrogen/deuterium isotope effect. The influence of the gas ambient and the temperature on water uptake during annealing pretreatment is demonstrated and may be a significant factor in the discrepancies in the literature of these materials.
Nonvanishing J=1{r_reversible}0 equal-frequency two-photon decay: E1M2 decay of the He-like 2 {sup 3}S{sub 1} state

The selection rule which forbids J=1{r_reversible}0 two-photon decay when the energies of the two photons are equal is shown to apply only when the multipolarities of the two photons are the same (i.e., 2E1, 2M1, etc.) and does not generally apply to mixed multipolarity amplitudes such as E1M2. A calculation of the two-photon decay rate for He-like ions in the 2 {sup 3}S{sub 1} state including both 2E1 and E1M2 two-photon decay amplitudes is presented. It shows a significant contribution for the case of equal-energy photons. The ratio of the E1M2 contribution to the 2E1 contribution is found to be surprisingly large. For example, it is 0.27 for two-photon decay of the 2 {sup 3}S{sub 1}state in He-like uranium.
Failure With Continuity in Rotator Cuff Repair “Healing”

Background:Ten to seventy percent of rotator cuff repairs form a recurrent defect after surgery. The relationship between retraction of the repaired tendon and formation of a recurrent defect is not well defined.Purpose/Hypotheses:To measure the prevalence, timing, and magnitude of tendon retraction after rotator cuff repair and correlate these outcomes with formation of a full-thickness recurrent tendon defect on magnetic resonance imaging, as well as clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that (1) tendon retraction is a common phenomenon, although not always associated with a recurrent defect; (2) formation of a recurrent tendon defect correlates with the timing of tendon retraction; and (3) clinical outcome correlates with the magnitude of tendon retraction at 52 weeks and the formation of a recurrent tendon defect.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Fourteen patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Tantalum markers placed within the repaired tendons were used to assess tendo...
Protein kinase A increases type-2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor activity by phosphorylation of serine 937.

Protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP3Rs) represents a mechanism for shaping intracellular Ca2+ signals following a concomitant elevation in cAMP. Activation of PKA results in enhanced Ca2+ release in cells that express predominantly InsP3R2. PKA is known to phosphorylate InsP3R2, but the molecular determinants of this effect are not known. We have expressed mouse InsP3R2 in DT40-3KO cells that are devoid of endogenous InsP3R and examined the effects of PKA phosphorylation on this isoform in unambiguous isolation. Activation of PKA increased Ca2+ signals and augmented the single channel open probability of InsP3R2. A PKA phosphorylation site unique to the InsP3R2 was identified at Ser937. The enhancing effects of PKA activation on this isoform required the phosphorylation of Ser937, since replacing this residue with alanine eliminated the positive effects of PKA activation. These results provide a mechanism responsible for the enhanced Ca2+ signaling following PKA activation in cells that express predominantly InsP3R2.
State of the science: hot flashes and cancer. Part 2: management and future directions.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To critically evaluate and synthesize intervention research related to hot flashes in the context of cancer and to identify implications and future directions for policy, research, and practice. DATA SOURCES Published, peer-reviewed articles and textbooks; editorials; and computerized databases. DATA SYNTHESIS Although a variety of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments are available, they may not be appropriate or effective for all individuals. CONCLUSIONS The large and diverse evidence base and current national attention on hot flash treatment highlight the importance of the symptom to healthcare professionals, including oncology nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Using existing research to understand, assess, and manage hot flashes in the context of cancer can prevent patient discomfort and improve the delivery of evidence-based care.
Perinatal Bupivacaine and Infant Behavior in Rhesus Monkeys

To assess the effect of perinatal epidural bupivacaine analgesia on infant behavioral development, bupivacaine (1.2 mg/kg) was administered to term-pregnant rhesus monkeys (treated, n = 11, procedural controls, n = 8) and infant behavior was evaluated for 1 year using a test battery including infant neurobehavioral tests, observation of spontaneous behavior, and structured cognitive testing. No adverse effects of bupivacaine were detected for neonatal neurobehavior, early cognitive abilities, or performance of cognitive tasks by older infants. Bupivacaine infants directed more, shorter fixations at visual stimuli during visual novelty preference testing. Observation of behavior maturation patterns showed that the increase in manipulatory activity that normally occurs at 2 months of age was delayed in bupivacaine infants, and the increase in motor disturbance behaviors that normally occurs at 10 months of age was prolonged. These results are interpreted in terms of life-history and brain maturation landmarks that appear at these ages. The data suggest that epidural bupivacaine does not cause neonatal abnormalities or specific cognitive deficits but can alter the normal course of behavioral development.
Harmonic phase-dispersion microscope with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Harmonic phase-dispersion microscopy (PDM) is a new imaging technique in which contrast is provided by differences in refractive index at two harmonically related wavelengths. We report a new configuration of the harmonic phase-dispersion microscope in a Mach-Zehnder geometry as an instrument for imaging biological samples. Several improvements on the earlier design are demonstrated, including a single-pass configuration and acousto-optic modulators for generating the heterodyne signals without mechanical arm scanning. We demonstrate quantitative phase-dispersion images of test structures and biological samples.
Finding needles in a haystack. In silico identification of eukaryotic selenoprotein genes.

The dual function of the UGA codon poses a serious challenge for the annotation of genomes. Although UGA usually signals the termination of protein synthesis, it can also be decoded as selenocysteine (Sec), which is incorporated into a small but important group of proteins that are known as selenoproteins. Standard gene‐analysis programs cannot predict whether a UGA codon encodes Sec or Stop. Bioinformatic tools for recognizing selenoproteins in complementary DNA (cDNA) databases are available, but they are not effective when analysing genome sequences. In a recent paper in EMBO reports , Castellano et al (2004) describe a new in silico strategy for identifying selenoprotein genes in eukaryotic genomes. Their findings expand our knowledge of the taxon‐specific distribution of selenoproteins and raise provocative questions about the evolution of Sec. Sec is often present at the active sites of oxidoreductases, where it confers a catalytic advantage over cysteine (Cys). The insertion of Sec into the polypeptide chain during translation requires several trans ‐acting proteins, which synthesize Sec–tRNASec and deliver it to the ribosome (Hatfield & Gladyshev, 2002; Lescure et al , 2002; Driscoll & Copeland, 2003). The alternative decoding of UGA as Sec depends on cis ‐acting sequences in the transcript. The Sec‐insertion sequence (SECIS) element is a stable stem–loop structure that is found in the coding region (prokaryotes) or 3′ untranslated region (archaebacteria and eukaryotes) of selenoprotein messenger RNAs (mRNAs) (Martin & Berry, 2001). The eukaryotic SECIS is conserved across species, although noncanonical SECIS elements have been reported (Fig 1 …
Sex hormones and cardiac arrest in long QT syndrome: does progesterone represent a potential new antiarrhythmic therapy?

In adult patients with congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) type 1 and type 2, female gender is associated with a higher risk for polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (pVT) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). 1,2 Moreover, the risk for potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias is particularly pronounced during the postpartum period, especially in patients with LQTS type 2 (LQT2). 3,4 Notably, the arrhythmogenic risk is lower during pregnancy, 5 indicating a potential role for sex hormones in modulating the arrhythmogenic risk in LQTS. We generated a transgenic LQT2 rabbit model by overexpressing a dominant-negative loss-of-function pore mutation of the human HERG channel (HERGG628S) selectively in the heart. 6 These rabbits mimic the human LQT2 phenotype with QT prolongation, steeper QT/RR ratio in females, spontaneous pVT, SCD, and an increased arrhythmogenic risk during the postpartum phase. 6,7 Recently, we used this LQT2 rabbit model to demonstrate that different sex hormones have either proarrhythmic or antiarrhythmic effects in LQTS in vivo. 8 In particular, our studies revealed that the administration of progesterone completely abolished the occurrence of any episodes of pVTs or SCD, thus exerting an antiarrhythmic, protective effect. By using in vivo electrophysiological, ex vivo optical mapping, cellular patch clamping, and molecular studies, we demonstrated that the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of progestins included a reduced formation of early afterdepolarizations, a shortening of cardiac refractoriness, a decreased L-type calcium current density, and an increased expression of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase 2a (Figure 1). In contrast, 17-estradiol exerted a proarrhythmic effect, with an increased incidence of pVTs and SCD due to a prolonged cardiac refractoriness and an increased L-type calcium current density. 8 Thus, the pregnancy-associated sustained elevation of progesterone 9 likely contributes to the lower incidence of arrhythmias in patients with LQT2 during pregnancy, while the reduction in progesterone levels during the postpartum period likely contributes to the increased incidence of postpartum-related arrhythmias in patients with LQTS. Significantly, preliminary data from the international LQT registry indicate a potential antiarrhythmic, protective effect of oral contraceptives (typically containing a high progestin to estrogen ratio) in patients with inherited LQTS already treated with standard beta-blocker therapy, 10 suggesting a similar antiarrhythmic, protective effect of progesterone as in the transgenic LQT2 rabbit model. We believe that these experimental and preliminary clinical data justify the design of a prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial to test the potential of oral progestins as a novel antiarrhythmic therapy in LQTS —to be used in addition to the standard betablocker therapy. In an interesting case report in this issue of HeartRhythm,
Chemopreventive Effects of a Selective Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor on Carcinogen-Induced Rat Esophageal Tumorigenesis

The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) generates a high concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in tissues. Increased NO production is associated with many disorders including esophageal cancer. Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated an association between increased iNOS expression and the development of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced tumors in the rat esophagus. On the basis of these observations, we initiated a bioassay to evaluate the ability of S,S'-1,4-phenylene-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)bis-isothiourea (PBIT), a selective iNOS inhibitor, to prevent the progression of esophageal tumors in rats preinitiated with NMBA. Rats were given s.c. injections of NMBA (0.25 mg/kg body weight) three times per week for 5 weeks. One week later, they were fed a synthetic diet containing either 50 or 100 ppm PBIT until the end of the bioassay (25 weeks). PBIT reduced the incidence of esophageal cancer from 96% in NMBA-treated rats to 83% and 77% (P < 0.05) in rats treated with 50 and 100 ppm PBIT, respectively. Tumor multiplicity was reduced from 3.64 +/- 0.42 tumors per esophagus in NMBA-treated rats to 1.79 +/- 0.25 (P < 0.001) and 1.50 +/- 0.24 (P < 0.0001) in rats treated with 50 and 100 ppm PBIT, respectively. PBIT reduced the production of NO in NMBA-induced preneoplastic and papillomatous esophageal lesions when compared with comparable lesions in rats treated with NMBA only. iNOS mRNA expression was not modulated by PBIT. These observations suggest that iNOS plays a role in tumor development and that its selective inhibitor, PBIT, significantly inhibits esophageal tumor progression presumably through reducing the production of NO.
Effect of Additives on the Crystallization Kinetics of Barium Strontium Titanate Glass–Ceramics

Barium strontium titanate (BST) has been targeted as one potential ferroelectric glass–ceramic for high-energy density dielectric materials. Previous testing has shown that the dielectric constant of these materials was as high as 1000 and the dielectric breakdown strength up to 800 kV/cm. This did not, however, result in exceptional energy density (∼0.90 J/cc). In order to increase overall energy density refining agents can be added to the melt, but the nucleation and growth of the ceramic particles can also play a role. Therefore, in this study the crystallization kinetics were studied to more fully understand how BST phase forms so that the optimal energy density could be obtained. It was determined that the activation energy of the crystallization of BST 70/30 glass–ceramic is approximately 430 kJ/mol which is close to the dissociation energy of Si–O bonds. The Avrami parameter was found to be ∼3 meaning that three-dimensional growth is dominant and the mechanism of growth was interface controlled.
The Effects of GDi Fuel Pressure on Fuel Economy

To meet future particulate number regulations, one path being investigated is higher fuel pressures for direct injection systems. At operating pressures of 30 MPa to 40 MPa, the fuel system components must be designed to withstand these pressures and additional power is required by the pump to pressurize the fuel to higher pressures than the nominal 15MPa to 20MPa in use today. This additional power to the pump can affect vehicle fuel economy, but may be partially offset by increases in combustion efficiency due to improved spray mixture preparation. This paper examines the impact on fuel economy from increased system fuel pressures from a combination of test results and simulations. A GDi pump and valvetrain model has been developed and correlated to existing pump torque measurements and subsequently used to predict the increase in torque and associated impact on fuel economy due to higher GDi system pressures.
Tolterodine Use for Symptoms of Overactive Bladder

OBJECTIVE:To describe the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of tolterodine for the treatment of overactive bladder.DATA SOURCES:Published articles and abstracts were identified from a MEDLINE search (January 1980–October 1998) using the terms tolterodine, PNU-200583E, urge incontinence, overactive bladder, detrusor instability, detrusor overactivity, and antimuscarinic. Pertinent articles written in English were considered for review. Additional articles were identified from the bibliographies of retrieved articles. Data from the Food and Drug Administration– approved product labeling and the manufacturer were also used in the absence of published data.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:Clinical studies of tolterodine involving human subjects were evaluated.DATA SYNTHESIS:Tolterodine is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist with relative functional selectivity for bladder muscarinic receptors. It is metabolized in the liver by CYP2D6 to an active metabolite (DD 01), whi...
Binding of muscarone by extracts of housefly brain: relationship to receptors for acetylcholine.

— The supernatant fluid fraction isolated by centrifugation from a homogenate of heads of houseflies bound muscarone reversibly, with a binding constant of 2·4 × 10−6m and an amount of 70 nmol/g of protein. Studies with 28 drugs demonstrated strong blockade by the 17 cholinergic agents, suggesting both nicotinic and muscarinic characteristics in the mode of binding. The binding appeared to involve acetylcholine receptors.
Low-level GATA2 overexpression promotes myeloid progenitor self-renewal and blocks lymphoid differentiation in mice.

The transcription factor GATA2 is highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells and is downregulated during lineage maturation. Gain of function mutations, loss of function mutations, and overexpression of GATA2 have been reported in acute myeloid leukemia. In previous studies, we and others showed that GATA2 overexpression at high levels, similar to that seen in hematopoietic stem cells, blocked differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors. To better understand the effects of GATA2, we designed a Tamoxifen-inducible GATA2-estrogen receptor (ERT) vector. In the absence of Tamoxifen, small amounts of GATA2-ERT were still able to enter the nucleus in mouse bone marrow (BM) cells, providing us with a tool to test the effects of low-level GATA2 overexpression. We observed that this low-level GATA2 overexpression enhanced self-renewal of myeloid progenitors in vitro and resulted in immortalization of BM cells to myeloid cell lines. Continuous GATA2-ERT expression was required for the proliferation of these immortalized lines. Myeloid expansion and a block in T and B lineage differentiation were observed in mice transplanted with GATA2-ERT-expressing BM cells. Myeloid expansion occurred after the granulocyte monocyte progenitor stage, and lymphoid block was distal to the common lymphoid progenitor in transgenic mice. GATA2 appeared to induce growth via downstream activation of Nmyc and Hoxa9. Our results demonstrate that GATA2 overexpression at low level confers self-renewal capacity to myeloid progenitors and is relevant to myeloid leukemia development.
Managing the Security Wall of Data

This article is quite different from other articles published in basic training; rather than focus on a specific security-related technology, I want to focus on another important topic: how to be more effective as a security person.
Causes and consequences of mid-Proterozoic anoxia

Evidence for low pO2 and a ferruginous ocean characterize the mid-Proterozoic (1.8–0.8 Ga). Considerations of redox sources and sinks imply that generation of O2 via organic carbon (Corg) burial must be low to maintain a low pO2 atmosphere for geologically long intervals, yet low oxygen should result in increased Corg preservation. Marine export production must therefore be low to limit Corg burial and O2 generation. Formation of ferrous phosphate can buffer deepwater phosphate (Pi) to levels an order of magnitude or more below those in the modern ocean, limiting export production. Low deepwater Pi is consistent with the hiatus in sedimentary phosphorite deposits during the mid-Proterozoic, and low pO2 limits formation of sedimentary iron deposits (BIF). We propose that low pO2 was maintained by P limitation resulting from ferrous phosphate buffering. The near-absence of BIF and phosphorite deposition is direct and indirect consequences of the low pO2, respectively.