cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A randomized trial of doxorubicin, mitoxantrone and bisantrene in advanced breast cancer (A South West Oncology Group Study)

New agents with increased activity and/or reduced toxicity are needed for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The anthracene derivatives mitoxantrone and bisantrene had significant activity and acceptable toxicity in phase II trials. In an ongoing phase III trial we have now randomized 150 patients with advanced breast cancer to either doxorubicin (60 mg/m2), mitoxantrone (14 mg/m2) or bisantrene (260 mg/m2) i.v. q 3 weeks with re-randomization for cross-over at the time of progression to determine the relative efficacy and toxicity of these three agents. To be eligible, patients must have had only one previous chemotherapy regimen. ER positive patients must have failed endocrine therapy. Patients with CHF or severe cardiac disease were ineligible. In this preliminary evaluation, 117 patients are evaluable for response and 110 for toxicity. Median age for all patients is 58 years (range 26–78). The majority (86%) are postmenopausal. Fifty-nine percent of the patients have visceral dominant disease. Estrogen receptor is positive in 37%, negative in 39% and unknown in 24% of patients. Median performance status (SWOG) is 1, range 0–2. Objective responses have been observed on each arm (doxorubicin 9/35, mitoxantrone 6/38, bisantrene 6/44). Thirty-two patients are evaluable for cross-over response (doxorubicin 2/13, mitoxantrone 1/11, bisantrene 0/8). The predominant toxicity is leukopenia with a nadir WBC count <2000 in 45% of all courses administered. Leukopenia is similar with the three drugs. Significant nausea, vomiting and alopecia are common with doxorubicin and uncommon with the other agents. Congestive heart failure has been observed in one patient (doxorubicin). Definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy and toxicity of these agents await the completion of this trial.
I Love the 80s: The Pleasures of a Postmodern History

In this analysis, I examine VH1's television program I Love the 80s as a form of postmodern history. I Love the 80s functions as public memory that is “pure” intertextual pastiche devoid of any coherent narrative form. The show's celebrity respondents and the viewing audience share an affective relationship to the rapidly edited objects of media “consumption” (television shows, movies, songs, etc.) encouraging identification. In addition, pleasure emerges from the playful intertextual bricolage of I Love the 80s. With a morally detached and irreverent perspective toward these memorialized mediated texts, the television series represents an ironic history of popular culture created primarily for postmodern viewing pleasure. As an accelerated history, I Love the 80s navigates an economy of attention via play with intertextual pop culture. The essay offers conclusions concerning the rhetorical understandings of contemporary public memory.
Coverage-based treatment planning: optimizing the IMRT PTV to meet a CTV coverage criterion.

This work demonstrates an iterative approach—referred to as coverage-based treatment planning—designed to produce treatment plans that ensure target coverage for a specified percentage of setup errors. In this approach the clinical target volume to planning target volume (CTV-to-PTV) margin is iteratively adjusted until the specified CTV coverage is achieved. The advantage of this approach is that it automatically compensates for the dosimetric margin around the CTV, i.e., the extra margin that is created when the dose distribution extends beyond the PTV. When applied to 27 prostate plans, this approach reduced the average CTV-to-PTV margin from 5 to 2.8 mm. This reduction in PTV size produced a corresponding decrease in the volume of normal tissue receiving high dose. The total volume of tissue receiving ≥65 Gy was reduced on average by 19.3% or about 48 cc. Individual reductions varied from 8.7% to 28.6%. The volume of bladder receiving ≥60 Gy was reduced on average by 5.6% (reductions for individuals varied from 1.7% to 10.6%), and the volume of periprostatic rectum receiving ≥65 Gy was reduced on average by 4.9% (reductions for individuals varied from 0.9% to 12.3%). The iterative method proposed here represents a step toward a probabilistic treatment planning algorithm which can generate dose distributions (i.e., treated volumes) that closely approximate a specified level of coverage in the presence of geometric uncertainties. The general principles of coverage-based treatment planning are applicable to arbitrary treatment sites and delivery techniques. Importantly, observed deviations between coverage implied by specified CTV-to-PTV margins and coverage achieved by a given treatment plan imply a generic need to perform coverage probability analysis on a per-plan basis to ensure that the desired level of coverage is achieved.
Revolution, Revision or Reversal: Genetics - Ethics Curriculum.

This paper reviews three pioneer programs that attempt to integrate genetic science and ethics in the classroom. The critical discussion focuses on what counts for ethics in each of these programs, on the corresponding theoretical framework represented in each, and on the success of each program in integrating science and ethics. It concludes by suggesting that the basic goal of integrating science and ethics is undermined in each program by a lack of correspondence between the articulated pedagogical goals and the unarticulated theoretical framework. In each case the unexamined framework gives epistemological privilege to science and undercuts the veracity of ethics. The constructive discussion suggests a theoretical framework that corresponds with the pedagogical goal of integrating ethics and genetic science in the classroom.
New treatments for asthma

Abstract It has proved to be very difficult to develop new classes of antiasthma therapy, partly because existing drugs, and particularly inhaled corticosteroids are so effective. The only new class of drug developed in 25 years have been the antileukotrienes which are less effective than inhaled corticosteroids. There is a need to develop new treatments for asthma, since patients with severe asthma are not well controlled on doses of corticosteroids that are safe, and there is a problem of poor compliance with existing inhaler therapy. Several drugs are now in development for asthma. New bronchodilators have been difficult to develop as new drugs are less effective than β2-agonists and have more side effects. Mediator antagonists have proved disappointing as so many mediators are involved in asthma. Inhibitors of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-5, IL-4 and eotaxin, which may inhibit eosinophilic inflammation, are now in clinical development. Other approaches include more selective immunomodulation, anti-IgE antibodies, adhesion molecule blockers and kinase inhibitors. Preventive treatments in the future may include drugs that alter the immune abnormalities in atopy by stimulating a protective Th1 immunity. A cure for asthma does not seem likely in the near future.
Reaction of S-Nitrosoglutathione with the Heme Group of Deoxyhemoglobin

The mechanism of interaction betweenS-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and hemoglobin is a crucial component of hypotheses concerning the role played byS-nitrosohemoglobin in vivo. We previously demonstrated (Patel, R. P., Hogg, N., Spencer, N. Y., Kalyanaraman, B., Matalon, S., and Darley-Usmar, V. M. (1999)J. Biol. Chem. 274, 15487–15492) that transnitrosation between oxygenated hemoglobin and GSNO is a slow, reversible process, and that the reaction between GSNO and deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb) did not conform to second order reversible kinetics. In this study we have reinvestigated this reaction and show that GSNO reacts with deoxyHb to form glutathione, nitric oxide, and ferric hemoglobin. Nitric oxide formed from this reaction is immediately autocaptured to form nitrosylated hemoglobin. GSNO reduction by deoxyHb is essentially irreversible. The kinetics of this reaction depended upon the conformation of the protein, with more rapid kinetics occurring in the high oxygen affinity state (i.e.modification of the Cysβ-93) than in the low oxygen affinity state (i.e. treatment with inositol hexaphosphate). A more rapid reaction occurred when deoxymyoglobin was used, further supporting the observation that the kinetics of reduction are directly proportional to oxygen affinity. This observation provides a mechanism for how deoxygenation of hemoglobin/myoglobin could facilitate nitric oxide release from S-nitrosothiols and represents a potential physiological mechanism of S-nitrosothiol metabolism.
Automated precision measurement of surface profile in CAD-directed inspection

The authors present an optimal match scheme that aligns the measurement data with the design data in CAD-directed dimensional inspection. The principle of this scheme is to determine the actual measured points on the nominal surface by minimizing the sum of the squared distances of the measurement data from the surface with respect to the parameters of a rigid body transformation. Its computational efficiency and robustness against singularity are discussed. Two applications are examined. The first is determining the design coordinate system with respect to a machine coordinate system. The second is comparative analysis for precision measurement. For determining the design coordinate system, a sensitivity measure is proposed and confirmed experimentally. For error comparative analysis, a statistical model is developed to determine the minimum number of required measurement points so that the sampled points can closely represent the entire population. >
Preventing drug use among sexual-minority youths: findings from a tailored, web-based intervention.

Abstract Purpose Rates of drug use among sexual-minority youths are disproportionately high. Yet, expressly designed prevention programs targeting this population are absent. This study developed and tested a web-based drug abuse prevention program for sexual-minority youths. Methods A sample (N = 236) of sexual-minority youths was recruited via Facebook. Online, all youths completed pretests; youths randomly assigned to the intervention received a 3-session prevention program; and all youths completed posttest and 3-month follow-up measurements. Results At 3-month follow-up and compared to youths in the control arm, intervention-arm youths reported less stress, reduced peer drug use, lower rates of past 30-day other drug use, and higher coping, problem solving, and drug-use refusal skills. Conclusions Outcome data suggest the potential of tailored intervention content to address sexual-minority youths' drug use rates and related risk factors. Moreover, study procedures lend support to the feasibility of using the Internet to recruit sexual-minority youths, collect data, and deliver intervention.
Towards a general state-variable constitutive relation to describe granular deformation

Triaxial-compression experiments were performed on cylindrical quartz sand-packs to explore the universality of statevariable constitutive relations used to describe granular deformation. Samples were subjected to relaxation-creep experiments similar to slide–hold–slide tests from friction studies. For relaxation-creep tests, a constant rate of axial shortening was interrupted by time intervals for which the applied shortening rate was set to zero. During holds, loadforce decayed exponentially with time and the total stress-relaxation scales with the logarithm of hold time, consistent with friction tests. On reloading after holds, stress monotonically increases to the pre-hold steady-state levels without displaying the restrengthening of static friction often observed from shear tests on granular layers. We find that the existing rate- and state-variable friction laws can model the transient strength behavior during relaxation creep and subsequent reloading by using simple assumptions about the deformation of cylindrical sand-packs in triaxial compression. By analogy with the rate- and state-friction constitutive relations, we propose a generalized state-variable expression for granular deformation in simple and pure shear. Although additional experiments under a variety of load boundary geometries and load paths will be needed, such a general constitutive relation may ultimately describe granular deformation under a broad range of conditions (e.g., for large variations in loading rate, shear stress, normal stress, mean stress) and may be applicable to a variety of research problems that involve deformation within granular media. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
LIPOPROTEIN INHIBITOR OF BQNE MARROW CELLS IN TUMOR‐BEARING RATS

The role of a plasma inhibitor of erythropoiesis is evaluated in rats with Walker-256 carcinoma (W-256). Plasma from tumor-bearing rats was treated by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-150) and fractions were combined into four pools on the basis of mol. wt. Inhibitory activity was assayed by adding an aliquot of the plasma fractions to normal rat marrow cells which were cultured for 24 hr with and without erythropoietin. 59Fe-heme synthesis, [3H]thymidine DNA synthesis, and 14C-leucine protein synthesis were studied. The results indicated that cultures containing the high mol. wt. pool (greater than 400,000 daltons) had significantly decreased heme, DNA and protein synthesis. This inhibitor also diminished the response to erythropoietin in polycythemic mice. The lower mol. wt. pool stimulated heme synthesis in vitro. To identify the inhibitor further, plasma lipoprotein classes were isolated by density gradient ultracentrifugation. The very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and chylomicron fractions markedly inhibited DNA, protein and heme synthesis. Low density and high density lipoprotein fractions were inactive. A lipoprotein inhibitor of erythropoiesis was also identified in cancerous ascitic fluid, and to a lesser degree, in normal rat plasma. We suggest that this VLDL inhibitor of marrow erythropoiesis is a contributing factor in the anaemia of cancer.
Confronting Death and the Concept of Life Review: The Talmudic Approach.

This paper reviews the concept of “life review” postulated by Butler and the Eriksonian notion of “integrity versus despair” and compares these with the rabbinic conception of death, its effect on the years preceding death, and preparation for it. The rabbis encouraged this process and considered its ultimate goal to be the heroic and creative act of repentance. This would be analogous to the Eriksonian goal of “wisdom” as the alternative to despair during this life crisis.
Analytical Study of the Step Starting and Step Running of a 3-Phase Induction Motor II - Step Running of the Induction Motor

A new method called the step starting and step running of induction motors has been analytically developed. Pairs of stator terminals are connected in sequence to a voltage or current pulse from a variable frequency source. The frequency of the voltage or current pulse is zero at standstill and is gradually increased to bring the rotor up to required speed against a given load. In part I of the paper it was shown that the starting torque with a rated current pulse is much greater than the starting torque with a voltage pulse; the magnitude of the voltage pulse being that required for steady-state rated peak current in the stator. This part of the paper discusses the electromechanics of the method with current pulses fed to the stator. It is found that torque developed is proportional to the square of the magnitude of the current pulse. Variations in torque at any running speed are obtained by varying the magnitude of the current pulse. Any desired speed-torque characteristic of the motor is obtained by properly controlling the current with a current-control mechanism. Low resistance of the rotor increases the average torque developed in step starting as well as running. The analysis holds good for an unsaturated machine.
Flame index and its statistical properties measured to understand partially premixed turbulent combustion

Abstract This work addresses some fundamental questions in the area of partially premixed combustion—what parameters control the fraction of flamelets that are premixed (versus non-premixed), and what are the locations of high probability of premixed (versus non-premixed) combustion? To answer these questions there is a need to measure the flame index ( ξ ) and its statistical properties, and this information previously has not been available. Flame index is + 1 where a premixed flamelet exists and is - 1 at the location of a non-premixed flamelet. A new method to measure flame index was developed that adds NO2 to the air; acetone is used as one component of the fuel. Laser-induced fluorescence images indicate the locations of flamelets and whether the gradients of the fuel and O2 are in the same direction or not. Flame index was measured in a gas turbine model combustor that was designed at DLR that is a good example of partially premixed combustion. Measurements show how the mean flame index varies in space; near the fuel injector the combustion is 50% non-premixed and 50% premixed while downstream the flamelets are mostly premixed. This trend is consistent with two numerical simulations of swirl flames; however for simple lifted jet flames the premixed flamelets do not extend so far downstream. It was found that one parameter that controls the fraction of flamelets that are premixed is the ratio of the fuel injection velocity to the air velocity. Increasing this ratio increases the fraction of flamelets that are premixed because it increases the distance that the fuel stream penetrates into the more intense mixing region. Good signal-to-noise ratios of 24 (for acetone) and 13 (for NO2) were achieved and an uncertainty analysis is presented that is based on calibration experiments.
Spontaneous radial capillary impregnation across a bank of aligned micro-cylinders. Part II: Experimental investigations

This paper presents an experimental approach to study the capillary impregnation of a liquid across an array of parallel micro-cylinders. The technique presented successfully validates the theoretical findings of part I, and provides a methodology to calculate the fill time and the overall capillary impregnation dynamics for any arbitrary cylindrical sample made of aligned micro-cylinders, by taking into account the role of the trapped gas, which opposes and slows down the inward capillary flow.
The leukemia-associated gene Mllt1/ENL: characterization of a murine homolog and demonstration of an essential role in embryonic development.

Abstract ABSTRACT MLLT1 (ENL/LTG19) is one of a number of fusion gene partners with the MLL oncogene involved in 11q23 translocations in human leukemia and encodes a transcriptional regulator of unknown function. Leukemias bearing MLL translocations may be myeloid or lymphoid or bear mixed lineage properties; however, those bearing MLL/MLLT1 translocations are predominantly lymphoid, suggesting that MLLT1 may influence the leukemic phenotype. The murine homolog Mllt1 exhibits 86% amino acid sequence identity with the human gene and is broadly expressed in murine tissues and cell lines, with the exception of liver and myeloid cell lines. We have mapped Mllt1 to mouse chromosome 17 band E2 using FISH analysis. The genomic structure and 5′ regulatory sequence of Mllt1 are highly conserved between mouse and human. There is also conservation of the genomic structure, but not the promoter, between MLLT1 and MLLT3 /AF9, a homologous gene that is also an MLL translocation partner in human leukemias with a predominant myeloid phenotype. Targeted disruption of Mllt1 in mice leads to embryonic lethality prior to 8.5 dpc. These studies indicate that MLLT1 is involved in essential developmental processes and suggest that expression patterns of MLL fusion partners may influence the lineage of MLL-associated leukemias.
Management and outcomes in 318 operative common peroneal nerve lesions at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

Objective This study analyzes 318 operative knee-level common peroneal nerve lesions managed at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center between 1967 and 1999. Methods Each patient was retrospectively evaluated for injury mechanism, preoperative neurological status, electrophysiological studies, lesion type, and operative technique, i.e., neurolysis, suture, or graft repair. All lesions in continuity had intraoperative nerve action potential recordings. Results There were 141 stretch/contusions without fracture/dislocations (44%), 39 lacerations (12%), 40 tumors (13%), 30 entrapments (9%), 22 stretch/contusions with fracture/dislocations (7%), 21 compressions (7%), 13 iatrogenic injuries (4%), and 12 gunshot wounds (4%). After neurolysis, 107 (88%) of 121 knee-level common peroneal nerve lesions with recordable intraoperative nerve action potentials recovered useful function. Nineteen patients underwent end-to-end suture repair, and 16 (84%) of these achieved good recovery by 24 months. Graft repair was performed in 138 peroneal injuries. Thirty-six patients (26%) had grafts less than 6 cm long, of which 27 (75%) achieved Grade 3 or greater peroneal function. Twenty-four (38%) of 64 patients with 6- to 12-cm grafts, and only 6 (16%) of 38 patients with 13- to 24-cm grafts, attained good peroneal function. Longer grafts correlated with more severe injuries and thus poorer outcomes. Thirty-two (80%) of 40 tumors were resected with preservation of preoperative clinical function. Conclusion Surgical exploration and repair of peroneal nerve lesions achieved good results with timely operations and thorough intraoperative evaluations. Useful function was achieved in 27 (75%) of 36 patients with grafts less than 6 cm in length and in only 88 (44%) of 202 patients with grafts greater than 6 cm in length.
Changes in neuronal activation patterns in response to androgen deprivation therapy: a pilot study

A common treatment option for men with prostate cancer is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, men undergoing ADT may experience physical side effects, changes in quality of life and sometimes psychiatric and cognitive side effects. In this study, hormone naive patients without evidence of metastases with a rising PSA were treated with nine months of ADT. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain during three visuospatial tasks was performed at baseline prior to treatment and after nine months of ADT in five subjects. Seven healthy control patients, underwent neuroimaging at the same time intervals. ADT patients showed reduced, task-related BOLD-fMRI activation during treatment that was not observed in control subjects. Reduction in activation in right parietal-occipital regions from baseline was observed during recall of the spatial location of objects and mental rotation. Findings, while preliminary, suggest that ADT reduces task-related neural activation in brain regions that are involved in mental rotation and accurate recall of spatial information.
The Ro Autoantigen Binds Misfolded U2 Small Nuclear RNAs and Assists Mammalian Cell Survival after UV Irradiation

The Ro 60 kDa autoantigen, an RNA binding protein, is a major target of the immune response in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. As mice lacking Ro develop a lupus-like syndrome, Ro may be important for preventing autoimmunity [1]. However, the cellular function of Ro, which binds small cytoplasmic RNAs of unknown function called Y RNAs, has been enigmatic. Ro has been proposed to function in 5S rRNA quality control based on experiments in Xenopus laevis oocytes [2], and a Ro ortholog enhances survival of the eubacterium Deinococcus radiodurans after ultraviolet irradiation [3]. To test the general importance of these two observations for Ro function, we investigated the role of Ro in mammalian cells. We report that, in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, Ro binds variant spliceosomal U2 snRNAs. Expression of mouse U2 snRNAs in Xenopus oocytes reveals that binding occurs in nuclei and appears to involve recognition of misfolded RNA. Moreover, mouse ES cells lacking Ro exhibit decreased survival after ultraviolet irradiation. In irradiated cells, both Ro and a Y RNA accumulate in nuclei. We propose that Ro plays a general role in small RNA quality control and that this function is important for cell survival after ultraviolet irradiation.
Standalone or managed care drug plans, postarthroplasty thromboprophylaxis, and risperidone for PTSD

Choice of standalone or managed care drug plans Cline et al.1 reported that “models of health insurance demand and plan choice applied in this context appear to be modestly effective. Rurality and state of residence were particularly important contributors to patients’ decisions.” The study described factors associated with (1) Medicare beneficiaries choosing to enroll in any Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) and (2) the choice of a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan (MA-PD), given enrollment in Part D. Mailed surveys were sent to a stratified random sample of 5,000 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older. Nearly 75% of sample members elected to enroll in one of the Medicare Part D coverage options in 2007, with more than three times as many choosing a standalone PDP compared with an MA-PD (57.2% vs. 17.8%). Rurality, plan price, perceived future need for medications, and preferences emerged as important predictors of choosing to enroll in any Medicare Part D drug plan, while rurality, state of residence, and number of diagnosed medical conditions were associated with the decision to enroll in an MA-PD. Implications. Although rurality was important to patients’ choices in both cases, state of residence and diagnosed medical conditions were important to the MA-PD choice. Reasons for these differences (e.g., state of residence and managed care concentration in those states) should be examined.
Political Participation, Efficacy and the 2008 Minnesota Presidential Caucuses

The purpose of this study was to learn why Minnesota residents participated in the presidential caucus on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008. The research team interviewed a total of 37 registered Republican (n = 15) and Democrat (n = 22) Minnesota voters from a mid-sized Midwestern community on caucus night. Open-ended, semi-structured interviews elicited the reasons voters said they participated in the caucus. Using grounded theory, several categories of responses emerged from data including duty and responsibility, making a difference, special election, participation, supporting a candidate, and concern for the country. The results show the majority of participants were motivated to take part because they viewed it as a duty and a responsibility as citizens of a democracy. Participants did not use the caucus as a forum for discussion and dialogue surrounding the election, but as an outlet to achieve political efficacy.
Stereochemical and Skeletal Diversity Arising from Amino Propargylic Alcohols

An efficient synthetic pathway to the possible stereoisomers of skeletally diverse heterocyclic small molecules is presented. The change in shape brought about by different intramolecular cyclizations of diastereoisomeric amino propargylic alcohols is quantified using principal moment-of-inertia (PMI) shape analysis.
GONOPODIAL STRUCTURES REVISITED: VARIATION IN GENITAL MORPHOLOGY WITHIN AND ACROSS FOUR POPULATIONS OF THE WESTERN MOSQUITOFISH (GAMBUSIA AFFINIS) IN TEXAS

Abstract We report on gonopodial structures in the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) including forked distal hooks and presence-absence of the elbow and gap. In addition, we present information on gonopodial variation across the Trinity, San Jacinto, and Brazos river drainages in Texas.
ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN CHICK EMBRYONIC CARTILAGE Their Subcellular Distribution in Isolated Chondrocytes

Some characteristic enzymatic activities were determined in chick embryonic cartilage and compared with the analogous activities in bone and liver. Chondrocytes were isolated, broken by sonication, and subjected to subcellular fractionation to yield a nuclear pellet, the mitochondrial, lysosomal, and microsomal fractions, and the high speed supernatant solution. It was established that these fractions are characterized by enzymatic activities usually associated with similar fractions in other tissues, but with some quantitative differences. Lysozyme, a particulate-associated enzyme in other tissues, was not detected in any subcellular fraction even by the sensitive technique of microzone electrophoresis and is therefore considered to be primarily extracellular in cartilage.
Toward higher chromatic analogs of elliptic cohomology II

Let p be a prime and f a positive integer, greater than 1 if p = 2. We construct liftings of the Artin-Schreier curve C(p;f) in characteristic p dened
Effect of Measurement Error on Tests of Density Dependence of Catchability for Walleyes in Northern Wisconsin Angling and Spearing Fisheries

Abstract We sought to determine how much measurement errors affected tests of density dependence of spearing and angling catchability for walleye Sander vitreus by quantifying relationships between spearing and angling catch rates (catch/h) and walleye population density (number/acre) in northern Wisconsin lakes. The mean measurement error of spearing catch rates was 43.5 times greater than the mean measurement error of adult walleye population densities, whereas the mean measurement error of angling catch rates was only 5.6 times greater than the mean measurement error of adult walleye population densities. The bias-corrected estimate of the relationship between spearing catch rate and adult walleye population density was similar to the ordinary-least-squares regression estimate but differed significantly from the geometric mean (GM) functional regression estimate. In contrast, the bias-corrected estimate of the relationship between angling catch rate and total walleye population density was intermediate...
Myosin 5b loss of function leads to defects in polarized signaling: implication for microvillus inclusion disease pathogenesis and treatment

Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is an autosomal recessive condition resulting in intractable secretory diarrhea in newborns due to loss-of-function mutations in myosin Vb (Myo5b). Previous work suggested that the apical recycling endosomal (ARE) compartment is the primary location for phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) signaling. Because the ARE is disrupted in MVID, we tested the hypothesis that polarized signaling is affected by Myo5b dysfunction. Subcellular distribution of PDK1 was analyzed in human enterocytes from MVID/control patients by immunocytochemistry. Using Myo5b knockdown (kd) in Caco-2BBe cells, we studied phosphorylated kinases downstream of PDK1, electrophysiological parameters, and net water flux. PDK1 was aberrantly localized in human MVID enterocytes and Myo5b-deficient Caco-2BBe cells. Two PDK1 target kinases were differentially affected: phosphorylated atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) increased fivefold and phosohoprotein kinase B slightly decreased compared with control. PDK1 redistributed to a soluble (cytosolic) fraction and copurified with basolateral endosomes in Myo5b kd. Myo5b kd cells showed a decrease in net water absorption that could be reverted with PDK1 inhibitors. We conclude that, in addition to altered apical expression of ion transporters, depolarization of PDK1 in MVID enterocytes may lead to aberrant activation of downstream kinases such as aPKC. The findings in this work suggest that PDK1-dependent signaling may provide a therapeutic target for treating MVID.
The Imaging Node for the Planetary Data System

The Planetary Data System Imaging Node maintains and distributes the archives of planetary image data acquired from NASA's flight projects with the primary goal of enabling the science community to perform image processing and analysis on the data. The Node provides direct and easy access to the digital image archives through wide distribution of the data on CD-ROM media and on-line remote-access tools by way of Internet services.
The Occurrence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in a Community Hospital : Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes

Study objectives To prospectively identify the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a community hospital, and to determine the risk factors for VAP and the influence of VAP on patient outcomes in a nonteaching institution. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting A medical ICU and a surgical ICU in a 500-bed private community nonteaching hospital: Missouri Baptist Hospital. Patients Between March 1998 and December 1999, all patients receiving mechanical ventilation who were admitted to the ICU setting were prospectively evaluated. Intervention Prospective patient surveillance and data collection. Results During a 22-month period, 3,171 patients were admitted to the medical and surgical ICUs. Eight hundred eighty patients (27.8%) received mechanical ventilation. VAP developed in 132 patients (15.0%) receiving mechanical ventilation. Three hundred one patients (34.2%) who received mechanical ventilation died during hospitalization. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that tracheostomy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 6.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.91 to 11.50; p Conclusions These data suggest that VAP is a common nosocomial infection in the community hospital setting. The risk factors for the development of VAP and risk factors for hospital mortality in a community hospital are similar to those identified from university-affiliated hospitals. These risk factors can potentially be employed to develop local strategies for the prevention of VAP. Clinical implications ICU clinicians should be aware of the risk factors associated with the development of VAP and the impact of VAP on clinical outcomes. More importantly, they should cooperate in the development of local multidisciplinary strategies aimed at the prevention of VAP and other nosocomial infections.
Precision, bias, and uncertainty for state population forecasts: an exploratory analysis of time series models

Many researchers have used time series models to construct population forecasts and prediction intervals at the national level, but few have evaluated the accuracy of their forecasts or the out-of-sample validity of their prediction intervals. Fewer still have developed models for subnational areas. In this study, we develop and evaluate six ARIMA time series models for states in the United States. Using annual population estimates from 1900 to 2000 and a variety of launch years, base periods, and forecast horizons, we construct population forecasts for four states chosen to reflect a range of population size and growth rate characteristics. We compare these forecasts with population counts for the corresponding years and find precision, bias, and the width of prediction intervals to vary by state, launch year, model specification, base period, and forecast horizon. Furthermore, we find that prediction intervals based on some ARIMA models provide relatively accurate forecasts of the distribution of future population counts but prediction intervals based on other models do not. We conclude that there is some basis for optimism regarding the possibility that ARIMA models might be able to produce realistic prediction intervals to accompany population forecasts, but a great deal of work remains to be done before we can draw any firm conclusions.
Vitamin D Receptor Gene Haplotypes and Polymorphisms and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Nested Case–Control Study

Background: Observational and experimental studies suggest that vitamin D may influence breast cancer etiology. Most known effects of vitamin D are mediated via the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Few polymorphisms in the VDR gene have been well studied in relation to breast cancer risk and results have been inconsistent. Methods: We investigated VDR polymorphisms and haplotypes in relation to breast cancer risk by genotyping 26 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) that (i) had known/suspected impact on VDR function, (ii) were tagging SNPs for the three VDR haplotype blocks among whites, or (iii) were previously associated with breast cancer risk. We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in relation to breast cancer risk among 270 incident cases and 554 matched controls within the Agricultural Health Study cohort. Results: In individual SNP analyses, homozygous carriers of the minor allele for rs2544038 had significantly increased breast cancer risk (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0–2.5) and homozygous carriers of the minor allele for rs11168287 had significantly decreased risk (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4–1.0). Carriers of the minor allele for rs2239181 exhibited marginally significant association with risk (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 0.9–2.0). Haplotype analyses revealed three haplotype groups (blocks “A,” “B,” and “C”). Haplotype GTCATTTCCTA in block B was significantly associated with reduced risk (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3–0.9). Conclusions: These results suggest that variation in VDR may be associated with breast cancer risk. Impact: Our findings may help guide future research needed to define the role of vitamin D in breast cancer prevention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(10); 1856–67. ©2012 AACR .
Combined trajectory shaping and optimization

In this paper, we consider two vectors linearly related to the state vector and how one can shape the trajectory of orie vector while optimally regulating the other one. While overall some performance is lost, relative to the full order optimal linear regulator problem, the dimensionality of the optimization problem can be dramatically reduced. Thus the procedure is suitable for large scale systems control.
The Vascular Impact of Uterine Artery Embolization: Prospective Sonographic Assessment of Ovarian Arterial Circulation

PURPOSE The etiology of premature ovarian failure after uterine artery embolization (UAE) is unknown. The authors prospectively assessed ovarian arterial circulation before and after UAE with use of ultrasonography (US). The authors hypothesize that nontarget embolization of the ovary occurs during routine UAE. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-three women (mean age of 42.6 years; range, 35–51 y) participated in the study. Grayscale, color, and pulsed-wave Doppler US studies were performed immediately before and after UAE. Resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were calculated. The proportion of women who developed increased vascular impedance after UAE was statistically assessed with use of the Yates-corrected χ 2 test. RESULTS Seventeen of 23 patients (74%) completed the study. Nine of 17 (54%) showed complete loss of ovarian arterial perfusion after UAE. Six of 17 (35%) had increases in RI and PI, whereas two of 17 (11%) had decreases in RI and PI. The increase in vascular impedance after UAE in 15 of 17 patients was significant ( P CONCLUSION Loss of detectable ovarian arterial perfusion occurs in the majority of patients undergoing UAE. Ovarian vascular impedance increases in nearly all patients as a result of UAE. The authors conclude that inadvertent nontarget embolization of the ovarian arterial bed occurs during routine UAE.
Kinship Care for African American Children: Disproportionate and Disadvantageous

To highlight the individual and systemic practices that perpetuate the overuse of and reliance on kinship care and instead emphasize family reunification as the permanency plan for African American children in the child welfare system, the authors first discuss how kinship care is affected by federal child welfare policy and provide a historical perspective on how that policy has evolved. They then discuss the number and proportion of African American children entering the child welfare system and receiving kinship foster care, distinguishing between formal and informal kinship care. The conclusion addresses implications for practice and research, including the need to reevaluate child welfare policies, and demonstrates that kinship care is overused and detrimental for African American children.
Determination of mercury in the eggs of common murres (Uria aalge) for the seabird tissue archival and monitoring project

An analytical method using isotope dilution cold vapor inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-CV-ICPMS) was developed for the determination of total mercury in the eggs of seabirds. Components including error magnification, verification of method accuracy and assignment of analytical uncertainty are presented in the context of collecting mercury data for single sample aliquots. Forty-one egg samples collected from common murre (Uria aalge) colonies on Little Diomede and Saint George Islands in the Bering Sea and East Amatuli and Saint Lazaria Islands in the Gulf of Alaska yielded mercury mass fraction values ranging from approximately 0.010 µg g−1 to 0.360 µg g−1. Relative expanded uncertainties for the individual determinations ranged from 1.2% to 4.4%. A one-way analysis of variance including pairwise comparisons across the colonies showed that mercury levels in eggs collected from the Gulf of Alaska colonies were significantly higher than their counterparts in the Bering Sea. Mercury data from each colony were normally distributed, suggesting a ubiquitous regional deposition of mercury and corresponding incorporation into local foodwebs.
US International Taxation in Comparison with Other Regulatory Regimes

This article proposes that U.S. international tax policy analysis must take into account non-tax regulation, which is generally disregarded in international tax policy analysis. Structural features of non-tax regulatory regimes will be shown to have significant implications for fundamental normative claims of the international tax policy literature.The article begins with the insight that taxation and regulation are in some sense substitutes. In light of the substitutability of taxation and regulation, the article asks why U.S. international taxation diverges from U.S. international regulation, specifically why the United States imposes tax on worldwide income while non-tax regulations typically have limited extra-territorial effect. The article proposes that the policies underlying U.S. international income taxation provide a useful framework with which to analyze U.S. international regulatory regimes. Using such a framework, the article finds that the divergence between taxation and regulation in the international context can be explained by differences in the distribution of the benefits of taxation and regulation. The article then demonstrates, by analyzing U.S. international regulatory regimes within the framework of international tax policy, how non-tax regulatory regimes have significant implications for international tax policy. Given the substitutability of, and the divergence between, taxation and non-tax regulatory regimes, the normative justification for imposing tax on worldwide income is weakened when the neutrality norms (such as capital export neutrality and capital import neutrality) that are commonly used to evaluate international taxation are used to evaluate regulation. Although worldwide taxation appears advisable when regulatory costs are not considered (because worldwide taxation supports capital export neutrality when non-tax factors are omitted from the analysis), a territorial system of taxation may instead be supported depending on the relative rates of regulatory costs. Furthermore, a new justification for the limitations on the foreign tax credit, that an unlimited foreign tax credit may incentivize the export of capital rather than support capital export neutrality (which an unlimited foreign tax credit is claimed to do), becomes apparent when regulation is taken into account. The analytical results are consistent with the general theory of the second best of welfare economics.
Goodness-of-fit tests on a circle. II

Abstract : A statistical analysis is made by use of the null hypothesis test for random samples which have been drawn from a population with the continuous distribution function F(x). It is useful for distributions on a circle since its value does not depend on the arbitrary point chosen to begin cumulating the probability density and the sample points. Sampling experiments on bird flight are plotted by use of an IBM 650 computer.
In vitro starch disappearance procedure modifications

Four in vitro experiments evaluated the effects of ruminal fluid inoculum:artificial saliva ratios, grinder type, grind size, and diet of ruminal fluid donor on in vitro starch disappearance. Experiment 1 examined rates of starch disappearance and coefficients of determination obtained by linear regression of starch disappearance using five grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) lines, a corn (Zea mays L.) control, and a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) control. Grains were incubated for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 h with inoculum varying in proportion of ruminal fluid and artificial saliva (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4). In vitro rates of starch disappearance and coefficients of determination were similar for the 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 inoculum dilutions and were higher (quadratic, P 0.10) by grain type fed; however, absolute rates of digestion varied among inoculate sources. Grinder, grind size, and ruminal fluid inoculum:artificial saliva ratios affected rate of starch disappearance in samples digested in vitro. Diet of ruminal fluid donor affected the rate of starch digestion, but not the relative ranking of the grains. If rates are to be compared across in vitro runs for different grains, these processing and dietary factors must be kept constant.
Migrating into Financial Markets: How Remittances Became a Development Tool

We understand very little about the billions of dollars that flow throughout the world from migrants back to their home countries. In this rigorous and illuminating work, Matt Bakker, an economic sociologist, examines how these migrant remittances—the resources of some of the world’s least affluent people—have come to be seen in recent years as a fundamental contributor to development in the migrant?sending states of the global south. This book analyzes how the connection between remittances and development was forged through the concrete political and intellectual practices of policy entrepreneurs within a variety of institutional settings, from national government agencies and international development organizations to nongovernmental policy foundations and think tanks. “ Migrating into Financial Markets offers a much-needed interpretation of the institutions that frame migration. In this fascinating account, Bakker shows how, unable to come up with a political solution to large-scale migration, Mexico and the United States recast migrants as private actors of economic and social development.” RUBEN HERNANDEZ-LEON, coauthor of Skills of the “Unskilled”: Work and Mobility among Mexican Migrants “Contrasting governments’ developmentalist rhetoric with the way their policies are actually designed and implemented, this thoughtful study makes an important contribution to a key debate in contemporary development policy.” GAY SEIDMAN, Martindale Bascom Professor of Sociology, University of Wisconsin—Madison “Bakker offers a cautionary tale of how international policy entrepreneurs’ commitment to an ideology of market fundamentalism reduced their approach to addressing the human rights of migrants in the post-9/11 world to lowering the costs of wire transfers and banking the un-banked.” DAVID SPENER, Professor of Sociology, Trinity University and author of Clandestine Crossings: Migrants and Coyotes on the Texas-Mexico Border