cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blood supply of the facial nerve in the middle fossa: the petrosal artery.

Objective To define the arterial supply to the facial nerve that crosses the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Methods Twenty-five middle fossae from adult cadaveric-injected specimens were examined under 3 to 40x magnification. Results The petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery is the sole source of supply that crossed the floor of the middle fossa to irrigate the facial nerve. The petrosal artery usually arises from the first 10-mm segment of the middle meningeal artery after it passes through the foramen spinosum, but it can arise within or just below the foramen spinosum. The petrosal artery is commonly partially or completely hidden in the bone below the middle fossa floor. It most commonly reaches the facial nerve by passing through the bone enclosing the geniculate ganglion and tympanic segment of the nerve and less commonly by passing through the hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve. The petrosal artery frequently gives rise to a branch to the trigeminal nerve. The middle meningeal artery was absent in one of the 25 middle fossae, and a petrosal artery could not be identified in four middle fossae. The petrosal arteries were divided into three types based on their pattern of supply to the facial nerve. Conclusion The petrosal artery is at risk of being damaged during procedures in which the dura is elevated from the floor of the middle fossa, the middle fossa floor is drilled, or the middle meningeal artery is embolized or sacrificed. Several recommendations are offered to avoid damaging the facial nerve supply while performing such interventions.
Devastation after the Haiti Earthquake: a neurosurgeon's Journal.

ithin 24 hours of the incident, neurosurgeons arrived in Port au rince to provide medical care and assistance. Barth A. Green, .D., chairman of Neurosurgery at the University of Miami, led ne of these efforts as he has had a long-standing program to rovide medical care in the impoverished nation: Project Medshare, a nonprofit international aid organization at the Univerity of Miami. A300-bed tentmedical campuswasquickly erected andopened to ccept patients from the temporary United Nations (UN) medical ompound. The facility was immediately filled to capacity, with one ent housing a surgical suite equipped with four operating rooms nd connected to a 75-bed pediatric ward. A second tent housed the dult hospital, consisting of 225 beds (Figures 2 and 3). Volunteers, ncluding doctors, nurses, therapists, and engineers flew from the rojectMedishareCommandCenter inMiamioncharteredflights to taff this new facility. Dr.Greenwas joined by JohnRagheb,M.D., a pediatric neurosureon who had been performing third ventriculostomies to treat ydrocephalus inHaiti for years. Allan Levi, M.D., Ph.D., director of he University ofMiami Spine Program, and Ian Armstrong,M.D., a eurosurgeon from California, did triage and began treating the umerous spinal cord and head injured patients in an area of the ospital, which is to become a new specialized unit.
DETERMINANTS OF COATTAIL VOTING

Recent studies have demonstrated the continuing importance of presidential coattails for U.S. House elections, but little is known regarding what factors increase or decrease the individual tendency toward coattail voting. Several possible determinants of coattail voting are examined in this paper. Analysis of data from the 1984 South Bend Study reveals that the magnitude of presidential coattails is affected by the strength of evaluations of the presidential candidates, the voter's sensitivity to the local political scene, and the political climate of the voter's neighborhood. Interest in the 1984 campaign was not found to influence coattail voting.
Rapid and precise alpha-particle spectrometry for plutonium materials

Preparation of plutonium sources for alpha particle spectrometry is accomplished by extraction into a xylene solution containing 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone, followed by evaporation of the xylene solution on a microcover glass, which is ignited briefly in a flame. This gives sources which display peak resolutions equivalent to 12 keV fwhm or less, and enables the spectrum to be accumulated with conversion ratios of ∼ 35 keV/channel, enabling rapid data recording and processing. Relative precisions and accuracies of < 1% in 238Pu/289+240Pu peak ratios can easily be achieved. The problem of minimizing pile-up background in the measurement of parts-per-million quantities of 236Pu in 238Pu can be solved by using quite short pulse widths from the shaping amplifier. This also permits the use of high total count rates to minimize the counting time.
A Selective Medium for Isolation of Hetnophilus influenzae

ConclusionThrough the use of a medium containing tyrothricin in a concentration inhibitory to Gram positive cocci, isolation of H. influenzae from the nasopharynx may be facilitated. This medium is being tested in epidemiological surveys now in progress.
Dissociable roles of ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) in value representation and optimistic bias

Abstract Optimistic bias (OB) is seen when individuals underestimate their probability of experiencing negative life events and overestimate their probability of experiencing positive life events. A reduced OB has been linked with increased depression symptoms. However, given the relevance of this information to mood and anxiety disorders, little is currently known regarding the neurobiology of OB. In the current study, we examine the neural basis of OB in healthy individuals (n = 33) during probability estimation of future positive and negative events occurring to themselves relative to other, comparable individuals. In line with previous work, subjects showed significant OB; they considered themselves significantly more likely to experience future positive and significantly less likely to experience future negative events relative to comparable others. Positive, relative to negative events, un-modulated by subjects' probability estimates, were associated with significantly greater activity within the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Moreover, responses within both regions to positive events negatively related to the healthy subjects' self reports of depression symptoms. However, there was no significant modulation of activity in either region by the subject's OB, objectified as the level to which they thought the event was more likely [positive events] or less likely [negative events] to occur to them relative to comparable others. In contrast, activity within the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) was positively modulated by OB for positive events and activity within the anterior insula and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) was negatively modulated by OB for negative events. However, there was no significant relationship between responsiveness within these regions and self reports of depression symptoms. The data are discussed with reference to current models of vmPFC, rACC and anterior insula functioning.
Ten steps to increase library impact on an academic health sciences campus.

In summer 2009, the Norris Medical Library decided to increase outreach efforts in an attempt to revitalize its role in the USC School of Pharmacy for the upcoming academic year. Active networking in the summer and early fall resulted in an increase in use of both educational and reference services by pharmacy students and faculty; the number of planned instruction sessions for the 2009–2010 academic year increased fivefold. This article identifies ten steps that allowed the Library to expand its role considerably in just a few months. If followed wholly, or in part, these ten steps will help any library become more involved on a health sciences campus.
Longitudinal oncology registry of head and neck carcinoma (LORHAN ®): Initial supportive care findings

Goals of work We report the first analysis of demographic, socioeconomic, and toxicity data from the Longitudinal Oncology Registry of Head and Neck Carcinoma (LORHAN).
Gravity on Precise, Short‐Term, 3‐D Free‐Inertial Navigation

From the standpoint of physical principles, an inertial navigation system (INS) navigates without sensing the earth's gravitational field, yet this field affects a vehicle's total trajectory, which can be tracked by GPS. Thus, the integration of GPS and INS represents a fusion of dissimilar positioning data. Since the integration is motivated by the aiding capacity of INS during interruptions in GPS positioning, the INS data may require gravitational corrections. In this paper, statistical analyses of 3-D free-inertial navigation show that when decimeter-level accuracy is demanded from the INS over periods as short as 100 s, the gravity field should not be neglected. This conclusion is supported by simulated trajectories at low altitude (< 1000 m above ground) using actual gravity signatures that accumulate decimeter- to meter-level errors in position within 100 s, and several centimeters-per-second velocity error, depending on the strength of the gravity signature.
Collagen IV induces trophoectoderm differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.

The earliest segregation of lineages in the developing embryo is the commitment of cells to the inner cell mass or the trophoectoderm in preimplantation blastocysts. The exogenous signals that control commitment to a particular cell lineage are poorly understood; however, it has been suggested that extracellular “niche” and extracellular matrix, in particular, play an important role in determining the developmental fate of stem cells. Collagen IV (ColIV) has been reported to direct embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation to mesodermal lineages in both mouse and human ES cells. To define the effects of ColIV on ES cell differentiation and to identify the resulting heterogeneous cell types, we performed microarray analyses and determined global gene expression. We observed that ColIV induced the expression of mesodermal genes specific to hematopoietic, endothelial, and smooth muscle cells and, surprisingly, also a panel of trophoectoderm-restricted markers. This effect was specific to collagen IV, as no trophoblast differentiation was seen on collagen I, laminin, or fibronectin. Stimulation with basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) or FGF4 increased the number of trophoectodermal cells. These cells were isolated under clonal conditions and successfully differentiated into a variety of trophoblast derivatives. Interestingly, differentiation of ES cells to trophoblastic lineages was only seen in ES cell lines maintained on embryonic feeder layers and was caudal-type homeobox protein 2 (Cdx2)-dependent, consistent with Cdx2's postulated role in trophoectoderm commitment. Our data suggest that, given the appropriate extracellular stimuli, mouse embryonic stem cells can differentiate into trophoectoderm. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Temperature limitations for IR extrinsic and intrinsic photodetectors

The temperature limitations for IR extrinsic and intrinsic photodetectors axe theoretically studied by comparing the detectivity limitations. This comparison indicates that the temperature superiority of the intrinsic detector is identified with the inequality B_{E}/\sigma_{E} > B_{I}/(\alpha_{I}/\sqrt{N_{C}N_{V}}) where B E , B I are the respective recombination coefficients of the extrinsic and intrinsic detectors and σ E and \alpha_{I}/\sqrt{N_{C}N_{V}}) are the respective optical absorption cross sections. The highest operational temperature for a given background radiation level for each species is established when the recombination coefficients are radiative limited. For the same spectral cutoff wavelength, refractive index and quantum efficiency, they will then have identical operational temperatures. Comparison with experiment shows that the intrinsic detectors achieve a closer approach (because of the inequality) to the theoretical limit than do the extrinsics. The prospects for achieving a closer approach to this limit with the extrinsics are discussed.
Constitutional democracy and the theory of agency

A unanimously adopted democratic constitution is a contract between the people as principal and the government as agent. However, none of the incentive devices employed in private principal-agent contracting assure enforcement of a constitution. Under majority voting, candidates for the job of agent cannot win the job without promising tobreak the contract, and the agent cannot be re-elected unless he keeps that promise.
The physical structure of wheat protein.

Abstract The physical structure of wheat proteins has been investigated using both wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering and electron microscopy. Dry wheat gluten, gliadin and the water-soluble proteins all give similar wide-angle diffraction patterns characteristic of folded polypeptide chains in the α 1 -helix configuration. Small-angle scattering curves from stretched, dried glutens show marked orientation and can be interpreted in terms of parallel sheets of gluten platelets whose thickness does not exceed ∼70 A. Electron micrographs taken of surface replicas of the stretched glutens confirm the sheet structure. Moist, relaxed glutens, while not exhibiting the orientation into sheets, still give the X-ray scattering characteristics of platelets. Several small-angle diffraction peaks observable in both dry and moist glutens can be traced to the bound lipids which are extractable with water-saturated n -butanol. T These peaks correspond to d-spacings of 62 A adn 48 A. The extracted lipid exhibits the same structure and suggests that gluten originally consists of a lipoprotein complex. Removal of the bound lipid deprives the gluten complex of its elastic properties and it is not possible to obtain oriented small-angle X-ray patterns from stretched samples, although the platelet-scattering persists isotropically. Electron micrographs confirm the absence of sheet structure in lipid-free glutens. Gliadin films, prepared by evaporation of the ethanol extract exhibit a strong 42 a diffraction which can be removed by extracting the bound lipid. The extracted lipid, however, exhibits its strongest diffraction at 48 a, indicating that the lipo-gliadin complex is slightly skewed or compressed.
Heterogeneous distribution of D1, D2 and D5 receptor mRNAs in monkey striatum.

The primate striatum has a compartmental organization reflected both in the topography of its afferent projections and in the segregation of its morphologically similar but neurochemically distinct efferent neurons. Discretely projecting mesostriatal neurons release dopamine (DA) which modulates the responses of striatal neurons to other afferent inputs. Multiple DA receptor (DAR) subtypes have been cloned and characterized and mapping their cellular expression is crucial for understanding the influence of DA on striatal function. We report the distribution of mRNAs for D1, D2 and D5 DAR subtypes (D1R, D2R and D5R) in the striatum of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) studied by in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISH) using monkey-specific cRNA probes. Adjacent sections were stained for calbindin immunoreactivity to distinguish striosomal and matrix compartments for comparison with the patterns obtained with ISH. In the caudate nucleus, D1R mRNA was concentrated in calbindin-poor striosomes where dense grain clusters were seen overlying the majority of medium-sized neurons (diameter ∼ 15 μm). D1R mRNA localization was relatively homogeneous in the putamen. By contrast, the distributions of D2R and D5R mRNAs showed no clear preference for the striosomal or matrix compartments of either caudate nucleus or putamen. In the ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle and ventral portions of caudate nucleus and putamen), expression of D1R and D2R mRNA was sparse relative to dorsal striatum, while D5R mRNA expression was roughly equal in ventral and dorsal striatum. Circumscribed zones of hybridization associated with islands of tightly packed small cells occurred with all three DAR mRNA subtypes in the ventral striatum. Large, putative cholinergic neurons which were seen in both the striatum and the adjacent basal forebrain, hybridized strongly with D2R and D5R cRNA probes but not with the D1R probe. The different yet partially overlapping regional and cellular expressions of D1R, D2R and D5R mRNAs suggest that the corresponding receptor subtypes subserve distinct functions in striatal neuronal processing.
Do Municipal Residency Laws Affect Labour Market Outcomes

Studies investigating the economic effects of residency laws on municipal labour markets have not obtained consistent results. Residency laws either had no effect; decreased compensation for police and firefighters but had no effect on employment; or increased employment for police but had no effect on compensation. This study re-examines the effects of residency laws using newer data, relatively large samples and cities with a wide range of populations and data for both protective services. It is found that residency laws do not affect compensation and employment for either police or firefighters. Possible explanations for the results are non-compliance with the laws or variations in who is affected by the laws.
Brief report: the modifying effects of education and income on Hispanics reporting perceived discrimination

Research has shown that experiences of discrimination negatively affect health. However, little is known about whether socioeconomic position modifies the reporting of perceived discrimination. This cross-sectional study of 69 participants investigated the modifying effects of education and income on the reporting of perceived discrimination among Hispanics and Whites. Hispanics, compared to non-Hispanic Whites, of higher education (more than high school) and income ($30,000 or more per year) status are more than 4 times more likely to report perceived discrimination (odds ratio [OR] = 4.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31-12.72; OR = 4.43, 95% CI = 1.41-13.93, respectively). However, this difference was nonsignificant among those with lower education and income levels (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 0.27-10.92; OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 0.20-15.02, respectively). These results may affect future study sample and effect sizes.
Communication of Oral Deaf and Normally Hearing Children at 36 Months of Age

Eighteen orally educated deaf and 18 normally hearing 36-month-old children were observed in a play session with their mother. Communicative behavior of the child was coded for modality and communicative function. Although the oral deaf children used a normal range of functions, both the quantity and proportions differed from normally hearing children. Whereas the normally hearing 3-year-olds used speech almost exclusively, the deaf children exhibited about equal use of speech, vocalizations, and gestures. Spoken language scores of the deaf children at 5 years of age were best predicted by (a) more frequent use of speech at age 36 months, (b) more frequent use of the Statement function, and (c) relatively infrequent use of the Directive function. It is suggested that some communicative functions are more informative or heuristic than others, and that the early use of these functions is most likely to predict later language competence.
TeleWeb: accessible service for web browsing via phone

In this paper, we present TeleWeb -- a telephony service for web browsing via the most ubiquitous communication device, the Phone. TeleWeb integrates a simple and usable phone interface with the intelligent features such as context-directed browsing, template-detection, and macro-replaying. We expect that TeleWeb will equally appeal to people with vision impairments, older adults who may not be comfortable using computers, and anyone who wants to access the Web on the move.
Autonomic nervous system control of heart rate during baroreceptor activation in conscious and anesthetized rats

Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded in conscious, freely behaving rats through a catheter in the tail artery during administration of nitroprusside or phenylephrine through a catheter in the jugular vein. The sympathetic and parasympathetic components were distinguished by treating the rats with atenolol or methyl-atropine. Reflex bradycardia induced by all doses of phenylephrine was almost totally blocked blocked following methyl-atropine treatment. Reflex tachycardia induced by small to moderate doses of nitroprusside was attenuated to an equal extent following atropine or atenolol treatment. A similar experimental schedule was followed with a separate group of rats to determine the effects of pentobarbital and urethane anesthesia on the baroreceptor reflex. Both pentobarbital and urethane equally attenuated the tachycardia response to a decrease in blood pressure. However, pentobarbital anesthesia resulted in a greater attenuation of the bradycardia response to an increase in blood pressure than did urethane anesthesia. These data support the conclusion that the parasympathetic nervous system is primarily responsible for baroreceptor reflex-induced bradycardia in conscious rats. The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems contribute equally to control baroreceptor reflex-induced tachycardia except in extreme acute hypotension when the tachycardia is predominantly due to the activation of sympathetic nerves. The findings of the second experiment indicate that pentobarbital and urethane affect sympathetic systems differently.
Impacts of riparian zone plant water use on temporal scaling of groundwater systems

In this work, we study groundwater system temporal scaling in relation to plant water use and near-river-stage fluctuations in riparian zones where phreatophytes exist. Using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), we investigate the influence of regular diurnal fluctuations due to phreatophyte water use on temporal scaling properties of groundwater level variations. We found that groundwater use by phreatophytes, at the field site on the Colorado River, USA, results in distinctive crossovers (slope changes when the plots are fitted with straight lines) in the logarithm plots of root-mean-square fluctuations of the detrended water level time series versus time scales of groundwater level dynamics. For groundwater levels monitored at wells close to the river, we identified one crossover at ∼1 day in the scaling characteristics of groundwater level variations. When time scale exceeds 1 day, the scaling properties decrease from persistent to close to 1/f noise, where f is the frequency. For groundwater levels recorded at wells further away from the river, the slope of the straight line fit (i.e. scaling exponent) is smallest when the time scale is between 1 and 3 days. When the time scale is 3 days. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Active transient myocardial ischemia during daily life in asymptomatic patients with positive exercise tests and coronary artery disease

Abstract The management of asymptomatic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is controversial, and the level of “activity” of their CAD during normal daily life remains largely unknown. To examine this question, ambulatory Holter monitoring of ST segments was performed out of the hospital in 7 asymptomatic subjects with CAD during normal daily activities. Their condition was detected because they all had a silent positive exercise test and angiographically proved CAD. During a total of 384 hours of monitoring, 37 asymptomatic episodes of ST depression (1 mm or greater and lasting at least 30 seconds) were recorded in 5 of the patients. Most episodes (68%) were 10 minutes or less in duration but ranged from 1 to 253 minutes, and most (70%) had a maximal ST depression of 1 to 2 mm. A small increase in heart rate, ranging from 1 to 34 beats/min, preceded 65% of the episodes, but 35% were associated with no change or even a decline before the onset of ischemia. Fifty-four percent of the episodes occurred during rest or usual light physical activity, 8% during sleep and only 38% during exercise, including 1 prolonged bout while jogging. During 78% of the episodes, the subjects rated their mental activity as usual and only 14% occurred during mental stress. In addition, a distinct diurnal variation was noted with 57% of the ischemia occurring between 0600 and 1200 hours (p = 0.008). Therefore, most asymptomatic subjects had active transient ischemia during daily life, with many of the characteristics already described in symptomatic subjects with CAD.
Synthesis of 5,5-Dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione-2-C14 (DMO-2-C14)

DMO-2-C 14 was synthesized for use in measurements of the pH of intracellular water. It was prepared by condensing urea-C 14 with n-butyl 2-methyllactate in the presence of sodium butylate in butanol solution. The yield of DMO-2-C 14 from 1 mmole of urea-C 14 was 58 per cent, and the product was radiochemically homo-geneous as demonstrated by paper chromatography. The ionization exponent was determined by a system of solvent partitioning. A method is described for determination of DMO-2-C 14 in biological samples.
Assessing Marital Conflict from the Child's Perspective: The Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale

Guided by Grych and Fincham's theoretical framework for investigating the relation between interparental conflict and child adjustment, a questionnaire was developed to assess children's views of several aspects of marital conflict. The Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (CPIC) was initially examined in a sample of 222 9-12-year-old children, and results were cross-validated in a second sample of 144 similarly aged children. 3 factor analytically derived subscales (Conflict Properties, Threat, Self-Blame) demonstrated acceptable levels of internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The validity of the Conflict Properties scale was supported by significant relations with parent reports of conflict and indices of child adjustment; the Threat and Self-Blame scales correlated with children's responses to specific conflict vignettes. The CPIC thus appears to be a promising instrument for assessing perceived marital conflict, and several issues regarding its interpretation are discussed.
Conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila. A temporal analysis of cytological stages.

Abstract The time course and synchrony of the stages of conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila as defined by cytologically observable changes in the morphology and position of the nuclei were established. The time required for 50% of the pairs to enter or pass a particular stage, as well as the duration of each stage were determined. The relative synchrony of the pairs as they went through conjugation was followed by correlating the maximum percentage of the population found in a stage with the duration of that stage. The degree of synchrony between the pairs was found to be high under the conditions of this study, with very little decrease in synchrony seen during the initial 9 h of conjugation. Although some variability in the degree of synchrony was seen between different matings, there was little change detected in the duration of each cytological stage. Prolonged starvation of the cells prior to their mating resulted in a gradual loss of synchrony.
On the Variation with Height of the Top Brightness of Precipitating Convective Clouds

Abstract As part of a program to estimate rain from satellite observations, and to test the program's assumption that the highest clouds are the brightest, a correlation between cloud height and cloud brightness in the South Florida area was made 43 days during the summer of 1972. Brightness was determined from ATS-3 transparencies using a 32-step color densitometer. Echo heights within 100 mi of Miami were measured with the WSR-57, 10-cm radar of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. An unequivocal positive correlation is shown.
The physiology and morphology of two types of electrosensory neurons in the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus

Previous anatomical and physiological studies of the gymnotoid electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELLL) suggest that the anatomically identified basilar and non-basilar pyramidal cells correspond to the physiologically defined E and I cells. Intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into physiologically identified E and I cells confirms this hypothesis. The morphologies and physiological responses of the basilar and non-basilar pyramidal cells were compared. Both types of pyramidal cells have extensive apical dendritic trees that interact with a parallel fiber network in the ELLL. The apical dendritic trees of the non-basilar pyramidal cells have a wider spread along the rostrocaudal axis of the ELLL than those of the basilar pyramidal cells. This difference is discussed in reference to the interaction of these cell types with the parallel fibers of the ELLL. The density of apical dendritic branches was measured and related to the distance of these branches from the cell body. No obvious differences were seen between the dendritic density patterns of basilar and non-basilar pyramidal cells. An interesting correlation, however, exists between the atypical physiological characteristics of two basilar pyramidal cells and their dendritic density patterns. Two cells of the medial (ampullary) segment of the ELLL were analyzed. Like the pyramidal cells of the three lateral (tuberous) regions of the ELLL, the physiology of these cells appears to be related to the presence of an extended basilar process. The ampullary cells, however, have apical dendritic trees that are oriented orthogonally to the dendritic trees of the pyramidal cells.
Verification of total body photon irradiation dosimetry techniques

A method of verifying the dosimetry of patients undergoing total body irradiation (TBI) with photon beams having energies from cobalt‐60 to 25 MV is presented. A simple set of spot checks at the TBI axis has been used to verify data used for TBI dosimetry. Calculations to verify dose delivered to TBI patients are done in the same manner as those irradiated at standard treatment distances. A simple method of effective field size determination for various anatomical locations in a typical adult is presented. Measurements in an Alderson phantom with thermoluminescent dosimeters and an ion chamber at several anatomical locations indicate that this calculational method can predict the dose along the patient axis to within 4% for 6 0Co and 18‐MV photon beams, provided the dosimetry data are appropriate (as determined by the spot checks). Results of intercomparisons of TBI beam calibration, off‐axis and depth‐dose data at various institutions visited by the Radiological Physics Center are also presented.
The Role of Vismodegib in the Management of Advanced Basal Cell Skin Cancers: A Review

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common occurring skin malignancy. Until recently, the treatment options for advanced BCC (locally advanced and metastatic BCC) and patients with Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome (BCNS) have been limited. However, the discovery of the Hedgehog (HH) pathway and its role in BCC has led to the development of a first-in-class systemic HH pathway inhibitor, vismodegib (GDC-0449, Erivedge), and has revolutionized the treatment of advanced BCC. In this review, we discuss the current progress on the role of vismodegib for the treatment of advanced BCC and important clinical questions on the mechanisms of vismodegib resistance.
High Resolution Crystal Structure of the Catalytic Domain of ADAMTS-5 (Aggrecanase-2)

Aggrecanase-2 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 (ADAMTS-5)), a member of the ADAMTS protein family, is critically involved in arthritic diseases because of its direct role in cleaving the cartilage component aggrecan. The catalytic domain of aggrecanase-2 has been refolded, purified, and crystallized, and its three-dimensional structure determined to 1.4A resolution in the presence of an inhibitor. A high resolution structure of an ADAMTS/aggrecanase protein provides an opportunity for the development of therapeutics to treat osteoarthritis.
Selected List of Periodicals on the Rocky Mountain States and Their Culture

An annotated list is presented describing fourteen periodicals that cover significant aspects of the Rocky Mountain states and their culture in whole or in part. The titles included are a selective and representative sampling. The entry for each periodical includes the following information: periodical title, publisher/editor and address, basic information, publication data, content, Internet information, and an abstract/annotation.
Analysis of the responses of frog motoneurons to epinephrine and norepinephrine

Abstract Epinephrine and norepinephrine were applied to the isolated superfused frog spinal cord hyperpolarized motoneurons. The hyperpolarization was related to both direct and indirect actions and the indirect effects were produced by activation of α 2 -adrenoceptors. In about half of the spinal cords a slow depolarization caused by activation of β-receptors was seen and was largely attributable to direct actions of the catecholamines on motorneuron membranes. In a small number of preparations an early α 1 -mediated depolarization was noted. The results suggest that catecholamines released from terminals in the frog ventral horn could exert a modulatory action on the motoneuron output from the spinal cord.
Head CT Scan Overuse in Frequently Admitted Medical Patients

Abstract Background Patients frequently admitted to medical services undergo extensive computed tomography (CT) imaging. Some of this imaging may be unnecessary, and in particular, head CT scans may be over-used in this patient population. We describe the frequency of abnormal head CT scans in patients with multiple medical hospitalizations. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all CT scans done in 130 patients with 7 or more admissions to medical services between January 1 and December 31, 2011 within an integrated health care system. We calculated the number of CT scans, anatomic site of imaging, and source of ordering (emergency department, inpatient floor). We scored all head CT scans on a 0-4 scale based on the severity of radiographic findings. Higher scores signified more clinically important findings. Results There were 795 CT scans performed in total, with a mean of 6.7 (± SD 5.8) CT scans per patient. Abdominal/pelvis (39%), chest (30%), and head (22%) CT scans were the most frequently obtained. The mean number of head CT scans performed was 2.9 (SD ± 4.2). Inpatient floors were the major site of CT scan ordering (53.7%). Of 172 head CT scans, only 4% had clinically significant findings (scores of 3 or 4). Conclusions Patients with frequent medical admissions are medically complex and undergo multiple CT scans in a year. The vast majority of head CT scans lack clinically significant findings and should be ordered less frequently. Interdisciplinary measures should be advocated by hospitalists, emergency departments, and radiologists to decrease unnecessary imaging in this population.
The evaluation of hearing aid sensitivity on young children using bands of filtered noise

Abstract This study investigated the use of octave bands of filtered noise as a stimulus in unaided and aided sensitivity determinations. Six vocally unresponsive hearing-impaired children between the ages of two and four years were conditioned to give monaural threshold responses to pure tones and unaided and aided threshold responses to filtered noise in a sound field. The hearing aids were carefully selected and adjusted to obtain maximum sensitivity for the filtered noise. There appeared to be a close relationship between the filtered-noise thresholds obtained with the hearing aid and the speech-reception thresholds or speech-awareness thresholds using the hearing aid as an auditory trainer in routine therapy. This method would seem to have merit since it enables the examiner to make an early decision about the future responsiveness of a child to amplified speech.
Tryptophan Cu(I)–π interaction fine-tunes the metal binding properties of the bacterial metallochaperone CusF

The periplasmic metallochaperone CusF coordinates Cu(I) and Ag(I) through a unique site consisting of a Met2His motif as well as a Cu(I)–π interaction between a nearby tryptophan, W44, and the metal ion. Through mutational analyses we investigate here the role that W44 in CusF plays in metal coordination. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra show that the specificity of CusF for Cu(I) and Ag(I) is not altered by mutation of W44. X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies reveal that W44 protects the bound Cu(I) from oxidation as well as from adventitious ligands. Competition assays demonstrate that W44 does not significantly contribute to the affinity of CusF for metal, but that substitution of W44 by methionine, which forms a fourth Cu(I) ligand, substantially increases the affinity. These studies indicate that W44 is important in maintaining a moderate-affinity and solvent-shielded three-coordinate environment for Cu(I), which has implications for the function of CusF as a metallochaperone.
Yellow fever virus encephalitis: properties of the brain-associated T-cell response during virus clearance in normal and gamma interferon-deficient mice and requirement for CD4+ lymphocytes.

Viral encephalitis caused by neuroadapted yellow fever 17D virus (PYF) was studied in parental and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-deficient (IFN-γ knockout [GKO]) C57BL/6 mice. The T-cell responses which enter the brain during acute fatal encephalitis of nonimmunized mice, as well as nonfatal encephalitis of immunized mice, were characterized for relative proportions of CD4 + and CD8 + cells, their proliferative responses, and antigen-specific expression of cytokines during stimulation in vitro. Unimmunized mice accumulated only low levels of T cells within the brain during fatal disease, whereas the brains of immunized mice contained higher levels of both T-cell subsets in response to challenge, with CD8 + cells increased relative to the CD4 + subset. The presence of T cells correlated with the time at which virus was cleared from the central nervous system in both parental and GKO mice. Lymphocytes isolated from the brains of challenged immunized mice failed to proliferate in vitro in response to T-cell mitogens or viral antigens; however, IFN-γ, interleukin 4 (IL-4), and, to a lesser extent, IL-2 were detectable after stimulation. The levels of IFN-γ, but not IL-2 or IL-4, were augmented in response to viral antigen, and this specificity was detectable in the CD4 + compartment. When tested for the ability to survive both immunization and challenge with PYF virus, GKO and CD8 knockout mice did not differ from parental mice (80 to 85% survival), although GKO mice exhibited a defect in virus clearance. In contrast, CD4 knockout and Igh-6 mice were unable to resist challenge. The data implicate antibody in conjunction with CD4 + lymphocytes bearing a Th1 phenotype as the critical factors involved in virus clearance in this model.
Why do educational innovations come and go? What do we know? What can we do?

Abstract This article discusses the nature of innovations in the educational community and how educational changes are made. Recent research documents ongoing change with new innovations coming and going with little or no concern for their efficacy or importance. The article describes some of the possible reasons why education goes through fairly continual change. The article also attempts to offer suggestions on how teachers, teacher trainers, administrators, and educational researchers can have a positive impact on reducing or slowing the processes of innovations coming and going in American schools.
Orchestration of Aberrant Epithelial Signaling by Helicobacter pylori CagA

Persistent colonization by Helicobacter pylori is the strongest risk factor for distal gastric adenocarcinoma, and H. pylori strains that harbor the cag pathogenicity island further augment cancer risk. The H. pylori cag island encodes a secretion system, and the product of the terminal gene in the island (CagA) is translocated into host epithelial cells after bacterial attachment, where it undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation by Src kinases and binds the eukaryotic phosphatase SHP-2. Higashi et al . now demonstrate that CagA-dependent SHP-2 activation leads to sustained activation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), culminating in morphological changes that mimic unrestrained stimulation by growth factors. These data implicate the cag island as a key mediator of pathogenic epithelial responses that may heighten the risk for gastric cancer.
Reduction in mortality associated with statin therapy in patients with severe sepsis.

Study Objective. To evaluate the effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) on mortality in patients with severe sepsis. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Intensive care unit (ICU) of an academic medical center. Patients. One hundred eighty-eight patients aged 40 years or older with a diagnosis of severe sepsis and an ICU stay between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2006. Measurements and Main Results. Patient demographic data, statin use, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores at the time of sepsis diagnosis were collected from the patient database. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to evaluate the association between statin use and in-hospital all-cause mortality after controlling for age, sex, and severity of illness. Of the 188 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 60 (32%) had statin exposure. Patients receiving statins were similar in age, sex, and APACHE II scores to those not receiving statins. In the univariable comparison, the statin group had a 35% relative reduction in mortality compared with the nonstatin group (mortality rate 31.7% vs 48.4%, p=0.040). Most of the mortality reduction attributed to statins occurred in patients with APACHE II scores higher than 24 (mortality rate 32.3% vs 57.5%, p=0.031), with a minimal mortality difference in patients with APACHE II scores of 24 or lower (31% vs 36.4%, p=0.810). In the multivariable regression model, statin use had a protective effect (odds ratio [OR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21-0.84, p=0.014), whereas increasing age (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, p=0.013) and higher APACHE II score (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.05-1.18, p=0.001) were associated with increased mortality. Conclusion. The use of statins was associated with a protective effect in patients with severe sepsis, as demonstrated by a significant reduction in mortality compared with patients not receiving statins.
Speed Index: Scalable Operations Performance Measure Based on Available Data

Given the increased emphasis on transportation system operations, transportation agencies require effective operations performance measures. The purpose of the present research effort was to develop and explore the utility of a simple system operations performance measure that meets the following criteria: (a) it is measurable given current sensor deployment, (b) it is understandable to a wide range of individuals, (c) it is applicable on different functional classes of roadways, (d) it is scalable from the lane level up to a regional or statewide measure, and (e) it is independent of major assumptions or estimation techniques. The measure proposed and explored in this paper, the speed index, can be defined as the volume-weighted percentage of the speed limit at which a roadway location, zone, corridor, or even a region operated for a given time period. This measure was demonstrated to be effective in supporting numerous operations analysis activities, including an analysis of seasonal variations in traff...
Using the capnograph to confirm lung isolation when using a bronchial blocker

The endotracheal tube and bronchial blocker combination is an accepted lung isolation technique used during thoracic surgery. A reliable and inexpensive method of confirming lung isolation that uses capnographic monitoring of the bronchial blocker central lumen is presented. As the bronchial blocker balloon is inflated, lung isolation is confirmed when the normal respiratory variation of carbon dioxide (CO2) is replaced by a persistent plateau CO2 waveform.
U.S. Ethnic minorities and drug abuse: an assessment of the science and practice

Despite the disproportionate use of “hard drugs” in certain ethnic minority communities, and the unique patterns of drug abuse in others, many have complained that there remains an absence of attention paid to the special problems of substance abuse by Afro-Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Latinos. Furthermore, no comprehensive review of drug abuse by American ethnic minorities has ever been undertaken. In response to these concerns, an assessment of the current status of the drug abuse field, relative to ethnic minorities, was undertaken. The review included delineation of ethnic-specific problems and the institutional and scientific responses to those concerns. Strategies for addressing inadequacies are proposed.
Reliability Estimates for Ivlevˈs Electivity Index, the Forage Ratio, and a Proposed Linear Index of Food Selection

Abstract Ivlev's electivity index and the forage ratio, two commonly used measures of food selection, are significantly biased when the sizes of the prey samples from the gut of the predator and the habitat are unequal. Approximate confidence-interval expressions are derived for these indices. A stochastic (Monte Carlo) model was used to validate these expressions and to explore the statistical properties of the indices. The statistical reliability of each index is shown to be a function of the absolute and relative sample sizes and the relative abundances of the prey species in the environment. A linear index of food selection is proposed which avoids most of the statistical and mathematical inadequacies of these indices. Regardless of the index used, however, inadequate habitat sampling, differential availability of prey to the predator, and differential digestion of prey may be significant sources of error in the interpretation of food selection data.