cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mammography Use Among Women Ages 40–49 After the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation

BACKGROUND In 2009, the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force changed its recommendation regarding screening mammography in average-risk women aged 40–49 years.
Dual-Level Adaptive Supply Voltage System for Variation Resilience

VLSI circuits of the 45-nm technology and beyond are increasingly affected by process variations as well as aging effects. Overcoming the variations inevitably requires additional power expense, which in turn aggravates the power and heat problem. Adaptive supply voltage (ASV) is an arguably power-efficient approach for variation resilience since it attempts to allocate power resources only to where the negative effect of variations is strong. We propose a dual-level ASV (dual-ASV) system for designs containing many timing critical paths. This system can simultaneously provide ASV at both coarse-grained and fine-grained levels, and has limited power routing overhead. The dual-ASV system is compared with conventional ASV through SPICE simulations on benchmark circuits. The results indicate that the dual-ASV system consumes significantly less power and achieves similar performance in the presence of variations.
The strategic dimension of transactional information systems: some organizational implications

. Often information systems (IS) are classified in three groups: (a) transactional, used mainly for co-ordination and resource allocation purposes at the operational level of a company; (b) tactical, often employed to support the resource procurement activities typical of middle management; and (c) information systems for strategic decision making, designed to help in the planning and strategy design processes which are the direct responsibility of top management. In general, the amount of care and management attention that companies give to these different types of systems is proportional to their position in this hierarchy: little attention is devoted to the mundane transaction-pushing systems and exquisite care is put into developing the sophisticated decision making aid for the CEO and his/her staff. The IS/IT literature has been reporting quite commonly cases in which companies have attained or lost great competitive advantages by way of their transactional information systems [for example, Emery Worldwide, Baxter Healthcare ASAP system, and Frontier Airlines]. The aim of this paper is to identify actions that companies can take to realize potential benefits of their IS, in particular from their low-level, transactional IS. Among other actions, we will conclude that companies would be better off if they: (a) have the IS department at the right place in the organization, staffed with people knowledgeable about the basic nature of the business in which the company is engaged; (b) are sensible to what can be called ‘strategic maintenance’ of systems, (c) set up a formal procedure for IS planning to ensure coherence between IS plans and business plans, derived, in turn, from business strategy, and (d) keep abreast of the relevant technology. Several examples taken from European companies are used to illustrate these conclusions.
Ag(I)-binding to phytochelatins.

Abstract Phytochelatins (PCs) are glutathione-derived peptides with the general structure (γ-Glu-Cys)nGly, where n varies from 2 to 11. A variety of metal ions such as Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), and Ag(I) induce PC synthesis in plants and some yeasts. It has generally been assumed that the inducer metals also bind PCs. However, very little information is available on the binding of metals other than Cu(I) and Cd(II) to PCs. In this paper, we describe the Ag(I)-binding characteristics of PCs with the structure(γ-Glu-Cys)2Gly, (γ-Glu-Cys)3Gly, and (γ-Glu-Cys)4Gly. The Ag(I)-binding stoichiometries of these three peptides were determined by (i) UV/VIS spectrophotometry, (ii) luminescence spectroscopy at 77 K, and (iii) reverse-phase HPLC. The three techniques yielded similar results. ApoPCs exhibit featureless absorption in the 220–340 nm range. The binding of Ag(I) to PCs induced the appearance of specific absorption shoulders. The titration end point was indicated by the flattening of the characteristic absorption shoulders. Similarly, luminescence at 77 K due to Ag(I)-thiolate clusters increased with the addition of graded Ag(I) equivalents. The luminescence declined when Ag(I) equivalents in excess of the saturating amounts were added to the peptides. At neutral pH, (γ-Glu-Cys)2Gly, (γ-Glu-cys)3Gly, and (γ-Glu-Cys)4Gly bind 1.0, 1.5, and 4.0 equivalents of Ag(I), respectively. The Ag(I)-binding capacity of (γ-Glu-Cys)2Gly and (γ-Glu-Cys)3Gly was increased at pH 5.0 and below so that Ag(I)/-SH ratio approached 1.0. A similar pH-dependent binding of Ag(I) to glutathione was also observed. The increased Ag(I)-binding to PCs at lower pH is of physiological significance as these peptides accumulate in acidic vacuoles. We also report lifetime data on Ag(I)-PCs. The relatively long decay-times (∼ 0.1–0.3 msec) accompanied with a large Stokes shift in the emission band are indicative of spin-forbidden phosphorescence.
Mechanisms related to NO-induced motility in differentiated rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to play an important role as an inhibitor of vascular cell proliferation, motility, and neointima formation. This effect is mediated, in part, via the upregulation of p...
All-loop group-theory constraints for color-ordered SU(N) gauge-theory amplitudes

Abstract We derive constraints on the color-ordered amplitudes of the L -loop four-point function in SU( N ) gauge theories that arise solely from the structure of the gauge group. These constraints generalize well-known group theory relations, such as U(1) decoupling identities, to all loop orders.
Q2S2: A New Methodology for Merging Quantitative and Qualitative Information in Experimental Design

Sequential sampling refers to a set of experimental design methods where the next sample point is determined by information from previous experiments. This paper introduces a new sequential sampling method where optimization and user knowledge are used to guide the efficient choice of sample points. This method combines information from multiple sources of varying fidelity including actual physical experiments, computer simulation models of the product, and first principles involved in design and designer’s qualitative intuition about the design. Both quantitative and qualitative information from different sources are merged together to arrive at a new sampling strategy. This is accomplished by introducing the concept of a confidence function C, which is represented as a field that is a function of the decision variables x and the performance parameter f. The advantages of the approach are demonstrated using different example cases. The examples include design of a bistable microelectro mechanical system switch, a complex and relevant mechanical system.
Application of blebbistatin as an excitation-contraction uncoupler for electrophysiologic study of rat and rabbit hearts.

Background Application of fluorescence imaging of cardiac electrical activity is limited by motion artifacts and/or side effects of currently available pharmacologic excitation–contraction uncoupling agents. Objectives The purpose of this study was to test whether blebbistatin, a recently discovered inhibitor of myosin II isoforms, can be used as an excitation–contraction uncoupler. Methods The specificity and potency of blebbistatin were examined by assaying the effects of blebbistatin on the contraction and basic cardiac electrophysiologic parameters of Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, isolated rabbit right ventricle and right atrium, and single rat ventricular myocytes using conventional ECG, surface electrograms, microelectrode recordings, and optical imaging with voltage-sensitive and Ca 2+ -sensitive dyes. Action potential morphology, ECG parameters, cardiac conduction, and refractoriness were determined after perfusion with 0.1–10 μM blebbistatin. Results Blebbistatin 5–10 μM completely eliminated contraction in all cardiac preparations but did not have any effect on electrical activity, including ECG parameters, atrial and ventricular effective refractory periods, and atrial and ventricular activation patterns. Blebbistatin 10 μM had no effects on action potential morphology in rabbit cardiac tissue. Blebbistatin inhibited single cellular contraction in a dose-dependent manner with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) = 0.43 μM, without altering the morphologies of intracellular calcium transients. The blebbistatin effect was completely reversible by simultaneous washout and photobleaching by ultraviolet light Conclusion Blebbistatin is a promising novel selective excitation–contraction uncoupler that can be used for optical imaging of cardiac tissues.
Quantitative trait loci for estrogen-dependent pituitary tumor growth in the rat

Growth control is of fundamental importance to biology in general and of critical importance to cancer research in particular. Tumors develop when control of the normal growth process is lost. The rat pituitary is a model system for control of estrogen-dependent growth. Chronic estrogen treatment induces uncontrolled growth in the pituitaries of Fischer 344 (F344) rats, but not of Brown Norway (BN) rats. We have identified five quantitative trait loci (QTL) for estrogen-dependent pituitary mass (Edpm) in an F2 intercross of F344 and BN. These QTL reside on rat Chromosomes (Chrs) 2, 3, 5, and 9 and explain a total of 55% of the genetic variance in the F2. We have also detected suggestive evidence for a QTL on rat Chr 14. For Edpm2- 1, Edpm2- 2, Edpm3, and Edpm5, the F344 allele corresponds with increased pituitary mass, as expected. Surprisingly, for Edpm9 and the suggested QTL on Chr 14, the BN allele corresponds with increased pituitary mass. We also find evidence for interaction (epistasis) between Edpm3 and Edpm9 and between Edpm5 and the suggested QTL on Chr 14.
Enzymatic modification to improve the water-absorbing and gelling properties of psyllium

Psyllium husks were treated with a commercial food-grade polysaccharidase mixture, under solid-state reaction conditions, to improve water-absorbing and gelling properties. The modified psyllium preparations were analyzed and compared to the original psyllium and the control, treated with no enzyme under the same reaction conditions, for their water-absorbing ability, gelling properties, fibre contents, and surface structures. The water-absorbing ability was determined by a gravimetric method, while the gelling property of the modified psyllium was measured using a texture analyzer. The results showed that the solid-state enzymatic modification was able to significantly reduce both water-absorbing and gelling abilities of psyllium. Compared to the control, reductions of 49% in water-absorbing ability, 71% in gel hardness, and 35% in gel adhesiveness were observed for the novel psyllium preparation that was treated with the enzyme mixture at a level of 36 units/g psyllium. The surface structure of the modified psyllium was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM results showed that the enzymatic modification decreased the total surface area. This may contribute to the reduced water-absorbing ability of the modified psyllium. This study demonstrated the potential of preparing novel psyllium preparations, using a solid-state enzymatic method, for commercial food applications.
A new model of tropical waves incorporating momentum mixing by cumulus convection

Abstract A comparison is made between the magnitudes of observed large-scale weather waves over the tropical Pacific and the magnitudes of the corresponding waves, predicted by wave-CISK theories, which are driven by the observed amount of latent heating (i.e., precipitation). The theoretical wave fields of meridional velocity, vorticity, and temperature rate are shown to exceed the observed quantities by an order of magnitude. An attempt is made to simulate the observed balance between the diabatic heating and adiabatic cooling within the context of the inviscid theories. For a broad class of heating profiles, geometries and basic states, it is found that this compensation without temperature change cannot be satisfactorily modelled, regardless of the vertical shape of the heating, when the vertical wavelength of the disturbance exceeds about 6 km. Scale analysis demonstrates that an important dynamical term has been neglected in the inviscid models, viz., the vertical transport of horizontal momentum by cumulus clouds. When this process is included in the wave model, velocities, relative vorticity, and the time rate of temperature change are all comparable to the observed values. The general behavior of a system where both forcing and cumulus “friction” are proportional to each other has not been previously examined. We find the behavior of such a system to have several novel features. For example, we find that for a wide range of precipitation amplitudes (from 1 4 to 4 times the precipitation amplitudes of waves in the western Pacific) we get essentially constant amplitudes for wind. The implications of this and other features for various aspects of tropical wave modelling are discussed.
Centroid-moment tensor solutions for April June 1990

Centroid-moment tensor solutions are presented for 208 earthquakes that occurred during the second quarter of 1990. The solutions are obtained using corrections for aspherical Earth structure.
Some Impacts of Remote System Technology on Future Fisheries Management: Contribution no. 740, School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

Abstract The fisheries profession is not immune to the pressures for increased efficiency which have characterized the history of human society. Currently, much of fisheries research and management suffers from inefficient and labor-intensive techniques. One of the highest potentials for increased efficiency is remote system technology. Examples are the application of remote, automated hydroacoustic sensing devices and remote operating vehicles (ROVs). Remote hydroacoustic systems are currently used to monitor salmonid escapements, measure downstream salmonid migration past hydroelectric dams, evaluate environmental impacts, and investigate long-term trends in fish abundance and behavior. Remote operating vehicles, especially with hydroacoustic as well as video sensors, allow for routine assessment of many fish stocks and for study of fish behavior in response to fishing gear.
Soul City Detroit: Motor City Labels and the Dawn of Soul Music; Soul City New York: Big Apple Labels and the Dawn of Soul Music

Like Dixieland jazz and rock and roll, soul music is distinctively American in origin. Exploding on the US pop music charts during the mid-’60s as a dominant musical sound, this emotion-charged ama...
An analysis and numerical solution for the electrical characteristics of field effect devices

Abstract Numerical solutions for junction field effect devices have been accomplished for homogeneous and inhomogeneous channel profiles. The inhomogeneous channel model chosen is a doping level that is ten times greater at the source contact than at the drain. This formulation is based upon the fact that the current carrying portion of the channel has a net space charge present. The device geometry is chosen such that a one-dimensional solution can be investigated. Under these conditions, a formulation is made, based on the solution of Poisson's equation and the current equation, due to drift. These equations are solved numerically with the appropriate boundary conditions. Output characteristics of the JFET are plotted for field dependent and independent mobility for the same variety of profiles, and for an equivalent geometry device, as published previously, to show the comparison of the results. It is concluded that the present results are more accurate.
Phosphospecific proteolysis for mapping sites of protein phosphorylation

Protein phosphorylation is a dominant mechanism of information transfer in cells, and a major goal of current proteomic efforts is to generate a system-level map describing all the sites of protein phosphorylation. Recent efforts have focused on developing technologies for enriching and quantifying phosphopeptides. Identification of the sites of phosphorylation typically relies on tandem mass spectrometry to sequence individual peptides. Here we describe an approach for phosphopeptide mapping that makes it possible to interrogate a protein sequence directly with a protease that recognizes sites of phosphorylation. The key to this approach is the selective chemical transformation of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues into lysine analogs (aminoethylcysteine and β-methylaminoethylcysteine, respectively). Aminoethylcysteine-modified peptides are then cleaved with a lysine-specific protease to map sites of phosphorylation. A blocking step enables single-site cleavage, and adaptation of this reaction to the solid phase facilitates phosphopeptide enrichment and modification in one step.
Kinetics of quenching of luminescent probes in polyelectrolyte solutions

Abstract Rate equations are derived for the quenching of luminescent polyelectrolyte-pendant probes by quencher counterions following pulsed excitation. The polyelectrolyte solution is considered to be divided into a bound and a solution phase and modified Poisson statistics are used to describe the distribution of quencher ions among the polyelectrolytes.
Stage II nonseminomatous germ-cell testicular tumors — the Indiana experience and risk-benefit analysis

Controversy exists in the appropriate management of patients with nonseminomatous testicular cancer presenting as clinical stage B disease. Traditional treatment in the United States has included retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection (RPLND). Conversely, in Europe and other places some of these patients have been managed with primary chemotherapy. The experience with RPLND in clinical stage B disease at Indiana University from 1965 to 1989 was reviewed. A total of 174 patients were considered to be in clinical stage B prior to RPLND. After RPLND, 23% of these patients (n=41) were found to have pathological stage A disease. In all, 77% (n=133) were determined to be in pathological stage B. Of those pathological stage B patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, 65% were cured by RPLND alone. The pathological stage B patients who went on the receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy displayed an overall 14% chance of relapse. (Patients treated early in the series did not receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy.) The overall survival over the entire period was 96%. In the more modern era, during which cisplatin-based chemotherapy was available, the overall survival was 98%. RPLND is an effective procedure for the management of clinical stage B nonseminomatous testicular cancer. It provides excellent survival in patients found to have pathological stage B disease; additionally, it avoids the unnecessary toxicity of chemotherapy in the 23% of patients who in fact are in pathological stage A.
The adsorption of carbon monoxide on palladium during the catalyzed reaction CO + 12O2 → CO2☆

The amount of carbon monoxide adsorbed on palladium in the course of the catalyzed reaction, CO + 12O2 → CO2 at 450 K was determined through analysis of the transient CO2 formation which occurs following a carbon monoxide pressure jump. The results were compared with CO adsorption data obtained by flash desorption. The results of the two methods are in good accord. The amount of CO adsorbed when pCO > pO2 is almost equal to that determined in the COPd equilibrium system (nonworking conditions). A sharp decrease in CO(a) is noted around pCO ∼- pO2 and CO(a) becomes very small when pCO < pO2. The inhibitory effect of CO(a) on the steady-state CO oxidation reaction is discussed on the basis of these CO adsorption isotherms determined under working conditions.
A-teams for real-time operations

Abstract Rapid changes in the operating environments of electric utilities call for modifications in their operating strategies. This paper proposes two ways for making modifications. The first is the adoption of an organizational scheme, called an A-team (asynchronous team), for EMS (energy management system) software. A-teams are modular and extremely flexible. They have the potential for very high performance. The second proposal is for the use of an event tree that would extend several contingencies from the current operating state into the future. This tree would be continually updated by a set of predictive and prescriptive programs, called control specialists, that would be distributed over a network of computers.
Microbial genome mining answers longstanding biosynthetic questions

At the beginning of the genomic revolution, genomes were frequently described as the instruction manuals for an organism, but as the revolution progressed, many of these genomic instruction manuals resembled the frustratingly opaque descriptions that accompany so many new household gadgets, laboratory devices, and computer software. An important exception to this opacity has been in microbial natural product biosynthesis (1⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓–7), and in PNAS, Davison et al. (8) provide a striking example of how the biosynthetic genes for a biologically important class of small molecules were spotted and analyzed to resolve a 70-y-old puzzle. “Natural products” is the collective term for the wildly diverse families of small molecules produced by genetically encoded pathways. The natural products from fungi and bacteria have repeatedly transformed our understanding of biological systems and represent a substantial fraction of our current pharmaceuticals, especially those used as anticancer, antibiotic, or immunomodulatory agents (9). The biosynthetic pathways that give rise to natural products begin with the same small-molecule building blocks used by all of life, but they are joined together and modified into idiosyncratic molecules that differ dramatically from their universal forebears. Natural product biosynthetic pathways involve multiple genes, but in microbes the biosynthetic genes are most often clustered with regulatory and resistance genes on a contiguous stretch of the genome. With the right chemical, microbiological, or genetic tools, a natural product gene cluster can be connected to its cognate small-molecule product(s). In this way, natural product biosynthesis provides relatively easily studied multigenic phenotypes—the small-molecule products—that can be analyzed in a particularly informative way, because the contribution each gene makes to the final molecule can be determined. As microbial genomes become increasingly available, they are being mined both to discover new molecules with biomedical relevance and to find the answers to … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jon_clardy{at}hms.harvard.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Fish communities and populations during the post-Saladoid period (AD 600/800–1500), Anguilla, Lesser Antilles

Abstract Analysis of vertebrate remains from two archaeological sites indicates human exploitation did not adversely impact fish populations and fish communities during the post-Saladoid period (AD 600/800–1500) on Anguilla, northern Lesser Antilles. Barnes Bay (AL-14-BB) and Sandy Ground (AL-03-SG) are contemporaneous, large village sites located within 10 km of one another in similar terrestrial and adjacent marine environments. Despite substantial human population growth and increasing social complexity by AD 1000, residents at these sites exploited the same marine fishes and captured similar relative frequencies of fish families throughout the occupational sequence. No evidence of overfishing is found, either as a decline in the mean size of members of three fish families or in the ranges of size of these families through time. Evidence of a greater use of some members of a fourth family is found at Sandy Ground during the later post-Saladoid. It is likely that economic or social factors, rather than environmental change, contributed to this increase. By identifying specific locations where human over-exploitation did or did not impact fisheries, we may begin to distinguish patterns and characteristics which led to unsustainable fishing in the past at other sites, or in other circumstances.
A Dynamic Architecture for Distributing Geographic Information Services

Traditional GISystems are no longer appropriate for modern distributed, heterogeneous network environments due to their closed architecture, and their lack of interoperability, reusability, and flexibility. Distributed GIServices can provide broader capabilities and functions for data management, browsing, and exchange. This paper introduces a dynamic architecture for distributing GIServices. The term dynamic indicates that the architecture is constructed temporarily by connecting or migrating geodata objects and GIS components across a network. The intention of the paper is to overview components and protocols necessary for a workable implementation of dynamically linked GIServices. The paper introduces a metadata scheme for both geodata objects and software components, and proposes an implementation framework based on existing languages, computing architectures and web services. In the framework, GIS nodes form the basic processing unit. All GIServices can be accomplished through collaboration between GIS nodes. The design of the presented framework emphasizes scalability, reusability, and dynamic integration. Current distributed computing environments cannot fully support dynamic architectures for technical and other reasons. Throughout the discussion, we distinguish what currently can be implemented from what cannot. We summarize costs and benefits of adopting a dynamic GIServices paradigm in a final section.
Multi-layered PVDF Systems for Enhanced Energy Harvesting and Sensing

The peak output voltage (VL) of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric devices has been investigated as a function of load resistance (RL). Two identical piezoelectric devices were mounted, back to back, on a vibrating cantilever giving almost similar VL. Using RL values in the range of 4.6 KΩ to 1 MΩ, it was observed that VL was doubled when the devices were connected in parallel but it did not change when the devices were connected in series. For single, parallel and series configurations, VL increases linearly with increasing RL. These results are explained well by modeling the device as a discharging capacitor with internal source of charge generation.
Externalizing Pathology and the Five-Factor Model: A Meta-Analysis of Personality Traits Associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder, Substance Use Disorder, and Their Co-Occurrence

In this meta-analysis we examined Five-Factor Model of personality (FFM) characteristics of externalizing disorders. Two pathologies, Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD), have significant levels of co-occurrence that may be due to shared personality traits. Results from 63 samples (N = 15,331) were analyzed in order to summarize and compare five-factor results for APD, SUD, and co-occurring APD/SUD. Shared and unique personality features were identified at both the domain and the facet level of the FFM. Moderation analyses indicated that sample source (clinical versus community) and diagnosis (psychopathy versus DSM-based APD) accounted for some of the variability at the domain level. Results are discussed with respect to personality and externalizing disorders.
Photothermal wavelength modulation of a diode laser

We describe a photothermal technique for wavelength modulation of a room-temperature diode laser at modulation frequencies up to a few kilohertz. This photothermal modulation is accomplished by exposing the diode laser to a low-power, amplitude-modulated helium–neon-laser beam. Advantages of photothermal wavelength modulation compared with the typical injection-current wavelength modulation are discussed.
Thesis projects in magnetic amplifiers

DURING A MEETING of the Theory Subcommittee of the AIEE Magnetic Amplifier Committee, the discussion dwelt on the problem of acquainting college students with magnetic amplifiers. It was felt that students who wish to deepen their knowledge in this field find it often difficult to do so, because of an apparent lack of suitable thesis projects. To remove this difficulty and, thereby, stimulate interest in studying this subject, the subcommittee members suggested a number of thesis projects which are believed to have: 1. High-academic content. 2. Practical importance. 3. Good probability for finding solution.
Overview of the use of the U.S. EPA exposure factors handbook.

Risk assessments are important components of the decision making process. At hazardous waste sites, they are used as tools to determine appropriate cleanup levels. Therefore, it is critical that the best up-to-date methods, models, and exposure data are available to the exposure and risk assessor to realistically estimate the potential for human and ecological exposures to environmental contaminants. The EPA Exposure Factors Handbook published in 1997 is a tool available to exposure assessors which summarizes statistical data on exposure factors necessary to conduct human health exposure assessments. Since it was first published by EPA in 1989, the handbook has been the primary source of data for human exposure assessments. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the handbook, its impact, applications, discussion about data gaps, and future directions.
Reading and the brain: What early childhood educators need to know

This manuscript focuses on neuroscience research that may have applicability for early childhood educators. Beginning with cautions about the usefulness of neurosciences, we offer reviews of several ideas that can inform the practice of early childhood educators. We begin with the understanding that reading is not innate, meaning that every brain must be taught to read. We continue with the idea that language learning physically changes the brain to remind early childhood educators that their instruction can be powerful. We note the research focused on repetition that leads to automaticity, a key finding from reading research that results in skilled readers. We also discuss the importance that visuals play in learning and then note that children are hardwired to imitate others, which is why teacher modeling is so important. We conclude the article with future research needs and implications for educators.
MYOCARDIAL PROTEINS IN DOGS OF VARIOUS AGES.

SummaryProtein fractions of the hearts of dogs of different ages were examined and levels of desoxyribose, ribose and myoglobin were determined as well. There were 9 dogs in each of 4 groups: I, one year old or less; II, 2-4 years of age; III, 5-8 years of age; and, IV, 9 years or older. The desoxyribose concentration of the oldest group of dogs was 30% less than that of the youngest. Ribose concentration did not differ with age. Concentration of the fraction corresponding to myosin was significantly increased in the oldest group while the fraction corresponding to contractin showed a decrease that was not statistically significant, and that corresponding to actomyosin remained constant. Myoglobin concentration increased with each age group. The data suggest that cellular hypertrophy occurs with aging of the myocardium of dogs. Dogs in the oldest age group exhibit no impairment in ability to maintain a normal myocardial protein content although some age-dependent changes seem apparent.
Tracheal perforation. A complication associated with transtracheal oxygen therapy

A 73-year-old woman with a transtracheal oxygen catheter in place developed sudden onset of respiratory distress and subcutaneous emphysema. Bronchoscopy revealed the presence of three posterior tracheal wall perforations and a blind pouch arising from one of the perforations. Subsequent bronchoscopies revealed complete healing of the perforations. We believe that these perforations occurred during placement of the transtracheal catheter.
Estimating Item and Ability Parameters in Homogeneous Tests With the Person Characteristic Function

On the basis of monte carlo runs, in which item response data were generated for a variety of test characteristics, procedures for estimating item and ability parameters for homogeneous, uni dimensional tests are developed on the assumption that values of the slope parameter a and the guess ing parameter c are constant over items. The procedures focus on estimates of the a parameter, regarded as an important statistic for characteriz ing an ability. This parameter is estimated from person characteristic functions for different levels of the total raw score distribution. The procedures can be applied to datasets with relatively small or very large Ns and with either relatively small or large numbers of items. They are illustrated with data from several cognitive ability tests.
Revision and return of a coccidioidal skin test reagent.

The revival of a skin test reagent reported by Johnsonet al. [1] provides the potential for renewal of amodality that is useful for evaluation of the immuno-logic response of patients with coccidioidomycosis.Ampel and Hector [2] in a prior commentary pointedout the value of skin testing and in vitro measurementof cellular immunity in coccidioidomycosis.Even before the differing geographic distribution ofthe presumed two species of Coccidioides immitis andCoccidioides posadasii was demonstrated, the reac-tivity to coccidioidin (mycelial) or spherulin derivedfrom the spherule-endospore (S/E) phase was demon-strated across broad geographic areas that were hometo Coccidioides species.While various coccidioidins had been prepared frommycelialphasecultures(reviewedbySmithetal.[ 3]),themost extensive evaluation and practical application wereculture ﬁltrates of Coccidioides grown in the synthetic(non-antigenic) modiﬁed asparagine-containing Bureauof Animal Industry medium previously used for tuber-culin. Smith et al. [3] responding to the possible thoughunlikely antigenic differences among strains of Coccid-ioides,culturedmultiplestrainsfromCalifornia,Arizona,Texas and elsewhere. Grown s tatic, the culture-yieldedﬁltrates are harvested severa l weeks later, ﬁlter sterilizedand preserved with thimerosal 1:10,000 ﬁnal concentra-tion.Fromexaminationofthecultures,itwasevidentthatautolysis of mycelium had taken place. Later, deliberateautolysisofmyceliaresulted inreleaseofpotentserologicandskintestantigens[4]. HB Levine et al. [5]hadsuccessfully adapted the method and synthetic mediumof John Converse for cultivation of the S/E phase ofCoccidioides. They deliberately allowed the S/E phasecellstoautolyzeinsterilewatertoyieldspherule-derivedcoccidioidin which they termed ‘‘spherulins’’. WhileSmith’scoccidioidinwasderivedfrommultiplestrainsofCoccidioides, Levine et al. [5] prepared spherulin from asingle strain, either strain Silveira, later categorized asC. posadasii,orstrain46,aC. immitis. As laterrecognized for serologic reactivity [6], antigens preparedfrom either species sufﬁce for skin testing regardless ofthe geographic provenance of patients. Moreover, withinthe coccidioidin and spherulinweremorethan20antigenic components, some of which were not commonto both preparations [7]. Coccidioidal skin test antigensdo not affect serologic reactivity as may accompanyhistoplasmin skin tests [8]. Levine et al. [9, 10]inanumber of papers provided evidence that spherulindetected a higher proportion of reactors (was more‘‘sensitive’’) than coccidioidin among various groups ofhumansinendemicareas.However,adissentingreportofGifford and Cantanzaro [11] suggested that there was nosigniﬁcant difference in se nsitivity of the two reagentsamong patients with various forms of coccidioidomyco-sis. Anergy tococcidioidalskintestshadbeenconsideredan unfavorable response in patients with coccidioidal
Roosting, Social Organization and the Annual Cycle in a Kenya Population of the Bat Pipistrellus nanus

The tiny (3.1–3.8 g) vespcrtilionid bat Pipistrellus nanus was studied in Kenya palm-thatched roofs from May 1973 to July 1974. Roosting social organization and related activities and behavior are described. ♂♂ held diurnal roosting territories where ♀♀ gathered in small and compositionally labile groups, attracted to the most vocal ♂♂. Annual variation in population-wide aspects of social organization follows predictable seasonal changes in climate and predator abundance. Variability between individuals follows a common mammalian pattern: high male competition for ♀, variance in presumed male reproductive success, and a mating system resembling one based on resource defense polygyny. Social organization in this population contrasts with that known from studies of other P. nanus populations.
Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of anthocyanins and their aglycon, cyanidin, from tart cherries

The anthocyanins (1-3) and cyanidin isolated from tart cherries exhibited in vitro antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities comparable to commercial products. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation of anthocyanins 1-3 and their aglycon, cyanidin, were 39, 70, 75, and 57%, respectively, at 2-mM concentrations. The antioxidant activities of 1-3 and cyanidin were comparable to the antioxidant activities of tert-butylhydroquinone and butylated hydroxytoluene and superior to vitamin E at 2-mM concentrations. In the antiinflammatory assay, cyanidin gave IC50 values of 90 and 60 mM, respectively, for prostaglandin H endoperoxide synthase-1 and prostaglandin H endoperoxide synthase-2 enzymes.
Location of wire position in tyre belting using Bayesian analysis

Abstract Eddy current testing has been used for the location of conducting wire in low conductivity materials such as rubber belting [1] . Improved signal processing using Bayesian analysis, allows one to make an accurate estimate of the wire location. Bayesian analysis phrases a question to take advantage of prior information. That question is, ‘Based on the prior knowledge of the expected measurement response for a single wire, and given the data observed, what is the most likely location of the wire?’ The method aids the computation of the wire position through directly asking the question of interest, rather than by indirect inference. Computation is also simplified.
Ki-67 detected by MIB-1 predicts distant metastasis and tumor mortality in primary, high grade extremity soft tissue sarcoma†

BACKGROUND. Preoperative staging of localized extremely soft tissue sarcoma (STS) includes tumor grade, size, and depth. A positive microscopic margin (PMM) adds prognostic information postoperatively, which is not helpful for preoperative stratification into low and high risk groups. This study was undertaken to identify molecular markers associated with poor outcome that could be used to refine the preoperative staging of high grade extremity STS. METHODS. Between January 1, 1983, and December 31, 1989, 1416 patients were entered into the STS prospective data base at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Of 232 patients identified with primary, high grade extremity lesions, 121 had tissue available for immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. The clinicopathologic variables and molecular markers for the original 232 patients were correlated with those for the 121 patients analyzed in the current study. Overexpression of Ki-67, p53, and mdm2 and deletion of Rb were determined via standard IHC techniques on serial paraffin sections. Categoric overexpression was defined as ≥20% nuclear staining. Continuous determination of the percentage of nuclear staining was also used for correlation with distant metastasis (DM) and tumor mortality (TM). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted with log rank and Wilcoxon tests and Cox regression analyses, respectively. RESULTS. The median follow-up was 64 months. Fifty-four of the 121 patients (45%) developed DM. Fifty-one of the 121 patients (42%) died of their disease. Factors found to be significant in univariate and multivariate analyses for both DM and TM were Ki-67 score, size, and PMM (all P values <0.05). Five year freedom from DM with a Ki-67 score of <20 was 70% versus 50% for a score. Overexpression of p53 of mdm2 or deletion of Rb did not correlate with increased risk of DM or TM alone or in combination with a Ki-67 score of ≥20. CONCLUSIONS. In addition to standard preoperative criteria, Ki-67 score is an independent prognostic molecular marker that predicts DM and TM in high grade extremity STS. Selecting patients with high grade tumors for preoperative investigational treatment may be further refined according to whether the patients have Ki-67 score of≥20 and large tumor size.
Life without DNA repair

The advent of gene targeting techniques has permitted the construction of specific genetic deficiencies to evaluate the biological contribution(s) of an individual protein. Mice lacking a precise DNA repair activity have been generated, and these mutants show various combinations of defective embryogenesis, tissue-specific dysfunction, hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, premature senescence, genetic instability, and elevated cancer rates (1). That repair-deficient animals display such abnormalities underscores the fundamental importance of DNA repair in protecting against the mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of DNA damage.
Carbohydrate Fractions from Cooked Fish Promote Iron Uptake by Caco-2 Cells

The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize the meat factor(s) that enhances nonheme iron bioavailability using various analytical and in vitro cell culture techniques. Nonheme iron bioavailability was measured via radiolabeled iron uptake or ferritin formation in Caco-2 cells. Fish haddock fillet was cooked and lyophilized to be used as the muscle tissue of choice because of its low intrinsic iron content. It was demonstrated that the low pH of the stomach (pH 2.0) was the primary factor responsible for initiating the enhancing effect of fish on nonheme iron uptake. Subsequently, cooked fish samples were titrated with HCl to pH 2.0 and incubated for 1 h without digestive enzymes to release the factor(s) from the fish. The supernatant of this acidic digest was then used as a starting material for the meat factor isolation procedures. Fractions generated through Sephadex G-25 size exclusion increased Caco-2 cell iron uptake approximately 9-fold. Subsequent chromatography of these fractions via C18 reverse-phase HPLC were conducted, and enhancing activity was observed only in the "injection peak." This observation coupled with protein measurement and amino acid composition analysis revealed that the active fractions contained negligible amounts of proteins or amino acids. Active fractions were highly enriched with carbohydrates. Subsequent chromatography via high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection yielded 3 active peaks that increased Caco-2 cell iron uptake 3.4- to 4.9-fold. Our results indicate that specific carbohydrates contribute to the enhancing effect of meat on iron uptake by the enterocyte. These carbohydrates may be oligosaccharides originating from glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix of muscle tissue.
The effect of neurohormonal antagonists in reducing heart failure hospitalizations.

ABSTRACTObjective: Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem facing the US and studies suggest that the incidence of this condition will rise significantly over the next 10 years. Limiting the incidence or duration of HF hospitalizations would, therefore, have a major impact on healthcare costs. The purpose of this review is to establish and discuss the proposed neurohormonal mechanisms by which HF can occur along with pharmacologic treatments designed to antagonize these pathological states in order to aid in the reduction of HF hospitalization.Methods: A Medline search (to December 2004) was performed to compile published literature and assess numerous large-scale studies regarding the use of neurohormonal antagonists in the treatment of HF. In addition, evaluation of statistics and figures from various organizations dedicated to the improvement of HF care was utilized as aids in understanding the impact of these therapies on hospitalization and healthcare.Results: Heart failure is the most costly ca...
Pathology imaging informatics for quantitative analysis of whole-slide images.

Objectives With the objective of bringing clinical decision support systems to reality, this article reviews histopathological whole-slide imaging informatics methods, associated challenges, and future research opportunities. Target audience This review targets pathologists and informaticians who have a limited understanding of the key aspects of whole-slide image (WSI) analysis and/or a limited knowledge of state-of-the-art technologies and analysis methods. Scope First, we discuss the importance of imaging informatics in pathology and highlight the challenges posed by histopathological WSI. Next, we provide a thorough review of current methods for: quality control of histopathological images; feature extraction that captures image properties at the pixel, object, and semantic levels; predictive modeling that utilizes image features for diagnostic or prognostic applications; and data and information visualization that explores WSI for de novo discovery. In addition, we highlight future research directions and discuss the impact of large public repositories of histopathological data, such as the Cancer Genome Atlas, on the field of pathology informatics. Following the review, we present a case study to illustrate a clinical decision support system that begins with quality control and ends with predictive modeling for several cancer endpoints. Currently, state-of-the-art software tools only provide limited image processing capabilities instead of complete data analysis for clinical decision-making. We aim to inspire researchers to conduct more research in pathology imaging informatics so that clinical decision support can become a reality.
A new approach to testing forecast predictive accuracy

The Diebold–Mariano test for predictive accuracy has been used widely and adapted for economic forecasts, but has not seen much activity in weather forecast verification. The technique is applied to both simulated verification sets as well as weather data at eight stations in Utah, and a loss function based on dynamic time warping (DTW) is used. Results of the simulation experiment show that the DTW technique can be useful if timing errors are the concern. Real test cases demonstrate the difficulty in automating some of the more advanced methods proposed here, but also show the utility in even the most basic test, which is an improvement over similar tests that do not account for temporal and/or contemporaneous correlation.