cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MO-D-M100J-07: Plan Space Modeling and Decision Support System for Multi-Plan IMRT Framework

Purpose: The conventional treatment planning paradigm involves a plan‐and‐evaluate followed by a modify‐if‐necessary approach. We describe an IMRTtreatment planning framework in which multiple plans that differ in the input constraints are generated per case prior to evaluation. We also describe a decision‐support‐system (DSS) for evaluating and ranking multiple plans and hypothesize that the planning surface can be modeled using quadratic modeling. Methods and Materials: One hundred twenty‐five plans were generated sequentially for a head‐and‐neck case and a pelvic case by varying the dose‐volume constraints on each of the OARs. A DSS was used to rank plans according to DVH and equivalent uniform dose (EUD) values using composite criteria and pre‐emptive selection. Two methods for ranking treatment plans were evaluated: composite criteria and pre‐emptive selection. The planning surfaces corresponding to the 125‐plan sets were modeled using quadratic functions by formulating the problem as a linear program. Results: The DSS provides an interface for the comparison of multiple plan features. Plan ranking using both composite and pre‐emptive criteria resulted in the reduction of plan space to 1–3 “optimal” plans. The planning surface models had good predictive capability with respect to both DVH and EUD values with fit errors of < 6%. Models generated by minimizing the maximum relative error had significantly lower relative errors than models obtained by minimizing the sum of squared errors. The inter‐dependence of OAR‐OAR properties could be successfully inferred for both clinical cases through the use of contour plots, which represent projections through the multi‐dimensional plan property space. Conclusion: The DSS can be used to aid the planner in the selection of the most desirable plan. The collection of quadratic models constructed from the plan data in order to predict DVH and EUD values generally showed excellent agreement with the actual plan values.
Bayer immuno 1™ PSA assay: An automated, ultrasensitive method to quantitate total PSA in serum

The Bayer Immuno 1™ PSA Assay measures total PSA in human serum and demonstrates excellent performance with an interassay CV ≤ 3.4% and a biological detection limit of 0.03 μg/L. No significant interference from common hormonal and chemotherapeutic drugs, kallikrein, prostatic acid phosphatase, and trypsin, or elevated levels of total bilirubin, hemoglobin, triglycerides, and IgG was observed. The 95th percentile values for healthy individuals increased with age from 3.0 μg/L for males 50–59 years and 3.3 μg/L for males 60–69 years, to 4.6 μg/L for males ≥ 70 years. Clinical studies with retrospective samples demonstrated correspondence between serial measurements of PSA and clinical outcome for 98% of 159 prostate cancer patients. Clinical sensitivity for patients with clinical evidence of disease, untreated at the time of specimen draw, increased with increasing stage from 77.5–100%. Specificity of 60–70% for BPH and other benign urogenital diseases was consistent with previous findings. Bayer Immuno 1 PSA Assay values for 2131 specimens from healthy subjects and patients with prostate cancer, BPH, and other malignant and nonmalignant diseases correlated well with the Abbott IMx® PSA Assay over the range 0.0–6,238 μg/L (Y = 1.10 × + 0.02). The Bayer Immuno 1 PSA Assay provides automated ultrasensitive, precise, and equimolar measurement of total PSA in human serum. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 12:65–74, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Surgical treatment of ACL/PCL/ medial-side knee injuries

Abstract The medial cruciate ligament (MCL), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and posterior oblique ligament (POL) frequently are injured by a combination of valgus and external rotation forces. Grade I or II MCL injuries alone or in combination with ACL or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries are treated nonoperatively, with cruciate ligament reconstruction delayed 3 to 6 weeks. Treatment of acute grade III ACL/PCL medial knee injuries remains controversial. Recommendations have included nonoperative treatment of the MCL and reconstruction of the ACL and PCL, acute reconstruction of the MCL and nonoperative treatment of the ACL, and treatment of all grade III injuries with acute repair. For chronic ACL/PCL/medial knee injuries, magnetic resonance imaging and examination under anesthesia are followed by endoscopic ACL/PCL reconstruction. Severe valgus laxity usually requires tightening of the MCL in addition to the posterior capsule, the posterior oblique area of the posteromedial capsule, and the midmedial capsular ligament. Thorough preoperative planning is essential to determine what procedures will be necessary for each patient.
Cleavage of Peptide Bonds bearing Ionizable Amino Acids at P1 by Serine Proteases with Hydrophobic S1 Pocket

Abstract Enzymatic hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Xxx-pNA (where Xxx = Leu, Asp or Lys) catalyzed by bovine chymotrypsin (CHYM) or Streptomyces griseus protease B (SGPB) has been studied at different pH values in the pH range 3–11. The pH optima for substrates having Leu, Asp, and Lys have been found to be 7.5–8.0, 5.5–6.0, and ∼10, respectively. At the normally reported pH optimum (pH 7–8) of CHYM and SGPB, the substrate with Leu at the reactive site is more than 25,000-fold more reactive than that with Asp. However, when fully protonated, Asp is nearly as good a substrate as Leu. The pK values of the side chains of Asp and Lys in the hydrophobic S1 pocket of CHYM and SGPB have been calculated from pH-dependent hydrolysis data and have been found to be about 9 for Asp and 7.4 and 9.7 for Lys for CHYM and SGPB, respectively. The results presented in this communication suggest a possible application of CHYM like enzymes in cleaving peptide bonds contributed by acidic amino acids between pH 5 and 6.
Efficacy of the posttraumatic cross table lateral view of the cervical spine

This is a retrospective study of 128 patients with a discharge diagnosis of cervical spine fracture, dislocation, or subluxation. The study was undertaken to establish the accuracy of the posttraumatic cross table lateral view radiograph of the cervical spine (CTLV). The radiographs were read by the faculty emergency physician author. If his diagnosis differed from the patient's final radiologic diagnosis, the radiograph was reevaluated by the radiologist author. The accuracy in diagnosing posttraumatic cervical spine abnormalities on CTLV alone was 74.2% and 79.7% for the emergency physician and radiologist, respectively. Thirty percent of cases undiagnosed by the emergency physician were subsequently treated as unstable injuries. Thirty-five percent of C1, 14.8% of C2, and 42.4% of C6 abnormalities were missed on CTLV by both the emergency physician and the radiologist. The results indicate that the CTLV, alone, is unreliable and potentially dangerous as a screening exam in diagnosing posttraumatic abnormalities of the cervical spine.
The desire for unique consumer products: A new individual differences scale

In this article we examine individual differences in the desire for unique consumer products. We identify several of the antecedents and consequences of this variable and argue that a new scale to measure it is needed. Then we report the results of our efforts to develop and validate such a scale. The 8-item scale that emerged from these efforts is shown to be unidimensional, to have a factor structure that generalizes across student and nonstudent samples, and to have acceptable internal and test–retest reliabilities. The scale's validity is attested to by its theoretically intelligible relationships with other personality measures and by its ability to differentiate between the patrons of an artistic theater and a second-run theater. Finally, we discuss the potential uses of the scale in both basic and applied marketing research. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The incorporation of 5-fluorouracil into poliovirus

Abstract 5-Fluorouracil is incorporated into the ribonucleic acid of poliovirus as 5-fluorouridylic acid. 5-fluorouracil replaces 7–9% and 33–36% of the uracils when virus replication proceeds in the presence of 10 −4 M and 10 −3 M 5-fluorouracil, respectively. No differences were observed between virus that contained 5-fluorouridylic acid and controls with respect to the amino acid composition of the protein, the kinetics of neutralization by specific antibody, specific infectivity of purified virus, plaque morphology, or efficiency of plaquing on cloned lines of cells derived from HeLa S 3 cultures.
Qualitative Science in Experimental Time.

This article addresses the ‘state of qualitative inquiry’ in the sense of how that inquiry is being positioned in the current construction of a US national policy agenda for ‘scientifically based’ education research. In the author’s view, qualitative inquiry is being drowned out in the national agenda despite its ability to provide the kinds of answers regarding education that policy‐makers and others want. The drowning out is accomplished in part by discursive conflating of ‘experimental research’ and ‘scientifically based research’ and by use of the phrase ‘gold standard’ to position experiments as the exemplar of good and rigorous research in education. The article critiques these political‐linguistic moves and suggests two predominantly qualitative forms of inquiry—interpretive and practical science—as alternatives to experimental science. It ends with some thoughts, based in cultural anthropology, for improving the position of qualitative inquiry in the current political environment surrounding educa...
A route to synthesize multifunctional tri-phasic nanofibers

Nanofibers hold enormous potential for novel nanomaterials due to their ease of fabrication, yet fabrication routes are primarily used to produce bilayer structures. This paper describes a novel process for producing tri-layer ceramic composite fibers, and presents a proof of concept in the form of a multilayer multiferroic nanofiber consisting of alternating ferroelectric and ferromagnetic phases.
D-1 and D-2 receptor blockade have additive cataleptic effects in mice, but receptor effects may interact in opposite ways☆

The dopaminergic role of D-1 and D-2 receptors in catalepsy was evaluated using drugs with preferential receptor affinities. The D-1 antagonist, SCH 23390, caused distinct catalepsy in mice at 1, 2, and 10 mg/kg, IP, but not at two lower doses. The selective D-1 blocker, molindone, also caused catalepsy at 5 and 10 mg/kg; and blockade of both receptor types produced additive cataleptogenic effects. Apomorphine (4 mg/kg), which is an agonist for both receptors, potentiated SCH 23390-induced catalepsy much more than it did the catalepsy induced by molindone; the potentiation was produced by higher, not lower, doses of apomorphine. To determine if the apomorphine potentiation was mediated by D-1 or D-2 receptors, we tested selective agonists in mice that were concurrently injected with selective blockers. SCH 23390-induced catalepsy was potentiated by a large dose of the D-2 agonist, bromocriptine. The catalepsy of D-2 blockade with molindone was not potentiated by the D-1 agonist, SKF 38393, which slightly disrupted the catalepsy of D-2 blockade. We conclude that catalepsy is not a simple D-2 blockade phenomenon and that preferential antagonism of either receptor type can cause catalepsy. Catalepsy is most profound when both receptor types are blocked. Dopamine agonists, in large concentrations, are known to promote movements, and thus it is not surprising that they tend to disrupt catalepsy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Human B cells express a CD45 isoform that is similar to murine B220 and is downregulated with acquisition of the memory B-cell marker CD27.

Background Differences between human and murine B cells exist at all stages of B-cell development, including the stage of memory B-cell formation. B cells in mice are identified with the pan–B-cell–specific CD45 isoform, B220. In initial studies in humans, it appeared that B220 expression did not include all B cells. This study was performed to expand on those preliminary findings. Methods Multiparameter flow cytometric detection of B220 expression on B cells was combined with a variety of B-cell markers. Results In contrast to mice, B220 was not a pan–B-cell marker in humans but was downregulated in the majority of B cells that acquired the human memory B-cell marker, CD27, whereas a minor memory B-cell subset remained B220+, suggesting differences in differentiation. Conclusions The B220 isoform in humans is developmentally regulated in humans, tied to the acquisition of a memory phenotype, and as such can be used as a differentiation-specific CD45 isoform, akin to the use of CD45 isoforms to distinguish between naive and memory T-cell subsets. Patients with immunodeficiency disorders, associated with defective memory B-cell generation and absent or reduced CD27+ B cells, showed a corresponding lack of B220 downregulation consistent with altered differentiation of B-cell subsets. Cytometry Part B (Clin. Cytometry) 51B:1–8, 2003. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The genes of influenza virus.

In 1931 influenza viruses were first isolated from pigs (Shope, 1931), and subsequently the first human influenza virus isolates were obtained (Smith, Andrewes, and Laidlaw, 1933). This marked the beginning of modern influenza virus research, and from then on many scientists have been fascinated by this virus and the disease it causes. Unlike any other known virus, influenza A virus undergoes dramatic changes with respect to its surface antigens, and whenever these changes take place (recently every lo-15 years new subtypes emerged), the virus causes severe pandemics in the human population (Table 1). The most dramatic example of such a pandemic was the 1918 influenza virus outbreak, which was estimated to be directly or indirectly responsible for the death of 20 million people worldwide. But even between pandemic periods, the virus changes constantly and thereby successfully overcomes attempts to protect people fully by vaccination. By the time vaccines are ready for distribution, the virus has changed significantly with respect to its surface antigens, and vaccines, prepared with slightly different strains, become less effective against the new variant. This phenomenon of constant antigenic change and the fact that different influenza viruses undergo extensive genetic interactions (recombination) have generated a deep interest in the peculiar genetic makeup of influenza viruses. The purpose of this paper is to review briefly the current state of knowledge of influenza virus genetics, with particular emphasis on recent findings regarding the characterization and function of individual genes and their gene products.
Hierarchic models for bidirectional composites

Abstract The formulation of a hierarchic sequence of models for bidirectional composites in cylindrical bending is presented and their performance is demonstrated on the basis of the degree to which the equilibrium equations of two-dimensional elasticity are satisfied. A numerical example is presented.
Arachidonic acid and other long-chain fatty acids in canine ceroid lipofuscinosis. Distribution in glycerolipids, metabolism, and pathophysiological correlations.

Dogs with canine ceroid lipofuscinosis (CCL)† show an abnormal EEG as early as 5 mo of age and exhibited either severe disorganization or very low amplitudes by 24 mo. Ceroid particles accumulate with age and, within neurons, have a unique characteristic appearance consisting of lamellar patterns enclosed by a single unit membrane. Although the etiology of their formation has not been fully elucidated, isolated particles are enriched in phospholipids. Our present studies have examined microsomal enzymes involved in phospholipid synthesis and turnover and demonstrate that the acyl group composition of cerebral lipids from animals with CCL is similar to that from controls. However, the activation of palmitic, linoleic, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acids into their Coenzyme A thiol ester forms was significantly lower in cerebral and cerebellar microsomes of the diseased dogs than in those of the controls. In addition, the incorporation of arachidonic acid into phospholipids was significantly decreased in affected animals. These results suggest that the metabolism of arachidonic acid plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ceroid lipofuscinosis.
Discriminating styles (DS) and pollen-mediated pseudo-self compatibility (PMPSC) in Petunia hybrida hort

Discriminating styles (DS) in Petunia hybrida discriminate among incompatible pollen sources with pollen-mediated pseudo-self compatibility (PMPSC) similarly to those in Nemesia strumosa. Both species exhibit a single-locus gametophytic self-incompatibility system. Correlation of PMPSC to PSC level of the male was not universal and DS/PMPSC operated in heterozygous S genotypes. PSC levels of progenies generated from compatible or incompatible bud pollination were not significantly different from those of open-flower pollination of a DS plant with a given male, suggesting that DS did not select among male gametophytes for increased PSC.
Constraints to the potential impact of child survival in developing countries.

The direct interventions for child survival outlined in the early 1980s have not had as major an impact on reducing morbidity and mortality in developing countries as was intended. INcluded among these interventions are low-cost technologies such as oral rehydration therapy (ORT) growth monitoring immunization and breastfeeding promotion. Interventions that were highly cost-effective and efficacious in controlled clinical settings (e.g. ORT provision) have often been rendered inefficient and ineffective when implemented on a large-scale basis due to societal factor. A review of successful health interventions suggests that government commitment to health as a social goal a social welfare orientation to development widespread participation in the political process equity in health service coverage and intersectorial linkages are necessary preconditions. Also needed is attention to potential constraints at the levels of program input process output outcome and impact. During the 1980s many programs were undermined by a failure to maintain a supply of needed medicines poor communication between the health care program and the community cultural resistance to the acceptance of new interventions a failure to reach those at highest risk inadequate training of health workers and a lack of coordination with other programs and sources of health care. Children treated with ORT may not die from dehydration but remain at risk of further infection decreased resistance increasing malnutrition and death from another condition. Given the synergism among diseases a multifaceted approach to child survival has a greater likelihood of success. In the case of diarrhea control this would involve ORT dietary management of diarrhea episodes removal of pathogens from the water supply improved sanitation and promotion of female literacy.
Problems of thymine-dependent bacteria in clinical practice

SummarySulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim, the two antibacterial constituents of co-trimoxazole, act sequentially producing a double metabolic blockade that lends to deficiency of thymine, known to be essential to the survival of many pathogenic bacteria. In recent years there has been an increasing number of reports of thymine-dependent bacteria developing which make use of exogenous preformed thymine further along the metabolic pathway. Most of the isolations have been associated with previous or current co-trimoxazole therapy. It is suggested, therefore, that co-trimoxazole should be prescribed with restraint, especially when treating purulent lesions. Thymine in pus inactivates sulphonamide, so giving co-trimoxazole in a purulent situation is equivalent to prescribing trimethoprim alone, and it is trimethoprim which is involved in producing thymine-dependent bacteria.
SAIL: self-adaptive file reallocation on hybrid disk arrays

Flash-memory based solid state disks, though currently more expensiveand inadequate in write cycles, offer much faster read accesses while consumemuch less energy compared with hard disk drives. In order to gain complementarymerits of hard disks and flash disks, we propose a hybrid disk array based storagearchitecture for data-intensive server-class applications. Further, on top of the proposedstorage architecture, a self-adaptive file reallocation strategy, called SAIL,which is able to adapt to dynamically changed file access patterns, is developed.Comprehensive trace-driven experiments demonstrate that compared with a veryrecent file placement technique PB-PDC, which also employs the combined advantagesof a hard disk and a flash memory device, SAIL exhibits its strength in bothperformance and energy consumption while maintains the reliability of flash disksby confining their write cycles.
Building a Multi-Institutional Community of Practice to Foster Assessment

This paper discusses the development of a multi-institutional community of practice that formed over 5 years. This community of practice was intentionally designed to support the evolution of student learning and programmatic assessment within member colleges and schools. Critical phases to the community’s development are outlined, as well as its mission and goals. In addition, the community’s contributions to faculty development and the scholarship of assessment are detailed. Success factors are discussed to assist others who may wish to initiate assessment-related collaborations across institutional borders. The community’s vision for the future is also outlined.
A 3d-localization and terrain modeling technique for wireless sensor networks

Although sensor networks are usually deployed in complex 3D terrains, the majority of localization techniques proposed in the literature are designed assuming 2D deployments. Furthermore, in general it is not easy to extend these techniques to 3D deployments. With minimal communication and computation overhead, we present a 3D-localization technique that comes with a terrain modeling capability that makes the technique more interesting. Sensors are localized in two steps. First, we determine the horizontal plane within which the sensor lies. Then, we project the nearest three anchors to the sensor onto the horizontal plane determined in the first step. Finally, we use RSSI-based distance measurements and trilateration techniques to fully localize the sensor. After localization, we use Delaunay triangulation, to build a mesh that models the terrain of the deployment area. In addition to the terrain modeling capability, the proposed technique has several attractive features, such as scalability and independence from the underlying network topology. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach can achieve high accuracy in sensor localization and terrain modeling under simple and moderate 3D deployments. Intuitively, the accuracy of the modeled terrain increases with network density as in such cases there will be more vertices available to construct a more accurate mesh.
Effects of Epsilon Aminocaproic Acid on Primary Hemostasis

These studies examined the effect of an oral dose of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) on primary hemostasis. Bleeding time tests (with and without the use of a blood pressure cuff) were measured before and 2 h following EACA in 56 patients with mild bleeding disorders and/or thrombocytopenia. Preliminary studies evaluated the reproducibility of these tests in 13 patients who had bleeding times (cuff) ranging from 8.0 to greater than 20 min. Their replicate bleeding time values with cuff agreed within 2.5 min and those without cuff within 3 min. Therefore, the 56 study patients were considered to have had no change in their bleeding times after EACA, if their bleeding time with cuff was +/- 2.5 min and/or their nonoccluded value was +/- 3 min of their baseline values, respectively. An isolated increase in bleeding times was observed in 6 of 56 (11%) patients. All 6 had myelodysplasia associated with long bleeding times; their nonoccluded values increased by 5-14 min. Of the 56 study patients, 54% showed a decrease in their bleeding times following EACA. The changes were evident with venostasis in 18 of 30 (60%) and without venostasis in 12 (40%) patients. These studies suggest that EACA may improve primary hemostasis in some patients with prolonged bleeding times.
Determination of resting energy expenditure utilizing the thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter.

Accurate determination of the resting energy expenditure (REE) for patients in intensive care units has assumed increasing importance as the adverse effects of underfeeding or overfeeding have become clearer. As a result, indirect calorimetry is frequently used to determine the REE. This technique, however, is neither universally available nor inexpensive. Furthermore, it requires meticulous measurements of gas exchange and technical expertise. Because of this, we have developed a method to determine REE for those patients in intensive care units who have thermodilution pulmonary artery catheters in place. This method requires determining the oxygen consumption from data obtained from such a catheter. The REE is then calculated by multiplying the determined oxygen consumption by the caloric value for oxygen (4.86 kcal/L at a nonprotein respiratory quotient of 0.85). We made 20 simultaneous measurements of REE, comparing our method with indirect calorimetry in 19 patients. There was excellent agreement between both methods (r=0.90; p
Simulation of Heat Exchanger Transients in Sulfuric-Acid and Hydrogen-Iodide Decomposition

In the Sulfur-Iodine (SI) water splitting cycle hydrogen is produced via the decomposition of Hydrogen-Iodide (HI) and sulfuric acid (H2 SO4 ). These reactions proceed at around 400 °C and 850 °C respectively. A high temperature heat source, such as nuclear reactor heat, is required for the SI cycle. Since both the nuclear plant and the SI cycle plant are coupled through heat exchangers, any transients for either plant will affect the entire system. For a nuclear reactor system, it is especially important to understand the transient behavior of the SI cycle during a reactor startup or an emergency shutdown. A simplified transient model of the SI cycle, which can be coupled to heat from a nuclear plant, has been developed. Preliminary results from both steady state and transient calculations are presented in this paper.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Effects of ionic concentration and pH upon the state of aggregation of Neurospora mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase

Abstract Five active isoenzymes of Neurospora mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase of 105,000, 91,000, 78,000, 65,000 and 39,000 daltons were observed when the enzyme was extracted from mycelia and centrifuged in a sucrose gradient with 5 mM tris-Cl at pH 9. Only one active species of 65,000 daltons was observed in either 100 mM tris-Cl, pH 9, or 5 or 100 mM sodium citrate at either pH 4 or 6. The addition of 10 mM of either MgCl2 or CaCl2 to the 5 mM tris-Cl pH 9 buffer reversed the aggregation and led to the occurrence of only the 65,000 daltons species. The addition of either 10, 50 or 100 mM KCl to the 5 mM tris-Cl pH 9 buffer yielded 4, 3 and 1 isoenzymes, respectively. The latter's molecular weight was 65,000. Thus, in alkaline solution, monovalent cations at 100 mM and divalent cations at 10 mM prevent the formation of multiple molecular weight species.
Orbital Cavernous Hemangioma: Role of Imaging

CT and MR imaging are particularly important in the diagnostic investigation of patients with vascular disorders of the orbit. The improved image quality of CT and MR imaging, along with dynamic CT angiography, MR angiography, MR venography, and multiphase dynamic contrast CT/MR imaging, has proven useful to delineate as well as differentiate various orbital vascular lesions. This article presents the current classification of orbital vascular disorders and describes the CT/MR imaging characteristics of orbital cavernous hemangiomas and simulating lesions.
Gait Abnormalities and Progressive Myelin Degeneration in a New Murine Model of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease with Tandem Genomic Duplication

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is a hypomyelinating leukodystrophy caused by mutations of the proteolipid protein 1 gene (PLP1), which is located on the X chromosome and encodes the most abundant protein of myelin in the central nervous sytem. Approximately 60% of PMD cases result from genomic duplications of a region of the X chromosome that includes the entire PLP1 gene. The duplications are typically in a head-to-tail arrangement, and they vary in size and gene content. Although rodent models with extra copies of Plp1 have been developed, none contains an actual genomic rearrangement that resembles those found in PMD patients. We used mutagenic insertion chromosome engineering resources to generate the Plp1dup mouse model by introducing an X chromosome duplication in the mouse genome that contains Plp1 and five neighboring genes that are also commonly duplicated in PMD patients. The Plp1dup mice display progressive gait abnormalities compared with wild-type littermates. The single duplication leads to increased transcript levels of Plp1 and four of the five other duplicated genes over wild-type levels in the brain beginning the second postnatal week. The Plp1dup mice also display altered transcript levels of other important myelin proteins leading to a progressive degeneration of myelin. Our results show that a single duplication of the Plp1 gene leads to a phenotype similar to the pattern seen in human PMD patients with duplications.
A scientific decision model for put-and-call options

Abstract Although studies of put-and-call options have been conducted, the majority of these have been descriptive and historical in orientation. Furthermore, quantitative option models have not been widely accepted by option buyers because it is difficult to obtain the parameter inputs necessary for model solution. This article develops a decision model futuristically instead of historically oriented—one that relies on parameter inputs for solution which are within the realm of existing practices.
Expression of G Protein-Coupled Receptor 30 in the Hamster Ovary: Differential Regulation by Gonadotropins and Steroid Hormones

The nongenomic actions of estradiol-17beta are mediated by transmembrane estrogen receptors. Recently, G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) has been suggested to be a transmembrane estrogen receptor that can mediate rapid and transcription-independent estradiol-17beta signaling in different cell types. However, the expression, regulation, or biological relevance of GPR30 in the ovary remains unknown. We examined the expression and hormonal regulation of GPR30 mRNA and protein in hamster ovarian cells during the estrous cycle and after hypophysectomy and hormone replacement. GPR30 protein expression was high in the theca, appreciable in the granulosa, but low in luteal cells. GPR30 protein levels in granulosa and theca cells increased steadily with the development of preantral and antral follicles, respectively. GPR30 mRNA and protein levels increased significantly on diestrous (d 3 of the estrous cycle), but decreased on d 4 at 1600 h after the LH surge. GPR30 mRNA levels increased significantly after hypophysectomy. Although steroid treatment failed to alter ovarian GPR30 mRNA levels, either FSH or LH effectively reduced the levels. Interestingly, the decrease in GPR30 mRNA corresponded to a marked increase in the receptor protein levels. FSH treatment, either alone or together with LH, resulted in a marked increase in GPR30 immunostaining in granulosa cells. LH alone significantly increased immunostaining in theca cells. These results suggest that GPR30 is expressed in the membrane of hamster granulosa and theca cells, and the expression is regulated by gonadotropins. The unique pattern of GPR30 expression suggests that gonadotropin-regulated follicular cell functions may involve GPR30 activity.
Personal Bankruptcy Law and New Business Formation

Using a panel of all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia from 1990 to 1999, we report a nonlinear relation between state bankruptcy exemptions and new business formation. The rate of new business formation first increases as exemptions increase, but it then decreases. This result reflects the fact that bankruptcy exemptions tend to affect both demand for and supply of external financing to potential entrepreneurs.
Glomerular renin synthesis and storage in the remnant kidney in the rat.

Glomerular renin synthesis and storage in the remnant kidney in the rat. The intrarenal renin-angiotensin system can exert local control of the nephron and its circulation. In the subtotally nephrectomized model of chronic renal disease in the rat, angiotensin appears to play a prominent role in glomerular function. Glomeruli in this model demonstrate greater staining for intraglomerular renin by immunofluorescence microscopy than do those in control rats. Glomeruli from remnant nephrons contain increased renin content. Also, glomeruli from remnant nephrons contain an increased proportion of the mRNA for renin Adriamycin-induced nephrosis did not evoke the same degree of renin staining and did not lead to increased glomerular expression of the renin gene, findings that argue against permselective defects and glomerular trapping as the sole cause of the glomerular renin in the remnant kidney model. Thus, renin synthesis and accumulation occur in the remnant glomerulus and this migration may underlie in part the dependence of glomerular function on the renin-angiotensin system in this model.
Prologue: The paradoxes of American games from within and without

In a current moment marked by globalization, postcoloniality, neo-liberal reforms and diasporas, a world where many would prefer to believe we are unfettered by the cultural, political and economic...
Mammalian Limbs Take Flight

Tetrapod limbs display a great variety of forms and functions. In an attempt to understand factors influencing this diversity, Cretekos and colleagues, in a recent issue of Genes & Development, provide molecular insight into the evolution of wing morphology in bats.
Protecting parole board legitimacy in the twenty-first century: The role of victims' rights and influences

Abstract A retrospective analysis of the 20th-century victims' rights movement concludes that through state and federal legislative enactments made during an especially punitive social climate, victims shifted the priorities of parole boards from meeting the historically individualized needs of inmates to responding to the demands from victims that offenders should serve more time in prison. Reprioritizing victims' interests to the same or greater extent could greatly limit or even abolish parole as an early release option in the 21st century. Recommendations are made for paroling authorities to actively preserve their valuable functions in the American criminal justice system while maintaining procedural justice for victims and key constituents.
Hyperspectral image compression and target detection using nonlinear principal component analysis

The widely used principal component analysis (PCA) is implemented in nonlinear by an auto-associative neural network. Compared to other nonlinear versions, such as kernel PCA, such a nonlinear PCA has explicit encoding and decoding processes, and the data can be transformed back to the original space. Its data compression performance is similar to that of PCA, but data analysis performance such as target detection is much better. To expedite its training process, graphics computing unit (GPU)-based parallel computing is applied.
Spontaneous and stimulated growth hormone release in adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus: effects of metabolic control.

Abnormalities in GH release have been found in adults with poorly controlled type I diabetes mellitus. During puberty, circulating GH concentrations transiently increase. To investigate in pubertal diabetic adolescents, the physiological relationship between metabolic control and GH release, we compared spontaneous and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH)-stimulated GH release in six pubertal subjects during poor (study A) and improved (study B) metabolic control. The subjects included two females and four males (mean age +/- SE, 15.5 +/- 1 yr; duration of diabetes, 8.6 +/- 0.9 yr; Tanner stages II-V). Serum samples for glucose and GH determinations were obtained at 20-min intervals over a 24-h period. Significant pulses of GH release were identified using a pulse detection algorithm (Cluster). Fourier expansion time series was used to document the occurrence of significant periodicities in the GH concentration-time data series. All subjects received 1.0 microgram/kg GHRH-44, iv, at 0800 h on the day after the 24-...
Homeokinetics/Homeodynamics: A Physical Heuristic for Life and Complexity

This essay addresses the puzzlement, the missing piece, sensed when attempts are made to build a bridge from the synchronic, informational genotype to the diachronic, dynamic phenotype—a regular mapping that seems to be extraphysical. There is no formal, dynamic foundation for the bridge. Albert Einstein, Max Delbruck, and Erwin Schrodinger all expressed acute awareness of limitations of contemporary physics when considering biology because physics addresses much simpler sysems. As a proposed remedy, a new physical heuristic, homeokinetics, developed by Arthur Iberall and Harry Soodak (and later recast for biology by me as homeodynamics) is introduced here as a foundation for comprehending energy flows and transformations in complex systems, including those in metabolic networks of living systems. Their individual dynamic stability is flexible and marginal—it must allow for adaptations and changes in physiological and behavioral states to occur in an orderly fashion as external circumstances change. At th...
Regulator T Cells: Specific for Antigen and/or Antigen Receptors?

Adaptive immune responses are regulated by many different molecular and cellular effectors. Regulator T cells are coming to their rights again, and these T cells seem to have ordinary α/β T-cell receptors (TCRs) and to develop in the thymus. Autoimmune responses are tightly regulated by such regulatory T cells, a phenomenon which is beneficial to the host in autoimmune situations. However, the regulation of autoimmune responses to tumour cells is harmful to the host, as this regulation delays the defence against the outgrowth of neoblastic cells. In the present review, we discuss whether regulatory T cells are specific for antigen and/or for antigen receptors. Our interest in these phenomena comes from the findings that T cells produce many more TCR-α and TCR-β chains than are necessary for surface membrane expression of TCR-αβ heterodimers with CD3 complexes. Excess TCR chains are degraded by the proteasomes, and TCR peptides thus become available to the assembly pathway of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Consequently, do T cells express two different identification markers on the cell membrane, the TCR-αβ clonotype for recognition by B-cell receptors and clonotypic TCR-αβ peptides for recognition by T cells?
Effects of magnesium on the formation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite from CaHPO4 · 2H2O and Ca4(PO4)2O

Calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (HA) with a Ca/P molar ratio of 1.50 was synthesized in various concentrations (0.01-75 mM) of MgCl2 at 37.4 degrees C by reaction between particulate CaHPO4.2H2O and Ca4(PO4)2O. The effects of magnesium on the kinetics of HA formation were determined using isothermal calorimetry. All reactions completely consumed the precursor phases as indicated by X-ray diffraction analysis and a constant enthalpy of reaction (240 kJ/mol). Magnesium concentrations below 1 mM had no effect on the kinetics of HA formation. Magnesium concentrations between 1 and 2.5 mM affected the reaction path but did not affect the time required for complete reaction. Higher concentrations extended the times of complete reaction due to magnesium adsorption on the precursor phase(s) and HA nuclei, and stabilization of a noncrystalline calcium phosphate (NCP). HA formation in the presence of magnesium resulted in separation of the following two events: initial formation of HA nuclei and NCP, and consumption of CaHPO4.2H2O. This was indicated by the appearance of an additional calorimetric peak. Variations in calcium, magnesium, and phosphate concentrations and pH with time were determined. Increasing the magnesium concentration resulted in elevated calcium concentrations. After an initial decrease in magnesium owing to its adsorption onto HA nuclei and precursor(s), a period of slow reaction at constant magnesium concentration was observed. Both the magnesium concentration in solution and the proportions of precursors present decreased prior to any evidence of a crystalline product phase. This is attributed to the formation of NCP capable of incorporating magnesium. This noncrystalline phase persisted for more than 1 year for reactions in magnesium concentrations about 2.5 mM. Its conversion to HA resulted in the release of magnesium to the solution.
Risk‐reducing surgery in FAP: Role for surgeons beyond the incision

Background Although primary therapy in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is surgical, little is known about patients' surgical decision-making experience. The objective was to explore the decision-making process surrounding risk-reducing surgery in FAP using qualitative methodology. Methods In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 14 FAP patients and 11 healthcare providers with experience caring for FAP patients were conducted. Using grounded theory, line-by-line content analysis identified categories from which themes describing patients' experiences emerged; analysis continued until data saturation. Results Median age at surgery was 23 (7–37) years; at interview 41 (19–74) years. Two patients underwent surgery secondary to cancer, the remainder for risk-reduction. Content experts included colorectal surgeons (3), geneticists (2), gastroenterologists (3), nurses (3). Three themes emerged: Information: Family was the primary information source, and patients' level of information varied. The importance of up-front information was emphasized. Influences on decision-making: Influential factors included family experiences, youth, emotional state, support, and decision-making role. Although patients often sought opinions, most (12/14) wanted an active/shared role in decision-making. Life after surgery: Patients described surgery as the “easy part,” emphasizing the need for long-term relationships with care providers. Conclusions Decisions surrounding risk-reducing surgery in FAP are unique. A decision support tool may facilitate decision-making, better preparing patients for life after surgery. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010; 101:570–576. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A novel mechanism for regulating the excitation of photosystem II in a green alga

Photosynthetic organisms alter their photosynthetic pigment composition in response to changes in growth irradiance1–3. Photo-adaptation maximizes light-harvesting when photon flux densities are low, and minimizes photo-oxidative damage to the photosynthetic machinery at high light levels. In chlorophytes, the major light-harvesting antenna is light-harvesting complex II (LHC II), a family of proteins binding chlorophyll a (Chl a), Chl b, and carotenoids, and accounting for 40–60% of total cell chlorophyll4. LHC II is associated principally with photosystem II, with reversible phosphorylation of LHC II regulating short-term adjustments in energy distribution to photosystem I5. Previous studies on green algae and higher plants have emphasized the longer-term adaptive importance of the inverse relationship between growth irradiance and the proportion of total cellular chlorophyll associated with LHC II6–8. In higher plants the pigment composition of LHC II appears to be highly conserved, with Chl a/Chl b ratios between 1.0 and 1.2 (ref 7). In green algae, the pigment ratio of LHC II is more variable and values between 0.7 and 2.7 have been reported9–11. We report here that in the unicellular marine chlorophyte, Dunaliella tertiolecta, the ratio is actually variable. Photoadapta-tion to high irradiance involves changes in the average composition and behaviour of LHC II; specifically, the Chl b content per polypeptide is halved and the efficiency of excitation transfer from carotenoid to Chl a declines. The result is a novel mechanism for regulating the effective absorption cross-section of photosystem II.
Model exchange with the NeuroML model database

The Neural Open Markup Language project, NeuroML, is an international, collaborative initiative to develop a language for describing and sharing complex, multiscale neuron and neuronal network models [1]. The project focuses on the key objects that need to be exchanged among software applications used by computational neuroscientists. Examples of these objects include descriptions of neuronal morphology, the dynamics of ion channels and synaptic mechanisms, and the connectivity patterns of networks of model neurons. This modular approach brings additional benefits: not only can entire models be published and exchanged in this format, but each individual object or component, such as a specific calcium channel or excitatory synapse, can be shared and re-implemented in a different model. The use of a standardized description language based on XML also facilitates the development of tools that promote simulator interoperability. The NeuroML Model Database (NeuroML-db.org) is a relational database that provides a means for exchanging multiscale NeuroML model descriptions and their components. There are several existing, curated model databases that include neuroscience models in multiple formats such as ModelDB [2] and the BioModels Database [3], which provide excellent resources for sharing diverse, published neuroscience models in multiple formats. In contrast, NeuroML-db is more focused, including only NeuroML models. This emphasis allows the database design and search to take advantage of this specific format, and in particular, allows for efficient searches over sub-components of models. In addition, the NeuroML Model Database can be used to search over public models developed as part of the Open Source Brain (OSB) initiative, which provides a software infrastructure for the collaborative development and evaluation of models [4]. NeuroML is the preferred model description format for OSB, and OSB models that are described using NeuroML version 2.0 can be flagged for automatic inclusion in NeuroML-db. An overarching design goal for the database is to provide a simple keyword search interface. Because many search terms involve terminology from neuroscience, we complement a metadata-based keyword search with a mechanism that can provide information about the biological meaning of the keywords, where this semantic information is available through an existing ontology for neuroscience called NeuroLex [5]. Through implicit query reformulation, this semantic information is used to expand the search results. For example, if the query is a single brain region, all cell and network models for cells and networks from that region and its sub-regions are provided to the user.