cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multimodal confocal mosaicing microscopy: an emphasis on squamous cell carcinoma

Our previous study reported a sensitivity of 96.6% and a specificity of 89.2% in rapidly detecting Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCCs) when nuclei were stained with acridine orange. Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCCs) and infiltrative BCCs remain difficult to detect. More complete screening can be achieved utilizing both acridine orange for nuclei staining and eosin for cytoplasmic contrast, using two lasers to excite the two stains independently. Nuclear fluorescence is achieved by staining with acridine orange (0.5mM, 60 s), and cytoplasmic fluorescence is achieved by staining with eosin working solution (30 s). This work shows good morphological contrast of SCC and infiltrative BCC with eosin, acridine orange, and reflectance, and presents a means for rapid SCC and infiltrative BCC detection in fresh skin excisions using multimodal confocal microscopy. In addition, digital staining is shown to effectively simulate hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) histology with confocal mosaics.
STRUCTURE OF A D-PROTEIN GENE AND AMINO-ACID SEQUENCES OF THE HIGHLY REPETITIVE D-PROTEINS SECRETED BY THE ACCESSORY GLANDS OF THE MEALWORM BEETLE

Abstract The d -group proteins form the major component of the proteinaceous secretion of the tubular accessory glands of the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor. In a previous paper [1], we reported the sequence of two D-protein cDNAs and their inferred translation products. Both proteins contain three highly repetitive domains (A, A′ and B). In this paper, we present the cDNA-inferred sequences of 8 more D-proteins, none of which contains an A′ domain. We also present the structure of a D-protein gene. Southern analysis suggests that genes coding for an A′ domain are relatively rare. Genes with a total of 7 or 8 (A + B domain) repeats seem most common.
Initial conditions and their effect on invasion velocity across heterogeneous landscapes

Accurate, time dependent control options are required to halt biological invasions prior to equilibrium establishment, beyond which control efforts are often impractical. Although invasions have been successfully modeled using diffusion theory, diffusion models are typically confined to providing simple range expansion estimates. In this work, we use a Susceptible/Infected cellular automaton (CA) to simulate diffusion. The CA model is coupled with a network model to track the speed and direction of simulated invasions across heterogeneous landscapes, allowing for identification of locations for targeted control in both time and space. We evaluated the role of the location of initial establishment insofar as it affected the pattern and rate of spread and how these are influenced by patch attributes such as size. Our results show that the location of initial establishment can significantly affect the temporal dynamics of an invasion. Traditional network metrics such as degree and measures of topological distance were insufficient for predicting the direction and speed of the invasion. Our coupled models allow the dynamic tracking of invasions across fragmented landscapes for both theoretical and practical applications.
Inhibition of the type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase underlies the elevated plasma TSH associated with amiodarone treatment

The widely prescribed cardiac antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone (AMIO) and its main metabolite, desethylamiodarone (DEA), have multiple side effects on thyroid economy, including an elevation in serum TSH levels. To study the AMIO effect on TSH, mice with targeted disruption of the type 2 deiodinase gene (D2KO) were treated with 80 mg/kg AMIO for 4 wk. Only wild-type (WT) mice controls developed the expected approximate twofold rise in plasma TSH, illustrating a critical role for D2 in this mechanism. A disruption in the D2 pathway caused by AMIO could interfere with the transduction of the T4 signal, generating less T3 and softening the TSH feedback mechanism. When added directly to sonicates of HEK-293 cells transiently expressing D2, both AMIO and DEA behaved as noncompetitive inhibitors of D2 [IC(50) of >100 μm and ∼5 μm, respectively]. Accordingly, D2 activity was significantly decreased in the median eminence and anterior pituitary sonicates of AMIO-treated mice. However, the underlying effect on TSH i...
N epsilon-acetyl-beta-lysine: an osmolyte synthesized by methanogenic archaebacteria.

Abstract Methanosarcina thermophila, a nonmarine methanogenic archaebacterium, can grow in a range of saline concentrations. At less than 0.4 M NaCl, Ms. thermophila accumulated glutamate in response to increasing osmotic stress. At greater than 0.4 M NaCl, this organism synthesized a modified beta-amino acid that was identified as N epsilon-acetyl-beta-lysine by NMR spectroscopy and ion-exchange HPLC. This beta-amino acid derivative accumulated to high intracellular concentrations (up to 0.6 M) in Ms. thermophila and in another methanogen examined--Methanogenium cariaci, a marine species. The compound has features that are characteristic of a compatible solute: it is neutrally charged at physiological pH and it is highly soluble. When the cells were grown in the presence of exogenous glycine betaine, a physiological compatible solute, N epsilon-acetyl-beta-lysine synthesis was repressed and glycine betaine was accumulated. N epsilon-acetyl-beta-lysine was synthesized by species from three phylogenetic families when grown in high solute concentrations, suggesting that it may be ubiquitous among the methanogens. The ability to control the biosynthesis of N epsilon-acetyl-beta-lysine in response to extracellular solute concentration indicates that the methanogenic archaebacteria have a unique beta-amino acid biosynthetic pathway that is osmotically regulated.
Modelling and Adaptive Control of a Mechanical Manipulator

On developpe un modele dynamique du bras manipulateur Rhino XR-2, en utilisant des methodes de graphes de liens. On fait une simulation du manipulateur et de l'algorithme de commande et on etudie la commande adaptative du manipulateur
High-performance architecture for linear-camera vision systems

While linear cameras offer substantial advantages over RS-170 cameras for many vision applications, the lack of suitable high-performance image-processing hardware has significantly limited their potential benefits. The very large images and high data rates associated with linear cameras impose significant processing problems that limit the capabilities of current linear-camera hardware designs. A highly desirable goal is to design new hardware architectures that will significantly improve processing capabilities to exploit the advantages of linear cameras without the need for frame buffers with their inherent restrictions on image size and format. This paper describes an approach that offers significant improvements for linear-camera based vision systems without requiring frame buffers. The proposed design advocates the use of lookup tables compatible with low-cost VLSI technology to perform extensive additional low-level processing. Hardware to perform data compression and extraction of key information from image data is also covered. The overall objectives of this architecture include providing low-cost hardware, flexibility, and ease of programming.
Characteristics and influences of H1N1 communication on college students

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess how college students received and responded to H1N1 pandemic emergency preparedness information and to assess college students’ knowledge and attitudes towards H1N1 during the height of the H1N1 epidemic and corresponding public health response to the outbreak.Design/methodology/approach – Using a case study approach, the researchers conducted five focus groups at a large Southeastern US university between October 20‐29, 2009.Findings – In order to effectively communicate emergency preparedness information to college students, universities should rely on interpersonal communication and mediated communication from trusted sources. College students need to understand the health‐related emergency, the risk of the emergency, basic steps to avoid it, and only pertinent cues to action. Oversaturation of this information can lead college students to lessen their perceived importance of the disaster prevention information.Research limitations/implications – Focus g...
Real time self-pumped optical phase-conjugator-based Wigner distribution processor for complex signals

Based on a combination of linear shift-inυariant optical elements and a nonlinear photorefractiυe crystal serυing as a self-pumped optical phase-conjugator, the real time optical generation of an auto- and cross-Wigner distribution for complex signals is demonstrated.
On the possibility of localizing a resonance impurity mode

Abstract A possible application of the gap created by magnetic impurities in the phonon spectrum of a lattice, is suggested. If additional heavy mass impurities whose vibrations tend to lie within the gap, are introduced, the amplitudes of the above modes cannoy spread over the whole crystal, and they will be localized.
Radio and the commodification of natural medicine in Ecuador

This paper explores the discourse that is being created around medical commodities in one Ecuadorian city in an effort to understand how desire for new medical products is generated and sustained. Commercial natural medicine, which includes vitamins, herbal remedies and tonics is a relatively new addition to the medical marketplace in Ecuador, yet the popularity of these products seems to be growing rapidly. Much of the success of natural medicines is due to promotional campaigns, most notably radio programs, that emphasize and manipulate, important cultural themes about the body, identity, morality and social success. Although on the surface natural medicine seems to be creating a radically new discourse about the body and illness causation, that discourse ultimately serves only to reinforce the unequal social relations associated with capitalist marketplaces.
Culturing and probing physical behavior of individual breast cancer cells on SiC microdisk resonators

This digest paper reports the first experimental exploration of directly culturing and measuring breast cancer cells at single-cell level, on the surfaces of silicon carbide (SiC) microdisk resonators. Enabled by the superior biocompatibility of SiC, individual breast cancer cells are observed to attach and spread on surfaces of SiC devices within only 3 hours of culturing. Multimode resonances at very high frequencies (up to ∼100MHz) of SiC microdisks (with diameter d∼20–30µm), and their responses to single attached MDA-MB-231 cells are characterized by taking advantage of the robust presence of multiple resonance modes in biological solutions. Such devices provide a useful biosensing platform for probing physical properties and behaviors of breast cancer cells in vitro, at single-cell level and in real time.
Experimental studies on hemopoiesis in the pronephros of Rana pipiens.

Embryogenesis of hemopoietic cell populations in the pronephros of Rana pipiens was examined during embryonic and early larval development. Differential cell counts of Wright-Giemsa-stained cell suspensions demonstrated that granulopoiesis is the predominant hemopoietic activity in the pronephros, erythropoiesis accounts for a minor component of the hemopoietic activity (> 10%), and lymphopoiesis within the organ is negligible. Microdensitometric analysis of Feulgen-DNA stained granulocyte populations in pronephroses from larvae that had received chromosomally labeled pronephric anlagen transplants between 84 and 96 h of development demonstrated that hemopoiesis in this organ is dependent on colonization by an extrinsic hemopoietic stem cell. A similar analysis of pronephric hemopoiesis in larvae which had received chromosomally labeled, presumptive ventral blood island transplants between 62 and 67 h of development, indicates that granulopoietic cells are not derived from the embryonic blood islands. It is proposed that the pronephros may be the initial site of granulocyte differentiation during early embryogenesis. Although the embryonic origin of the hemopoietic stem cell is unknown, indirect evidence from this study indicates a dorsal stem cell compartment
Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A enhances MYC-driven cell cycle progression in a mouse model of B lymphoma

Elevated expression of MYC is a shared property of many human cancers. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with lymphoid malignancies, yet collaborative roles between MYC and EBV in lymphomagenesis are unclear. EBV latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) functions as a B-cell receptor (BCR) mimic known to provide survival signals to infected B cells. Co-expression of human MYC and LMP2A in mice (LMP2A/λ-MYC) accelerates B lymphoma onset compared with mice expressing human MYC alone (λ-MYC mice). Here we show a novel role of LMP2A in potentiating MYC to promote G1-S transition and hyperproliferation by downregulating cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1 in a proteasome-dependent manner. Expressing a gain-of-function S10A mutant of p27kip1 has minor effect on tumor latency. However, pretumor B cells from λ-MYC mice expressing homozygous S10A mutant show a significant decrease in the percentage of S-phase cells. Interestingly, LMP2A is able to counteract the antiproliferative effect of the S10A mutant to promote S-phase entry. Finally, we show that LMP2A expression correlates with higher levels of MYC expression and suppression of p27kip1 before lymphoma onset. Our study demonstrates a novel function of EBV LMP2A in maximizing MYC expression, resulting in hyperproliferation and cellular transformation into cancer cells in vivo.
Duodenal Histoplasmosis Presenting with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in an AIDS Patient

Gastrointestinal histoplasmosis (GIH) is common in patients with disseminated disease but only rarely comes to clinical attention due to the lack of specific signs and symptoms. We report the unusual case of a 33-year-old Caucasian male with advanced AIDS who presented with upper GI bleeding from diffuse erosions throughout the duodenum. Biopsy of the lesions revealed small bowel mucosa with granulomatous inflammation and macrophages with small intracellular yeasts consistent with disseminated histoplasmosis. The patient demonstrated significant clinical improvement following a two-week course of liposomal amphotericin B. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of duodenal histoplasmosis leading to clinically significant bleeding, manifesting with worsening anemia and melanotic stools. Given our findings, we maintain that GIH should be considered on the differential diagnosis for GI bleeding in AIDS patients at risk, specifically those with advanced immunosuppression (i.e., CD4(+) cell counts <100 cells/mm(3)) who reside in endemic areas (Ohio or Mississippi river valleys) and/or have a prior history of histoplasmosis. For diagnostic evaluation, we recommend checking a urine Histoplasma quantitative antigen EIA as well as upper and/or lower endoscopy with biopsy. We recommend treatment with a two-week course of liposomal amphotericin B followed by indefinite itraconazole.
Seasonal variations in the heavy metal concentrations of sediments influenced by highways of different traffic volumes

The distribution of contaminating waste products, particularly heavy metals, to the roadside ecosystem is cause for considerable concern, due to both the documented toxicity of these metals at low concentrations and their accumulation by resident organisms. The elements of major concern are lead from gasoline engine exhsuts, nickel from both diesel fuel and lubricating oil, and cadmium and zinc from rubber tires. Lead has been correlated to traffic density in various components of the terrestrial ecosystem. Similar results were reported for nickel, cadmium, and zinc, as well as lead. Information concerning concentration of heavy metals in roadside aquatic ecosystems is very limited. To provide an initial assessment of contamination from this source, we determined seasonal concentrations of heavy metals in stream sediment as related to traffic density. Heavy metals entering the stream ecosystem in runoff are rapidly adsorbed to sediment, providing a stable indicator of local contamination. Analysis of seasonal change in the heavy metal load of the sediment provides insight concerning the importance of runoff relative to sediment-water interaction and uptake by other componenets of the system.
Octylcyanoacrylate for the treatment of partial-thickness burns in swine: a randomized, controlled experiment.

Objective To compare re-epithelialization rates of superficial partial-thickness burns treated with octylcyanoacrylate (OCA), silver sulfadiazine (SSD), and dry gauze (controls) in swine. Methods This was a prospective, longitudinal, blinded, controlled, experimental trial using anesthetized swine. Sixty-three standardized burns were created by applying an aluminum bar preheated to 80 degrees C for 20 seconds to the flanks of four young pigs. Three equal sets of 21 burns were randomly treated with OCA spray, SSD, or dry gauze (controls). Full-thickness biopsies were taken after 30 minutes and at seven and 14 days for blinded histopathologic evaluation by two dermatopathologists using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The percent of wound re-epithelialization was measured at days 7 and 14, calculated by dividing the length of the regenerated epidermis by the measured width of the biopsy. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and repeated-measures ANOVA controlling for the individual pig were used for comparisons among groups. This study had 80% power to demonstrate a large between-group difference in percent re-epithelization (alpha = 0.05). Results There were 63 burns and 126 biopsies. Ten biopsies were excluded for technical reasons. At seven days, there was a significant between-group difference in percent re-epithelialization. Percent re-epithelialization was greatest in the OCA group (65.0%), followed by the SSD group (37.6%), and lowest in the control group (8.8%). At 14 days, all wounds demonstrated near complete re-epithelialization and there was no significant difference in the percent of re-epithelialization among the groups. There was only one wound infection in the OCA group. Conclusions Under these study conditions, treatment of partial-thickness burns with OCA spray resulted in a higher percent of re-epithelialization at seven but not 14 days when compared with both SSD and control, with no significant increase in infection rates. Future studies should evaluate the use of OCA for the treatment of burns in humans.
Synthesis of hydrogenated functional polynorbornene (HFPNB) and rheology of HFPNB-based miscible blends with hydrogen bonding

Abstract Hydrogenated functional polynorbornene (HFPNB) was first synthesized and then it was used to investigate the rheology of HFPNB-based miscible blends with hydrogen bonding. For the investigation, functional norbornene with carboxylic (–COOH) group was first synthesized and then it was polymerized, via ring-opening metathesis polymerization followed by hydrogenation, to obtain hydrogenated functional polynorbornene (HFPNB), HPNBCOOH. Subsequently, the miscibility of binary blends consisting of (1) HPNBCOOH and polycarbonate (PC) and (2) HPNBCOOH and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It has been found that both PC/HPNBCOOH and P2VP/HPNBCOOH blend systems exhibit a broad, single glass transition over the entire range of blend compositions as determined by DSC, indicating that the respective blend systems are miscible, and they were found to form hydrogen bonds as determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The dynamic oscillatory shear rheometry has shown that reduced log G′ versus log aTω and log G″ versus log aTω plots with aT being a temperature-dependent shift factor of PC/HPNBCOOH and P2VP/HPNBCOOH blend systems, respectively, are independent of temperature. Further, log G′ versus log G″ plots for both blend systems were also found to be independent of temperature. These observations indicate that an application of time–temperature superposition to the PC/HPNBCOOH and P2VP/HPNBCOOH miscible blend systems with hydrogen bonding is warranted although the difference in component glass transition temperature is as large as 91 °C for PC/HPNBCOOH blends, leading us to conclude that concentration fluctuations and dynamic heterogeneity in the HPBNCOOH-based miscible blend systems might be insignificant.
Theory of Adiabatic Susceptibility

A general proof of the equivalence between ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{S}$ and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\mathrm{iso}}$ is presented in the framework of statistical thermodynamics. It is based on the observation that transitions do occur during adiabatic processes due to the neglected small interactions which can hardly be included in the acutal Hamiltonian. A new expression is found for ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\mathrm{iso}}$ which is proved to coincide with ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{S}$ and which is rederived straightforwardly from the ergodic theorem. As an example, a system of spins with a magnetic interaction under a strong magnetic field is considered by means of the perturbation method and shown to give consistent results.
The correlation between mandible fractures and loss of consciousness

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between mandible fractures and loss of consciousness (LOC) in patients sustaining maxillofacial trauma in a level I trauma center. Patients and methods The study was a retrospective chart review performed at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, a level I trauma center. A total of 225 hospital charts of patients who sustained mandible fractures during the period from 1997 to 2001 were reviewed. The site of fracture, number of fractures per mandible, degree of displacement, and mechanism of injury were recorded. Percentages of each category were compared among patients with positive and negative LOC. Patients with any concomitant craniofacial fractures or injuries were excluded from the study. Results The incidence of LOC in patients sustaining mandible fractures was 17.6%. Young men were most likely to sustain mandibular fractures. The male-to-female ratio was 5.6:1. More than 70% of mandible fractures were due to interpersonal violence. Among various causes of interpersonal violence, use of a fist was most common. Overall, the number of fractures per patient, the incidence of singular versus multiple mandibular fractures, and the degree of displacement were less in the group with positive LOC. Body and angle regions were subjected to higher numbers of fractures, with slight variation among the 2 groups. The most common locations for mandibular fractures were the body (26% in negative LOC group; 42% in positive LOC group) and the angle (31% in negative LOC group; 26% in positive LOC group). Conclusion Nearly 1 in 5 mandible fractures was associated with positive LOC. The patient group with a positive LOC, on average, sustained fewer fractures. It is possible that when the mandible sustained fewer fractures, the dissipation of energy was reduced and more force was transmitted to the cranial vault, thereby resulting in a higher incidence of LOC.
Phorbol myristate acetate produces injury to isolated rat lungs in the presence and absence of perfused neutrophils

Abstract Because lung injury induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) has been reported by some to be mediated by blood neutrophils (PMN) and by others to occur independently of PMN, we examined the PMN dependency of PMA-induced injury in isolated, perfused lungs of rats. Depending on dose, PMA added to medium perfusing isolated rat lungs produced injury in the presence or in the absence of added PMN. When a high concentration of PMA (57 ng/ml) was added to medium devoid of added PMN, perfusion pressure and lung weight increased. Superoxide dismutase (500 U/ml) and catalase (400 U/ml) added to the medium prior to PMA had no effect on the increases in lung weight or perfusion pressure. When a concentration of PMA (21 ng/ml or less) that did not by itself cause lungs to accumulate fluid was added to perfusion medium containing PMN (1 × 10 8 ), superoxide was produced, perfusion pressure increased, and lungs accumulated fluid. Addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase to this preparation prevented the increase in lung weight, but not the increase in perfusion pressure. We conclude that high concentrations of PMA produce lung injury which is independent of neutrophils and oxygen radicals and that lower concentrations produce injury which is neutrophil-dependent and mediated by oxygen radicals. These results may explain why PMA-induced lung injury has variously been reported to be PMN-dependent in some systems and PMN-independent in others.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor works coordinately with partner molecules to initiate tyrosine hydroxylase expression in striatal neurons

Abstract Previous studies demonstrated that the cooperative interaction of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and a partner molecule could induce the novel expression of the catecholamine (CA) biosynthetic enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in striatal neurons [Du and Iacovitti, J. Neurosci., in press; Du et al., J. Neurosci., 14 (1994) 7688–7694; Iacovitti et al., submitted]. The present study demonstrates that in addition to aFGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is also capable of moderate levels of TH induction (30% TH+ striatal neurons) when administered at high concentrations (100 ng/ml). As with aFGF, BDNF's activity dependent on its coupling to an appropriate partner molecule; the most potent of which were 10 μM dopamine (DA) and 50 μM mazindol. BDNF + DA-induced TH expression was first evident after at 12 h; peaked by 18 h and declined by 4 days in culture. Cyclohexamide eliminated nearly all and α-amanitin reduced by half the TH induction elicited by DA and BDNF; indicating that both de novo transcription and translation were required for increased expression. In contrast with aFGF and BDNF, other putative dopamine differentiation factors, such as glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), were able to elicit barely detectable (10%) levels of TH induction, regardless of the partner molecule used. These studies suggest that aFGF and/or BDNF may work coordinately with partner molecules to initiate TH expression; while a number of factors including, CNTF and GDNF, may be involved in its subsequent modulation.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Rotator Cuff Disease and External Impingement

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plays a major role in helping to identify rotator cuff disease and in demonstrating the pathology associated with external impingement. Many surgeons rely on MR imaging to assist in decision making and presurgical planning for patients with rotator cuff pain. This article reviews the etiology of external impingement and rotator cuff tears, and describes the MR imaging appearance of the normal and the pathologic rotator cuffs. It focuses on the supraspinatus tendon because this is the tendon involved in 95% of rotator cuff tears.
Mask registration and wafer overlay

Overlay continues to be one of the key challenges for lithography in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. It becomes even more challenging due to the continued shrinking of the device node. Some low k1 techniques, such as Double Exposure and Double Patterning also add additional loss of the overlay margin due to the fact that the single layer pattern is created based on more than 1 exposure. Therefore, the overlay between 2 exposures requires very tight overlay specification. Mask registration is one of the major contributors to wafer overlay, especially field related overlay. We investigated mask registration and wafer overlay by co-analyzing the mask data and the wafer overlay data. To achieve the accurate cohesive results, we introduced the combined metrology mark which can be used for both mask registration measurement as well as for wafer overlay measurement. Coincidence of both metrology marks make it possible to subtract mask signature from wafer overlay without compromising the accuracy due to the physical distance between measurement marks, if we use 2 different marks for both metrologies. Therefore, it is possible to extract pure scanner related signatures, and to analyze the scanner related signatures in details to in order to enable root cause analysis and ultimately drive higher wafer yield. We determined the exact mask registration error in order to decompose wafer overlay into mask, scanner, process and metrology. We also studied the impact of pellicle mounting by comparison of mask registration measurement pre-pellicle mounting and post-pellicle mounting in this investigation.
Simple catheter preparation for permitting bolus intrathecal administration during chronic intrathecal infusion.

Abstract This paper briefly describes a simple method for preparing a polyethylene “Y” catherer in which the stem of the “Y” is inserted into the intrathecal space, one arm of the “Y” is externalized for intrathecal injection and the other arm of the “Y” connected to an osmotic infusion pump. This simple preparation permits the chronic infusion of drug into the spinal space and without further surgical preparation, permits bolus injection of drugs through the same catherer.
Addressing Stereotypes and Ageism in a Life Span Development Course

A primary purpose of teaching is to help students become able to critically evaluate their own knowledge base to see where biases and stereotypes exist. An activity that serves to structure a class...
Prostate carcinoma bone‐stroma interaction and its biologic and therapeutic implications

BACKGROUND The homing of prostate carcinoma to bone is a nonrandom, multistep process. Previous studies have revealed significant insights into how tumor cells can interact with the host microenvironment. In this communication, the author summarizes recent studies from his institution and draws conclusions from data published by others pertaining to the biologic and therapeutic implications of bone metastasis from prostate carcinoma. METHODS Tumor models have been established to study cellular interaction between human prostate carcinoma cells and bone stroma under two-dimensional and three-dimensional conditions. At the author's institution, experiments were conducted to show that prostate carcinoma cell growth and survival are enhanced in coculture with pleuripotent bone stromal cells. A cotargeting concept for the treatment of patients with prostate carcinoma bone metastasis is introduced. RESULTS Both genotypical and phenotypical responses were observed to tumor epithelium when it was cocultured under three-dimensional conditions. A “vicious cycle” that was mediated by soluble and insoluble molecules secreted by tumor and bone may be the key to supporting and sustaining tumor colonization in bone. Cotargeting tumor and stroma has yielded promising results, both in preclinical models of prostate carcinoma bone metastasis and in the clinic with patients who were treated with a dual tumor-targeting and bone-targeting strategy. CONCLUSIONS Understanding and targeting the interaction of tumor cells and bone stroma may improve the prognosis, reduce the suffering, and increase the survival of patients with advanced bone metastasis as a consequence of prostate carcinoma. Cancer 2003;97(3 Suppl):772–8. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11140
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network Beneficial Effects of Antenatal Repeated Steroids study: impact of repeated doses of antenatal corticosteroids on placental growth and histologic findings

Objective In utero exposure to repeated doses of antenatal corticosteroids (ACSs) has been shown to reduce fetal growth. Our goal was to evaluate whether weekly betamethasone (R-ACS) alters placental growth and histologic findings. Study Design In a multicenter randomized controlled trial of R-ACS vs a single course of ACS followed by weekly placebo (S-ACS), placentas were weighed after removal of the membranes and umbilical cord. A single pathologist who was masked to study group and pregnancy outcomes performed histologic evaluation for placental calcifications, infarction, fibrin deposition, and hemorrhage or thrombus formation, acute and chronic chorioamnionitis, fibromuscular vascular hyperplasia, nucleated red blood cells, and villous crowding, edema, fibrosis, or fibrinoid necrosis. Findings were compared between study groups and according to the number of courses of ACS. Results One hundred ninety-four placentas were available for evaluation. Univariable analyses revealed no differences between study groups in any of the 19 evaluated histologic parameters between R-ACS and S-ACS groups overall or in analyses that were restricted to deliveries at P = .045) in the R-ACS group after controlling for other factors. Multivariable analysis revealed increasing gestational age at delivery, but not increasing ACS courses, to be associated with decreasing chorionic inflammation, villous edema, and fibrosis and with increasing villus crowding, fibrin deposition, and calcifications. Ninety-three placentas were weighed before formalin fixation. After controlling for delivery gestation and infant gender, placental weight was significantly lower in the R-ACS group ( P = .017) and was related inversely to the number of ACS courses ( P = .037). This finding was confirmed only for deliveries at ≥32 weeks of gestation (525 vs 441 g for R-ACS and S-ACS group, respectively; P = .036). Conclusion Repeated antenatal corticosteroid treatments in pregnancy are associated with decreased placental growth in a dose-dependent fashion, but not with evident differences in histologic markers of placental inflammation, ischemia, or infarction. Histologic placental abnormalities should not be attributed to repeated courses of corticosteroids
Renal BOLD-MRI and assessment for renal hypoxia

Renal tissue hypoxia may play a major role in the progression of chronic renal disease. Michaely et al. used blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging to test this hypothesis. They found no relationship between renal oxygenation and stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, renal tissue oxygenation may be related not only to the severity of renal disease but also to its underlying etiology. This added complexity confounds interpretation of data obtained from subjects with CKD due to multiple etiologies.
Estrogen receptor analysis by flow cytometry

A fluorescently labeled estradiol, N9-fluoresceino-N9-(17 beta-estradiol hemisuccinamide) thiourea (FE) was used for measuring estrogen receptor content per cell in tumor cells. The cellular content of FE was measured quantitatively by flow cytometry. Binding of FE occurs in the nanomolar concentration range, an indication of the high affinity of the labeled estradiol. Competition of FE for binding sites is observed with estrogens, but not with progestins, androgens, or glucocorticosteroids, indicating the specificity of FE binding. In contrast to other estrogen receptor assays, this new technique requires a small sample size (about 5000 cells) and permits the assessment of heterogeneity in estrogen receptor expression among tumor cells.
Continuum percolation theory and Archie's law

[1] Results for the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, K, are adapted to generate the electrical conductivity, σ, as a function of moisture content, θ. The result for σ, evaluated θ = ϕ, (ϕ the porosity), yields σ ∝ ϕm, known as Archie's Law. This result is based on the fact that σ must vanish as the critical moisture content for percolation, θt, is approached, and on the apparent proportionality of θt to ϕ, at least in coarser porous media (with insignificant clay content). In three dimensions the power is expected to be 1.88, but in two dimensions, approximately 1.35. The former result is compatible with data summarized in Thompson et al., giving m = 1.86 ± 0.19, while the latter appears compatible with two-dimensional simulations by Kuentz et al., who found m = 1.28 ± 0.07. The same analysis demonstrates that K cannot be written as a power of the porosity.
Identification and control of gene networks in living organisms via supervised and unsupervised learning

Abstract Cells efficiently carry out organic synthesis, energy transduction, and signal processing across a range of environmental conditions and at nanometer scales—rivaling any engineered system. In the cell, these processes are orchestrated by gene networks, which we define broadly as networks of interacting genes, proteins, and metabolites. Understanding how the dynamics of gene networks give rise to cellular functions is a principal challenge in biology, and identifying their structure is the first step towards their control. This knowledge has applications ranging from the improvement of antibiotics, the engineering of microbes for environmental remediation, and the creation of biologically-derived energy sources. In this review, we discuss several methods for the identification of gene networks.
ELASTIC PROPERTIES AND DEBYE CHARACTERISTIC TEMPERATURE OF PARTIALLY MELTED YBa2Cu3O7−x SUPERCONDUCTOR

The quasi-isotropic elastic constants are measured in a 85% dense partially melted YBa2Cu3C7−x superconductor in the temperature range 80–300 K. The room temperature values of the longitudinal and shear moduli of the void-free material are found to be 168 and 59 GPa respectively, and no decrease in these constants is observed during the transition from normal to superconducting states. The Debye temperature is found to be 426 K which is comparable to that of the tetragonal phase polycrystalline BaTiO3 (429 K).
Mode Conversion of the Fast Magnetosonic Wave in a Deuterium-Hydrogen Tokamak Plasma

Model conversion from the fast magnetosonic wave to a slow wave near the two-ion hybrid resonance is shown to explain recent experimental fast-wave damping results. A model for tunneling and mode conversion of the fast wave in the two-ion resonance zone incorporating k/sub parallel/ and plasma-density and magnetic-field profiles is used to explain the observations. The strong dependence of the absorption on k/sub parallel/ and the species concentration which is obtained has important consequences for major plasma-heating programs which are planned for tokamaks.
Are seeded endothelial cells the origin of neointima on prosthetic vascular grafts

Although endothelial cell seeding has been demonstrated to be effective in producing uniform endothelial coverage on prosthetic grafts, no one has demonstrated that the seeded cells are the genetic precursors of the endothelial cells that ultimately line the graft. This study was performed to determine whether seeded endothelial cells were the source of the neoendothelial surface on Dacron vascular grafts implanted in the pig. Eight pairs of littermate male and female pigs were selected at birth and allowed to grow until their weight reached 20 to 25 kg. Endothelial cells were enzymatically harvested from the jugular vein of the female siblings and seeded onto 8 mm diameter grafts, 25 cm in length. The grafts were then implanted as a thoracoabdominal bypass into the male siblings. Seven other randomly selected pigs of similar size (four males and three females) had thoracoabdominal bypass with similar grafts, which were preclotted with autologous blood only, but not seeded. After 4 weeks, grafts in both groups were covered with a neointima that was more than 90% thrombus-free. The graft surface cells were grown in culture and were documented to be endothelium. Chromosome analysis demonstrated that the surface cells on the seeded grafts were from the male host and did not originate from the donor female cells. We conclude that seeded endothelial cells are not the source for the neointima on Dacron grafts in the porcine model. In addition, we have again documented that spontaneous endothelial coverage of grafts does occur without endothelial seeding.
Comparative effects of oral verapamil and propranolol on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia and energetics in patients with coronary artery disease: Single-blind placebo crossover evaluation using radionuclide ventriculography☆

Using multiple-gated equilibrium cardiac blood pool imaging and single-blind placebo crossover protocol, the effects of oral verapamil (VRP) (480 mg/day) were compared to those of oral propranolol (PRP) (320 mg/day) on the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and regional wall motion (RWM) abnormalities at rest and during supine bicycle exercise in 15 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). During exercise on placebo before VRP the mean LVEF fell from the resting value of 0.54 ± 0.09 to 0.47 ± 0.12 (p < 0.05); on VRP (plasma level 283 ± 150 ng/dl and noverapamil 220 ± 97 ng/dl) the corresponding values were 0.54 ± 0.11 and 0.53 ± 0.13 (NS). On placebo before PRP, exercise reduced LVEF from 0.54 ± 0.13 to 0.48 ± 0.14 (p < 0.05); on PRP (plasma level 144 ± 59 ng/dl) the resting LVEF was 0.54 ± 0.11 and exercise LVEF 0.52 ± 0.13 (NS). Both drugs reduced the exercise-induced RWM (interoapical) abnormality and ST segment depression but the changes were only significant (p < 0.05) in the case of VRP. PRP attenuated the exercise-induced increase in heart rate by 24.5% (p < 0.005), in systolic blood pressure by 13.4% (p < 0.001), in diastolic pressure by 8.7% (p < 0.005), and in rate-pressure product by 34.5% (p < 0.001). VRP reduced the exercise heart rate response by 10.3% (p < 0.001), systolic pressure by 4.6% (NS), diastolic pressure by 7.9% (p < 0.005), and rate-pressure product by 14.6% (p < 0.001). These data suggest that VRP and PRP exhibit comparable potency in reducing the ischemic consequences of exercise stress in CAD patients. In the case of PRP, the beneficial effect was accountable in terms of reduction in oxygen demand; in the case of VRP, additional mechanisms such as those involving myocardial metabolism or primary changes in perfusion may be involved.
Bioenergetics of rat prostate cancer cell migration

BACKGROUND. Increased cell motility and increased glycolysis are two well-known hallmarks of cancer. We undertook these studies to determine whether increased glycolysis is required for prostate cancer cell locomotion. METHODS. We studied the highly metastatic MatLu cell line, which is a variant of the Dunning R-3327 rat prostate adenocarcinoma model. Using videomicroscopy and computer image analysis, we compared the speed of migration of cells grown in serum-free medium in either the presence or absence of glucose. RESULTS. We found that cells grown in glucose-free, conditioned medium maintained speeds of migration and intracellular ATP levels for 24 hr which were equivalent to those of cells grown in conditioned medium containing glucose. In contrast, migration was significantly inhibited by growth in glucose-free, unconditioned medium. We also tested the effect of antimycin A and rotenone, two inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport, on cell migration and ATP levels. Antimycin A had no significant effect on either feature, while rotenone slightly inhibited cell migration without affecting ATP levels. CONCLUSIONS. 1) Glycolysis is not necessary for rat prostate cancer cell locomotion in the presence of conditioned medium. 2) MatLu cells grown in the absence of both serum and conditioned medium require glucose to maintain cellular ATP levels and cell migration. 3) MatLu cells in conditioned medium adapt to inhibition of glycolysis or mitochondrial respiration by increasing the activity of the uninhibited pathway. Prostate 34:137‐144, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An integrated color smalltalk-80 system

The Smalltalk-80™ user interface and graphics model are based on monochromatic graphics. One natural step in the evolution of the Smalltalk-80 system is the addition of color. This paper describes an implementation of color Smalltalk. Classes have been defined to manipulate visual color models and colored graphics objects. The extensive collaboration between classes which describe color, classes which perform basic graphics operations, and classes in the user interface is explored. Issues in the design and implementation are examined. Potential future directions for object-oriented color systems are discussed.
Systematic development of nonlinear analog circuit macromodels through successive operator composition and nonlinear model decoupling

This paper presents a systematic methodology for developing structural nonlinear macromodels for analog circuits. The methodology includes two steps: first, a nonlinear system is represented as a system with nonlinear inputs and linearly coupled blocks. Then, the linear couplings are removed. The methodology also uses a novel description of circuit nonlinearities as a successive composition of three operators. The generated nonlinear models are scalable, tunable according to the required accuracy, and offer insight into the circuit operation.
3-D brain image registration using optimal morphological processing and iterative principal axis transform

The 3-D registration of magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomographic (PET) images of the brain is of significant interest for various reasons. A new MR and PET brain registration procedure is presented here. The procedure is based on the iterative principal axis transform (IPAR) and the optimal shape description method based on the morphological signature transform. The morphological processing is used to improve the accuracy of the basic IPAR method. A genetic algorithm is used to select a near-optimal structuring element for MST-based registration. The results demonstrate that the method provides an accurate registration. >
Electronic Structures of Oxo-Metal Ions

The dianionic oxo ligand occupies a very special place in coordination chemistry, owing to its ability to donate π electrons to stabilize high oxidation states of metals. The ligand field theory of multiple bonding in oxo-metal ions, which was formulated in Copenhagen 50 years ago, predicts that there must be an “oxo wall” between Fe–Ru–Os and Co–Rh–Ir in the periodic table. In this tribute to Carl Ballhausen, we review this early work as well as new developments in the field. In particular, we discuss the electronic structures of beyond-the-wall (groups 9 and 10) complexes containing metals multiply bonded to O- and N-donor ligands.