cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Somatic structural variations in pediatric brain tumors- an update.

Pediatrics brain tumours are the second most frequent malignancy in children, and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in both the 0-14-year and the 15-24-year age group. Although, pediatrics high-grade glioma (pHGG) is a histologically similar tumour to that arising in adults, these are distinct biological diseases, differing in copy number profiles and driver genetic alterations. Recent sequencing initiatives have conclusively shown the existence of subgroups of HGG marked by distinct driver mutations, which are significantly enriched in young children (H3F3A K27M), teenagers and young adults (H3F3A G34R/V), and middle- aged adults (IDH1/2). Structural rearrangements resulting in novel fusion genes are strongly associated with cancer, and numerous examples exist in both adult and childhood malignancies. Although, only few have been described in pHGG. Structural variants (SV) frequently result in chimeric proteins targetable by novel therapeutic approaches, an outcome desperately needed in pHGG.
Analgesic Effects of Botulinum Neurotoxins: Data from Animal Studies

The availability of novel technologies has been crucial in the discovery and description of new pain receptors and modulators expanding our knowledge of the pathophysiology of pain. Data generated from animal models indicate that botulinum toxins can modify and subdue a variety of mechanisms that generate or maintain pain.
Situating household management of children’s asthma in the context of social, economic, and environmental injustice

BACKGROUND Structural determinants of health are social, economic, and environmental forces that generate unequal opportunities for resources and unequally distribute exposure to risk. For example, economic constraint, racial discrimination and segregation, and environmental injustice shape population-level asthma prevalence and severity. Structural determinants are especially relevant to consider in clinical settings because they affect everyday household asthma management. OBJECTIVE To examine how structural determinants shape everyday household management of pediatric asthma and offer a framework for providers to understand asthma management in social context. DESIGN Qualitative interviews of caregivers for children with asthma. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 41 caregivers in two U.S. cities: St. Louis, Missouri (n = 25) and Gainesville, Florida (n = 16). Most caregivers were women (83%), Black (73%) and/or had low socioeconomic status (SES; 78%). Caregivers cared for children with asthma aged 0-4 (32%), 5-11 (68%) and 12-17 (54%). APPROACH We carried out narrative interviews with caregivers using an adapted McGill Illness Narrative Interview and using qualitative analysis techniques (e.g. inductive and deductive coding, constant comparison). KEY RESULTS Caregivers highlighted three ways that structural determinants complicated asthma management at home: 1) housing situations, 2) competing household illnesses and issues, and 3) multi-household care. CONCLUSIONS By connecting social, economic, and environmental injustices to the everyday circumstances of asthma management, our study can help providers understand how social contexts challenge asthma management and can open conversations about barriers to adherence and strategies for supporting asthma management at home. We offer recommendations for medical system reform, clinical interactions, and policy advocacy.
Efficacy of tocilizumab therapy in a patient with severe pancytopenia associated with a STAT3 gain-of-function mutation.

Background We aimed to report the clinical characteristics, immunological features, and treatment of one patient with a de novo STAT3 gain-of-function mutation identified by next generation sequencing. We investigated the efficacy of tocilizumab therapy in immune dysregulation diseases caused by STAT3 mutation. Results The patient was a 16-year-old girl. She presented with recurrent respiratory infections and chronic diarrhea after birth. She had life-threatening autoimmune pancytopenia at 14 years old. After receiving glucocorticoid therapy, she developed diabetes. However, her pancytopenia relapsed when the glucocorticoid was tapered. Next-generation sequencing showed a de novo heterozygous mutation in the STAT3 gene, c.1261G > A (p. G421R), which was previously described as a gain-of-function mutation. After tocilizumab therapy, her pancytopenia fully resolved, and insulin and glucocorticoid therapies were gradually discontinued within 12 months. She had lymphopenia and an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio before therapy. Lymphocyte subpopulation analysis indicated an expansion of effector memory CD4+, effector memory CD8+ and central memory CD4+ T cells. The proportions of memory B cells and naive CD4+ T cells were decreased, and the proportion of naive B cells was increased. None of the abnormal lymphocytic changes improved significantly. STAT3 GOF mutations were identified by next gene sequencing in those with early-onset multi-organ autoimmunity. Including our patient, 13 patients with STAT3 GOF mutations received targeted treatment. Twelve of them were treated with tocilizumab alone or combination tocilizumab with JAK inhibitor, and ten patients improved. Conclusions Gene sequencing should be performed for patients with early-onset refractory or multiorgan immune dysregulation diseases. Targeted drugs can effectively improve the clinical problems associated with STAT3 gain-of-function mutations, while nontargeted immunosuppressive therapy is usually insufficient.
Photodynamic Therapy: Targeting Cancer Biomarkers for the Treatment of Cancers

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a well-documented therapy that has emerged as an effective treatment modality of cancers. PDT utilizes harmless light to activate non- or minimally toxic photosensitizers to generate cytotoxic species for malignant cell eradication. Compared with conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, PDT is appealing by virtue of the minimal invasiveness, its safety, as well as its selectivity, and the fact that it can induce an immune response. Although local illumination of the cancer lesions renders intrinsic selectivity of PDT, most photosensitizers used in PDT do not display significant tumor tissue selectivity. There is a need for targeted delivery of photosensitizers. The molecular identification of cancer antigens has opened new possibilities for the development of effective targeted therapy for cancer patients. This review provides a brief overview of recent achievements of targeted delivery of photosensitizers to cancer cells by targeting well-established cancer biomarkers. Overall, targeted PDT offers enhanced intracellular accumulation of the photosensitizer, leading to improved PDT efficacy and reduced toxicity to normal tissues.
Photoinduced Covalent Irreversible Inactivation of Proline Dehydrogenase by S-Heterocycles.

Proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) is a flavoenzyme that catalyzes the first step of proline catabolism, the oxidation of l-proline to Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate. PRODH has emerged as a cancer therapy target because of its involvement in the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells. Here, we report the discovery of a new class of PRODH inactivator, which covalently and irreversibly modifies the FAD in a light-dependent manner. Two examples, 1,3-dithiolane-2-carboxylate and tetrahydrothiophene-2-carboxylate, have been characterized using X-ray crystallography (1.52-1.85 A resolution), absorbance spectroscopy, and enzyme kinetics. The structures reveal that in the dark, these compounds function as classical reversible, proline analogue inhibitors. However, exposure of enzyme-inhibitor cocrystals to bright white light induces decarboxylation of the inhibitor and covalent attachment of the residual S-heterocycle to the FAD N5 atom, locking the cofactor into a reduced, inactive state. Spectroscopic measurements of the inactivation process in solution confirm the requirement for light and show that blue light is preferred. Enzyme activity assays show that the rate of inactivation is enhanced by light and that the inactivation is irreversible. We also demonstrate the photosensitivity of cancer cells to one of these compounds. A possible mechanism is proposed involving photoexcitation of the FAD, while the inhibitor is noncovalently bound in the active site, followed by electron transfer, decarboxylation, and radical combination steps. Our results could lead to the development of photopharmacological drugs targeting PRODH.
Sex Differences in the Relation Between Frailty and Endothelial Dysfunction in Old Mice.

Vascular endothelial function declines with age on average, but there is high variability in the magnitude of this decline within populations. Measurements of frailty, known as frailty index (FI), can be used as surrogates for biological age, but it is unknown if frailty relates to the age-related decline in vascular function. To examine this relation, we studied young (4-9 months) and old (23-32 months) C57BL6 mice of both sexes. We found that FI was greater in old compared with young mice, but did not differ between old male and female mice. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) and mesenteric artery endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) also did not differ between old male and female mice; however, there were sex differences in the relations between FI and EDD. For the MCA, FI was inversely related to EDD among old female mice, but not old male mice. In contrast, for the mesenteric artery, FI was inversely related to EDD among old male mice, but not old female mice. A higher FI was related to a greater improvement in EDD with the superoxide scavenger TEMPOL in the MCAs for old female mice and in the mesenteric arteries for old male mice. FI related to mesenteric artery gene expression negatively for extracellular superoxide dismutase (Sod3) and positively for interleukin-1β (Il1b). In summary, we found that the relation between frailty and endothelial function is dependent on sex and the artery examined. Arterial oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory signaling are potential mediators of the relations of frailty and endothelial function.
Nanoscale Transistors: Physics and Materials

ABSTRACT We analyze a modern-day 65nm MOSFET technology to determine its electrical characteristics and intrinsic ballistic efficiency. Using that information, we then predict the performance of similar devices comprised of different materials, such as high-k gate dielectrics and III-V channel materials. The effects of series resistance are considered. Comparisons are made between the performance of these hypothetical devices and future generations of devices from the ITRS roadmap, including double-gate MOSFETs. We conclude that a Si channel device with a high-k gate dielectric and metal gate will outperform III-V channel materials for conventional CMOS applications, but will still not suffice in achieving long-term ITRS goals. INTRODUCTION Much has been accomplished in the way of improving MOSFET device characteristics for continuation of Moore’s law. Strained silicon channels and modified gates and insulators have helped a lot, and the most current 65nm technology produces ~1600µA/µm of drive current with a 1.2V power supply and 1.2nm SiON gate insulator. But this is not enough, and new methods are needed to meet future ITRS roadmap requirements [1]. Options being explored include new device structures such as the tri-gate/finFET and new materials for the gate (FUSI/metal), insulator (high-k dielectrics), and channel (III-V semiconductors). This paper examines the extent to which these new materials options can address the device performance challenges at the end of the ITRS. To predict how a new material or structure will affect performance, it is first necessary to understand the operation of a present-day device. A short review of the theory behind ballistic devices is presented in the next section, as a refresher for those familiar with the concepts, and as a brief but essential introduction for those who are unfamiliar. Topics include calculation of inversion charge, thermal and injection velocities, and ballistic drain current. In the analysis section, a detailed examination of the 65nm device is presented using actual experimental data for the transistor. Important device parameters such as leakage current, subthreshold swing and DIBL are taken directly from the published results, and accurate estimations for threshold voltage and series resistance are made based on both the ITRS roadmap and published measurements. We calculate the ballistic efficiency of the intrinsic device using a comparison of the on currents and of injection velocity. Our analysis supports a similar, recent study on the same device [2], and provides a starting point to examine various device options.
Complexes of Polypyrazolylborate ligands : III. Structure of [dihydrobis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl) borate](h3-cycloheptatrienyl)dicarbonylmolybdenum in solution☆

Abstract Studies of the structure of [H 2 B(3,5-MePz) 2 ](C 7 H 7 )(CO) 2 Mo and [Et 2 B(Pz) 2 ](C 7 H 7 )(CO) 2 Mo, where H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 Pz) 2 and Et 2 B(Pz) 2 represent dihydrobis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate and diethyldipyrazolylborate groups respectively, have been carried out on solutions using infrared and PMR spectra. The data indicate that the C 7 H 7 groups are trihapto and the pyrazolylborate groups are bidentate giving rise to novel complexes that manifest a variety of modes for stereochemical nonrigidity.
X-ray microfabrication of multi-level structures and 3-D patterning

Abstract Preliminary results of a novel techinique for producing true three-dimensional patterns in thick resits are presented in this work.
Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Are Responsible for Nitric Oxide Modulation of Resistance in the Hepatic Sinusoids

The mechanisms that regulate vascular resistance in the liver are an area of active investigation. Previously, we have shown that nitric oxide (NO) modulates hepatic vascular tone in the normal rat liver. In this study, the production of NO is examined in further detail by isolating sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) from the rat liver. Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) was present in SEC based on Western blotting and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. Exposure of SEC to flow increased the release of NO. To investigate the relevance of these in vitro findings to the intact liver, we modified an in situ perfusion system to allow for direct measurement of NO release from the hepatic vasculature. NO was released from the hepatic vasculature in a time-dependent manner, and administration of N-monomethyl-L-arginine reduced NO release and increased portal pressure. Immunostaining of intact liver demonstrated eNOS localization to endothelial cells lining the hepatic sinusoids. These findings demonstrate that SEC in vitro and in vivo express eNOS and produce NO basally, and increase their production in response to flow. Additionally, an increase in portal pressure concomitant with the blockade of NO release directly demonstrates that endogenous endothelial-derived NO modulates portal pressure.
Laparoscopic splenic procedures in children: experience in 231 children.

Objectives: The purpose of this report is to evaluate the efficacy of and complications observed after laparoscopic splenic procedures in children. Methods: Review of a prospective database at a single institution (1995-2006) identified 231 children (129 boys; 102 girls; average age 7.69 years) undergoing laparoscopic splenic procedures. Results: Two hundred twenty-three children underwent laparoscopic splenectomy (211 total; 12 partial) by the lateral approach. Indication for splenectomy was hereditary spherocytosis (111), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (36), sickle cell disease (SCD) (51), and other (25). Four (2%) required conversion to an open procedure. Eight additional laparoscopic splenic procedures were performed: splenic cystectomy for epithelial (4) or traumatic (2) cyst, and splenopexy for wandering spleen (2). Average length of stay was 1.5 days. Complications (11% overall, 22% in SCD patients) included ileus (5), bleeding (4), acute chest syndrome (5), pneumonia (2), portal vein thrombosis (1), priapism (1), hemolytic uremic syndrome (1), diaphragm perforation (2), colonic injury (1), missed accessory spleen (1), trocar site hernia (1), subsequent total splenectomy after an initial partial (1), and recurrent cyst (1). Subsequent operations were open in 3 (colon repair, hernia, and missed accessory spleen) and laparoscopic in 2 (completion splenectomy, and cyst excision). There were no deaths, wound infections, or instances of pancreatitis. Conclusions: Laparoscopic splenic procedures are safe and effective in children and are associated with low morbidity, higher complication rate in SCD, low conversion rate, zero mortality, and short length of stay. Laparoscopic splenectomy has become the procedure of choice for most children requiring a splenic procedure.
A simple unified theory for the cyclic deformation of metals at high temperature

A simple constitutive equation involving only six material constants has been developed to describe the high temperature deformation of metals over a wide range of stress and temperature. The model involves a drag stress and a back stress, along with their evolution equations. A new concept has been introduced to connect the growth behavior of these two internal state variables so as to reduce the number of material constants required in the description under cyclic loading conditions. It is demonstrated that this simple model can adequately describe the stress-strain behavior of a 617 Nickel-base superalloy over three different orders of strain rate, and up to 900°C. It can also provide the cyclic hardening behavior and stable hysteresis loop under a strain-controlled loading, and the strain-ratchetting under an off-axis, stress-controlled loading, among others. The influence of stress and temperature on creep, and the influence of mechanical and thermal cycling on the creep strain accumulation can all be studied with this set of simple constitutive equations.
Alleviation of forgetting of discrimination learning

Abstract Reactivation treatments intended to alleviate forgetting in rats were tested in two discrimination tasks—instrumental learning with brightness or with spatial location as the discriminanda. For memories acquired 28 days earlier, forgetting was alleviated with both tasks when testing was preceded by certain reactivation treatments. Therefore, the generality of the effectiveness of reactivation treatments for alleviating forgetting is extended to include discrimination learning and response measures other than go, no-go behavior.
Accurate determination of subpixel resolution point spread function from imprecise measurement data

This paper demonstrates that the two premises are interrelated, which is fortunate for us. This means once the scanner step sizes are accurately determined, an identical PSF wave form can be obtained. The paper describes a detector output shifting algorithm for estimating the actual step size to a fraction of a microradian, which also leads to production of an identical wave form measured by all the detectors. Realizing this is actually an image of a small target, which is a convolution of the target, the optics PSF and the detector response, the optics point spread function is determined through the deconvolution of the image with the detector PSF and the ideal geometric image.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Electrocatalytic activity of alkyne-functionalized AgAu alloy nanoparticles for oxygen reduction in alkaline media

1-Dodecyne-functionalized AgAu alloy nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction of metal salt precursors at varied initial feed ratios. Transmission electron microscopic measurements showed that the nanoparticles were all rather well dispersed with the average core diameter in the narrow range of 3 to 5 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies confirmed the formation of AgAu alloy nanoparticles with the gold concentration ranging from approximately 25 at% to 55 at%. Consistent results were obtained in UV-vis spectroscopic measurements where the nanoparticle surface plasmon resonance red-shifted almost linearly with increasing gold concentrations. The self-assembly of 1-dodecyne ligands on the nanoparticle surface was manifested in infrared spectroscopic measurements. Importantly, the resulting nanoparticles exhibited apparent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction in alkaline media, and the performance was found to show a volcano variation in the Au content in the alloy nanoparticles, with the best performance observed for the samples with ca. 35.5 at% Au. The enhanced catalytic activity, as compared to pure Ag nanoparticles or even commercial Pt/C catalysts, was accounted for by the unique metal–ligand interfacial bonding interactions as well as alloying effects that increased metal–oxygen affinity.
TU-EE-A2-03: A Novel Patch Field Design Using Optimized Grid Filter for Passively Scattered Proton Beams

Purpose: For tumors with complex shape, a “patching” strategy to match the distal edge of the spread‐out Bragg peak (SOBP) of the patch field with the lateral penumbra of the through field at 50% dose level, is often used in passively scattered proton therapy. The differences in the dose gradients at distal edge and lateral penumbra could cause hot and cold dose at the junction. The purpose of this study is to design an effective technique to improve the dose distribution at the patch junction. Method: We found that the distal fall‐off of the SOBP can be customized by a two‐dimensional grid filter placed perpendicular to the beam direction. An adaptive algorithm has been developed to optimize the grid filter to best match the dose distribution at the junction by taking into account the tissue heterogeneities in the beam path. The optimized grid filter is superimposed onto a compensator designed using the conventional patching technique by the treatment planning system to create a new compensator. An L‐shaped target for a head and neck case was used to compare the plan optimized using our algorithm with the plan designed using the conventional patch technique. Results: We demonstrated that the SOBP at the distal fall‐off region can be tailored by a simple grid filter. For the head and neck case studied, hot spots near the patch junction were almost completely eliminated using our technique. This was confirmed by the calculated dose distributions and dose volume histogram of the target. Conclusion: The gradient of the distal edge of the SOBP of the patch field can be optimally modified to match the penumbra of the through field with optimized grid filters to minimize hot and cold spots at the junctions. In addition to improved dose distributions, this method can significantly reduce the trial‐and‐error effort.
Therapeutic ranges of serum digoxin concentrations in patients with heart failure.

Evidence-based medicine is an evolutionary process, intended to foster and disseminate the best practice guidelines from an ongoing critical analysis of available data. An underaddressed challenge relates to detecting and correcting delays where the evidence supports, but fails to effect, a timely change in practice. An example pertains to serum digoxin concentrations (SDCs) in the treatment of chronic heart failure (HF) because (1) the widely disseminated and used “therapeutic” SDCs for treating HF are not consistently aligned with considerably lower evidence-based values and (2) this discrepancy—a variant of the “clinical inertia” syndrome—may lead to unnecessary exposure of patients to potentially life-threatening toxicities.
Calibration of a stopping power model for silicon based on analysis of neutron depth profiling and secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements

Abstract We measure the boron concentration versus depth profile within a silicon sample with four delta-doped planes by secondary ion mass spectrometry. In a neutron depth profiling (NDP) experiment, we illuminate the sample with a neutron beam. Nuclear reactions between the boron nuclei and neutrons produce alpha particles. Based on the measured boron concentration profile and models for the stopping power of the silicon sample, energy straggling, multiple scattering, and the observed energy resolution of the alpha particle detector, we predict the observed energy spectrum of the detected alpha particles. We predict the stopping power of silicon using the stopping and range of ions in matter code SRIM-2000. The predicted locations of the NDP energy peaks are consistently at lower energies than the locations of the observed peaks. This discrepancy is consistent with the claim that SRIM-2000 overestimates the actual stopping power of silicon. Empirically, we estimate a stopping power reduction factor to be 5.06%±1.06%. When we reduce the SRIM-2000 prediction by this factor, we get good agreement between the observed and predicted NDP measurements.
Entanglement and purity of one- and two-photon states

Whereas single- and two-photon wave packets are usually treated as pure states, in practice they will be mixed. We study how entanglement created with mixed photon wave packets is degraded. We find in particular that the entanglement of a delocalized single-photon state of the electromagnetic field is determined simply by its purity. We also discuss entanglement for two-photon mixed states, as well as the influence of a vacuum component.
SU-E-QI-09: In Vivo Monitoring of Fluorinated Inhalational Anesthetics Using 19F MRI: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: Despite the widespread use of fluorinated hydrocarbons for inhalational anesthesia very little is known about the role of these anesthetics in postoperative cognitive impairment. There is a compelling need for safe and effective quantitative and qualitative imaging techniques to monitor the spatial distribution of inhalational anesthetics in vivo to appropriately assess this role. Herein we present a pilot study on the use of 1 9F MRI to image fluorinated anesthetics in vivo. Methods: The spatial distribution of isoflurane in a healthy C57BL/6 mouse subject to a constant flow rate of gas was image using a 4.7T small animal MRI system (Aligent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA). Multiple coronal 19F 2 mm slice images were acquired using a volumetric quadrature coil tunable to 1 9F frequency (187.9 MHz) averaging over 4 different time points (30, 35, 60 and 75 minutes). 1 9F images were overlaid onto T2-weighted fast echo multi-slice (FSEMS) 1H images of soft tissue anatomy. Results: An average over the 4 collection time points clearly demonstrates the distribution of isoflurane in vivo with peak uptake in muscle and fatty tissue as well as in the frontal lobe of the mouse brain. A time resolved imaging sequence demonstrates the increasing uptake of isoflurane in each of these compartments. Conclusion: A novel technique to image fluorinated gas anesthetics in vivo has been demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time isoflurane has been imaged in vivo using MRI.
Information redundancy, inconsistency, and novelty and their role in impression formation

Abstract An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects on evaluations of persons of three mathematically related variables: the redundancy of the information presented about these persons, the inconsistency of this information, and its novelty. Subjects were asked to estimate their liking for persons described by adjective pairs. The redundancy of the two adjectives in each pair (A and B) was estimated from the extent to which the conjunctive probability of their occurrence (P ab ) exceeded the product of their unconditional probabilities of occurrence (P a and P b ), that is, by the extent to which P ab > P a P b . The inconsistency of the adjectives in a pair was defined by the degree to which P ab a P b . The novelty of each adjective was assumed to be inversely related to its unconditional probability of occurrence. Evaluations based upon pairs of adjectives became less polarized as the redundancy of the adjectives in those pairs increased, but became more extreme as their novelty increased. The effect of inconsistency was curvilinear, suggesting that the less polarized adjectives were discounted at moderate levels of inconsistency, but that the entire description was treated with incredulity at extreme levels of inconsistency, offsetting the discounting effect. Results were interpreted in light of current research and theory and also in terms of the mathematical and conceptual similarities between the variables investigated.
THE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CARDIAC OUTPUT ON INTRAPULMONARY SHUNTING

Cardiac output was varied in 6 normal dogs and in 12 dogs with oleic acid induced pulmonary oedema by inducing hyper- and hypovolaemia produced by either transfusing or bleeding 15–20 ml of blood per kg body weight from the normovolaemic state. In normal dogs, a reduction in cardiac output of 42% was accompanied by a reduction in intrapulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt) from 9.8 to 6.4%. With induced pulmonary oedema, a 35% reduction in cardiac output was accompanied by a fall in Qs/Qt from 29 to 21.6%. In another series of experiments, mixed venous oxygen saturation was varied independently of cardiac output by means of veno-venous shunting of blood through a disc oxygenator. Decreasing SvO2 from 70 to 50% in normal lungs caused a decrease in QS/QT from 10.1 to 7.9% whilst in pulmonary oedema a decrease in Sv02 from 59.3 to 32.2% produced a decrease in Qs/Qt from 10.1 to 7.9% whilst in pulmonary oedema a decrease in SvO2 from 59.3 to 32.2% produced a decrease in Qs/Qt from 28.8 to 25.7%.
Oxidation of guanine in G, GG, and GGG sequence contexts by aromatic pyrenyl radical cations and carbonate radical anions: relationship between kinetics and distribution of alkali-labile lesions.

Oxidatively generated DNA damage induced by the aromatic radical cation of the pyrene derivative 7,8,9,10-tetrahydroxytetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPT), and by carbonate radicals anions, was monitored from the initial one-electron transfer, or hole injection step, to the formation of hot alkali-labile chemical end-products monitored by gel electrophoresis. The fractions of BPT molecules bound to double-stranded 20−35-mer oligonucleotides with noncontiguous guanines G and grouped as contiguous GG and GGG sequences were determined by a fluorescence quenching method. Utilizing intense nanosecond 355 nm Nd:YAG laser pulses, the DNA-bound BPT molecules were photoionized to BPT•+ radicals by a consecutive two-photon ionization mechanism. The BPT•+ radicals thus generated within the duplexes selectively oxidize guanine by intraduplex electron-transfer reactions, and the rate constants of these reactions follow the trend 5‘-..GGG.. > 5‘-..GG.. > 5‘-..G... In the case of CO3•- radicals, the oxidation of guanine occur...
Extended cytoreduction of intraabdominal metastatic ovarian cancer in the left upper quadrant utilizing en bloc resection.

Objective The objective of the study was to describe the development of and experience with a technique for en bloc resection of left upper quadrant intraperitoneal metastatic ovarian cancer. Study Design From May 7, 2002-August 14, 2004, 6 women underwent en bloc resection of extensive tumor contiguously involving the omentum, colon, gastrocolic ligament and spleen. This represents about 5% of all cytoreductive operations performed during that time. Four of the 6 had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results A description of the technique is included in the text. Two women required partial gastrectomy and partial pancreatectomy. Separate segmental resection or subtotal colectomy was performed in 3 women. Cytoreduction was optimal in all 6 cases. Significant complications occurred in 3 of the women. Disease-free survival ranged from 2-12 months. Conclusion In highly selected patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer, en bloc resection of extensive left upper quadrant intraabdominal tumor may be a reasonable method for accomplishing optimal cytoreduction.
The end and the beginning: recoveries from mass extinctions

The evolutionary consequences of mass extinctions depend as much on the processes of survival and recovery following these biotic crises as on the patterns of extinction themselves. Paleontologists are currently documenting biotic recoveries from six major mass extinctions and several smaller biotic crises. Although the immediate responses are remarkably similar after each event, with low-diversity assemblages dominated by widespread, eurytopic species, the recovery response in the long-term is more varied. Lineages that survive the extinction can lack the resilience for recovery, whereas others vanish from the fossil record seemingly to return from the dead after several million years.
Vanishing Integrals of Macdonald and Koornwinder polynomials

When one expands a Schur function in terms of the irreducible characters of the symplectic (or orthogonal) group, the coefficient of the trivial character is 0 unless the indexing partition has an appropriate form. A number of q,t-analogues of this fact were conjectured in [10]; the present paper proves most of those conjectures, as well as some new identities suggested by the proof technique. The proof involves showing that a nonsymmetric version of the relevant integral is annihilated by a suitable ideal of the affine Hecke algebra, and that any such annihilated functional satisfies the desired vanishing property. This does not, however, give rise to vanishing identities for the standard nonsymmetric Macdonald and Koornwinder polynomials; we discuss the required modification to these polynomials to support such results.
Complications of tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheters in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

PURPOSE Although increased infectious and thrombotic complications have been reported in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), little is known regarding hemodialysis catheter-related complications in HIV patients. In this report, we reviewed our experience and complication rates for tunneled cuffed catheters (TCCs) in HIV patients requiring hemodialysis. METHODS A total of 85 patients with HIV infection underwent TCC placement for hemodialysis between 1996 and 2009. Hospital records were reviewed to determine causes and risk factors for TCC-related complications in HIV patients. For comparison, we studied 85 age- and sex-matched low-risk HIV case controls who received TCC for hemodialysis during the same period. RESULTS A total of 119 and 102 TCCs were inserted in the HIV and control group, respectively. Total numbers of catheter days in the HIV and control groups were 17,321 and 15,620 days, respectively. The primary unassisted TCC patency rates at 6 months in the HIV and control groups were 74% ± 11% and 86% ± 8%, respectively (NS). There was an increased TCC bacteremia rate in HIV patients compared with control subjects (5.38 vs. 2.66 per 1,000 TCC days, p=0.03). There was also a higher TCC tunnel infection rate in HIV patients compared with control cohorts (3.72 vs. 1.87 per 1,000 TCC days, p=0.04). Factors associated with increased catheter infection rate in HIV patients were 1) low CD4+ lymphocyte counts (<200/mm3), 2) low albumin level (<2.5 g/dl), and 3) history of illicit intravenous drug use. CONCLUSION TCCs are associated with an increased risk of infection in HIV patients requiring hemodialysis. Moreover, HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of mortality among hemodialysis patients. Hypoalbuminemia, history of intravenous drug use, and low CD4+ lymphocyte counts are associated with increased risk of catheter infection in HIV patients requiring hemodialysis.
Structure and Resistance of Thin Metal Films

IT was proposed by Kramer1 that a film below a certain 'transition temperature' is mainly amorphous, though containing some regions of normal metal, and that at the transition temperature the film is converted completely into the normal crystalline metal. The transition temperature was given by an empirical formula in terms of atomic volume, conductivity, and the number of free electrons per atom (N) in the normal metal. Structural changes have been shown to occur by different investigators2, and have been discussed by them and others3. It has not always been observed that the structural changes occur at a sharply defined critical temperature, and theories alternative to that of Kramer have been proposed.
Statistical-mechanical theory of passive transport through semipermeable membranes.

Abstract The first general multicomponent equations for transport through semipermeable membranes are derived from basic statistical-mechanical principles. The procedure follows that used earlier for open membranes, but semipermeability is modelled mathematically by the introduction of external forces on the impermeant species. Gases are treated first in order to clarify the problems involved, but the final results apply to general nonideal solutions of any concentration. The mixed-solvent effect is treated rigorously, and a mixed-solvent osmotic pressure is defined. A useful specific identification of socalled osmotic flow is given, along with a demonstration that such an identification cannot be unique. Results are obtained both for discontinuous membrane models, and for a continuous model.
Glycan Microarray Technologies: Tools to Survey Host Specificity of Influenza Viruses

New technologies are urgently required for rapid surveillance of the current H5N1 avian influenza A outbreaks to gauge the potential for adaptation of the virus to the human population, a crucial step in the emergence of pandemic influenza virus strains. Owing to the species-specific nature of the interaction between the virus and host glycans, attention has recently focused on novel glycan array technologies that can rapidly assess virus receptor specificity and the potential emergence of human-adapted H5N1 viruses.
Combining ability between lines of Cucumis sativus L. and Cucumis sativus var. hardwickii (R.) Alef

Three Cucumis sativus L. (CS) lines adapted to USA growing conditions were used as female parents in crosses to one line each of seven Cucumis sativus var. hardwickii (R.) Alef. (CH) accessions used as male parents to determine the relative combining ability of the CH accessions for six horticultural characters. The 21 F1 progenies were grown in a randomized complete block design in two locations and evaluated for fruit number, lateral branch number, fruit length, fruit length/diameter ratio, number of female flowering nodes, and days to anthesis. General combining ability (GCA) was significant for all characters in each location. Specific combining ability (SCA) was significant for all characters except days to anthesis in one location and lateral branch number in both locations. Significant location × combining ability interactions were also evident for several characters. Results suggest that CH may be useful for improving fruit yield in commercial cucumber, but that limitations may lie in the attainment of acceptable fruit.
Characterization of a cDNA clone encoding for a porcine immunoglobulin μ chain

We present the complete sequence of cDNA clone BLM6, isolated from a porcine spleen cDNA library. BLM6 encodes for the constant region of a secreted mu heavy chain. The cDNA is 1342 bp in length, begins within C mu 1, and terminates in the 3' translated region. The deduced amino acid sequence indicates there are 111 amino acids in C mu 2, 106 in C mu 3, and 113 in C mu 4, along with 19 carboxy-terminal residues that comprise the secreted terminus. The full length transcript is approximately 2.4 kb as determined by Northern blot analysis. Southern blot analysis suggests there is only one mu chain gene within the porcine genome. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of porcine C mu with other mammalian C mu sequences indicates that the overall identity is approximately 60%, with the greatest identity seen in the secreted terminus (approximately 85%) and C mu 4 (approximately 70%); and less identity in C mu 3 (60%) and C mu 2 (50%).
Exogenous overexpression of nerve growth factor in the urinary bladder produces bladder overactivity and altered micturition circuitry in the lumbosacral spinal cord.

Background Exogenous NGF or saline was delivered to the detrusor smooth muscle of female rats for a two-week period using osmotic mini-pumps. We then determined: (1) bladder function using conscious cystometry; (2) organization of micturition reflexes using Fos protein expression in lumbosacral (L5-S1) spinal cord neurons; (3) calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity (IR) in lumbosacral spinal cord segments.
Periodic elliptic motions in a planar restricted (N+1)-body problem

LetN≧2 mass points (primaries) move on a collinear solution of relative equilibrium of theN-body problem; i.e. suitably fixed on a uniformly rotating straight line. Consider the motion of a massless particle in the gravitational field of these primaries with arbitrarily given masses. An existence proof for periodic solutions (i.e. closed trajectories in a rotating coordinate system) will be given, in which the particle performs nearly keplerian elliptic motions about (and close to) any one of the primaries.
Southwest Labor Studies Association Conference

Through subcontracting, firms become decentralized to the extent that workers often do not know the identity of their employers. The apparel industry also dis proportionately employs an immigrant work force predominantly made up of women marginalized within the structures of political and economic power in the United States. According to Bonacic1^ in spite of these and other barriers, organizers have achieved success by linking the interests of apparel workers with those of consumers concerning the abhorrent conditions under which clothing is manufactured. The results have been a series of successful campaigns orga nized by the Union of Needle Trades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) to reform and challenge apparel industry employers. During the concluding plenary, Michael Burawoy brought the discussion full circle as he responded to criticisms levied by John Bellamy Foster. While ac knowledging the significance of Labor and Monopoly Capital?mainly that it was a book that encouraged people to think critically about work?Burawoy de fended his position. He argued that studies of the workplace have moved be yond Braverman and referred to various conference presentations to reinforce his position. We believe the views of Burawoy and Foster represent only two op posing opinions in what has become a broad field engaged in the critical study of work. In spite of important differences, there is certainly room for agreement. Perhaps the most significant contribution of the "Work, Difference, and Social Change" conference was that it brought together participants who tried to in corporate the lessons of Labor and Monopoly Capital while expanding the ter rain of critical workplace studies. The conference displayed a consensus that the degradation of work in a broad sense remains central to the capitalist labor process. Shifting historical conditions warrant constant reconsideration of the specific form of degradation and its corresponding dynamics and relations. Is La bor and Monopoly Capital a classic of its time or for all times? While this ques tion certainly made for interesting debate and provided the subplot for the con ference proceedings, it was appropriately left unresolved. Perhaps another conference in another twenty years will put this issue to rest.
Morphological evidence of a virus infection in the nematode Gastromermis sp. (Mermithidae)

Abstract A 90-nm enveloped icosahedral virus was observed in adults of the mermithid nematode Gastromermis sp. This virus appeared to replicate in the wall of the testis as well as in the stichosome, troposome, hypodermis, muscles, and neural tissue. Stages suggestive of viral budding into the pseudocoelom and viral uptake into host cells were observed. Virions were present in the lumens of the stichosome and testes. Those in the testes could possibly be transmitted to the female nematode during mating.
The cache-oblivious gaussian elimination paradigm: theoretical framework and experimental evaluation

The cache-oblivious Gaussian Elimination Paradigm (GEP) was introduced by the authors in [6] to obtain efficient cache-oblivious algorithms for several important problems that have algorithms with triply-nested loops similar to those that occur in Gaussian elimination. These include Gaussian elimination and LU-decomposition without pivoting, all-pairs shortest paths and matrix multiplication. In this paper, we prove several important properties of the cache-oblivious framework for GEP given in [6], which we denote by I-GEP. We build on these results to obtain C-GEP, a completely general cache-oblivious implementation of GEP that applies to any code in GEP form, and which has the same time and I/O bounds as the earlier algorithm in [6], while using a modest amount of additional space. We present an experimental evaluation of the caching performance of I-GEP and CGEP in relation to the traditional Gaussian elimination algorithm. Our experimental results indicate that I-GEP and C-GEP outperform GEP on inputs of reasonable size, with dramatic improvement in running time over GEP when the data is out of core. ‘Tiling’, an important loop transformation technique employed by optimizing compilers in order to improve temporal locality in nested loops, is a cache-aware method that does not adapt to all levels in a multi-level memory hierarchy. The cache-oblivious GEP framework (either I-GEP or C-GEP) produces system-independent I/O-efficient code for triply nested loops of the form that appears in Gaussian elimination without pivoting, and is potentially applicable to being used by optimizing compilers for loop transformation. ∗Department of Computer Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712. Email: {shaikat,vlr}@cs.utexas.edu. This work was supported in part by NSF Grant CCF-0514876 and NSF CISE Research Infrastructure Grant EIA-0303609.
Resistance minimum in ultrathin ferromagnetic films of Fe on MgO(100)

Abstract Ultrathin films of Fe grown on MgO(100) in ultrahigh vacuum were studied in situ as a function of temperature and thickness by means of sheet-resistance R □ , Kerr-effect, electron-diffraction and Auger measurements. Ferromagnetic hysteresis appears at room temperature for Fe dosages > 4 monolayers (≈ 5.7 A). For films ≈ 11 to 14 A thick R □ has a minimum at the relatively high temperature of ≈260 to 140 K, respectively, attributed to a crossover from 2 dimensional disordered to and 3D metallic system.
On the Least-Squares Fitting of Correlated Data: Removing the Correlation

Abstract In the most general case of linear least-squares fitting, the input data may be mutually correlated. This correlation is accommodated through a weight matrix W which contains off-diagonal elements. The existence of strong correlation in the data makes it difficult to interpret the fit residuals in terms of "good" and "bad" data. However, it is possible to transform the original correlated problem into an equivalent uncorrelated, unweighted fit through a simple linear transformation. This transformation is readily obtained from the orthogonal transformation which diagonalizes W.
Exploiting Differences in Solution vs Solid-Supported Reactivity for the Synthesis of Sulfonic Acid Derivatives

We describe a method herein for the protection of aryl and alkyl sulfonates during synthesis which employs commercially available Wang or MBOH resin, both of which terminate as benzyl alcohols, as both a protecting group and “traceless” linker. Given the known instability of benzylic sulfonate esters to nucleophilic displacement in solution, this linkage is surprisingly stable: no loss of either aryl or alkyl sulfonates is observed when the resin is exposed to a wide variety of organic bases and solvents at room temperature. Further elaboration of the resin-bound sulfonates via Suzuki coupling is also described.