cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract PO-104: Activation of WNT signaling in CD4+ T cells promotes immune suppression in pancreatic cancer

WNT ligand expression and activation of the WNT signaling have been associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Using a mouse model that recapitulates the stepwise progression of PDA, we previously showed that epithelial WNT signaling is required for PDA initiation and progression. Through single cell RNA sequencing, we discovered that, in addition to epithelial cells, infiltrating immune cells and in particular T cells express the WNT signaling machinery, including receptors, downstream effectors and target genes. In particular, T cells express high levels of Tcf7, encoding the transcription factor TCF1. TCF1 is important for T cell development, but its role in adult T cells and specifically in the setting of pancreatic cancer remained unknown. To address this, we generated mice that allow deletion of Tcf7 specifically in CD4+ T cells in an inducible manner. We then implanted orthotopic syngeneic tumors in control mice or in mice lacking Tcf7 in CD4+ T cells, and observed reduced tumor growth in the latter. Analysis of the tumors revealed an increase in apoptotic cells; while the prevalence of infiltrating T cells did not change, we observed an increase in cytotoxic marker expression, such as Granzyme B, consistent with increased T cell activation. We observed decreased regulatory T cells, possibly indicating less immune suppression. However, we also observed a compensatory infiltration of increased granulocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells. Deletion of Tcf7 in CD4+ T cells also re-polarized the immunosuppressive macrophages into pro-inflammatory macrophages, and alterations of inflammatory cytokines secreted by cancer associated fibroblasts. Taken together, this study reveals an important role of WNT signaling in CD4+ T cells in the PDA microenvironment. We are currently evaluating ways to exploit changes in the immune microenvironment upon inactivation of Tcf7 in CD4+ T cells in combination therapy approaches. Citation Format: Wenting Du, Rosa E. Menjivar, Katelyn Donahue, Ashley Velez-Delgado, Marina Pasca di Magliano. Activation of WNT signaling in CD4+ T cells promotes immune suppression in pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2021 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-104.
The relation of postsynaptic geometry to the number of presynaptic axons that innervate autonomic ganglion cells

We have studied the shape of rabbit ciliary ganglion cells in relation to the number of axons that innervate each neuron. Adult ganglion cells receive synapses from one to seven different preganglionic axons. Some neurons lack dendrites altogether, whereas others have complex arborizations of up to eight primary dendrites. The neurons that receive all of their synaptic contacts from a single preganglionic axon usually have no dendrites; on the other hand, multiply innervated ganglion cells receive synapses from a number of different axons that increases in proportion to the number of primary dendrites that they possess. A possible explanation of these results is that individual ciliary ganglion cells comprise a number of separate spatial domains, each of which is largely constrained to receive innervation from a single preganglionic axon.
Endoscopy in upper gastrointestinal bleeding then and now. Changing concepts of bleeding sources.

The authors compare their experience with endoscopy of gastrointestinal bleeders in the flexirigid era (1962) and the panendoscopic era (1972). They report a marked decrease in chronic duodenal ulcer and an increase in acute mucosal lesions as causes of bleeding. The number of undiagnosed cases remains disturbingly high (14%). Fiberoptic panendoscopy in bleeding patients is safe and well tolerated.
Comparison of audio and video data sources for quantitative analysis of echocardiographic Doppler velocity profiles

Computer based, off-line quantitative Doppler velocity profile image analysis can utilize either the audio or video formats of the echocardiography machine. The audio and video data are each corrupted, in some way, relative to the Doppler information from which they originate. To compare the suitability of each source for quantitative model-based image processing analysis, audio and video transmitral Doppler data were input to an algorithm for automated determination of diastolic filling parameters. Selected clinical examples were used to assess the sensitivity of the algorithm to variations in processing parameters in order to provide a measure of robustness for each data source. The frame-grabbed video image was less sensitive than the processed audio to variations in the algorithm's spectral noise threshold setting. >
Sperm motility in the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus L: II. Partial characterization of a motility initiating factor from eggs and the effects of inorganic cations on motility initiation

Abstract Egg extracts (obtained by washing intact Limulus eggs with either distilled water or artificial seawater, ASW) contain a sperm motility initiating factor (SMI). The SMI is heat stable (withstands boiling to dryness), passes through a dialysis membrane, and is retained by G-10 Sephadex (indicating a molecular weight of less than 700). Qualitative analysis (by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy) and quantitative analysis (by atomic absorption spectroscopy) of SMI extracts revealed the presence of four divalent cations (Ca, Mg, Ni, and Cu) and one monovalent cation (K) that affect sperm motility. When assayed individually at high concentrations, all of the divalent cations initiate sperm motility and K + inhibits motility initiation by the divalent cations. However, none of the divalent cations are present at concentrations high enough to produce the observed SMI activity, and since K + is present when motility is initiated by SMI, K + must not normally be an inhibitor. Therefore, if inorganic cations are involved in normal sperm motility initiation in Limulus , they are acting in conjunction with some other low molecular weight factor.
Race Relations: A Survey of Potential Intervention Strategies

Despite a broad sociological consensus that racism is indefensible, it is not always obvious which is the best way to intervene to prevent it. The primary strategies available are (1) the moral model, (2) the social engineering model, (3) the clinical/educational model, and (4) the cultural/structural model. Each of these, however, has its limitations, with the last being the most comprehensive and historically informed.
The Southeast South American shelf large marine ecosystem: Evolution and components

Abstract The Southeast South American shelf large marine ecosystem (SSASLME) extends roughly over the entire continental shelf off southeastern South America, from 23° to 55°S, the largest shelf in the southern hemisphere. Distinctive bathymetry, hydrography, productivity and biological communities characterize this extensive marine ecosystem adjacent to Argentina, Uruguay and southeastern Brazil. The Falklands/Malvinas Current and Brazil Current are the major ocean flows in the SSASLME, and impose an eastern boundary to this ecosystem. While the former provides sub-tropical waters and organisms, the latter contributes elements of subantarctic origin. The encounter of these two currents with one another defines a Confluence Zone (CZ) of mixed waters which spans, on the average, from 25° to 45°S. Significant physicometeorological and biological processes described for the SSASLME depend upon the seasonal pattern of current intensification and latitudinal displacement of the CZ. Other oceanographic features, such as frontal zones, upwellings and low-salinity coastal waters, complicate the hydrological structure. Relevant finfish and invertebrate species of either commercial value or key ecological significance are distributed over a wide latitudinal range, which reveals the ecological extension of the SSASLME and the intimate connection between the sub-tropical and subantactic realms. Degradation of coastal water quality and anthropogenic perturbations to living marine resources are also significant throughout this system. The intensity of these stresses follows the pattern of distribution of human settlements, industriazilation, areas of resource exploitation and other coastal uses. These disturbances, extended both in time and space, concern areas under different jurisdictions. Compared to previous geopolitical partitions and regional arrangements, the LME perspective provides ecological arguments for the perception of the SSASLME as a functional unit for monitoring and management.
The effects of liming an Adirondack lake watershed on downstream water chemistry

Calcite treatment of chronically acidic lakes has improved fish habitat, but the effects on downstream water quality have not previously been examined. In this study, the spatial and temporal effects of watershed CaCO3 treatment on the chemistry of a lake outlet stream in the Adirondack Mountains of New York were examined. Before CaCO3 treatment, the stream was chronically acidic. During spring snowmelt before treatment, pH and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) in the outlet stream declined, and NO 3 - and inorganic monomeric aluminum (AlIM) concentrations increased sharply. During that summer, SO 4 2- and NO 3 - concentrations decreased downstream, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and ANC increased, in association with the seasonal increase in decomposition of organic matter and the attendant SO 4 2- -reduction process. A charge-balance ANC calculation closely matched measured downstream changes in ANC in the summer and indicated that SO 4 2- reduction was the major process contributing to summer increases in ANC. Increases in Ca2+ concentration and ANC began immediately after CaCO3 application, and within 3 months, exceeded their pretreatment values by more than 130 μeq/L. Within 2 months after treatment, downstream decreases in Ca2+ concentration, ANC, and pH, were noted. Stream mass balances between the lake and the sampling site 1.5 km downstream revealed that the transport of all chemical constituents was dominated by conservative mixing with tributaries and ground water; however, non-conservative processes resulted in significant Ca2+ losses during the 13-month period after CaCO3 treatment. Comparison of substrate samples from the buffered outlet stream with those from its untreated tributaries showed that the percentage of cation-exchange sites occupied by Ca2+, as well as non-exchangeable Ca, were higher in the outlet-stream substrate than in tributary-stream substrate. Mass-balance data for Ca2+, H+, AlIM, and DOC revealed net downstream losses of these constituents and indicated that a reasonable set of hypothesized reactions involving AlIM, HCO 3 - , Ca2+, SO 4 2- , NO 3 - , and DOC could have caused the measured changes in stream acid/base chemistry. In the summer, the sharp decrease in ANC continued despite significant downstream decreases in SO 4 2- concentrations. After CaCO3 treatment, reduction of SO 4 2- was only a minor contributor to ANC changes relative to those caused by Ca2+ dilution from acidic tributaries and acidic ground water, and Ca2+ interactions with stream substrate
The Peritoneal Cavity Provides a Protective Niche for B1 and Conventional B Lymphocytes during Anti-CD20 Immunotherapy in Mice

Although anti-CD20 immunotherapy effectively treats human lymphoma and autoimmune disease, the in vivo effect of immunotherapy on tissue B cells and their subsets is generally unknown. To address this, anti-mouse CD20 mAbs were used in a mouse model in which the extent and kinetics of tissue B cell depletion could be assessed in vivo. CD20 mAb treatment depleted most mature B cells within 2 days, with 95-98% of B cells in the bone marrow, blood, spleen, lymph nodes, and gut-associated lymphoid tissues depleted by day 7, including marginal zone and follicular B cells. The few spleen B cells remaining after CD20 mAb treatment included pre-B, immature, transitional, and some B1 B cells that expressed CD20 at low levels. By contrast, peritoneal cavity B cells expressed normal CD20 densities and were coated with CD20 mAb, but only 30-43% of B1 cells and 43-78% of B2 cells were depleted by day 7. Spleen B cells adoptively transferred into the peritoneal cavity were similarly resistant to mAb-induced depletion, while transferred B cells that had migrated to the spleen were depleted. However, peritoneal B1 and B2 cells were effectively depleted in mAb-treated wild-type and C3-deficient mice by thioglycolate-induced monocyte migration into this otherwise privileged niche. Inflammation-elicited effector cells did not promote peritoneal cavity B cell depletion in FcR-deficient mice treated with CD20 mAb. Thus, the majority of CD20(+) cells and B cell subsets within lymphoid tissues and the peritoneum could be depleted efficiently in vivo through Fc-dependent, but C-independent pathways during anti-CD20 immunotherapy.
The “Fringe Sign” - A useful clinical finding in traction alopecia of the marginal hair line

INTRODUCTION Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by prolonged or repetitive tension on the hair. Diagnostic challenges are encountered when the clinical suspicion is not high and when a history of traction is remote or not obtained. We have made the observation that the presence of retained hairs along the frontal and/or temporal rim, which we termed the "fringe sign," is a finding seen in both early and late traction alopecia, and may be a useful clinical marker of the condition. METHODS This was a retrospective single-center review to determine the frequency of the fringe sign in patients with traction alopecia. RESULTS Over a 3.5-year period the diagnosis of traction alopecia was made in 41 women. Twelve of the 41 patients were Hispanic (29%). Thirty-five (85%) of all women and 100 percent of women who had traction involving the marginal hairline had the fringe sign. Fourteen biopsies (58%) were available for review. Histopathologic findings included retained sebaceous glands (100%), an increase in vellus-sized hairs (50%), a decrease in terminal hairs (100%), fibrotic fibrous tracts (100%), and sparse lymphocytic inflammation (57%). CONCLUSIONS The fringe sign is a sensitive and specific clinical feature of traction alopecia when it involves the marginal hairline.
Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of Politolana Bruce, 1981 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae)

A taxonomic revision of Politolana based on an inferred phylogeny of the genus is presented. Included are revised descriptions and diagnoses of the genus and species, and a key to all the known species. Six of the 10 previously described species are redescribed: Politolana polita (Stimpson, 1853), Politolana concharum (Stimpson, 1853), Politolana micropthalma (Hoek, 1882), Politolana impressa (Harger, 1883), Politolana eximia (Hansen, 1905) and Politolana wickstenaeWetzer et al., 1987. Neotypes are designated for P. polita and P. concharum, and lectotypes are designated for P. impressa and P. eximia. The diagnosis of the recently described Politolana tricarinata Riseman et al. (2001) is included and two new species, Politolana impostor and Politolana haneyi, are described. All descriptions include synonymies, distributional information and illustrations of all appendages, mouth parts and dorsal and lateral body views (with the exception of the P. wickstenae). A data matrix of 61 morphological characters for 15 taxa (10 previously described and two new Politolana species, and three out-group genera) was analysed using parsimony-based cladistic methods. The analysis resulted in five equally most parsimonious trees. The relationships among most Politolana species were fully resolved in the strict consensus tree and indicate that Politolana, as previously defined, is paraphyletic. We recommend that three species, Politolana crosnieriBruce (1996), Politolana obtusispina (Kensley, 1975) and Politolana dasyprionBruce (1991), be removed from the genus. New generic assignments for these species await publication of the phylogenetic analysis of the family Cirolanidae (currently being prepared by the second author). The phylogeny of Politolana comprises two well-supported species-group clades. Collection data indicate that Politolana species are benthic scavengers occurring on the continental shelf and slope from shallow waters to depths greater than 650 m. The geographical distribution of the genus, both at the species level and at deeper levels of the phylogeny, corresponds to recognized zoogeographical regions. The genus has had virtually all of its radiation in the west Atlantic. A single north-east Atlantic species (P. micropthalma), with its closest relative in the north-west Atlantic, is either the result of a dispersal event from the western Atlantic, or a vicariance by-product of the opening of the Atlantic. Evolution within the genus has established an antitropical distribution resulting in a south-west Atlantic clade.◊Politolana haneyi has a distribution that was established sometime before the closure of the Panama Seaway and that species was divided into Pacific and Gulf of Mexico populations with the formation of the Panamanian isthmus. A high degree of sympatry among sister species in the genus is also apparent. Potential historical explanations for these patterns are reviewed. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 134, 57–140
Novel approaches to the treatment of cocaine addiction

Cocaine addiction continues to be an important public health problem with over 1.7 million users in the US alone. Although there are no approved pharmacotherapies for cocaine addiction, a number of medications have been tested with some promising results. In this review, we summarise some of the emerging targets for cocaine pharmacotherapy including dopaminergic and GABA medications, adrenoceptor antagonists, vasodilators and immunotherapies. The brain dopamine system plays a significant role in mediating the rewarding effects of cocaine. Among dopaminergic agents tested for cocaine pharmacotherapy, disulfiram has decreased cocaine use in a number of studies. Amantadine, another medication with dopaminergic effects, may also be effective in cocaine users with high withdrawal severity. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and accumulating evidence suggests that the GABA system modulates the dopaminergic system and cocaine effects. Two anticonvulsant medications with GABAergic effects, tiagabine and topiramate, have yielded positive findings in clinical trials. Baclofen, a GABAb receptor agonist, is also promising, especially in those with more severe cocaine use. Some of the physiological and behavioural effects of cocaine are mediated by activation of the adrenergic system. In cocaine users, propranolol, a β-adrenoceptor antagonist, had promising effects in individuals with more severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms. Cerebral vasodilators are another potential target for cocaine pharmacotherapy. Cocaine users have reduced cerebral blood flow and cortical perfusion deficits. Treatment with the vasodilators amiloride or isradipine has reduced perfusion abnormalities found in cocaineusers. The functional significance of these improvements needs to be further investigated. All these proposed pharmacotherapies for cocaine addiction act on neural pathways. In contrast, immunotherapies for cocaine addiction are based on the blockade of cocaine effects peripherally, and as a result, prevent or at least slow the entry of cocaine into the brain. A cocaine vaccine is another promising treatment for cocaine addiction. The efficacy of this vaccine for relapse prevention is under investigation. Many initial promising findings need to be replicated in larger, controlled clinical trials.
Picometer-Scale Conformational Heterogeneity Separates Functional from Nonfunctional States of a Photoreceptor Protein

Summary Protein structural fluctuations occur over a wide spatial scale, ranging from minute, picometer-scale displacements, to large, interdomain motions and partial unfolding. While large-scale protein structural changes and their effects on protein function have been the focus of much recent attention, small-scale fluctuations have been less well studied, and are generally assumed to have proportionally smaller effects. Here we use the bacterial photoreceptor photoactive yellow protein (PYP) to test if subtle structural changes do, indeed, imply equally subtle functional effects. We flash froze crystals of PYP to trap the protein's conformational ensemble, and probed the molecules in this ensemble for their ability to facilitate PYP's biological function (i.e., light-driven isomerization of its chromophore). Our results indicate that the apparently homogeneous structural state observed in a 0.82 A crystal structure in fact comprises an ensemble of conformational states, in which subpopulations with nearly identical structures display dramatically different functional properties.
Temperature variation at mesopause levels during winter solstice at 78°N

Abstract Atmospheric temperatures from the polar mesopause are deduced from spectrophotometric measurements of hydroxyl bands and lines in the night airglow made at 78°N during December and January 1980/81 and 1982/83. An overall mean temperature of 220 K is found with a range from 172 to 257 K in the daily mean values. Several warm periods lasting 3–6 days may be due to heat dissipated by gravity waves. One week of consistently low temperatures was apparently connected to a stratospheric warming. Both datasets show a warmer mean temperature later in January than for early and mid-December. The polar OH airglow seems to peak at or just above the mesopause. The data also indicate that the mesopause is situated at approx. 90 km with an upper temperature gradient of 1 K km −1 indicating a very shallow mesopause. A superposed epoch analysis of 19 consecutive 24-h periods reveals a semidiurnal variation in the temperature around winter solstice with an amplitude of 5 K. No diurnal variation of amplitude greater than 1 K is apparent. Average wind velocity deduced from the amplitude of the semidiurnal temperature variation is 9 m s −1 .
Genotypes of the cytochrome p450 isoform, CYP2C9, and the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 conjointly determine stable warfarin dose: a prospective study.

Background Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic range and wide inter-individual dosing requirements that may be related to functional variants of genes affecting warfarin metabolism (i.e., CYP2C9) and activity (i.e., vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1-VKORC1). We hypothesized that variants in these two genes explain a substantial proportion of variability in stable warfarin dose and could be used as a basis for improved dosing algorithms.
Ligand binding sensitivity of the extracellular loop two of the cannabinoid receptor 1

The cannabinoid receptor one (CB1) is a class A G-protein-coupled receptor thought to bind ligands primarily within its helical bundle. Evidence suggests, however, that the extracellular domain may also play a role. We have previously shown that the C-terminus of the extracellular loop 2 of CB1 is important in binding some compounds; receptors with mutations in this region (F268W, P269A, H270A, and I271A) bound some agonists with severely reduced affinity relative to the wild-type receptor. In the present work, we examine the impact of these mutations on binding a chemically diverse set of ligands. The receptors, F268W and I271A, exhibited a greater sensitivity to binding the inverse agonists/antagonists SLV319, AVE1625, NESS0327 relative to P269A and H270A, suggesting that the Pro and His are not involved in binding those compounds. In contrast, binding of the agonists, BAY593074 and WIN55212-2, was diminished in all four receptors, suggesting the conformational unit contributed by all four residues is important. A more marked loss in binding was observed for agonists of the nonclassical (CP55940) and classical (HU-210, JWH061, JWH179) cannabinoid classes and for a silent antagonist derivative (O-2050), pointing to the critical nature of this region for binding both the bicyclic/tricyclic core and the alkyl chain of these derivatives. However, moving the location of the alkyl chain on a series of pyrazole analogues shows it can be better accommodated in certain locations (O-1255) than others (O-1302, O-1690) and underscores the involvement of residues F268 and I271.
Lemons hypothesis reconsidered: An empirical analysis

Abstract This paper tests the hypothesis that there is no difference in the average maintenance expenditures required for cars acquired used and those acquired new. The results showed no evidence that cars acquired used required more maintenance expenditures than those of a similar age acquired new.
Authenticating cropped and resized images using distributed source coding and expectation maximization

Media authentication is important in content delivery via untrusted intermediaries, such as peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. Many differently encoded versions of a media file might exist. Our previous work applied distributed source coding not only to distinguish the legitimate diversity of encoded images from tampering but also localize the tampered regions in an image already deemed to be inauthentic. The authentication data supplied to the decoder consisted of a Slepian-Wolf encoded image projection. We extend our scheme to authenticate cropped and resized images using an Expectation Maximization algorithm. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can distinguish legitimate encodings of authentic cropped and resized images from illegitimately modified versions using authentication data of less than 250 bytes.
Effect of Laminar Flow in Capillary Electrophoresis: Model and Experimental Results on Controlling Analysis Time and Resolution with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Detection

A capillary electrophoresis model was modified to include the effect of laminar flow. Experimental results using inorganic ions with a wide range of mobilities were compared to model predictions. The effect of laminar flow rate on analysis time, peak widths, peak asymmetry, and electrophoretic resolution is discussed. The laminar flow rate in the electrophoresis capillary was controlled by regulating the sheath flow rate in a concentric nebulizer interface. Laminar flow in the direction of the detector allows the analysis of positive, neutral, and negative species, all in one electrophoretic run, in less than 2 min. By increasing the sheath electrolyte flow rate, laminar flow in the electrophoresis capillary can be eliminated, resulting in increased resolution at the expense of an increase in analysis time. At higher sheath flow rates, laminar flow is generated in the electrophoresis capillary in the direction away from the detector to further retard the migration of charged species. When concentration ov...
Deployment and family functioning: A literature review of US operations in Afghanistan and Iraq

The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have led to historically high rates of military deployment for the United States. The increased deployment tempo of the current conflicts necessitates a closer look at the literature on the impact of deployment on families specific to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In this article, we review the qualitative and quantitative literature on the impact of OEF and OIF deployment on families. The review included 38 articles organized into four major areas: (1) Family Changes and Transitions, (2) Child Maltreatment, (3) Spouse Stress and Mental Health, and (4) Marital Relationship Quality. Results of this review are discussed in terms of the need for additional research on individual differences between families and greater emphasis on how deployment impacts the well-being of spouses. We conclude with a discussion of limitations.
Helping Children Eat Well via Mobile Software Technologies

This paper describes an Android mobile app we developed to simplify the shopping experience of participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which provides low-income families vouchers to purchase life-stage appropriate, nutritious foods. Our app helps alleviate the tedious and error-prone use of paper WIC vouchers by allowing participants to scan food items in the store and automatically identify if an item (including its size and quantity) is authorized for the enrolled WIC participant. In addition to serving as a shopping tool, the app also provides a platform for nutrition education through healthy tip push notifications and a gallery of easy-to-fix snack recipes that are tailored for WIC participant shopping choices and other racial/ethnic patterns in dietary preferences. This paper explains the key domain and technical challenges we faced when creating our Android app and describes how we overcame these challenges by applying data normalization, software patterns, and Agile development methods.
Genetic influences on suicide risk

Abstract Establishing that a psychiatric disorder or behavior has a genetic component usually requires clinical, twin, adoption and laboratory studies. Such studies exist in the suicide literature. For example, clinical studies have established that a family history of suicide indicates that an individual may be at raised risk for both completed suicide and attempts at suicide. Twin studies have shown that monozygotic twins have a greater concordance for both completed suicide and attempted suicide than dizygotic twins. Adoption studies also suggest that there is a genetic component to suicide. Molecular genetic studies have focused mainly on the serotonin system, as diminished central serotonin is known to be associated with suicidal behavior. Polymorphisms of genes involved in various aspects of serotonergic neurotransmission have been examined in both postmortem brain studies of suicide victims and in clinical studies of individuals attempting suicide. Most interest has been on the tryptophan hydroxylase, serotonin transporter and serotonin 2A receptor genes. Overall the evidence strongly suggests that there may be a genetic contribution to suicidal behavior.
Piezoelectricity and inhomogeneity in ceramics, polymers and bone

The large piezoelectric signals developed by poled ceramics, poled polymers and bone specimens on cantilever bending are shown to result from inhomogeneous piezoelectric coefficients and can all be described by a common model.
Inverse scattering transform as an operator method in quantum field theory

It is shown that the inverse scattering transform used to solve the classical nonlinear Schroedinger equation may be formulated as an operator method for solving the corresponding quantum field theory (delta-function many-body problem).
Recent results from the Utah-Michigan extensive air shower array

Abstract Results from the Utah-Michigan extensive air shower array are presented. We describe the array and reconstruction techniques for air showers above 100 TeV and present preliminary results on a search for discrete and diffuse sources of UHE gamma rays, based on muon content. No excess long term activity is seen, with particular attention to Cygnus X-3 and the Crab nebula. Flux limits from Cyg X-3 are below recent reports, and no short term bursts from Her X-1 at the intensity of recent reports have been observed.
A reliable method for monitoring intraabdominal pressure during natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) provides surgical access to the peritoneal cavity without skin incisions. The NOTES procedure requires pneumoperitoneum for visualization and manipulation of abdominal organs, similar to laparoscopy. Accurate measurement of the pneumoperitoneum pressure is essential to avoid potentially deleterious effects of intraabdominal compartment syndrome. A reliable method for monitoring pneumoperitoneum pressures during NOTES has not been identified. This study evaluated several methods of monitoring intraabdominal pressures with a standard gastroscope during NOTES. Four female pigs (25 kg) were sedated, and a single-channel gastroscope was passed transgastrically into the peritoneal cavity. Pneumoperitoneum was achieved via a pressure insufflator through a percutaneous, intraperitoneal 14-gauge catheter. Three other pressures were recorded via separate catheters. First, a 14-gauge percutaneous catheter passed intraperitoneally measured true intraabdominal pressure. Second, a 14-gauge tube attached to the endoscope was used to measure endoscope tip pressure. The third pressure transducer was connected directly to the accessory channel of the endoscope. The abdomen was insufflated to a range of pressures (10–30 mmHg), and simultaneous pressures were recorded from all three pressure sensors. Pressure correlation curves were developed for all animals across all intraperitoneal pressures (mean error, –4.25 to –1 mmHg). Endoscope tip pressures correlated with biopsy channel pressures (R 2 = 0.99). Biopsy channel and endoscope tip pressures fit a least-squares linear model to predict actual intraabdominal pressure (R = 0.99 for both). Both scope tip and biopsy channel port pressures were strongly correlative with true intraabdominal pressures (R 2 = 0.98 and R 2 = 0.99, respectively). This study demonstrates that monitoring pressure through an endoscope is reliable and predictive of true intraabdominal pressure. Gastroscope pressure monitoring is a useful adjunct to NOTES. Future NOTES procedures should incorporate continuous intraabdominal pressure monitoring to avoid the potentially deleterious effects of pneumoperitoneum during NOTES. This can be achieved by the integration of pressure-monitoring capabilities into gastroscopes.
Content-based image database system for epilepsy

We have designed and implemented a human brain multi-modality database system with content-based image management, navigation and retrieval support for epilepsy. The system consists of several modules including a database backbone, brain structure identification and localization, segmentation, registration, visual feature extraction, clustering/classification and query modules. Our newly developed anatomical landmark localization and brain structure identification method facilitates navigation through an image data and extracts useful information for segmentation, registration and query modules. The database stores T1-, T2-weighted and FLAIR MRI and ictal/interictal SPECT modalities with associated clinical data. We confine the visual feature extractors within anatomical structures to support semantically rich content-based procedures. The proposed system serves as a research tool to evaluate a vast number of hypotheses regarding the condition such as resection of the hippocampus with a relatively small volume and high average signal intensity on FLAIR. Once the database is populated, using data mining tools, partially invisible correlations between different modalities of data, modeled in database schema, can be discovered. The design and implementation aspects of the proposed system are the main focus of this paper.
CELL TYPE-SPECIFIC SECRETION OF PARATHYROID HORMONE-RELATED PROTEIN VIA THE REGULATED VERSUS THE CONSTITUTIVE SECRETORY PATHWAY

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is endoproteolytically processed to yield a family of mature secretory forms. These include an amino-terminal, a mid-region, and a carboxyl-terminal form. Prior studies suggested that the mid-region form is secreted via the regulated secretory pathway, whereas the amino- and carboxyl-terminal forms are secreted via the constitutive pathway. Further, PTHrP is unusual in that it is produced under normal circumstances by neuroendocrine cell types as well as by prototypical constitutively secreting cell types. The potential for cell-specific secretory pathway use by PTHrP has not been explored. Using immunohistochemical and perifusion techniques, we demonstrate that all three PTHrP daughter peptides are secreted via the regulated pathway in neuroendocrine cells. In contrast, all three daughter peptides are secreted in a constitutive fashion by non-neuroendocrine cells. Thus, the secretion of PTHrP is unique in that it appears to be cell-specific. When it is expressed in neuroendocrine cells that contain the regulated pathway, it is secreted in a regulated fashion; when it is expressed in non-neuroendocrine cells, it defaults to the constitutive pathway. This phenomenon has not previously been described for a polypeptide hormone in naturally occurring cells.
Observation of optically induced feshbach resonances in collisions of cold atoms

We have observed optically induced Feshbach resonances in a cold ( $l1\mathrm{mK}$) sodium vapor. The optical coupling of the ground and excited-state potentials changes the scattering properties of an ultracold gas in much the same way as recently observed magnetically induced Feshbach resonances, but allows for some experimental conveniences associated with using lasers. The scattering properties can be varied by changing either the intensity or the detuning of a laser tuned near a photoassociation transition to a molecular state in the dimer. In principle this method allows the scattering length of any atomic species to be altered. A simple model is used to fit the dispersive resonance line shapes.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT! LONGER QUESTIONNAIRES HAVE LOWER RESPONSE RATES

The effects of questionnaire length on response rate and response bias were examined by conducting a mail survey of 8534 persons taking “distance education” courses in insurance and financial planning. In 14 replications, persons were randomly assigned to receive a long or short course evaluation questionnaire. Response rate for the short form averaged about 28% higher than for the long form, and was significantly higher in all 14 replications. A measure of course satisfaction appearing on both questionnaires showed no significant differences between the long and short form in 12 of the 14 replications. The results suggested that biased measurement of consumer satisfaction does not necessarily occur on a long questionnaire with a relatively low response rate.
Linguistic and psychological factors in the speech regulation of behavior in young children

Abstract Forty-eight children between the ages of 3–4 1 2 were given two sets of commands. Set I commands compared conditional and nonconditional responding to a random sequence of visual signals. Ss found all of the series-conditional commands difficult and the non-series-conditional ones easy. There was also an age-correlated increase in ability to perform both sets of commands. Differences in performance on Set I commands were found not to be a function of syntactic complexity of the command in some cases, but of the complexity of the psychological processes required to organize a plan of action corresponding to the content of the command. A Set II command which required the mental transforming of the spatial relationship of a target and instrumental action of the command itself to an opposite spatial relationship in behavior could not be performed by 83% of all children, while the same command, with a paratactic syntax (no mental spatial reversal required) was performed by 86% of the same Ss.
Mass transfer from drops and bubbles

Abstract Herein are reported experimental values and semi-theoretical formulae for the rates of solution of drops and bubbles under forced convection conditions. The effect of surface active agents on the mass transfer rate is discussed and pertinent experimental data are presented. The following data obtained incidentally to the main study are also given: (1) velocity profiles in the entrance regions of pipes, and (2) diffusivities and other property value data for four water-organic systems.
Development of a robust bench-scale testing unit for low-pressure membranes used in water treatment

A bench-scale test has recently been proposed as a predictive tool to minimize the scope of pilot-scale testing or to optimize the operation of full-scale membrane filtration systems. Consequently, a bench-scale testing unit was developed for this purpose and systematically evaluated in this study. This unit was capable of accommodating commercially available, low pressure, hollow fiber (LPHF) membranes with various configurations for testing under conditions comparable to real-world applications. Reproducibility of this unit in assessing membrane fouling and microbial removal efficiency of LPHF membranes was tested and statistically comparable results were obtained. This unit serves as a useful apparatus for academic researchers and utilities to evaluate the performance of LPHF membranes used for water treatment.
The effect of a carbohydrate-rich beverage on mood, appetite, and cognitive function in women with premenstrual syndrome

Objective: To test the efficacy of a specially-formulated, carbohydrate-rich beverage (one known to increase the serum ratio of tryptophan to other large neutral amino acids) on the mood, cognitive, and appetitive disturbances of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: Twenty-four women with confirmed PMS were enrolled in a double-blind, crossover study to test the efficacy of the specially-formulated beverage compared with two other isocaloric products on PMS symptoms. The study was conducted over three menstrual cycles preceded by a 1-month placebo run-in. Patients were tested at home or work using an interactive computer-telephone system. Standardized measurements of mood, cognitive performance, and food cravings were made before and 30, 90, and 180 minutes after consumption of active and placebo beverages during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Results: The experimental carbohydrate intervention significantly decreased self-reported depression, anger, confusion, and carbohydrate craving 90–180 minutes after intake. Memory word recognition was also improved significantly compared with scores obtained during the placebo run-in month ( P Conclusion: The results suggest that the psychological and appetitive symptoms of PMS can be relieved after consuming a specially-formulated, carbohydrate-rich beverage known to increase serum tryptophan levels.
The doctor of psychology degree: An alternative model for relevant clinical training

Abstract This article describes the Doctor of Psychology degree program in clinical psychology at Baylor University. The advantage of this approach to clinical training is noted and several relevant issues are discussed.
Successful treatment of endotension and aneurysm sac enlargement with endovascular stent graft reinforcement

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) enlarges after successful endovascular repair because of endoleak, which is persistent blood flow within the aneurysm sac. In the absence of detectable endoleak, AAA may still expand, in part because of endotension, which is persistent pressurization within the excluded aneurysm. We report three patients who underwent successful endovascular AAA repair using the Excluder device (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz). Although their postoperative surveillance showed an initial aneurysm regression, delayed aneurysm enlargement developed in all three, apparently due to endotension. Endovascular treatment was performed in which endograft reinforcement with a combination of aortic cuff and iliac endograft extenders were inserted in the previously implanted stent grafts. The endograft reinforcement procedure successfully resulted in aneurysm sac regression in all three patients. Our study underscores the significance of increased graft permeability as a mechanism of endotension and delayed aneurysm enlargement after successful endovascular AAA repair. In addition, our cases illustrate the feasibility and efficacy of an endovascular treatment strategy when endotension and aneurysm sac enlargement develops after endovascular AAA repair.
Evaluating Aggressive Marketing Strategies for Smaller‐share Firms

Empirical research on successful and unsuccessful marketing strategies indicates that smaller‐share firms in established markets have difficulty gaining market share profitability. An empirically based framework of questions to guide the managers of such firms when evaluating an aggressive marketing strategy they have under consideration is presented. A literature review of the prescriptions for smaller‐share firms basically suggests the two strategies of differentiation and/or focus on faster growing segments. The authors research of 31 case histories offers several more strategic recommendations for the management of smaller‐share firms.
Synthesis and properties of a plasmalogen quinone

Abstract A novel phospholipid quinone bearing hexadecyl ether chains has been synthesized and employed in the preparation of redox-active, quinone-functionalized liposomes.
Growth, development and tourism in a small economy: evidence from Aruba

This study will focus on tourism economic growth and its development impacts on a microstate and will explore their implications for tourism analysis and planning. The evidence presented in this article reveals that tourism in Aruba can generate desirable and widely distributed impacts. The tourist performance also has been remarkable and consistent. The results also suggest that the export-led growth strategy has affected the whole of the economy in a positive way. The principal conclusion is that institutional intervention can only become a positive force within a context of rapid integration with the global market. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Look at Statin Cost-Effectiveness in View of the 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Management Guidelines

The 2013 cholesterol management guidelines presented a major shift in recommendations on which patients at risk of cardiovascular disease should be treated and how to treat them. Implementation of the guidelines is estimated to increase substantially the number of people who would be eligible for statin therapy. As the medical community considers the broad population impact of the new cholesterol guidelines, the issue of cost-effectiveness plays a role. This review covers the basic fundamentals of cost-effectiveness analysis and summarizes the key cost-effectiveness studies that relate to the new cholesterol guidelines.
Suicide-bereaved children and adolescents: a controlled longitudinal examination.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examined emotional and behavioral sequelae in children who have experienced parental suicide by completing a secondary analysis of data from the Grief Research Study, a longitudinal study of childhood bereavement. METHOD: Twenty-six suicide-bereaved (SB) children, aged 5 to 17 years, were compared with 332 children bereaved from parental death not caused by suicide (NSB) in interviews 1, 6, 13, and 25 months after the death. Children's emotional reactions to the death, psychiatric symptomatology, and psychosocial functioning after the parent's death were determined. RESULTS: Grief emotions were common in both groups. SB children were more likely to experience anxiety, anger, and shame than NSB children. SB children were more likely to have preexisting behavioral problems and more behavioral and anxiety symptoms throughout the first 2 years compared with NSB children. Indices of depression, suicidality, and psychosocial functioning differed minimally between groups. CONCLUSIONS: SB children experience some "common" elements of bereavement. In addition, they demonstrate some lifetime risk factors as well as subsequent pathology that suggests a negative behavioral trajectory. As these cohorts have not yet passed through the age of risk, long-term follow-up is critical. Language: en