cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of basic indirect pharmacodynamic response models with physiological limits.

Many physiological factors are regulated by homeostatic mechanisms to maintain normal body function. Empirical lower R l (Model I and IV) or upper Rh limits (Model II and III) were included in current basic indirect response (IDR) models to account for the additional role of physiological limits (IDRPL). Various characteristics of these models were evaluated with simulations and explicit equations. The simulations reveal that the expanded models exhibit most properties of basic indirect response models, such as slow response initiation, lag time between the kinetic and dynamic peaks, a large dose plateau, and shift in Tmax with dose. The proposed models always produce lesser net responses than predicted by basic IDR models. Simulations demonstrate that addition of a parameter limit which is close to the baseline has a great influence on the overall and maximum responses and fitted model parameters. Only stimulatory IDRPL Models III and IV allow resolution of all model parameters in the absence of clear indications or predetermined values of the lower or upper limits. However, all four models are able to resolve model parameters when subgroups with different baselines are simultaneously fitted. These models create new interpretations of the determinants of baseline conditions which can be important in assessing inter-subject variability in responses. The applicability of IDRPL models is demonstrated using several examples from the published literature. Indirect response models with physiological limits will be useful in characterizing drug responses for turnover systems which are maintained within a certain range.
Platelet adhesion at low shear rate: Study of a normal population

The use of oral contraceptives (OCs) has been associated with vascular complications. The mechanism(s) by which OCs predispose to thrombotic events remains unclear. Recent studies have demonstrated that postmenopausal (PM) women who take estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) have a decreased incidence of myocardial infarction compared to those who do not take ERT. This study was undertaken to determine if healthy individuals have differences in platelet adhesion depending on hormonal status. Men, PM women taking ERT, PM women not taking ERT, OC users, and premenopausal women not taking any medications were studied. Platelet studies were performed in a Hele-Shaw flow chamber at a low shear rate using platelet-rich plasma. The platelet adhesion process to subendothelial components: fibronectin, collagen I and collagen III was recorded using a 35 mm camera mounted on an inverted microscope. Photographs were taken at 30 second intervals for a total of 12 minutes and analyzed using a modified computer program which provided a numerical account of platelet adhesion. OC users had significantly higher platelet adherence to fibronectin, collagen I and collagen III compared to all other groups. All other study groups had similar platelet adhesion independent of hormonal status. These findings suggest that OCs cause increased platelet adhesion in some individuals and this may be one of the mechanisms by which OCs contribute to thrombotic events.
Stokes/Anti-Stokes Raman Microprobe Analysis of Laser-Heated Silicon Microstructures on Silicon Dioxide

Temperatures of laser-heated silicon microstructures on fused silica were determined by Stokes/anti-Stokes scattering using the 4880A and 5145A argon-ion laser lines, either separately or together to heat and probe the structure. Phonon shifts and broadening gave consistent measurements of temperature. Evaluation of temperatures from the ratio of Stokes/anti-Stokes intensities was shown to be sensitive to the details of scattering, collection, and detection.
Phase Equilibria in Carbon Dioxide Expanded Solvents: Experiments and Molecular Simulations

We present complementary molecular simulations and experimental results of phase equilibria for carbon dioxide expanded acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, acetone, acetic acid, toluene, and 1-octene. The volume expansion measurements were done using a high-pressure Jerguson view cell. Molecular simulations were performed using the Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo method. Calculations in the canonical ensemble (NVT) were performed to determine the coexistence curve of the pure solvent systems. Binary mixtures were simulated in the isobaric-isothermal distribution (NPT). Predictions of vapor-liquid equilibria of the pure components agree well with experimental data. The simulations accurately reproduced experimental data on saturated liquid and vapor densities for carbon dioxide, methanol, ethanol, acetone, acetic acid, toluene, and 1-octene. In all carbon dioxide expanded liquids (CXL's) studied, the molecular simulation results for the volume expansion of these binary mixtures were found to be as good as, and in many cases superior to, predictions based on the Peng-Robinson equation of state, demonstrating the utility of molecular simulation in the prediction of CXL phase equilibria.
Statistical and measurement issues in assessing the welfare status of aged individuals and populations

Abstract Univariate [Blackorby and Donaldson (1978), Bourguignon (1979), Shorrocks (1980, 1984), Foster (1983)] and multidimensional [Kolm (1973, 1977), Atkinson and Bourguignon (1982), Ram (1982), Massoumi (1986, 1989)] measures of social welfare and economic inequality have been proposed. We consider statistical and measurement issues in empirically evaluating individual and population welfare using a procedure producing ‘fuzzy’ state descriptions which exhibit properties proposed for social welfare functions. We discuss the model's properties and its use in estimating the parameters of a multidimensional welfare process. Analyses of the U.S. elderly disabled population are presented - a group with high service needs important for federal health policy.
Treating panic disorder in primary care: a collaborative care intervention

Efficacy research indicates the success of cognitive behavioral treatment and medication treatment for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. However, research findings to date possess limited generalizability beyond specialty mental health settings. We present a model for collaborative care treatment for panic disorder in the primary care setting that combines cognitive behavioral therapy and medications, and involves a behavioral health specialist, psychiatrist, and primary care physician. Educational aids that are aimed to educate and activate patients to participate as partners in their care are provided. We outline the ways in which the standard treatment was modified, in light of the nature of the sample and setting, such as fewer sessions and management of comorbidity. Also, we provide evidence for acceptability of this intervention to primary care physicians and patients. This description is intended to lay the groundwork for continued research efforts in the extension of efficacious treatments into primary care settings.
Compact Eye Safe Lidar Systems

New technology for compact, eye safe lidar is surveyed. Advances with solid state lasers anddetectors permit efficient lidar designs that meet requirements for full time atmospheric monitoring. Micro pulse lidar is an approach that employs kHz pulse rate Nd : YLF lasers and microJoule pulse energies at visible wavelengths. Eye safety is an essential factor and is obtained bybeam expansion. High performance is realized by solid state Geiger mode avalanche photodiodephoton counting signal acquisition. The capability to monitor all significant cloud andaerosol scattering by a compact instrument has been demonstrated. Pseudorandom modulation CW lidar is under development. CW diode lasers are used directly as transmitters with theadvantage of wavelength tunability for water vapor and other differential absorption measurements. Background photon noise and dynamic range are problems for CW lidar. Advancedconventional pulsed diode laser lidar and near infrared lidar at fundamentally eye safewavelengths are in development for some applications.
Association between bone mineral density and cognitive decline in older women.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that bone mineral density (BMD), a marker of cumulative estrogen exposure, is associated with cognitive function in nondemented older women. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Clinical centers in Baltimore, Maryland, Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Monongahela Valley near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Portland, Oregon. PARTICIPANTS: We evaluated 8333 older community-dwelling women enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures who were not taking estrogen replacement. MEASUREMENTS: Calcaneal and hip BMD were measured at baseline and at follow-up (4–6 years later);vertebral fractures were ascertained radiologically at year 6. Women were administered a modified Mini-Mental State Exam, Trails B, and Digit Symbol at baseline and at follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with women with higher bone mineral density, women with low baseline BMD had up to 8% worse baseline cognitive scores (P = .001) and up to 6% worse repeat cognitive scores (P = .001), even after multivariate adjustments. For 1 SD decrease in baseline hip BMD or calcaneal BMD, women had a 32% (95% CI, 19–47%) or a 33% (95% CI, 20–48%) greater odds of cognitive deterioration (worst 10th percentile of change). Women with vertebral fractures had lower cognitive test scores and a greater odds of cognitive deterioration than those without fractures (OR = 1.29; 95%CI, 1.03-1.60). CONCLUSIONS: Women with osteoporosis, whether measured by baseline BMD, reductions in BMD, or vertebral fractures, have poorer cognitive function and greater risk of cognitive deterioration. Our findings suggest a link between two of the most common conditions affecting older women. Further understanding of this association may be important for new treatment and prevention directions. J Am Geriatr Soc 47:1176-1182,1999.
Relativistic Motion in a Magnetic Field

A simple integral of the relativistic equations of motion for a charge in a magnetic field is used to reduce the Dirac equations to two simultaneous first-order differential equations. Eigenstates of this integral are the basis for a treatment of degeneracy and, in the case of a homogeneous field, for the construction of energy eigenfunctions from non-relativistic solutions. For a free particle the same integral leads directly to the only possible energy states with exactly defined spin projections.
Estrogen modulation of mRNA levels for the two forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in female rat brain

Two separate forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase, now termed GAD65 and GAD67 are the rate limiting enzymes for synthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Because of the significance of GABA to neuroendocrine processes, numerous attempts have been made to determine the impact of gonadal steroids on enzyme functioning with inconclusive results. Therefore, we attempted to determine the impact of estradiol on mRNA levels for each form of GAD by quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry in various brain regions. Ovariectomized rats were treated with estradiol benzoate or oil vehicle on 2 consecutive days and the brains collected on the third day. DNA probes specific for GAD65 or GAD67 were radiolabeled with CTP using asymmetric polymerase chain reaction. Results of in situ hybridizations for each probe on alternate sections from the same animals were analyzed for magnocellular preoptic area (McPOA), dorsal medial nucleus of the hypothalamus (DMN), zona incerta (ZI), and midbrain central gray (MCG). In the McPOA, estradiol exerted opposite effects on the frequency distribution of pixels per cell for the two GAD mRNA probes, significantly increasing GAD65 (P < .05) and decreasing GAD67 (P < .01; Kolmogorov-Smirnov). In the DMN, estradiol treatment significantly increased GAD67 by 60% (P < .05; two-way ANOVA) but decreased GAD65 mRNA by 73% (P < .01). Note the direction of effects are opposite between McPOA and DMN. In MCG, analysis showed no estradiol effect on GAD mRNA levels/cell, but the proportion of cells expressing detectable levels of GAD65 or GAD67 increased by 33–40% in estradiol-treated rats (χ2, P < .001). © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mechanisms and treatment of diarrhea in inflammatory bowel diseases

: Diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), having a reported frequency of 66-92% (1). Its frequency, severity, and metabolic effects are dependent on the degree, location, and extent of intestinal inflammation. Its presence and severity in IBD patients have served as useful indicators of disease activity and therapeutic response. To date, there are few specific treatments of IBD-associated diarrhea, in part because of the complexity and limited understanding of mechanisms. Physicians have largely resorted to treatments aimed at symptomatic control of diarrhea or at reducing the underlying inflammatory and immune processes. Unfortunately, many IBD patients, particularly those with severe disease, find the diarrhea especially debilitating and unpleasant, significantly affecting lifestyle and quality of life.In this review, we attempt to summarize the current understanding of causes of inflammation-associated diarrhea. Much of this information is derived from studies of experimental models of colitis and diarrhea and from in vitro models of established intestinal cell lines where specific pathophysiological processes can be studied. Thus, the relative importance of many of these potential diarrheal mechanisms in IBD cannot be presently ascertained and await additional studies in this area. However, some liberty has been taken to distill this information to create a conceptual framework for explaining how diarrhea develops in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and how it can be treated.
Nitric Oxide Signaling and Nitrosative Stress in Neurons: Role for S-Nitrosylation

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) mediates cellular signaling pathways that regulate a plethora of physiological processes. One of the signaling mechanisms mediated by NO is through S-nitrosylation of cysteine residues in target proteins, which is now regarded as an important redox-based physiological action. Deregulation of the protein S-nitrosylation upon nitrosative stress, however, has also been linked to various human diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders. Between these physiological and pathophysiological roles, there are mechanisms whereby a milder level of nitrosative stress provides S-nitrosylation of some proteins that counteracts the pathological processes, serving as a negative feedback mechanism. In addition, NO has recently emerged as a mediator of epigenetic gene expression and chromatin changes. In this review, these molecular mechanisms, especially those in the central nervous system and neurodegenerative disorders, are described. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 14, 1493–1504.
Chemical Treatment and Process Modification for Producing Improved Quick‐Cooking Rice

Quick-cooking rice was produced by soaking raw, white, long grain rice in a 1% aqueous sodium citrate and calcium chloride solution (50:50) at 50°C for 15 min. The soaked sample was cooked in an autoclave at 121°C for 3 min and freeze-dried to 20% moisture followed by convective air-drying to a final moisture of 12%. Nutrient analysis of the rice chemically treated and dried by a combination of both methods contained maximum amounts of thiamin (2.0 μg/g), niacin (27.4 μg/g), and iron (25.1 μg/g). The rehydrated sample, prepared by boiling the rice in water at 100°C for 5 min, received high sensory scores.
An impression test method for characterization of the flow behavior of superplastic material

The deformation behavior of the superplastic ZnAl eutectoid has been investigated using an impression test at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 548 K. Unlike the conventional method, the flow curve of the superplastic material can be obtained by precise measurements of the displacement of a small cylindrical punch at a predetermined rate into the specimen as a function of applied load. Typically, the flow stress was obtained at a constant penetration rate whereas the strain rate sensitivity was determined by instantaneous changes in the rate of penetration. The value of activation energy for this thermally activated process was found to be 71.1 kJ mol−1 as determined from the flow curve in range II. The temperature and strain rate dependences of flow stress, and the strain rate sensitivity obtained with this impression test, are compared with those of conventional test results. The results suggest that the parameters which are commonly selected as characteristics of superplastic formability can be obtained using the impression test.
On p-harmonic mappings in the plane

Abstract To every p -harmonic vector field in the plane with p ≥ 2 there corresponds a quasilinear system of first order PDEs which couples the complex gradients of the coordinate functions of the field. The ellipticity of such system is proved. A relation between planar quasiregular mappings and p -harmonic fields is discussed. The p -harmonic conjugate problem is stated.
Resveratrol has salutary effects on mucociliary transport and inflammation in sinonasal epithelium.

Objective/Hypothesis: Therapeutic agents that enhance mucociliary transport (via stimulation of transepithelial Cl− secretion) and inhibit inflammation could provide considerable advantages over conventional treatments for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The objectives of the present study were to investigate whether the polyphenolic compound resveratrol promotes transepithelial Cl− transport and inhibits KC/IL-8 secretion in sinonasal epithelium. Study Design: In vitro and in vivo study. Methods: Transepithelial Cl− transport was investigated in primary murine nasal septal (MNSE) and human sinonasal epithelial (HSNE) cultures. In vivo activity was also measured using the murine nasal potential difference assay. CFTR R-domain phosphorylation and cAMP levels were examined as a test of cAMP/PKA-dependent activation. In vitro LPS-induced KC/IL-8 secretion was quantified and compared to a panel of intranasal steroids. Results: Resveratrol(100 μM) significantly increased CFTR-mediated Cl− transport (change in short-circuit current, ΔISC) in both MNSE (13.51 ± 0.77 vs. 4.4 ± 0.66 [control]; P < .05) and HSNE (12.28 ± 1.08 vs. 0.69 ± 0.32 [control]; P < .05). Cl− secretion across in vivo murine nasal epithelium was also enhanced (−4 ± 1.8 vs. −0.8 ± 1.7mV [control], P < .05). There was no increase in cellular cAMP or CFTR R-domain phosphorylation detected. Resveratrol also significantly inhibited KC/IL-8 secretion in a dose-dependent fashion (pg/mL) in MNSE (181 ± 39[100 μM) vs. 94 ± 16 [200 μM] vs. 16 ± 22 [500 μM] vs. 1195 ± 355 [LPS control]; P < .001). The compound robustly abrogated KC/IL-8 secretion when compared to ciclesonide (765 ± 139), triamcinolone (561 ± 124), and budesonide (742 ± 428), but had similar activity to fluticasone proprionate (65 ± 47). Similar effects were demonstrated in HSNE (975 ± 244 [100 μM] vs. 1825 ± 144 [LPS control]; P < .001) with inhibition comparable to fluticasone proprionate (785 ± 277). Conclusions: These in vitro and in vivo findings indicate resveratrol is a potent Cl− secretagogue and anti-inflammatory agent. Future clinical trials for CRS are warranted.
Terrorism and the Invisible Hook

This article investigates and compares the root causes of transnational terrorism and piracy. In order to accomplish this, we construct a novel data set that catalogues terrorist activity and piracy over the years 1992-2008, paying particular attention to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean since 1991. These data are then merged with other information detailing the economic, political, and security posture of each organization during the same period so that we can examine the relationship between economic prosperity, security, terrorism, and piracy. The main conclusion is that terrorism is mostly unrelated to economic conditions, while piracy responds to both economic payoffs and military deterrents.
Observation of highly localized trapping of MeV deuterons into self-colliding orbit distribution (“migma”) and measurement of its density and confinement time

Abstract Self-colliding orbit distribution (“magma”) of 0.6 MeV d+'s was formed by dissociation of 1.2 MeV D2+ molecules. Observed distribution was highly peaked for orbits passing within 0.2 cm from the axis of the 3.3 T magnetic field. A two-step dissociation mechanism is postulated to explain the distribution. The particle storage lifetime was τ = (2.21 ± 0.05)s (limited by vacuum of 6 × 10−8 torr) and the trapped d+ number N = (1.4±0.5) × 1010 (limited by the injection rate and vacuum). The observed distribution was highly inhomegeneous, resulting in a volume averaged density 〈n〉v = (1.25±0.4)× 108 cm−3 and a central density 〈n〉c = (2.2±0.7)× 109 cm−3. The colliding beam luminosity (rate per unit cross section) is L = 10 27 cm −2 s −1 . No instabilities were observed although the densities were an order-of-magnitude above the negative-mass instability threshold of DCX-1.
Fixtureless Sensor Standoff Control for High-Precision Dimensional Inspection of Freeform Parts

High-precision, noncontact dimensional inspection requires sensor standoff control due to the working range limitation posed by high-precision range sensors. Constant sensor standoff with the surface of the part is necessary to ensure accurate measurement. This paper presents a novel computer-aided design (CAD) independent approach to sensor standoff control called "fixtureless sensor standoff control (FSC)," which contrary to current methods does not require a fixture or manual intervention for registration. This approach to sensor standoff control will enable rapid, flexible, and high-precision inspection of freeform parts, thus catering to the needs of future manufacturing systems. In the FSC methodology, the sensor's position for the next measurement is estimated based on immediate previous measurements. The method was implemented on a four-axis machine used to inspect turbine blades. Results from measurement of an example turbine blade showed the deviation from desired standoff to be significantly smaller than the working range of the sensor.
P0038 Brain metastases in HER2-positive breast cancer patients: A single institute experience

Background HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for approximately 20% of all cases of breast cancer and has an aggressive metastatic course due to distinct natural history. Brain metastasis is diagnosed in up to 40% of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate the incidence of brain metastases in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated at our institute. Methods Between 1995 and 2009, 513 women with pathologically confirmed HER2-positive breast cancer were identified with the hospital information system. Median age was 45 years (range 20–75 years). The patients’ AJCC stages were: stage I (7%), stage II (58%) and stage III (35%). Histological sub-types were: infiltrating ductal carcinoma (96%), infiltrating lobular carcinoma (2%), and others (2%). Pathological grades were: grade I/II (41%) and grade III (59%). 70% of patients were treated with primary surgery. Chemotherapy regimens were: doxorubicin and taxane-based therapy (75%), doxorubicin-based therapy (5%), CMF (9%), and other regimens (5%), either in a neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting. Only 6% of the patients received trastuzumab therapy. 5% of the patients did not receive any type of chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Post-operative radiotherapy was delivered to 86% of patients. Incidence and median time to brain metastases were determined. Findings Median follow-up duration was 48 months. Patterns of failure were: local (5%), regional (2%), and distant metastases (26%). 14% of patients with distant metastases who did not respond to treatment were found to have brain metastases as first site of relapse. Overall brain metastases were seen in 25% of the patients. Median time to brain metastases was 13 months (range 8–50). Interpretation Our results suggest that the HER2-positive breast cancer sub-type remains more aggressive and is associated with a very high incidence of brain metastases. Future studies should focus on new therapeutic options, such as small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors in adjuvant settings, to decrease the incidence of systemic relapse.
Autonomous Learning from a Social Cognitive Perspective

The current perspective of autonomous learning defines it as the agentive exhibition of resourcefulness, initiative, and persistence in self-directed learning. As a form of human agency, it has been argued in the literature that this perspective should be consistent with Bandura's (1986) Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). The purpose of this article is to present an alignment between salient aspects of autonomous learning theory and SCT, thereby providing a heuristic position that guides future research in adult learning. Topics such as self-efficacy, cognitive motivation, and conation will be addressed. In addition, current research from the literature in autonomous learning will be discussed.
Cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster virus: in vitro lymphocyte responses.

Lymphocytes obtained from nonimmune children and from adults after an attack of herpes zoster were incubated with antigens of varicella-zoster virus. Lymphocyte transformation, measured by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine, was found to reflect specific immunity to the varicella-zoster virus, although the degree of transformation could not be related to the activity of the disease. Production of interferon was dependent on the method of preparation of lymphocytes and was not related to disease activity or to the immune status of the donors. The interferon-producing and DNA-synthesizing activities could be dissociated by antigen dilution, further suggesting that production of interferon was nonspecific. The extent of immune-specific incorporation of tritiated thymidine by lymphocytes could be increased by incubation of the cultures in the presence of fetal calf serum. Cellular immunity to the varicella-zoster virus can be studied in relation to the risk of infection in immunosuppressed patients, and such work may lead to a better understanding of the phenomenon of latency.
'Tansy City': Charles Olson and the Prospects for Avant-Pastoral

AbstractThis essay examines the work of the American postwar poet Charles Olson as a site of convergence between the imperatives of postmodernism and pastoral poetry — discursive fields whose relation is generally constructed as one of mutual hostility or indifference. The postmodern difficulty, as described by Fredric Jameson, of constructing a viable relationship between individual experience and the conceptual totality of globalized capitalism, has tested the viability of naively referential pastoral as a mode by which the human relationship to nature can be represented. Within the poetic context of his hometown, the 'tansy city' of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Olson's poetics suggests possibilities by which an 'avant-pastoral' might extend Jameson's notion of 'cognitive mapping' beyond the totality of capitalism to the ecological totality that is the horizon of all human and non-human life, thereby creating a usable past for contemporary practitioners of an avant-garde ecopoetics.
Variance Spectrum Analysis of Aircraft Dew-Point Measurement System Noise

Abstract A cross-spectral analysis method is developed to estimate the noise variance spectra of three or more independent measurement systems observing the same input. The noise is modeled using a first-order autoregressive process. Estimates of the two process parameters are used to determine confidence limits for system noise that can be placed on the observed data. The method has been applied to dew-point data collected in aircraft intercomparison flights and a research flight in the National Hail Research Experiment. The six dew-point systems used were manufactured by the same company and operate by electrically cooling a metal mirror until a film of water vapor or frost is optically detected on the mirrored surface. The ratio of the signal to noise variance was found to vary between about 10:1 and 100:1 at the origin and decrease to zero between about 0.15 and 0.3 Hz, both properties dependent on atmospheric conditions and the structure of system noise. Since the data were collected once per second,...
Partnering with Latino Families during Kindergarten Transition: Lessons Learned from a Parent-Teacher Conference.

Parent-educator partnerships are an important element of effective early childhood, K-12, and special education programs (Dunst, Trivette, & Snyder, 2000; Tabors, 2008). While early childhood and o...
The eclipse runtime perspective for object-oriented code exploration and program comprehension

We propose a novel Eclipse Perspective, the Runtime Perspective, that makes a global hierarchy of abstract objects a first-class view of an object-oriented system at design-time. The perspective includes many views that complement the existing views in the Java Development perspective: an Abstract Object Tree with a search feature to complement the Package Explorer, an Abstract Stack to complement the Call Hierarchy, and a Partial Object Graph, to complement the class diagrams extracted by many existing plugins.
Association of type O blood with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.

Background ABO blood type antigens are expressed not only on human red blood cells, but also throughout the gastrointestinal tract and in normal pancreatic tissue. Previous studies have identified an association between ABO blood type and various malignancies. We analyzed the association of ABO blood type with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) in a high-risk cohort of patients with Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) syndrome.
Increased birth weight in leukemia.

Extract: This paper reports the study of birth order and birth weight ranks of 72 children suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia. Children who developed lymphocytic leukemia had greater birth weights than expected in all comparisons (P < 0.5–0.005). Speculation: Genetic, immunologic, and nutritional factors reflect upon birth weight as well as carcinogenesis. The elucidation of immune, nutritional, or genetic bases for the increased birth weight in leukemia would contribute to the understanding of risk factors for this disorder. Children who develop leukemia at an early age are more likely to reveal the association of leukemia to increased birth weight.
Impact of glass corrosion on drug substance stability.

The delamination of glass contact surfaces because of hydrolytic instability has been well documented. However, the lack of glass surface integrity can also lead to other undesirable outcomes prior to visible glass delamination. This work shows how the early stages of delamination, namely, glass corrosion, can influence the chemical stability of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) solutions contained within a glass container, even prior to the observation of visible delamination. Multiple containers, all constructed of glass classified as USP Type I, were evaluated for hydrolytic stability and how they influence the chemical stability of the API in question. The glass composition of these analytical consumables, the vendor source, and presumably manufacturing process were examined. The implications of glass container durability on product development decisions, the influence on analytical results, and the practice of like-for-like glass container interchangeability are considered. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 103:2456–2463, 2014
Addendum to: Hodge Classes on Self-Products of a Variety with an Automorphism

There are infinitely many fundamentally distinct families of polarized Abelian fourfolds of Weil type with multiplication from the cyclotomic field of cube roots of unity. The Hodge conjecture is shown to hold at a sufficiently general fiber in any of these families.
Considerations and conclusions

Diagnostic microbiological methods play an ever greater role in epidemiological studies and clinical trials related to dental caries and periodontal diseases. Further, such methods can serve the clinician as valuable adjuncts to case history and clinical examination for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. A variety of diagnostic methods are becoming available and show promise in the hands of individual investigators and clinicians. The further development of diagnostic microbiological methods will require collaborative studies with careful consideration of basic ecological and epidemiological principles as well as modern technology.
The Role of the Pro Sequence of Bacillus subtilisςK in Controlling Activity in Transcription Initiation

Abstract The sigma (ς) subunit of prokaryotic RNA polymerase is required for specific recognition of promoter DNA sequences and transcription initiation. Regulation of gene expression can therefore be achieved by modulating the activity of the ς subunit. In Bacillus subtilis the mother cell-specific sporulation sigma factor, ςK, is synthesized as a precursor protein, pro-ςK, with a 20-amino acid pro sequence. This pro sequence renders ςK inactive for directing transcription of ςK-dependent genesin vivo until the pro sequence is proteolytically removed. To understand the role of the pro sequence in controlling ςK activity, we have constructed NH2-terminal truncations of pro-ςK and characterized their behaviorin vitro at the gerE promoter. In this report we show that the pro sequence inactivates ςK by interfering with the ability of ςK to associate with the core subunits of polymerase and also influences the interactions between holoenzyme and promoter DNA. Additionally, removal of as few as 6 amino acids (pro-ςKΔ6) is sufficient to activate pro-ςK for DNA binding and transcription initiation. Surprisingly, pro-ςKΔ6 binds to DNA with higher affinity and stimulates transcription 30-fold more efficiently than ςK, under certain conditions.
Diagnostics comparing sea surface temperature feedbacks from operational hurricane forecasts to observations

[1] This paper examines the ability of recent versions of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Operational Hurricane Forecast Model (GHM) to reproduce the observed relationship between hurricane intensity and hurricane-induced Sea Surface Temperature (SST) cooling. The analysis was performed by taking a Lagrangian composite of all hurricanes in the North Atlantic from 1998–2009 in observations and 2005–2009 for the GHM. A marked improvement in the intensity-SST relationship for the GHM compared to observations was found between the years 2005 and 2006–2009 due to the introduction of warm-core eddies, a representation of the loop current, and changes to the drag coefficient parameterization for bulk turbulent flux computation. A Conceptual Hurricane Intensity Model illustrates the essential steady-state characteristics of the intensity-SST relationship and is explained by two coupled equations for the atmosphere and ocean. The conceptual model qualitatively matches observations and the 2006–2009 period in the GHM, and presents supporting evidence for the conclusion that weaker upper oceanic thermal stratification in the Gulf of Mexico, caused by the introduction of the loop current and warm core eddies, is crucial to explaining the observed SST-intensity pattern. The diagnostics proposed by the conceptual model offer an independent set of metrics for comparing operational hurricane forecast models to observations.
Stress and Fracture Behavior of Monolithic Fuel Cell Tapes

This paper summarizes the stress and fracture analyses of a three-layer ceramic composite which is a fundamental building block for the monolithic solid oxide fuel cell currently being developed at Argonne National Laboratory. A small difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of different layers can result in large stresses and cause cracking parallel to the plane of the layers. A simple fracture model for a three-layer composite has been developed. The cracking behavior predicted by the model is in reasonably good agreement with the fabrication experience to date.
A synthesis of trans-trisubstituted olefins using the claisen rearrangement

D. John Faulkner and Michael R. Petersen Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92037 (Heceived in USA lb June 1969; received in u( for publication 14 July 1969) We wish to describe a simple and convenient route to trans-trisubstituted olefinic bonds, employing highly stereoselective examples of the Claisen rearrangement. Owing to the success of polyolefinic cyclisation reactions (1) and to recent interest in the synthesis of the insect juvenile hormone (2) and related polyolefinic compounds, several stereoselective approaches to the synthesis of trans-trisubstituted olefins have been described (3). Few of these methods, however, lend then>selves to repetitive use for the synthesis of polyolefinic chains. Since the Claisen rearrangement was known (4) to yield olefin mixtures in which the trans isomer was predominant, we set out to determine quantitatively the stereoselectivity of this reaction. The allylic alcohols (I a-c) were prepared by the addition of a Grignard reagent to a 2 -substituted acrolein. By treatment with a large excess of ethyl vinyl ether containing n!ercuric acetate (5l, the allylic alcohols were converted into the corresponding ally1 vinyl ethers (II a-c) in variable yields. The ally1 vinyl ethers were pyrolysed in sealed tubes to obtain stereoisomeric mixtures of the unsaturated aldehydes (III a-c) in quantitative yields (6). The trans:cis isomer ratios were determined by vapor phase chromatography (7) and are -tabulated below: a) Rl= Me R2= Et b) RlMe R2= iPr c) Rl= Et R2m Et OH I \” II
Lost-Sales Problems with Stochastic Lead Times: Convexity Results for Base-Stock Policies

We consider a single-location inventory system with periodic review and stochastic demand. It places replenishment orders to raise the inventory position-that is, inventory on hand plus inventory in transit-to exactly S at the beginning of every period. The lead time associated with each of these orders is random. However, the lead-time process is such that these orders do not cross. Demand that cannot be met with inventory available on hand is lost permanently. We state and prove some sample-path properties of lost sales, inventory on hand at the end of a period, and inventory position at the end of a period as functions of S. The main result is the convexity of the expected discounted sum of holding and lost-sales costs as a function of S. This result justifies the use of common search procedures or linear programming methods to determine optimal base-stock levels for inventory systems with lost sales and stochastic lead times. It should be noted that the class of base-stock policies is suboptimal for such systems, and we are primarily interested in them because of their widespread use.
Development and Application of a Membrane-Based Thermodenuder for Measurement of Volatile Particles Emitted by a Jet Turbine Engine

Measurement of volatile particles emitted by modern jet engines is a daunting task. Besides the complexity in sampling jet aircraft exhaust, the main difficulty lies at how to faithfully capture the phase-partition dynamics of volatile particles as they travel downstream from the engine exhaust nozzle. As a result, the physico-chemical properties of the exhaust are also transformed. We have developed a sampling instrument that aims at enabling study of the phase-partition dynamics. The objective of this research project was to design and evaluate a new thermodenuder for performing phase separation of the engine-emitted volatile particles. The backbone of the new thermodenuder is a thin metallic membrane. The membrane enables extraction of molecules that can be thermally desorbed from the condensed particulate phases and collected for subsequent chemical analysis. Toward realization of the technique in the future field aircraft emissions measurement we tested this new thermo-denuding device using laboratory-generated particles that were made of non-volatile or semi-volatile chemicals. The particle penetration efficiency, a measure of the device performance, of this thermodenuder was found to be better than 99%. Results obtained from the tests executed at a number of operating temperature conditions show reasonably good thermal separation. We have scheduled to apply this new device to characterize emissions from a T63 turboshaft engine in the spring of 2010 and are expecting to show the engine results at the conference. The test results based on the laboratory-generated particles were encouraging for the intended application. With excellent particle transmission efficiency and an ability to simultaneously measure the composition in the gas and particle phases of the engine particles, we believe the new technology will make a great contribution to measurement research of engine emissions.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Tropical westerlies over Pangaean sand seas

Cross-equatorial, westerly winds are key features of tropical circulation in monsoonal regions. Although prominent in numerical climate models of Pangaea (the supercontinent straddling earth’s equator, Late Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic), such flow has not been confirmed previously by migration directions of ancient dunes. Wind-blown sandstones that span 100 million years of earth history are widely exposed in south-western USA. If recent palaeomagnetic data from the Colorado Plateau are used to correct Mesozoic palaeogeographic maps, the Plateau is placed about 10 further south than previously assumed, and the prevailing north-westerly surface winds recorded by dune-deposited sandstones are explicable as cross-equatorial westerlies – the hallmark of modern monsoon circulation. Permian to Early Jurassic dunes were driven by north-westerlies produced by a steep pressure gradient spanning the supercontinent during December–January–February. Although winds are light in most modern, near-equatorial settings, the East African Jet accounts for more than half the cross-equatorial flow in June–July–August. The thicknesses of annual depositional cycles within the Navajo Sandstone indicate that the near-equatorial, north-westerly winds that drove these particular dunes were stronger than the modern East African Jet. The Early Jurassic dunes that deposited the thick cycles were positioned west of the dominant (southern hemisphere) thermal low and against highlands to the west – a setting very similar to the East African Jet. The mountains along the western coast of Pangaea not only enhanced wind strength, but also cast a rain shadow that allowed active dunes to extend very close to the palaeoequator.
Effect of Colon Flora and Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Growth In Vitro of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae

Heat-stable antibacterial activity in the following suspensions was demonstrated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at pH 6.5, 6.0, and 5.5: (i) pooled colon contents of normal mice; (ii) an anaerobic, 48-h culture of normal mouse feces; and (iii) anaerobic, 48-h cultures of different bacteria from human colon flora (Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis). The lower the pH of the medium, the greater was the antibacterial activity of these suspensions. The antibacterial activity of five fatty acids (propionic, butyric, isobutyric, acetic, and formic acids) was greater against P. aeruginosa than against three Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. mirabilis) at all fatty acid concentrations (0.16 M to 0.005 M) and at the 3 pH values studied (5.5, 6.0, and 6.5). As the pH value increased, the antibacterial activity decreased. Antibacterial activity was greater at higher fatty acid concentrations, and at each pH value it was greatest for the fatty acids having high pK(a) values. Lactic acid, with the lowest pK(a), exhibited little or no antibacterial activity. Acetic and butyric acids, two of the three predominant volatile fatty acids determined by gas chromatography in the mouse colon contents and in the anaerobic culture of mouse feces, occurred in vivo in concentrations which inhibited growth of P. aeruginosa in vitro at the pH of the mouse cecum. These results suggest that undissociated short-chain fatty acids produced by the colon flora may be a mechanism of intestinal resistance to colonization by P. aeruginosa.
Clove cigar sales following the US flavoured cigarette ban

Background Following the passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in 2009, flavoured cigarettes, including clove cigarettes, were banned based on the rationale that such cigarettes appealed to youth. However, the ban on characterising flavours was not extended to cigars. Methods This study reviewed industry documents from Kretek International, the parent company behind Djarum clove cigars, to document the changes in their marketing and production strategies following the flavour ban on cigarettes. To assess sales trends following the ban, data for clove cigar sales in the USA from 2009 to 2012 were analysed using Nielsen9s Convenience Track retail scanner database. Additionally, data on tobacco imports to the USA from Indonesia were obtained from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Trade System for the years 2008–2012. Results In anticipation of Food and Drug Administration9s (FDA) flavour ban on cigarettes and recognising the regulatory advantages of cigars, Kretek International began developing Djarum clove cigars in 2007. Immediately following the flavour ban, sales of this product increased by more than 1400% between 2009 and 2012. During this same period, tobacco imports to the USA from Indonesia, a leader in clove tobacco production, shifted from cigarettes to almost exclusively cigars. Conclusions Kretek International, like other tobacco manufacturers, manipulated its products following the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act as a way to capitalise on regulatory loopholes and replace its now banned clove cigarettes. As a result, consumption of the company9s Djarum clove cigars increased exponentially in recent years.
Book Review: Plasticity of the Visual Cortex after Injury: What’s Different about the Young Brain?

The repercussions of localized injury of the cerebral cortex in young brains differ from the repercussions triggered by equivalent damage of the mature brain. In the young brain, some distant neurons are more vulnerable to the lesion, whereas others survive and expand their projections to bypass damaged and degenerated structures. The net result is sparing of neural processing and behaviors. This article summarizes both the modifications in visual pathways resulting from visual cortex lesions sustained early in life and the neural and behavioral processes that are spared or permanently impaired. Experiments using reversible deactivation show that at least two highly localizable functions of normal cerebral cortex are remapped across the cortical surface as a result of an early lesion of the primary visual cortex. Moreover, the redistributions have spread the essential neural operations underlying orienting behavior from the visual parietal cortex to a normally functionally distinct type of cortex in the visual temporal system, and in the opposite direction for complex-pattern recognition. Similar functional reorganizations may underlie sparing of neural processes and behavior following early lesions in other cerebral systems, and these other systems may respond well to emerging therapeutic strategies designed to enhance the sparing of functions.