cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of Site-specific Recurrence Following Primary Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer Using C-11 Choline Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography: A Nomogram for Predicting Extrapelvic Disease.

Abstract Background Management of recurrent prostate cancer (CaP) after radiotherapy (RT) is dependent on accurate localization of the site of recurrent disease. Objective To describe the anatomic patterns and clinical features associated with CaP recurrence following RT identified on advanced imaging. Design, setting, and participants Retrospective review of 184 patients with a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after RT for CaP. Intervention C-11 choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CholPET). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Recurrence patterns were classified as pelvic soft tissue only (as a surrogate for potentially salvageable disease) versus any extrapelvic disease, and clinical features were compared between patterns. Multivariable logistic regression was used to generate a predictive nomogram for extrapelvic recurrence. Discrimination was assessed with a c -index. Results and limitations Recurrence site was identified in 161 (87%) patients, with 95 (59%) sites histologically confirmed. Factors associated with the detection of recurrence included the difference between PSA nadir and PSA at CholPET (odds ratio: 1.30, p National Comprehensive Cancer Network high-risk classification (odds ratio: 10.83, p =0.03). One hundred (54.3%) patients recurred in the pelvic soft tissue only, while 61 (33%) had extrapelvic recurrence. Of 21 patients who underwent CholPET prior to meeting the Phoenix criteria of biochemical failure, 15 (71%) had recurrence identified on CholPET with 11 localized to the pelvis. On multivariable analysis, the difference between PSA nadir and PSA at CholPET, time from RT, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk group were predictive of recurrence outside of the pelvis, and a nomogram was generated with a c -index of 0.79. Conclusions CholPET identified the site of recurrence in 87% of patients with a rising PSA after RT; most commonly within the pelvis in potentially salvageable locations. A predictive nomogram was generated, and pending external validation, this may aid in assessing the risk of disease beyond the pelvis. These findings underscore the importance of advanced imaging when considering management strategies for patients with a rising PSA following primary RT. Patient summary We identified anatomic patterns of recurrence in patients with a rising prostate-specific antigen after radiotherapy using C-11 choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Most recurrences were localized to the pelvis and we were able to generate a tool to aid in disease localization prior to evaluation with advanced imaging.
Charge symmetry breaking in the np->dpi{sup 0} reaction

The asymmetry in the angular distribution of np->dpi{sup 0} attributable to charge symmetry breaking is calculated using heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. Recent developments in power counting have proven successful in describing total cross sections, and we apply them to the asymmetry calculation. Reducibility in one of the leading-order diagrams is examined. We compare the updated theory with experimental results for a range of physically reasonable parameters and find overprediction for the entire range.
Medication‐Assisted Opioid Treatment Prescribers in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Capacity Lags in Rural Areas

Purpose This study explores correlates of on-site availability of substance use disorder treatment services in federally qualified health centers, including buprenorphine treatment that is critical to addressing the opioid epidemic. Methods We employed descriptive and multivariable analyses with weighted 2010 Assessment of Behavioral Health Services survey data and the 2010 Uniform Data System. Findings In 2010, 47.6% of health centers provided on-site substance use disorder treatment, 12.3% provided buprenorphine treatment for opioids, and 38.8% were interested in expanding buprenorphine availability. Urban health centers, those in the West, and health centers with electronic health records had higher odds of offering on-site substance use disorder treatment. Compared with on-site mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment was available in fewer clinic sites within each organization. Health centers in rural areas had lower odds of providing on-site buprenorphine treatment (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26-0.94), and those in the South had lower odds of providing on-site buprenorphine treatment compared with health centers in other regions. Rural health centers had lower odds of expressing interest in expanding the availability of buprenorphine treatment (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35-0.97). Conclusions Improving access to substance use disorder treatment in primary care is a critical part of the strategy to combat the opioid use disorder epidemic. These findings highlight the important role of health centers as portals of access to substance use disorder treatment services in underserved communities. Recent investments to expand treatment capacity in health centers will expand the availability of substance use disorder services, but urban/rural and regional disparities should be monitored.
Effects of intra-accumbal administration of dopamine and ionotropic glutamate receptor drugs on delay discounting performance in rats

Nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) has been implicated in impulsive choice, as measured in delay discounting. The role of dopamine (DA) in impulsive choice has received considerable attention, whereas glutamate (Glu) has recently been shown to be an important mediator of discounting. However, research has not examined how DA or Glu receptors in NAcc mediate different aspects of delay discounting performance, that is, (a) sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude and (b) sensitivity to delayed reinforcement. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were first trained in a delay discounting task, in which the delay to a large magnitude food reinforcer increased across blocks of trials. Following behavioral training, rats received bilateral implantation of guide cannulas into NAcc. Half of the rats (n = 12) received infusions of the DA-selective ligands SKF 38393 (D1-like agonist: 0.03 or 0.1 μg), SCH 23390 (D1-like antagonist: 0.3 or 1.0 μg), quinpirole (D2-like agonist: 0.3 or 1.0 μg), and eticlopride (D2-like antagonist: 0.3 or 1.0 μg). The other half received infusions of the ionotropic Glu ligands MK-801 (NMDA uncompetitive antagonist: 0.3 or 1.0 μg), AP-5 (NMDA competitive antagonist: 0.3 or 1.0 μg), ifenprodil (noncompetitive antagonist at NR2B-containing NMDA receptors: 0.3 or 1.0 μg), and CNQX (AMPA competitive antagonist: 0.2 or 0.5 μg). Results showed that SCH 23390 (0.3 μg) decreased sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude without altering impulsive choice, whereas ifenprodil (1.0 μg) decreased sensitivity to delayed reinforcement (i.e., impulsive choice). The current results show that DA and NMDA receptors in NAcc mediate distinct aspects of discounting performance. (PsycINFO Database Record
Association Between Pesticide Residue Intake From Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment With Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Importance Animal experiments suggest that ingestion of pesticide mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations decreases the number of live-born offspring. Whether the same is true in humans is unknown. Objective To examine the association of preconception intake of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables (FVs) with outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Design, Setting, and Participants This analysis included 325 women who completed a diet assessment and subsequently underwent 541 ART cycles in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) prospective cohort study (2007-2016) at a fertility center at a teaching hospital. We categorized FVs as having high or low pesticide residues using a validated method based on surveillance data from the US Department of Agriculture. Cluster-weighted generalized estimating equations were used to analyze associations of high– and low–pesticide residue FV intake with ART outcomes. Main Outcomes and Measures Adjusted probabilities of clinical pregnancy and live birth per treatment cycle. Results In the 325 participants (mean [SD] age, 35.1 [4.0] y; body mass index, 24.1 [4.3]), mean (SD) intakes of high– and low–pesticide residue FVs were 1.7 (1.0) and 2.8 (1.6) servings/d, respectively. Greater intake of high–pesticide residue FVs was associated with a lower probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth. Compared with women in the lowest quartile of high-pesticide FV intake ( Conclusions and Relevance Higher consumption of high–pesticide residue FVs was associated with lower probabilities of pregnancy and live birth following infertility treatment with ART. These data suggest that dietary pesticide exposure within the range of typical human exposure may be associated with adverse reproductive consequences.
Analysis of the argumentation of nine-year-olds engaged in discourse about comparing fraction models

Abstract In this paper we analyze the argumentation of nine-year-olds as they justify their reasoning for a fraction comparison problem. We illustrate how their proof-like arguments evolve in a class discussion and are backed by the rod models they produce, showing both valid and invalid arguments.
Ureteral ectopia in infants and children.

AbstractThe diagnosis of ureteral ectopia may be suspected in the girl who wets constantly or in the young boy with epididymitis. More commonly, however, the diagnosis is made during evaluation of the child with urinary tract infection. The ectopic ureter is most often associated with a poorly functioning dysplastic upper pole of a duplex collecting system and in this instance it is best managed by upper pole heminephrectomy and partial ureterectomy. When associated with a single collecting system, ureteral reimplantation can often be performed if salvageable function is demonstrated by a preoperative renal scan.Based on our experience with 48 ectopic ureters in 41 children operated on during the last 11 years, the correlation of the diagnostic findings and surgical approaches to this entity are discussed.
The many faces of biological information

In Information and Living Systems: Philosophical and Scientific Perspectives, George Terzis and Robert Arp offer an interesting collection of papers that broaden the scope of the discussion of how informational ideas are relevant to understanding the natural world. Terzis and Arp begin with an introductory essay where they set out the rationale behind the book, arguing that there is a gap between the ubiquitous informational characterizations of biological organizations and information-based theorizing about the nature of living systems. This volume is an attempt to fill that gap by bringing together diverse, interdisciplinary informational accounts of biological systems. In addition, Terzis and Arp offer an excellent introduction to the thirteen collected papers, providing nice synopses and highlighting the many interrelations and differences between the papers.
Evacuee Perception of Geophysical Hazards for Hurricane Irma

AbstractHurricane Irma was one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history before landfall and caused a large evacuation. A total of 155 evacuees at interstate rest areas were asked to rank the...
Active and Passive Use of Green Space, Health, and Well-Being amongst University Students.

Frequent exposure to green space has been linked to positive health and well-being in varying populations. Yet, there is still limited research exploring the restorative benefits associated with differing types of green space use among students living in the university setting. To address this gap, we explored green space use amongst a population of undergraduate students (n = 207) attending a university with abundant opportunities to access the restorative properties of nature. The purpose of this study was to examine the type and frequency of green space interactions that are most strongly associated with indicators of health and well-being, and investigate student characteristics associated with frequent use of green space. Results revealed that students who frequently engage with green spaces in active ways report higher quality of life, better overall mood, and lower perceived stress. Passive green space interactions were not strongly associated with indicators of health and well-being. Having had daily interactions with green space in childhood was associated with frequent green space use as a university student, and identified barriers to green space use included “not enough time,” and “not aware of opportunities” These results could assist in the tailoring of “green exercise” interventions conducted in the university setting.
Lung transplantation and Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion in the era of lung allocation score - a retrospective study.

This study evaluated the impact of Medicaid eligibility expansion (ME) on lung transplant (LT) listings and Medicaid coverage. Data on LT candidates aged 18-64 were obtained from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (N = 9153). The impact of ME was evaluated by comparing LT listings in 2011-2013 with listings in 2014-2016, as well as comparing states that had and had not adopted ME in 2014. LT listings increased by 7.7% nationally post-ME. In ME states, LT listings increased by 15.2%, whereas nonexpansion states decreased by 1.5%. LT candidates with Medicaid increased after ME nationally (8.3% vs. 9.9%, P = 0.006) and in ME states (9.7% vs. 11.5%, P = 0.036), but not in nonexpansion states (6.6% vs. 7.7%, P = 0.170). Following multivariable adjustment, LT listings in ME states had 58% greater odds for Medicaid compared to nonexpansion states (P < 0.001). Expansion of Medicaid provided greater healthcare access and increased LT listings, but only within states that adopted eligibility expansion.
Please Look Beyond My Disability

In this chapter, we will explore a case involving patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The case focuses on topics related to disability including defining disability, characterizing some aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and noting how environment and disability interact. There is also consideration of issues related to treating physician-patients and of physicians with disability practicing medicine. At the conclusion of the case, learners will be able to describe the healthcare system as it relates to disability and appreciate that people with disability should not be identified by their limitations. Learners will also be able to recognize skills needed to provide high-quality care for people with disability and how those skills apply to all patients. Finally, they will be able to analyze the role of the ADA and the issues of access to care for people with disability.
Labels of insecticides to which Oregon honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) hives could be exposed do not align with federal recommendations in their communication of acute and residual toxicity to honey bees.

Background Teaching pesticide applicators how to determine a product's toxicity to honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) by understanding the label is a way to reduce honey bee exposure to pesticides. Applicators are currently taught how to interpret labels that follow the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) recommendations for how this toxicity should be communicated. To effectively educate applicators, it must be determined if labels follow USEPA recommendations in how they communicate toxicity to honey bees, and if they do not, what patterns exist in these deviations from the recommendations (hereafter, deviations). Results As a case study, we analyzed the USEPA master labels of insecticides used in 16 situations where there is concern over Oregon honey bee colony exposure to pesticides. Of the 232 labels analyzed, 31.5% deviated from USEPA recommendations in at least one way. Labels of both commercial and garden products deviated from USEPA recommendations. Products with labels that deviated from USEPA recommendations were found across application situation and active ingredient subgroup. The percentage of products per application situation and per chemical subgroup whose label deviated from USEPA recommendations varied. The most common deviation represented a direct contradiction between the statement used and the toxicity class of the product's active ingredient. Conclusion Applicators will be underprepared to interpret the pesticide labels they see in the field if they are exclusively taught how to interpret labels that follow USEPA recommendations. Applicators should be taught how to interpret a product label that uses non-USEPA-recommended statements to communicate toxicity to honey bees. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
Estimates of Prenatal HIV, Hepatitis B Virus, and Hepatitis C Virus Testing Among Pregnant People Enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid, 2011–2015

The opioid epidemic and rising rates of injection drug use are increasing the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among pregnant people. According to national clinical guidelines, pregnant people should be universally tested for HIV and HBV, and risk-based tested for HCV. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion and characteristics of prenatal HIV, HBV, and HCV testing and diagnosis among pregnant people with Wisconsin Medicaid coverage between 2011 and 2015. Wisconsin birth certificates and Medicaid enrollment data were used to identify the sample. Standard billing and diagnosis codes were used to assess study variables. Data for each pregnancy were analyzed to describe the proportion of pregnancies that had evidence of testing, diagnoses, and yearly trends. Of the 78,917 pregnancies, prenatal testing estimates were 67% for HIV, 73% for HBV, and 6% for HCV. The estimated rate of infections during the study period was 1.82 for HIV, 2.09 for HBV, and 3.52 for HCV per 1000 pregnancies. Compared to the other race/ethnicity groups, pregnant people who were Black were most likely to be tested for HIV (78%) and HBV (80%), and pregnant people who were White were most likely to be tested for HCV (7%). Clinical testing guidelines have not been effectively translated to practice. Additionally, compared to HIV and HBV, HCV infections during pregnancy are becoming more prevalent, yet current national HCV screening guidelines are the least comprehensive.
Intracranial pressure monitors associated with increased venous thromboembolism in severe traumatic brain injury.

Utilization of intracranial pressure monitors (ICPMs) has not been consistently shown to improve mortality in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). A single-center analysis concluded that venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis (CP) posed no significant bleeding risk in patients following ICPM implementation; however, there is still debate about the optimal use and timing of CP in patients with ICPMs for fear of worsening intracranial hemorrhage. We hypothesized that ICPM use is associated with increased time to VTE CP and thus increased VTE in patients with severe TBI. A retrospective analysis of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2010–2016) was performed to compare severe TBI patients with and without ICPMs. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was completed. From 35,673 patients with severe TBI, 12,487 (35%) had an ICPM. Those with ICPMs had a higher rate of VTE CP (64.3% vs. 49.4%, p < 0.001) but a longer median time to CP initiation (5 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001) as well as a longer hospital length of stay (LOS) (18 vs. 9 days, p < 0.001) compared to those without ICPMs. After adjusting for covariates, ICPM use was found to be associated with a higher risk of VTE (9.2% vs 4.3%, OR = 1.75, CI = 1.42–2.15, p < 0.001). Compared to patients without ICPMs, those with ICPMs had a longer delay to initiation of CP leading to an increase in VTE. In addition, there was a nearly two-fold higher associated risk for VTE in patients with ICPMs even when controlling for known VTE risk factors. Improved adherence to initiation of CP in the setting of ICPMs may help decrease the associated risk of VTE with ICPMs.
On empirical estimation of mode based on weakly dependent samples

Abstract Given a large sample of observations from an unknown univariate continuous distribution, it is often of interest to empirically estimate the global mode of the underlying density. Applications include samples obtained by Monte Carlo methods with independent observations, or Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods with weakly dependent samples from the underlying stationary density. In either case, often the generating density is not available in closed form and only empirical determination of the mode is possible. Assuming that the generating density has a unique global mode, a non-parametric estimate of the density is proposed based on a sequence of mixtures of Beta densities which allows for the estimation of the mode even when the mode is possibly located on the boundary of the support of the density. Furthermore, the estimated mode is shown to be strongly universally consistent under a set of mild regularity conditions. The proposed method is compared with other empirical estimates of the mode based on popular kernel density estimates. Numerical results based on extensive simulation studies show benefits of the proposed methods in terms of empirical bias, standard errors and computation time. An R package implementing the method is also made available online.
Coupling carbon capture from a power plant with semi-automated open raceway ponds for microalgae cultivation

In the United States, 35% of the total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions come from the electrical power industry, of which 30% represent natural gas electricity generation. Microalgae can biofix CO2 10 to 15 times faster than plants and convert algal biomass to products of interest, such as biofuels. Thus, this study presents a protocol that demonstrates the potential synergies of microalgae cultivation with a natural gas power plant situated in the southwestern United States in a hot semi-arid climate. State-of-the-art technologies are used to enhance carbon capture and utilization via the green algal species Chlorella sorokiniana, which can be further processed into biofuel. We describe a protocol involving a semi-automated open raceway pond and discuss the results of its performance when it was tested at the Tucson Electric Power plant, in Tucson, Arizona. Flue gas was used as the main carbon source to control pH, and Chlorella sorokiniana was cultivated. An optimized medium was used to grow the algae. The amount of CO2 added to the system as a function of time was closely monitored. Additionally, other physicochemical factors affecting algal growth rate, biomass productivity, and carbon fixation were monitored, including optical density, dissolved oxygen (DO), electroconductivity (EC), and air and pond temperatures. The results indicate that a microalgae yield of up to 0.385 g/L ash-free dry weight is attainable, with a lipid content of 24%. Leveraging synergistic opportunities between CO2 emitters and algal farmers can provide the resources required to increase carbon capture while supporting the sustainable production of algal biofuels and bioproducts.
Multiple pruritic tick bites by Asian Longhorned tick larvae (Haemaphysalis longicornis)

This study presents the first report of multiple human bites by larvae of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann in the U.S. An adult male working on a public park in Hackensack City (New Jersey) remove...
Replication and Genetic Risk Score Analysis for Pancreatic Cancer in a Diverse Multiethnic Population

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several SNPs associated with pancreatic cancer. No studies yet have attempted to replicate these SNPs in US minority populations. We aimed to replicate the associations of 31 GWAS-identified SNPs with pancreatic cancer and build and test a polygenic risk score (PRS) for pancreatic cancer in an ethnically diverse population. Methods: We evaluated 31 risk variants in the Multiethnic Cohort and the Southern Community Cohort Study. We included 691 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases and 13,778 controls from African-American, Japanese-American, Latino, Native Hawaiian, and white participants. We tested the association between each SNP and PDAC, established a PRS using the 31 SNPs, and tested the association between the score and PDAC risk. Results: Eleven of the 31 SNPs were replicated in the multiethnic sample. The PRS was associated with PDAC risk [OR top vs. middle quintile = 2.25 (95% confidence interval, 1.73–2.92)]. Notably, the PRS was associated with PDAC risk in all ethnic groups except Native Hawaiian (OR per risk allele ranged from 1.33 in Native Hawaiians to 1.91 in African Americans; P heterogeneity = 0.12). Conclusions: This is the first study to replicate 11 of the 31 GWAS-identified risk variants for pancreatic cancer in multiethnic populations, including African Americans, Japanese Americans, and Latinos. Our results also suggest a potential utility of PRS with GWAS-identified risk variants for the identification of individuals at increased risk for PDAC across multiple ethnic groups. Impact: PRS can potentially be used to stratify pancreatic cancer risk across multiple ethnic groups.
Asset Heterogeneity, Market Fragmentation, and Quasi-Consolidated Trading

Asset heterogeneity is widely believed to hurt the liquidity in markets of many important fixed-income assets such as corporate and municipal bonds. We develop a model in which heterogeneous assets are traded with search friction to study the impact of a quasi-consolidated (QC) trading design in which a cohort of heterogeneous assets are sold at the same price. In the model, asset heterogeneity results in market fragmentation and exacerbates search frictions, thereby undermining market liquidity. We show that QC trading reduces market fragmentation and improves the overall market liquidity by pooling multiple sellers and buyers together. Nevertheless, because of asset heterogeneity, QC trading in general hurts some traders and cannot fully eliminate market fragmentation. Integrating QC contracts for multiple types of assets improves (hurts) overall market liquidity when these types of assets differ slightly (significantly) in value distribution.
An Analysis of Solder Joint Formation and Self-Alignment of Chip Capacitors

An energy-based 3-D model was created to simulate the solder joint formation of the chip capacitor during reflow. The surface tension ( $F_{s}$ ) and hydrostatic force ( $F_{h}$ ) of molten solder and the gravitational force ( $F_{g}$ ) of a chip capacitor and solder paste were considered in this 3-D model. The initial geometry of solder joint is evolved into an equilibrium shape to minimize the internal energy of molten solder. In this study, we investigated the effect of various design parameters, such as solder paste volume, copper pad dimension, and component height on the solder joint shape of capacitor. Chip capacitor C1005 and C0603 with SAC305 solder paste and copper pads with electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG) surface finish were used as examples. Actual capacitor samples were cross-sectioned and inspected to validate the simulation results from the 3-D model. Moreover, the self-alignment of the chip capacitor was studied in this work. The component self-alignment will affect the accuracy of component assembly and significantly affects the chip capacitor solder joint formation. Simulations were performed to address the mechanism of chip capacitor self-alignment during reflow soldering. The effect of solder paste volume on the capacitor self-alignment was summarized. The result showed relatively more solder paste that can improve the capacitor self-alignment because of the bigger restoring force generated by the molten solder. The inconsistency of solder paste volumes at the two terminations will cause the capacitor to offset from the center. It is found that the misalignment of capacitor C1005 can be reduced to $\pm 30~\mu \text{m}$ in component-length direction and $\pm 30~\mu \text{m}$ in component-width direction by the optimization of solder paste volume. The self-alignment is better in component-width direction than component-length direction. An extensive number of experimental studies were performed to develop a data-driven prediction model so that the manufacturing cost during trial tests can be reduced. In the experiments, the chip capacitors were placed intentionally with some initial offsets and their positions were measured before and after the reflow. Simulation results showed good agreement with the experimental data.
Parasympathetic neural activity and the reciprocal regulation of innate antiviral and inflammatory genes in the human immune system.

Abstract The vagus nerve mediates parasympathetic nervous system control of peripheral physiological processes including cardiovascular activity and immune response. In mice, tonic vagal activation down-regulates inflammation via nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated inhibition of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB in monocyte/macrophages. Because Type I interferon and pro-inflammatory genes are regulated reciprocally at the level of transcription factor activation and cell differentiation, we hypothesized that vagal activity would up-regulate Type I interferon response genes concurrently with inflammatory downregulation in human immune cells. We mapped empirical individual differences in the circulating leukocyte transcriptome and vagal activity indexed by high frequency (0.15–0.40 Hz) heart rate variability (HF-HRV) in 380 participants in the Midlife in the US study. Here we show that promoter-based bioinformatics analyses linked greater HF-HRV to reduced NF-κB activity and increased activity of IRF transcription factors involved in Type I interferon response (independent of β-antagonists, BMI, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and demographic factors). Transcript origin analyses implicated myeloid lineage immune cells as targets, representing per-cell alterations in gene transcription as HF-HRV was not associated with differential prevalence of leukocyte subsets. These findings support the concept of parasympathetic inhibition of pro-inflammatory gene expression in humans and up-regulation of Type I interferons that could augment host defense against viral infections.
Metabolic Potential of Deep-Sea Animals: Regional and Global Scales

The vertical transport of organic carbon in zooplankton and micronekton is significant but is not recorded in studies that rely on measurements of particles caught in sediment traps. The energy metabolism of pelagic vertical migrators results in the production of CO2 in deep water, but CO2 production is currently estimated from the differences in particle fluxes at different depths. We review the factors that affect metabolic rates and the use of enzyme assays to estimate metabolic rates and conclude that a combination of these methods would enable one to estimate the in situ metabolic rates of all major pelagic zooplankton and micronekton groups. These data could, if used with appropriate biomass estimates, enable calculation of the contribution of these animals’ respiration to global carbon flux and be a first step in evaluating their total role in the global carbon cycle.
Ribozyme Technology and Drug Development

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the state of knowledge of the oligonucleotide-based therapeutic approaches with an emphasis on ribozyme technology. Many ribozymes are used for treating viral diseases and neoplastic, cardiovascular, and genetic disorders. Effective use of the antisense oligonucleotides and ribozymes for therapeutic purposes depends on optimization of the targeted delivery, pharmacokinetics, and drug metabolism as well as protection against adverse cytokinetic response. However, rapid advances in this field promise better use of these therapeutic drugs. The chapter discusses nonenzymatic antisense oligonucleotides as inhibitors of specific gene expression. These include peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) and triplex-forming oligonucleotides. RNA based enzymes are described focusing on RNA folding, ribozyme structure and function, and ribozymes of different types and their effects on gene expression regulation in vitro. Catalytic DNAs, therapeutic applications of catalytic oligonucleotides, ribozyme delivery, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism and future prospects are discussed. Therapeutic applications look at application as antiviral agents, treatment of neoplastic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and genetic disorders.
Evoked potential compression using AOTLC and DPCM

Neuro-electric signals, such as evoked potentials (EPs), have been widely used to quantify the conditions of neurological system. In applications like telemedicine, it is necessary to efficiently transmit the EP signals. Data compression has been widely used for other non-biomedical signals, such as speech coding and image compression. In this paper, we study and evaluate the performances of EP compression using two different methods. One is the differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) method, which is a waveform-based compression technique, the other is the adaptive orthogonal transform linear combiner (AOTLC), which is based on an explicit model of EP using orthogonal transform theory and an adaptive filter. Analysis and computer simulation show that the AOTLC can achieve a higher compression ratio than DPCM, and it also gives a robust performance for noise-contaminated EP signals. The criterion used for performance evaluation is the ability for the compressed EP to preserve the latency change information.
The Efficiency of Compression in a Single Adiabatic Shock: Results of Some Calculations on the Case When No Heat is Released

THE increase of pressure in a shock wave takes place with a gain of entropy, so that the efficiency of the compression is less than unity. In this paper we give the results of some calculations of the efficiency of the compression in a single adiabatic shock wave, when no heat is released as the result of any physical or chemical changes in the flowing gas. The efficiency is defined as the ratio of the work done to compress the gas (from the static conditions ahead to the total head conditions downstream) to. the work done if the process were carried out isentropically. Results are given for two values of the ratio of specific heats, i.e. 1.40 and 1.33, which correspond roughly to atmospheric air and turbine gases respectively.
Hyperbole, Hypocrisy, and Hubris in the Aid-Corruption Dialogue

In this article I examine the relationship between corruption and foreign aid – specifically, development aid intended to alleviate poverty by fostering economic growth. More than $2.5 trillion has been expended over the past six decades on aid of all kinds. This total includes military aid, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance as well as development aid designed to enhance economic growth. Despite the proud rhetoric we hear about how generously aid is provided, there is abundant evidence from the World Bank and others that development aid has not succeeded in producing sustainable economic growth. Indeed, we have known for decades that such aid has been counter-productive, leading to reduced GDP per capita in more than half of all cases. All serious scholars agree that corruption is a pervasive, global phenomenon. But the failure of development aid to reduce corruption has not been linked to corruption. I focus on “grand” or “political” corruption, as it is the most intractable. Following a review of the literature, which leads to the disappointing conclusion that development aid has not been successful, I consider those nations where poverty-alleviating economic growth has been recently established. A look at these successful nations leads to additional awkward truths about our proud assertions regarding the necessary conditions for creating self-sustaining economic growth. I then analyze current instrumentalities available to combat grand corruption and detail their fundamental inadequacies. The article concludes with a description of current global efforts to make development aid more effective by redesigning delivery mechanics. Corruption is a global behavior which all agree is a major problem. While corruption can and should be suppressed and deterred, it will not be eliminated. I conclude with several policy proposals designed to make development aid more effective and less susceptible to corruption.
A Benchmark: Performance Evaluation of Dashed-Line Detection Algorithms

This paper describes a protocol for systematically evaluating the performance of dashed-line detection algorithms. It includes a test image generator which creates random line patterns subject to prespecified constraints. The generator also outputs ground truth data for each line in the image. The output of the dashed line detection algorithm is then compared to these ground truths and evaluated using a set of criteria.
Legendary Mount Vesuvius is subject of intensive volcanological study

The Roman population centers of Pompeii and Herculaneum (circa 15,000 inhabitants) were destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. after centuries of repose. Many times since then its eruptions have claimed human lives; basaltic lava flows from an eruption in 1631 killed 3,000. Vesuvius' location, near the heart of the Roman empire—a center of learning in the ancient world—led it to become the site ofsome of the earliest volcanological studies on record. In letters to Tacitus, Pliny the Younger documented the sequence of events of the 79 A.D. plinian eruption. Geophysical studies of volcanoes were pioneered by Italian volcanologists who installed seismographs in an observatory on the flanks of Vesuvius to study volcano seismology and to forecast and monitor eruptions early this century. It is easy to understand why interest in Vesuvius has been so keen: it is accessible, persistently active, and a large population resides nearby. Today, around 1 million people live within the shadow of this potentially explosive and dangerous volcano.
Heavy Metal Contamination Detection Using X-Rays

Within the DOE complex there are large quantities of radioactive and hazardous chemical waste that exist in a broad variety of forms, toxicity, and storage conditions. There are 3700 contaminated sites, with 500 facilities now surplus, and as many as 7000 expected to be declared surplus in the coming decades[1]. Most of these facilities will require cleanup of hazardous waste before decommissioning. Efficient, safe, cost-effective methods of characterization are needed to assist in the timely cleanup of these sites. Due to the hazardous nature of the contaminants, a nondestructive non-invasive technique is preferred for characterization and for monitoring the decontamination processes.
Comparative Mg(2+)-dependent sequential covalent binding stoichiometries of 3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl adenosine 5'-diphosphate of MF1, TF1, and the alpha 3 beta 3 core complex of TF1. The binding change motif is independent of the F1 gamma delta epsilon subunits.

Three F1 preparations, the beef heart (MF1) and thermophilic bacterium (TF1) holoenzymes, and the alpha 3 beta 3 "core" complex of TF1 reconstituted from individually expressed alpha and beta subunits, were compared as to their kinetic and binding stoichiometric responses to covalent photoaffinity labeling with BzATP and BzADP (+/- Mg2+). Each enzyme displayed an enhanced pseudo-first order rate of photoinhibition and one-third of the sites covalent binding to a catalytic site for full inhibition, plus, but not minus Mg2+. Titration of near stoichiometric [MgBzADP]/[F1] ratios during photolysis disclosed two sequential covalent binding patterns for each enzyme; a high affinity binding corresponding to unistoichiometric covalent association concomitant with enzyme inhibition, followed by a low affinity multisite-saturating covalent association. Thus, in the absence of the structural asymmetry inducing gamma delta epsilon subunits of the holoenzyme, the sequential binding of nucleotide at putative catalytic sites on the alpha 3 beta 3 complex of any F1 appears sufficient to effect binding affinity changes. With MF1, final covalent saturation of BzADP-accessible sites was achieved with 2 mol of BzADP/mol of enzyme, but with TF1 or its alpha 3 beta 3 complex, saturation required 3 mol of BzADP/mol of enzyme. Such differential final labeling stoichiometries could arise because of the endogenous presence of 1 nucleotide already bound to one of the 3 potential catalytic sites on normally prepared MF1, whereas TF1, possessing no endogenous nucleotide, has 3 vacant BzADP-accessible sites. Kinetics measurements revealed that regardless of the incremental extent of inhibition of the TF1 holoenzyme by BzADP during photolysis, the two higher apparent Km values (approximately 1.5 x 10(-4) and approximately 10(-3) M, respectively) of the progressively inactivated incubation are unchanged relative to fully unmodified enzyme. As reported for BzATP (or BzADP) and MF1 (Ackerman, S.H., Grubmeyer, C., and Coleman, P.S. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 13765-13772), this supports the fact that the photocovalent inhibition of F1 is a one-hit one-kill phenomenon. Isoelectric focusing gels revealed that [3H]BzADP covalently modifies both TF1 and MF1 exclusively on the beta subunit, whether or not Mg2+ is present. A single 19-residue [3H]BzADP-labeled peptide was resolved from a tryptic digest of MF1, and this peptide corresponded with the one believed to contain at least a portion of the beta subunit catalytic site domain (i.e. beta Ala-338----beta Arg-356).
Graded methylation in the promoter and body of the O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene correlates with MGMT expression in human glioma cells

Expression of the O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene in human glioma cell lines is strongly associated with resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. To examine the possibility that methylation of the body and promoter regions of the MGMT gene is associated with MGMT expression in a graded, rather than a completely on/off fashion, the present study analyzed the methylation status of the MGMT gene in human glioma cell lines exhibiting a wide range of MGMT expression. Methylation in the body of the gene was uniform within each cell line and correlated directly with MGMT expression. The level of MGMT promoter methylation was also graded across the cell lines, at 21 of 25 CpGs tested, but correlated inversely with MGMT expression. Two sites in the MGMT promoter were also much more accessible to restriction enzyme digestion, and thus in a more open chromatin conformation, in nuclei from high MGMT expressors relative to nuclei from cells with little or no MGMT expression. We conclude that the level of methylation, in both the body and promoter of the MGMT gene, is associated with MGMT expression in a graded fashion and may be important in setting the transcriptional state of the MGMT promoter through changes in chromatin structure.
Quantitative Metabolic MR Imaging of Human Brain Using 17O and 23Na

Algorithms are presented for the quantitative MR imaging of 23-sodium and 17-oxygen to produce bioscales that can be interpreted in terms of biologically based models related to metabolite concentrations and reaction rates. The algorithms are designed for human brain imaging at 3.0 T and up to 9.4 T. B0 homogeneity, B1 uniformity, and signal calibration are discussed in terms of the accuracy of quantification. The acquisition sequences have been matched to the rapid nuclear relaxation properties of these nuclides by using hybrid radial projection rather than Cartesian approaches for spatial encoding. Human applications are presented for tissue sodium concentration and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption. Medical applications are presented briefly to justify the additional effort of quantification over conventional contrast-based clinical MR imaging. Keywords: MR imaging; 17-oxygen; 23-sodium; quantification; ultrahigh field; cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO2); tissue sodium concentration; ultrashort transverse relaxation
Effect of sugars and other carbohydrates on the oral flora

during the period of tooth eruption, maturation and function are complicated by the simultaneous influence of oral environmental factors; but observations are accumulating to support the theory that nutritional and other systemic fac­ tors may play a continuous role in de­ termining the susceptibility to tooth decay through an effect on the teeth themselves. There are several potential mechanisms whereby excessive consumption of sugar and other refined carbohydrates may affect caries resistance.
Patients with elevated liver enzymes are not at higher risk for statin hepatotoxicity

Abstract Background & Aims: Studies that evaluate the risk of hepatotoxicity from statins in hyperlipidemic subjects with elevated baseline serum transaminases are lacking. We conducted a study to test the hypothesis that patients with elevated baseline liver enzymes have higher risk of statin hepatotoxicity. Methods: Our study consisted of the following 3 cohorts of patients seen between January 1, 1998 and June 31, 2002: Cohort 1: 342 hyperlipidemic patients with elevated baseline enzymes (AST >40 IU/L or ALT >35 IU/L) who were prescribed a statin; cohort 2: 1437 hyperlipidemic patients with normal transaminases who were prescribed a statin; and cohort 3: 2245 patients with elevated liver enzymes but who were not prescribed a statin. The effect of statins on liver biochemistries was assessed over a 6-month period after statins were prescribed. Elevations in liver biochemistries during follow-up were categorized into mild-moderate or severe based on predefined criteria. Results: The incidence of mild-moderate elevations and severe elevations in liver biochemistries in cohort 1 were 4.7% and 0.6%, respectively. Compared with cohort 1, individuals in cohort 2 had lower incidence of mild-moderate elevations (1.9%, P = 0.002) but not severe elevations (0.2%, P = 0.2). However, between cohorts 1 and 3, there were no differences in the incidence of mild-moderate elevations (4.7% vs. 6.4%, respectively, P = 0.2) or severe elevations (0.6% vs. 0.4%, respectively, P = 0.6). Statin discontinuation during the follow-up was similar between cohorts 1 and 2 (11.1% vs. 10.7%, respectively, P = 0.8). Conclusions: These data suggest that individuals with elevated baseline liver enzymes do not have higher risk for hepatotoxicity from statins.
Investigation of amorphous W60Zr40 film as a diffusion barrier in metallization schemes

Thermal stability of cosputtered amorphous W60Zr40 films, 110 nm thick on both, Si and SiO2 with various metal overlayers, is investigated by backscattering spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. The samples are vacuum-annealed for 30 min between 450 and 900 °C. The crystallization temperature of amorphous W60Zr40 on SiO2 as determined by X-ray diffraction is 900 °C. On Si, the amorphous film begins to react with the substrate at 725 °C and forms a polycrystalline layer of tungsten and zirconium silicide. With an evaporated metal overlayer of Ag, Al, Au, or Ni, the amorphous W-Zr film on a SiO2 substrate interacts with the overlayer between 500 to 600 °C, except for Au which reacts at 400 °C. La stabilite thermique de films W60Zr40 amorphes deposes sur Si et SiO2 et recouverts de differentes couches metalliques a ete par retrodiffusion et diffraction X. Les echantillons ont ete recuits sous vide pendant 30 min entre 450 et 900 °C. La temperature de cristallisation de W60Zr40 amorphe sur SiO2 determinee par diffraction X est de 900 °C. Sur Si, le film amorphe reagit avec le substrat a 725 °C et forme une couche polycristalline de W et siliciure de Zr. Lorsqu'il est recouvert d'une couche de metal tel que Ag, Al, Au ou Ni, le W-Zr amorphe regit avee le metal entre 500 et 600 °C, excepte l'or qui reagit a 400 °C.