cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Benzoporphyrin (verteporfin) photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration

Objetivo: Rever e discutir os tratamentos disponiveis para neovascularizacao subrretiniana (CNV) secundaria a degeneracao macular relacionada a idade (DMRI) com enfase especial a terapia fotodinâmica (PDT). Metodos: Revisamos artigos publicados a partir de 1974 ate 1999 relacionados a DMRI, seus tratamentos dispo- niveis e PDT. Resultados: O tratamento provadamente efetivo mais utilizado para CNV e fotocoagulacao com laser o qual nao apresenta um impacto expressivo na deficiencia visual causada pela DMRI. Tecnicas alternativas de prevencao e tratamento estao sob investigacao incluindo cirurgias, tratamento farmacologico antiangiogenico e prevencao com fotocoagulacao. PDT com Verteporfina demonstrou ser efetiva no fechamento de CNV em nosso modelo experimental. Um estudo clinico inicial demonstrou que uma aplicacao unica poderia estabilizar a area de CNV subfoveal com componente classico na maioria dos pacien- tes por ate 3 meses. Dados de 12 meses em tratamentos quadrimestrais revelaram que a estabilizacao da visao, significando melhora, nao alteracao ou perda de ate 3 linhas ocorreu em 61,4% dos pacientes tratados e que estes eram menos susceptiveis a perda visual de 6 ou mais linhas (85%) quando comparados com placebo (76%). Outro estudo clinico esta em andamento para analisar o PDT em CNV do tipo oculto. Conclusao: O tratamento para esta devastadora patologia continua desafiador. Estes estudos clinicos demonstraram fechamento inicial do CNV com PDT e interessantes resultados em termos de acuidade visual, embora estes resultados necessitem de comprovacao clinica a longo prazo. A terapia fotodinâmica e uma das mais promissoras novas tecnologias para o tratamento de CNV.
Treatment of Pain of Diffuse Metastatic Cancer by Stereotactic Chemical Hypophysectomy: Long Term Results and Observations on Mechanism of Action

Stereotactic instillation of absolute alcohol into the sella turcica for pituitary destruction was carried out in 29 patients divided into two groups. Seventeen with prostatic carcinoma underwent a total of 19 injections with 94% good to excellent results that persisted throughout the remainder of the patient's life-span. The longest survival was 9 months. Brief relapses did occur, but spontaneous remissions were the rule. A second group of mixed cancers contained 12 patients who received a total of 13 injections. Eleven patients had good to excellent results that persisted in all but 1 patient. The longest survival was 7 months. Hormonal levels and prolactin stimulation tests failed to show any correlation between hormonal changes and pain relief. Naloxone reversal of analgesia did not occur. There was no loss of cognitive function shown on psychological testing. Pathological studies showed destruction of the pituitary gland, which was subtotal in some patients despite good pain relief. All examinations showed that the pituitary stalk was destroyed. Patients who survived longer also showed degeneration of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus and the median eminence. All but 1 patient with pain relief exhibited a lack of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) production. Interpretation of the data indicates that ADH or its associated neurophysins act as central pain transmitters. The production of these transmitters is decreased or abolished by chemical hypophysectomy through the destruction of hypothalamic nuclei.
Genesis and evolution of water in a two-mica pluton: A hydrogen isotope study

Abstract Measurements were made of the hydrogen isotope composition of 74 samples of muscovite, biotite, vein quartz and whole rocks from the Papoose Flat pluton, eastern California, U.S.A., and adjacent metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in order to elucidate the genesis and evolution of water and hydrous minerals in a two-mica granodiorite. Electron microprobe analyses were made of all micas so that the Suzuoki-Epstein equation could be used in evaluating the data. Based on experimental, theoretical and textural evidence of mica paragenesis, a model of hydrogen isotope fractionation between an aqueous vapor and a magma during crystallization has been constructed. This model accounts for the observed hydrogen isotope relations and implies that primary hydrogen isotope compositions have been preserved in a large portion of the pluton. The δ D-values of biotites vary widely over the range −103 to −66% with most values lying between −90 and −70‰ Muscovites, on the other hand, are isotopically more uniform and have δ D-values of −61 to −41‰ with most values lying between −50 and −46‰ These data are consistent with the interpretation that biotite formed over a long period of crystallization whereas muscovite formed in a narrow interval, presumably during the final stages of crystallization when alumina and water contents were at their highest. Only 8 of the 21 muscovite-biotite pairs analyzed are in hydrogen isotope equilibrium as calculated from the Suzuoki-Epstein equation. Biotites in the western half of the pluton have relatively low δ D-values of around −85‰, whereas those in the eastern half have higher values of up to −66‰ This pattern is a consequence of a loss of permeability associated with the syn-intrusive deformation of the western margin of the pluton. This loss of permeability enhanced the preservation of primary hydrogen isotope relations there by diverting water evolved from the magma out through the eastern half of the pluton where some deuteric exchange is documented. A much larger metamorphic aureole with extensive retrograde textures around the eastern end of the pluton attests to the passage of this water.
Nonresponse Bias in Survey Estimates of Alcohol Consumption and Its Association With Harm

Objective:Selective nonresponse represents a major source of potential bias in survey-based estimates of alcohol consumption and its association with harm. This study examined whether consumption differs for respondents and nonrespondents after correcting for their sociodemographic differences.Method:This study compared baseline consumption among initial respondents who did (n = 34,653) and did not (n = 5,306) respond to a 3-year follow-up interview in a prospective study of the U.S. general population. Differences in consumption measures were presented before and after adjustment or sociodemographic differences, and interactions of nonresponse with consumption were assessed in models predicting various types of harm.Results:After we adjusted for sociodemographic differences and factored in the overall level of nonresponse (13.3%), the degree to which the prevalence of drinking was underestimated in the total population was only 1.6%, and the extent to which consumption was overestimated among drinkers la...
MALT1-Ubiquitination Triggers Non-Genomic NF-κB/IKK Signaling upon Platelet Activation

We have recently shown that IKK complex plays an important non-genomic role in platelet function, i.e., regulates SNARE machinery-dependent membrane fusion. In this connection, it is well known that MALT1, whose activity is modulated by proteasome, plays an important role in the regulation of IKK complex. Therefore, the present studies investigated the mechanism by which IKK signaling is regulated in the context of the platelet proteasome. It was found that platelets express a functional proteasome, and form CARMA/MALT1/Bcl10 (CBM) complex when activated. Using a pharmacological inhibitor, the proteasome was found to regulate platelet function (aggregation, integrin activation, secretion, phosphatidylserine exposure and changes in intracellular calcium). It was also found to regulate thrombogenesis and physiologic hemostasis. We also observed, upon platelet activation, that MALT1 is ubiquitinated, and this coincides with the activation of the IKK/NF-κB-signaling pathway. Finally, we observed that the proteasome inhibitor blocks CBM complex formation and the interaction of IKKγ and MALT1; abrogates SNARE formation, and the association of MALT1 with TAK1 and TAB2, which are upstream of the CBM complex. Thus, our data demonstrate that MALT1 ubiquitination is critical for the engagement of CBM and IKK complexes, thereby directing platelet signals to the NF-κB pathway.
A Unique Sugar Orthoester

THE isolation and identification of a D-glucose derivative in which the hydroxyl groups at positions C-3, C-5 and C-6 and an S-methyl group are commonly linked to form an orthocarbonate-type structure is reported. Such a carbohydrate derivative has not been shown previously.
Current Concepts in the Management of Vertebral Compression Fractures

Despite increasing awareness of osteoporosis, fragility fractures still occur with regularity. In patients who have only mild or moderate pain, bracing and supportive care is all that is typically necessary. Surgical invention is recommended in patients who have neurologic compromise or continue to have pain and disability after a suitable period of nonoperative treatments. In most patients who do not have neurologic compromise, kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are very good options. Both are percutaneous procedures that stabilize the fracture with polymethylmethacrylate. The results of both kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty have been very good. It has been demonstrated in multiple studies that these procedures result in immediate and sustained pain relief in most patients. Also, recovery is very quick in these patients, and patients are usually able to go home the same day or the day after surgery because they have such small incisions and blood loss is minimal. Thus, among spine surgeons and interventional radiologists, it is generally agreed that either a kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty is the procedure of choice in patients who have an osteoporotic compression fracture. For the physicians who prefer kyphoplasty, they list height restoration, improved spinal alignment, and a decreased incidence of cement leakage into the spinal canal as their reasons for choosing kyphoplasty. In those who prefer vertebroplasty, cost is the primary reason for their choice. Despite these differences, both procedures have been shown to have similar success rates with a slightly increased rate of cement leakage in the vertebroplasty group. These cement leakages, however, have not been shown to have any clinical significance.
Cannabinoid subtype-2 receptors modulate the antihyperalgesic effect of WIN 55,212-2 in rats with neuropathic spinal cord injury pain.

Abstract Background context There is increasing evidence for a role of the cannabinoid (CB) system in the development of neuropathic pain (NP) after spinal cord injury (SCI). The nonspecific CB 1 and CB 2 receptor agonists, WIN 55, 212-2 (WIN), have previously been shown to alleviate both mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia (TH) after peripheral nerve injury. Purpose The present study was designed to identify the CB receptors involved in the antihyperalgesic effect of WIN by using selective antagonists for CB 1 and CB 2 receptors. Study design This is an in vivo and behavioral study using a moderate T9 contusion SCI. After injury, TH of the hind paws was measured on postinjury days 21 through 42. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a contusion SCI using the Multicenter Animal Spinal Cord Injury Study (MASCIS) weight-drop impactor, which induced a moderate T9 SCI. Only animals showing consistent plantar stepping and consistent forelimb and hind limb coordination (Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan score=15) were tested for TH. Animals exhibiting decreased withdrawal latency time, indicating TH, on or before Day 42, were selected for pharmacological intervention. Animals not exhibiting TH did not receive pharmacological intervention and were sacrificed. Rats underwent hind paw testing before any drug administration (after injury), 45 minutes after selective CB antagonist (AM 251 or AM 630) administration (postantagonist) and again 45 minutes after WIN administration (post-WIN). There were a total of seven treatment groups: saline vehicle control; Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) vehicle control; low-dose WIN (0.2 mg/kg); and high-dose WIN (2.0 mg/kg); AM 251 (3 mg/kg) and AM 630 (1 mg/kg) were given subcutaneously in a total volume of 0.5 mL. Followed by intraperitoneal injection of WIN after each antagonist, sham-operated rats repeated pharmacological intervention used with treatment Groups 5 and 6. Results Thermal hyperalgesia was significantly ameliorated in a dose-dependent manner with systemically administered WIN. Cannabinoid receptor Type 1 antagonist AM 251 pretreatment did not affect the antihyperalgesic effect of WIN. By contrast, pretreatment with the CB 2 receptor antagonist AM 630 significantly attenuated the effect of WIN. Conclusion Taken together, these results suggest a role of the CB 2 receptor in modulating SCI-induced TH. Selective activation of the CB 2 receptor could potentially lead to analgesic effects on NP while avoiding psychotropic side effects in patients with SCI.
Explicit finite difference beam propagation method: application to semiconductor rib waveguide Y-junction analysis

A novel explicit finite difference beam propagation method is developed and applied to the analysis of a strongly guiding semiconductor rib waveguide Y-junction. Its accuracy is confirmed by comparison with reported results. This method is much more efficient than the standard beam propagation method for the rib waveguide analysis.
D+, He+ and H+ sputtering of solid and liquid phase tin

Absolute sputtering yields of Sn in the solid and liquid phases for incident H þ ,D þ , and He þ ions with energies of 300 to 1000 eV were determined via a series of experiments using the ion-surface interaction experiment (IIAX), a facility designed to measure such ion-surface interactions. IIAX incorporates an ion source with an array of ion beam filters and optics to bring a near mono-energetic beam of ions to the target, in this case at 45 to the surface normal. A pair of quartz crystal microbalances record the amount of mass collected from both sputtering and evaporation from the target. VFTRIM-3D modeling results of tin sputtering best fit the experimental data when the bulk of pure tin was modeled with 60% SnO coverage in the top three monolayers most likely indicating the presence of a very thin oxide layer during experimentation. 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Teaching the Use of Respiratory Inhalers to Hospitalized Patients with Asthma or COPD: a Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND Hospitalized patients frequently misuse their respiratory inhalers, yet it is unclear what the most effective hospital-based educational intervention is for this population.
Incidence of Physical Restraints on Acute General Medical Wards

On four acute medical wards 1292 patients were observed over 15 weeks to determine how frequently physical restraints were used. Patients were divided into age groups of less than 40 years, 40 to 55 years, 56 to 69 years, and 70 years and older. Ninety-five patients were found to be restrained giving an overall incidence of 7.4%. As expected, patients 70 years of age and older were restrained more frequently (20.3%) than younger patients, with the lowest incidence (2.9%) occurring in those 40 to 55 years of age. In each age group the patients who were restrained had a length of stay more than twice as long as their unrestrained counterparts. Twelve percent of the restrained patients died, which was nearly one-half of all the patients who died during the period of the study. The findings suggest a probable relationship between the severity of an illness and the use of physical restraints.
Her2-enriched breast cancer brain metastases exhibit resistance to Gamma Knife radiosurgery: findings from a single institutional series review

This study aims to assess the outcomes and prognostic/predictive factors of overall survival and local control in patients with a diagnosis of brain metastasis from a breast cancer primary who underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) as part of intracranial treatment. A total of 69 patients were identified who were treated with GKRS for one to four brain metastases from breast cancer as a primary diagnosis. A total of 176 metastases were treated at diagnosis or as salvage treatment. Differences in overall survival time (OS) and local control time (LC) after GKRS between groups were assessed. The median follow-up was 9.2 months (range 3–90.5 months). The median OS for this cohort was 13.4 months (range 0.5–90.5 months). The median LC was 15.8 months. For a given metastasis, univariate analysis showed that LC was significantly correlated with the dose density (DD, ratio of GKRS dose to metastasis volume, [gray per cubic centimeters]). Additionally, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) enrichment predicted for worse local control on univariate analysis [HR 2.18; 95 % CI 1.047–4.532] (p = 0.037). With DD as a continuous variable, the only independent and significant predictive factors were the DD [HR: 0.99; 95%CI: 0.984–0.998] (p = 0.009) and HER2-enriched subtype [HR = 2.25; 95 % CI = 1.074–4.728] (p = 0.032) after accounting for dose, metastasis volume, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), and other subtypes. DD was then examined as a binary categorical variable whether or not a metastasis was treated to, at least, the median DD delivered across the cohort. With the cutoff set at this median, a DD value of 36 Gy/c3, the independent and significant predictive factor again was the DD [HR: 3.49; 95%CI: 1.45–8.40] (p = 0.005) in favor of metastases receiving at least 36 Gy/c3. Additionally, HER2 enrichment was significant when DD was examined as a binary variable, predicting for worse LC [HR 2.20; 95 % CI: 1.048–4.636] (p = 0.037). The median LC for metastasis receiving <36 Gy/c3 is 18.7 months vs. median not reached in those receiving at least 36 Gy/c3 (p < 0.001). For HER2-enriched metastases, a DD ≥36 Gy/c3 resulted in a 14 % failure rate (10-month actuarial), compared to that of 0 % observed in non-HER2-enriched subtypes. The ratio of dose delivered with GKRS to metastasis volume was significantly correlated with LC, with values ≥36 Gy/c3 improving LC. This effect was significantly diminished in HER2 subtypes, and a required higher DD for improved control, suggesting these metastases may be intrinsically resistant to radiosurgery.
Myelin-like ‘artifacts’ in the zoospores of Blastocladiella emersonii

Myelin-like figures with repeating lines of 5·0–5·5 nm frequently appear in the nucleus and at the boundary between it and the nuclear cap in zoospores of Blastocladiella emersonii Cantino & Hyatt fixed in glutaraldehyde and immediately post-fixed in osmium tetroxide. The incidence of such profiles is greatly reduced when glutaraldehyde-fixed spores are washed for 24 h before they are post-fixed with osmium tetroxide, and they do not appear when spores are prepared in other combinations of fixatives. Myelin-like figures may reflect underlying membrane alterations that occur when zoospores have been triggered to encyst. It was briefly mentioned recently (Truesdell & Cantino, 1971) that within the first few minutes after zoospore suspensions of Blastocladiella emersonii have been triggered to encyst, myelin-like figures occur in the region between the nuclear cap and the nucleus, and in the nucleus itself, if the zoospores are fixed with glutaraldehyde and post-fixed with osmium tetroxide. Such myeloid bodies show up frequently, however, only if the post-fixation with osmium is done immediately. The purpose of this report is to illustrate the nature of such myelin-like profiles.
Phylogenetic systematics of New World Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) based on chloroplast DNA restriction site variation.

Chloroplast DNA restriction site variation was studied in 31 New World species ofIpomoea, representing a majority of the New World sections and series within the genus. Using 14 endonucleases, a total of 124 phylogenetically informative restriction sites was detected. Dollo parsimony, Wagner parsimony, and bootstrap methods were employed to construct phylogenetic trees and evaluate confidence intervals of monophyletic groups. With a few exceptions, groups circumscribed on the basis of morphological variation are in agreement with groupings based on restriction site variation. Relationships between subgeneric groupings, however, disagree substantially with those proposed in the past. Although conflicting hypotheses for some intersectional relationships are not presently resolvable, cpDNA restriction site analyses propose the following refinements of existing classification schemes.Ipomoea ser.Setosae is divided into distantly related groups, as is sect.Pharbitis. SeriesTyrianthinae, a proposed segregate of sect.Pharbitis, is associated with sect.Calonyction and the Tricolor complex (subg.Quamoclit).Ipomoea sect.Batatas is segregated from other herbaceous groups of the heterogeneous subg.Quamoclit sensu lato and aligned as a derivative ofI. setosa, subg.Eriospermum. To test for homology of key characters weighted in traditional schemes, morphological features were studied with respect to their distribution on lineages defined by restriction site data. Characters such as setose sepals, foliose-pubescent sepals, and erect growth habit, among others, are interpreted as having multiple origins, while 3-locular ovaries, 4-locular ovaries, and long-haired seeds have evolved only once.
Analysis and minimization of overtraining effect in rule-based classifiers for computer-aided diagnosis

Computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) schemes have been developed to assist radiologists detect various lesions in medical images. In CAD schemes, classifiers play a key role in achieving a high lesion detection rate and a low false-positive rate. Although many popular classifiers such as linear discriminant analysis and artificial neural networks have been employed in CAD schemes for reduction of false positives, a rule-based classifier has probably been the simplest and most frequently used one since the early days of development of various CAD schemes. However, with existing rule-based classifiers, there are major disadvantages that significantly reduce their practicality and credibility. The disadvantages include manual design, poor reproducibility, poor evaluation methods such as resubstitution, and a large overtraining effect. An automated rule-based classifier with a minimized overtraining effect can overcome or significantly reduce the extent of the above-mentioned disadvantages. In this study, we developed an 'optimal' method for the selection of cutoff thresholds and a fully automated rule-based classifier. Experimental results performed with Monte Carlo simulation and a real lung nodule CT data set demonstrated that the automated threshold selection method can completely eliminate overtraining effect in the procedure of cutoff threshold selection, and thus can minimize overall overtraining effect in themore » constructed rule-based classifier. We believe that this threshold selection method is very useful in the construction of automated rule-based classifiers with minimized overtraining effect.« less
Confirmation of The Reality of The Viscoelastic Solutionlike−Meltlike Transition via Optical Probe Diffusion

Light scattering spectroscopy was used to study the diffusion of mesoscopic optical probe particles through concentrated aqueous solutions of high molecular weight hydroxypropylcellulose. Optical probe spectra in solutions of this polymer are bimodal, consisting of fast and slow modes. Hydroxypropylcellulose solutions show an apparent viscoelastic solutionlike−meltlike transition, at which the concentration dependence of the solution viscosity η changes from a low-concentration stretched exponential form to a high-concentration power-law form. We studied the influence of this apparent viscoelastic transition on the optical probe spectrum S(q,t). The concentration dependence of the fast mode has a sharp change near the solutionlike−meltlike transition concentration c+. The slow mode fitting exhibits smaller changes near c+ in its concentration dependence. It has been suggested that solutionlike−meltlike transition seen in the viscosity measurements is only an artifact of the curve-fitting procedures used t...
Abstract 5175: Survivin Suppression by YM155 involves downregulation of Cyclin Ds and Activation of Rb.

The pro-metastatic and survival protein Survivin is robustly overexpressed in carcinomas compared to normal or benign tissue. The imadazolium based small molecule YM155, which was discovered in a chemical library screen of compounds that effectively suppressed the Survivin promoter, induces apoptosis of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells. Despite the current use of YM155 in phase II clinical trials, the mechanisms by which YM155 inhibits the expression of Survivin and kills cancer cells remain unclear. Our laboratory previously reported that the pocket proteins (Rb, p107, p130) suppress Survivin expression by recruiting E2F4 to CDE/CHR promoter elements of the Survivin promoter. Here we studied early signaling responses in a panel of prostate and kidney cancer cell lines and showed that YM155 rapidly decreases the levels of cyclin Ds and activates Rb, preceding the suppression of Survivin expression. We hypothesize that YM155 down-regulates Survivin expression by activating the pocket proteins and promoting their recruitment along with E2F4 to the proximal region of the Survivin promoter. In addition, we provide evidence that the induction of apoptosis by YM155 may be mediated not only by the downregulation of Survivin but also through induced expression of the proapoptotic protein Bim, repression of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1, followed by activation of caspases. Citation Format: Eswar Shankar, Sarah L. Corum, Scott M. Welford, David Danielpour. Survivin Suppression by YM155 involves downregulation of Cyclin Ds and Activation of Rb. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5175. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5175
Hydrocarbon profiles of diapausing and reproductive adult face flies (Musca autumnalis)

Hydrocarbons present on the cuticle surface of adult face flies, Musca autumnalis, were identified by GC-MS and quantified by GC. Hydrocarbons consisted of n-, monomethyl, and dimethyl alkanes ranging in chain length from 23‐29 carbons. Also present were monounsaturated alkenes with chain lengths of 23, 25, 27, and 29 carbons. Wild-caught flies were extracted and hydrocarbon profiles determined for both diapausing and reproductive adult males and females. Few qualitative differences were found between males and females in the hydrocarbon profile. Differences in percent composition were found between diapausing and reproductive flies in monounsaturated alkenes, 4 and 45%, n-alkanes, 24 and 37%, monomethylalkanes, 57 and 15%, and dimethylalkanes, 15 and 2%, respectively, for females. A small difference was found in the total amount of hydrocarbon present, 7.3 ± 0.6 and 9.7 ± 1.1 mg/fly, between diapausing and reproductive female flies, respectively. Adult males also exhibited a similar change in hydrocarbon profile and amount between diapausing and reproductive flies. A laboratory strain of face flies originating in Minnesota was also analyzed, and again similar differences were observed in both male and female flies that were kept under a reproductive or diapause condition. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 37:206‐214, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Genomic stability and instability in different neuroepithelial tumors. A role for chromosome structure

Selected childhood and adult neoplasm exemplify fundamental differences in their propensity for genomic change. DNA replication is essential for the formation of neuroepithelial tumors, probably because the genome can be remodeled. Nonetheless, several differentiated and stable childhood neoplasms retain their nuclear controls for differentiation. In contrast, rapidly arising gliomas often show a variety of phenotypic changes. Genomic plasticity and instability allow gliomas to flexibly adapt to new environments. Gene changes (in DNA) can be limited in childhood tumors whereas more widespread genetic changes in malignant gliomas indicate a fundamental alteration in many chromosome regions. Can such regions be defined? We used one repeated DNA sequence (TTAGGG)n, present at the end of all normal human chromosomes, to investigate chromosome termini in more detail. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed this region can be unusually variable, as several other multilocus probes did not reveal comparable changes. Because telomeres form unique chromosomal structures, and are thought to provide essential signals to position chromosomes in the interphase nucleus, it was pertinent to assess these regions by in situ hybridization. Many telomeric domains localized at variable as well as interior nuclear positions in glioma cells. These positions, which are presumably abnormal, may be generated by the DNA variants observed. Such position changes may contribute to the more general ‘disorder’ observed in glioma nuclei. Other chromosome domains with a unique DNA-protein structure may define additional genomic loci that are preferentially modified in neoplasia. A fundamental understanding of chromosome structure should clarify the problem of multilocus instability in glioblastoma.
A common progenitor for neurons and glia persists in rat retina late in development

Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer was used to mark cell lineages in vivo in the postnatal rat retina. Labelled clones contained up to three different cell types: three types of neurons or two types of neurons and a Muller glial cell. This indicates that a single retinal progenitor can generate remarkably diverse cell types near the end of development.
Novel haloacetoxylation of 1,4-dimethoxynaphthalenes using hypervalent iodine chemistry

Abstract Treatment of 1,4-dimethoxynaphthalenes with iodosobenzene and trimethylsilyl chloride or bromide furnished the corresponding 2,3-haloacetoxylated-1,4-dimethoxynaphthalenes.
Femoropopliteal reconstruction with knitted, nonvelour Dacron versus expanded polytetrafluoroethylene

No ideal prosthetic conduit exists for femoropopliteal reconstruction. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has gained much greater popularity than the less expensive Dacron, despite disappointing long-term patency for each material. Few direct comparisons of results with the two materials have been performed. The concurrent experience of a single surgeon with femoropopliteal reconstructions of PTFE (n = 85) or knitted, nonvelour Dacron (KNVD, n = 38) was reviewed. Risk factors were comparable in the two groups. Overall patency was significantly better for KNVD than for PTFE (p = 0.0096 by log rank; p = 0.039 by Cox proportional hazards; 48% vs 27% at 5 years). Since in this series the overall performance of KNVD was significantly better than PTFE, a reassessment of the prosthetic materials used in femoropopliteal reconstruction is necessary. These results justify a prospective comparison of PTFE and KNVD.
Activation volumes for intramolecular electron transfer in Escherichia coli cytochrome bo3

In this report we describe the activation volumes associated with the heme-heme electron transfer (ET) and CO rebinding to the binuclear center subsequent to photolysis of the CO-mixed-valence derivative of Escherichia coli cytochrome bo(3) (Cbo). The activation volumes associated with the heme-heme ET (k=1.2 x 10(5) s(-1)), and CO rebinding (k=57 s(-1)) are found to be +27.4 ml/mol and -2.6 ml/mol, respectively. The activation volume associated with the rebinding of CO is consistent with previous Cu X-ray absorption studies of Cbo where a structural change was observed at the Cu(B) site (loss of a histidine ligand) due to a change in the redox state of the binuclear center. In addition, the volume of activation for the heme-heme ET was found to be quite distinct from the activation volumes obtained for heme-heme ET in bovine heart Cytochrome c oxidase. Differences in mechanisms/pathways for heme b/heme o(3) and heme a/heme a(3) ET are suggested based on the associated activation volumes and previously obtained Marcus parameters.
Inhibition of Jak2 phosphorylation attenuates pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy.

Abstract Rationale We examined the role of Jak2 kinase phosphorylation in the development of pressure overload hypertrophy in mice subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and treated with tyrphostin AG490, a pharmacological inhibitor of Jak2. Methods Control mice (sham), subjected to TAC for 15 days (TAC) or to TAC and treated with 48 μg/kg/day i.p. of tyrphostin AG490 (TAC + AG490) were evaluated for morphological, physiological, and molecular changes associated with pressure overload hypertrophy. Results Mice subjected to TAC alone developed concentric hypertrophy that accompanied activation of the components of the Jak/STAT signaling pathway manifested by an increase in phosphorylation of Jak2 and STAT3. We also observed increased phosphorylation of MAPK p44/p42, p38 MAPK and JNK in the TAC group, as well as, an increase in expression of MKP-1 phosphatase which negatively regulates MAPK kinases. Treatment of aortic constricted mice with tyrphostin AG490 failed to develop hypertrophy and showed a marked reduction in phosphorylation of Jak2 and STAT3. There was, however, in TAC and AG490 treated mice, a notable increase in the phosphorylation state of the MAPK p44/42, whereas MKP-1 phosphatase was downregulated. Conclusion These findings suggest that Jak2 kinase plays an important role in left ventricular remodeling during pressure overload hypertrophy. Pharmacological inhibition of Jak2 kinase during pressure overload blocks the development of concentric hypertrophy.
Response to Agilli et al.

In their letter to the editor, Agilli et al. note that we did not adjust for smoking status or use of medications that might influence cortisol in our article recently published in AJHB (Lee et al., 2014). We agree that many factors may influence cortisol levels, and if they are distributed differently by preterm status this could confound any associations between prematurity and adult HPA-axis profiles. As this is a young sample (age, 20.5‐22.5 years), medication use was reported at low frequencies: only 26 of the 1,403 participants (1.85%) reported using prescription medications. Of these, six were on antibiotics and five were on antiasthmatics. Statins and beta-blockers were each used by only one participant. Although oral contraceptive use was a significant predictor of cortisol slope, only 17 of the 601 females in the sample (1.2%) reported using oral contraceptives and adjusting for contraceptive use had no effect on the preterm coefficients. Similarly, smoking was reported among only 88 (6.27%) of the sample. Although individuals born preterm were more likely to smoke in adulthood (9.3% vs. 5.72%), smoking was unrelated to cortisol levels at any time point in either gender (all P >0.3). Models that adjusted for smoking and (in females) contraceptive use, and that excluded all other participants reporting prescription medication use, yielded results that were unchanged from those that we reported. To illustrate, we report findings for models predicting diurnal slope, as this reflects relationships with both waking and evening values. For the model adjusted for medication use and smoking status, the coefficient linking preterm status to diurnal slope in males was 0.06, P <0.044 (compared to 0.06, P <0.032 in the published model) and in females 0.01, P <0.878 (compared to 0.01, P <0.722 in the published model). Thus, we have confidence in the results as originally reported.
Simple, Versatile Liquid Nitrogen Cryostat for Raman Studies:

Resonance Raman studies can often benefit from decreased sample temperature. With biological samples like frozen protein solutions, the spectral peaks are significantly narrowed at liquid nitrogen temperature due to the reduced molecular motion. Lowering the temperature can also minimize protein denaturation from local heating by the exciting laser beam. Semiconductors and their superlattices are another class of materials where Raman measurements often must be made at low temperatures. For many such samples the Raman features are very weak or not observable at room temperature; some mode intensities have a strong temperature dependence, and some modes are active only at low temperature. It is significant that most, if not all, of the features can be observed at liquid nitrogen temperatures, even though published reports often use lower temperatures requiring the more expensive and cumbersome liquid helium.
Novel Therapies for Malignant Gliomas

The impact of cytotoxic therapies on the outcome of glioblastoma has been modest thus far. Yet it is clear that subsets of high-grade gliomas exist that are sensitive to treatment. Patients deemed resistant to the current standard approach may be selected for alternative therapies, thereby avoiding treatment toxicity from an ineffective treatment. The future of novel therapies lies in our understanding of the molecular biology of gliomas and their stem cells. Not only will this drive the development of new agents, it will also lead to tailored therapies for specific tumors. Yet much research is still needed at all levels, from the identification of molecular markers to the development and application of novel therapeutics.
Breast cancer screening: Preliminary report of 207 biopsies performed in 4,128 volunteer screenees

Thirty-six carcinomas of the breast were pathologically verified in the first 207 biopsies performed to date on women attending the Breast Cancer Detection Center at The University of Cincinnati. Fifty-three percent of these have been minimal breast cancer, 14 being totally in situ. This is compared with a similar number of breast biopsies performed prior to the opening of the Breast Cancer Project. In the latter group of cases there were 45 carcinomas proven, only 1 of which was in situ, 24 of which were invasive Stage I and 20 Stage II or higher. In addition, 65 biopsies demonstrated proliferative disease of varying degrees of severity as compared to a total of 13 in the non screened population.
Preliminary Crossed Hot-Wire Measurements in High Reynolds Number Turbulent Pipe Flow

Crossed hotwire measurements were performed in the Princeton Superpipe facility at Reynolds number between 56 × 103 and 5.5 × 106 . Normal stresses (in both stream-wise direction and wall-normal direction), Reynolds shear and spectra are reported. Inner scaling and outer scaling are applied to the data to examine the possibility of similarity scaling.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Maternal nativity status and birth outcomes in Asian immigrants.

Background The study examines the relationship between maternal nativity, maternal risks and birth outcomes in six Asian sub-populations. Methods U.S.- versus foreign-born immigrants of Chinese (67,222), Japanese (18,275) and Filipino (87,1208), Vietnamese (45,229), Cambodian/Laotian (21,237), and Korean (23,430) singleton live births were assessed for maternal risks and birth outcomes. Results U.S.-born Chinese and Japanese mothers had lower risk and increased preterm births but similar infant mortality, while U.S.-born Filipino mothers had higher risk and higher infant mortality. U.S.-born mothers of more recent Cambodian/Laotian and Vietnamese immigrants had higher risk and delivered more small and preterm births, while U.S.-born Korean mothers had higher risk but no differences in preterm and low birthweight delivery. Discussion Asians in America are a distinctly heterogenous population in terms of the relationship between maternal risk factors and birth outcomes and the influence of maternal nativity on this relationship.
Development of New Immunologic Approaches to Cancer Therapy

New approaches to the immunotherapy of cancer have been developed based on the adoptive transfer of activated lymphoid cells in conjunction with interleukin-2. This approach is successful in mediating
Effect of povidone-iodine on wound healing: A review

For the purpose of providing a summary of current clinical trials to determine whether povidone-iodine is beneficial or detrimental to wound healing, an integrated review was completed. Clinical trials were defined as any study that uses some concentration and form of povidone-iodine in a comparison or evaluation with other products or treatments resulting in an impact of povidone-iodine on wounds. The use of povidone-iodine for cleansing, irrigating, and dressing wounds is controversial. Wound healing is complex and requires safe and effective treatment modalities. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have been done with conflicting results on bactericidal effects and cytotoxicity of this antimicrobial agent. Human and animal in vivo studies in the last 10 years were used for this review because often the relevance of in vitro data in clinical conditions are questioned. The varied studies provide evidence that in most instances, povidone-iodine did not effectively promote good wound healing; in fact, most studies showed either impaired wound healing, reduced wound strength, or infection.
A Laser-Deposition Approach to Compositional-Spread Discovery of Materials on Conventional Sample Sizes

Parallel (multi-sample) approaches, such as discrete combinatorial synthesis or continuous compositional-spread (CCS), can significantly increase the rate of materials discovery and process optimization. Here we review our generalized CCS method, based on pulsed-laser deposition, in which the synchronization between laser firing and substrate translation (behind a fixed slit aperture) yields the desired variations of composition and thickness. In situ alloying makes this approach applicable to the non-equilibrium synthesis of metastable phases. Deposition on a heater plate with a controlled spatial temperature variation can additionally be used for growth-temperature-dependence studies. Composition and temperature variations are controlled on length scales large enough to yield sample sizes sufficient for conventional characterization techniques (such as temperature-dependent measurements of resistivity or magnetic properties). This technique has been applied to various experimental studies, and we present here the results for the growth of electro-optic materials (SrxBa1−xNb2O6) and magnetic perovskites (Sr1−xCaxRuO3), and discuss the application to the understanding and optimization of catalysts used in the synthesis of dense forests of carbon nanotubes.
Decomposing a set of points into chains, with applications to permutation and circle graphs

Abstract An O(n log n) time algorithm is given to partition a set of n points in the plane into a minimum number of ascending chains. This result is then used to derive O(n log n) time algorithms for a number of problems concerning permutation graphs, including minimum coloring—thus improving on the θ (n2) time algorith of Even, Pnueli and Lempel (1972). This coloring algorithm is in turn used to derive an O(n log n) time heuristic for coloring circle graphs, with a performance guarantee (the worst-case ratio between the number of colors it uses and the chromatic number of the graph) of O(log n).
Poster: Enabling Hands-free Drawing on WiFi Devices

We present the high-level design of WiDraw, the first 3D hand motion tracking system using COTS WiFi cards, proposed in [3]. WiDraw can track hand gestures without a priori learning or requiring the user to hold any hardware. It can be implemented on existing mobile devices using only a software patch. WiDraw exploits the Angle-of-Arrival values of incomingWiFi signals at aWiFi device and enables hand trajectory tracking in both LOS and NLOS scenarios. WiDraw's high tracking accuracy allows the users to send arbitrary input to their WiFi devices, opening up a whole new class of applications in human-computer interactions.
Boomburb “Buildout” The Future of Development in Large, Fast-Growing Suburbs

Many “boomburbs”—large, fast-growing suburbs—are nearing their “buildout,” the point at which development has reached a city’s borders or has exhausted large-scale greenfield options. Boomburbs wil...
Power, authority, and sex: Male response to female leadership

Diaries, recordings, and analyses by participants and nonparticipant observers were used in this extensive case study of a developing organization. The study led to the inference that an important element influencing the organization was female dominance and male response to that dominance.
The Brefeldin A-inhibited Guanine Nucleotide-exchange Protein, BIG2, Regulates the Constitutive Release of TNFR1 Exosome-like Vesicles

The type I, 55-kDa tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR1) is released from cells to the extracellular space where it can bind and modulate TNF bioactivity. Extracellular TNFR1 release occurs by two distinct pathways: the inducible proteolytic cleavage of TNFR1 ectodomains and the constitutive release of full-length TNFR1 in exosome-like vesicles. Regulation of both TNFR1 release pathways appears to involve the trafficking of cytoplasmic TNFR1 vesicles. Vesicular trafficking is controlled by ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs), which are active in the GTP-bound state and inactive when bound to GDP. ARF activation is enhanced by guanine nucleotide-exchange factors that catalyze replacement of GDP by GTP. We investigated whether the brefeldin A (BFA)-inhibited guanine nucleotide-exchange proteins, BIG1 and/or BIG2, are required for TNFR1 release from human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Effects of specific RNA interference (RNAi) showed that BIG2, but not BIG1, regulated the release of TNFR1 exosome-like vesicles, whereas neither BIG2 nor BIG1 was required for the IL-1β-induced proteolytic cleavage of TNFR1 ectodomains. BIG2 co-localized with TNFR1 in diffusely distributed cytoplasmic vesicles, and the association between BIG2 and TNFR1 was disrupted by BFA. Consistent with the preferential activation of class I ARFs by BIG2, ARF1 and ARF3 participated in the extracellular release of TNFR1 exosome-like vesicles in a nonredundant and additive fashion. We conclude that the association between BIG2 and TNFR1 selectively regulates the extracellular release of TNFR1 exosome-like vesicles from human vascular endothelial cells via an ARF1- and ARF3-dependent mechanism.
Iterative learning control technique for mobile robot path-tracking control

Iterative learning control (ILC) is a technique for using repetitive operation to derive the input commands needed to force a dynamical system to follow a prescribed trajectory. In this paper we describe ideas towards the use of ILC for path-tracking control of a mobile robot. The work is focused on a novel robotic platform, the Utah State University (USU) Omni-Directional Vehicle (ODV), which features six “smart wheels,” each of which has independent control of both speed and direction. Using a validated dynamic model of the ODV robot, it is shown that ILC can be used to learn the nominal input commands needed force the robot to track a prescribed path in inertial space.
Adapting Basic Skills to Counsel Children

The purpose of this article is to help counselors modify basic adult interviewing skills, often the focus of the skill development component in counselor education programs, for more effective application with elementary-age children. In particular, 4 specific areas regarding counseling skills are presented: (a) establishing the appropriate physical environment, (b) building trust, (c) maintaining the counselor's facilitative attitude, and (d) using questions appropriately. Recommendations on how these skills can be modified are also discussed.