cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adenylate kinase isozymes of cat tissues

Abstract 1. 1. Adenylate kinase isozymes of cat tissues were examined and compared with the adenylate kinase isozymes from human tissues. 2. 2. Cat tissues contained organ specific adenylate kinases, established by the pI values, by the inhibition profiles with sulhydryl reagents, and by cross-reactions with an antiserum. 3. 3. Evidence presented showed more than two AK isozymes in cat tissues. 4. 4. Adenylate kinase isozymes from different tissues which appear similar fail criteria to establish the identity of the AK isozymes from brain, heart and muscle.
Apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities of aqueous nickel(II) nitrate, copper(II) nitrate, and zinc(II) nitrate at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K at the pressure 0.35 MPa

Abstract Apparent molar volumes V φ and apparent molar heat capacities C p, φ were determined for aqueous solutions of nickel(II) nitrate, copper(II) nitrate, and zinc(II) nitrate at molalities m=(0.01 to 0.5) mol · kg −1 , and at the pressure p =0.35 MPa. Solution densities obtained using a vibrating-tube densimeter at T=(278.15 to 368.15) K were used to calculate V φ values. Heat capacity measurements obtained with a twin fixed-cell, differential-output, power-compensating, temperature-scanning calorimeter at T=(278.15 to 393.15) K were used to calculate values of C p, φ . Our results were then fitted to functions of m and T and compared to literature values.
Identification of a phragmoplast-associated kinesin-related protein in higher plants.

Abstract The phragmoplast executes cytokinesis in higher plants. The major components of the phragmoplast are microtubules, which are arranged in two mirror-image arrays perpendicular to the division plane [1]. The plus ends of these microtubules are located near the site of the future cell plate. Golgi-derived vesicles are transported along microtubules towards the plus ends to deliver materials bound for the cell plate [2,3]. During cell division, rapid microtubule reorganization in the phragmoplast requires the orchestrated activities of microtubule motor proteins such as kinesins. We isolated an Arabidopsis cDNA clone of a gene encoding an amino-terminal motor kinesin, AtPAKRP1, and have determined the partial sequence of its rice homolog. Immunofluorescence experiments with two sets of specific antibodies revealed consistent localization of AtPAKRP1 and its homolog in Arabidopsis and rice cells undergoing anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis. AtPAKRP1 started to accumulate along microtubules towards the spindle midzone during late anaphase. Once the phragmoplast microtubule array was established, AtPAKRP1 conspicuously localized to microtubules near the future cell plate. Our results provide evidence that AtPAKRP1 is a hitherto unknown motor that may take part in the establishment and/or maintenance of the phragmoplast microtubule array.
Development and preliminary validation of The Multidimensional Sexual Coercion Questionnaire (MSCQ)

AbstractThe goal of this study is to present the development and validation of a sexual coercion assessment instrument for college students, the Multidimensional Sexual Coercion Questionnaire (MSCQ). An exploratory factor analysis for ordinal Likert data, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis in 762 college students, revealed seven factors. These pertained to commonly noted tactics such as pressure to have sex, exploitation, relational manipulation as well as less commonly measured tactics of humiliation and two clusters of tactics pertaining to forced compliance based on past coercion. Although several other measures exist, this measure was designed specifically for college students and therefore includes a wider array of tactics than generally considered. The measure also makes an attempt to include more nuanced and difficult-to-measure coercion strategies. The MSCQ is likely to be of interest to researchers and clinicians who wish to consider a more nuanced analysis of sexual coercion dynamics amo...
The reinforcing properties of diazepam under several conditions in the rhesus monkey.

Diazepam self-administration was studied in rhesus monkeys under several conditions of availability. Leverpress responding was maintained in twelve monkeys under a fixed-ratio 10 (FR 10) schedule of IV cocaine or pentobarbital delivery in daily sessions of 1–3 h duration. Each of several doses of diazepam (0.012–0.4 mg/kg/infusion) or vehicle was periodically substituted for 5–14 consecutive sessions. Between each substitution, responding was maintained by the baseline drug (cocaine or pentobarbital). Another procedure was to decrease the response requirement for drug delivery to a fixed-ratio one (FR 1). In three of eleven monkeys studied under conditions of a cocaine baseline and the FR 10 schedule, responding was maintained by diazepam and was inversely related to dose. In each of five monkeys tested in a similar manner but with a pentobarbital baseline, at least one dose of diazepam maintained responding above vehicle levels. Three of these monkeys had previously failed to self-administer diazepam under the cocaine baseline condition. Subsequently when two of these monkeys were returned to the cocaine baseline, diazepam was not self-administered above vehicle levels. Under FR 1 conditions of substitution, vehicle and pentobarbital intake increased in each monkey tested and cocaine intake increased in two of four monkeys. Diazepam self-administration also increased but did not exceed vehicle levels under the FR 1 schedule. However, in two monkeys the number of diazepam infusions was increased compared to the FR 10 substitution condition. These results emphasize the importance of testing drugs under several conditions to determine their relative dependence potential.
Proportions of H1 histone subspecies in human fibroblasts shift during density-dependent growth arrest independent of replicative senescence.

Abstract H1 histone subspecies have been reported to vary during tissue differentiation, during aging of mammalian tissues, and as a function of DNA replicative activity. Since cultured human fibroblasts have a limited replicative life span which features arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, we sought to distinguish whether any changes in the proportions of the principal H1 histone subspecies (H1A, H1B, and H1∘) in late-passage fibroblasts were specific for senescent loss of replicative potential, or rather ensued as a result of prolonged inhibition of cell division. We observed an identical shift in the proportions of H1 histone subspecies during prolonged density-dependent inhibition of growth in both early-passage and late-passage cells. Since under these conditions there were no passage-specific changes, replicative senescence of human fibroblasts does not appear to involve a defect in the control of H1 histone proportions.
The dimensionality of alcohol abuse and dependence: factor analysis of DSM-III-R and proposed DSM-IV criteria in the 1988 National Health Interview Survey

Decisions on the final version of the DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence criteria will be determined largely by the APA's substance abuse field trials, conducted primarily in treated, clinical samples. Among the major objectives of the field trials are to study the boundaries between abuse and dependence, and to identify specific criteria that define the abuse category. The decisions on revisions of the abuse and dependence criteria in DSM-IV should, however, be informed by data from non-treated or general population samples as well. The present study addresses the field trial objectives using recent data from a large general population survey, the 1988 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS88). The paper reports on factor analyses to assess the dimensions underlying the DSM-III-R and DSM-IV dependence and abuse criteria as operationalized in the NHIS88. The focus of the analyses is on whether models with more than one dimension are needed and if so, the correspondence of the dimensions to criteria sets defined in the DSM-III-R and DSM-IV. The analyses show that a two-dimensional model is required. The dimensions are interpreted as abuse and dependence, but the sets of criteria that define each of the dimensions show important deviations from the criteria sets used in the DSM definitions.
Back to the Future? Performance‐Related Pay, Empirical Research, and the Perils of Persistence

One of the most persistent initiatives launched by elected officials at all levels of government over the past three decades in the United States has involved pay-for-performance reward systems for government employees. But have pay-for-performance systems lived up to the promise that proponents have held out for them? Have the basic theories underlying them proven valid? What lessons can be drawn from prior experiences with pay-for-performance systems? James Perry, Trent A. Engbers, and So Yun Jun of Indiana University launch this installment's exchange among leading scholars and practitioners by drawing lessons from their meta-analysis of research assessing pay-for-performance systems in the United States from 1977 to 2008.
Space platform albedo measurements as indicators of change in arid lands

Abstract The change in albedo of arid lands is an indicator of changes in their condition and quality, including density of vegetative cover, erosion, deposition, surficial soil moisture, and man-made change. In general, darkening of an arid land surface indicates an increase in land quality while brightening indicates a decrease in quality, primarily owing to changes in vegetation. Landsat multiband images taken on different dates can be converted to black-and-white albedo images. Subtraction of one image from another, pixel by pixel, results in an albedo change map that can be density sliced to show areas that have brightened or darkened by selected percentages. These maps are then checked in the field to determine the reasons for the changes and to evaluate the changes in land condition and quality. The albedo change mapping technique has been successfully used in the arid lands of western Utah and northern Arizona and has recently been used for detection of coal strip mining activities in northern Alabama.
A History of Retirement: The Meaning and Function of an American Institution 1885-1978

The article reviews the book “A History of Retirement: The Meaning and Function of an American Institution,” by William Graebner.
A Rapid Screening Test for Evaluating Antioxidants

Abstract The test described is based on an oxidation reaction, involving the length of time to decolorize or to bleach Indigo carmine dye solution in the presence of gum turpentine. While the test should be more applicable for aqueous products such as soft drinks, fruit juices, etc., its usefulness for fats and oils is indicated. The chief advantage of the test is rapidity in obtaining results.
Combined methodology for measurement of available bandwidth and link capacity in wired packet networks

Accurate measurement of network parameters such as available bandwidth (ABW), link capacity, delay, packet loss and jitter are used to support and monitor several network functions, for example traffic engineering, quality-of-service (QoS) routing, end-to-end transport performance optimisation and link capacity planning. However, proactive network measurement schemes can impact both the data traffic and the measurement process itself, affecting the accuracy of the estimation if a significant amount of probe traffic is injected into the network. In this work, the authors propose two measurement schemes, one for measuring ABW and the other for measuring link capacity, both of them use a combination of data probe packets and Internet control messaging protocol (ICMP) packets. Our schemes perform ABW and link-capacity measurements in a short time and with a small amount of probe traffic. The authors show a performance study of our measurement schemes and compare their accuracy to those of other existing measurement schemes and also show that the proposed schemes achieve shorter convergence time than other existing schemes and high accuracy.
A method for multi-simulator reaction-diffusion with NEURON

There are two major approaches in the development of simulation tools for multi-scale modeling – the all-in-one simulator; and the unifying simulation environment that allows multiple plug-ins to be utilized in order to provide different aspects of a simulation. While NEURON has traditionally taken the former approach, it has become clear that there are always going to be multiple approaches even to modeling at a single level, making it desirable to be able to readily plugin in external simulators to provide improvements or to try comparisons. For example, at the level of reaction-diffusion, the built-in scheme provides techniques that differ somewhat from those of Virtual Cell [1] or XTW [2], both of which are now available as plugin environments. NEURON is a widely used simulator for biophysically detailed neuronal electrophysiology models that has recently been extended with syntax for reaction-diffusion dynamics [3]. This class of problems is useful for studying the intracellular dynamics of neurons – e.g. protein-protein interactions or calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) – and how they interact with the electrophysiology. As many molecules play a role in both intracellular dynamics and electrophysiology, these must be simulated simultaneously. The developmental branch of NEURON offers experimental 3D reaction-diffusion support, but its performance remains below that of dedicated reaction-diffusion simulators. To leap-frog over these performance issues, we have developed a new method for multi-simulator studies. In our technique, all model specification and simulation protocols remain specified in NEURON. Thus, switching between NEURON’s experimental integrated 3D solver and an external solver requires only adding the connection code. No familiarity with the external solver is required in contrast to multi-simulations with MUSIC [4], where the models are described using each simulator’ sn ative description. The simulators run in different processes. All model specification, currents, and concentration information is exchanged via shared memory. As an example, we demonstrate using our technique to study the behavior of CICR waves near the soma of a pyramidal neuron.
Selective localization by neuroglia of immunoglobulin G in normal mice

Plasma proteins including immunoglobulins have been previously localized in neurons with processes extending outside the blood-brain barrier, but not within glia under normal conditions. Immune modulating functions have been proposed for both microglia and astrocytes in several pathological states. Using immunocytochemistry, we have found that large numbers of neuroglial cells contain immunoglobulin G (IgG) in normal mice of the C57 BL/6 strain. Most IgG-positive cells had both the morphology and distribution of microglia, including a higher density in grey matter, and were frequently found in perivascular or perineuronal locations. The accumulation of IgG does not appear to be by nonselective phagocytosis of extracellular fluid, since serum albumin could not be detected within microglia. There was little overlap in the distribution of cellular processes positive for IgG and those which showed astrocytic markers. Neuronal accumulation of plasma proteins was also seen in a distribution described by previous investigators. The function of this selective accumulation of IgG by normal microglia is unknown, but may reflect a role in the immune response within the central nervous system.
Frequent hypermethylation of the 5' CpG island of E-cadherin in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose : E-cadherin, a M r 120,000 transmembrane glycoprotein, mediates calcium-dependent intercellular adhesion that is essential for normal tissue homeostasis. Loss of E-cadherin occurs in a variety of epithelial tumors and is correlated with invasion and metastasis. In esophageal adenocarcinoma, reduction of E-cadherin expression has been demonstrated previously, but mutations of the gene ( CDH1 ) are rare. Experimental Design : In this study, we used a nested PCR approach to examine the methylation status of the 5′ CpG island of E-cadherin in esophageal specimens obtained from individuals with and without a history of esophageal cancer. Results : In four individuals without esophageal cancer, E-cadherin was completely unmethylated in normal squamous cell-lined esophageal mucosa. In contrast, in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, E-cadherin was methylated in 26 of 31 (84%) tumor specimens. In the majority of cases, matched normal tissue (esophagus or stomach) from each patient was completely unmethylated. By immunostaining, methylated tumor samples demonstrated heterogeneously decreased membranous E-cadherin staining. Conclusions : These data suggest that epigenetic silencing via aberrant methylation of the E-cadherin promoter is a common cause of inactivation of this gene in esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Real Reading Behavior

The most obvious observable activities that accompany reading are the eye fixations on various parts of the text. Our laboratory has now developed the technology for automatically measuring and recording the sequence and duration of eye fixations that readers make in a fairly natural reading situation. This paper reports on research in progress to use our observations of this real reading behavior to construct computational models of the cognitive processes involved in natural reading.In the first part of this paper we consider some constraints placed on models of human language comprehension imposed by the eye fixation data. In the second part we propose a particular model whose processing time on each word of the text is proportional to human readers' fixation durations.
Stigmas and Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Treatment in a Sample of Veterans and Active Duty Service Members

Although mental health problems are relatively prevalent among service members, research related to treatment-seeking attitudes suggests that a significant number of service members are unwilling t...
Kinetics of carrot texture degradation under pasteurization conditions

Texture degradation of carrot dices in different solutions (distilled water, 0.1% and 1.4% CaCl2 solutions) under temperatures ranging from 80 to 110 C was investigated. The effects of preheating (60 C for 20 min) before high temperature treatment on carrot texture were studied and kinetic parameters were estimated. Preheating enhanced the texture of the final products, and the improvement in texture became more apparent when CaCl2 was added. High temperature increased the texture degradation rate. The isotonic solution of carrot tissue was evaluated to avoid possible ion leakage of carrot tissue during heating, but no significant differences were found between the texture of carrots immersed in isotonic solution and distilled water after thermal treatments. The texture degradation of preheated carrot dices under the investigated pasteurization conditions follows a 2nd order reaction. Kinetic results obtained were used to recommend processing conditions for carrot products that could control food pathogens and inactivate enzymes.
Structured P2P technologies for distributed command and control

The utility of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) systems extends far beyond traditional file sharing. This paper provides an overview of how P2P systems are capable of providing robust command and control for Distributed Multi-Agent Systems (DMASs). Specifically, this article presents the evolution of P2P architectures to date by discussing supporting technologies and applicability of each generation of P2P systems. It provides a detailed survey of fundamental design approaches found in modern large-scale P2P systems highlighting design considerations for building and deploying scalable P2P applications. The survey includes unstructured P2P systems, content retrieval systems, communications structured P2P systems, flat structured P2P systems and finally Hierarchical Peer-to-Peer (HP2P) overlays. It concludes with a presentation of design tradeoffs and opportunities for future research into P2P overlay systems.
Preoperative β-Blocker Use and Mortality and Morbidity Following CABG Surgery in North America

Contextβ-Blockade therapy has recently been shown to convey a survival benefit in preoperative noncardiac vascular surgical settings. The effect of preoperative β-blocker therapy on coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) outcomes has not been assessed.ObjectivesTo examine patterns of use of preoperative β-blockers in patients undergoing isolated CABG and to determine whether use of β-blockers is associated with lower operative mortality and morbidity.Design, Setting, and PatientsObservational study using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (NCD) to assess β-blocker use and outcomes among 629 877 patients undergoing isolated CABG between 1996 and 1999 at 497 US and Canadian sites.Main Outcome MeasureInfluence of β-blockers on operative mortality, examined using both direct risk adjustment and a matched-pairs analysis based on propensity for preoperative β-blocker therapy.ResultsFrom 1996 to 1999, overall use of preoperative β-blockers increased from 50% to 60% in the NCD (P<.001 for time trend). Major predictors of use included recent myocardial infarction; hypertension; worse angina; younger age; better left ventricular systolic function; and absence of congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, and diabetes. Patients who received β-blockers had lower mortality than those who did not (unadjusted 30-day mortality, 2.8% vs 3.4%; odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.82). Preoperative β-blocker use remained associated with slightly lower mortality after adjusting for patient risk and center effects using both risk adjustment (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.97) and treatment propensity matching (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.93-1.00). Procedural complications also tended to be lower among treated patients. This treatment advantage was seen among the majority of patient subgroups, including women; elderly persons; and those with chronic lung disease, diabetes, or moderately depressed ventricular function. Among patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 30%, however, preoperative β-blocker therapy was associated with a trend toward a higher mortality rate (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.96-1.33; P = .23).ConclusionsIn this large North American observational analysis, preoperative β-blocker therapy was associated with a small but consistent survival benefit for patients undergoing CABG, except among patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 30%. This analysis further suggests that preoperative β-blocker therapy may be a useful process measure for CABG quality improvement assessment.
Performance measurement of the CCNx synchronization protocol

The CCNx Synchronization protocol is one of the protocols published under the CCNx distribution, and is used to synchronized shared collections of 2 CCNx neighbors. In this paper, we evaluated the performance of the synchronization protocol over different topologies and different network scales.
Rupture to the Trench: Dynamic Rupture Simulations of the 11 March 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

There is strong evidence that the 11 March 2011 Tohoku earthquake rupture reached the seafloor. This is surprising because the shallow portion of the plate interface in subduction zones is thought to be frictionally stable, leading to the widely held view that coseismic rupture would stop several tens of kilometers downdip of the seafloor. Various explanations have been proposed to reconcile this seeming inconsistency, including dynamic weakening (e.g., thermal pressurization) and extreme stress release around shallow subducted seamounts. We offer a simpler explanation supported by 2D dynamic rupture simulations of the Tohoku earthquake. Our models account for depth‐dependent material properties and the complex geometry of the fault, seafloor, and material interfaces, based on seismic surveys of the Japan Trench. The fault obeys rate‐and‐state friction with standard logarithmic dependence of shear strength on slip velocity in steady state. In our preferred model, the uppermost section of the fault is velocity strengthening. Rupture nucleates on a deeper, velocity‐weakening section. Waves released by deep slip reflect off the seafloor, transmitting large stress changes to the upper section of the fault driving the rupture through the velocity‐strengthening region to the trench. We validate the model against seafloor deformation and 1‐Hz Global Positioning System (GPS) data. The seafloor displacements constrain the seismogenic depth and overall amount of slip, particularly near the trench. Our simulations reproduce many features in the GPS data, thereby providing insight into the rupture process and seismic wave field. Sensitivity to parameters is explored through an extensive suite of simulations. Neither static seafloor deformation nor onshore 1‐Hz GPS data can uniquely determine near‐trench frictional properties due to trade‐offs with average stress drop. While conducted specifically for the Japan Trench region, our simulations suggest that rupture to the trench in megathrust events is quite possible, even if velocity‐strengthening properties extend tens of kilometers landward from the trench. Online Material: Mp4 movies of particle velocities.
The convulsant and anticonvulsant effects of phencyclidine (PCP) and PCP analogues in the rat.

Abstract The pro- and anticonvulsant effects of phencyclidine (1-[1-phenylcyclohexyl]piperidine HCl, PCP), a number of its analogues, and SKF 10047 were investigated in rats. The PCP analogues were compounds produced by substitutions for the phenyl and piperidine rings of PCP and were selected to elucidate the structure-activity relationships existing between PCP and its pro- and/or anticonvulsant effects. All of the compounds, except ketamine, induced convulsions at high (12.8–25.6 mg/kg, i.v.), yet almost always sublethal doses. Ketamine failed to induce convulsions, even at lethal doses (51.2 mg/kg, i.v.). The acute pro- or anticonvulsant actions of PCP were then investigated. Rats were subjected to transorbital electroconvulsive shock subsequent to i.p. injections of saline or 0.625, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 or 20.0 mg/kg PCP. It was found that PCP induced an acute, dose-dependent anticonvulsant effect. The acute pro- and/or anticonvulsant actions of the remaining compounds were then investigated by administration of electroconvulsive shock subsequent to i.p. injections of saline or one of two doses of each compound. The low and high doses of each compound were selected to be behaviorally equivalent to 2.5 and 10.0 mg/kg PCP i.p., respectively. With one exception, each dose of each drug induced an acute anticonvulsant action, with no difference in efficacy between the compounds tested. However, PCA (produced by substitution of an amine for the piperidine ring of PCP) induced a statistically greater anticonvulsant action at the higher, compared to the lower, dose. In addition, PCA was the only compound to eliminate all motor signs of the electrically induced seizure. It was concluded that substitution of an amine group for the piperidine ring increased the efficacy of PCP's anticonvulsant action but that other substitutions for that ring or the phenyl ring had little influence on anticonvulsant efficacy.
A signal-processing interpretation of the Riemann zeta function

The paper presents a signal-processing model of the Riemann zeta function (and other related functions), and shows how the Riemann hypothesis (RH) can be re-cast as a signal-processing problem. This study also yields a new signal-processing paradigm that we call "discrete log-time systems". These systems differ in many fundamental ways from their conventional discrete-time cousins, and their study leads one to a fascinating world at the intersection of signal-processing and number theory.
Multiplex Assay for Detection of Strain-Specific Antibodies against the Two Variable Regions of the G Protein of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

The role of strain differences in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease has not been clearly defined. To investigate the possibility that strain differences contribute to susceptibility to repeat infections, we developed assays to detect antibodies to the two variable regions of the RSV G protein by cloning and expressing the internal variable region at amino acids (aa) 60 to 172 (g1) and the carboxy-terminal variable region at aa 193 to the carboxy terminus (g2) from different genotypes of RSV. The purified proteins were covalently linked to beads with different proportions of red and orange fluorescent dyes and reacted against serum specimens. Antibody reacting against the differently colored beads, and thus against different G polypeptides, was detected by use of flow cytometry and the Luminex system. This assay system detected group- and, to some extent, genotype-specific responses to RSV infection and can be used to investigate the role of strain differences in RSV disease.
The social media image

How do the organization and presentation of large-scale social media images recondition the process by which visual knowledge, value, and meaning are made in contemporary conditions? Analyzing fundamental elements in the changing syntax of existing visual software ontology—the ways current social media platforms and aggregators organize and categorize social media images—this article relates how visual materials created within social media platforms manifest distinct modes of knowledge production and acquisition. First, I analyze the structure of social media images within data streams as opposed to previous information organization in a structured database. While the database has no predefined notions of time and thus challenges traditional linear forms, the data stream re-emphasizes the linearity of a particular data sequence and activates a set of new relations to contemporary temporalities. Next, I show how these visual arrangements and temporal principles are manifested and discussed in three artworks: ‘‘Untitled’’ (Perfect Lovers) by
Mutations within the kinase domain and truncations of the epidermal growth factor receptor are rare events in bladder cancer: implications for therapy.

Purpose: It has previously been reported that the patient response to gefitinib depends on the presence of mutations within the kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or the expression of its truncated form, EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII). The focus of this study was to determine if these alterations are present within the tyrosine kinase and ligand-binding domain of EGFR in urothelial carcinoma. Experimental Design: The kinase domain found within exons 18 to 21 of the EGFR from 11 bladder cancer cell lines and 75 patient tumors were subjected to automated sequencing. EGFRvIII expression was determined by immunohistochemistry using a urothelial carcinoma tissue microarray, and its expression was subsequently verified by reverse transcription PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blot analysis, using an EGFRvIII-transfected glioblastoma cell line and glioblastoma tumors as positive controls. Results: Our analysis failed to detect mutations within the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR in the 11 cell lines and 75 patients tested. The initial analysis of EGFRvIII expression by immunohistochemistry revealed that at least 50% of the patient tumors expressed EGFRvIII in a urothelial carcinoma tissue microarray. Conflicting reports exist, however, regarding the extent of EGFRvIII expression in tissues owing to the specificity of the antibodies and the methodologies used. Therefore, we sought to validate this observation by reverse transcription PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blot analysis. In these assays, none of the samples were positive for EGFRvIII except for control transfectants and glioblastomas. Conclusions: When our results are taken together, we conclude that alterations within the tyrosine kinase domain and expression of EGFRvIII are rare events in bladder cancer. The present study has clinical implications in selecting tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the therapy of urothelial carcinoma.
Do reproductive patterns affect maternal nutritional status?: an analysis of maternal depletion in Lesotho.

Poor pregnancy outcomes in developing countries have often been blamed on maternal depletion or on the cumulative nutritional drain of many closely spaced pregnancies. Despite its widespread acceptance, the maternal depletion hypothesis remains unproven. This study examines nutritional status and fertility history for 873 women in highland Lesotho. Parity, age, pregnancy status, length of last closed birth interval, open interval, and median birth interval were used to predict nutritional status (BMI, triceps skinfold, arm muscle area). While there is evidence that both short-term and long-term nutritional depletion are related to lactation and pregnancy spacing, both BMI and triceps fat increase with parity. For this population, then, the assumption of cumulative depletion due simply to high fertility is not supported.
A BIOMECHANICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL SYNERGY STUDY OF HEART VALVE TISSUE

The function of heart valves is to allow blood to flow through the heart smoothly and to prevent retrograde flow of blood. Previous studies have shown that the mechanical properties of heart valve tissues, microstructures of extracellular matrix, and collagen concentrations are the keys to the healthy heart valves and, therefore, are crucial to the development of viable tissue-engineered heart valve replacements. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between these factors in native porcine aortic and pulmonary valves and provides insights to the healthy heart valves. Heart valve leaflets are prepared for biaxial stretching to obtain mechanical properties. The average collagen concentrations of heart valve leaflets are determined via an assay kit. The results indicate that aortic valves are stiffer than pulmonary valves macroscopically and stiffness varies more in the circumferential direction for the aortic valve than it does for the pulmonary valve. Microscopically, it is due to collagen fibers in aortic valves are more in alignment than ones in pulmonary valves, which are more randomly in direction. Collagen assay results show that collagen concentrations are higher in the edges of pulmonary valves than in aortic valves. The results also suggest the duration of extraction may have significant affects on the concentration results. This work provides quantified stress and strain environment within heart valve tissues to help further studies on how to treat heart valve disease and create more viable heart valve replacements.
CHURCH ALIGNMENT AND PATRONAL SAINT'S DAYS

The results of this survey of almost 1,500 rural churches do not support the oft-repeated idea that churches are aligned with their patronal saint's sunrise. In fact, they provide evidence that the churches specifically do not face different sunrises and that churches dedicated to saints with summer feast-days are aligned in the same direction as those dedicated to saints with winter feast-days. However, the results of the survey raise significant questions about other aspects of church alignment. A significant variation in alignment has been uncovered east to west across the country, with a difference of 10° in the mean alignment of churches between the west and east of England. Possible reasons for this are explored. In addition, churches built on sloping sites are found to have downhill-facing chancels. If the choice of site were random, churches would face uphill as well as down. The possible implications of this for church and village location are also explored.
Frontiers of Biomedical Imaging Science 2009: workshop report and research opportunities.

The second “Frontiers of Biomedical Imaging Science” conference was held at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN from June 2 to 5, 2009. The impetus for the “Frontiers” conferences is that current specialized meetings focus mainly on a single modality and/or disease entity, limiting the
Heisenberg principle applied to the analysis of speckle interferometry fringes

Optical techniques that are used to measure displacements utilize a carrier. When a load is applied the displacement field modulates the carrier. The accuracy of the information that can be recovered from the modulated carrier is limited by a number of factors. In this paper, these factors are analyzed and conclusions concerning the limitations in information recovery are illustrated with examples taken from experimental data.
Cytomegalovirus hepatitis in liver transplantation: prospective analysis of 93 consecutive orthotopic liver transplantations

Ninety-three consecutive orthotopic liver transplantations in 78 patients were followed prospectively to study the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis. CMV hepatitis occurred in 13 (17%). The diagnosis was established by both histology and culture in 5, only by histology in 6, and only by culture in 2. All 13 patients had CMV viruria and 9 had viremia at diagnosis. CMV hepatitis developed in 64% of CMV-seronegative (pretransplantation) patients who received a liver from a CMV-seropositive donor, compared with 3% or 6% of CMV-seropositive patients who received a liver from a CMV-seronegative or CMV-seropositive donor, respectively (P less than .001). CMV hepatitis was not a cause of fulminant or irreversible liver dysfunction in any of the 13 cases. Ganciclovir was administered to 6 of the 13 patients and was associated with clinical and virologic cure in 5. CMV hepatitis was self-limited in patients not treated with ganciclovir (illness less severe). The presence of inclusions within the liver tissue correlated with active disease.
Facial Disfigurement Stigma A Study of Victims of Domestic Assaults With Fire in India

In India, the incidence of fire attacks on women has risen dramatically. Although studies and media accounts describe how and why these attacks occur, no research has investigated the lives of survivors. Qualitative analysis of the texts of two focus groups of women scarred by domestic attacks by fire reveals that these women are heavily stigmatized. Using Yang et al.’s theory that stigma is a response to perceived threats to values of everyday life and feminist theory as guides, the study identified two patterns of moral threat related to disfigurement: (a) Disfigurement challenges values and practices of women’s family roles, and (b) disfigurement threatens normative religious sensibilities.
Expression patterns of epidermal growth factor receptor and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 mRNA in fetal human brain.

Factors that interact with the epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptors have numerous effects in the central nervous system (CNS), inducing the proliferation of CNS stem cells and astrocytes and the survival and differentiation of neurons. Both receptors are expressed in the embryonic rodent brain in proliferative and nonproliferative regions, suggesting roles in numerous developmental processes. However, the roles of these factors in human brain development are not known. In the current study, we examined the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HEGFR) and human fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (HFGFR1) mRNAs in the human fetal brain. The expression of both receptors is strikingly conserved relative to previously reported patterns in the rodent. In the germinal zones, the sites of cellular proliferation, HFGFR1 was expressed primarily in the ventricular zone, whereas HEGFR was expressed in the subventricular zone, suggesting different roles in CNS progenitor proliferation. Differential expression was also observed in other brain areas examined, including the hippocampus and the cerebellum. The current study suggests that HEGFR and HFGFR1 are likely to play different roles during human brain development, but that these roles will be similar to those observed in the rodent brain.
Feeling food: the rationality of perception

Regulatory bodies tend to treat people’s emotional responses towards foods as a nuisance for rational opinion-formation and decision-making. This position is thought to be supported by such evidence as: (1) people showing negative emotional responses to the idea of eating meat products from vaccinated livestock; and (2) people showing positive emotional responses to Magnum’s “7 sins” marketing campaign. Such cases are thought to support the idea that regulatory communication about foods should abstract from people’s emotional perceptions and that corporate marketing of foods should show restraint in capitalizing upon these weaknesses of the heart. This paper, on the contrary, argues that people’s emotional perceptions of foods represent valuable sources of knowledge. This argument is developed by making the dominant reception of people’s emotions intelligible by tracing its roots through the history of the Platonic paradigm. Although this paradigm has dominated the philosophical and psychological debate about emotions, the idea that emotions are sources of knowledge has recently gained force. This paper also traces the historical roots of the alternative Aristotelian paradigm. The cases of meat products from vaccinated livestock and Magnum’s 7 sins serve to illustrate this controversy. The paper concludes by showing that a neo-Platonic emphasis on the irrationality of emotions does not contribute to a fruitful discussion about implications of people’s perceptions for agricultural and food politics, whereas a neo-Aristotelian account of rational emotions could enable regulatory bodies to engage people in a fruitful process of opinion-formation and decision-making about food production and consumption.
Creating Epics Soft Channels the Easy Way with Sddspcas: Features and Applications

Using sddspcas, a portable channel access server that is configured by SDDS input files, it is relatively simple to create process variables (PVs). It can be run in a standalone mode or it can be run so that the PVs are checked to ensure that they don’t conflict with other IOCs or portable channel access servers. It can also be run using the Run Control facility to prevent additional instances of the same sddspcas from being run. The SDDS configuration file provides the PV names, upper and lower limits, units, element counts if the PVs are waveforms, and the types of PVs. Valid types include various precision floats and integers as well as strings. One simple application of this program is that software developers can quickly test their code without requiring the coordination needed to update an IOC database to create PVs. Further details of the features, configuration, and applications of sddspcas will be discussed.
Catheterization of the left cardiac ventricle of the rat

A simple procedure is described of catheterizing the left ventricle of the anaesthetized rat.
Apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells after serum withdrawal is mediated by Fas antigen (CD95) and Fas ligand.

Ovarian follicular atresia occurs by apoptosis of granulosa and theca cells. The Fas antigen (Fas), a cell surface receptor that triggers apoptosis when activated by Fas ligand (FasL), may be involved in this process. A possible role of the Fas pathway in mediating serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis of granulosa cells was examined. Granulosa cells collected from 5- to 10-mm bovine follicles were cultured in DMEM-F12 containing serum for 3 days, deprived of serum, and live cells were counted at various times after serum withdrawal. Cell death increased significantly 6 h after serum withdrawal (21% ± 7%; P < 0.05 vs. 0 h) and continued to increase until 24 h (43% ± 6%). No further increases in cell death were observed through 72 h. Detection of the translocation of phosphatidylserine to the outer surface of the cell membrane by annexin V binding indicated that cells died by apoptosis. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays showed no changes in Fas mRNA levels but a 4.7-fold increase in FasL mRNA 3 h after serum withdrawal (P < 0.05 vs. 0 h). FasL mRNA remained elevated through 24 h and returned to basal levels at 48 h. Immunohistochemical staining showed that both Fas and FasL protein increased on the cell surface within 3 h and remained elevated through 12 h (the last time point tested). Binding of FasL to Fas was blocked with two reagents that bind to the extracellular domain of FasL: an anti-FasL antibody and Fas:Fc, a chimeric protein consisting of the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G and the extracellular domain of human Fas. Cell death 24 h after serum withdrawal was reduced 55% ± 10% and 34% ± 12% by anti-FasL antibody and Fas:Fc, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. no blocking protein). In conclusion, serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis of bovine granulosa cells is mediated at least partially by Fas/FasL interactions. These results are consistent with a potential role of Fas in an autocrine or paracrine pathway to trigger ovarian follicular atresia.
Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Will Medicare's New Policy Exacerbate Disparities?

This fall, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will embark on perhaps their most ambitious hospital quality improvement program yet—value-based purchasing (VBP). This program aims to transform Medicare from a purchaser of services to a purchaser of value, tying hospitals' payments to a series of quality metrics including performance on processes of care and patient experience.1 Article see p 163 Truly, pay for performance in Medicare has been a long time coming. More than a decade ago, in its landmark Crossing the Quality Chasm report, the Institute of Medicine highlighted the payment system as a cause of quality problems in health care and a barrier to reform.2 In the Medicare program, perverse incentives abound for clinicians to focus on doing more rather than doing better. Over the past decade, CMS has moved deliberately in the direction of a more value-based hospital payment system. In 2003, CMS spearheaded the Premier Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration, a pay-for-performance pilot project involving more than 200 US hospitals.3 In 2005, Medicare launched Hospital Compare with public reporting of process measures of hospital quality, later extending reporting to clinical outcomes such as mortality rates.4 In 2009, Medicare altered its inpatient prospective payment system to prevent hospitals from receiving severity-adjusted payments for any of 9 hospital-acquired complications. Now, VBP …
A Cloudlet-Based Proximal Discovery Service for Machine-to-Machine Applications

Many of today’s applications attempt to connect mobile users with resources available in their immediate surroundings. Existing approaches for discovering available resources are either centralized, providing a single point of lookup somewhere in the cloud or ad hoc, requiring mobile devices to directly connect to other nearby devices. In this paper, we explore an approach based on cloudlets, marrying these two approaches to reflect both the proximity requirements of the applications and the dynamic nature of the resources. We present the design and implementation of a cloudlet-based proximal discovery service, solving key technical challenges along the way. We then use real world data traces to demonstrate, evaluate, and benchmark our service and compare it to a completely centralized approach. We find that, in supporting highly localized queries, our service outperforms the centralized approach without significantly affecting the quality of the discovery results.
The Disease of Obesity

Obesity is defined as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.” The extent to which obesity has impacted the USA and world population is astounding: More than one third of US adults (35.7 %) and approximately 17 % (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years are obese. The alarming increase in obesity prevalence, the consequences on the personal health and on the health-care system (obesity contributes to over 112,000 deaths annually), and the relative lack of success in various interventions is undeniable. In June 2013, the American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease requiring a range of medical interventions to advance obesity treatment and prevention.