cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Cognitive Strategies on Neural Food Cue Reactivity in Adults with Overweight/Obesity.

OBJECTIVE Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of obesity have revealed key roles for reward-related and inhibitory control-related activity in response to food cues. This study examines how cognitive strategies impact neural food cue reactivity. METHODS In a within-participants, block-design, fMRI paradigm, 30 participants (24 women; mean BMI = 31.8) used four mind-sets while viewing food: "distract" (cognitive behavioral therapy based), "allow" (acceptance and commitment therapy based), "later" (focusing on long-term negative consequences), and "now" (control; focusing on immediate rewards). Participants rated cravings by noting urges to eat on four-point Likert scales after each block. RESULTS Self-reported cravings significantly differed among all conditions (pairwise comparisons P < 0.05). Cravings were lowest when participants considered long-term consequences (LATER mind-set: 1.7 [SD 0.7]), were significantly higher when participants used the DISTRACT (1.9 [SD 0.7]) and ALLOW (2.3 [SD 0.9]) mind-sets, and were highest when participants used the NOW mind-set (3.2 [SD 0.7]). These behavioral differences were accompanied by differences in neural food cue reactivity. The LATER mind-set (long-term consequences) led to greater inhibitory-control activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The cognitive behavioral therapy-based DISTRACT mind-set was associated with greater activity in executive function and reward-processing areas, whereas the ALLOW mind-set (acceptance and commitment therapy) elicited widespread activity in frontal, reward-processing, and default-mode regions. CONCLUSIONS Because focusing on negative long-term consequences led to the greatest decrease in cravings and increased inhibitory control, this may be a promising treatment strategy for obesity.
Changes in the diet and body size of a small herbivorous mammal (hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus) following the late Pleistocene megafauna extinction

The catastrophic loss of large‐bodied mammals during the terminal Pleistocene likely led to cascading effects within communities. While the extinction of the top consumers probably expanded the resources available to survivors of all body sizes, little work has focused on the responses of the smallest mammals. Here, we use a detailed fossil record from the southwestern United States to examine the response of the hispid cotton rat Sigmodon hispidus to biodiversity loss and climatic change over the late Quaternary. In particular, we focus on changes in diet and body size. We characterize diet through carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope analysis of bone collagen in fossil jaws and body size through measurement of fossil teeth; the abundance of material allows us to examine population level responses at millennial scale for the past 16 ka. Sigmodon was not present at the cave during the full glacial, first appearing at ~16 ka after ice sheets were in retreat. It remained relatively rare until ~12 ka when warming temperatures allowed it to expand its species range northward. We find variation in both diet and body size of Sigmodon hispidus over time: the average body size of the population varied by ~20% (90–110 g) and mean δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values ranged between −13.5 to −16.5‰ and 5.5 to 7.4‰ respectively. A state–space model suggested changes in mass were influenced by diet, maximum temperature and community structure, while the modest changes in diet were most influenced by community structure. Sigmodon maintained a fairly similar dietary niche over time despite contemporaneous changes in climate and herbivore community composition that followed the megafauna extinction. Broadly, our results suggest that small mammals may be as sensitive to shifts in local biotic interactions within their ecosystem as they are to changes in climate and large‐scale biodiversity loss.
Talking about group (but not individual) process aids group performance

The discourse of small groups of 3–4 adults enrolled in a graduate business course was audio-recorded as they participated in a computer-supported simulation in which the group represented a firm and worked over a series of eight sessions in making a series of decisions. Discourse transcripts were analyzed using a coding scheme that classified utterances expressed during group interaction as types of topic-talk (constituting a part of the activity itself) vs. meta-talk (reflecting on the activity). Supporting our hypothesis regarding the importance of meta-level discourse about group process in a group’s achieving coordinated action and a successful outcome, analysis suggested that discourse about the group’s process, but not discourse about individuals’ actions, was associated with superior group outcomes.
Multilevel Modeling of Interval-Contingent Data in Neuropsychology Research Using the lmerTest Package in R

Intensive longitudinal research designs are becoming more common in the field of neuropsychology. They are a powerful approach to studying development and change in naturally occurring phenomena. However, to fully capitalize on the wealth of data yielded by these designs, researchers have to understand the nature of multilevel data structures. The purpose of the present article is to describe some of the basic concepts and techniques involved in modeling multilevel data structures. In addition, this article serves as a step-by-step tutorial to demonstrate how neuropsychologists can implement basic multilevel modeling techniques with real data and the R package, lmerTest. R may be an ideal option for some empirical scientists, applied statisticians, and clinicians, because it is a free and open-source programming language for statistical computing and graphics that offers a flexible and powerful set of tools for analyzing data. All data and code described in the present article have been made publicly available.
Overcoming Disparities in Cancer: A Need for Meaningful Reform for Hispanic and Latino Cancer Survivors

Hispanic and Latino (HL) cancer survivors are at a critical disadvantage compared with non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients regarding sociodemographic adversities and access to equitable treatment options. By 2030, there will be about four million HL cancer survivors in the U.S., representing nearly 20% of survivors in this country. Hispanics and Latinos are subjected to significant challenges in accessing and receiving equitable care relative to NHWs. Hispanics and Latinos also experience lower rates of health insurance and financial resources, limiting health care options. These disparities often originate from disparate social determinants of health, including lower funding for education and school programs, greater neighborhood stressors and violence, lower access to healthy and affordable food, and greater barriers to community health and exercise opportunities. Even among HL cancer survivors with proper access to health care, they experience disparate treatment options, including low inclusion in clinical trials and/or access to experimental therapies. A solution to these barriers necessitates complex and systemic changes that involve, for example, investing in public health programs, increasing the diversity and cultural awareness of the medical workforce, and promoting research opportunities such as clinical trials that are inclusive of HLs. Only through meaningful reform will equitable cancer care be available for all in the U.S. regardless of racial and/or ethnic background. This article reviews some of the critical social determinants of health and biases relevant to HL cancer survivors and provides recommendations for achieving cancer health equity. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Hispanics and Latinos experience a significant and often disproportionate cancer-related burden compared with non-Hispanic and Latino White individuals and other racial and ethnic groups. Meaningful reform to achieve health equity in oncology should focus on approaches to gaining trust among diverse patients, cultural and community sensitivity and engagement in oncology care and research, diversifying the workforce, and improving inclusion in clinical trial participation. Taken together, these recommendations can lead to exemplary and equitable care for all patients.
Breast Embryology and Anatomy

Understanding the anatomy of the breast is important to ensure positive outcomes in regard to function and aesthetic appeal. Throughout the embryogenesis of the breast, malformations in the anatomy can arise that may require surgical intervention. One of the most crucial tenets of breast anatomy is the blood supply to the nipple-areolar complex. When intervening on possible malformations and/or performing procedures on the breast, maintaining blood flow to the nipple-areolar complex is critical. Using the most robust pedicle increases the reliability of sustaining blood flow to the nipple-areolar complex. In addition to maintaining blood flow, nipple innervation must be maintained to help preserve sensual function and breastfeeding potential. During breast surgery the pectoralis major and minor muscles are normally involved, which requires an understanding of the blood supply, innervation patterns, and functional anatomy of these muscles as well. Additionally, a full comprehension of the position of the inframammary fold is important to produce the most aesthetically pleasing breast possible. The breast is a major part of the plastic surgery realm, and a thorough knowledge of its anatomy allows for the most successful outcomes.
Health Care Disparities and Access to Video Visits Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Patient Survey in Primary Care.

Background: In 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reimbursement structure was relaxed to aid in the rapid adoption nationally of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to limited access to internet service, cellular phone data, and appropriate devices, many patients may be excluded from telemedicine services. Methods: In this study, we present the findings of a survey of patients at an urban primary care clinic regarding their access to the tools needed for telemedicine before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients provided information about their access to internet services, phone and data plans, and their perceived access to and interest in telemedicine. The survey was conducted in 2019 and then again in September of 2020 after expansion of telemedicine services. Results: In 2019, 168 patients were surveyed; and in 2020, 99 patients participated. In both surveys, 30% of respondents had limited phone data, no data, or no phone at all. In 2019, the patient responses showed a statistically significant difference in phone plan types between patients with different insurance plans (p < 0.10), with a higher proportion (39%) of patients with Medicaid or Medicaid waiver having a prepaid phone or no phone at all compared with patients with commercial insurance (26%). The overall awareness rate increased from 17% to 43% in the 2020 survey. Conclusions: This survey illustrated that not all patients had access to devices, cellular data, and internet service, which are all needed to conduct telemedicine. In this survey, patients with Medicaid or Medicaid waiver insurance were less likely to have these tools than those with a commercial payor. Finally, patients' access to these telemedicine tools correlated with their interest in using telemedicine visits. Providing equitable telemedicine care requires attention to and mitigation strategies for these gaps in access.
Phage Therapy Related Microbial Succession Associated with Successful Clinical Outcome for a Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection

We rationally designed a bacteriophage cocktail to treat a 56-year-old male liver transplant patient with complex, recurrent prostate and urinary tract infections caused by an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) (UCS1). We screened our library for phages that killed UCS1, with four promising candidates chosen for their virulence, mucolytic properties, and ability to reduce bacterial resistance. The patient received 2 weeks of intravenous phage cocktail with concomitant ertapenem for 6 weeks. Weekly serum and urine samples were collected to track the patient’s response. The patient tolerated the phage therapy without any adverse events with symptom resolution. The neutralization of the phage activity occurred with sera collected 1 to 4 weeks after the first phage treatment. This was consistent with immunoassays that detected the upregulation of immune stimulatory analytes. The patient developed asymptomatic recurrent bacteriuria 6 and 11 weeks following the end of phage therapy—a condition that did not require antibiotic treatment. The bacteriuria was caused by a sister strain of E. coli (UCS1.1) that remained susceptible to the original phage cocktail and possessed putative mutations in the proteins involved in adhesion and invasion compared to UCS1. This study highlights the utility of rationally designed phage cocktails with antibiotics at controlling E. coli infection and suggests that microbial succession, without complete eradication, may produce desirable clinical outcomes.
Quantitative Regularities of the Diversity of Lexical Meaning

There is a number of extensively tested and confirmed regularities of use of natural language such as rank-frequency distribution (widely known as Zipf’s Law) and type-token distribution of words. Most of these regularities are based on formal attributes of words (number of word occurrences, number of different lexicographical types of words, etc.). On the other hand, very little has been done to investigate potential regularities involving semantic attributes of natural language. The focus of the study reported here is on the quantitative aspects of the diversity of referential meaning of linguistic elements which they acquire in the process of overall semantic attribution.
Indentation Measurements on Soft Materials Using Optical Surface Deformation Measurements

Instrumented indentation is a common technique for measuring the elastic properties of bulk materials as well as thin films on substrates. However, in traditional indentation, it can be difficult to determine the true deformation of a specimen due to the effects of machine compliance and thermal drift. In the present work, a method is developed to track the in-plane and out-of-plane deformation of a specimen during indentation tests using fluorescent microparticles. Bead tracking and quantitative defocusing methods are used to track the in-plane and out-of-plane displacements of the beads, respectively. Here, we describe the calibration of the system and assess the effects of particle size and magnification on the accuracy and resolution of the system. In addition, results from preliminary indentation tests performed on bulk polydimethylsiloxane specimens are reported. An analysis algorithm was developed to extract the elastic properties by measuring the displacements on the surface as a function of applied indentation force. Results are compared to traditional indentation measurements in which load and displacement are only measured at the indenter.
TRPM4-dependent contraction of retinal pericytes (LB846)

Pericytes are an integral part of the neurovascular unit and likely contribute to the neuronal-dependent regulation of capillary blood flow. Like vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), pericytes are thought to contract through membrane depolarization and activation of voltage-dependent calcium channels which then causes focal constrictions of capillaries. TRPM4, a melastatin transient receptor potential channel, is essential for VSMC membrane depolarization and contraction. Its role in pericyte contraction is not known. We used immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy to examine the role of TRPM4 channels in pericyte contraction within the mouse retina. We observed TRPM4-specific immunolabeling in the smooth muscle cells within precapillary arterioles (<10 µm) and in a sub-population of pericytes surrounding the capillaries most proximal to the arterioles in the mouse retinal vasculature. In addition, we observed constriction in response to the thromboxane A2 analog, 9,11-dideoxy-9α,11α-methanoepoxy pr...
Solving the Model Predictive Control Problem with Soft Constraints

This paper will demonstrate how the convexity and quadratic nature of the soft constrained model predictive control problem can be used to solve for its unique minimum in a finite number of steps. A mathematical formulation for this problem will be given that leads to a new convergent minimization algorithm. This algorithm will then be compared to a traditional method of steepest descent type algorithm in an example.
Entrepreneurship, Opportunity, and Growth

This papers contrasts "invention-to-growth" policies derived from macroeconomic models with "opportunity-to-growth" policies suggested by consideration of microeconomic fundamentals. I focus on the effectiveness of opportunity exploitation by entrepreneurs relative to established incumbents - in particular, how the relative "price of entry" depends on the magnitude of interaction costs, which I define as the sum of conventionally defined transactions costs and additional costs of validation and search attributable to asymmetries of information. I further emphasize the manner in which new tools of communication and collaboration are rapidly changing interaction costs, with implications for the intensity and direction of entrepreneurial effort.
Linear, primary monohaloalkane chemistry in NaX and NaY faujasite zeolites with and without Na0-treatment: Zeolites as nucleophilic reagents II

Abstract This work undertakes, we believe for the first time, a study of the chemistry of alkyl halides in Na 0 treated zeolites. It concludes that untreated zeolites do nucleophilic chemistry to the degree that the host is electron donating. It concludes that Na 0 treated zeolites do a mixture of nucleophilic, electron-transfer, and free radical chemistry. Zeolites NaX and NaY and their Na 0 treated forms (Na 0 /NaX and Na 0 /NaY) were exposed to linear1-haloalkanes (Cl, Br, I). NaY is inert in all cases. Framework alkoxy and halide ion are formed in NaX from the Br- and I-alkanes in an electrophilic attack of framework oxygen on the alkyl halide, while the leaving of the halide ion is assisted by the electrostatic attraction of the NaX site III or III′ Na ions. In Na 0 NaX and Na 0 /NaY direct reaction of Na 0 with the alkyl bromide or iodide yields a larger alkane and halide ion, probably via a free radical mechanism involving two Na 0 and two alkyl halides. The NaX–alkyl chloride chemistry includes exclusively or partly dehydrohalogenation, yielding 1-alkenes and chloride ion. Na 0 /NaX or Na 0 /NaY–alkyl chloride dehydrohalogenation chemistry yields chloride with 2-alkenes in low yield and alkanes in higher yields. 1-Chloropropane yields the framework propoxy and propene from NaX and yields these products plus other olefins from Na 0 /NaX. Overall the yields and reactivity fall into a pattern of Lewis basicity increasing in the order NaY 0 /NaY 0 /NaX.
An Emission and Fuel Usage Computer Model for Trucks and Buses

This paper presents the development of a computer model to simulate fuel usage and emission contributions of the past and future truck and bus population in the United States. The projected future years are beyond 1976 to 1990. The trends in vehicle population growth, yearly miles traveled and ton-miles are also calculated by the model. The formulation of the model is based on a systems approach. The preliminary quantitative results are discussed to demonstrate the satisfactory performance of the computer model. Increased rates of dieselization are analyzed to determine their effect on reducing fuel consumption and the impact on total emission contributions. The use of the computer model to study an urban area for air quality is discussed. /GMRL/
Progression of cerebrospinal fluid cell count and differential over a treatment course of shunt infection.

Object The physiological reaction of CSF white blood cells (WBCs) over the course of treating a shunt infection is undefined. The authors speculated that the CSF WBC count varies with different infecting organisms in peak level and differential percentage of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. The authors hope to identify clinically useful trends in the progression of CSF WBCs by analyzing a large group of patients with successfully treated shunt infections. Methods The authors reviewed 105 successfully treated cases of shunt infections at Riley Hospital for Children. The study dates ranged from 2000 to 2004; this represented a period prior to the routine use of antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheters. They analyzed the following organisms: coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, Streptococcal species, and gram-negative organisms. The initial CSF sample at diagnosis was analyzed, as were levels over 14 days of treatment. Mod...
Halocyclopropanes from Halocarbenes

This chapter reviews methods for the generation of halocarbenes and the reaction of the latter with unsaturated substrates. Chemical transformations of the derived halocyclopropanes are discussed in sufficient detail to demonstrate the synthetic utility of this class. The formation of dihalocyclopropanes from dihalocarbenes was first accomplished in 1954 by Doering and Hoffmann who used chloroform t- butoxide to generate the dichlorocarbene. Since that time a variety of other methods have been developed for the generation of halocarbenes. The various methods are discussed. Keywords: halocyclopropanes; halocarbenes; alkoxides; pyrolytic reactions; alkenes cycloalkenes; alkynes; double bonds; carbon; nitrogen; experimental procedures
Malignant melanoma and central nervous system metastases. Incidence, diagnosis, treatment and survival

One hundred and twenty-two patients with clinically advanced, histologically confirmed, cutaneous malignant melanoma, seen at Wayne State University over a 12 year period were reviewed. The incidence of central nervous system metastases (CNS) diagnosed clinically was 46% and at autopsy 75%. Meningeal involvement was suspected clinically in 10.6% and found at autopsy in 52%. Motor dysfunction, mental confusion, cranial nerve disturbance, as well as headache, were the most common manifestations. EEG was found to be extremely sensitive in predicting and confirming CNS metastases even before clinical manifestation. Accuracy increased by performing an EEG serially or combining it with a brain scan. Best therapeutic results were noted after surgery for solitary CNS metastases. Palliative radiotherapy was effective in 37% of patients. Mean survival after neurological diagnosis was 4.0 months, but it varied depending on the site of the initial primary and the presence or absence of other visceral involvement. Concomitant liver metastases carried the worst prognosis. Patients with head, neck or trunk primaries who develop lung or liver metastases should be examined carefully and tested periodically with EEG. Persistent EEG abnormalities should strengthen the clinical suspicion of an underlying CNS metastases and may be an indication for further studies and possible therapy.
Time-resolved laue diffraction from protein crystals: instrumental considerations

Abstract A serious limitation of macromolecular crystallography has been its inability to determine changes in structure on a biochemical time scale of milliseconds or less. Recently, we have shown that X-ray exposures on single crystals of macromolecules may be obtained in the millisecond time range through the use of intense, polychromatic radiation with Δλ/λ ∼ 0.2 derived from the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, CHESS. Such radiation falling on a stationary crystal yields a Laue diffraction pattern, in which almost all Laue reflections arise from a unique set of Miller indices and where their intensities are automatically integrated over wavelength. This Laue technique requires wide band pass optics, which may be obtained by a combination of reflection and transmission mirrors, filters or layered synthetic microstructures. Time-resolved macromolecular crystallography may be achieved by several data collection schemes: “one-shot” recording coupled to a simple streak camera, repetitive sample perturbation coupled to a detector with temporal resolution and repetitive perturbation which uses the synchrotron pulses for stroboscopic triggering and detection. These schemes are appropriate for different time scales, roughly the milli-, micro- and nanosecond regimes. It appears that time-resolved crystallography is entirely feasible, with an ultimate time resolution limited only by the length of a synchrotron light pulse, some 150 ps at CHESS.
Protease-activated receptor signalling by coagulation proteases in endothelial cells

Endothelial cells express several types of integral membrane protein receptors, which upon interaction and activation by their specific ligands, initiate a signalling network that links extracellular cues in circulation to various biological processes within a plethora of cells in the vascular system. A small family of G-protein coupled receptors, termed protease-activated receptors (PAR1–4), can be specifically activated by coagulation proteases, thereby modulating a diverse array of cellular activities under various pathophysiological conditions. Thrombin and all vitamin K-dependent coagulation proteases, with the exception of factor IXa for which no PAR signalling has been attributed, can selectively activate cell surface PARs on the vasculature. Thrombin can activate PAR1, PAR3 and PAR4, but not PAR2 which can be specifically activated by factors VIIa and Xa. The mechanistic details of the specificity of PAR signalling by coagulation proteases are the subject of extensive investigation by many research groups worldwide. However, analysis of PAR signalling data in the literature has proved to be challenging since a single coagulation protease can elicit different signalling responses through activation of the same PAR receptor in endothelial cells. This article is focused on briefly reviewing the literature with respect to determinants of the specificity of PAR signalling by coagulation proteases with special emphasis on the mechanism of PAR1 signalling by thrombin and activated protein C in endothelial cells.
Female and male intravenous drug users not-in-treatment: Are they at differential risk for AIDS?

We describe and compare the drug-use patterns of ethnically diverse (45% white, 39% African American, 15% Hispanic) female and male intravenous drug users (IVDUs) not-in-treatment. Focusing on a group of hard-to-reach and economically disadvantaged IVDUs, we were able to document drug use patterns and practices that have been shown to place them at increased risk for AIDS. We were also able to examine if women IVDUs were at differential risk for AIDS in comparison to men IVDUs. Results indicated that female IVDUs practices may place them differentially at risk for contracting HIV because they were more likely than male IVDUs to share needles. When female IVDUs shared needles, they were also more likely than male IVDUs to share needles with a spouse or sexual partner. We argue that these results may be tied to gender role socialization and have important implications for designing interventions for female IVDUs.
Autogeny and Mating and Their Relationship to Biting in the Saltmarsh Deer Fly, Chrysops atlanticus (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Autogeny is reported in natural populations of Chrysops atlanticus Pechuman and Tabanus nigrovittatus Macquart. Nonbiting virgin C. atlanticus and females collected in copula in the marsh possessed developing or fully formed ovarian follicles. None had previously fed on blood or deposited eggs. Biting females, most of which were encountered in wooded areas adjacent to the marsh, were fertilized, and all had deposited eggs as evidenced by the presence of ovarian follicular relics. Follicles in biting flies were in a stage of development beyond which they would not advance unless the females obtained a meal of blood. None of the biting females had fed on blood prior to being captured. Mating of C. atlanticus was observed only in the morning. Males were observed hovering 3 to 4 feet above ground in open areas formed by lodged S. alterniflora and surrounded by upright stems. Hovering was observed as early as 0520 and as late as 0645 hours. Mating pairs were collected between 0545 and and 0645 on the standing grass immediately adjacent to the openings.
A simple and rapid method for injecting H3-norepinephrine into the lateral ventricle of the rat brain.

Abstract A simple and direct method of labelling brain norepinephrine stores, via injection into the lateral ventricle is described. H 3 -norepinephrine introduced by this procedure was found to be distributed evenly in both sides of the brain. The accumulation of H 3 -norepinephrine in various brain regions parallels that of endogenous levels of norepinephrine and the amine is selectively localized in the “nerve endings”. The disappearance of H 3 -norepinephrine administered by the direct injection technique and its modification by drugs are similar to that of material introduced by stereotaxic procedures.
OSHA Compliance Issues

This inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports on workers overexposed to styrene during the manufacture of residential bathtubs and showers. The inspection was ...
Boundary‐independent polar nonsense‐mediated decay

Nonsense‐mediated decay (NMD) is an RNA surveillance mechanism that degrades mRNAs containing premature termination (nonsense) codons. The second signal for this pathway in mammalian cells is an intron that must be at least ∼55 nucleotides downstream of the nonsense codon. Although the functional significance of this ‘−55 boundary rule’ is not known, it is widely thought to reflect the important role of an exon junction protein complex deposited just upstream of exon–exon junctions after RNA splicing. Here we report that a T‐cell receptor (TCR)‐β gene did not conform to this rule. Rather than a definitive boundary position, nonsense codons had a polar effect, such that nonsense codons distant from the terminal downstream intron triggered robust NMD and proximal nonsense codons caused modest NMD. We identified a region of the TCR‐β gene that conferred this boundary‐independent polar expression pattern on a heterologous gene. Collectively, our results suggest that TCR‐β transcripts contain one or more sequence elements that elicit an unusual NMD response triggered by a novel second signal that ultimately causes boundary‐independent polar regulation. TCR genes may have evolved this unique NMD response because they frequently acquire nonsense codons during normal development.
Dose calculation of 142Pr microspheres as a potential treatment for arteriovenous malformations

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM), especially cryptic AVM, can cause highly variable cerebral neurological defects. Injection of 142Pr microspheres into arteries feeding an AVM in order to simulate radio-embolism has been proposed as a novel treatment method. To investigate optimization of radiation dose to the clinically important arterial wall area, preliminary dosimetric studies have been performed. Monte Carlo calculations were performed for simulated arteries filled with microspheres packed by random packing. Arterial radii from 0.05 mm to 3 mm and microsphere radii from 0.01 mm to 0.7 mm were used in the simulation. For constant arterial size, dose varied significantly with microspheres radius. Inter-arterial effect was also simulated using simplified geometry. For the inter-arterial sites, the dose rate was calculated between two arteries of the same size parallel to each other. The dose increased significantly for large arteries (>1 mm radius) filled with large microspheres (>0.3 mm radius). The dose increase between small arteries (<0.3 mm radius) was not as significant as that between large arteries. Overall results indicate that arterial size and microsphere size significantly affect the dose profile. This factor should be taken into account in future clinical applications.
Genetic variants in germline TP53 and MDM2 SNP309 are not associated with early onset colorectal cancer.

Background and Objectives Colorectal cancer (CRC) arising in patients under age 30 is a rare disease, and few cases have been reported within Li-Fraumeni kindreds. To determine how often alterations in the p53 pathway genes contribute to disease susceptibility, we have evaluated patients with early onset CRC for the presence of germline variants in the p53 gene and MDM2 SNP309. Methods Thirty-five patients with CRC diagnosed before age 30 were included in this study-based on tissue availability. DNA samples from peripheral blood leukocytes were analyzed for constitutional mutations and polymorphisms in p53 as well as polymorphisms in MDM2 SNP309. Results No mutations were found in exons 4–10 of the p53 gene. The frequencies of polymorphisms in p53 and in MDM2 SNP309 did not differ from rates previously reported for normal control populations, and no polymorphism in either gene could be associated with early onset CRC. Conclusions Neither germline variants in p53 nor MDM2 SNP309 play an underlying role in the development of very early onset CRC. For the large majority of cases, the genetic basis of this disease remains unknown. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:621–625. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging Measurements of Electrostatic Biopolymer Adsorption onto Chemically Modified Gold Surfaces.

A combination of in situ and ex situ surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging experiments is used to characterize the differential electrostatic adsorption of proteins and synthetic polypeptides onto photopatterned monolayers at gold surfaces. The nonspecific electrostatic adsorption of proteins onto negatively charged self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) is found to depend on the protein pI, solution ionic strength, and solution pH. The pH dependence of the electrostatic adsorption of the protein avidin onto a MUA SAM indicates that a full monolayer adsorbs at a solution pH greater than 5.0, and an “effective pKa” of 3.6 is determined for the avidin adsorption. This effective pKa is a combination of the pKa of the MUA monolayer and the ion pairing adsorption coefficient for the avidin. Additional SPR imaging experiments show that the electrostatic adsorption of the synthetic polypeptide poly-l-lysine (PL) onto a MUA SAM varies with molecular weight, forming a full PL monola...
Diverse origins of tetracycline resistance in the honey bee bacterial pathogen Paenibacillus larvae.

Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of the important honey bee larval disease American Foulbrood (AFB). This pathogen has been treated in bee colonies by a single registered antibiotic, oxytetracycline (OTC), for fifty years. Recently, widespread resistance to OTC has been reported. In this study, the degree of antibiotic resistance was contrasted with DNA sequence variation for 125 P. larvae isolates collected in North America. Resistance was uncorrelated with bacterial haplotype, suggesting either that resistance has evolved multiple times in P. larvae or that resistance involves recent horizontal transfer via a non-genomic (e.g., plasmid or conjugal transposon) route. The recency of OTC resistance in P. larvae across this broad survey area underscores the need to manage foulbrood infections carefully and to monitor populations for resistance.
The DeltaGrid Service Composition and Recovery Model

This research has defined an abstract execution model for establishing user-defined correctness and recovery in a service composition environment. The service composition model defines a flexible, hierarchical service composition structure, where a service is composed of atomic and/or composite groups. The model provides multi-level protection against service execution failure by using compensation and contingency at different composition granularity levels, thus maximizing the potential for forward recovery of a process when failure occurs. The recovery procedures also include rollback as a recovery option, where incremental data changes known as deltas are extracted from service executions and externalized by streaming data changes to a Process History Capture System. Deltas can then be used to backward recover an operation through a process known as Delta-Enabled Rollback. This article defines the semantics of the service composition model and the manner in which compensation, contingency, and Delta-Enabled-rollback are used together to recover process execution. The authors also present a case study and describe a simulation and evaluation framework for demonstrating the functionality of the recovery algorithm and for evaluating the performance of the recovery command generation process.
Refractive-index control with strong fields

An electromagnetically induced transparency-like effect is described that allows a strong laser to control and reduce to unity the refractive index of a weak probe. A lossless multistate system with all states far from resonance is considered.
Improving integration effectiveness of ID mapping based biological record linkage

Traditionally, biological objects such as genes, proteins, and pathways are represented by a convenient identifier, or ID, which is then used to cross reference, link and describe objects in biological databases. Relationships among the objects are often established using non-trivial and computationally complex ID mapping systems or converters, and are stored in authoritative databases such as UniGene, GeneCards, PIR and BioMart. Despite best efforts, such mappings are largely incomplete and riddled with false negatives. Consequently, data integration using record linkage that relies on these mappings produces poor quality of data, inadvertently leading to erroneous conclusions. In this paper, we discuss this largely ignored dimension of data integration, examine how the ubiquitous use of identifiers in biological databases is a significant barrier to knowledge fusion using distributed computational pipelines, and propose two algorithms for ad hoc and restriction free ID mapping of arbitrary types using online resources. We also propose two declarative statements for ID conversion and data integration based on ID mapping on-the-fly.
Extracting electron transfer coupling elements from constrained density functional theory.

Constrained density functional theory (DFT) is a useful tool for studying electron transfer (ET) reactions. It can straightforwardly construct the charge-localized diabatic states and give a direct measure of the inner-sphere reorganization energy. In this work, a method is presented for calculating the electronic coupling matrix element (Hab) based on constrained DFT. This method completely avoids the use of ground-state DFT energies because they are known to irrationally predict fractional electron transfer in many cases. Instead it makes use of the constrained DFT energies and the Kohn-Sham wave functions for the diabatic states in a careful way. Test calculations on the Zn2+ and the benzene-Cl atom systems show that the new prescription yields reasonable agreement with the standard generalized Mulliken-Hush method. We then proceed to produce the diabatic and adiabatic potential energy curves along the reaction pathway for intervalence ET in the tetrathiafulvalene-diquinone (Q-TTF-Q) anion. While the u...
Lipid biomarkers in Symbiodinium dinoflagellates: new indicators of thermal stress

Lipid content and fatty acid profiles of corals and their dinoflagellate endosymbionts are known to vary in response to high-temperature stress. To better understand the heat-stress response in these symbionts, we investigated cultures of Symbiodinium goreauii type C1 and Symbiodinium sp. clade subtype D1 grown under a range of temperatures and durations. The predominant lipids produced by Symbiodinium are palmitic (C16) and stearic (C18) saturated fatty acids and their unsaturated analogs, the polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6, n-3; DHA), and a variety of sterols. Prolonged exposure to high temperature causes the relative amount of unsaturated acids within the C18 fatty acids in Symbiodinium tissue to decrease. Thermal stress also causes a decrease in abundance of fatty acids relative to sterols, as well as the more specific ratio of DHA to an algal 4-methyl sterol. These shifts in fatty acid unsaturation and fatty acid-to-sterol ratios are common to both types C1 and D1, but the apparent thermal threshold of lipid changes is lower for type C1. This work indicates that ratios among free fatty acids and sterols in Symbiodinium can be used as sensitive indicators of thermal stress. If the Symbiodinium lipid stress response is unchanged in hospite, the algal heat-stress biomarkers we have identified could be measured to detect thermal stress within the coral holobiont. These results provide new insights into the potential role of lipids in the overall Symbiodinium thermal stress response.
Cervical reconstruction of the supra-aortic trunks: a 16-year experience

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review 182 consecutive cervical reconstructions of supra-aortic trunks, which were performed over a 16-year period. Methods: A total of 182 innominate, common carotid, or subclavian arteries were reconstructed with a cervical approach in 173 patients aged 23 days to 83 years. Indications included hemispheric (n = 79), vertebrobasilar (n = 56), upper extremity (24), and internal mammary/cardiac ischemia (n = 5), asymptomatic severe common carotid disease (n = 33), or other (n = 3). Primary atherosclerotic innominate (n = 6), common carotid (n = 84), and subclavian (n = 66) lesions underwent reconstruction. Thirty-one operations were performed for multiple trunk involvement, recurrent disease, arteritis, infection, dissection, coarctation, or aneurysm. There were 122 bypass grafting procedures (98 ipsilateral, 24 contralateral) and 60 arterial transpositions. Results: One death (0.5%) and 7 nonfatal strokes (3.8%) occurred, none in patients who were asymptomatic. Perioperative morbidity included four asymptomatic occlusions (2%), 6 myocardial infarctions (3%), 10 pulmonary complications (5%), and 2 graft infections (1%). Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 190 months (mean, 53 ± 5 months). Nineteen patients (10%) were lost to follow-up. Fifty-seven late deaths occurred, most from cardiac causes. Seven reconstructions necessitated late revision. The cumulative primary patency rate at 5 and 10 years was 91% ± 2% and 82% ± 5%, respectively. The survival rate at 5 years was 72% ± 4% and at 10 years was 41% ± 6%. The stroke-free survival rate was 92% ± 2% at 5 years and 84% ± 2% at 10 years. Conclusion: Cervical reconstruction of symptomatic and asymptomatic supra-aortic trunk lesions carries acceptable death and stroke rates and provides a long-term patient benefit. This should be the preferred approach for asymptomatic lesions and for patients with significant comorbidity because it carries less morbidity than direct transmediastinal aortic-based reconstruction. (J Vasc Surg 1999;29:239-48.)
Effect of hydrolytic products of procaine on procaine toxicity and metabolism in mice.

SummaryThe subcutaneous LD50s of 25% PABA, 5% DEAE, and 5% DMAE in mice were found ito be 4.39, 1.61, and 2.08 g/kg respectively. Subcutaneous premedication by l g/kg of 7% PABA did not alter the LD50 of intravenous procaine in mice, while subcutaneous premedicatlion by 0.5 g/kg of either 5% DEAE or 576 DMAE lowered the LDSO about 35%. Neither PABA, DEAE, nor DMAE changed the rate of disappearance of procaine from the whole body of the mouse. It is concluded that the influence observed to be exerted by DEAE and DMAE on the toxicity of intravenous procaine is probably due to their additive toxic effects on the cardio-vascular system, and not to the inhibition of procainesterase in vivo.
Video Based Non-Cooperative Iris Segmentation

Iris segmentation is one of the most important steps in an iris recognition system. Its accuracy can directly affect the recognition accuracy. For non-cooperative users, the obtained images often do not have good quality. Under such conditions, the iris may be deformed, out-of-focus, or motion blurred. Sometimes, images do not have a valid iris. It is very challenging to segment the iris efficiently and accurately under a non-cooperative scenario. In this paper, we proposed a novel segmentation method that uses a coarse to fine approach to extract the iris region. The preliminary result shows the proposed method is efficient and accurate.
Retinopathy in Parkinson disease

One of the non-motor manifestations of PD is visual system involvement. Foveal vision is a main contributor to both visual recognition and discrimination and to both overt and covert visual attention. Experimental evidence from humans and monkeys shows that D1 and D2 receptors are essential for retinal ganglion cell receptive field organization. The evidence linking retinopathy and foveal visual impairment in PD is discussed. A model of retinal preganglionic dopaminergic circuitry is presented. Experimental evidence in humans, using Optical Coherence Tomography shows morphological changes of retinal neurons, including ganglion cells in PD. The diagnosis of pre-cardinal stage of PD (PCPD) may take advantage of the wide availability of optical coherence tomography as a potential biomarker. Fourier-domain OCT and visual testing may contribute a quantitative approach to the early diagnosis, the effects of treatment and follow-up of progression of PD.
Internet availability of prescription pharmaceuticals to the public.

Background: The Internet holds great but uncertain promise for increased access and cost control in health care. Objective: To determine access to and cost of prescription pharmaceuticals over the Internet. Design: An Internet search conducted during February and March 1999. Setting: The Philadelphia region. Measurements: Data were collected on availability and cost of medications and physician Internet visits, requirements for physician prescriptions, and geographic location of Web-based companies and consulting physicians. Costs of comparable physician visits were obtained from Medicare and managed care organizations in the Philadelphia region. Costs of medications came from five Philadelphia community pharmacies. Results: Forty-six Web sites were identified. Thirty-seven sites (33 based in the United States and 4 based outside the United States) required a prescription from a personal physician or from an Internet physician consultation. Nine sites based outside of the United States did not require a prescription or physician consultation. The median cost of an Internet physician visit was $70 (range, $20 to $90), more than 15% higher than that for a general practice visit in the Philadelphia region. Quality of physician consultation, physician qualifications and specialty, and geographic location were unknown. Median price per pill of the two most commonly offered medications was 10% higher on the Internet (before shipping charges) than at Philadelphia pharmacies ($5.49 and $4.50 for sildenafil; $1.94 and $1.83 for finasteride). Conclusions: The Internet may expand patient access to health-related services but at overall increased cost. In addition, the quality of physician Internet care is uncertain, and potential for serious abuse exists. Patients can easily provide incorrect or false information to obtain medications. Furthermore, conflict of interest exists for Web-based firms because they profit from selling medications and physician consultations.