cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical and Semi-analytical Methods in Transport Theory

It is not an entirely simple matter to describe when transport theory came into existence, or, indeed, what exactly does constitute transport theory. Certainly the term has been used at times interchangeably with kinetic theory. On the other hand, it does seem that the group of researchers who, over the past three or four decades, have identified themselves as transport theorists — including, of course, a number of the contributors to this volume — have used the term in an evolving but consistent fashion.
On the c-strong chromatic number of t-intersecting hypergraphs

Abstract For a fixed c ≥ 2 , a c -strong coloring of the hypergraph G is a vertex coloring such that each edge e of G covers vertices with at least min { c , | e | } distinct colors. A hypergraph is t -intersecting if the intersection of any two of its edges contains at least t vertices. This paper addresses the question: what is the minimum number of colors which suffices to c -strong color any t -intersecting hypergraph? We first show that the number of colors required to c -strong color a hypergraph of size n is O ( n ) . Then we prove that we can use finitely many colors to 3-strong color any 2-intersecting hypergraph. Finally, we show that 2 c − 1 colors are enough to c -strong color any shifted ( c − 1 ) -intersecting hypergraph, and 2 c − 2 colors are enough to c -strong color any shifted t -intersecting hypergraph for t ≥ c . Both chromatic numbers are optimal and match conjectured statements in which the shifted condition is removed.
Future Directions in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Since Hugh Hampton Young described his series of 111 prostate cancer patients in 1909 (Young, Ann Surg 50(6):1144–233, 1909), much progress has been made in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Many of Dr. Young’s patients were diagnosed when symptoms of advanced prostate cancer developed, and many died of their disease. A century later, 80 % of prostate cancers are diagnosed while still localized (Siegel et al. CA Cancer J Clin 61(4):212–36, 2011). The prostate cancer mortality rate now stands at its lowest point in more than 70 years after falling for 14 consecutive years despite the aging of the population (Siegel et al. CA Cancer J Clin 61(4):212–36, 2011). While many factors have contributed to these trends, earlier diagnosis has played a large role in improving outcomes.
Controversies in the Management of Posterior Uveal Melanoma

The management of malignant melanoma of the posterior uvea (ciliary body and choroid) is still controversial (Shields 1983; Shields and Shields 1992; Shields et al., to be published). This controversy has evolved because the peculiar and often unpredictable behavior of this tumor is poorly understood. This chapter discusses some of the controversial issues, with emphasis on the debate over the role of enucleation as primary treatment, the subject of metastasis following enucleation, the possibility that enucleation may promote metastasis, and the concept of subclinical metastasis. It will lay the groundwork for the more specific methods of treatment to be discussed in subsequent chapters.
Conclusion: Understanding Women Historians’ Lives and Scholarly Reputations Both Within and Outside the Academy

Women historians from Western Europe and the United States produced massive amounts of diverse history in the modern period. They did so as amateurs and occasionally, if ever more frequently, as members of university faculties. Many were committed politically to feminism, others to radical or conservative politics. Virtually all of them showed an extraordinary commitment to writing history, often overcoming financial difficulties and impediments to accessing sources. Their histories ranged from investigating the centuries-old paradoxes in women’s legal position to researching nineteenth-century neurotic men or chronicling the Thirty Years War. This collection of biographies has demonstrated the extraordinary range of personalities, life and scholarly trajectories, and historical thought among these historians.
Current Flexor and Extensor Tendon Motion Regimens: A Summary

This article summarizes select multinational early motion protocols. Included are flexor and extensor protocols for digital tendon repair in many forms. Custom orthosis design, exercise regimens, and advanced techniques are examples of what to expect. The goal of the article is to expose the reader to new ideas, educate regarding advanced techniques in tendon rehabilitation, and stimulate independent study to further the reader's skill set.
Staging of Esophageal Cancer: Implications for Therapy

Current staging modalities include imaging via computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and histopathologic based staging including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and minimally invasive surgical staging. No specific modality is sufficient to accurately stage every patient presenting with esophageal cancer by itself. Accurate staging is critical to formulate an optimal therapeutic strategy needed to achieve favorable outcomes in esophageal cancer patients.
e-Fuels – ein zentraler Baustein für den Motor der Zukunft?

Die Weiterentwicklung des Verbrennungsmotors mit ottomotorischem Brennverfahren hat das Ziel einer effizienteren Verbrennung bei gleichzeitiger Verringerung der Schadstoffemissionen. Insbesondere die Einhaltung weltweiter Emissions- und CO2-Standards und die Erfullung von Kundenbedurfnissen nach nachhaltiger Mobilitat wird den Einsatz zukunftiger Technologien pragen.
Ultraviolet irradiation increases size of the first clutch but decreases longevity in a marine copepod

An important component of life history theory is understanding how natural variation arises in populations. Both endogenous and exogenous factors contribute to organism survival and reproduction, and therefore, it is important to understand how such factors are both beneficial and detrimental to population dynamics. One ecologically relevant factor that influences the life history of aquatic organisms is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. While the majority of research has focused on the potentially detrimental effects that UV radiation has on aquatic organisms, few studies have evaluated hormetic responses stimulated by radiation under select conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of UV-A/B irradiation on life history characteristics in Tigriopus californicus copepods. After exposing copepods to UV-A/B irradiation (control, 1-, and 3-hr UV treatments at 0.5 W/m2), we measured the impact of exposure on fecundity, reproductive effort, and longevity. We found that UV irradiation increased the size of the first clutch among all reproducing females in both the 1- and 3-hr experimental groups and decreased longevity among all females that mated in the 1-hr treatment. UV irradiation had no effect on the number of clutches females produced. These findings indicate a potential benefit of UV irradiation on reproductive performance early in life, although the same exposure came at a cost to longevity.
Abstract C093: Substituted pteridinones as p90 ribosomal S6 protein kinase 2 (RSK2) inhibitors and their evaluation in acute myeloid leukemia

The activity of p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) has emerged as an attractive target for cancer therapy due to its role in the regulation of diverse cellular processes, such as cell transformation and proliferation and the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Several pan-RSK inhibitors have been identified with BI-D1870 and the simple LJH685 and LJI308 analogs being the most selective, potent, and frequently used small molecules to identify the physiological substrates and functional roles for RSK in cells. However, these RSK inhibitors have poor PK profiles, display high clearance and a short plasma half-life and this has prevented their transition to clinical evaluation. Therefore, we designed and synthesized a series of pteridinones and pyrimidines to evaluate the structural features of BI-D1870 that are required for RSK2 inhibition, with the overall aim of developing a RSK inhibitor with improved drug-like properties. We have identified inhibitors of recombinant RSK2 activity, evaluated their target engagement in cells, and measured their effect on cell viability and cytotoxicity in the molm-13 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line. The results of our initial structure-activity studies indicate that halogen substitutions on the 4-hydroxyanilino ring can greatly influence RSK inhibitory potency, elimination of C7 chirality does not appear to effect RSK inhibitory potency, removal of the N5-methyl maintains RSK inhibitory activity, and the N7-alkyl substitution is required for potent RSK inhibition. We have identified compounds that potently inhibit RSK2 activity in cells using the nanoBRET assay, and coupled with the results from our cellular viability and toxicity studies our data supports that RSK2 inhibition is independent from acute cytotoxicity in molm-13 cells. This finding was surprising as the RSKs phosphorylate a number of substrates involved in many diverse cellular processes critical for cell survival. Our studies have provided important structural information for the further development of RSK inhibitors and potential insights into structural modifications that may limit metabolism and incorporate isoform selectivity. Further studies are required to determine the impact of RSK inhibition in cancer cells as synergistic combination therapies may need to be identified. Alternatively, RSK inhibitors may be more therapeutically effective against specific cancer cell populations, such as in the elimination of CSCs. Citation Format: Kimberly Casalvieri, Christopher Matheson, Philip Reigan, Donald Backos. Substituted pteridinones as p90 ribosomal S6 protein kinase 2 (RSK2) inhibitors and their evaluation in acute myeloid leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C093. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-C093
Abstract MP46: Metabolomic Response to Randomized Treatment With Estrogen and Estrogen Plus Progestin Therapy in Postmenopausal Women

Introduction: Hormone therapy (HT) has been linked to chronic disease risk in postmenopausal women, but the effect of HT on the metabolome is unclear. Hypothesis: Randomized HT is associated with p...
Solving Bitvectors with MCSAT: Explanations from Bits and Pieces

We present a decision procedure for the theory of fixed-sized bitvectors in the MCSAT framework. MCSAT is an alternative to CDCL(T) for SMT solving and can be seen as an extension of CDCL to domains other than the Booleans. Our procedure uses BDDs to record and update the sets of feasible values of bitvector variables. For explaining conflicts and propagations, we develop specialized word-level interpolation for two common fragments of the theory. For full generality, explaining conflicts outside of the covered fragments resorts to local bitblasting. The approach is implemented in the Yices 2 SMT solver and we present experimental results.
Hugo Liepmann, Parkinson's disease and upper limb apraxia.

Abstract It has now been 100 years since Hugo Liepmann, in his classic 1920 paper described limb kinetic, ideomotor, and ideational apraxia. There are now several rating scales used to assess and grade the signs and symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease; however, none of these assesses patients for the presence of these disabling forms of upper limb apraxia. This paper, reviews the four types of apraxia that can be associated with Parkinson’s disease, how they can be tested, the disabilities associated with these disorders and possible treatments.
Loss of Coastal Islands Along Florida’s Big Bend Region: Implications for Breeding American Oystercatchers

Many coastal-dependent species have undergone large-scale population declines due to impacts from habitat loss, including American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus). Islands along the Big Bend region of Florida’s Gulf Coast provide important nesting habitat for oystercatchers, but reproductive success here is low and habitat degradation and loss are a major concern. To determine rates and characteristics of habitat loss, we quantified changes in island sizes within two major breeding areas of the Big Bend: the Barge Canal spoil islands and natural islands at Cedar Key. We digitized aerial photographs from the past ~ 40 years, measured area and shoreline retreat of nesting islands, and identified trends over time by fitting linear mixed effects models. The total area of the ten Barge Canal spoil islands decreased by 55% between 1979 and 2016. At Cedar Key, the total area of the six islands measured decreased by 39% between 1974 and 2016, 85% of which occurred after 1995, indicating an increase in erosion rates correlated with oyster reef declines. Changes in available nesting habitat varied between the Barge Canal and Cedar Key islands due to differences in physical attributes; however, all islands significantly decreased in size over time. Given the long life and high site fidelity of American oystercatchers, these islands may currently be acting as an ecological trap for this species. Climate change, sea-level rise, and loss of oyster reefs are likely to continue to drive oystercatcher habitat loss throughout their range; thus, creation and restoration of oyster reefs and nesting islands will become increasingly important.
Reduced flanker P300 prospectively predicts increases in depression in female adolescents

Past research has found that P300 is smaller in depressed adults. Research examining P300 in relation to adolescent depression is more inconsistent; most studies fail to find P300 differences between currently depressed adolescents and controls. Previous studies have not examined the potential predictive utility of P300 in regard to adolescent depression. Therefore, the current study investigated the relationship between P300 amplitude and depression symptoms at baseline and two years later in a sample of 199 female adolescents. At baseline, participants completed measures of depression, followed by a speeded response task (flanker) while EEG was recorded. Two years later, participants completed the same depression measures. Reduced baseline P300 predicted increases in depression at two-year follow-up. Baseline P300 related particularly to two-year anhedonia and negative self-esteem symptoms. Our study suggest that reduced P300 amplitude can be utilized as a potential risk marker for adolescents at risk for developing increases in depressive symptoms.
Comparison of Intrapulmonary Percussive Devices Using a Bench Top Mechanical Ventilation Design

Background: There are many secretion mobilization devices available for patient care. These devices differ in their designs and functions: manual or mechanical, with or without adjustable settings, high or low cost. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness between two mechanical secretion mobilization devices. The Percussive-Neb 2.0 (P-Neb) uses high pressure and high flow and it has multiple settings including soft and hard for secretion mobilization and lung expansion. The MetaNeb (M-Neb) also has two settings; continuous positive expiratory pressure (CPEP) for lung expansion and continuous high frequency oscillation (CHFO) for secretion clearance. Methods: A test lung simulation unit (Model 2600i Michigan Instruments, Grand Rapids, MI) and an endotracheal tube (ETT) were used to simulate a mechanically ventilated patient. The settings on the test lung simulation unit were adjusted to minimally create secretion mobilization. A mucus-like substance Polyox (Education Innovations, Bethel, CT) was made and diluted to a mucus consistency and placed at the 20 cm mark of the ETT. For the P-Neb, a “mouthpiece” was made from small PVC pipes so that it would fit onto the ETT. This mouthpiece was placed between the P-Neb and proximal end of ETT. The setting for P-Neb was set to “hard.” For the M-Neb, it was attached to the proximal end of the ETT. For both devices, the distal end of ETT was attached to the test lung simulation unit. Both devices were run for five trials each with a continuous duration of 6 minutes. The ETT was positioned at a 35 degree angle leading to the test lung simulation unit mimicking the position of ETT on an intubated patient. The distance of mucus movement was determined by the difference between the start position (20 cm mark of ETT) and the end position (after 6 minutes). Results: Figure 1 shows the average composite data between these two devices. The graph shows that both P-Neb and M-Neb are effective in secretion mobilization. The difference in distance mobilized between P-Neb and M-Neb is about 0.5 cm. Conclusions: Both P-Neb and M-Neb can be an effective secretion mobilization device during mechanical ventilation. Not able to use human subjects and actual secretions are two limitations of this study.
Redo fundoplication and early Roux-en-Y diversion for failed fundoplication: a 3-year single-center experience.

Redo fundoplication (RF) and Roux-en-Y diversion (RNY) are both accepted surgical treatments after failed fundoplication. However, due to higher reported morbidity, RNY is more commonly performed only after several surgical failures. In our experience, RNY at an earlier point of the disease progression seems to be related with better outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate this aspect by comparing the results between RF and RNY performed by a single surgeon over 3 years at our institution. A prospectively maintained database was reviewed to identify patients who underwent RF or RNY at our institution between 2016 and 2019 by a single surgeon (author SKM). Patients with previous bariatric surgery were excluded. Of 43 patients, 28 underwent RF and 15 underwent RNY (mean body mass index 28.6 and 32.7 kg/m2, respectively, p = 0.01). The number of previous antireflux surgeries for the RF and RNY groups was 1 (82% vs 80%, p > 0.99), 2 (18% vs 7%, p = 0.4), and more than 2 (0% vs 13%, p = 0.1). RNY took longer than RF (median, 165 vs 137 min, p = 0.02), but both groups had a median estimated blood loss of 50 ml (p = 0.82). There was no difference in intraoperative complications (25% vs 20% for RF and RYN, respectively, p > 0.99). Postoperative complications were more common in the RF than in the RYN group (21% vs 7%, p = 0.39). Median hospital stay was 3 days for both groups (p = 0.78). At short-term follow-up, the mean quality of life score was similar for the RF and RYN groups (11.5 vs 12.2, p = 0.8). RNY diversion, if performed by experienced hands and at an earlier point of disease progression, has comparable perioperative morbidity to RF and should be considered as a feasible and safe option for definitive treatment of failed antireflux surgery.
Fast Computational Periscopy in Challenging Ambient Light Conditions through Optimized Preconditioning

Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging is a rapidly advancing technology that provides asymmetric vision: seeing without being seen. Though limited in accuracy, resolution, and depth recovery compared to active methods, the capabilities of passive methods are especially surprising because they typically use only a single, inexpensive digital camera. One of the largest challenges in passive NLOS imaging is ambient background light, which limits the dynamic range of the measurement while carrying no useful information about the hidden part of the scene. In this work we propose a new reconstruction approach that uses an optimized linear transformation to balance the rejection of uninformative light with the retention of informative light, resulting in fast (video-rate) reconstructions of hidden scenes from photographs of a blank wall under high ambient light conditions.
Fibroblast transition to an endothelial "trans" state improves cell reprogramming efficiency.

Fibroblast reprogramming offers the potential for myocardial regeneration via in situ cell transdifferentiation. We explored a novel strategy leveraging endothelial cell plasticity to enhance reprogramming efficiency. Rat cardiac endothelial cells and fibroblasts were treated with Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) to assess the cardio-differentiation potential of these cells. The endothelial cell transdifferentiation factor ETV2 was transiently over-expressed in fibroblasts followed by GMT treatment to assess "trans-endothelial" cardio-differentiation. Endothelial cells treated with GMT generated more cTnT+ cells than did cardiac fibroblasts (13% ± 2% vs 4% ± 0.5%, p < 0.01). Cardiac fibroblasts treated with ETV2 demonstrated increased endothelial cell markers, and when then treated with GMT yielded greater prevalence of cells expressing cardiomyocyte markers including cTnT than did fibroblasts treated with GMT or ETV2 (10.3% ± 0.2% vs 1.7% ± 0.06% and 0.6 ± 0.03, p < 0.01). Rat cardiac fibroblasts treated with GMT + ETV2 demonstrated calcium transients upon electrical stimulation and contractility synchronous with surrounding neonatal cardiomyocytes, whereas cells treated with GMT or ETV2 alone failed to contract in co-culture experiments. Human cardiac fibroblasts treated with ETV2 and then GMT likewise demonstrated greater prevalence of cTnT expression than did cells treated with GMT alone (2.8-fold increase, p < 0.05). Cardiac fibroblast transitioning through a trans-endothelial state appears to enhance cardio-differentiation by enhancing fibroblast plasticity.
Using Latinx Theology’s Lo Cotidiano to Decolonialize Oller’s El Velorio

This article explores the theological valences of Francisco Oller y Cestero’s El Velorio (ca. 1893), his interpretation of the child’s funerary wake called bakine in Puerto Rico, using the Latinx theological concept of lo cotidiano and its decolonializing force. In contrast to Oller’s elitist and colonialized view of bakine as “brutish” and “superstition”, a decolonial cotidiano approach valorizes its nuanced expression of Puerto Rican popular religion, identity, and culture among everyday belief and practice. This approach construes bakine as a celebration of life, orthodox in light of Catholic doctrine, and representative of the reality of many Puerto Ricans to this day, a life in which redemption triumphs over sin and creativity over chaos even when rife with suffering and oppression. Indeed, El Velorio evinces a popular hermeneutic, a quotidian relationality, and a creative faith that has larger theological implications about the complexities of being human, being religious-in-community, and being created, and about the relationship between theology, art, and human.
Analogs of pyridoxal or pyridoxal phosphate: relation of structure to binding with apoenzymes and to catalytic activity.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on analogs of pyridoxal or pyridoxal phosphate, and analyzes the relation of structure to binding with apoenzymes and to catalytic activity. Among the vitamins and coenzymes, pyridoxal (PL) and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) are almost unique in that they slowly catalyze in dilute aqueous solutions at ambient temperatures or above, and at physiological pH values many of the same reactions of amino acids for which PLP-enzymes are required in vivo . Model studies with pyridoxal analogs permitted delineation of the structural features required for catalysis of such nonenzymatic reactions. In the pyridine series, these features are supplied by either 3-hydroxypyridine-2-aldehydeo or 3-hydroxypyridine-4-aldehyde—that is, substituents at the 2- and 5-positions of pyridoxal are not essential—whereas the formyl group at position 4, the phenolic group at position 3, and the heterocyclic nitrogen at position 1 are required. In this chapter, the effect of structure on enzymatic transamination of unphosphorylated compounds related to PL and PM is discussed. The effect of binding of PLP upon the conformation of PLP enzymes is explained. The activity of analogs of PLP in duplicating the effects of this coenzyme on conformation and activity of several PLP enzymes is also described.
Ara-C: Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology

The antimetabolite cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) represents a prototype of the nucleoside analog class of antineoplastic agents and remains one of the most effective drugs used in the treatment of acute leukemia as well as other hematopoietic malignancies. The ability of ara-C to kill neoplastic cells is regulated at three distinct but interrelated levels. First, the activity of ara-C depends on conversion to its lethal triphosphate derivative, ara-CTP, a process that is influenced by multiple factors, including nucleoside transport, phosphorylation, deamination, and levels of competing metabolites, particularly dCTP. Second, the antiproliferative and lethal effects of ara-C are linked to the ability of ara-CTP to interfere with one or more DNA polymerases as well as the degree to which it is incorporated into elongating DNA strands, leading to DNA fragmentation and chain termination. Finally, the fate of the cell is ultimately determined by whether a threshold level of ara-C-mediated DNA damage is exceeded, thereby inducing apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The latter process is influenced by components of various signal transduction pathways (e.g., PKC) and expression of oncogenes (e.g., bcl-2, c-Jun), perturbations in which may significantly alter ara-C sensitivity. A better understanding of these factors could eventually lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies capable of overcoming ara-C resistance and improving therapeutic efficacy.
John Donne, godly inscription, and permanency of self in Devotions upon Emergent Occasions

I argue that throughout his career but especially during his sickness of 1623, Donne fears self annihilation in death. Examining critical views on Donne's concept of death and the self, I identify this as a fear of a temporal blackout of the self between the body's death and the final Resurrection. Donne believes that the self is the result of the combination of the body and the soul, and although the soul can survive the body's dissolution, the self cannot. In order to counter this fear of the self's temporal disappearance, Donne seeks to inscribe himself in his Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, assuming the posture of an anatomist to distance himself from his physical body to capture the observations of his body in a text using a corporeal register. Donne preserves this textual encoding of himself by addressing God as the main audience for the Devotions: when God reads the text, the content of the text (Donne's self) becomes archived in the eternally stable mind of God. Ultimately, Donne's authorship of the Devotions is his imitation of God's own activity. Donne sees God's nature, his ‘core self’, as a system of eternally preserved propositions, and God's activity in creation is an act of copious literary expression using an alphabet of physical things that are used not for their own endurance qua physical entities but for their ability to figurative reveal God's self, which stands beyond and above them. Donne imitates this nature and activity in his act of writing the Devotions.
Takhtajania perrieri rediscovered

Spectacular finds of early Cretaceous fossil flowers during the past decade have fuelled a resurgence of research into the origin of flowering plants1, the “abominable mystery” that so captivated Darwin. Now Takhtajania perrieri (Capuron) Baranova & J.-F. Leroy, the only extant Africa/ Madagascar representative of the family Winteraceae, has been rediscovered in northeastern Madagascar, 85 years after its original finding. Scientists will thus once again have a ‘living fossil’ to study and place in the context of both extinct and other extant primitive angiosperms.
A systolic power-of-two multiplier structure

A power-of-two multiplier with a fully pipelined structure is presented. The design is based on dividing the multiplication into three succeeding stages so that no bit accumulation occurs in any of them. The only nontrivial part of this multiplier is the implementation of the second stage, which requires a fully pipelined shifter. A design example of the shifter is presented to demonstrate the mechanism of the shifter when the input data path is 2 b. Generalizing this technique to a multiplier with an input data path of an arbitrary number of bits simply involves properly extending the size of the circuit and changing the controlled parameters and clocking schemes. >
Pleural mesothelial cells in pleural and lung diseases

During development, the mesoderm maintains a complex relationship with the developing endoderm giving rise to the mature lung. Pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) derived from the mesoderm play a key role during the development of the lung. The pleural mesothelium differentiates to give rise to the endothelium and smooth muscle cells via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). An aberrant recapitulation of such developmental pathways can play an important role in the pathogenesis of disease processes such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The PMC is the central component of the immune responses of the pleura. When exposed to noxious stimuli, it demonstrates innate immune responses such as Toll-like receptor (TLR) recognition of pathogen associated molecular patterns as well as causes the release of several cytokines to activate adaptive immune responses. Development of pleural effusions occurs due to an imbalance in the dynamic interaction between junctional proteins, n-cadherin and β-catenin, and phosphorylation of adherens junctions between PMCs, which is caused in part by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) released by PMCs. PMCs play an important role in defense mechanisms against bacterial and mycobacterial pleural infections, and in pathogenesis of malignant pleural effusion, asbestos related pleural disease and malignant pleural mesothelioma. PMCs also play a key role in the resolution of inflammation, which can occur with or without fibrosis. Fibrosis occurs as a result of disordered fibrin turnover and due to the effects of cytokines such as transforming growth factor-β, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor; which are released by PMCs. Recent studies have demonstrated a role for PMCs in the pathogenesis of IPF suggesting their potential as a cellular biomarker of disease activity and as a possible therapeutic target. Pleural-based therapies targeting PMCs for treatment of IPF and other lung diseases need further exploration.
A Prospective Study of 18FDG-PET With CT Coregistration for Radiation Treatment Planning of Lymphomas and Other Hematologic Malignancies

Purpose This prospective single-institution study examined the impact of positron emission tomography (PET) with the use of 2-[ 18 F] fluoro-2-deoxyglucose and computed tomography (CT) scan radiation treatment planning (TP) on target volume definition in lymphoma. Methods and Materials 118 patients underwent PET/CT TP during June 2007 to May 2009. Gross tumor volume (GTV) was contoured on CT-only and PET/CT studies by radiation oncologists (ROs) and nuclear medicine physicians (NMPs) for 95 patients with positive PET scans. Treatment plans and dose-volume histograms were generated for CT-only and PET/CT for 95 evaluable sites. Paired t test statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients were used for analysis. Results 70 (74%) patients had non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 10 (11%) had Hodgkin lymphoma, 12 (10%) had plasma-cell neoplasm, and 3 (3%) had other hematologic malignancies. Forty-three (45%) presented with relapsed/refractory disease. Forty-five (47%) received no prior chemotherapy. The addition of PET increased GTV as defined by ROs in 38 patients (median, 27%; range, 5%-70%) and decreased GTV in 41 (median, 39.5%; range, 5%-80%). The addition of PET increased GTV as defined by NMPs in 27 patients (median, 26.5%; range, 5%-95%) and decreased GTV in 52 (median, 70%; range, 5%-99%). The intraobserver correlation between CT-GTV and PET-GTV was higher for ROs than for NMPs (0.94, P P Conclusions Significant differences between the RO and NMP volumes were identified when PET was coregistered to CT for radiation planning. Despite this, the PET-GTV defined by ROs and NMPs received acceptable prescription dose in nearly all patients. However, given the potential for a marginal miss, consultation with an experienced PET reader is highly encouraged when PET/CT volumes are delineated, particularly for questionable lesions and to assure complete and accurate target volume coverage.
The Use of the Compensated Contoured Double Scatterer in the Radiation Test Beamline at the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center

The compensated contoured double scatterer is a beam spreading system that was originally developed for clinical proton therapy applications. The application of this system to radiation test beams at the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center is described.
Internal radiation for bile duct cancer

The clinical course of 27 patients with bile duct cancer who received intraductal exposure to192iridium was reviewed. All patients exhibited evidence of biliary obstruction prior to diagnosis of cancer and all underwent intubation for relief of obstruction either by surgical or radiologic methods. The patients then received either internal irradiation alone or the combination of internal plus external irradiation. The patients lived an average of 11.5 months following internal irradiation and 13.5 months following diagnosis. Patients who received both internal and external irradiation lived longer than those who received internal irradiation alone. The 3 patients who had resection of their primary tumors lived longer than the group as a whole. All patients continued episodes of mild or severe cholangitis following irradiation. The heterogeneity of patient material, pretreatment methods, and lack of controls preclude any statement concerning effectiveness of radiation therapy for bile duct cancer. A few patients may benefit from the therapy, and use of irradiation techniques as an adjuvant modality is worth continued investigation; however, while internal irradiation for local control of proximal bile duct tumors remains theoretically attractive, there remains little evidence of its efficacy.
Design of a Highly Sensitive and Specific Nucleotide Sensor Based on Photon Upconverting Particles

We have designed and developed a novel sensor that reports the presence of specific nucleic acids in solutions, based on photon upconverting particles. The significantly high signal-to-noise ratio of photon upconverting particles leads to high sensitivity of the sensor. The sensor does not suffer from photobleaching. It also displays high specificity and self-calibrating capability. We expect nucleotide sensors of this type to be effective for applications in both DNA/RNA detection and protein-DNA/RNA interaction studies.
Characterization of the human Ah receptor

Using [3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ([3H]TCDD) or 7-[125I]-iodo-2,3-dibromodibenzo-p-dioxin ([125I]DBDD) as high affinity photoaffinity ligands, the photoaffinity-labeled nuclear Ah receptor complexes from human cell lines have been analyzed by denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results show that the apparent molecular mass for the Ah receptor from several of these cell lines was 110-kDa and no significant variations were observed. However, there were significant differences in the apparent molecular weights of the nuclear Ah receptor complexes. For example, in the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (MCF-7) and ER-negative (MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cell lines, the apparent molecular weights of the nuclear receptor complexes were 171,000 and 192,000, respectively. These results indicate that there are differences in the molecular weights of the human nuclear Ah receptor complexes and the intraspecies heterogeneity may be associated with the non-ligand binding protein and not the Ah receptor.
Phase stability of ion irradiated Ni2Al3

Abstract The low-temperature phase stability of thin film Ni 2 Al 3 under 400 keV Kr + ion irradiation was examined in the Argonne National Laboratory high-voltage electron microscope. At 20 K the disordering transformation from D5 13 -Ni 2 Al 3 to-B2(CsCl)-to-A2(b.c.c.) was observed during an exposure to 7.5 × 10 13 Kr cm −2 . A combination of amorphous and b.c.c. phases was observed at 1.5 × 10 14 Kr cm −2 with complete amorphization occurring after 3 × 10 14 Kr cm −2 . This transformation sequence is supported by an analysis of quasi-chemical and CALPHAD-type thermodynamic data. The observations and analysis indicate that the free energy of the amorphous state is higher than the free energy of the disordered state and that additional forms of radiation damage besides chemical disordering are required for the amorphization of Ni 2 Al 3 .
Clinical testing for the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome in a DNA diagnostic laboratory

Purpose: This study determines which clinical features predict positive test results among samples submitted for DNA-based diagnostic nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) testing, and further defines the mutational spectrum of the PTCH gene. Methods: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and polymerase chain reaction products from exons 1 to 23 of the PTCH gene were directly sequenced. Pedigree phenotypic information was obtained by written questionnaire. Results: Among 106 presumably unrelated pedigrees, 44 independent mutations were found in 47 families. There were 11 nonsense mutations; 1 in-frame deletion; 17 deletions, 6 insertions, and 1 deletion-insertion that generated frameshifts; 5 splice-site mutations; 1 in-frame duplication; and 2 presumptive missense mutations. Twenty-seven of 46 pedigrees (58.7%) with two or more typical radiographic or pathologic features of NBCCS tested positive for PTCH mutations. Of these, 26 had jaw cysts in combination with other characteristics or neoplasms including basal cell carcinomas, palmar pits, skeletal abnormalities, ocular abnormalities, medulloblastomas, cardiac or ovarian fibromas, calcification of the falx cerebri, polydactyly, cleft lip and/or palate, and agenesis of the corpus callosum or other central nervous system malformations. None of the 13 pedigrees solely affected by multiple or early-onset basal cell carcinomas and none of the four pedigrees with jaw cysts alone had PTCH mutations. Conclusions: Pedigrees with multiple features of NBCCS were most likely to test positive for PTCH mutations. Pedigrees with multiple or early-onset basal cell carcinomas without other features of the disease did not test positive for PTCH mutations.
Recombination between subtypes creates a mosaic lineage of LINE-1 that is expressed and actively retrotransposing in the mouse genome

Abstract LINE-1, or L1, elements are retrotransposons that have amplified to high-copy number during the evolution of mammals. L1 appears to amplify in waves, spawning large numbers of progeny such that elements with distinct sequence features dominate the dispersal process in a given window of time. This process generates discrete subfamilies of L1 within mammalian genomes, with the oldest being remnants, or fossils, of earlier waves of amplification. In mice, at least three distinct subfamilies of L1 were distinguished by their unique 5′ ends, A, F and V. These subfamilies amplified at distinct times in the evolution of mice, with A being the youngest and V the oldest; both V and F subfamilies were believed extinct. Recent data established that a variant of the F family, T F , is actively retrotransposing. We demonstrate here that members of the T F subfamily are abundantly expressed in mouse cells and encode the major protein constituent of L1 ribonucleoprotein particles. Although members of the T F subfamily are not as numerous in the genomes of laboratory mice as are members of the older A and F subfamilies, they appear to have been activated some time ago during mouse evolution, in the common ancestor of Mus spretus and Mus domesticus . Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that this modern, active form of T F -type L1 has a composite evolutionary history, showing evidence of multiple recombinations between distinct L1 variants, including members of the A and F subfamilies.
Time-resolved photoelectron angular distributions as a probe of coupled polyatomic dynamics

A nonperturbative theory for calculating time-resolved photoelectron angular distributions in linear molecules [J. Chem. Phys. 107, 7859 (1997)] is extended to nonlinear systems and reformulated so as to expose and utilize the underlying electronic and rotational symmetries. A sequence of approximations is next introduced, systematically reducing the formally exact expression to cruder forms that are applicable to systems of increasing complexity. As an example of the potential applications of time-resolved photoelectron angular distributions in polyatomic dynamics we examine the information they convey about an ultrafast internal conversion.
Untersuchungen an hochsubstituierten Äthylenen und Glykolen, IX. Der Mechanismus der säurekatalysierten Cyclodehydratisierung von 3.4‐Bis‐[4‐oxo‐cyclohexen‐(1)‐yl]‐hexandiol‐(3.4)

Die Wasser-Abspaltung aus 3.4-Di-[4-oxo-cyclohexen-(l)-yl]-hexandiol-(3.4) (1) mittels Deutero-schwefelsaure in Deutero-athanol und die Cyclisierung zum Spiroketon 2 verlauft nach NMR- und massenspektrometrischen Untersuchungen auf Weg B (S . 58).
Research on the Personalized System of Instruction

The effectiveness of PSI has been measured with several criteria: end‐of‐course performance, retention, transfer, and student attitudes. By any of these measures, PSI is more effective than conventional methods of college teaching. Recent research also suggests that PSI is an efficient method of learning for students. PSI and conventional courses apparently make equal demands on student time, even though students in PSI courses generally outperform students in conventional courses. Besides making a case for the effectiveness and efficiency of PSI, researchers have also begun to discover the reasons for its effectiveness. The key features of the system appear to be three: small steps, immediate feedback, and a unit‐mastery requirement. While mastery models of instruction suggest that these instructional features will be of most benefit to lower aptitude student, empirical results suggest that the picture is more complex. In some courses, higher aptitude students benefit most from the introduction of these ...
Isolation of a cDNA for HSF2: evidence for two heat shock factor genes in humans.

Abstract The heat shock response is transcriptionally regulated by an evolutionarily conserved protein termed heat shock factor (HSF). We report the purification to homogeneity and the partial peptide sequence of HSF from HeLa cells. The peptide sequence was used to isolate a human cDNA with a predicted open reading frame that has homology to the DNA binding domains of both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Drosophila HSFs. The cDNA directs the synthesis of a protein that binds to the heat shock element with specificity identical to HeLa HSF and stimulates transcription from a heat shock promoter. The expressed protein cross-reacts with anti-HSF antibodies. Surprisingly, however, this cDNA does not encode all of the peptides obtained from purified HeLa HSF. These peptides are encoded by a distinct human cDNA, HSF1, described by Rabindran et al. [Rabindran, S. K., Giorgi, G., Clos, J. & Wu, C. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 6906-6910.] It therefore appears that there is a human heat shock factor gene family and that at least two separate but related HSF proteins regulate the stress response in humans.
Movement of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus from soil to soybean and transmission in Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations on soybean.

Bioassay of soil to which Anticarsia gemmatalis nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) had been applied showed that viral activity was reduced during the summer, but much of the virus remained active. Viral activity in the upper layer of soil was generally greater following tillage, and the level of virus activity on plants was related to the concentration of NPV applied to the soil at planting. Tillage and rainfall resulted in increased mortality of larvae fed leaflets from low on the plant, but not from high on the plant. An epizootic developed in a field experiment only after rainfall.
Compression-formed starch-based plastic

Abstract Alternatives to synthetic plastics used in ovenable trays for frozen foods are of interest because of environmental and food safety concerns. A new technique for making a compression molded starch-based plastic is described that uses starch foams rather than starch powders as a feedstock. Starch foams were compressed between polished, unheated platens into plastic sheets from which tensile bars were cut. The starch plastic had the highest tensile strength when compressed greater than 69 MPa. Starch powders that were compressed under identical conditions did not form a cohesive starch plastic. Initially, the tensile strength of the starch plastic derived from starch foams was comparable to that of polypropylene. However, tensile and flexural strength decreased with time for starch plastics stored at room temperature or −20°C. The functional properties of samples that were baked in contact with three different food types (low moisture, high moisture, oily) were studied. The tensile and flexural strength of polypropylene samples were not affected by baking treatments. However, the starch plastic samples lost both tensile and flexural strength and formed numerous blisters in some treatments. Maltose was blended into the starch plastic in efforts to reduce the hygroscopicity of the starch and decrease blister formation. While maltose significantly reduced the hygroscopicity of the starch plastic, it did not prevent blister formation.
Isolation and Expression of Murine Carbonic Anhydrase IV

A 1193-bp cDNA containing the complete murine carbonic anhydrase IV coding sequence was isolated from a Balb/c kidney cDNA library. The entire coding sequence plus shorter segments was used in anEscherichia coliT7 expression vector system to produce four forms of murine CA IV, including (1) a protein representing the full-length coding sequence, (2) an amino-truncated protein lacking the 18 N-terminal amino acid plasma membrane targeting sequence, (3) a protein which lacked the plasma membrane targeting sequence and 26 C-terminal amino acids, and (4) a protein which lacked both 36 N-terminal residues (the plasma membrane targeting sequence plus 18 additional amino acids which included the first two cysteines) and 26 C-terminal residues. All four proteins were expressed as catalytically inactive inclusion bodies. After rapid dilution of washed, guanidine hydrochloride-denatured inclusion bodies into a glutathione-,l-arginine-containing renaturation buffer, an active carbonic anhydrase IV at yields of 3–4 mg/liter was easily purified from cultures expressing the form lacking the N-terminal targeting sequence and 26 C-terminal residues. The longest and shortest forms of carbonic anhydrase IV failed to refold into active enzyme under these conditions. The activity of purified recombinant carbonic anhydrase IV was highly resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate, as is the native enzyme. This resistance presumably results from intramolecular disulfide bonds maintaining a functional active site configuration even in the presence of denaturing agents.