cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Principles of radiation oncology

Radiation therapy plays an important role in the management of pediatric brain tumors. Despite advances in the fields of pediatric and medical oncology and neurosurgery, radiation is still a necessary treatment for local control and cure for most central nervous system (CNS) malignancies. Brain tumors, a heterogeneous group of diseases, together represent the most common disease site encountered by radiation oncologists. The eloquent areas from which these tumors arise makes the balance between the risks of life-altering side effects of radiation and the likelihood of local control and/or cure a difficult one to strike. While often we consider the main goal of our treatment to be cure, we must keep in mind the additional goal of allowing these children to grow and continue to live meaningful lives without a significant burden of major medical complications resulting from treatment. Technical and biological advances have enabled radiation oncologists to decrease the amount of healthy, uninvolved brain tissue and nearby organs that receive radiation. Trials that combine radiation with chemotherapy have allowed for a decrease in the dose and/or volume of radiation for some pediatric brain tumors. Neurosurgical advances have allowed for avoidance of radiation for selected tumors. In addition, advances in neuroradiology have led to better visualization of tumors and CNS structures. Advances in treatment planning software and the development of new radiation modalities have allowed for improvements in dose delivery.
Targeting HDAC2 protects monocytes against metabolic stress-induced priming and dysfunction

Background Monocytes priming and reprogramming induced by metabolic stress is mediated by protein S-glutathionylation and is prevented by overexpression of glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1). Here we tested the hypothesis that inhibition of HDAC2 prevents monocyte dysfunction by inducing Grx1 and preventing metabolic stress-induced protein S-glutathionylation. Methods THP-1 monocytes were incubated with the HDAC inhibitor Scriptaid for up to 72 h and the expression of Grx1, HDAC2 and s-actin, as well as the level of acetylation lysine 9 on H3 (H3K9Ac), were examined by Western blotting. To identify the specific HDAC involved in Grx1 regulation, we used small interfering RNA to knockdown targeting HDAC1, 2 and 3. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) were generated from LysMcre+/-HDAC2+/- and LysMcre+/- mice and primed with LDL (100 μg/ml) plus high glucose (25 mM) for 36 h. HDAC2 mRNA levels were quantified by qRT-PCR. Macrophage priming was assessed using the MKP-1 activity assay. Results Scriptaid increased Grx1 protein expression in THP-1 monocytes 1.8-fold after 36 h increased acetylation of H3K9 1.5-fold. Scriptaid also rescued MKP-1 activity and normalized chemotactic activity in primed THP-1 monocytes. Induction of Grx1 was only observed in cells treated with anti-HDAC2 siRNA (1.5-fold increase) but no changes were observed in response to either HDAC1 or HDAC3 knockdown. Grx1 mRNA levels in blood monocytes from HDAC2 deficient mice were 20-fold higher than in monocytes from control mice. BMDM from LysMcre+/-HDAC2+/- mice showed higher MKP-1 activity and Grx1 protein expression than BMDM from LysMCre+/- mice. Furthermore, MKP-1 activity was inhibited by metabolic stress in control BMDM but was maintained in BMDM from LysMCreHDAC2+/- mice. Conclusions Grx1 expression in blood monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages is regulated by HDAC2. Inhibition of HDAC2 induces Grx1 and protects monocytes from metabolic stress-induced dysfunction, making HDAC2 a novel therapeutic target for chronic inflammatory diseases associated with metabolic disorders.
Review of Breakpoint: The Changing Marketplace for Higher Education

“Although families do consider the transformation their children will experience, rising tuition costs mean more and more families privilege the transactional model when selecting a school.”Institu...
Headache as the Presenting Symptom in 2 Patients With COVID-19 and a History of Migraine: 2 Case Reports.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has now affected more than 5 million people globally. Typical symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Patients with underlying medical comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes are more likely to become severely ill. To date there is limited information on how COVID-19 affects patients with a history migraine. Here, we present the cases of 2 women with a history of migraine whose first symptom of COVID-19 was a severe persistent headache.
A CFD model to assess lower Granite Dam operations under stratified conditions

Elevated water temperature has deleterious effects on cold-water fish. Lower Granite (LWG) is a run-of-the river dam in the Pacific Northwest, USA. LWG impounds a reservoir, with capacity of 5.7×10...
NHERI@UTexas Experimental Facility With Large-Scale Mobile Shakers for Field Studies

The Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) experimental facility at the University of Texas (NHERI@UTexas) is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). NHERI@UTexas contributes unique, large-scale, hydraulically-controllable mobile shakers and associated instrumentation to study and develop novel, in-situ testing methods that can be used to evaluate the needs of existing infrastructure as well as optimize the design of future infrastructure. The ability to test existing infrastructure under actual field conditions bridges the gap in the transformative tools needed for the next frontier of resilient and sustainable natural-hazards research. Further, these unique facilities are available to any NSF-funded research. The field shakers and support equipment are described. Examples of on-going and future projects in three key areas of investigation that NHERI@UTexas is targeting are presented. These examples includes: (1) performing more accurate 2D/3D subsurface geotechnical imaging up larger depths, (2) characterizing liquefaction resistance and nonlinear dynamic behavior in situ soils, and (3) developing in-situ methods nondestructive soil-foundation-structure interaction (SFSI) studies.
Thematic Analysis of Agricultural Government Policy and Operational Problems

The purpose of this study was to uncover ground truth policy insights underlying the agriculture crisis from the perspectives of rural farm operations in Nigeria. The needs of rural farmers were otherwise not adequately reflected in national or regional economic development policies. The grounded theory formal method was applied using NVivo software. A focus group was conducted with 16 agricultural extension workers, who are an advanced category of educated experts acting as mentors to rural Nigerian farmers. Audio data were coded into thematic concept maps using discourse analysis. The findings of this study were generally consistent with the extant literature, but several different issues emerged. Rural farmers in Nigeria have significant agricultural challenges with government support in six core areas: farming input quality and dissemination, fair input subsidization, training, market facilitation, social responsibility to reduce corruption, and poverty.
Does experience matter? The relationship between nephrologist characteristics and end stage kidney disease patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND Nephrology offers the unique opportunity to directly link patients to providers, allowing the study of patient outcomes at the provider level. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether nephrologist experience, defined as years in nephrology practice, was associated with clinical outcomes. DESIGN Physician data contained within the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Masterfile was combined with patient and Medicare claims data from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) for the calendar year 2012, with follow up extending through June 30, 2014. Associations with important healthcare outcomes including mortality in patients receiving maintenance renal replacement therapy (RRT), waitlisting for kidney transplantation, and receipt of a kidney transplant were determined with broad adjustment for both patient and provider level variables, with attention on tertile of provider time in practice. RESULTS We identified 256,324 patients on maintenance RRT cared for by 6193 nephrologists. Nephrologists with the least experience were more likely to be female, reside in a region with ≥1,000,000 people, have a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, and have a listed maintenance of certification status as "yes." Overall, 30.2% of the cohort died at a mean follow up of 1.99 years. Compared to those with the 0-10 years of experience, receipt of care from nephrologists with more experience was associated with lower mortality (AHR 0.97 CI 0.94-0.99 for nephrologists with 11-20 years) and increased listing for kidney transplantation (AHR 1.10; CI 1.01-1.21 for nephrologists with >21 years experience). Experience level did not result in a difference in kidney transplantation rates. CONCLUSIONS Receipt of maintenance RRT from nephrologists with greater experience was associated with decreased mortality and increased listing for kidney transplantation, an effect that remained significant after multiple adjustments for important patient and nephrologist variables.
School-Age Outcome of Fetuses with Isolated Complete Septum Pellucidum Agenesis at Prenatal Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective To the best of our knowledge, there have not been studies to address the issue of long-term follow-up of patients with prenatal diagnosis of isolated complete septum pellucidum agenesis (SPA). The aim of this study was to acquire information about the school-age outcome of such patients as a resource for counseling parents receiving this prenatal finding. Methods From a large fetal magnetic resonance (MR) database, we selected only those cases with isolated complete SPA as confirmed by two senior pediatric neuroradiologists in consensus; we then gathered information from the parents of those children who had reached the school age. Results None among the 12 cases (mean age at follow-up: 8.7 years, range: 6–13 year) of the resulting final cohort presented visual or stature deficits; only one required special teaching assistance in school. All other 11 children resulted without any notable academic issue. Conclusion Our report may provide information of practical value about the school-age outcome of fetuses detected by prenatal MR imaging to carry isolated complete SPA.
How Can a Cardiovascular Research Fellowship in the United States Affect the Career of a European Physician

Broad research exposure has become a cornerstone of an academic hospital-based career in Europe [(1)][1]. One of the ways to acquire this type of experience is through a highly regarded international research fellowship. Living in a foreign country and meeting professionals from around the globe
Non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease

With the growing awareness of the presence of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) has come the realization that these non-motor features play a tremendously important, and sometimes dominant, role in the management and even the diagnosis of the disorder. Despite this, a reluctance to formally address and treat the non-motor symptoms of PD remains and quality of life for PD patients suffers. This review provides an overview of the impact non-motor symptoms have on persons with PD, along with a brief description of some of the more common non-motor features of PD.
A Winner's Curse?: Promotions from the Lower Federal Courts

The standard model of judicial behavior suggests that judges primarily care about deciding cases in ways that further their political ideologies. But judicial behavior seems much more complex. Politicians who nominate people for judgeships do not typically tout their ideology (except sometimes using vague code words), but they always claim that the nominees will be competent judges. Moreover, it stands to reason that voters would support politicians who appoint competent as well as ideologically compatible judges. We test this hypothesis using a dataset consisting of promotions to the federal circuit courts. We find, using a set of objective measures of judicial performance, that competence seems to matter in promotions in that the least competent judges do not get elevated. But the judges who score the highest on our competence measures also do not get elevated. So, while there is no loser’s reward, there may be something of a winner’s curse, where those with the highest levels of competence hurt their chances of elevation.
The Difference that Nature Makes: Empire and Natural History in Contemporary Political Theory

In the last decade political theorists have become profoundly interested in the history of empire. In a recent review of the field, Jennifer Pitts argues that empire is a pivotal focal point in the development of political theory, particularly in tracing the extent to which modern liberalism has developed alongside British, French, and American imperial legacies. Drawing upon several areas of scholarly salience (e.g., the history of political thought, post-colonialism, globalization, and international law), Pitts exhorts theorists to engage with the imperial projects linked to contemporary global poverty, violence, and ecological crisis. Yet despite sustained attention to the economic, military, and legal dynamics of imperialism, Pitts neglects to offer a resounding example of historical works engaged with empire and ecology. Reducing the role of nature to legal inequalities concerning resource extraction, there is an impression in her account that nature was an ancillary concern of empires, second to the larger dynamics of state sovereignty. Upon further investigation, it becomes evident that existing literature on political theory and empire similarly neglects nature and the environment as crucial, intervening concepts.Contemporary political theory’s interest in empire seems bounded by its encounter and current fascination with liberalism. What role then, if any, does nature have in political theory’s turn to empire? In this paper, I engage the status of empire and nature in political theory, pointing to the difference that turning to the early modern Spanish encounter with nature makes in studying the history of political thought. I argue that in the early accounts of Spanish ethnographers, cartographers, and natural philosophers with the New World environment, one finds the origins of crucial debates over the boundaries of nature, society, and the formation of modern empire. Nature was not so much the setting, as it was the means through which modern imperial projects were made possible. My contention is that greater attention to the experiences emerging from Spanish naturalist writings contributes to further reconstructing many of the debates found at the origins of early modern political thought. Striking amongst these debates is the boundary between nature and society as marking the rise of modern civilization and science. The value added to political theory by turning towards these fields consists of broadening Enlightenment metanarratives on the origins of modernity, while carving out a space for first-hand accounts on early modern changes in nature-society interaction.
The Humble Space Telescope: The Accommodation of a Small Astronomical Telescope on the Minisil Bus

ABSTRACT Humble Space Telescope mission is intended to provide astronomers with high quality images from a small astronomical telescope placed in Earth orbit. The success of the Hubble Space Telescope is well documented although its inherent drawback is that investigators may have to wait several years until the schedules allow for their observations. Humble is intended to provide a much more rapid response time for users requiring less demanding images than Hubble, but still wanting to overcome the severe limitations placed on astronomers by the Earth’s atmosphere. The MiniSIL small satellite bus, designed and built by Space Innovations Limited (SIL), is a semi-standardised system comprising S-band uplink and X-band downlink communications at rates up to 10Msps for the downlink, attitude sensing and control to 0.1° or better, power conversion and distribution, and on-board data handling including sizeable solid state memory devices. It is inherently modular and readily adaptable to different satellite configurations. MiniSIL is an ideal platform for Humble as it combines high performance with relatively low cost. The spacecraft would use the full suite of SIL sub-systems integrated with a 25 cm astronomical telescope. The detectors for the spacecraft will allow a wide range of scientific studies to be conducted, and the flexible and low-cost ground system proposed will ensure that data is with the investigator within minutes of it being transmitted by the satellite.
Guidance-based hybrid lab training method for enhancing core skills of EE students

Lab training is considered a key for producing skilled workforce required by all engineering sectors. Apart from conceptual understanding, good lab training should provide students with important skills such as design, professional, analytical, and social skills. This paper presents a new lab teaching method which combines “hands-on” and “simulated” labs, along with strong guidance from the instructor. The method is used to teach three core labs at Cal Poly Pomona ECE department for one academic year. The obtained results show that the method augments the student lab score by up to 7 points. The student satisfaction is consistently higher. Between 82.8% and 86% of students are happy with the instructor teaching effectiveness. Lab teaching and management are more effective using tools such as Sign-in and Sign-out sheet, set of benchmarks, and guide for reporting. Overall, the student core skills, namely, design, professional, social, analytical, and report-writing skills are significantly improved.
Absolute Photometry: Past and Present

I review efforts to make absolute measurements in astronomy over the wavelength interval from UV to mid-infrared (MIR). These have involved a variety of facilities: space-based, airborne, and ground-based, and a range of techniques. Of interest are the absolute uncertainties that have been attained by these techniques and the degree to which linkage between different spectral regimes has been achieved. From these efforts it has been possible to develop large networks of calibration stars that have supported MIR missions and observatories that require photometric standards and low-resolution spectroscopy. I discuss the assumptions inherent in these networks, external methods to test these products, and their absolute validation by the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX). These networks provide a common absolute framework within which the calibration of multiple instruments on a given platform or sensors on different platforms can be bound together consistently. These stars offer an environment in which absolute multi-wavelength astronomical data can be intermingled without the need to apply photometric transformations or offsets between datasets from distinct facilities or wavelength regions. These stellar networks currently underpin NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, Japan’s AKARI, and are currently supporting the next NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). Another approved development addresses the critical need to link optical and near-infrared calibrations for future dark energy missions.
Specificity of the tuberculin skin test and the T-SPOT.TB assay among students in a low-tuberculosis incidence setting.

Abstract Objective: Interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) are an important tool for detecting latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Insufficient data exist about IGRA specificity in college health centers, most of which screen students for LTBI using the tuberculin skin test (TST). Participants: Students at a low–TB incidence college health center. Methods: TST and T-SPOT.TB were performed on prospectively recruited students. TB exposure risk was assessed using a questionnaire: Those at low risk were assumed to not have LTBI in order to calculate test specificity. Results: Of 184 students enrolled, 143 had results available for both TST and T-SPOT.TB. Agreement of the tests was 97% (kappa statistic 0.717; 95% confidence interval, 0.399–1.00). Among 124 low-risk students, specificity for TST and T-SPOT.TB were 98.4% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: T-SPOT.TB specificity was high among low-risk students. Additional studies such as cost-effectiveness analyses using T-SPOT.TB as a single or co...
A high-speed recursive digital filter using on-line arithmetic

A novel design method using online arithmetic (most significant digit first) to implement a high-speed general-purpose integrated circuit for fixed-point recursive digital filtering is described. This approach promises to provide a higher maximum sampling rate than more conventional parallel or serial least-significant-digit-first designs. The method also eliminates entirely the potentially devastating nonlinear oscillations in the filter without affecting the sampling rate. Another characteristic of the approach is that the filter's sampling rate is independent of the data or coefficient wordlengths and depends only on the available VLSI technology. Some expected worst-case VLSI design results for such a digital filtering chip are presented. >
THE ORIGINS, NATURE, AND PROMISE OF EMPIRICAL LEGAL STUDIES AND A RESPONSE TO CONCERNS

This Article describes the origins of three movements in legal academia: empirical legal studies (ELS), law and society, and law and economics. It then quantifies the distribution across scholarly fields (for example, economics and psychology) of authors in these movements’ journals and reports the impact of the movements’ scholarly journals. By focusing on two leading law and economics journals, this Article also explores the effect of a journal being centered in law schools rather than in a social science discipline. It suggests that ELS has achieved rapid growth and impact within the academic legal community because of (1) its association with law schools, and (2) its receptiveness to contributions by scholars from all social science disciplines. Concerns about the quality and growth of ELS are found to lack persuasive support. What is empirical legal studies (ELS) and where did it come from? These questions are worth asking because, in a few years, ELS expanded from an unstructured enterprise without central loci, to include a journal (the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies (JELS)), to include what has become perhaps the largest annual refereed academic legal conference in the world (the Conference on Empirical Legal Studies (CELS)), to include a scholarly society (the Society for Empirical Legal Studies (SELS)), and to include, of course, at least one blog. 1 It is international, with ELS conferences conducted outside of the United States in Israel,
Mass media and the localization of emotional display: The case of China’s Next Top Model

Few studies have explored the relationship between globalization and emotional expression. One prominent means through which physical forms of emotional display circulate globally is through the mass media, and specifically through the reality television format trade. Whether local people can successfully perform globally circulating forms of emotional display depends, in part, on how local audiences receive their performances. Globally circulating forms might convey meanings that conflict with local public values or media regulators’ ideologies. Audience approval is facilitated through textual framing strategies that reflect producers’ directorial and editorial choices. Drawing on an analysis of the television program China’s Next Top Model, I describe three strategies that frame emotional displays in ways that align their meanings with local ideologies and cultural values: (i) defining what caused the feelings that led to the emotional display as culturally appropriate, (ii) portraying the emotional display as not reflecting the performers’ true feelings and (iii) ensuring that the performers’ feelings are resolved within the show’s narrative in an appropriate manner. Framing strategies are mechanisms through which global formats and local culture jointly shape mass-mediated emotional performances.
Dialectal forms during discourse of poor, urban, African American preschoolers

This study describes nonstandard syntactic and morphological forms used by 45 poor, urban, 4- to 5.5-year-old African American boys and girls. Distributional analyses revealed three subgroups distinguished by the percentage frequencies of occurrence of utterances containing specific forms, and by the predominant types used by each group. Implications for characterizing the linguistic productions of young African American children are discussed.
Optimizing the Selection of Surgical Candidates for Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

The optimal selection of patients for lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is currently based on empiric clinical findings. Patients who benefit from LVRS have the common characteristics of impaired quality of life associated with apical predominant pulmonary hyperinflation and airflow obstruction. Within this category, patients who do not benefit from LVRS appear to have small airways disease that can be detected by inspiratory resistance studies. In addition to appropriate emphysema physiology, the selection of patients for LVRS must consider medical comorbidities and perioperative risk factors. Based on findings of the National Emphysema Treatment Trial, most of the perioperative morbidity and mortality of LVRS is associated with cardiopulmonary risk that needs to be considered preoperatively. Finally, a preoperative conditioning program can provide an additional screening process to identify patients physically and emotionally prepared for surgery.
USERS AND SYSTEM ADAPTIVITY: A GSPS Perspective

Abstract The relationship between systems and their users is an important aspect in the study of general systems. In order to enhance their functionality, systems should be adaptive to different types of human users. In this paper, we discuss how to apply inductive reasoning techniques to achieve this goal and we use knowledge-based systems as an example to illustrate the approach. A conceptual model is described. Our approach is interpreted from the perspective of the General System Problem Solving framework
Polysialic acid influences specific pathfinding by avian motoneurons

Abstract The influence of polysialic acid (PSA) on the neural cell adhesion molecule on motoneuron outgrowth and pathway formation was investigated by determining its temporal and spatial pattern of expression and by the effect that its removal had on motoneuron projection patterns. Motoneurons first expressed PSA as their growth cones began to segregate into motoneuron pool—specific groups in the plexus region; furthermore, PSA levels differed between motoneurons projecting to different targets. When PSA was removed during the period of axonal segregation in the plexus region projection errors were common. However, later removal during the process of muscle nerve formation did not result in projection errors. These results suggest that PSA modulates interactions between motoneuron axons and guidance molecules in the plexus region during axonal pathfinding.
INEQUITY AVERSION, FINANCIAL MARKETS, AND OUTPUT FLUCTUATIONS

Drawing on recent advances in the study of reference dependent utility we model financial markets as a coordination game with multiple equilibria. Asset valuations may change endogenously through re-coordination which induces fluctuations in output. These fluctuations are shown to be quantitatively relevant and inefficient. (JEL: G12)
Modes and Bundles: Thiel on Self-Consciousness and Personal Identity in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries

This 437-page volume represents the culmination of decades of research by an enormously productive and insightful scholar, whose many previous articles and books have provided much, though certainl...
A molecular dynamics study of collisional excitation/deexcitation at ion-bombarded surfaces☆

On the basis of ab initio potentials, a three-dimensional classical trajectory model of the dynamics of energetic collision events for ion-bombarded alkali halide surfaces is introduced. In this model, a distance-of-closest-approach method is used to determine the occurrence of core excitation and electron capture. The results show that an excited sodium ion may be formed when a sodium 2p electron is promoted into thet 3s state during a hard Ar^+-N^a+ collision. This inner-shell electron excitation is shown to be an initiating process, which can result in the subsequent neutralization and Auger electron emission from Na in the solid. We give numerical estimates of the probability for both the excitation and neutralization events that produce an excited sodium atom with a 2p vacancy which undergoes Auger electron emission. In addition, the lifetime of the promoted electron in sodium is calculated by applying quantum perturbation theory. Our results may be useful in interpreting the data from a recent experiment, in which three interesting spectral features due to the Auger decay of the core excitation appear in the autoionization spectrum.
Contact angle measurement on wood using videotape technique

Abstract Direct determination of the contact angle on solid surfaces is difficult when the angle soon starts to change because of interaction between the solid and liquid. Such is the case with wood and water. This note describes a videotape technique allowing unhurried measurement of the contact angle at any desired elapsed time. This procedure may be useful for contact angle measurements on other materials as well.
The prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption in older U.S. adults: data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Alcohol consumption and its interaction with disease, medication use, and functional status may result in serious health problems, but little information exists about the national prevalence of alcohol-related health risk in older adults. To estimate the prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol use and the prevalence of consumption in excess of National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommendations, in people aged 65 and older, and by sex and race/ethnicity sub-group. Cross-sectional, using data from the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the non-institutionalized U.S. population. One thousand and eighty-three respondents aged 65 and older who consume alcohol. Participants’ alcohol consumption was classified as Harmful, Hazardous, or Healthwise, in the context of their specific health status, using the Alcohol-Related Problems Survey classification algorithm. Overall, 14.5 % of older drinkers (95 % CI: 12.1 %, 16.8 %) consumed alcohol above the NIAAA’s recommended limits. However, when health status was taken into account, 37.4 % of older drinkers (95 % CI: 34.9 %, 40.0 %) had Harmful consumption and 53.3 % (95 % CI: 50.1 %, 56.6 %) had either Hazardous or Harmful consumption. Among light/moderate drinkers, the proportions were 17.7 % (95 % CI: 14.7 %, 20.7 %) and 28.0 % (95 % CI: 24.8 %, 31.1 %), respectively. Male drinkers had significantly greater odds of Hazardous/Harmful consumption than female drinkers (OR = 2.14 [95 % CI: 1.77, 2.6]). Black drinkers had worse health status and significantly greater odds of Hazardous/Harmful consumption than white drinkers (OR = 1.49; 95 % CI: 1.02, 2.17), despite having no greater prevalence of drinking in excess of NIAAA-recommended limits. Most older Americans who drink are light/moderate drinkers, yet substantial proportions of such drinkers drink in a manner that is either harmful or hazardous to their health. Older adults with risky alcohol consumption are unlikely to be identified by health care providers if clinicians rely solely on whether patient consumption exceeds the NIAAA-recommended limits.
Abstract 1202: MDM2 and its interaction with MYCN in neuroblastoma survival

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC The multifunctional oncoprotein MDM2 plays both p53-dependent and p53-independent roles in cancer initiation, progression and the development of resistance to therapy. Using a siRNA strategy to silence MDM2, which is highly expressed in neuroblastoma, we discovered that MDM2 regulates tumor cell growth and survival through distinct mechanisms in MYCN-amplified and non-MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas. MDM2 inhibition in a MDM2-overexpressing/non-MYCN-amplifying neuroblastoma cell line, SH-EP1, resulted in p53 activation, growth inhibition and apoptosis. In contrast, MDM2 inhibition in the MDM2-overexpressing/MYCN-amplifying neuroblastoma cell lines NB-1691 and IMR32 did not activate p53, despite expression of wild-type p53 in these lines. However, the siRNA silencing of MDM2 in NB-1691 and IMR32 cells did lead to complete inhibition of cell proliferation. In examining MYCN expression in these MYCN-amplified cells, we found that inhibition of MDM2 significantly downregulated MYCN expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. In a p53-null/MYCN-amplifying neuroblastoma cell line, LA1-55N, inhibition of MDM2 also decreased MYCN expression, inhibiting cell growth and apoptosis. These results suggest that MDM2 plays a p53-independent role in MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas. A critical factor for disease progression, we believe deregulation of MYCN expression may contribute significantly to the oncogenic properties of MDM2 in neuroblastoma. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1202.
A double-integral equation for the average run length of a multivariate exponentially weighted moving average control chart

Abstract The multivariate exponentially weighted moving average control chart is a control charting scheme that uses weighted averages of previously observed random vectors. This scheme, which is defined using Z 0 = μ 0 , Z i = rX i + (1 − r ) Z i − 1 ( i ⩾ 1), where X 1 , X 2 , … denote the vector-valued output of a process, can be used to detect shifts in the process mean vector more quickly, on the average, than the usual Hotelling T 2 chart. We prove that for the special case μ = 0, Σ = I , the average run length (ARL) depends on the initial value z 0 for the MEWMA statistic only through its magnitude and the angle it makes with the mean vector. This theorem is then used to derive an integral equation of the ARL. This integral equation involves a double integral, and the unknown function is a function of two variables. ARLs can be obtained by approximating the solution to the integral equation. Previously, simulation was needed to approximate the ARLs.
Cancer: A wolf in wolf's clothing

Paradoxically, the CD95 receptor, a potent inducer of apoptotic cell death, is expressed on most tumour cells. Surprisingly, it turns out to be an important promoter of various cancers. CD95, known also as Fas and APO-1, is a classical death receptor that regulates tissue homeostasis through apoptosis. Here it is shown that cancer cells, regardless of their sensitivity to CD95-induced apoptosis, depend for optimal growth on CD95. Without CD95 the incidence of ovarian cancer and liver cancer in mice models is reduced, as is their tumour size. CD95 therefore appears to be a double-edged sword: in order to kill tumour cells it may be necessary to reduce, rather than enhance, CD95 activity.
Automaticity versus timesharing in timing and tracking dual-task performance

Two experiments investigated the interfering effects of a manual tracking task on timing performance. Subjects generated a series of 5-s temporal productions under control (timing only) and experimental (timing + pursuit rotor tracking) conditions. Timing was more variable under experimental conditions, a finding consistent with attentional models which argue that timing tasks compete with concurrent distractor tasks for limited processing resources. A pretest-posttest paradigm was employed to evaluate the hypothesis that practice on the tracking task would lessen its attentional demands and thereby attenuate the interference effect. Experiment 1 involved single-task practice (tracking alone). Single-task practice leads to automaticity, the ability to perform a skilled task using fewer processing resources. Pretest-posttest comparisons showed that such practice reduced interference in timing. Experiment 2 involved dual-task practice (timing + tracking). Dual-task practice promotes the development of timesharing, the ability to efficiently switch attention between multiple tasks. In this case, practice failed to reduce the interference effect in timing. The results suggest that effective strategies for timing in dual-task situations must allow one to closely monitor the ongoing flow of temporal events.
Gossypol effects on endothelial cells and tumor blood flow

Abstract Isomers (−,+) of the antitumor agent gossypol (G) were studied for their ability to reduce tumor ATP and blood flow in rats bearing subcutaneously implanted pancreatic tumors. A 50% reduction in tumor ATP/Pi within lh of a single injection of −G was associated with a 60% decline in tumor blood flow To determine if these changes in tumor physiology could be due to a direct drug effect on tumor endothelium, G isomers were compared for their ability to alter protein ( 125 l-BSA) permeability and metabolic ( 32 P) labeling of cultured endothelial cells. Treatments for lh produced no endothelial cells leakage, but 24h exposures to either −G(5μM) or +G(50μM) produced complete permeability of the monolayers to 125 l-BSA. In contrast, 0.5-l.0h exposures to −G(4μM) or +G(10μM) produced 2 to 3-fold increases in phosphorylated 27kDa heat-shock protein, hsp-27. Hsp-27 phosphoprotein isoforms were differentially labelled following −G and +G exposures with the phosphorylation profile of −G appearing most similar to that of oxyradical producing agents known to induce hsp-27 and injure endothelial cells. we postulate that the tumor ischemic effects of −G are mediated by endothelial response to oxyradical production in a mechanism similar to that of tissue ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Tight-binding calculations for the electronic structure of isolated vacancies and impurities in III-V compound semiconductors

In the second-neighbor tight-binding framework and using the well-known $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}}$-space Green's-function approach, we have calculated the energies of deep highly localized electronic states due to isolated vacancies and simple point defects in III-V compound semiconductors. Using existing pseudopotential data for the band structures, we are able to calculate 21 (out of 23) interaction integrals with the help of the least-squares-fitting technique. The Green's functions in the ${a}_{1}$ ($s$-type) and ${t}_{2}$ ($p$-type) symmetries have been numerically evaluated by using the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the host systems. The calculated results are discussed and compared with the existing theoretical and experimental data. The pinning energies of the anion vacancy levels of ${t}_{2}$ symmetry are found to be almost the same for Ga-In pnictides while they are different for the Ga-Al and In-Al compounds. No such correlation of pinning energies due to cation vacancies has been noticed. These results provide justification to the recent experimental speculations that the anion vacancies near the surface are responsible for determining the position of the Fermi level. This also lends support to the speculation that, similar to ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{ln}}_{x}\mathrm{As}(\mathrm{P})$ ternaries, the Fermi-level variation for the GaSb-InSb system should be independent of the composition factor.
Elevated CO2 and plant species diversity interact to slow root decomposition

Changes in plant species diversity can result in synergistic increases in decomposition rates, while elevated atmospheric CO2 can slow the decomposition rates; yet it remains unclear how diversity and changes in atmospheric CO2 may interact to alter root decomposition. To investigate how elevated CO2 interacts with changes in root-litter diversity to alter decomposition rates, we conducted a 120-day laboratory incubation. Roots from three species (Trifolium repens, Lespedeza cuneata, and Festuca pratense) grown under ambient or elevated CO2 were incubated individually or in combination in soils that were exposed to ambient or elevated CO2 for five years. Our experiment resulted in two main findings: (1) Roots from T. repens and L. cuneata, both nitrogen (N) fixers, grown under elevated CO2 treatments had significantly slower decomposition rates than similar roots grown under ambient CO2 treatments; but the decomposition rate of F. pratense roots (a non-N-fixing species) was similar regardless of CO2 treatment. (2) Roots of the three species grown under ambient CO2 and decomposed in combination with each other had faster decomposition rates than when they were decomposed as single species. However, roots of the three species grown under elevated CO2 had similar decomposition rates when they were incubated alone or in combination with other species. These data suggest that if elevated CO2 reduces the root decomposition rate of even a few species in the community, it may slow root decomposition of the entire plant community.
Impact of temperature and storage duration on the chemical and odor quality of military packaged water in polyethylene terephthalate bottles.

The impact of temperature and storage time on military packaged water (MPW) quality was examined at four temperatures (23.0 °C to 60.0 °C) for 120 days. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were filled in California and Afghanistan with unbuffered water treated by reverse osmosis. The US military's water pH long-term potability standard was exceeded, and US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) drinking water pH and odor intensity limits were also exceeded. During a 70 day exposure period, Port Hueneme MPW total organic carbon and total trihalomethane levels increased from < 0.25 mg/L to 2.0 ± 0.0 mg/L and < 0.05 μg/L to 51.5 ± 2.1 μg/L, respectively. PET released organic contaminants into MPW and residual disinfectant generated trihalomethane contaminants. After 14 days at 37.7 °C and 60.0 °C, Afghanistan MPW threshold odor number values were 8.0 and 8.6, respectively. Total organic carbon concentration only increased with exposure duration at 60.0 °C. Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde contaminants were not detected likely due to the high method detection limits applied in this study. Phthalate contaminants detected and their maximum levels were butylbenzylphthalate (BBP) 0.43 μg/L, di-n-butylphthalate (DnBP) 0.38 μg/L, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) 0.6 μg/L, and diethylphthalate (DEP) 0.32 μg/L. Antimony was only detected in 60.0 °C Afghanistan MPW on Day 28 and beyond, and its maximum concentration was 3.6 ± 0.3 μg/L. No antimony was found in bottles exposed to lesser temperatures. Environmental health, PET synthesis and bottle manufacturers, and bottle users can integrate results of this work to improve health protective decisions and doctrine.
Distribution and excretion of 2,3,6,2',3',6'- and 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl in senescent rats

Abstract The disposition of two symmetrical [ 14 C]hexachlorobiphenyls (HCBs), 2,3,6,2′,3′,6′-HCB (236) and 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-HCB (245), was studied in 24-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats after iv treatment. Because body composition changes with age, complete dissections were performed on all rats to determine the size of the skin and adipose tissue depots. More than 50% of 236 was metabolized and excreted via the bile into the feces within 2 days. In contrast, 245 redistributed from the liver, muscle, and skin to adipose tissue where it accumulated without being metabolized. Only 2% of the total dose of 245 was excreted primarily in the feces within 21 days. The data obtained in this study were compared to results previously obtained from 2- to 3-month-old rats in this laboratory ( Matthews and Tuey, 1980 , Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 53, 377–388). Although the general pattern of HCB disposition did not change with age, i.e., metabolism and excretion of 236 versus persistence of 245, there were differences in the rates of elimination and in the tissue levels. There was enhanced metabolite retention in the muscle, skin, and adipose tissue of older animals which suggested an age-related decrease in tissue clearance. The large volume of adipose tissue in these older Sprague-Dawley rats could in part explain this observation. In general, there were few changes in decay rates from tissues or in biliary excretion. Age had a greater effect on the disposition of the persistent 245 than on the metabolizable 236. Thus, changes in body composition seemed to play a major role in age-related changes in the distribution and excretion of polychlorinated biphenyls.
Light-Induced Aggregation of Type I Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor

We evaluated the effect of UV-B light at 302 nm on a model therapeutic protein, 2.6 D type I soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-RI). This protein contains a single Trp at position 97 and seven native disulfide bonds along its interior from the N to the C-terminus. At a protein concentration of 0.1 mg/mL photoirradiation was found to induce the formation of soluble disulfide cross-linked dimers with greater levels of these species formed at pH 8 than at pH 5. Intermolecular disulfide formation was also directly correlated with the photoinduced unfolding of the protein as measured by changes in secondary structure by CD spectroscopy. Trp was implicated as the initiator of the observed photoreactions by the detection of the Trp oxidation products and the absence of dimer formation when Trp97 was replaced with Gln. Reactive oxygen species or triplet state species of Trp were not involved in the reaction suggesting that disulfides were cleaved through one-electron reduction by either hydrated or peptide bound electrons produced by the photoirradiated Trp resulting in thiyl radical formation with disruption of the protein structure and intermolecular cross-linking. Photodegradation was not prevented by deoxygenation, methionine or sucrose commonly used for formulation of biopharmaceuticals. To our knowledge this is the first report directly documenting disulfide mediated aggregation through thiyl radical formation initiated by photoirradiation of Trp. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:3182–3199, 2009
Primary linitis plastica of the colon. Report of two cases and review of the literature

Two cases of primary linitis plastica of the large intestine will be presented and discussed. Characteristic clinical features of this type of adenocarcinoma of the large intestine include younger age of presentation, low incidence of hepatic metastasis and a high incidence of ovarian, lymph node and peritoneal metastasis. Pathological features reveal thickening of the intestinal wall by diffuse infiltrating tumor cells of the characteristic signet ring cells, abortive glands and undifferentiated or anaplastic cells. The prognosis is poor.