cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the uniform convergence of interpolating polynomials

A sufficient condition is given for a continuous power series f(x) on [0, 1] to be the uniform limit of its sequence P"nf of interpolating polynomials at n+1 equally spaced nodes. The proof is based on expanding the Newton coefficients of P"nf in terms of Stirling numbers of the second kind and applying an Abel-like summation formula. Convergence rates of P"nf and of related coefficient sequences are estimated. Similar results follow for Bernstein polynomials and their derivatives.
Ethanol-induced inhibition of mouse brain adenosine triphosphatase activities: lack of interaction with norepinephrine in vitro

The in vitro effects of ethanol on C57BL/6J mouse forebrain ATPase activities were investigated in the presence and absence of norepinephrine. Three enzyme activities (Na + K-ATPase, Mg-ATPase, and low affinity Ca-ATPase) were studied in forebrain homogenates using a colorimetric assay. The effect of norepinephrine on ethanol inhibition of Sprague-Dawley rat brain Na + K-ATPase activity was examined in selected experiments for direct comparison with the results obtained using mouse brain. Ethanol (250-2000 mM) inhibited all ATPase activities in a concentration-dependent manner. In each case the IC50 was well beyond what would be a lethal concentration in vivo. Ethanol inhibition of mouse forebrain Na + K-ATPase activity was competitive with regards to K+ ion concentration, but was uncompetitive for inhibition of Mg-ATPase and Ca-ATPase activities. Norepinephrine (0.1 mM) did not sensitize mouse brain Na + K-ATPase activity to ethanol-induced inhibition. In contrast, norepinephrine sensitized rat brain Na + K-ATPase to ethanol inhibition when tested simultaneously with mouse brain under identical conditions. These results cannot be explained by differences in assay conditions and suggest that the interaction between norepinephrine and ethanol inhibition of Na + K-ATPase activity may be species specific. Norepinephrine alone stimulated mouse and rat brain Na + K-ATPase activity when assayed in imidazole buffer, but not when assayed in tris buffer. Furthermore, 0.1 mM norepinephrine slightly antagonized the inhibitory effect of ethanol on mouse brain Mg-ATPase activity, but did not affect ethanol-induced inhibition of Ca-ATPase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
New anti-lung-cancer antibody cluster 12 reacts with human folate receptors present on adenocarcinoma.

Human folate receptor (hFR, folate-binding protein) is a single-chain glycoprotein with high specific affinity for folk acid and methotrexate. We have created 4 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to hFR, all of which react specifically with purified hFR in Western blots. Flow cytometry indicated that the antibodies all had patterns of reactivity against epithelial cell lines similar to that of antibody MW207 (workshop antibody 12), labeling 2 breast-tumor cell lines and 2 of 5 SCLC without labeling the one non-small-cell carcinoma tested. We used the antibodies to trace the in situ distribution of hFR in histologically normal tissues and in lung tumors by a sensitive alkaline-phasphatase-anti-alkaline-phosphatase immunohistochemical technique. In frozen sections of normal lung, hFR was diffusely distributed on cell membranes of type-1 and type-2 pneumocytes and mucociliary and basilar respiratory epithelial cells of distal bronchi. The receptor was focally expressed by mucociliary cells of proximal respiratory mucosa and by macrophages, but was not detected in stromal smooth muscle, fibroblasts or lymphoid cells. In tumors, hFR was heavily and diffusely expressed on cell membranes of 9 of 10 pulmonary adenocarcinomas, S of S bronchi oloalveolar carcinomas and 2 of 2 carcinoid tumors. It was focally expressed in 3 of 5 large-cell lung carcinomas and was absent from 4 of 5 small-cell carcinomas, 18 of 22 invasive squamous carcinomas, 2 of 2 in situ squamous carcinomas, and 13 of 13 squamous dysplasias of bronchial mucosa. We conclude that hFR is heavily expressed in situ by normal alveolar and bronchial epithelium and by adenocarcinoma of lung. It is usually absent from small-cell carcinoma and squamous tumors at levels detectable by immunohistochemistry.
Thin-shell mixing in radiative wind-shocks and the Lx ∼ Lbol scaling of O-star X-rays

X-ray satellites since Einstein have empirically established that the X-ray luminosity from single O-stars scales linearly with bolometric luminosity, Lx ~ 10^{-7} Lbol. But straightforward forms of the most favored model, in which X-rays arise from instability-generated shocks embedded in the stellar wind, predict a steeper scaling, either with mass loss rate Lx ~ Mdot ~ Lbol^{1.7} if the shocks are radiative, or with Lx ~ Mdot^{2} ~ Lbol^{3.4} if they are adiabatic. This paper presents a generalized formalism that bridges these radiative vs. adiabatic limits in terms of the ratio of the shock cooling length to the local radius. Noting that the thin-shell instability of radiative shocks should lead to extensive mixing of hot and cool material, we propose that the associated softening and weakening of the X-ray emission can be parametrized as scaling with the cooling length ratio raised to a power m$, the "mixing exponent". For physically reasonable values m ~= 0.4, this leads to an X-ray luminosity Lx ~ Mdot^{0.6} ~ Lbol that matches the empirical scaling. To fit observed X-ray line profiles, we find such radiative-shock-mixing models require the number of shocks to drop sharply above the initial shock onset radius. This in turn implies that the X-ray luminosity should saturate and even decrease for optically thick winds with very high mass-loss rates. In the opposite limit of adiabatic shocks in low-density winds (e.g., from B-stars), the X-ray luminosity should drop steeply with Mdot^2. Future numerical simulation studies will be needed to test the general thin-shell mixing ansatz for X-ray emission.
Biological role of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein family of transcription factors

CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) comprise a family of transcription factors that are critical for normal cellular differentiation and function in a variety of tissues. The prototypic C/EBP is a modular protein, consisting of an activation domain, a dimerization bZIP region, and a DNA-binding domain. All family members share the highly conserved dimerization domain, required for DNA binding, by which they form homo- and heterodimers with other family members. C/EBPs are least conserved in their activation domains and vary from strong activators to dominant negative repressors. The pleiotropic effects of C/EBPs are in part because of tissue- and stage-specific expression. Dimerization of different C/EBP proteins precisely modulates transcriptional activity of target genes. Recent work with mice deficient in specific C/EBPs underscores the effects of these factors in tissue development, function, and response to injury.
Acoustic propagation in resonant axisymmetric cavities enclosing an inhomogeneous medium. Part II: Cavity with center body

Analysis of acoustic propagation of standing waves in rigid axisymmetric cavities enclosing an inhomogeneous medium is extended to cavities with concentric center bodies. An approximation is adopted to study the problem parametrically. Results from this analysis are checked against a more accurate numerical model which relies on surface elements and a Green’s function modified to account for medium inhomogeneity. The center body may enhance the transfer of energy through the c gradient in the case of transverse waves corresponding to the lowest radial harmonic.
3382 Clinical outcome of enteral stents for palliation of malignant obstruction.

Background: Endoscopic enteral stents have emerged as reasonable alternatives to palliative surgery in malignant intestinal obstruction. There is an extensive outcome experience with endoscopic stenting of malignant esophageal obstruction but little information about endoscopic stenting of other gastrointestinal sites. We report our experience with enteral stents for malignant non-esophageal obstruction. Methods: Data of all patients who had undergone enteral stenting at our institution between April 96 to Oct 99, entered into a prospective database, were reviewed. Results: Twenty-nine patients with a mean age of 67.7 years (33 to 87 years) were studied. Thirteen (45%) were male and 16 (55%) female. The diagnoses were gastric (16.1%), duodenal (9.7%), pancreatic (38.7%), metastatic (25.8%) and other (3.2%) malignancies. Malignant obstruction occurred at the pylorus (25.8%), 1 st part of duodenum (35.5%), 2 nd part of duodenum (25.8%), 3 rd part of duodenum (3.2%), colon (3.2%) and anastomotic sites (6.5%). Enteral Wallstents (Boston Scientific Microvasive, Natick, MA) of length 90 or 60 mm with diameter 22mm were used in all patients. Twenty-seven (94%) of the procedures were successful with good clinical outcome. Of the two failures (6%), one had malposition of the stent while the other had a severe obstruction which did not permit passage of a guidewire. Two had re-obstruction by tumor ingrowth after a mean stent survival time of 197 days and were successfully palliated by deploying a second stent within the original obstructed stent. There were no complications attributed to enteral stenting but one death occurred after one day in a patient with multiple organ failure. Of the 29 patients, 12 have died with a median survival time of 44 days. Conclusion: Endoscopic enteral stenting of non-esophageal malignant obstruction is a safe procedure with good clinical outcome as stent patency is likely to outlast the patient s survival.
Effects of alcohol on attack and defensive-submissive reactions in rats.

The effects of alcohol on fighting behavior in pairs of rats were studied when either the dominant or the subordinate animal was given the drug. Intense fighting episodes, consisting of all major acts and postures of attack, threat, defense, and submission, were generated between two otherwise isolated male Sprague-Dawley rats in a situation in which the accustomed food reinforcement was omitted. Alcohol (10% w/v) was administered intraperitoneally 10 min prior to the fighting test. A low dose (0.5 g/kg), when given to the dominant animal, increased the frequency of biting attack and prolonged the display of the aggressive posture. Higher doses of alcohol (1.0, 1.5 g/kg) suppressed attack behavior and, when given to the subordinate animal, impaired defensive upright postures. In a further experiment, animals without fighting or drug experience were subjected to attack by a non-treated dominant animal. When treated with alcohol (1.0, 1.5 g/kg) naive rats were more frequently attacked and injured, but reacted more readily to initial attacks by submissive-supine postures. The results demonstrate differential effects of alcohol depending on the type of drug recipient (dominant, experienced subordinate, or naive). The drug had greater effect on attack behavior than on defensive-submissive reactions.
Malate dehydrogenase, evidence for tetrameric structure in mus musculus.

Two electrophoretically distinct variants of supernatant nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent malate dehydrogenase exist in mice (Mus musculus). They are controlled by codominant alleles segregating at an autosomal locus. The two forms exist in a polymorphic condition in wild populations of Mus musculus and are fixed in a homozygous condition in inbred lines. These genetic electrophoretic variants are used here to study the subunit structure of this enzyme. Evidence indicating a tetrameric structure for mouse nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent malate dehydrogenase is presented. This interpretation is based on the occurrence in heterozygote tissue extracts of five electrophoretically distinct enzymes. This is the predicted phenotype for tetramers composed of two types of subunits which associate randomly in heterozygotes forming three hybrid enzymes having mobilities intermediate between the parental forms.
Early-life seizures in predisposing neuronal preconditioning: a critical review.

Abstract Although seizures are known to be harmful, recent evidence indicates that they can also lead to adaptations that protect neurons from further insult. For example, a history of two episodes of status epilepticus during a critical period of early development can prolong the time period of resistance to hippocampal injury during the postnatal period. Neonatal seizures may lead to this neuroprotection via a preconditioning mechanism that could be attributed to attenuation of Ca 2 + currents, reduction of inflammation, and induction of survival signaling pathways. Understanding mechanisms underlying neuroprotective preconditioning may elucidate new therapeutic targets and improve outcomes and quality of life for pediatric epilepsy patients. This review will detail the specific cellular and molecular findings involved in neuronal preconditioning predisposed by early-life seizures.
Gamma Radiation Induced Noise in a CCD Imager

In this paper, measurements of gamma well filling and noise generation in 100 × 100 pixel CCD imagers with bulk and reduced photosite collection volumes will be reported. The measurements were made at dose rates from 1.5 to 35 rad(Si)/sec which produce signals from 8 to 90% of well saturation in the 0.1 sec integration time. The rate of well filling in the 9 to 12 micrometer thick devices was only 25% of that in the 200 micrometer thick bulk device. Noise values from 55 to 60 times the optical shot noise were measured in the thin devices and described using a previously developed noise model. A value of 35 was measured in the thick device. The lower than expected gamma induced noise in the thick device was modeled using a diffusion-recombination mechanism.
Noninvasive quantification of whole-brain cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) by MRI

Cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) is an important marker for brain function and brain health. Existing techniques for quantification of CMRO2 with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or MRI involve special equipment and/or exogenous agent, and may not be suitable for routine clinical studies. In the present study, a non-invasive method is developed to estimate whole-brain CMRO2 in humans. This method applies phase-contrast MRI for quantitative blood flow measurement and T2-Relaxation-Under-Spin-Tagging (TRUST) MRI for venous oxygenation estimation, and uses the Fick principle of arteriovenous difference for the calculation of CMRO2. Whole-brain averaged CMRO2 values in young, healthy subjects were 132.1±20.0 μmol/100g/min, in good agreement with literature reports using PET. Various acquisition strategies for phase-contrast and TRUST MRI were compared, and it was found that non-gated phase-contrast and sagittal sinus TRUST MRI were able to provide the most efficient and accurate estimation of CMRO2. In addition, blood flow and venous oxygenation were found to be positively correlated across subjects. Owing to the non-invasive nature of this method, it may be a convenient and useful approach for assessment of brain metabolism in brain disorders as well as under various physiologic conditions.
The vertical distribution of tropospheric aerosols at Barrow, Alaska

The vertical distribution of tropospheric aerosols near Barrow, Alaska (latitude 71°21? N, longitude 156°30? W) was determined by measuring the optical atmospheric transmission in the mid-visible at different altitudes with an airborne photometer. Measurements of the vertical aerosol distribution for periods in April and July 1972, are discussed. The aerosol concentration for both periods decreased exponentially with increasing height with a scale height equal to 1.4 ± 0.3 km. A seasonal variation in turbidity (and the corresponding columnar aerosol loading) was found. In general, the spring turbidity values were larger than the mid-summer values, thereby suggesting an aerosol mechanism which operates at low temperatures. It is hypothesized that the aerosols may be ice crystals seeded by open leads and mixed into the troposphere. A minimum value of aerosol optical depth (? D = 0.05 ± 0.01) occurred after the passage of a cold front. Possible effects of ice crystal aerosols on the heat budget of the arctic basin are discussed. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1975.tb01653.x
The Sensory Gating Inventory as a potential diagnostic tool for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often made rapidly in physicians’ offices without thorough assessment. We examined whether adults diagnosed with ADHD would score differently from controls on a modified Sensory Gating Inventory (SGI: Hetrick et al. in Schizophr Bull 38:178–191, 2012; Kisley et al. in Psychophysiol 41:604–612, 2004), which would facilitate rapid and easy preliminary assessment of ADHD status. The modified SGI was administered to 22 controls and 22 adults with physician diagnoses of ADHD. Analysis was performed on the 17 SGI items and the three categories to which they belong (Perceptual Modulation, Distractibility, and Over-Inclusion). The Distractibility category, and its individual items, showed large group differences. In spite of a relatively small sample size, we found large effect sizes between those with and without ADHD diagnoses. The SGI is a simple, quick, paper/pencil method that may be used to facilitate accurate diagnosis of individuals experiencing ADHD symptoms, which may be especially useful when evaluations are made in settings such as physicians’ offices.
Neural correlates of social odor recognition and the representation of individual distinctive social odors within entorhinal cortex and ventral subiculum

Recognition of individual conspecifics is important for social behavior and requires the formation of memories for individually distinctive social signals. Individual recognition is often mediated by olfactory cues in mammals, especially nocturnal rodents such as golden hamsters. In hamsters, this form of recognition requires main olfactory system input to the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEnt). Here, we tested whether neurons in LEnt and the nearby ventral subiculum (VS) would show cellular correlates of this natural form of recognition memory. Two hundred ninety single neurons were recorded from both superficial (SE) and deep layers of LEnt (DE) and VS while male hamsters investigated volatile odorants from female vaginal secretions. Many neurons encoded differences between female's odors with many discriminating between odors from different individual females but not between different odor samples from the same female. Other neurons discriminated between odor samples from one female and generalized across collections from other females. LEnt and VS neurons showed enhanced or suppressed cellular activity during investigation of previously presented odors and in response to novel odors. A majority of SE neurons decreased firing to odor repetition and increased activity to novel odors. In contrast, DE neurons often showed suppressed activity in response to novel odors. Thus, neurons in LEnt and VS of male hamsters encode information that is critical for the identification and recognition of individual females by odor cues. This study reveals cellular mechanisms in LEnt and VS that may mediate a natural form of recognition memory in hamsters. These neuronal responses were similar to those observed in rats and monkeys during performance in standard recognition memory tasks. Consequently, the present data extend our understanding of the cellular basis for recognition memory and suggest that individual recognition requires similar neural mechanisms as those employed in laboratory tests of recognition memory.
Presynaptic CaV1.3 Channels Regulate Synaptic Ribbon Size and Are Required for Synaptic Maintenance in Sensory Hair Cells

L-type calcium channels (CaV1) are involved in diverse processes, such as neurotransmission, hormone secretion, muscle contraction, and gene expression. In this study, we uncover a role for CaV1.3a in regulating the architecture of a cellular structure, the ribbon synapse, in developing zebrafish sensory hair cells. By combining in vivo calcium imaging with confocal and super-resolution structured illumination microscopy, we found that genetic disruption or acute block of CaV1.3a channels led to enlargement of synaptic ribbons in hair cells. Conversely, activating channels reduced both synaptic-ribbon size and the number of intact synapses. Along with enlarged presynaptic ribbons in caV1.3a mutants, we observed a profound loss of juxtaposition between presynaptic and postsynaptic components. These synaptic defects are not attributable to loss of neurotransmission, because vglut3 mutants lacking neurotransmitter release develop relatively normal hair-cell synapses. Moreover, regulation of synaptic-ribbon size by Ca2+ influx may be used by other cell types, because we observed similar pharmacological effects on pinealocyte synaptic ribbons. Our results indicate that Ca2+ influx through CaV1.3 fine tunes synaptic ribbon size during hair-cell maturation and that CaV1.3 is required for synaptic maintenance.
Spatial distribution of calcium-gated chloride channels in olfactory cilia.

Background In vertebrate olfactory receptor neurons, sensory cilia transduce odor stimuli into changes in neuronal membrane potential. The voltage changes are primarily caused by the sequential openings of two types of channel: a cyclic-nucleotide-gated (CNG) cationic channel and a calcium-gated chloride channel. In frog, the cilia are 25 to 200 µm in length, so the spatial distributions of the channels may be an important determinant of odor sensitivity. Principal Findings To determine the spatial distribution of the chloride channels, we recorded from single cilia as calcium was allowed to diffuse down the length of the cilium and activate the channels. A computational model of this experiment allowed an estimate of the spatial distribution of the chloride channels. On average, the channels were concentrated in a narrow band centered at a distance of 29% of the ciliary length, measured from the base of the cilium. This matches the location of the CNG channels determined previously. This non-uniform distribution of transduction proteins is consistent with similar findings in other cilia. Conclusions On average, the two types of olfactory transduction channel are concentrated in the same region of the cilium. This may contribute to the efficient detection of weak stimuli.
Melnick-Neddles osteodysplasia associated with pulmonary hypertension, obstructive uropathy and marrow hypoplasia

A three and one half-year-old female with Melnick-Needles osteodysplasia is presented. In addition to the characteristic bone roentgenograms and obstructive uropathy, the patient had inadequate formation of bone marrow elements and pulmonary artery hypertension.
R‐matrix solution of coupled equations for inelastic scattering

The R‐matrix propagation method for solving the close coupled equations for inelastic scattering is presented. The method is shown to be fast, accurate, and stable without the need for stabilizing transformations. We demonstrate the use of this method for two model close coupling problems, and investigate the rate of convergence of the solutions.
A theory of follicle selection: I. Hypotheses and examples.

A theory of follicle selection is developed in which all follicles, ovulatory and atretic, inherit the same developmental plan for responding to circulating concentrations of estradiol and gonadotropins. In the model, this plan is represented by a maturation surface that determines the rate of follicle growth as a function of follicle maturity and circulating hormone concentration. Examples of maturation surfaces are constructed for single and multiple spontaneous ovulators. When model follicles are activated from the reserve pool at random times, spontaneous and coordinated cycles of maturation develop in which the number of ovulatory follicles is controlled within a small and predictable range. For a given maturation surface, this range is nearly independent of the number of follicles in the interacting population, their activation times, and their initial maturities. The theory is therefore consistent with Lipschutz’s Law of Follicular Constancy. The theory can account for certain statistical effects that occur with age on the timing of ovulation and the control of ovulation number. Maturation surfaces are also constructed that exhibit spontaneous transitions from cyclic to steady anovulatory behavior. The theory predicts an important regulatory role for atretic follicles in controlling both the timing of maturation and the number of follicles that reach ovulatory maturity.
The dental cartoons of Honoré Daumier (1808-1879)

Honore Victorin Daumier produced more than 4,000 lithographs and drawings in France during the tumultuous 19th century. Six of the lithographs depict aspects of dentistry’s early development. Flamboyant practitioners and visit to dental offices inspired some of Daumier’s most satiric comments. All six lithographs are reproduced in this article, and the history of dental practice depicted in the lithographs is discussed.
A multilingual knowledge management system: A case study of FAO and WAICENT

This paper provides a case study of a multilingual knowledge management system for a large organization. In so doing we elicit what it means for a system to be ''multilingual'' and how that changes some previous research on knowledge management. Some researchers have viewed multilingual as meaning a multilingual user interface. However, that is only a small part of the story. In this case we find multilingual also refers to a broad range of ''multilingual,'' including multilingual knowledge resources, multilingual feedback from users, multilingual search, multilingual ontologies and other concerns.
Symbolism in Developing Countries A Perspective

It is clear that the more powerful nations have systematically stripped the poorer, developing nations of the world of their rights, their strengths, and their resources. These larger nations have entered into local politics to such an extent that selfdetermination, in the classic sense, has been virtually denied the developing nations. Indeed, the developing nations are being exploited both by outsiders and by insiders who arealigned with outsiders. Their peoples are being deprived of their rightful powers and rewards. Initially the colonialists accomplished this by plundering-the use of brute force. Later came gunboat diplomacy-employing threats of force. Today the neo-colonialists and imperialists use words as the chief means of control. The masses in the developing countries are being told untruths and half-truths designed to alleviate frustration. But the power of words relies on a plethora of rules and connotations. Many today feel that the continuing war of words is the single biggest cause of oppression in the world.
Alternative Approaches To Compensatory Education: Expenditure Effects:

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 introduced a program to provide financial assistance to school districts in relation to their numbers of low-income pupils. In the fiscal year 1977, this Title I program provided more than $2.2 billion of aid. There is now substantial debate in the Congress and the administration, as well as in education circles, about the desirability of changing the block grant system that is currently used by the Title Iprogram. Thepresent article employs a behavioral simulation model and data on 4,693 school districts to provide new information about the expenditure effects of the current program and three major alternatives.
Long-term restitution of 4-aminopyridine-sensitive currents in Kv1DN ventricular myocytes using adeno-associated virus-mediated delivery of Kv1.5

Overexpression of a dominant-negative truncated Kv1.1 (Kv1DN) polypeptide in the mouse heart resulted in marked attenuation of a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-sensitive current, I(K,slow1). We used recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) as a vector for direct delivery of Kv1.5 into the mouse myocardium in order to normalize the action potential duration (APD) 6 months after injection. The injection of rAAV-Kv1.5 reconstituted the 4-AP-sensitive outward potassium currents, shortened the APD, and eliminated spontaneous early afterdepolarizations. Immunoblots detected the FL-Kv1.5 polypeptides only in rAAV-Kv1.5-infected hearts. These data demonstrate long-term expression of 4-AP-sensitive potassium currents in ventricular myocytes by gene transfer using rAAV vector encodes Kv1.5.
Risk of cerebral metastases and neurological death after pathological complete response to neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer: clinical implications for the subsequent management of the brain.

BACKGROUND. The incidence and pattern of brain metastases was analyzed among patients who achieved a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS. Between 1990 and 2004, 211 patients were treated with neoadjuvant therapy before surgical resection for stage III NSCLC. The clinical course of 51 patients who demonstrated a pCR were reviewed. The neoadjuvant regimen consisted of either chemotherapy (29 patients) or chemoradiotherapy (22 patients). Histology was 45% adenocarcinoma, 41% squamous cell, and 14% large cell carcinoma. No patient received prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). RESULTS. Overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 82%, 63%, and 42%, respectively. The most common site of initial recurrence was the brain. Twenty-two (43%) patients developed brain metastasis as the site of first failure, which represented 71% of all isolated recurrences. Ultimately, 28 (55%) patients developed brain metastases at some point during their clinical course. The 5-year estimates of brain metastasis-free survival for patients with squamous and nonsquamous cancers were 57% and 34%, respectively (P = .02). Median survival from the time of brain metastasis was 10 and 5 months for those with isolated and nonisolated recurrences, respectively. CONCLUSION. Patients with a pCR after multimodality therapy for locally advanced NSCLC are at excessively high risk for the subsequent development of brain metastases. Implications for management strategies including PCI and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are discussed. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Overcoming mass-transfer limitations in the Dual Bed Colloidal Suspension Reactor

Abstract Mass-transfer limitations are examined for a conceptual photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell “Z-scheme” reactor, the Dual Bed Colloidal Suspension Reactor (DBCSR). Modeling of the DBCSR shows mass-transfer limitations along the width of the reactor prevent full use of the channel photocatalysts. To overcome this challenge, recycling of product gas to sparge the electrolyte solution is proposed as a method to enhance mass transfer. Dimensionless mass-transfer correlations, based on experimental data obtained using two fabricated diffusion cells, are proposed to describe the mass-transfer rate. Additionally, the results suggest that reactor size influences solution convection patterns. An energy analysis is presented that shows that gas sparging is a low energy-consumption option to mitigate mass-transfer limitations.
Neonatal treatment with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs alters peripheral lymphocyte subsets and cellular and humorally mediated immune responses in juvenile and adult male monkeys.

We examined the effect of treatment with a LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist (Ag), antagonist (Ant), or Ant and androgen (Ant/And) for the first 4 months of postnatal life on lymphocyte subsets and cellular and humorally mediated immune responses in juvenile and adult male monkeys. We also determined the effect of 9 weeks of Ant treatment on lymphocyte subsets in adult male monkeys. Adult male monkeys that had been treated neonatally with an Ag had increased levels of CD8-positive (CD8+) T-cells and reduced levels of B-cells compared to vehicle-treated controls. Lymphocytes from these animals also showed an elevated proliferative response to a variety of mitogens compared to cells from control animals. Antibody production in response to tetanus toxoid was normal in treated animals. Other neonates treated with Ant/And exhibited subnormal levels of lymphocytes, CD8+ T-cells, and B-cells at 4 months of age. Similar changes, but of lesser magnitude, were observed in animals treated with Ant alone. At 6 mont...
The effects of sleep on median nerve short latency somatosensory evoked potentials

Abstract The effects of sleep on median nerve short latency somatosensory evoked potentials were studied in 7 subjects made up of 6 patients being evaluated for seizure disorders by all-night electroencephalograms and 1 normal healthy volunteer. The median nerve was stimulated at the wrist, and the peripheral (N9), subcortical (P13) and early cortical (N1, P2) evoked potentials were recorded during full wakefulness and natural night-time sleep. Sleep-wake state was monitored by the simultaneously obtained polysomnogram. The latencies of the cortical responses were prolonged during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. In 3 of the subjects P2 was consistently bifid during NREM sleep only. The second component of the bifid potential, 3–4 msec longer in latency than the first, appeared to be selectively enhanced during NREM sleep whereas the first component tended to become less prominent or even disappear. This suggests that the 2 peaks have different generators that are affected differently by NREM sleep. These are clinically relevant findings for interpretation of routine clinical studies.
Tumor Necrosis Factor α-Mediated Insulin Resistance, but Not Dedifferentiation, Is Abrogated by MEK1/2 Inhibitors in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) has been implicated as a contributing mediator of insulin resistance observed in pathophysiological conditions such as obesity, cancer-induced cachexia, and bacterial infections. Previous studies have demonstrated that TNFalpha confers insulin resistance by promoting phosphorylation of serine residues on insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), thereby diminishing subsequent insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1. However, little is known about which signaling molecules are involved in this process in adipocytes and about the temporal sequence of events that ultimately leads to TNFalpha-stimulated IRS-1 serine phosphorylation. In this study, we demonstrate that specific inhibitors of the MAP kinase kinase (MEK)1/2-p42/44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway restore insulin signaling to normal levels despite the presence of TNFalpha. Additional experiments show that MEK1/2 activity is required for TNFalpha-induced IRS-1 serine phosphorylation, thereby suggesting a mechanism by which these inhibitors restore insulin signaling. We observe that TNFalpha requires 2.5-4 h to markedly reduce insulin-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Although TNFalpha activates p42/44 MAP kinase, maximal stimulation is observed within 10-30 min. To our surprise, p42/44 activity returns to basal levels well before IRS-1 serine phosphorylation and insulin resistance are observed. These activation kinetics suggest a mechanism of p42/44 action more complicated than a direct phosphorylation of IRS-1 triggered by the early spike of TNFalpha-induced p42/44 activity. Chronic TNFalpha treatment (>> 72 h) causes adipocyte dedifferentiation, as evidenced by the loss of triglycerides and down-regulation of adipocyte-specific markers. We observe that this longer term TNFalpha-mediated dedifferentiation effect utilizes alternative, p42/44 MAP kinase-independent intracellular pathways. This study suggests that TNFalpha-mediated insulin resistance, but not adipocyte dedifferentiation, is mediated by the MEK1/2-p42/44 MAP kinase pathway.
Implementing the batch means method in simulation experiments

This paper reviews and evaluates strategies for implementing the batch means method for estimating the mean of a stationary simulation output process.
Pediatric Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Given the emerging role of the intestinal microbiota as a key regulator of host physiology in health and disease, therapies that modulate enteric bacterial communities offer promise for a variety of clinical disorders. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) represents a fundamental approach to manipulate the gut microbiota, accomplished by administering stool from a healthy donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a diseased recipient. However, despite the plausible feasibility of FMT, there is a paucity of clinical trials evaluating its efficacy, particularly in the pediatric population. To this end, this review seeks to accomplish three primary objectives. First, the rationale and data supporting the efficacy of FMT will be discussed. Second, practical considerations for the use of FMT in a clinical setting will be reviewed. Finally, future areas of study regarding FMT will be identified. Importantly, key studies addressing the role of FMT in pediatric patients will be highlighted.
Modeling of chromosome motility during mitosis

Chromosome motility is a highly regulated and complex process that ultimately achieves proper segregation of the replicated genome. Recent modeling studies provide a computational framework for investigating how microtubule assembly dynamics, motor protein activity and mitotic spindle mechanical properties are integrated to drive chromosome motility. Among other things, these studies show that metaphase chromosome oscillations can be explained by a range of assumptions, and that non-oscillatory states can be achieved with modest changes to the model parameters. In addition, recent microscopy studies provide new insight into the nature of the coupling between force on the kinetochore and kinetochore-microtubule assembly/disassembly. Together, these studies facilitate advancement toward a unified model that quantitatively predicts chromosome motility.
Human development index as a predictor of infant and maternal mortality rates.

Objective The United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index of life expectancy, literacy, and per capita gross domestic product that measures the socioeconomic development of a country. We estimated infant and maternal mortality rates in the world and assessed how well the HDI and its individual components predicted infant and maternal mortality rates for individual countries. Materials Data on mortality rates and values for HDI components were obtained from the United Nations and the World Bank. Results For the 1987 to 1990 period, approximately 9 million infant deaths and 349,000 maternal deaths occurred in the world annually, yielding global infant and maternal mortality rates of 67 per 1000 and 250 per 100,000 live births, respectively. HDI is a powerful predictor of both infant and maternal mortality rates. It accounts for 85% to 92% of the variation in infant mortality rates, and 82% to 85% of the variation in maternal mortality rates among countries. Each component of HDI is also strongly correlated with both infant and maternal mortality rates (significance of all values for r, p Conclusion HDI is not only a useful measure for socioeconomic development, but also a powerful predictor of infant and maternal mortality rates for individual countries.
A Fock-function representation of the fields induced on an impedance or coated cylindrical surface by a Z-directed point source

Summary form only given. For the two-dimensional problem of computing the surface fields due to a line source on the surface of an impedance or thinly-coated circular cylinder, a solution in terms of the canonical Fock integral v(/spl zeta/,q) is known to be available. With the aid of certain approximations, corresponding solutions in three dimensions for circular-cylinder problems involving z-directed electric and magnetic point sources can be derived. Such solutions are associated with geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) ray paths in the usual manner. A feature of the three-dimensional case is the coupling that occurs between fields that are transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) with respect to the cylinder axis. Because of this feature, TE- and TM-polarized fields must each be computed by summing contributions associated with a pair of Fock functions, designated as v(/spl zeta/,q/sub h/) and v(/spl zeta/,q/sub s/). The parameters q/sub h/ and q/sub s/ depend upon the path direction. When the propagation is purely azimuthal, the coupling between TE and TM modes disappears, while q/sub h/ and q/sub s/ reduce to values appropriate, respectively, to representing TE and TM fields in the two dimensional problem. Well-known formulations for the surface fields due to sources located on perfectly-conducting surfaces which are convex and smoothly varying employ Fock functions and rely heavily for their justification on circular-cylinder canonical-problem solutions. The possibility of a parallel construction for impedance and thinly-coated surfaces is addressed by considering the dependence of q/sub h/ and q/sub s/, and the surface-ray torsion.
Reducing health disparities in depressive disorders outcomes between non-hispanic whites and ethnic minorities : A call for pragmatic strategies over the life course

There are significant disparities in treatment process and symptomatic and functional outcomes in depressive disorders for racial and ethnic minority patients. Using a life-course perspective, the authors conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify modifiable mechanisms and effective interventions for prevention and treatment at specific points—system, community, provider, and individual patient—in health care settings. Multicomponent chronic disease management interventions have produced improvements in depression outcomes for ethnic minority populations. Case management appears to be a key component of effective interventions. Socioculturally tailored treatment and prevention interventions may be more efficacious than standard treatment programs. Future research should focus on identifying key components of case management and sociocultural tailoring that are essential for effective interventions and developing new low-cost dissemination mechanisms for treatment and preventive programs t...
Dilemmas in factory design: paradox and paradigm

The problems of factory design are notorious for their complexity. It is argued in this paper that factory design problems represent a class of problems for which there are crucial dilemmas and correspondingly deep-seated underlying paradoxes. These paradoxes, however, give rise to novel paradigms which can bring about fresh approaches as well as insights into their solution.
Advances in Processor Architecture, Display, and Device Technology for Biomedical Image Processing

Many new biomedical imaging modalities have arisen during the past decade which exploit the creation of images via computed tomography, or the processing of images generated by conventional radiographic techniques. These improved imaging capabilities are motivating advancements both in the capabilities of the computers which carry out the processing steps, and in the flexibility of display devices for rapid visualization of the result of the image creation and post processing procedures. Several important trends in the technology of advanced processors and displays relevant to the biomedical environment will be described.
The clitoris diaries: La donna clitoridea, feminine authenticity, and the phallic allegory of Carla Lonzi’s radical feminism

Radical feminist Carla Lonzi is regarded as a founding mother of Italian feminism in the early 1970s. Italian feminists look at her diaries and pamphlets as historical testimony, or as tools of sel...
A signal located within amino acids 1-27 of GAD65 is required for its targeting to the Golgi complex region.

The mechanisms involved in the targeting of proteins to different cytosolic compartments are still largely unknown. In this study we have investigated the targeting signal of the 65-kD isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), a major autoantigen in two autoimmune diseases: Stiff-Man syndrome and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. GAD65 is expressed in neurons and in pancreatic beta-cells, where it is concentrated in the Golgi complex region and in proximity to GABA-containing vesicles. GAD65, but not the similar isoform GAD67 which has a more diffuse cytosolic distribution, is palmitoylated within its first 100 amino acids (a.a.). We have previously demonstrated that the domain corresponding to a.a. 1-83 of GAD65 is required for the targeting of GAD65 to the Golgi complex region. Here we show that this domain is sufficient to target an unrelated protein, beta-galactosidase, to the same region. Site-directed mutagenesis of all the putative acceptor sites for thiopalmitoylation within this domain did not abolish targeting of GAD65 to the Golgi complex region. The replacement of a.a. 1-29 of GAD67 with the corresponding a.a. 1-27 of GAD65 was sufficient to target the otherwise soluble GAD67 to the Golgi complex region. Conversely, the replacement of a.a. 1-27 of GAD65 with a.a. 1-29 of GAD67 resulted in a GAD65 protein that had a diffuse cytosolic distribution and was primarily hydrophilic, suggesting that targeting to the Golgi complex region is required for palmitoylation of GAD65. We propose that the domain corresponding to a.a. 1-27 of GAD65, contains a signal required for the targeting of GAD65 to the Golgi complex region.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Bearing a Disrupted Central DNA Flap Is Pathogenic In Vivo

The central DNA flap is an important component of lentiviral vectors, but its significance in the context of wild-type human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is currently unclear. To address this issue, we have compared the in vitro infection kinetics of NL4-3 with those of a flap-deficient mutant and evaluated the in vivo growth characteristics of these viruses by using the SCID-hu mouse model of HIV infection. Flap-deficient virus was only modestly attenuated in vitro, as assessed by single-round and spreading infection assays, and exhibited levels of replication and pathogenesis close to those of the wild-type in vivo. Hence, an intact central flap is not essential for HIV replication.
Competitive Signaling Between TrkA and p75 Nerve Growth Factor Receptors Determines Cell Survival

In addition to its role as a survival factor, nerve growth factor (NGF) has been implicated in initiating apoptosis in restricted cell types both during development and after terminal cell differentiation. NGF binds to the TrkA tyrosine kinase and the p75 neurotrophin receptor, a member of the tumor necrosis factor cytokine family. To understand the mechanisms underlying survival versus death decisions, the TrkA receptor was introduced into oligodendrocyte cell cultures that undergo apoptosis in a p75-dependent manner. Here we report that activation of the TrkA NGF receptor in oligodendrocytes negates cell death by the p75 receptor. TrkA-mediated rescue from apoptosis correlated with mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Concurrently, activation of TrkA in oligodendrocytes resulted in suppression of c-jun kinase activity initiated by p75, whereas induction of NFκB activity by p75 was unaffected. These results indicate that TrkA-mediated rescue involves not only activation of survival signals but also simultaneous suppression of a death signal by p75. The selective interplay between tyrosine kinase and cytokine receptors provides a novel mechanism that achieves alternative cellular responses by merging signals from different ligand–receptor systems.