cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glycoprotein catabolism in rat liver. Lysosomal digestion of iodinated asialo-fetuin

125I-labelled asialo-fetuin, administered intravenously, rapidly accumulates in rat liver and the radioactivity is subsequently cleared from the liver within 60min. Plasma radioactivity reaches a minimum between 10 and 15 min after injection and rises slightly during the period of liver clearance. Free iodide is the only radioactive compound found in plasma during this latter period. Fractionation of rat liver at 5 and 13min after injection of 125I-labelled asialo-fetuin supports the hypothesis that asialo-glycoprotein is taken into liver by pinocytosis after binding to the plasma membrane and is then hydrolysed by lysosomal enzymes. At 5min, radioactivity was concentrated 23-fold in a membrane fraction similarly enriched in phosphodiesterase I, a plasma-membrane marker enzyme, whereas at 13min the radioactivity appeared to be localized within lysosomes. Separation of three liver fractions (heavy mitochondrial, light mitochondrial and microsomal) on sucrose gradients revealed the presence of two populations of radioactive particles. One population banded in a region coincident with a lysosomal marker enzyme. The other, more abundant, population of radioactive particles had a density of 1.13 and contained some phosphodiesterase, but very little lysosomal enzyme. These latter particles appear to be pinocytotic vesicles produced after uptake of the asialo-fetuin bound by the plasma membrane. Lysosomal extracts extensively hydrolyse asialo-fetuin during incubation in vitro at pH4.7 and iodotyrosine is completely released from the iodinated glycoprotein. Protein digestion within lysosomes was demonstrated by incubating intact lysosomes containing 125I-labelled asialo-fetuin in iso-osmotic sucrose, pH7.2. The radioactive hydrolysis product, iodotyrosine, readily passed through the lysosomal membrane and was found in the external medium. These results are not sufficient to account for the presence of free iodide in plasma, but this was explained by the observation that iodotyrosines are deiodinated by microsomal enzymes in the presence of NADPH.
Calcium homeostasis and control of contractility in the developing heart

The Ca 2+ concentration within the myocyte is an important determinant of myocardial contractility. Substantial changes in the cellular processes responsible for transport of Ca 2+ ions across the sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes occur during maturation of the heart. In this article, the mechanisms underlying these changes and their impact on myocardial performance are discussed in detail.
Indirect chromosomal fluorescence with antibody to 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene

Abstract Indirect immunofluorescent technique was applied to acid-alcohol fixed metaphase chromosome preparations from rats treated with the carcinogen, 7, 12-DMBA.
TU‐C‐T‐6E‐10: Using Fluence‐Separation to Account for Energy Spectra Dependence in Computing Dosimetric ASi EPID Images for IMRT Fields

Purpose: Dosimetric aSi EPIDimages are typically computed using a convolution of energy fluence with an invariant energy deposition kernel. However, Monte Carlo (MC) studies show a strong dependence of the EPIDimager response to energy spectra, which, for highly modulated IMRT fields, severely affects the dosimetric accuracy. To account for this, a method is developed that accounts for the radial‐dependence of the energy deposition kernel and considers open field and MLC hardened components of the energy fluence. Method and Materials: Dosimetric EPIDimages are created by convolving energy fluence with a radially dependent kernel. The energy fluence at the EPIDsurface was determined by extracting the terma in water from Pinnacle. For each fluence element, the energy fluence (Ψ) was divided into two parts — open field energy fluence Ψ o , and MLC blocked field energy fluence Ψ c . Ψ o and Ψ c were convolved separately with their respective energy‐deposition kernels and the results summed. Calculations were compared with measurements for, 3×3–20×20 cm2 fields, rectangular fields, a 10×10 cm2 field centered at (5cm,−5cm)), 3×3–12×12 cm2 MLC‐blocked fields, and dynamic MLC sliding window fields which generate 10×10 cm2 fields with window gaps ranging from 1‐ to 50‐mm .Test cases were compared utilizing profiles and using gamma‐analysis for pixels receiving doses >50 % Dmax. A 3 mm, 3% criteria was used in the gamma analysis. Results: Measured and computed dose profiles agreed for both in‐field and out‐of‐field regions. For the open field test cases, all points evaluated had γ 98.5% of points had γ 1.0 Over 98% of points passed the gamma‐test for most sliding window field. Conclusion: Accurate aSi dosimetric EPIDimages can be computed when energy spectra hardening is accounted for during the image calculation. Conflict of Interest: This work supported in‐part by Varian Medical Systems.
Momentum transfer sum rules in electron scattering

Abstract The integral properties of elastic and inelastic Coulomb form factors are examined. Relations are given for the nuclear Coulomb energy, central charge density, transition charge, radial moments, and squared density integral.
Family therapy for identical twins with anorexia nervosa

The rarity of identical twins with anorexia nervosa (AN) makes formulating an effective treatment approach for this subset of individuals quite difficult. Clinicians may be applying treatment strategies that have been designed for individuals with an eating disorder. However, these approaches might have to be modified for the treatment of identical twins. The few available case studies have not discussed the challenges a clinician faces when treating identical twins with AN. In this report we describe the presentation of the case of adolescent monozygotic twins who were simultaneously concordant for AN. We discuss their unique presentation and our approach to their treatment.
Sexual dimorphism and gonadal control of ultrasonic vocalizations in adult pine voles, Microtus pinetorum

We investigated the vocalizations produced by adult pine voles during various social interactions by presenting an experimental animal with either an anesthetized or awake (unanesthetized) conspecific. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) occurred frequently during tests in which an awake male was present, but were rarely detected in tests involving only awake females, or when a female was presented with an anesthetized conspecific. Higher rates of USVs were produced when males were tested with a familiar female than when tested with an unfamiliar male or female. Equivalent rates were produced when males were presented with either anesthetized or awake animals, but female-soiled bedding failed to elicit USVs from males. Sonic vocalizations (SVs) were produced by both sexes and were associated with aggressive behavior, but occurred only in tests between awake, unfamiliar animals. Castration greatly reduced and testosterone therapy restored USVs emitted by males in response to anesthetized conspecifics. Our results suggest that (i) USVs are emitted predominantly by males; (ii) familiarity enhances USV response; (iii) SVs are produced during aggressive interactions; and (iv) androgens regulate the production of USVs by males. Possible roles for pine vole vocalizations are discussed.
Accelerated aging of tunable thermo-optic polymer planar waveguide devices made of fluorinated acrylates

Planar wave guide device components, made from photocurable fluoroacrylates, demonstrated stability under conditions that exceed those needed to operate planar polymer thermo- optic switches. Fluoroacrylate polymers exhibited negligible decomposition at 200 degree(s)C. Insertion loss and polarization-dependent loss showed no increase at temperatures up to 257 degree(s)C. The reflected spectrum of a Bragg grating showed no monotonic change in (lambda) B, width, or strength in 105 days at 125 degree(s)C. Humidity changes from 0 to 90%RH caused a reversible blue shift in (lambda) B of only 0.00004. Light flux of 130mW exhibited no impact on n, (delta) n, or IL. Heaters showed no degradation at 85 degree(s)C/85%RH. Bonding to substrate, heaters, and pigtails remained intact throughout the testing.
Communicating with the young dental patient

The importance of communication with children in dentistry and in practice management has been exaggerated. To improve both, the dentist should perceive things in the way the child does. If you are like most dentists, you do not communicate very well with your child patients. This does not mean that you are a poor dentist or even that you have difficulty in managing children. The point is that psychologists and dentists alike have a very foggy idea of what communication is. This article addresses the apparent contradiction that the importance of communication in dentistry and in patient management has been exaggerated.
Design strategies for therapeutic ultrasound phased arrays

High-intensity focused ultrasound is used in many therapeutic applications such as drug activation/drug delivery, hyperthermia, cancer therapy, ultrasound surgery and myocardial ablation. Various ultrasonic systems have been proposed for these therapeutic applications. While many applicators produce adequate power levels, multiple element ultrasound phased arrays adjust for phase aberrations, focus around obstructions such as bone and/or air spaces (lungs), and follow, in real time, a moving target. Since large aperture arrays with several hundred elements are required, design compromises keep the element count and fabrication cost at a reasonable level. These trade-offs, which optimize the array aperture with respect to element count, often result in a non-ideal aspect ratio (element width to thickness), leading to lateral mode vibrations which reduce the electrical to acoustical efficiency to about 10 - 20%. These vibrations are easily observed with a laser interferometer system. Piezo composite technology, which eliminates the non-ideal aspect ratio by dividing the individual array elements into long, thin rods, provides a solution to this problem. The spaces between the rods are filled with a polymer to provide structural support and allow deposition of electrode layers to interconnect individual rods and to outline array elements. Several piezo composite transducers have been tested, and initial results show a greatly improved beam pattern and increased efficiency. Power handling capability of composites has recently improved allowing outputs in excess of 10 watts/cm2 with efficiencies greater than 60%. This is sufficient for many therapeutic applications.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Abstract 3705: Deguelin suppresses epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic cancer cells by Snail repression and RKIP induction: Pivotal role of NF-kB

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Metastatic disease is a primary cause of death for most cancer patients and is associated with the loss of epithelial features and the acquisition of mesenchymal characteristics, a process known as epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Hence, targeting EMT would be a novel therapeutic modality in cancer prevention. Previous reports have shown that deguelin, a derivative of rotenone induces apoptosis in cancer cells by inhibiting AKT but its potential as anti-metastatic agent remained elusive. In the present study we investigated the anti-metastatic (EMT) properties of deguelin in PanC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells. Our results show that deguelin significantly (P<0.0001) suppressed the migration of PanC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells in a wound healing assay. Further, deguelin treated PanC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells show reduced expression of E-cadherin and cytokeratin 18, the markers of epithelial cell phenotype. On the other hand, the expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin were up regulated by degulin treatment in both the cell lines. Furthermore, deguelin significantly reduced the expression of Snail, a known EMT inducer, and increased the expression of RKIP, a tumor suppressor gene in both the cell lines. Since NF-kB hyperactivation is associated with tumor metastasis via regulation of EMT, we evaluated whether deguelin inhibit the phosphorylation of NF-kB in PanC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. Our results show that deguelin significantly suppressed the constitutive phosphorylation of NF-kB at Ser-536. Inhibition of NF-kB activation by deguelin was further confirmed by DNA binding activity and EMSA. IL-1β has been shown to activate NF-κB and its transcriptional target Snail leading to increase in the expression of E-cadherin. Treatment of PanC-1 cells with IL-1β significantly attenuated deguelin induced E-cadherin repression and N-cadherin induction, indicating the involvement of NF-kB in deguelin mediated anti-metastatic activity. Ectopic expression of either Snail or NF-kB completely abolished EMT protection offered by deguelin in PanC-1 cells confirming the role of NF-kB and Snail in deguelin induced EMT inhibition. Taken together our results provide convincing evidence on the anti-metastsis properties of deguelin in pancreatic cancer. [Supported in part by R01 grants CA106953 and CA129038 (to S.K.S) awarded by the National Cancer Institute]. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3705. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3705
On global climate change, carbon dioxide, and fossil fuel combustion

Abstract Global climate change (GCC), greenhouse (GH) gases and the uncertainties swirling about them are of considerable concern to the Congress and to the public. Although the uncertainties leave GCC and GH gas implications open, the only GH gas of significance that results from fossil fuel combustion, namely CO 2 , has drawn much attention. This review discusses the concerns in two parts. The first part covers in some detail the scientific and technical aspects of GCC and the relationships of CO 2 and fossil fuels to it. It includes sections on the GH effect; on the anthropogenic atmospheric emission of CO 2 which has increased some 25% since the preindustrial period; on the analyses of historical temperature data which suggest we currently may be in a warming period; on global climate modeling, presently inadequate but necessary to analyze the past as well as to make future predictions; on climatic effects; and on possible mitigation methods for CO 2 injections resulting from fossil fuel combustion. Intended primarily as a primere on GCC for the fossil fuel technical community, the relationships between fossil fueled systems and atmospheric injections of CO 2 are addressed only in a general fashion. The details of various technologies and their systems (conventional and future) are left for the reader to obtain from other sources. The second part notes in more abbreviated form some economic, demographic and international considerations. The use of an identity points to population increases as one key determinant of future GCC effects. The uncertainties, scientific and other, are noted throughout; they inhibit the reaching of conclusions regarding GH impacts on GCC. A large number of literature citations are provided, leading to further references on the subject.
Investigation of the initial state of the Moon-forming disk: Bridging SPH simulations and hydrostatic models

According to the standard giant impact hypothesis, the Moon formed from a partially vaporized disk generated by a collision between the proto-Earth and a Mars-sized impactor. The initial structure of the disk significantly affects the Moon-forming process, including the Moon’s mass, its accretion time scale, and its isotopic similarity to Earth. The dynamics of the impact event determines the initial structure of a nearly hydrostatic Moon-forming disk. However, the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic models have been studied separately and their connection has not previously been well quantified. Here, we show the extent to which the properties of the disk can be inferred from Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (SPH) simulations. By using entropy, angular momentum and mass distributions of the SPH outputs as approximately conserved quantities, we compute the two-dimensional disk structure. We investigate four different models: (a) standard, the canonical giant impact model, (b) fast-spinning Earth, a collision between a fast-spinning Earth and a small impactor, (c) sub-Earths, a collision between two objects with half Earth’s mass, and (d) intermediate, a collision of two bodies whose mass ratio is 7:3. Our SPH calculations show that the initial disk has approximately uniform entropy. This is because the materials of different angular momenta are shocked to similar extents. The disks of the fast-spinning Earth and sub-Earths cases are hotter and more vaporized (∼80–90% vapor) than the standard case (∼20%). The intermediate case falls between these values. In the highly vaporized cases, our procedure fails to establish a unique surface density profile of the disk because the disk is unstable according to the Rayleigh criterion (the need for a monotonically increasing specific angular momentum with radius). In these cases, we estimate non-unique disk models by conserving global quantities (mass and total angular momentum). We also develop a semi-analytic model for the thermal structure of the disk, including the radial temperature structure and the vapor mass fraction. The model requires only two inputs: the average entropy and the surface density of the disk.
The Distribution of Autelectronic Emission from Single Crystal Metal Points. II. The Adsorption, Migration and Evaporation of Thorium, Barium and Sodium on Tungsten and Molybdenum

The adsorption, migration and evaporation of thorium, barium and sodium on tungsten and molybdenum have been studied by means of the autelectronic patterns from single crystal points of these metals. It is found that migration occurs at relatively low temperatures, and that for an optimum thermionic covering there is a unique distribution of the migrating atoms on the metal crystal. Certain crystal zones are avoided by the migrating atoms. The atoms evaporate more readily from certain crystal zones, and the differences in the temperatures for complete migration and evaporation of the atoms lead to an explanation of why migration is not always observed with barium (where the difference between migration and evaporation energy is small) and is always observed with thorium (where the differences are much greater) on multicrystalline surfaces. In the studies of thorium on tungsten and thoriated tungsten it is shown that diffusion of thorium occurs through the crystal lattice along certain preferred directions and that the final distribution of thorium is identical with that obtained by depositing thorium from an external source.
Description and impact of using a standard-setting method for determining pass/fail scores in a surgery clerkship.

Abstract Background Research on performance evaluation highlights the importance of using multiple measures to develop an accurate profile of students, yet we found no literature describing the use of a standard-setting method for determining a pass/fail cutoff for a clerkship based on multiple assessment methods. Method Steps in setting an absolute standard for a pass/fail grade are described. The new cut-off score was used to compare what decisions would have been made had it been applied in previous clerkships. Results We successfully applied the Hofstee method to ascertain a new standard pass/fail cutoff for our total surgery clerkship score. Had this absolute score been used in 4 prior clerkships, 150 instead of 152 would have passed the clerkship, and 10 instead of 8 would have failed the clerkship. Conclusions A standard-setting method can be applied to a final clinical clerkship grade even when multiple performance measures are used.
Pneumonectomy after contralateral lobectomy: Is it reasonable?

Conservative resection of a second primary lung cancer is desirable but not always feasible. We recently carried out three left pneumonectomies for the removal of metachronous primary lung cancers in patients who had previously undergone right upper lobe resection for the treatment of bronchogenic carcinoma. In each patient, the results of pulmonary function tests plus the findings from quantitative perfusion lung scans predicted a postpneumonectomy forced expiratory volume in 1 second of at least 1.00 L. All 3 patients had uncomplicated postoperative courses, and were doing satisfactorily at follow-up 2 to 6 months later. One patient died 5 months after pneumonectomy due to unrelated causes, another died 8 months after pneumonectomy from infection after resection of a brain metastasis, and the third is doing well 15 months after pneumonectomy. The rarity of previously reported cases suggests that performing a pneumonectomy after contralateral lobectomy may be considered too radical. Our experience indicates the procedure may be considered if the patient's pulmonary function meets the standard criteria for pneumonectomy.
Geochemical modulation of pesticide sorption on smectite clay.

Pesticide adsorption by soil clays can be dramatically influenced by the exchangeable cations present. Among the common exchangeable base cations in soils (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+), K+-saturated clays frequently demonstrate the strongest affinity for pesticides. In the presence of multiple exchangeable cations in the system, we hypothesize that the magnitude of pesticide sorption to soil minerals is proportional to the fraction of clay interlayers saturated with K+ ions. To test this hypothesis, we measured sorption of three pesticides with different polarities (dichlobenil, monuron, and biphenyl) by homoionic K- and Ca-smectite (SWy-2) in KCl/CaCl2 aqueous solutions. The presence of different amounts of KCl and CaCl2 resulted in varying populations of K+ and Ca2+ on the clay exchange sites. The sorption of dichlobenil and, to a lesser extent monuron, increased with the fraction of K+ on clay mineral exchange sites. Ca- and K-SWy-2 displayed the same sorption capacities for nonpolar biphenyl. X-ray diffra...
Neutron-Proton Scattering and the Disintegration of Deuterium by Deuterons

The angular distribution of the scattering of neutrons by protons has been observed by the method of recoil protons in a cloud chamber. The source of neutrons was the reaction $_{1}\mathrm{H}^{2}+_{1}\mathrm{H}^{2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}_{2}\mathrm{He}^{3}+_{0}n^{1}+{Q}_{1}$ which gave 2.6 Mev neutrons at right angles to the bombarding deuterons. The value of ${Q}_{1}$ was found to be 3.36\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20 Mev. The recoil proton distribution showed a maximum at 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} as measured in laboratory coordinates. The distribution agreed with the theoretical one which predicts a spherical symmetry with respect to the center of mass of the moving system.
Airway acidification: interactions with nitrogen oxides and airway inflammation.

Airway acidification is increasingly appreciated to occur in inflammatory obstructive airway diseases, resulting from acid re.ux and aspiration and from direct acid formation in the airways. Acidity activates oxidants and nitrogen oxides to create a potent antimicrobial environment. Neurogenic inflammation is triggered by airway or esophageal acidi.cation, innate immune cells are affected by acidity, and there are pathways by which the acquired immune system also can be activated by the chemistry of an acidic airway. Measuring airway acidity is now readily achievable with noninvasive breath assays, a procedure that has opened a window on the need to understand airway pH homeostasis in health and pH dysregulation in disease.
A proof of Bressoud's conjecture related to the Rogers-Ramanujan identities

The Rogers-Ramanujan identities have many natural and significant generalizations. The generalization presented in this note was first studied by D. Bressoud, by considering the partitions that he named as ''footed partition''. A bijection is described to prove his conjecture and some examples are attached at the end.
Bistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging for Arbitrary Flight Trajectories and Non-flat Topography

This paper presents an approximate analytic inversion method for bistatic synthetic aperture radar. A scene of interest is illuminated by electromagnetic waves that are transmitted from positions along an arbitrary, but known, flight trajectory and the scattered waves are measured from positions along a different flight trajectory which is also arbitrary, but known. We assume a single-scattering model for the radar data, and we assume that the ground topography is known but not necessarily flat. We use microlocal analysis to develop a filtered-backprojection-type reconstruction method.
On coloring box graphs

We consider the chromatic number of a family of graphs we call box graphs, which arise from a box complex in n -space. It is straightforward to show that any box graph in the plane has an admissible coloring with three colors, and that any box graph in n -space has an admissible coloring with n + 1 colors. We show that for box graphs in n -space, if the lengths of the boxes in the corresponding box complex take on no more than two values from the set { 1 , 2 , 3 } , then the box graph is 3 -colorable, and for some graphs three colors are required. We also show that box graphs in 3-space which do not have cycles of length four (which we call "string complexes") are 3 -colorable.
Origin of chloramphenicol particle protein.

Abstract These experiments show that the majority of the protein found associated with the RNA synthesized in the presence of chloramphenicol is nonribosomal protein existing in the cells at the time of addition of the drug and hence that chloramphenicol particles are not incomplete ribosomes. The experiments are the following: 1. (a) The pool of free ribosomal protein as measured kinetically in normally growing cells is too small to provide the protein found on chloramphenicol particles, showing the chloramphenicol particle protein cannot derive solely from a pool of free ribosomal protein. 2. (b) The specific activity of chloramphenicol particle protein is independent of the time between a pulse labeling of cellular protein and the addition of the drug, showing that the protein found on chloramphenicol particles is not normally incorporated into some cellular structure from which it is unavailable to form the particles. 3. (c) The amount of protein which is synthesized in 90 minutes of chloramphenicol treatment is less than 3% of the protein found on chloramphenicol particles, showing that nearly all of the protein of the particles must have been synthesized before the drug was added. 4. (d) The specific activity of chloramphenicol particle protein parallels the specific activity of soluble protein and not ribosomal protein when the particles are prepared in cultures with different relative specific activities of ribosomal and non-ribosomal protein. 5. (e) Upon removal of chloramphenicol, the RNA of the chloramphenicol particles is matured to ribosomes while the protein previously sedimenting with this RNA is not found on mature ribosomes.
Environmental lead exposure is associated with visit-to-visit systolic blood pressure variability in the US adults

Purpose The association between environmental lead exposure and blood pressure variability, an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is unexplored and unknown. The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that lead exposure is associated with blood pressure variability.
Surface state charge effects on very low current transistor characteristics

The carrier transport characteristics of a low current transistor were measured. The effect of the total surface state charge Q ss on the 1kT and 2kT components of I b and I c was determined.
Adjusting for Nonignorable Missingness When Estimating Generalized Additive Models

Generalized additive models (GAMs) have been widely used for flexible modeling of various types of outcomes. When the outcome in a GAM is subject to missing, practical analyses often assume that missingness is missing at random (MAR). This assumption can be of suspicion when the missingness is not by design. Evaluating the potential effects of alternative nonignorable missing data mechanism on the MAR inference from a GAM can be important but often challenging due to the complicatedness of alternative nonignorable models. We apply the index approach to local sensitivity (Troxel, Ma, and Heitjan 2004(2004). Statistica Sinica14, 1221–1237) to evaluate the potential changes of the GAM estimates in the neighborhood of the MAR model. The approach avoids fitting any complicated nonignorable GAM. Only MAR estimates are required to calculate the resulting sensitivity index and adjust the GAM estimates to account for nonignorable missingness. Thus the proposed approach is considerably simpler to conduct, as compared with the alternative methods. The simulation study shows that the index provides valid assessment of the local sensitivity of the GAM estimates to nonignorable missingness. We then illustrate the method using a rheumatoid arthritis clinical trial data set.
Multicentric T-cell lymphosarcoma in an alpaca

A two-year-old female alpaca with multicentric lymphosarcoma presented because of progressive weakness and recumbency. The diagnosis of lymphosarcoma was based on the detection of immature and atypical lymphocytes in a lumbosacral CSF sample. Post mortem examination confirmed multicentric lymphosarcoma involving multiple organs. Immunophenotyping using cross reactive T- and B-cell antibodies characterized the tumour as a T-cell lymphosarcoma.
Delineating an Epigenetic Continuum for Initiation, Transformation and Progression to Breast Cancer

Aberrant methylation of promoter CpG islands is a hallmark of human cancers and is an early event in carcinogenesis. We examined whether promoter hypermethylation contributes to the pathogenesis of benign breast lesions along a progression continuum to invasive breast cancer. The exploratory study cohort comprised 17 breast cancer patients with multiple benign and/or in situ lesions concurrently present with invasive carcinoma within a tumor biopsy. DNA from tumor tissue, normal breast epithelium when present, benign lesions (fibroadenoma, hyperplasia, papilloma, sclerosing adenosis, apocrine metaplasia, atypical lobular hyperplasia or atypical ductal hyperplasia), and in situ lesions of lobular carcinoma and ductal carcinoma were interrogated for promoter methylation status in 22 tumor suppressor genes using the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay (MS-MLPA). Methylation specific PCR was performed to confirm hypermethylation detected by MS-MLPA. Promoter methylation was detected in 11/22 tumor suppressor genes in 16/17 cases. Hypermethylation of RASSF1 was most frequent, present in 14/17 cases, followed by APC in 12/17, and GSTP1 in 9/17 cases with establishment of an epigenetic monocloncal progression continuum to invasive breast cancer. Hypermethylated promoter regions in normal breast epithelium, benign, and premalignant lesions within the same tumor biopsy implicate RASSF1, APC, GSTP1, TIMP3, CDKN2B, CDKN2A, ESR1, CDH13, RARB, CASP8, and TP73 as early events. DNA hypermethylation underlies the pathogenesis of step-wise transformation along a monoclonal continuum from normal to preneoplasia to invasive breast cancer.
Dual format algorithm for monostatic SAR

The polar format algorithm for monostatic synthetic aperture radar imaging is based on a linear approximation of the differential range to a scatterer, which leads to spatially-variant distortion and defocus in the resultant image. While approximate corrections may be applied to compensate for these effects, these corrections are ad-hoc in nature. Here, we introduce an alternative imaging algorithm called the Dual Format Algorithm (DFA) that provides better isolation of the defocus effects and reduces distortion. Quadratic phase errors are isolated along a single dimension by allowing image formation to an arbitrary grid instead of a Cartesian grid. This provides an opportunity for more efficient phase error corrections. We provide a description of the arbitrary image grid and we show the quadratic phase error correction derived from a second-order Taylor series approximation of the differential range. The algorithm is demonstrated with a point target simulation.
Protein binding of brequinar in the plasma of healthy donors and cancer patients and analysis of the relationship between protein binding and pharmacokinetics in cancer patients

The protein binding of weakly acidic and basic drugs has been shown to be altered in cancer patients. Brequinar is a weakly acidic, low-clearance, and highly protein-bound (> 98% bound) antitumor agent. The pharmacokinetic parameters of brequinar are subject to large interpatient variability. This large interpatient variability may be related to brequinar's plasma protein-binding capacity (assuming no change in the intrinsic clearance of the unbound drug). The objectives of this study, therefore, were (a) to characterize brequinar's protein binding in the plasma of healthy donors and cancer patients and (b) to examine the relationships between brequinar's plasma protein binding and its pharmacokinetics in patients. Brequinar protein binding was determined in human serum albumin (HSA) solution, drug-free donor plasma, and brequinar-free, predose plasma samples obtained from a phase I cancer trial. Pharmacokinetic results from this study were used to examine relationships between plasma protein binding and drug disposition. In HSA solution and healthy donor plasma, brequinar's protein binding as determined using spiked samples was concentration-dependent. The unbound brequinar fraction increased by a factor of 3 (from 0.3% to 0.9% free) in 4% HSA solution and by a factor of 4 (from 0.4% to 1.6% free) in donor plasma as the brequinar concentrations increased from 0.1 to 2.3 mM in the HSA solution and from 0.076 to 1.5 mM in the donor plasma. Analysis of brequinar binding characteristics using the binding ratio and Rosenthal binding plots showed that albumin was the primary protein for brequinar binding in human plasma. The addition of various concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein to 4% HSA solution did not affect the protein binding of brequinar to HSA. The protein binding determined in the plasma of cancer patients was not quantitatively different, except for variability, from that observed in the plasma of healthy donors. Examination of relationships between the unbound brequinar fraction and pharmacokinetics suggested that plasma protein binding was not a major determinant of brequinar disposition in cancer patients.
Phototriggered Ru(II)-dimethylsulfoxide linkage isomerization in crystals and films.

Photochromic materials are of interest because of their potential applications in optical information storage devices. Measurements on photochromic sodium nitroprusside (Na_2[Fe(CN)_5(NO)]) indicate that two metastable states are formed by irradiations of the crystalline solid: the first is an isonitrosyl (O-bonded NO); the second is an η^2-NO (side-on) complex. Phototriggered linkage isomerizations also occur in dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) complexes: notably, both photochemical Ru−S → Ru−O and thermal Ru−O → Ru−S reactions are observed in dmso solutions of [Ru(bpy)_2(dmso)_2]^(2+) (bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine); and, as reported here, we find photochromism attributable to Ru−S → Ru−O rearrangement upon visible excitation of [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(dmso)]^(2+) (tpy = 2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine) in single crystals and films as well as in solution.
Minimally Fine-Tuned Supersymmetric Standard Models with Intermediate-Scale Supersymmetry Breaking

Abstract We construct realistic supersymmetric theories in which the correct scale for electroweak symmetry breaking is obtained without significant fine-tuning. We consider two classes of models. In one class supersymmetry breaking is transmitted to the supersymmetric standard model sector through Dirac gaugino mass terms generated by a D -term vacuum expectation value of a U ( 1 ) gauge field. In the other class the supersymmetry breaking sector is separated from the supersymmetric standard model sector in an extra dimension, and the transmission of supersymmetry breaking occurs through gauge mediation. In both these theories the Higgs sector contains two Higgs doublets and a singlet, but unlike the case for the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model the singlet field is not responsible for generating the supersymmetric or supersymmetry breaking mass for the Higgs doublets. These masses, as well as the mass for the singlet, are generated through gravitational-strength interactions. The scale at which the squark and slepton masses are generated is of order 1–100 TeV, and the generated masses do not respect the unified mass relations. We find that electroweak symmetry breaking in these theories is caused by an interplay between the top–stop radiative correction and the holomorphic supersymmetry breaking mass for the Higgs doublets and that the fine-tuning can be reduced to the level of 20%. The theories have rich phenomenology, including a variety of possibilities for the lightest supersymmetric particle.
Enhanced sampling simulations of DNA step parameters.

A novel approach for the selection of step parameters as reaction coordinates in enhanced sampling simulations of DNA is presented. The method uses three atoms per base and does not require coordinate overlays or idealized base pairs. This allowed for a highly efficient implementation of the calculation of all step parameters and their Cartesian derivatives in molecular dynamics simulations. Good correlation between the calculated and actual twist, roll, tilt, shift, and slide parameters is obtained, while the correlation with rise is modest. The method is illustrated by its application to the methylated and unmethylated 5′-CATGTGACGTCACATG-3′ double stranded DNA sequence. One-dimensional umbrella simulations indicate that the flexibility of the central CG step is only marginally affected by methylation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Impact of Modern Economic Growth on Urban–Rural Differences in Subjective Well-Being

Summary At low levels of economic development there are substantial gaps favoring urban over rural areas in income, education, and occupational structure, and consequently a large excess of urban over rural life satisfaction, despite important urban problems of pollution, congestion, and the like. At more advanced development levels, these economic differentials tend to disappear, and rural areas approach or exceed urban in life satisfaction. Both across-country and within-country regression analyses of 2005–08 data from the Gallup World Poll support these conclusions.
Intensity dependence of photoassociation in a quantum degenerate atomic gas.

We have measured the intensity dependent rate and frequency shift of a photoassociation transition in a quantum degenerate gas of $^{7}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}$. The rate increases linearly with photoassociation laser intensity for low intensities, whereas saturation is observed at higher intensities. The measured rates and shifts agree reasonably well with theory within the estimated systematic uncertainties. Several theoretically predicted saturation mechanisms are discussed, but a theory in which saturation arises because of quantum mechanical unitarity agrees well with the data.
Heating effects on optical scattering properties of Semimembranosus and Longissimus beef samples

Our recent studies indicated that the optical scattering has the ability to characterize the micro structures in beef muscles. In this study, optical scattering spectra of beef semimembranosus and longissimus muscle samples were measured at different cooking temperatures along with the corresponding Warner-Bratzler shear force values. Overall, scattering coefficients increased first and then decreased. The increase was likely due to the denaturation of myosin and the thermal-stable collagen cross links depending on the temperature ranges; while the decrease was attributed to the gelatinization of thermal-labile collagen cross links. The collagen content and the relative proportionality of the thermal-stable and the thermal-labile collagen cross links could affect the relative changes of the scattering coefficients at different temperatures. Our results indicated that the optical scattering can indeed reflect the states of the micro structures in beef muscles and have the potential to be used as an indicator for beef quality prediction.
In the Shadow of Hemagglutinin: A Growing Interest in Influenza Viral Neuraminidase and Its Role as a Vaccine Antigen

Despite the availability of vaccine prophylaxis and antiviral therapeutics, the influenza virus continues to have a significant, annual impact on the morbidity and mortality of human beings, highlighting the continued need for research in the field. Current vaccine strategies predominantly focus on raising a humoral response against hemagglutinin (HA)—the more abundant, immunodominant glycoprotein on the surface of the influenza virus. In fact, anti-HA antibodies are often neutralizing, and are used routinely to assess vaccine immunogenicity. Neuraminidase (NA), the other major glycoprotein on the surface of the influenza virus, has historically served as the target for antiviral drug therapy and is much less studied in the context of humoral immunity. Yet, the quest to discern the exact importance of NA-based protection is decades old. Also, while antibodies against the NA glycoprotein fail to prevent infection of the influenza virus, anti-NA immunity has been shown to lessen the severity of disease, decrease viral lung titers in animal models, and reduce viral shedding. Growing evidence is intimating the possible gains of including the NA antigen in vaccine design, such as expanded strain coverage and increased overall immunogenicity of the vaccine. After giving a tour of general influenza virology, this review aims to discuss the influenza A virus neuraminidase while focusing on both the historical and present literature on the use of NA as a possible vaccine antigen.
Epidemiologic studies of modifiable factors associated with cognition and dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Cognitive impairment, including dementia, is a major health concern with the increasing aging population. Preventive measures to delay cognitive decline are of utmost importance. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia, increasing in prevalence from 40% above 85 years of age. We systematically reviewed selected modifiable factors such as education, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, caffeine, antioxidants, homocysteine (Hcy), n-3 fatty acids that were studied in relation to various cognitive health outcomes, including incident AD. We searched MEDLINE for published literature (January 1990 through October 2012), including cross-sectional and cohort studies (sample sizes > 300). Analyses compared study finding consistency across factors, study designs and study-level characteristics. Selecting studies of incident AD, our meta-analysis estimated pooled risk ratios (RR), population attributable risk percent (PAR%) and assessed publication bias. In total, 247 studies were retrieved for systematic review. Consistency analysis for each risk factor suggested positive findings ranging from ~38.9% for caffeine to ~89% for physical activity. Education also had a significantly higher propensity for “a positive finding” compared to caffeine, smoking and antioxidant-related studies. Meta-analysis of 31 studies with incident AD yielded pooled RR for low education (RR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.30-3.04), high Hcy (RR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.50-2.49), and current/ever smoking status (RR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.23-1.52) while indicating protective effects of higher physical activity and n-3 fatty acids. Estimated PAR% were particularly high for physical activity (PAR% = 31.9; 95% CI: 22.7-41.2) and smoking (PAR%=31.09%; 95% CI: 17.9-44.3). Overall, no significant publication bias was found. Higher Hcy levels, lower educational attainment, and decreased physical activity were particularly strong predictors of incident AD. Further studies are needed to support other potential modifiable protective factors, such as caffeine.
women's secrets: bases for reproductive and social autonomy in a Mexican community

Research in a highland Chinantec (Mexico) community hypothesized that women there monopolized knowledge about medicinal plants for the management of reproduction, which allowed them to regulate their own fertility without male intervention. It was further hypothesized that women who most effectively exercised reproductive autonomy would function more autonomously in other areas of their social lives as well. Instead it was found that women and men shared a great deal of knowledge about plants for reproduction, that some of the most effective fertility-limiting remedies were known only by men, and that reproductive autonomy and social autonomy did not necessarily co-occur, [medical anthropology, reproduction, gender roles, Mesoamerica]
Kinetics Studies of Trichlorophenol Destruction by Chelate-Based Fenton Reaction

The use of hydroxyl radical-based reaction (Fenton reaction) for the destruction of organic pollutants has been widely reported in the literature. However, low pH requirement, precipitate formation problem, and rapid peroxide consumption rate make the application of conventional Fenton reaction difficult. A chelate-based Fenton reaction can prevent Fe(OH)3 (s) precipitation even at neutral pH condition and reduce the H2O2 consumption rate by controlling Fe2+ concentration. The chelating agent combines with Fe2+ or Fe3+ to form stable metal–chelate complexes in solution. This decreases the concentration of Fe2+ in the solution so that reactions can be carried for longer contact times. The major objective of this study was to establish the role of the chelating agent and to obtain oxidation rates for various reaction conditions using a model chlorinated organic compound. Experimental results (with citrate as chelating agent) for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) showed that the TCP dechlorinations were highly eff...
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (Oriental Sore) of the Eyelid

A 45-year-old American residing along the basin of the Mediterranean Sea developed a cutaneous lesion involving his right lower eyelid. He returned to the United States several months after it first appeared and sought treatment. On clinical examination the lesion was regarded as either a tumor or a cyst. It was excised, and on pathological examination a chronic granulomatous inflammatory lesion, containing innumerable Leishman-Donovan bodies, was found.
Cell biology and EMF safety standards

Living cells react defensively and start to synthesize stress proteins when exposed to potentially harmful stimuli. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are among the many different environmental stimuli that initiate stress protein synthesis. Although there is greater energy transfer and heating due to EMF at higher frequencies, there is no greater stress response. The cellular stress response is far more sensitive to EMF than to an increase in temperature. It should be obvious that an EMF safety standard should be based on the more sensitive, natural biological response.