cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PHOTOSENSITIZATION WITH BACTERIOCHLORINS

Biophysical and photobiological properties of a group of bacteriochlorins were compared with efficacy of these products for photodynamic therapy of murine tumors. Predictive factors for selective photosensitization in vivo include affinity binding to lipoproteins greater than albumin, extinction coefficient at the wavelength of irradiation and tumor/skin distribution. Efficacy was correlated with circulating plasma levels of the different sensitizers but not with the photodynamic therapy response in cell culture.
Translational mini-screw implant research

It is important to thoroughly test new materials as well as techniques when these innovations are to be utilized in the human clinical situation. Translational research fills this important niche. The purpose of translational research is to establish the continuity of evidence from the laboratory to the clinic and in so-doing, provide evidence that the material is functioning appropriately and that the process in the human will be successful. This concept applies to the mini-screw implant; which, has been very successfully introduced into the orthodontic armamentarium over the last decade for application as a temporary anchorage device. The examples of translational research that will be illustrated in this paper have paved the way to ensure that clinicians have evidence to confidently utilize mini-screw implants in orthodontic practice. Needless to say, more studies are needed to ensure a safe, effective and efficient manner to practice orthodontics.
PREDICTORS OF MALE AND FEMALE TOLERANCE TO INSECT HERBIVORY IN RAPHANUS RAPHANISTRUM

Traits associated with plant tolerance to herbivory are often thought to be those involved in resource acquisition, e.g., root biomass, leaf area, and photosynthetic rate. Plant resistance traits, like concentrations of secondary compounds, can also be negatively associated with tolerance. Few studies have measured both “tolerance” and “resistance” traits in the same study to determine which are the best predictors of a plant's ability to tolerate insect damage. Here, we measured simultaneously a large suite of traits on damaged and undamaged siblings in 10 families of greenhouse-grown Raphanus raphanistrum plants. Traits measured were: leaf area, root biomass, shoot biomass, photosynthetic rate, trichome density, total glucosinolate concentration, flowering rate, petal size, total number of flowers, and total number of seeds. Pieris rapae larvae were used to damage plants to 50% leaf area removal. Using multiple regression, we examined which traits were the best predictors of tolerance. We considered bot...
Enhancing Empowerment and Leadership Among Homeless Youth in Agency and Community Settings: A Grounded Theory Approach

The purpose of this qualitative study with homeless youth (ages 18–24) was to understand their involvement in decision-making within agency and community settings. Three focus groups with eight, six and six homeless youth were conducted at an urban drop-in center and shelter from June to August 2008. Emergent themes include youth voice and ownership in agency and community programming, emotional safety, power and reciprocal support. Grounded theory is used to interpret findings and develop working hypotheses to guide future studies on empowering homeless youth to assume greater leadership involvement in their own lives, in social service agencies and in their surrounding communities.
Consumer discrimination in the NBA revisited

In their comment on our recent article, “Consumer Discrimination in the NBA,” Regoli, Smith and Primm raise numerous questions about our methods. They argue that our basic conclusion that race has ...
Residential Mobility Among the Rural Poor1

This article explores frequent, short-distance residential movement, an underrecognized and little studied aspect of rural poverty. In recent field research in high-poverty communities of upstate New York, residential movement was studied through institutional records and staff interviews as well as unstructured interviews and residential histories in low-income families. Overall, residential mobility is driven by the shortfall between household income and housing costs, and by changes in personal situations and partnering relationships. Higher frequency movement is associated with younger age, fewer children, and weaker social support networks but most moves were not job-related. Utilizing an abbreviated version of the same methodology, scoping research was conducted in high-poverty areas of nine other states; some differences and also some similarities span diverse regional, economic, and ethnic settings. For developing policy and programs to reduce mobility and minimize its negative consequences, more research on this phenomenon is needed.
Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning by BLAKE, ROBERT J.

The article reviews the book "Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning," by Robert J. Blake.
Computer-aided detection of breast masses on full field digital mammograms

We are developing a computer-aided detection (CAD) system for breast masses on full field digital mammographic (FFDM) images. To develop a CAD system that is independent of the FFDM manufacturer’s proprietary preprocessing methods, we used the raw FFDM image as input and developed a multiresolution preprocessing scheme for image enhancement. A two-stage prescreening method that combines gradient field analysis with gray level information was developed to identify mass candidates on the processed images. The suspicious structure in each identified region was extracted by clustering-based region growing. Morphological and spatial gray-level dependence texture features were extracted for each suspicious object. Stepwise linear discriminant analysis (LDA) with simplex optimization was used to select the most useful features. Finally, rule-based and LDA classifiers were designed to differentiate masses from normal tissues. Two data sets were collected: a mass data set containing 110 cases of two-view mammograms with a total of 220 images, and a no-mass data set containing 90 cases of two-view mammograms with a total of 180 images. All cases were acquired with a GE Senographe 2000D FFDM system. The true locations of the masses were identified by an experienced radiologist. Free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the CAD system. It was found that our CAD system achieved a case-based sensitivity of 70%, 80%, and 90% at 0.72, 1.08, and 1.82 false positive (FP) marks/image on the mass data set. The FP rates on the no-mass data set were 0.85, 1.31, and 2.14 FP marks/image, respectively, at the corresponding sensitivities. This study demonstrated the usefulness of our CAD techniques for automated detection of masses on FFDM images.
Dominance measurements of low and high protein reared rhesus macaques.

Dominance behavior of rhesus macaques on either low or high protein diets was measured by: (a) dominant/aggressive interactions and (b) food competition. The results demonstrated that high protein raised rhesus scored significantly higher on dominant/aggressive interactions when compared to low protein raised rhesus. However, when food was introduced as an incentive for competition, the high protein reared rhesus did not outcompete the low protein reared rhesus in two age groups and for the third age group the low protein rhesus macaques significantly outcompeted the high protein animals. The differences of the value of food incentive between the low and high protein rhesus was suggested as the factor influencing the change in behavior of the low protein animals in a social situation.
RNA polymerase activity catalyzed by a potyvirus-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

We have expressed the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase encoded by the potyvirus tobacco vein mottling virus (TVMV) in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. As prepared, the fusion protein possessed the poly(U) polymerase activity that is a hallmark of other picornavirus-encoded polymerases. In addition, this protein was able to utilize full-length TVMV RNA as a template for RNA synthesis. A fusion protein containing a mutation in the highly conserved GDD motif of the polymerase (GDD-->ADD) possessed 7% of the activity of the wild type. Our results confirm that the presumed polymerase encoded by TVMV is in fact an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and that the GDD motif so widely seen in viral polymerases has an important function in the TVMV protein.
Women in the Economics Profession

This article discusses evidence from recent literature on gender literature on gender differences among Ph.D. economists. It finds many gender similarities in accomplishments, including undergraduate grades, publication rates (ceteris paribus), and labor market commitment. It finds no evidence of disadvantages for women in admissions to Ph.D. programs or in nonacademic salaries. Yet gender differences remain, ceteris paribus, in GRE scores, attrition from Ph.D programs, non-tenure-track academic jobs, academic salaries, and academic promotion rates. The paper suggests that trends toward increasing percentage of females may be peaking, particularly given recent drops in female undergraduate economics majors.
Indirectly and Directly Produced X-Ray Line Radiation

A direct comparison has been made of the number of x-ray quanta in the $K$ line spectrum to the number of quanta in the continuous spectrum having energies greater than the critical value for $K$ excitation. From this, one can deduce that, for a copper target operating at low voltages, only about 10% of the line radiation is indirectly produced. A further result is that the ratio of the cross section for direct ionization to the cross section for bremsstrahlung production is about $\frac{4}{1}$, a value which is at least an order of magnitude less than theory predicts.
EFFECT OF PARTIAL REINFORCEMENT ON THE EXTINCTION OF A BLOCKED RESPONSE

These experiments assessed (a) the Partial Reinforcement Effect (PRE) when extinction was measured by the perseverative behavior following the blocking of a learned maze route and (b) the effects of two conditions of partial extinction on the same perseverative behavior. Initial training of the rat Ss varied in both number of trials and reinforcement schedule. Perseverative behavior was evaluated by recording cumulative errors. The results indicated that the perseverative behavior increased with an increase in the number of training trials. Perseverative behavior was also observed to be greatest following 100% rather than a ratio schedule of reinforcement, a fixed ratio resulting in greater perseveration than a variable ratio. When 10 nonreinforced trials or 10 nonreinforced goal placements followed 100% reinforced training, the perseverative behavior following blocking was reduced. These results indicate that the typical PRE which has been observed (when the extinction series includes the performance of ...
Active damping control of micromachined devices in a low atmospheric pressure environment

Some harsh environments contain high frequency, high amplitude mechanical vibrations. Unfortunately some very useful components, such as MEMS gyroscopes, can be very sensitive to these high frequency mechanical vibrations. Passive micromachined silicon lowpass filter structures (spring-mass-damper) have been demonstrated in recent years. However, the performance of these filter structures is typically limited by low damping. This is especially true if operated in low pressure environments, which is often the optimal operating environment for the attached device that requires vibration isolation. An active micromachined vibration isolation filter can be realized by combining a state sensor, and electrostatic actuator and feedback electronics with the passive filter structure. Using this approach, a prototype active micromachined vibration isolation filter is realized and used to decrease the filter Q from approximately 180 to approximately 50, when evaluated in a low pressure environment. The physical size of these active filters is suitable for use in or as packaging for sensitive electronic and MEMS devices, such as MEMS vibratory gyroscope chips.
Monte Carlo simulation of equation of state and structure of chain fluids

Abstract Monte Carlo simulations are carried out for infinitely stiff freely jointed chains interacting with Lennard—Jones (LJC) and truncated—shifted Lennard—Jones (TLJC) potentials. The average intermolecular correlation functions are obtained for 16-mer LJC and TLJC models. Comparison of the correlation functions obtained indicates that the TLJC model is able to represent the structure of the LJC system extremely well at high densities and temperatures. However, at low densities and temperatures, the local molecular structures of these two models are quite different. Compressibility factors for these two models are obtained over a wide range of temperatures and densities. The relative importance of the two- and three-body contributions to the compressibility factor for LJC and TLJC models is examined.
Radiance and color of the sky at twilight: Perturbations caused by stratospheric haze

Layers of stratospheric aerosol with optical thicknesses as small as 10−4 cause noticeable perturbations in the monochromatic logarithmic brightness gradient,G, and the color ratio,C, of the twilight sky. Modeling of the twilight's radiant properties shows that definite single-valued relationships exist between maxima inC or minima inG and optical thickness, τ, physical thickness Δh, and mean altitude, $$\overline h $$ , of stratospheric layers. It is therefore possible to determine τ, Δh and $$\overline h $$ and monitor their variations by performing either single wavelength measurements ofG or two-wavelength spectrophotometric measurements ofC. The presence of haze in the lower troposphere and the occurrence of multiple scattering both have relatively minor influences on the recovery of the stratospheric dust properties, provided that 10< $$\overline h $$ <30 km. Formal mathematical inversions of the single-scattering twilight equations are possible in principle, but difficult in practice because of non-linearities. Inversions incorporating an iterative linearization process with constrained smoothing, successfully recovered the features of the haze layer, but tended to oversmooth the vertical profile and underestimate the mean altitude of the haze layer.
Food aid and adult nutrition in rural Ethiopia

Insight into the role of safety nets that contribute to adult nutrition is an important component to understanding the dynamics of poverty in developing countries. This article uses panel data from rural Ethiopia on individual nutritional status to test for an effect of public transfers on adult body mass index (BMI). Results show that among adult household members, male members are the primary beneficiaries of food aid as male and female aid recipients tend to invest aid receipts in male household members. These results are consistent with a theory in which additional resources are allocated to members of the household whose market returns are higher or those who engage in activities that expend higher levels of energy. For highâasset households, female household members benefit if the aid recipient is a female. Women in lowâasset households appear to be adversely affected by aid receipts, and evidence suggests that women with little bargaining power suffer the most. The results suggest that aid receipts are useful in mitigating fluctuations in adult BMI over a short time period.
Constraints on the origins of lunar magnetism from electron reflection measurements of surface magnetic fields

The paper describes a new method of detecting lunar surface magnetic fields, summarizes electron reflection measurements and correlations of surface field anomalies to moon geologic features, and discusses the constraints on the origin of lunar magnetism. Apollo 15 and 16 measurements of lunar surface magnetic fields by the electron reflection method show patches of strong surface fields distributed over the lunar surface, and a positive statistical correlation is found in lunar mare regions between the surface field strength and the geologic age of the surface. However, there is a lack of correlation of surface field with impact craters indicating that the mare does not have a strong large-scale uniform magnetization as may be expected from an ancient lunar dynamo. Fields were found in lunar highlands which imply that the rille has a strong magnetization associated with it as intrusive, magnetized rock or as a gap in a uniformly magnetic layer of rock.
Retinoic acid-induced protein ISGylation is dependent on interferon signal transduction

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is a ubiquitin-like modifier that forms conjugates with target protein substrates. As its name suggests, its expression and conjugation to other proteins are highly regulated by interferon (IFN). It was recently demonstrated that ISG15 expression, ISG15 conjugation, and several enzymes involved in ISG15 modification are upregulated in an acute promyelocytic cell line following treatment with retinoic acid, suggesting a possible retinoic acid induced IFN-independent ISG15 modification pathway. In this study, we examined a possible link between IFN signaling and retinoic acid-induced ISG15 conjugation. We observed that ISGylation can be induced by retinoic acid in two myeloid leukemia cell lines. By sandwich ELISA, we detected increased IFN secretion into cell culture media following retinoic acid treatment. Blockade of the type I IFN receptor with a neutralizing antibody blocked retinoic acid induced ISG15 expression and ISG15 conjugation. Taken together, these data suggested that retinoic acid-induced secretion of IFN plays a fundamental role in retinoic acid promoted ISGylation.
The Akedah as Governance Myth The Removal of Sacrifice From Civic Society

Some of our oldest and most powerful myths focus on sacrifice as a means of gaining power, strengthening relationships, and binding a community together. The oldest of these myths emphasizes blood sacrifices as the most powerful for this purpose. Our current American myths emphasize nearly the opposite: that success can be obtained without sacrifice. This article examines the implications of this fundamental shift on civil society. The author takes the Akedah—the Old Testament story of the binding of Isaac—as a central point in the evolution of the sacrifice myth. In particular, the author explores the evolution of “sacrifice” from ritual blood offering in a religious context to that of labor undertaken in a social context.
Minireview: A hypothalamic role in energy balance with special emphasis on leptin.

The hypothalamus is a major site for integration of central and peripheral signals that regulate energy homeostasis. Within the hypothalamus, neurons residing in the ARC (arcuate nucleus)-PVN (paraventricular)-PF/LH (perifornical/ lateral hypothalamus) axis communicate among each other and are subjected to the influence of several peripheral factors, including leptin and insulin. Proper signaling in the hypothalamus by leptin, a long-sought peripheral factor that relays the status of fat stores, is critical to normal regulation of food intake and body weight. Leptin action in the hypothalamus is mediated by a large number of orexigenic and anorectic peptide-producing neurons of the ARC-PVN-PF/LH axis. Not only the classical JAK2 (Janus kinase 2)-STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) pathway, but also the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-phosphodiesterase 3BcAMP pathway mediates hypothalamic leptin receptor signaling. It appears that hypothalamic leptin resistance, possibly due to defective nutritional regulation of leptin receptor expression and/or reduced STAT3 signaling in the hypothalamus, contributes to the development of obesity associated with high-fat feeding and aging. Interestingly, hypothalamic neurons may develop leptin resistance despite an intact JAK2STAT3 signaling path. The role of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 and other negative regulators of leptin signaling in central leptin resistance needs to be established, an important area of future investigation. Further understanding of the neural circuitry and leptin signaling in the hypothalamus is critical not only for the advancement of our knowledge on the hypothalamic role in energy balance but also for future development of drugs for the attenuation or treatment of obesity and related disorders in humans. (Endocrinology 145: 2613–2620, 2004)
Adoptive cellular therapy of human breast and colorectal tumor targets using ex vivo activated memory T lymphocytes with potentiation by cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum(II)

Autolymphocyte therapy (ALT) is adoptive cellular therapy of cancer using ex vivo activation of autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Memory T cells are the principal effector population in ALT, with in vivo activity in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and melanoma, and ex vivo cytotoxicity against autologous tumor targets. However, the noncytolytic lymphocyte portion of ex vivo-activated memory T cells (ALT cells) may also contribute as antitumor effectors. Pre-treatment of murine and human tumor cells ex vivo with chemotherapeutic agents can enhance their susceptibility to antitumor lymphocytes ex vivo and in vivo. To determine whether cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (DDP) could enhance ex vivo antitumor effects of ALT cells by immuno-modulation, human breast and colorectal carcinoma target cells were derived from both primary and metastatic surgical specimens and incubated in complete medium (CM) with DDP or in CM alone (control group). Viability of each group was confirmed by trypan blue—dye exclusion test. ALT cells were prepared from autologous PBL at surgery. Primary and metastatic tumor cells from each group were used as targets for ALT cells and levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release were measured as a determination of antitumor effect and recognition. Primary tumor target cells incubated in DDP showed enhanced antitumor effects and recognition by autologous ALT cells, as measured by the IFN-γ assay compared to non-DDP-treated controls. Metastatic autologous tumor target cells demonstrated less IFN-γ release than did the primary targets, although this was enhanced by pre-treating metastatic tumor targets with DDP. ALT cells demonstrated minimal IFN-γ release when incubated with allogeneic tumor targets. These data suggest that autotumor recognition of metastatic tumor targets is comparable to that of primary lesions following ex vivo pretreatment of metastatic cells with nonlethal doses of certain chemotherapeutic agents. DDP may somehow alter the physical properties of target cells, rendering them susceptible to immune-mediated attack and the combination of ALT and DDP may lead to increased therapeutic efficacy in patients with metastatic breast and colon cancer. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Realism Judgments and Mental Resources: A Cue Processing Model of Media Narrative Realism

Based on research on truth claims in the psychology literature, many scholars believe that readers and viewers of narratives start with an assumption of realism and adjust that judgment to the extent mental resources are available. Three studies reported here investigate the relationship between mental resources and realism judgments. Experiment 1 shows that realism depends on what kinds of cues to realism are in a story and the mental resources available to process those cues. Using hierarchical linear modeling, Experiments 2 and 3 indicate that the relationship between mental resources and realism judgments for commercial advertisements depends in systematic ways on initial judgments about realism so that increasing resources sometimes increase perceptions of realism and sometimes make ads seem less realistic. The results support a model in which initial expectations anchor realism judgments that may be modified away from the anchor if there are sufficient mental resources to process cues in the story.
Neonatal Rather Than Prenatal Factors Predict Neurologic Impairment (NI) and Cerebral Palsy (CP) in VLBW (<1.5 kg) Infants ♦ 1267

Neurologic impairment (NI), including CP, is considered to be largely determined by antenatal events. To explore the impact of antenatal and neonatal events and therapies we compared 72 singleton inborn infants born'83-'91 with neurologic impairment (NI) at 20 months corrected age (xbar Bwt 1kg; xbar GA 28 wks, 58% black, 53% male), including 50 with CP (25 di-, 12 hemi-, 13 quadri-plegia); 11 hypotonia, 4 hypertonia and 7 hydrocephalus to the next born neurologically normal (NN) VLBW matched by BWt, GA, and race, and sex.
Diversion of CD4+ T cell development from regulatory T helper to effector T helper cells alters the contact hypersensitivity response.

Cutaneous sensitization to reactive haptens and subsequent challenge results in a T cell-mediated response, contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Recent results from this laboratory have indicated that hapten sensitization induces two populations of reactive T cells: CD8+ T cells producing interferon (IFN)-γ which mediate the response and CD4+ T cells producing interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 which negatively regulate the magnitude and duration of the response. Since CD4+ T cell development to either IFN-γ- (Th1) or IL-4/IL-10- (Th2)-producing cells is dependent upon the cytokine environment during antigen priming, we hypothesized that CD4+ T cell induction in a Th1-promoting environment would not only alter the CD4+ T cell cytokine-producing phenotype but also the course of the CHS response. Administration of the Th1-promoting cytokine IL-12 during hapten sensitization resulted in a CHS response of greater magnitude following challenge and extended the duration of the response. In hapten-sensitized mice depleted of CD8+ T cells, treatment with IL-12 induced effector CD4+ T cells. Histological examination of challenged ear tissue from these mice indicated minimal edema and an acute mononuclear cell infiltration more typical of classical delayed-type hypersensitivity than CHS. Hapten-primed CD4+ T cells from IL-12 treated, sensitized mice produced IFN-γ, but not IL-4 in response to T cell receptor-mediated stimulation. Use of neutralizing anti-IFN-γ antibody indicated that IL-12 not only directly promoted Th1 development but also indirectly inhibited Th2 development through stimulation of IFN-γ production at the time of hapten sensitization. Overall, these results demonstrate that diversion of CD4+ T cell development to Th1 effector cells rather than to Th2 cells alters the efferent nature of CHS and removes a primary regulatory mechanism of the immune response.
PPPS-2013: Optimization of x-ray backlighting for experiments on Z

Summary form only given. Sandia National Laboratories' Z-Backlighter Facility is using a laser driven monochromatic X-ray crystal imaging concept at the Manganese He-alpha energy of 6.151 keV to backlight HEDP experiments on the Z-Accelerator1. To further improve the reliability and efficiency of this tool, a series of experiments has been performed to determine the system's sensitivity to parameter variations such as changes in focus quality, polarization angle, target properties, pre-pulse levels or pulse energy. Improved hardware sets have been developed to enhance the precision and robustness of the target setup for transport between pre-alignment and final shot implementation. Along with target development, an evaluation of new detector types is underway.
Potential mechanisms for a role of metabolic stress in hypertrophic adaptations to resistance training.

It is well established that regimented resistance training can promote increases in muscle hypertrophy. The prevailing body of research indicates that mechanical stress is the primary impetus for this adaptive response and studies show that mechanical stress alone can initiate anabolic signalling. Given the dominant role of mechanical stress in muscle growth, the question arises as to whether other factors may enhance the post-exercise hypertrophic response. Several researchers have proposed that exercise-induced metabolic stress may in fact confer such an anabolic effect and some have even suggested that metabolite accumulation may be more important than high force development in optimizing muscle growth. Metabolic stress pursuant to traditional resistance training manifests as a result of exercise that relies on anaerobic glycolysis for adenosine triphosphate production. This, in turn, causes the subsequent accumulation of metabolites, particularly lactate and H+. Acute muscle hypoxia associated with such training methods may further heighten metabolic buildup. Therefore, the purpose of this paper will be to review the emerging body of research suggesting a role for exercise-induced metabolic stress in maximizing muscle development and present insights as to the potential mechanisms by which these hypertrophic adaptations may occur. These mechanisms include increased fibre recruitment, elevated systemic hormonal production, alterations in local myokines, heightened production of reactive oxygen species and cell swelling. Recommendations are provided for potential areas of future research on the subject.
Oxygen consumption and mixed venous oxygen saturation monitoring during orthotopic liver transplantation

Mixed venous oxygen saturation\(S\bar vO_2 \) monitoring has been advocated for some critically ill patients. Patients with end-stage hepatic failure have oxygen consumption rates that are lower than normal. Using the Fick equation, oxygen consumption may be calculated if mixed venous and arterial oxygen tensions (and saturations), hemoglobin, and cardiac output are determined simultaneously. This report describes a unique pattern of changes in\(S\bar vO_2 \) and oxygen consumption in 7 patients undergoing liver transplantation. A previous study correlated plasma carbohydrate (glucose) levels with early hepatic graft survival. After induction, the 7 patients reported here had low oxygen consumption and high\(S\bar vO_2 \) values. The oxygen consumption rates decreased to the lowest point during the anhepatic phase and rose above baseline by the end of the case. The\(S\bar vO_2 \) and oxygen consumption data reported here follow the presence of presumed hepatic metabolic activity (increased CO2 and ionized calcium). Further research must be completed to determine whether these measurements indicate early hepatic nonfunction.
Does body mass index "dilute" the predictive property of prostate-specific antigen for tumor volume at radical prostatectomy?

Objective To evaluate the effect of the body mass index (BMI) as it relates to the predictive value of the preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level regarding the tumor volume at radical prostatectomy. Stage migration with the widespread use of PSA screening is well documented; however, the association between the PSA level and tumor volume is less defined. Additionally, the effect of obesity on the serum PSA level might cause relative hemodilution and account for the decreased predictive ability of the PSA level to determine the tumor volume in the modern era. Methods We identified 14 293 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer from 1987 to 2007 and had a documented BMI. Using the clinicopathologic variables, we examined the relationship among the BMI, preoperative PSA level, and tumor volume at radical prostatectomy using multiple linear regression analysis. Results An elevated BMI was associated with an increased pathologic Gleason score (P < .0001), increased tumor volume (P < .0001), and increased prostate size (P < .0001). The preoperative PSA level correlated significantly with the tumor volume (P < .0001). No significant correlation was found between the BMI and preoperative PSA level (P = .39). On multivariate analysis, controlling for the BMI, the preoperative PSA level remained a significant predictor of the tumor volume (P < .0001). The interaction between the preoperative PSA level and BMI in the prediction of the tumor volume was not statistically significant (P = .56), suggesting that the BMI does not affect the association between the PSA level and tumor volume. Conclusion Our results have shown that the predictive ability of the PSA level for tumor volume is not affected by the BMI. There does not appear to be a need to correct the serum PSA level in relation to the BMI when used in preoperative prediction models of the tumor volume.
Using Management Methods from the Software Development Industry to Manage Classroom-Based Research

This case details a classroom-based research and development project facilitated with management approaches adapted from the software industry to the classroom, specifically a combination of the methods generally known as 'Scrum' and 'Agile'. Scrum Management and Agile Software Development were developed in response to the difficulties of project management in the constantly changing world of technology. The on-going project takes a classroom of students and has them design and conduct research based on software tools they develop. An emphasis of the project is conducting research that involves all class members and makes students think critically about group management.
InAs/antimonide-based resonant tunneling structures with ternary alloy layers

Abstract We have studied two modifications of mixed arsenide/antimonide resonant tunneling structures, in which one of the binary components is replaced by a ternary alloy. The first structure is based on an InAs/AlSb/GaSb resonant interband tunneling structure with the GaSb quantum well layer replaced by a GaAs x Sb 1 − x alloy layer. The added As decreases the lattice constant in the well, and the resulting strain can shift the heavy hole subbands below the incoming electron energy. We find that the negative resistance effect can be enhanced by properly adjusting the splitting via the As concentration. A maximum enhancement in the peak-to-valley ratio was obtained with a 10% As concentration in the diodes we fabricated. The second structure is a modification of a conventional InAs/AlSb double barrier structure, in which the AlSb barriers are replaced by Al x Ga 1 − x Sb with x ≈ 0.5. In these structures, the pronounced type II band alignment results in an entirely new type of current vs voltage characteristic exhibiting intrinsic current bistability (double-valued currents for a given voltage) instead of the conventional voltage bistability. Peak-to-valley voltage ratios as high as 1.5 have been observed with current densities in the 10 5 A/cm 2 range.
Accounting for death as a competing risk in cancer-associated thrombosis studies

In recent years, clinical investigation in the field of cancer-associated thrombosis has identified a number of potential biomarkers to predict the risk of developing a thrombotic event. Similarly, large randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of low molecular weight heparins in the treatment as well as prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in cancer patients. However, the most common statistical methodology to evaluate the occurrence of VTE has been the Kaplan-Meier approach. When used to estimate the cumulative incidence of VTE in cancer studies, the Kaplan-Meier method over-estimates the cumulative incidence function due to failure to account for death as a competing risk for the development of VTE. A more appropriate statistical estimate of cumulative incidence of VTE in cancer studies is the competing risk model. This review describes the theoretical and mathematical basis for estimating the cumulative incidence function by the competing risk model for the analysis of VTE outcomes in cancer-associated thrombosis.
Selective effects of cyclodiene insecticides on dopamine release in mammalian synaptosomes.

Cyclodiene insecticides release labeled neurotransmitter in striatal and cortical synaptosome preparations under nondepolarizing conditions, typically showing half-maximal potencies for release in the low micromolar range. This level of potency is similar to those reported for inhibition of 36Cl− influx at the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor, their consensus target site. A wide variety of other GABAA antagonists, including picrotoxinin and bicuculline, did not cause significant dopamine release, which obviated direct involvement of the GABAA receptor as a possible site of action. Release assays with different transmitters indicated that striatal dopaminergic terminals are severalfold more sensitive to release than other neurotransmitter types. The selective sensitivity of nigrostriatal dopaminergic nerve terminals to insecticidal organochlorines provides biochemical evidence supporting an epidemiological linkage between exposure to environmental toxicants and Parkinsonism.
Calorimetric and Computational Thermochemical Study of 3,3-Tetramethyleneglutaric Acid, 3,3-Tetramethyleneglutaric Anhydride, and 3,3-Tetramethyleneglutarimide

The standard (p(o) = 0.1 MPa) molar energies of combustion in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, of solid 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid and the related 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric anhydride and 3,3-tetramethyleneglutarimide were measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry. The values of the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, were obtained by Calvet microcalorimetry, allowing the calculation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the compounds, in the gaseous state, at T = 298.15 K. The geometries of the experimentally studied compounds were fully optimized using density functional theory with the B3LYP functional and extended basis sets. More accurate energies were also obtained from single-point calculations at the most stable B3LYP/6-311G** geometries, using the cc-pVTZ basis set. From these calculations the standard molar enthalpies of formation of 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid, 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric anhydride, and 3,3-tetramethyleneglutarimide were estimated using isodesmic reactions involving glutaric acid, glutaric anhydride, and glutarimide, respectively. Experimental and computational results were used in the discussion of the interrelation of energetics and structure in these compounds and compared with other structurally related compounds.
The salience of the self in responses to inequity

Abstract Previous research has shown that people strive to conform with the standards of significant others in distributive justice. The present research was concerned with the role of attention to the self in the same paradigm. If people are motivated to personally evaluate their own behavior as fair, then self-focus should result in heightened attempts to redress an overpayment inequity. After the subject's criterion of a fair wage was assessed, they were paid either that amount or double it. Orthogonal to this manipulation, subjects were either made objectively self-aware (OSA) or not, by the presence or absence of a mirror. Consistent with the hypothesis, overpaid OSA subjects did more work, but of a poorer quality, than overpaid not-OSA subjects. This was taken as evidence of more zealous attempts to restore a sense of equity, implicating a greater personal need to eliminate the injustice when the discrepancy between pay level and a personal standard of fairness was made more prominent to the self.
Follow-up status of patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and panic disorder.

Cardiology patients with normal coronary angiography demonstrate continuing and substantial social, health, and work disability. We hypothesized that the diagnosis of panic disorder would mark those for whom continuing disability is most likely. We interviewed 72 such patients at the time of their normal angiogram, and then again an average of 38 months later. Those with panic disorder (n = 36) demonstrated significantly more disability at follow-up than did the other study patients. We conclude that those patients with normal angiograms who have panic disorder are more disabled than those who do not have panic disorder. Panic disorder in psychiatric samples has been shown to be highly treatable. Therefore, early identification and treatment of panic disorder in this group is likely to minimize the suffering associated with this condition. (JAMA. 1991;265:1545-1549)
Measures of overweight status in school-age children.

Identifying and intervening with overweight children may decrease their likelihood of developing heart disease later in life. This secondary analysis of 58 children in the 3rd grade examined the prevalence of overweight children, methods for measuring overweight status, and the relationship among these measures and other risk factors for heart disease. Approximately one third of the 58 children were categorized as overweight. Several measures, such as weight, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and skin-fold, are available to school nurses for measuring overweight status. The highest correlations were between BMI and weight and between BMI and body fat. Anthropometric measurements cannot predict cholesterol level, 24-hour diet recall, or family history. Blood pressure can be predicted by weight, body fat percentage, and BMI. BMI and body fat percentage highly correlate; however, body fat percentage is more liberal in identifying children at risk for overweight status. Therefore, body fat percentag...
Benefit-cost analysis of bubonic plague surveillance and control at two campgrounds in California, USA.

A benefit-cost analysis was performed at the request of the California Department of Health Services on its plague control program at 2 California campgrounds. In addition to the current control program, consisting of surveillance and control, a surveillance-only program and 2 no-program alternatives were considered. The results showed that the current control program was economically preferable, with an average annual net benefit of ca. 2000. Ranking the suboptimal alternatives showed that the no-program/open-park alternative was the next preferable, followed by the surveillance-only program, then the no-program/park-closure alternative. Sensitivity analysis showed that the current control program would remain optimal if the initial assumptions were reasonably accurate. However, the results were highly sensitive to the assumed number of human cases and frequency of epidemics. Slight overstatement of these factors might incorrectly favor the current control program over the no-program/open-park alternative. Methodology developed in this study may be applied to an evaluation of the California (or other statewide/regional) plague control programs.
Purine metabolism in Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.

Abstract The procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense do not incorporate glycine or serine into ribonucleotides. Although de novo purine synthesis does not occur, all purine bases and ribonucleotides are interconverted, indicating the presence of active salvage pathways. Guanine is actively deaminated to xanthine by guanase activity. Purine ribonucleosides are cleaved to their respective free bases. The order of salvage efficiency for purine bases and their respective ribonucleotides is: adenine > hypoxanthine > guanine > xanthine.
An optical technique for measuring fractal dimensions of planar poincaré maps

Abstract An optical technique for measuring the fractal dimension of two-dimensional Poincare maps has been developed. The parallel processing feature of this method provides a rapid way to calculate a correlation measure between distributed points in a plane. The method has been used to determine the correlation dimension of the Duffing-Holmes strange attractor for the two-well potential. The optically measured values of fractal dimension agree well with computer calculation of dimension for both numerical and experimental data.
Effects of cultivar resistance and single fungicide application on rice sheath blight, yield, and quality

Abstract The increased number of sheath blight ( Rhizoctonia solani )-resistant rice ( Oryza sativa ) cultivars available will allow producers to use less fungicide and avoid significant reductions in grain and milling yields. Among cultivars currently in cultivation in the southern United States, sheath blight resistance levels range from very susceptible to moderately resistant. A study was conducted to determine the response of cultivars, with different levels of susceptibility, to sheath blight inoculations and fungicide application and to determine the impact of sheath blight disease development on rice yield and quality. Sheath blight epidemics in field plots were initiated by inoculation at the panicle differentiation growth stage in 2006 and 2007. Azoxystrobin at 0.17 kg a.i. ha −1 was applied at mid-boot. Inoculation significantly increased sheath blight severity and incidence and caused yield losses of 8% in moderately resistant cv. Jupiter to 40% in very susceptible cv. Trenasse. Milling yields were affected to a lesser extent. Fungicide treatments reduced sheath blight incidence and severity, regardless of cultivar except in Jupiter. Single azoxystrobin applications were effective in minimizing yield loss due to sheath blight in all cultivars.
Tissue distribution of erythropoietin and erythropoietin receptor in the developing human fetus

Abstract Objective : Erythropoietin receptors (Epo-R) have been demonstrated on several nonhematopoietic cell types in animal models and in cell culture. Our objective was to determine the tissue distribution and cellular specificity of erythropoietin (Epo) and its receptor in the developing human fetus. Study design : The expression of Epo and Epo-R mRNA was ascertained by RT-PCR for organs ranging in maturity from 5 to 24 weeks postconception. The cellular location of protein immunoreactivity was then determined using specific antiEpo and antiEpo-R antibodies. Antibody specificity was established by Western analysis. Results : mRNA for Epo and Epo-R was found in all organs in the first two trimesters. Immunolocalization of Epo was limited to the liver parenchymal cells, kidney interstitial cells and proximal tubules, neural retina of the eye, and adrenal cortex. As development progressed, immunoreactivity in the kidney became more prominent. In contrast, immunoreactivity for Epo-R was widespread throughout the body, in cell types including endothelial cells, myocardiocytes, macrophages, retinal cells, cells of the adrenal cortex and medulla, as well as in small bowel, spleen, liver, kidney, and lung. Conclusions : The distribution of Epo and its receptor is more widespread in the developing human than was initially postulated. Epo-R is expressed on many cell types during early fetal development, leading us to speculate that Epo acts in concert with somatic growth and development factors during this period. Further investigation is required to understand the nonhematopoietic role of Epo during human development.
Peptide mapping of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease a by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. I: Application to the reduced and S-carboxymethylated protein

Complete peptide maps of reduced and S-carboxymethylated ribonuclease A were obtained by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with the following peptide-chain cleavage techniques: cyanogen bromide cleavage, limited and extensive Staphylococcus aureus protease digestion, tryptic digestion, and tryptic followed by chymotryptic digestion. Commercial samples of S. aureus protease exhibited a broader specificity than had previously been reported, as demonstrated by its ability to cleave after glutamine residues. Cleavage after asparagine and serine residues was also strongly implicated. The procedures developed require roughly 0.1 to 1 mg of ribonuclease A for the peptide mapping of this protein. These procedures will be useful for the identification of the sites of a chemical modification and also for the isolation of a variety of peptides for further studies.