cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alpha and gamma tocopherol metabolism in healthy subjects and patients with end-stage renal disease.

Alpha and gamma tocopherol metabolism in healthy subjects and patients with end-stage renal disease. Background.The metabolism of alpha and gamma tocoph- erol, the major components of vitamin E, have not been studied in uremic patients. The major pathway of tocopherol metabo- lism is via phytyl side chain oxidation, leaving carboxyethyl- hydroxychromans (CEHC) as metabolites. Alpha and gamma CEHC are water soluble, renally excreted, with known potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Methods.We examined serum alpha and gamma tocopherol and respective CEHC concentrations in 15 healthy subjects and 15 chronic hemodialysis patients. Results. Serum alpha tocopherol levels were similar in he- modialysis patients (12.03 1.34 g/mL) and healthy subjects (11.21 0.20 g/mL), while serum gamma tocopherol levels were significantly greater in hemodialysis patients (3.17 0.37 g/mL) compared to healthy subjects (1.08 0.06 g/mL, P 0.0001). Serum alpha and gamma CEHC levels were tenfold and sixfold higher in hemodialysis patients compared to healthy subjects, respectively (both P 0.0001). Serum alpha and gamma tocopherol levels and CEHC metabolites were also measured after supplementation of alpha- or gamma-enriched mixed to- copherols in both hemodialysis patients and healthy subjects. Tocopherol administration resulted in modest or nonsignificant changes in serum tocopherol concentrations, while markedly increasing serum CEHC concentrations in both healthy subjects and hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis resulted in no change in the serum alpha or gamma tocopherol concentrations while decreasing serum alpha CEHC and gamma CEHC levels by 63% and 53%, respectively (both P 0.001 versus predialysis). Fourteen-day administration of gamma-enriched but not alpha tocopherols lowered median C-reactive protein (CRP) signifi- cantly in hemodialysis patients (4.4 to 2.1 mg/L, P 0.02). Conclusion. First, serum alpha and gamma CEHC accumu- late in uremic patients compared to healthy subjects; second, supplementation with tocopherols dramatically increases serum CEHC levels in both healthy subjects and hemodialysis patients; and, finally, CEHC accumulation may mediate anti-inflamma- tory and antioxidative effects of tocopherols in hemodialysis patients.
Inhibition of ultraviolet-induced formation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, erythema and skin photosensitization by polypodium leucotomos.

The acute reactions of human skin to solar ultraviolet radiation (290-400 nm) are recognized as a form of inflammation reactions that are mediated by several possible mechanisms including (a) direct action of photons on DNA, (b) generation of reactive free radicals and reactive oxygen species involving the formation of O2.-, 1O2, H2O2, OH, etc., (c) generation of prostaglandins (PGD2, PGE2, etc.), histamine, leucotrienes, and other inflammatory mediators. It is conceivable that UV-induced reactions represent oxidative stress mediated by the formation of free radicals, reactive oxygen, lipid peroxidation, liberation of membrane phospholipids, and subsequent formation of prostaglandins by cyclo-oxygenase pathway. In this study, we examined the role of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation in in vitro reactions as well as in vivo skin inflammation reactions induced by (a) UVB radiation (290-320 nm), and (b) skin photosensitization reaction by PUVA treatment involving 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA (320-400 nm) radiation and presented data for the generation of superoxide anion O2.-) and lipid peroxides. We have also evaluated, both in vitro as well as in vivo systems, the quenching or the inhibition of O2.- by a plant extract known as Polypodium leucotomos. The P. leucotomos extract was found to exhibit interesting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory as well as photoprotective properties against photo-oxidative stress involving the generation of reactive oxygen, lipid peroxidation under in vitro reactions as well as in vivo experimental conditions. Significant inhibition of UVB-induced erythemal response, and 8-methoxypsoralen plus UVA-induced phototoxic reaction after topical application or oral administration of the photosensitizer could be demonstrated in guinea pig skin and human skin following the topical application of P. leucotomos extract. The photoprotective mechanism of P.leucotomos involving interaction with reactive oxygen species or free radicals appears to have potential clinical usefulness in preventing sunburn and inhibiting phototoxic reaction.
Controlled release of antibiotics from coated orthopedic implants.

Chronic osteomyelitis is one of the most serious complications of orthopedic open fracture treatment. The objective of this study was to develop a biodegradable implant coating with impregnated antibiotics as an adjunct to current therapy. We used a polylactic-co-glycolic acid copolymer (PLGA) as the biodegradable carrier and gentamicin as the antibiotic. Our objectives were to establish elution characteristics of the antibiotic from the polymer, and determine if the coated orthopedic implants would inhibit bacterial growth in vitro. In the elution study, coated implants were incubated in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 37 degrees C and sampled daily for gentamicin levels. The in vitro model consisted of test tubes containing Mueller-Hinton culture broth inoculated with 5 x 10(6) cfu of Staphylococcus aureus and incubated at 37 degrees C. The implants were switched to a new set of inoculated tubes each day. Tubes were sampled for colony counting to determine bactericidal effects. Implant coatings consisted of 40 mg of gentamicin as a 20% mixture with PLGA. The elution curve showed an average level of 138 micrograms/mL over 15 days. This local concentration would be more than adequate to kill susceptible organisms. The in vitro study showed a significant reduction in bacterial growth in the test tubes containing coated implants. Control tubes averaged 2.5 x 10(8) cfu/mL of S.aureus over 24 days. Coated implant tubes averaged 0.9 cfu/mL. This was a reduction of greater than 99.999% (p < 0.0001). This study showed that a thin biodegradable implant coating can be developed with bactericidal activity against the organisms frequently associated with osteomyelitis in cases of open fractures.
Contrast enhancement by dyadic wavelet analysis

Introduces a method for accomplishing mammographic feature analysis by multiresolution representations of the dyadic wavelet transform. The authors' approach consists of the application of nonlinear enhancing functions within levels of a multiresolution representation. They show that there exists a simple constraint for functions such that image enhancement is guaranteed. Furthermore, a simple case in which the enhancement operator is a constant multiplier is mathematically equivalent to traditional unsharp masking. The authors show quantitatively that transform coefficients, modified within each level by nonlinear operators, can make more obvious unseen or barely seen features of mammography without requiring additional radiation. The authors' results are compared with traditional image enhancement techniques by measuring the local contrast of known mammographic features. >
Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS

Background: Active transportation including walking and bicycling is an important source of physical activity. Promoting active transportation is a challenge for the fields of public health and transportation. Descriptive data on the predictors of active transportation, including seasonal patterns in active transportation in the US as a whole, is needed to inform interventions and policies. Methods: This study analyzed monthly variation in active transportation for the US using National Household Travel Survey 2001 data. For each age group of children, adolescents, adults and elderly, logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of the odds of active transportation including gender, race/ethnicity, household income level, geographical region, urbanization level, and month. Results: The probability of engaging in active transportation was generally higher for children and adolescents than for adults and the elderly. Active transportation was greater in the lower income groups (except in the elderly), was lower in the South than in other regions of the US, and was greater in areas with higher urbanization. The percentage of people using active transportation exhibited clear seasonal patterns: high during summer months and low during winter months. Children and adolescents were more sensitive to seasonality than other age groups. Women, non-Caucasians, persons with lower household income, who resided in the Midwest or Northeast, and who lived in more urbanized areas had greater seasonal variation. Conclusions: These descriptive results suggest that interventions and policies that target the promotion of active transportation need to consider socio-demographic factors and seasonality.
Effects of dietary methyl parathion on northern bobwhite egg production and eggshell quality

There is a need to develop avian reproduction tests that reflect more realistic exposure scenarios for short-lived pesticides, like organophosphorus and carbamate compounds. The effect of a short-term dietary methyl parathion exposure on northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) egg production and shell quality was investigated. Hens in egg production were fed either a methyl parathion diet (0, 14, 20, 28 or 40 ppm) or a pair-fed diet (PF28 and PF40 received the same daily allotment of control feed on a g/kg/d basis as the 28 or 40 ppm-treated hen with whom she was paired) for 8 d. Daily food consumption was significantly reduced in all treatment groups and inversely related to chemical concentration. However, actual chemical consumption was similar for all methyl parathion-treated groups. Body weight, egg production, egg weight and eggshell strength, thickness and weight were reduced in the methyl parathion groups in a dose-related manner. Similar responses were observed in the pair-fed groups, indicating that effects were associated with a pesticide-induced reduction in food consumption. The dietary methyl parathion exposure impacted bobwhite egg production within 3 to 4 d and eggshell quality within 1 d of the onset of treatment.
Diamond synthesis by high-velocity thermal spray: The laboratory analogue of a meteorite impact

Nanocrystalline-diamond particles were produced in the form of a coating by depositing Ni-clad graphite powder in a high-velocity thermal spray experiment. Particles were accelerated to impact and formed a thick film (>20 μm) on a steel substrate, with the high-velocity impact generating a shock wave, which propagates through the particle and the underlying deposits. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that this deposit contains cubic diamond nanocrystals having a size range of 5 to 10 nm in graphite. In addition to diamond, it was observed that a portion of the deposit contains “closed-curved graphite.”
Activators of G-protein signaling 3: a drug addiction molecular gateway.

Drug addiction is marked by continued drug-seeking behavior despite deleterious consequences and a heightened propensity to relapse notwithstanding long, drug-free periods. The enduring nature of addiction has been hypothesized to arise from perturbations in intracellular signaling, gene expression, and brain circuitry induced by substance abuse. Ameliorating some of these aberrations should abate behavioral and neurochemical markers associated with an “addiction phenotype”. This review summarizes data showing that protein expression and signaling through the non-receptor Activator of heterotrimeric G-protein Signaling 3 (AGS3) is altered by commonly abused substances in rat and in vitro addiction models. AGS3 structure and function are unrelated to the more broadly studied Regulator of G-protein Signaling (RGS) family. Thus, the unique role of AGS3 is the focus of this review. Intriguingly, AGS3 protein changes persist into drug abstinence. Accordingly, studies probing the role of AGS3 in the neurochemistry of drug-seeking behavior and relapse are reviewed in detail. To illuminate this work, AGS3 structure, cellular localization, and function are covered so that an idealized AGS3-targeted pharmacotherapy can be proposed.
Progesterone, thyroid hormone and relaxin in the regulation of the invasive potential of extravillous trophoblasts in early placental development.

Placental tissues contain a heterogeneous population of cells, including villous cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts and extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). EVTs are mainly uninuclear cells comprising all the trophoblastic elements located outside the villi. EVTs have two distinct phenotypes: proliferative and invasive. The activity of the invasive EVTs is dependent on their apoptotic capacity and less on their proliferative potential. Apoptosis is an important determinant in regulating placental growth. Actually, apoptosis is more evident in the invasive EVTs than their proliferative counterparts, and the extent of apoptosis is associated with augmented Fas and Fas ligand expression and reduced Bcl-2 protein expression [1]. The human early placenta is characterised by the invasion of EVTs to the decidua, leading to direct contact between EVTs and maternal blood. During the invasion process, EVTs express matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are proteolytic enzymes that cleave all the constituents of the extracellular matrix. Although the controlled invasion of EVTs into the decidua is an essential process for early placental development and the maintenance of early pregnancy, the molecular mechanisms involved in EVT invasion to the decidua has been poorly understood. In this editorial, the vital roles of progesterone, thyroid hormone and relaxin in the regulation of invasive potential of EVTs in early placental development are summarised on the basis of our recent studies.
POSSIBLE DELTA RECEPTOR MEDIATION OF THE EFFECT OF, β-ENDORPHIN ON LUTE IN IZ ING HORMONE (LH) RELEASE, BUT NOT ON PROLACTIN (PRL) RELEASE, IN THE OVARIECTOMI ZED RAT1

Administration of opioid receptor antagonists was utilized to determine the opioid receptor type involved in the suppression of LH release by β-endorphin (p–END). Long-term (three to four weeks) ovariectomized rats with chronic third ventricular cannulae were fitted with jugular catheters and received treatment with vehicle or one of three opioid antagonists. The 6 antagonist ICI 154,129, but not the μ1 or μ antagonists naloxazone or β-funaltrexamine, respectively, blocked the suppressive effect of p-END on plasma LH levels and transiently but significantly increased LH levels above preinfusion value. None of the antagonists significantly reduced the β-END-induced release of PRL. These results provide evidence that the inhibitory effect of β-END on LH release may be mediated by 6 receptors.
NTGsim: A graphical user interface for the Nonlinear Trajectory Generation algorithm

Nonlinear Trajectory Generation (NTG), developed by Mark Milam et. al., is a software algorithm used to generate trajectories of constrained nonlinear systems in real-time. The goal of this project is to make NTG more user-friendly. To accomplish this, we have programmed a graphical user interface (GUI) in Java, using object oriented design, which wraps the NTG software and allows the user to quickly and efficiently alter the parameters of the NTG. This new program, called NTGsim, eliminates the need to reprogram the NTG algorithm explicitly each time the user wishes to change a parameter.
Morphology of retinogeniculate axons in the macaque

The size, pattern of terminal arborizations, and laminar specificity of individual retinogeniculate axons were studied in the macaque following injections of HRP into the optic tract. Axons that terminated in the magnocellular layers had significantly larger fiber diameters and wider terminal fields than those that terminated in the parvocellular layers. Terminal fields of magnocellular fibers spanned most of the width of their target layer, whereas those of parvocellular fibers were restricted to approximately one-half the width of their target layers; almost all terminal fields were oriented along lines of projection. All of the optic tract fibers that we examined terminated in only one layer of the lateral geniculate nucleus (GL), including a population of fine caliber fibers that project to the intercalated layers, and none had collateral projections outside the GL. The results suggest that each layer – magnocellular, parvocellular, and intercalated – receives projections from a morphologically distinct population of optic tract fibers.
Biases in the experimental annotations of protein function and their effect on our understanding of protein function space.

The ongoing functional annotation of proteins relies upon the work of curators to capture experimental findings from scientific literature and apply them to protein sequence and structure data. However, with the increasing use of high-throughput experimental assays, a small number of experimental studies dominate the functional protein annotations collected in databases. Here, we investigate just how prevalent is the “few articles - many proteins” phenomenon. We examine the experimentally validated annotation of proteins provided by several groups in the GO Consortium, and show that the distribution of proteins per published study is exponential, with 0.14% of articles providing the source of annotations for 25% of the proteins in the UniProt-GOA compilation. Since each of the dominant articles describes the use of an assay that can find only one function or a small group of functions, this leads to substantial biases in what we know about the function of many proteins. Mass-spectrometry, microscopy and RNAi experiments dominate high throughput experiments. Consequently, the functional information derived from these experiments is mostly of the subcellular location of proteins, and of the participation of proteins in embryonic developmental pathways. For some organisms, the information provided by different studies overlap by a large amount. We also show that the information provided by high throughput experiments is less specific than those provided by low throughput experiments. Given the experimental techniques available, certain biases in protein function annotation due to high-throughput experiments are unavoidable. Knowing that these biases exist and understanding their characteristics and extent is important for database curators, developers of function annotation programs, and anyone who uses protein function annotation data to plan experiments.
A view on relational data on the Grid

Grid computing "the next generation of the internet" has become an important topic in distributed computing. This paper explores how relational data can be exploited using Grid computing. This paper provides a better understanding of Grid computing and reviews the potential effects of relational data within the Grid will have on future distributed computing. The experiences are taken from two ongoing projects: open grid services architecture - database access and integration (OGSA-DAI) and the European DataGrid's relational grid monitoring architecture (R-GMA). Both projects have early working implementations which can be exploited for commercial or scientific use.
LIFE CYCLES SHAPE PARASITE EVOLUTION: COMPARATIVE POPULATION GENETICS OF SALMON TREMATODES

Little is known about what controls effective sizes and migration rates among parasite populations. Such data are important given the medical, veterinary, and economic (e.g., fisheries) impacts of many parasites. The autogenic-allogenic hypothesis, which describes ecological patterns of parasite distribution, provided the foundation on which we studied the effects of life cycles on the distribution of genetic variation within and among parasite populations. The hypothesis states that parasites cycling only in freshwater hosts (autogenic life cycle) will be more limited in their dispersal ability among aquatic habitats than parasites cycling through freshwater and terrestrial hosts (allogenic life cycle). By extending this hypothesis to the level of intraspecific genetic variation, we examined the effects of host dispersal on parasite gene flow. Our a priori prediction was that for a given geographic range, autogenic parasites would have lower gene flow among subpopulations. We compared intraspecific mitochondrial DNA variation for three described species of trematodes that infect salmonid fishes. As predicted, autogenic species had much more highly structured populations and much lower gene flow among subpopulations than an allogenic species sampled from the same locations. In addition, a cryptic species was identified for one of the autogenic trematodes. These results show how variation in life cycles can shape parasite evolution by predisposing them to vastly different genetic structures. Thus, we propose that knowledge of parasite life cycles will help predict important evolutionary processes such as speciation, coevolution, and the spread of drug resistance.
Agricultural Development in Latin America

EVEN in the jet and rocket age, agricultural development in Latin America is a large topic for a fifteen-minute discussion. A Boeing 707 might be expected to take at least twelve hours for the 6,000 mile trip from Tiajuana, Mexico, to Cape Horn. The passengers would see little en route but a haze of desert and jungle with no time for more than the roughest outlines of land and water features below. Human influences upon the natural terrain would be obscured and political boundaries totally insignificant. Fortunately there is a substantial body of knowledge about this land mass, the collection and analysis of which has been greatly accelerated during the last twenty years. The search for this information has been stimulated by the pressures of war and the clamoring problems which are emphasized by explosive population growth and shrinking frontiers. The miracles of modern transportation and communication both multiply the need for knowledge about the countries of Latin America and facilitate the processes of research. Statistical analysis of the agricultural situation is still based on fragmentary information, much of it the result of not very precise guessing on the part of experts and, occasionally, biased politicians. Nevertheless, the broad outlines are reliable and the dynamics of change are everywhere unmistakable. Of great significance is the fact that statistics and their interpretation have now become a concern of responsible leaders in each of the countries and not solely a concern of the technical assistance agencies of the United States, the Organization of American States, or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The total area of the twenty Latin American republics, plus the Guianas and Surinam, is about two and two-thirds the size of the United States. Recent studies conclude that less than 5 per cent is cultivated. Another 20 per cent is in pasture lands; 45 to 50 per cent is estimated to be in forests; and one-fourth to one-third of the total is economically unproductive. Climatic and soil conditions are extremely varied, ranging from temperate to tropical. The tropics in particular have been favorable to the specialty crops in the past, with plantation sugar, coffee, cacao and rubber playing significant roles in the rise and fall of colonial empires. Food crops have been grown on a primitive and subsistence basis which still prevails in parts of most of the countries, as typified by the "fire agriculture" of the Amazon or the crazy-quilt pattern of minifundia grain and potatoes in the high Andes. 1358
Evaluation of freeze-drying, pasteurization, high-temperature heating and storage on selected enzymes, B-vitamins and lipids of mature human milk.

The effects of freeze-drying, pasteurization, high-temperature heating and storage on key enzymes, B-vitamins and lipids of pooled mature human milk were determined. Freeze-drying significantly decreased (P<0.05) the activity of lactoperoxidase and lysozyme but had no effect on the lipase or protease of pooled human milk. Storage after freeze-drying destroyed lactoperoxidase activity but had no apparent effect on the other enzymes. Heating at 62.5°C for 30 min or 75°C for 15 min significantly decreased (P<0.05) the activities of lactoperoxidase, lipase and protease. Lysozyme was inactivated significantly only by heating at 75°C. Storage at -25°C following pasteurization had no significant effect on enzyme activity. Biotin, niacin and pantothenic acid appeared to be quite stable and were not significantly altered by freeze-drying, heating and/or storage. Similarly, there were no significant differences in lipid components following processing and storage.
A Functional Hybrid Memristor Crossbar-Array/CMOS System for Data Storage and Neuromorphic Applications

Crossbar arrays based on two-terminal resistive switches have been proposed as a leading candidate for future memory and logic applications. Here we demonstrate a high-density, fully operational hybrid crossbar/CMOS system composed of a transistor- and diode-less memristor crossbar array vertically integrated on top of a CMOS chip by taking advantage of the intrinsic nonlinear characteristics of the memristor element. The hybrid crossbar/CMOS system can reliably store complex binary and multilevel 1600 pixel bitmap images using a new programming scheme.
Effectiveness of gastric neurostimulation in patients with gastroparesis.

Background Patients with gastroparesis have significantly delayed gastric emptying because of impaired nerve function. Gastric neurostimulation from Enterra Therapy provides electrical pulses to the stomach tissue that promotes stimulation of stomach smooth muscle, thereby enhancing gastric emptying. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Enterra Therapy (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) in reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life of patients with drug-refractory gastroparesis. Material and methods In this study 25 patients underwent minimally invasive, laparoscopic placement of the Enterra Therapy device. Patients were asked to rank their severity of symptoms and quality of life retrospectively by completing the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale and Short Form 36 Health Survey with respect to their condition before and 6 months after initiation of Enterra Therapy. Results Eighteen patients completed the surveys. Patients showed statistically significant improvement in their overall Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale scores and the mental health component of the Short Form 36 Health Survey. Discussion Currently, Enterra Therapy has Humanitarian Use Device status, which means that more clinical evidence is needed to prove its effectiveness in gastroparesis. By showing that Enterra Therapy reduces symptoms of gastroparesis and improves patient quality of life, this study contributes to the increasing amount of data supporting its use and potential Food and Drug Administration approval.
The Reception of Du Fu and His Poetry in English World——with Some Remarks on Du Fu Studies and World Literature

It has been at least over a century since Du Fu's entry into English world.Both translation and academic studies play a significant role in this process.The reception of Du Fu in English world can be roughly divided into three stages: earliest portraits with many errors;more accurate representation in the second stage;deconstruction or reconstruction in the new period.The image of Du Fu changes along with these stages,which reflects different kinds of mentality.Contemporary studies on reception of Du Fu in foreign countries will greatly contribute to theoretical construction in the field of Du Fu studies as well as participation in the discourse of world literature.
Healthy Vascular Endothelium and Nitric Oxide Signaling:Role of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Compound Prescriptions

A healthy internal environment of blood vessel mainly depends on the normal function of endothelium,and nitric oxide(NO)plays an important role in protecting the endothelial cells and maintaining the healthy of vascular internal environment.Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)has been used extensively for cardiovascular diseases treatment.Cumulating evidence indicates that certain traditional Chinese medicinal compound prescriptions(TCMCP) exert therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseasethrough NO signaling related pathways.This review will state the great advantages of using TCMCP for treating cardiovascular diseases,and emphasize the role of nitric oxide signaling and importance of healthy endothelium in protective and therapeutic effects of TCMCP.
Design and Realization of Bus Automatic Voice System Based on Single Chip

This paper presents a simulation method for voice bus stop by means of the voice chip controlled by the single- chip. The system uses STC89C52 as CPU for overall control,establishes a voice database,by the ISD4004 voice chip,to freely combine the phonological information for a variety of speech information,uses the LM386 function to broadcast voice information and voice prompt,and uses LCD for station display at the same time. The system has a certain research value with its simple structure,flexible use,stable function,natural sound and clear display.
Results on W/Z Physics from CDF

We present a preliminary measurement of the cross section for the production and subsequent decay of W → ev e in 1.8 TeV p p collisions at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. An analysis of events with missing transverse energy greater than 25 GeV and with an electron of transverse energy E T > 15GeV from a data sample of 25.3 nb-1 gives σw.B(W → ev e ) = 2.6±0.6± 0.5 nb, in good agreement with theoretical predictions. A preliminary measurement of the W mass is also obtained from these data, M w = 80.0 ± 3.3 (stat.) ±2.4 (syst.) GeV/c2.
Abstract 2600: Improving breast cancer risk prediction models: the addition of a genetic risk score, mammographic density, and endogenous hormones

Background: Risk prediction models have important public health implications for targeted disease prevention by identifying women at higher risk who would most likely benefit from screening, chemoprevention, or other risk-reducing regimens. Among such models, the Gail and Rosner-Colditz models have been well validated and used to identify high-risk women. Each of these models generally includes only traditional breast cancer risk factors (e.g., parity and family history of breast cancer). No prior study has examined the joint contribution of a genetic risk score (GRS), mammographic density (MD), and postmenopausal endogenous hormone levels to these models. Method: We conducted a nested-case control study within the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS, follow-up 1990-2010) and NHS II (1997-2009). We created a breast cancer GRS based on 67 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). We measured percent MD as well as circulating testosterone, estrone sulfate, and prolactin levels in prediagnostic plasma samples. Using receiver-operating-characteristic curve analyses, we calculated the area under the curve (AUC), adjusting for age, as a measure of discrimination for the 5-year risk of invasive breast cancer and estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) positive disease (ER+PR+) by menopausal status, after adding GRS, MD, and/or circulating hormones to the modified Gail and Rosner-Colditz models. Results: We documented 11,880 women (4,006 cases/7,874 controls; age range: 34-80 yr) for Gail model and 8,210 women (2,665 cases/5,455 controls) for Rosner-Colditz model analyses. In both models, about 45% women were premenopausal, 25% were postmenopausal women not using postmenopausal hormone (HT), and 30% were postmenopausal women using HT at blood draw. The AUC was statistically significantly improved by 7.0 units in premenopausal women (Gail+GRS+MD), 11.8 units in postmenopausal women not using HT (Gail+GRS+MD+hormones), and 6.1 units in postmenopausal women using HT (Gail+GRS+MD+prolactin, all p-value Conclusion: While each of genetic markers, percent MD, and hormones independently improved risk prediction for invasive breast cancer and ER+PR+ disease, incorporating all of these factors simultaneously improved models the most, especially among postmenopausal women not using HT. If validated in independent populations, our findings could help identify women at a higher risk, who would most benefit from chemoprevention, other risk-reducing regimens or screening. Citation Format: Xuehong Zhang, Megan Rice, Shelley S. Tworoger, Bernard A. Rosner, A. Heather Eliassen, Rulla M. Tamimi, Jing Qian, Graham A. Colditz, Walter C. Willett, Susan E. Hankinson. Improving breast cancer risk prediction models: the addition of a genetic risk score, mammographic density, and endogenous hormones. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2600.
Common Global MODULES

Every implementation of Modula-2 includes a set of global MODULES to round out Modula-2’s capabilities. There are no absolute standards for these global MODULES, instead there are suggestions detailing the facilities that should be provided. You should expect minor differences in these MODULES from one system to another.
Subjective and Objective Knowledge: Persistent Puzzles

The chapters in this volume reveal the large amount of information that would be available about individuals’ biological condition with the wise use of biomarkers. An intriguing fact about this information is that it is very often (perhaps always) about oneself. This fact involves several of the studies in one of the deepest and most controversial of philosophical topics. Simply stated, it is the relation between objective and subjective knowledge. Knowledge about oneself has a special status in philosophy and carries special problems. Examples of self-knowledge that appear in philosophical discourse are different from those of interest to human biologists, but they involve intriguing similarities. This chapter will report on the present state of argument in academic philosophy regarding the relation between objective and subjective knowledge. It will then show how several of the chapters in this volume bring human biologists face-to-face with the same puzzles philosophers are currently struggling with.
Realtime Control of a Robot Arm Using Simultaneously Recorded Brain Neurons

It has long been recognized that motor function might be restored in paralysis victims through technology allowing direct control of robotic devices from motor-control areas of the brain. We have recently demonstrated the feasibility of using brain activity for realtime control using simultaneous neuronal populati on recordings in experimental rats. These rats were initially trained to press down a lever whose angular position was electronically recorded and used to position a “robot arm” in one angular dimension. The animals learned to move the lever such that the robot arm moved water from a dropper to its mouth. Recordings of up to 46 neurons during this task allowed investigation of various linear and nonlinear techniques for extracting the neuronal population “codes” for this movement. Next, the control of the robot arm was suddenly switched from the lever to the animals’ brains. This using a device for linearly weighting and integrating spike trains from up to 32 simultaneously neurons, the rats were found able to use their online neural activity to directly control movement of the robot arm and obtain their water reward.
Strategic shifts that build executive leadership

Abstract Organizations are challenged to develop leaders who can think strategically about the business and solve systemic problems. How can mid-level leaders develop this capability? Herein, we describe five strategic shifts in perspective that are essential for mid-level managers in transitioning successfully to strategic leadership positions. All five shifts improve mid-level leaders’ ability to look beyond tactics to see wider opportunities and enable strategic impact. The shifts are iterative and build on each other. We offer a new model that guides managers in shaping strategic leaders using these five perspective shifts to impact the organization positively and substantially. Further, we provide specific techniques that mid-level managers can employ to shift their perspectives and build personal strategic capabilities. Finally, we share specific ‘Try It’ exercises that mid-level managers can engage in to learn about the preferred concepts.
In Vivo Studies of Autologous Platelets Stored at Room Temperature (22°C), 4°C, and 4°C with Galactosylation.

Background: Previous studies in a mouse model with “chilled” mouse platelets stored at 4°C for two hours with and without galactosylation showed protection against the adverse effects of chilling with galactosylation (Science2003;301:1531). However, prior studies with human platelets demonstrated that the adverse effects of 4°C storage became irreversible only after 18 to 24 hours of 4°C storage (J Lab Med1978;6:971). Therefore, we performed viability studies using human platelets stored for two days to exceed the period of potential reversibility of any cold-induced platelet injury. Methods: Apheresis platelets were collected using Haemonetics MCS+ equipment from four normal volunteers. After collection, the platelets were pooled into one bag, and then the platelets were divided equally between two storage bags. Half of the platelets from each of the four collections were stored at 4°C with galactosylation, and the other half of the platelets were stored at 4°C without galactosylation (two collections) or at 22°C using standard storage conditions (two collections). After storage, samples from each of the two types of platelets stored from a volunteer were radiolabeled with either 51 Cr or 111 In, re-injected, and serial blood samples were drawn to determine post-transfusion recoveries and survivals of the radiolabeled autologous platelets. Results: Results of the radiolabeled platelet studies are shown in the table. No adverse events were reported with the transfusion of the galactosylated platelets, there was no evidence of the development of anti-platelet antibodies against galactosylated or non-galactosylated platelets, and samples of the galactosylated platelets obtained after storage verified galactosylation of the platelets. Conclusions: The data show that, following two days of 4°C storage, the recoveries and survivals of the galactosylated platelets are no different than the non-galactosylated 4°C stored platelets from the same volunteer. Although the recoveries of the 4°C stored platelets with and without galactosylation are well-maintained compared to the 22°C stored platelets, the survivals are markedly reduced as has been previously shown for 4°C stored platelets (Br J Haematol1976;34:403).
The Wrist: Athletic TFCC Injuries

The purpose of this article is to illustrate MRI examples of acute triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries following the Palmer classification, including subtypes of the acute traumatic injuries originally described. In the discussion of these athletic TFCC injuries, recent studies and references are discussed with regard to implications in diagnosis and treatment. The article also reviews the role of ulnar abutment in degenerative injury to the TFCC and surgical approaches to correction. Recent findings regarding the role of the TFCC in distal radioulnar joint stability (DRUJ) and the importance of MRI in preoperative planning of the wrist are reviewed. New studies emphasizing the importance of repair of partial tears of the foveal attachment of the TFCC, the association of TFCC tears with distal radius fractures, and wafer procedures are also discussed. Injuries of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) are commonplace in athletes across multiple sports. The TFCC acts to cushion forces transmitted from the ulnar side of the wrist to the upper extremity. Athletic activities tend to deliver an increased axial load and greater twisting motion upon the wrist. The Palmer classification system for TFCC injuries was first introduced in 1989, but is still used for both acute traumatic and degenerative injuries of the TFCC. MRI plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and classifying athletic injuries of the TFCC, helping guide orthopedists and hand surgeons in caring for patients with ulnar-sided wrist pain.
Background selection as null hypothesis in population genomics: insights and challenges from Drosophila studies.

The consequences of selection at linked sites are multiple and widespread across the genomes of most species. Here, I first review the main concepts behind models of selection and linkage in recombining genomes, present the difficulty in parametrizing these models simply as a reduction in effective population size ( N e ) and discuss the predicted impact of recombination rates on levels of diversity across genomes. Arguments are then put forward in favour of using a model of selection and linkage with neutral and deleterious mutations (i.e. the background selection model, BGS) as a sensible null hypothesis for investigating the presence of other forms of selection, such as balancing or positive. I also describe and compare two studies that have generated high-resolution landscapes of the predicted consequences of selection at linked sites in Drosophila melanogaster . Both studies show that BGS can explain a very large fraction of the observed variation in diversity across the whole genome, thus supporting its use as null model. Finally, I identify and discuss a number of caveats and challenges in studies of genetic hitchhiking that have been often overlooked, with several of them sharing a potential bias towards overestimating the evidence supporting recent selective sweeps to the detriment of a BGS explanation. One potential source of bias is the analysis of non-equilibrium populations: it is precisely because models of selection and linkage predict variation in N e across chromosomes that demographic dynamics are not expected to be equivalent chromosome- or genome-wide. Other challenges include the use of incomplete genome annotations, the assumption of temporally stable recombination landscapes, the presence of genes under balancing selection and the consequences of ignoring non-crossover (gene conversion) recombination events. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Evolutionary causes and consequences of recombination rate variation in sexual organisms’.
Effect of the yield stresses in uniaxial tension and pure shear on the size of the plastic zone near a crack

Abstract In this paper, we make use of complex potentials for the problem of an elliptic hole subject to far field uniaxial tension to obtain the elastic stress distribution in the vicinity of a crack. Unlike the classical Westergaard stress distribution, the new stress field obtained is not axisymmetric in the crack plane. Using this new elastic stress field, it is possible to assess the effect of the particularities of yielding on the extent of the plastic zone near a crack. Analysis is done considering yielding governed by von Mises, Tresca, and Drucker yield criterion, respectively. It is demonstrated that the ratio between the yield stresses in uniaxial tension and pure shear of a material has a great influence on the size of the plastic zone around the crack. Specifically, the larger this ratio the larger is the plastic zone. Finite-element calculations confirm the theoretical predictions. Moreover, we derive new analytic relations between the length of the plastic zone, measured from the crack tip in the crack plane, and the external applied load for the case when yielding is governed by the von Mises and Tresca criterion, respectively.
INTRAZEOLITE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANOMETALLICS WITH METHYL LIGANDS: CYCLOPENTADIENYL METHYL IRONDICARBONYL

The reactions of CpFe(CO) 2 CH 3 [1] in zeolite Y containing different levels of acidity were studied with in situ FTIR coupled to TPD/MS experiments. In NaY, the precursor [1] did not lose ligands while in both partially and highly acidic zeolites, it reacted with the surface hydroxyl groups of the zeolites to form CpFe(CO) 2 + (OZ) - , which can rearrange further to CpFe(CO) 3 +(OZ) - . The compound CpFe(CO) 3 + (OZ) - decomposes at elevated temperatures under replacement of CO ligands by oxygen atoms of the zeolite framework and likely formation of the attached half-sandwich CpFe(OZ) n .
A Survey on Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Abstract Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) are interactive protocols in which one party, named the prover, can convince the other party, named the verifier, that some assertion is true without revealing anything other than the fact that the assertion being proven is true. This chapter is a survey on ZKPs including their background, important concepts, applications for NP problems, and composition operations of ZKPs. The remarkable property of being both convincing and yielding nothing except that the assertion is indeed valid makes ZKPs very powerful tools for the design of secure cryptographic protocols. In this chapter, ZKPs are constructed for the exact cover and 0–1 simple knapsack problem.
Mystical Experience: Unveiling the Veiled

Mystical experience is not unusual. Nearly half of all Americans report having had one or more mystical experiences. The author looks at how these experiences are moments of knowing—Do they unveil what is hidden?—and at how pastoral theologians and clinicians may help others come to understand their experience. Some thoughts on what this area of study may contribute to pastoral theology and pastoral counseling are also provided.
Bilski and the Ambiguity of 'An Unpatentable Abstract Idea'

In Bilski v. Kappos, the Supreme Court affirmed the PTO’s rejection of a number of patent claims under the patent-eligibility provision of section 101 of the Patent Act. Bilski positions the abstract-ideas doctrine as the primary gatekeeper of patent eligibility for many types of claims, but it teaches the patent community almost nothing about what constitutes an unpatentable abstract idea. This Article outlines one strategy for doing what the Supreme Court chose not to do, namely giving meaningful content to the exclusion of abstract ideas from patent eligibility. Conventionally, the principal problem with the abstract-ideas doctrine of section 101 is understood to be vagueness: abstraction is a continuous variable, and the dividing line that differentiates unpatentable abstractions from patentable applications is known to be difficult to identify with precision. While vagueness is a real issue, this Article argues that there is a more fundamental problem that must be addressed prior to vagueness. The phrase “an unpatentable abstract idea” is multiply ambiguous, as the phrase invokes entirely different concepts in different situations. Examining Supreme Court and Federal Circuit precedent prior to Bilski, this Article argues that “an unpatentable abstract idea” means four different things in four different contexts, and it thereby identifies four distinct types of unpatentable abstract ideas that may merit different treatment under the doctrine of patent eligibility for different policy reasons.
Factors associated with intention to participate in a randomized yoga intervention among African American breast cancer survivors.

e21538Background: Physical activity improves patient outcomes in breast cancer survivors and it has been suggested that a gentler form of physical activity such as yoga may help promote regular exe...