cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional Hyperthermia with an Annular Phased Array in the Experimental Treatment of Cancer: Report of Work in Progress with a Technical Emphasis

The annular phased aray (APA)1 has been under study at the University of Utah since late 1980. The prototype instrument was upgraded to its present configuration by April 1982. Its clinical engineering features and application are described. As of December 1982, 46 patients have been treated in a feasibility study to evaluate the use of the APA in inducing experimental regional hyperthermia for the treatment of advanced abdominal and pelvic cancer. Extensive temperature measurements from tumors and normal tissues were performed. With a few exceptions, the APA appeared capable of delivering power to deep-seated tumor volumes, but data pertaining to power distributions were scanty. Adjustment of the patient position within the aperture to achieve uniform heating is a significant problem. Treatment results are considered encouraging and there were no significant complications, but firm conclusions regarding tumor responses cannot be drawn from a study of this kind. Further studies of methods to predict power deposition patterns are needed if complications are to continue to be avoided in the more aggressive potentially curative treatments that may need to be employed in future studies.
Thrombolytic retreatment with tissue plasminogen activator for threatened reinfarction and thrombotic coronary reocclusion

The last half-century has witnessed momentous improvement in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction resulting in significantly reduced mortality. The most significant advances are suggested to be «chair» treatment, coronary care units, anticoagulation and thrombolytic therapy
Silver and palladium complexes of some aromatic azo and azoxy compounds

The complexing ability of derivatives of azobenzene (I) is well known (I) and responsible for the production of a wide variety of dyestuffs and analytical chemicals. While the azo group generally participates in the coordination, the determination of the degree of its interaction is complicated by other functional groups which are also coordinated with the transition metal. In a previous publication (2), we reported the preparation of the silver and palladium complexes of benzo[c]cinnoline (II) and proposed that these results might be used to explain the electron donor properties of azobenzene. We are now reporting the preparation of some additional complexes with ligands containing the azo group.
To fold or to assemble

We introduce a new class of foldable oligomers consisting of alternating rigid and flexible regions. The rigid segments overlap to give pi-stacked folded conformers whose formation is driven mostly by pi-pi molecular orbital overlaps. As the oligomer concentration increases, the folded molecular structures further self-assemble into larger nanostructures. The dynamic processes of folding and self-organization are monitored with absorption, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopies. Our results show that folding dominates at low concentrations (< approximately 1 mM) and precedes self-assembly, which occurs over the initial concentration range of approximately 1-100 mM.
Distributed 3D audio rendering

This paper discusses the use of audio spatialisation techniques to complement current developments in Voice-over-IP. The result is to create a shared synthetic audio environment in which Voice-over-IP streams from several participants appear to be spatially located. While the intent is to inter-work with multi-user VRML environments, our proposals build on current Internet multimedia proposals and are independent of the user interface used to navigate a virtual space.
Root demography of mature citrus trees: the influence of Phytophthora nicotianae

The amount of root mortality caused by root pathogens such as Phytophthora nicotianae (syn. Phytophthora parasitica) has typically been inferred from the net change in root length density in sequential soil cores. Because such measurements give information only on net changes in root populations, the actual rate of root turnover is often underestimated. We used minirhizotrons to track the fate of a large number of individual fine roots of mature field-grown citrus trees over a 6-month period. This method enabled us to examine the effect of P. nicotianae population levels on fine-root mortality. Seasonal and genotypic variation in patterns of citrus fine root mortality were associated with variation in population levels of P. nicotianae. Fine root lifespans were shorter when populations of P. nicotianae were high. Fine roots of the Phytophthora-susceptible rootstock, rough lemon (Citrus jamibhiri), had shorter median lifespans and supported larger populations of P. nicotianae than the fine roots of the more tolerant rootstock, Volkamer lemon (Citrus volkameriana). Rates of root mortality were either relatively constant for roots of all ages, or increased with age; the latter pattern was most pronounced for Volkamer lemon roots. Differences in the age-dependence of root mortality may, therefore, play a role in genotypic differences in tolerance of Phytophthora root rot by these two rootstocks. H Lambers Section editor
Intrapulmonary and systematic CO2-chemoreceptor interaction in the control of avian respiration

Experiments on anesthetized chickens were conducted to study interactions between afferent activity from the intrapulmonary and systemic CO2-sensitive chemoreceptors in the generation of respiratory amplitude (RA) and respiratory frequency (f). The thoracoabdominal cavity was opened, air sacs ruptured and each lung independently and unidirectionally ventilated. Intrapulmonary chemoreceptor activity was altered by changing the PCO2 of the ventilatory gas (PICO2) to the vascularly isolated right lung (VIL); systemic chemoreceptor activity was altered by changing the PICO2 to the denervated left gas exchange lung (GEL). Respiratory amplitude and frequency responses to changes in intrapulmonary PCO2 were determined at four levels of systemic arterial PCO2 (PaCO2). The results indicate that elevating PaCO2 shifts the pulmonary CO2-response curves for both RA and f to the left and increases the sensitivity of the RA-CO2 response curve but decreases the sensitivity of the f-CO2 response curve. We conclude that (1) interaction occurs between intrapulmonary and systemic afferent activity in the generation of RA and f, (2) the nature of the interaction is synergism with respect to RA and interference with respect to f, and (3) the interaction is greater during hypocapnia than hypercapnia.
Effect of allergic shock on fate of staphylococci in the organs of mice.

Summary1) Female albino mice of two different breeds were treated intraperitoneally with a mixture of bovine serum and pertussis vaccine. In confirmation of findings of other investigators, it was found that a large percentage of the animals so sensitized died within 30-60 minutes following the intravenous injection of very small amounts of serum 2-4 weeks after sensitization. The sensitizing effect appeared specific as no deaths occurred when either rabbit serum or egg albumin was used for the challenge injection. 2) Mice pretreated by intraperitoneal injection of bovine serum and pertussis vaccine, or of pertussis vaccine alone, were infected intravenously several weeks later with staphylococci resuspended in 1/2000 bovine serum. When they were sacrificed 24 hours after infection, it was found that many more staphylococcal colonies could be recovered from the kidneys, liver and lungs of the animals that had been sensitized to bovine serum, than from the organs of animals of the control group.
Factors limiting regeneration of Quercus alba and Cornus florida in formerly cultivated coastal plain sites, South Carolina

Riley, J.M. Jr., and R.H.Jones. 2003. Factors limiting regeneration of Quercus alba and Cornus florida in formerly cultivated coastal plain sites, South Carolina. For. Ecol., and Mgt. 177:571-586. To determine the extent that resources, conditions, and herbivoryy limit regeneration of Quercus alba L. and Cornus florida L. in formerly cultivated coastal plain uplands, we planted seedlings of the two species in two pine and one pine-hardwood forest understory and three adjacent clearcuts. Soil carbon and moisture, available nitrogen and phosphorous, and gap light index (GLI) were measured next to each seedling. Over two growing seasons, stem and leaf herbivory were estimated and survival was recorded. At the end of 2 years, all surviving stems were harvested to determine total leaf area and 2-year biomass growth. Survival to the end of the study was not significantly different between clearcuts and understories. However, clearcuts led to significantly greater biomass growth and leaf area for both Q. alba and C. florida. Soil moisture and available nutrients were also greater in the clearcuts. Using separate multiple linear (growth) or logistic (survival) regressions for each combination of three sites, two cutting treatments and two species, we found that soil moisture significantly affected survival in 12.5%more » and biomass growth in 8.3% of the regressions. Light availability significantly impacted biomass growth in 16.7% of the regressions. Stem and leaf herbivory had very little impact on survival (8.3%), but when combined, these two factors significantly impacted leaf area or biomass growth in 33.3% of the regressions. Seedling responses were highly variable, and no regression model accounted for more that 70.0% of this variation. In our study, stand-scalevariation in seedling responses (especially the difference between clearcut and understory) was much greater than within-stand variation. Of the within stand factors measured, herbivory was clearly the most important. To establish these species in mesic upland coastal plain sites, we recommend planting immediately after clearcutting.« less
A Framework for Examining the Sustained Acceptability of Microbicides

The concept of acceptability involves a complex set of individual, couple and socio-cultural factors. Within a specific focus on microbicides, this article sets forth the relevant behavioral issues demanding attention as scientists and product developers strive to identify microbicides that will be used in a sustained, long-term fashion to prevent HIV/AIDS. The paper re-conceptualizes long-term acceptability within the ARRM framework, reviews the basic issues and research related to microbicide acceptability, discusses couple relationships (especially the nature of intimate relationships), and identifies related gender and power factors. The importance of the cultural context within various international settings pervades all of these issues. Finally, a set of challenges is discussed for those contemplating such research.
A New Computer Program (GlycoX) To Determine Simultaneously the Glycosylation Sites and Oligosaccharide Heterogeneity of Glycoproteins

A new computer program, GlycoX, was developed to aid in the determination of the glycosylation sites and oligosaccharide heterogeneity in glycoproteins. After digestion with the nonspecific protease, each glycan at a specific glycosylation site contains a small peptide tag that identifies the location of the glycan. GlycoX was developed in MATLAB requiring the entry of the exact masses of the glycopeptide and the glycan spectra in the form of a mass-intensity table and taking advantage of the accurate mass capability of the mass analyzer, in this case a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT ICR) mass spectrometer. This program computes not only the glycosylation site but also the composition of the glycans at each site. Several glycoproteins were used to determine the efficacy of GlycoX. These glycoproteins range from the simple, with one site of glycosylation, to the more complex, with multiple (three) sites of glycosylation. The results obtained using the computer program were the same as those determined manually. Model glycoproteins yielded the correct results, and new glycoproteins with unknown glycosylation were examined with the site of glycosylation and the corresponding glycans determined. Furthermore, other functions in GlycoX, including an auto-isotope filter to identify monoisotopic peaks and an oligosaccharide calculator to obtain the oligosaccharide composition, are demonstrated.
CALCULATING ACCURATE REDOX POTENTIALS IN ENZYMES WITH A COMBINED QM/MM FREE ENERGY PERTURBATION APPROACH

An approach for computing accurate redox potentials in enzymes is developed based on the free energy perturbation technique in a QM/MM framework. With an appropriate choice of the QM level and QM/MM coupling scheme, the intermolecular interaction between the redox center and the protein environment can be adequately described; the speed of QM/MM methods also allows a sufficient configurational sampling for the convergence of free energy derivatives. Following the implementation into the simulation package CHARMM, the method was tested with an application to the first reduction potential of FAD in cholesterol oxidase (Chox). In addition to an accurate QM level and adequate conformational samplings, the effect of long-range electrostatic interactions due to the bulk solvent was also found to be essential. Using a semi-empirical density functional theory (SCC-DFTB) as the QM level, and a multi-stage charge-scaling scheme based on Poisson–Boltzmann calculations for the solvation effect, satisfactory agreements with experimental measurements were obtained. The study of Chox also indicates that large errors in the calculated redox potential might arise if changes in the conformational properties of the protein during the redox process are not taken into account, such as in energy minimization type of studies based on only the X-ray structure of the enzyme in one redox state.
Phylogenetic relationships of the North American cyprinid subgenus Hydrophlox.

Notropis is one of the largest genera of North American fishes and is composed of a number of morpho- logically diagnosed subgroups; however, the validity of many has not been tested in a phylogenetic framework. One such subgroup is the subgenus Hydrophlox, which is composed of brilliantly colored spe- cies that engage in the symbiotic reproductive behavior of nest association. Although they have long been recognized as a cohesive group due to their nuptial coloration and fin tuberculation, very little is known about the relationships of species within Hydrophlox. We tested the monophyly of Hydrophlox using a mitochondrial marker (ND2) and two nuclear markers (ITS1 and RH), with Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian inference approaches. A well supported clade of ''core'' Hydrophlox was recovered and is com- posed of five taxa: Notropis chiliticus, Notropis rubricroceus, Notropis lutipinnis, Notropis chlorocephalus, and Notropis chrosomus. Hydrophlox s.l. is paraphyletic with respect to three taxa: Notropis baileyi, Notropis leu- ciodus and Notropis nubilus. While there was some discordance among the individual marker topologies, a combined evidence analysis recovered a topology that incorporated elements from all single-gene trees. Our analyses suggest that Hydrophlox is composed of five nominal species and additional undescribed diversity exists within this clade.
Integrated AC/DC systems power flow solution using Newton-Raphson and Broyden approaches

A new modified system of equations for solving AC/DC power flow is proposed in this paper using two different methods. The well-known Jacobian equation for the AC power flow is modified to achieve compatibility for systems with integrated DC link(s) in the AC network. The converters are treated as voltage dependent PQ-buses. This allows the DC variables to be included in the power flow equations. The new residual vector and Jacobian matrix comprise both the AC network and the DC link. A secant method called Broyden's method is applied for solving the nonlinear systems of equations. This solution is compared to that of Newton-Raphson's method. The IEEE 9-bus test system is used to validate these methods.
Isolation of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus from an Alpaca

A frozen, stillborn alpaca (Lama pacos) was submitted to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for diagnostic purposes. No gross or histopathologic changes of any significance were seen. A pool of lung, liver, and brain tissues was positive for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. On inoculation in cell cultures, a noncytopathic BVDV (type 1b) was isolated. No evidence of BVDV was seen on immunohistochemical examination of tissues. This indicates the importance of using multiple tests for arriving at a diagnosis and appears to be the first report of BVDV isolation from alpaca.
Interleukin-18 Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Replication in the Livers of Transgenic Mice

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) produced by activated antigen-presenting cells stimulates natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and T cells to secrete gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). In this study, injection of a single 10- micro g dose of recombinant murine IL-18 rapidly, reversibly, and noncytopathically inhibited hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in the livers of HBV transgenic mice. Furthermore, HBV replication was inhibited by as little as 1 micro g of IL-18 injected repetitively, and also by a single 0.1- micro g dose of IL-18 injected together with 1 ng of IL-12, neither of which inhibited HBV replication individually, demonstrating synergy between these cytokines in this system. The antiviral effect of IL-18 was mediated by its ability to activate resident intrahepatic NK cells and NKT cells to produce IFN-gamma and by its ability to induce IFN-alpha/beta production in the liver. These results suggest that IL-18 has the potential to contribute to the control of HBV replication during self-limited infection and that it may have therapeutic value for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis.
Measuring target effect of proposed disease-modifying therapies in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and is an increasing public health problem. Because of the severity and increasing prevalence of the disease in the population, it is urgent that better treatments be developed. Active research efforts over the past several decades have produced a vast knowledge base regarding AD natural history, pathology, and key biological mediators involved in pathogenesis. As knowledge of the biomolecular mechanisms of AD has increased over the past several decades, there has been a growing consensus on the pathophysiology of the disease. These scientific advancements have led to proposals for disease-modifying therapeutic interventions that promise to significantly alter the course of AD. The translation from preclinical models to human studies requires therapeutic biomarkers to increase the likelihood of success. This review covers the current methods and technologies used in the therapeutic translation of proposed disease-modifying therapies for AD.
Database Selection: One Size Does Not Fit All

With increasing costs and decreasing budgets, it is important for librarians to make sound purchasing decisions for electronic resources. What factors are important to consider in making a decision? How can librarians balance these factors, which may appear to be contradictory, and also meet the expectations of administrators, staff, and users? This article describes a strategy for making delivery decisions that address local conditions, pricing, feature options, hardware costs, and network availability. Finally, a model is presented for evaluating the decision based on dollar requirements and local issues.
Tcf3 and Lef1 regulate lineage differentiation of multipotent stem cells in skin

In skin, multipotent stem cells generate the keratinocytes of the epidermis, sebaceous gland, and hair follicles. In this paper, we show that Tcf3 and Lef1 control these differentiation lineages. In contrast to Lef1, which requires Wnt signaling and stabilized β-catenin to express the hair-specific keratin genes and control hair differentiation, Tcf3 can act independently of its β-catenin interacting domain to suppress features of epidermal terminal differentiation, in which Tcf3 is normally shut off, and promote features of the follicle outer root sheath (ORS) and multipotent stem cells (bulge), the compartments which naturally express Tcf3. These aspects of Tcf3's action are dependent on its DNA binding and Groucho repressor-binding domains. In the absence of its β-catenin interacting domain, Lef1's behavior (ΔNLef1) seems to be markedly distinct from that of ΔNTcf3. ΔNLef1 does not suppress epidermal differentiation and promote ORS/bulge differentiation, but rather suppresses hair differentiation and gives rise to sebocyte differentiation. Taken together, these findings provide powerful evidence that the status of Tcf3/Lef complexes has a key role in controlling cell fate lineages in multipotent skin stem cells.
Lassa Virus Infection in Experimentally Infected Marmosets: Liver Pathology and Immunophenotypic Alterations in Target Tissues

Lassa virus causes thousands of deaths annually in western Africa and is considered a potential biological weapon. In an attempt to develop a small nonhuman primate model of Lassa fever, common marmosets were subcutaneously inoculated with Lassa virus strain Josiah. This inoculation resulted in a systemic disease with clinical and morphological features mirroring those in fatal human Lassa infection: fever, weight loss, high viremia and viral RNA load in tissues, elevated liver enzymes, and severe morbidity between days 15 and 20. The most prominent histopathology findings included multifocal hepatic necrosis with mild inflammation and hepatocyte proliferation, lymphoid depletion, and interstitial nephritis. Cellular aggregates in regions of hepatocellular necrosis were largely composed of HAM56-positive macrophages, devoid of CD3-positive and CD20-positive cells, and characterized by marked reductions in the intensity of HLA-DP, DQ, DR staining. A marked reduction in the major histocompatibility complex class II expression was also observed in the lymph nodes. Immunophenotypic alterations in spleen included reductions in overall numbers of CD20-positive and CD3-positive cells and the disruption of lymphoid follicular architecture. These findings identify the common marmoset as an appropriate model of human Lassa fever and present the first experimental evidence that replication of Lassa virus in tissues is associated with alterations that would be expected to impair adaptive immunity.
Progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, estrone, and estradiol synthesis in hamster ovarian follicle cells.

Isolated granulosa cells and theca from proestrous hamsters alone and in recombination, were cultured in order to study steroidogenic capacity of this tissue. Cells from medium size antral follicles (100–300 µm diam.) and large preovulatory follicles (500†µm diam.) were used. Steroids were measured by radioimmunoassay. Cultures of cells derived from both sizes of follicles made significant amounts of progesterone for up to 6 days in tissue culture. The preparations from the medium sized antral follicles synthesized little or no estrogen. Of the cells harvested from the preovulatory follicles, the granulosa and theca made moderate amounts of estradiol-17β while the recombined system made∼5× the estradiol-17β made by theca or granulosa alone. The results indicate that in the in vitro system used: 1) The hamster follicle cells are similar to other species in that they spontaneously luteinize in culture and secrete large amounts of progesterone, 2) Androgen accumulation is greatest in media from cultured thec...
Microwave signature and its sensitivity to soil moisture changes for dynamic vegetation

In this paper, we develop a microwave brightness model for a growing season of cotton (MB-Cotton) and evaluate it by comparing modeled brightness temperatures at C-band with ground-based observations during an extensive field experiment. Overall, the phases of the modeled TB matched well with those observed but the diurnal amplitudes were underestimated when observed soil and vegetation conditions were used as inputs. The model estimates matched better with the observations when it was linked with a Land Surface Process model. The non- scattering canopy assumption provided reasonable estimates even during the late season.
The Role of Genome Sequencing in Personalized Breast Cancer Prevention

Background: There is uncertainty about the benefits of using genome-wide sequencing to implement personalized preventive strategies at the population level, with some projections suggesting little benefit. We used data for all currently known breast cancer susceptibility variants to assess the benefits and harms of targeting preventive efforts to a population subgroup at highest genomic risk of breast cancer. Methods: We used the allele frequencies and effect sizes of 86 known breast cancer variants to estimate the population distribution of breast cancer risks and evaluate the strategy of targeting preventive efforts to those at highest risk. We compared the efficacy of this strategy with that of a “best-case” strategy based on a risk distribution estimated from breast cancer concordance in monozygous twins, and with strategies based on previously estimated risk distributions. Results: Targeting those in the top 25% of the risk distribution would include approximately half of all future breast cancer cases, compared with 70% captured by the best-case strategy and 35% based on previously known variants. In addition, current evidence suggests that reducing exposure to modifiable nongenetic risk factors will have greatest benefit for those at highest genetic risk. Conclusions: These estimates suggest that personalized breast cancer preventive strategies based on genome sequencing will bring greater gains in disease prevention than previously projected. Moreover, these gains will increase with increased understanding of the genetic etiology of breast cancer. Impact: These results support the feasibility of using genome-wide sequencing to target the women who would benefit from mammography screening. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 1–6. ©2014 AACR .
Comparison of In/sub 0.5/Ga/sub 0.5/P/GaAs single- and double-heterojunction bipolar transistors with a carbon-doped base

A comparison of MOCVD-grown, n-p-n In/sub 0.5/Ga/sub 0.5/P/GaAs single- and double-heterojunction bipolar transistors (SHBTs and DHBTs) with a carbon-doped base is presented. A base doping level of 2.5*10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/ was employed in both device structures, resulting in a base sheet resistance of 500 Omega /sq. Common-emitter current gains as high as 210 and 150 were measured for the SHBTs and DHBTs, respectively. Results of a DC performance optimization study indicate that a 15- and 25-AA undoped set-back layer at the emitter-base junction provides optimal common-emitter current gain. The DHBTs exhibited a 40% improvement in common-base breakdown voltage compared to SHBTs (25 versus 18 V), indicating that In/sub 0.5/Ga/sub 0.5/P/GaAs DHBTs may prove suitable for power device applications. >
Unified approach to cascaded stimulated Brillouin scattering and frequency-comb generation

We present a unified approach to cascaded stimulated Brillouin scattering and frequency-comb generation in which the multitude of interacting pump, Stokes, and anti-Stokes optical fields is described by a single forward wave and a single backward wave at a single carrier frequency. The envelopes of these two waves are modulated through coupling to a single acoustic oscillation and through four-wave mixing. Starting from a single pump field, we observe the emergence of a comb of frequencies as the intensity is increased. The set of three differential equations derived here is sufficient to describe the generation of any number of Brillouin sidebands in oscillator systems that would have required hundreds of coupled equations in the standard approach. We test this approach on some published experiments and find excellent agreement with the results.
Edible Aroids: Taro, Yautia, and Others

Colocasia esculenta (taro) occurs wild in India and Southeast Asia; taro cultivation probably originated here and the corms were taken to China and then to Japan. It also spread to the eastern Mediterranean and to Egypt and also to Spain. It was probably taken to the island of Madagascar by the Indonesians as early as 500 AD and then spread across Africa to the Guinea coast. From Southeast Asia the Polynesians took taro to the various islands of the South Pacific. The oriental taro, known as dasheen, is a nonacrid cultivar, which originated in China and was brought to the West Indies by the explorers in post-Columbian times. It is now grown in all parts of the subtropics and the tropics.
Establishing a Security Risk Management Program Is Crucial

This chapter zeros in on the criticality of establishing and maintaining a realistic and practical risk management program that can demonstrate to chief executives how well the security organization is performing and determine the significant shortfalls organizations confront is achieving competencies and expectations, as well as the challenges organizations face to correct deficiencies, weaknesses, and inadequacies. A security risk management framework and architecture platform is offered for adoption. Actual case histories are offered throughout the narrative to clarify or emphasize a particular point made.
What We Talk about When We Talk about Health Care Costs

New ethics guidelines from the American College of Physicians calling for physicians to practice “parsimonious care” have reignited a debate about the role and responsibility of physicians in addressing problems with health care costs.
Inhibition of Human Platelet-Collagen Adhesion Reaction by Amitriptyline and Imipramine

SummaryThe capability of human blood platelets to adhere spontaneously to collagen, both in citrated and EDTA platelet-rich plasma, was shown to be inhibited markedly in the presence of imipramine or amitriptyline. Adhesion of platelets to collagen was quantitated by a method specific for adhesion.A possible similarity between the mechanism of platelet aggregation and that of platelet-collagen adhesion is suggested.
Abstract 3241: Preclinical development of JNK-targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer.

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2, have a very poor prognosis due to metastasis and limited targeted therapies. JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) signaling promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis and regulates cancer stem cell self-renewal and maintenance in glioma, and the JNK pathway is hyperactivated in basal-like TNBC. Therefore, we hypothesized that suppressing JNK activity inhibits tumorigenesis and metastasis of TNBC cells. To test our hypothesis, we generated several JNK-targeted JIP (JNK-interacting protein) mimetic peptides as well as the small molecule JNK inhibitor JNK-In-8 and assessed their therapeutic potential in TNBC cells. JIP mimetic peptides were designed and synthesized on the basis of the D-site of JIP, which is critical for JNK binding. All the peptides and JNK-In-8 specifically inhibited JNK kinase activity. Because of high JNK specificity, JIP2 (JIP peptide) and JNK-In-8 were chosen for bioactivity studies. JIP2 (10 μM) inhibited phosphorylation of JNK and its substrate c-Jun in HEK293 cells. Similar results were observed for JNK-In-8 (0.5 μM) in SUM149 and MDA-MB-231 cells. However, whereas JIP2 was not cytotoxic against SUM149 and MDA-MB-231 cells, JNK-In-8 (IC50=4.0 μM) significantly inhibited proliferation of these cells by inducing G1 cell-cycle arrest at low doses and apoptosis at high doses. Furthermore, SUM149 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with JNK-In-8 (2.5 μM, P JIP2 (10 μM) strongly inhibited SUM149 cell migration (42.02%, P Interestingly, JNK-In-8 (2.5 μM) also reduced the proportion of CD44+ CD24- cells (SUM149: DMSO 50.23% vs JNK-In-8 40.41%) and that of ALDH1+ cells (SUM149: DMSO 38.25% vs JNK-In-8 25.84%; MDA-MB-231: DMSO 19.94% vs JNK-In-8 9.21%) as well as mammosphere formation (SUM149: 65.95%, P Our data demonstrate that JNK inhibitors may inhibit tumorigenesis and metastasis of TNBC cells by suppressing cancer stem cell maintenance and that JNK may serve as a promising target for TNBC therapy. Further studies will be conducted to determine the molecular mechanisms of JIP2- and JNK-In-8-mediated antitumor action in TNBC and the therapeutic efficacy of JIP2 and JNK-In-8 in a TNBC xenograft mouse model. Citation Format: Xuemei Xie, Tamer S. Kaoud, Ramakrishna Edupuganti, Rachel M. Sammons, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, Naoto T. Ueno, Kevin N. Dalby, Chandra Bartholomeusz. Preclinical development of JNK-targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3241. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3241
Resource caravans and resource caravan passageways: a new paradigm for trauma responding

We have long outgrown the capacity of the accepted clinical models of trauma, and a paradigm shift in our thinking is long overdue. The data on traumatic stress were posited from a certain cognitive-behavioural viewpoint, with particular emotional components based almost in their entirety on western
Why Regular Gamblers Don't Quit: A Sociological Perspective

This article examines the phenomenon of persistence at gambling by relating regular participation to the social structure in which that behavior occurs. Using qualitative data developed during a st...
Measurement and evaluation of personal radiation dose in cyclotron center and PET-CT department

Objective To measure and evaluate the personal radiation dose for medical staff in cyclotron center and PET-CT department and to offer the reference data for clinical radiation protection.Methods γ ray radiation dose rate was analyzed in 18 medical staff members during each medical procedure by using X and γ radiation detector.The estimation of annual exposure dose of 18 medical staff at different working site was based on the caculation of doserate(d),work time(t) and workload(w).Results When the workloads were 1 000,4 000,7 000 and 10 000 per year,the annual doses per procedure were: 0.27 mSv for quality control;0.02 to 0.20 mSv for dispensation;0.06 to 0.58 mSv for carrying the compound;2.49 to 24.9 mSv for injection and 1.19 to 11.91 mSv for setting the patients.Conclusion The staff receives higher radiation dose during dispensation and injection.When the workload is 4 000 and 10 000 per year,the dose received by hands and body would respectively exceed the national radiation safety standards(GBSS) on occupational annual dose limits.
The Impact of Physician Specialization on Clinical and Hospital Outcomes in Patients Undergoing EVAR and TEVAR

Background Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are commonly performed by interventional radiologists, cardiologists, general surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, and vascular surgeons, with each specialty having differences in residency structure, operative experience, and subspecialty training. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of surgeon specialty on outcomes following EVAR and TEVAR. Methods Patients who underwent EVAR and TEVAR were identified from the 2007 to 2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Physician identifiers in the NIS were used to determine surgical specialty and operative experience. Multivariate analysis adjusted for mortality risk was used to compare differences in demographics, complications, outcomes, and hospital covariates. Results A total of 5147 EVARs were identified within the NIS, of which 88.3% were completed by vascular surgeons. There were no significant differences in demographics between the specialties. Cardiothoracic surgeons were more likely to have a postoperative stroke (3.1% vs. 0.2%, odds ratio [OR] 14.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8–117.8, P < 0.05) and cardiac complications (9.4% vs. 2.0%, OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.5–16.6, P < 0.01) compared with other specialties. Costs were lowest for vascular surgeons ($32,094), and highest for cardiothoracic surgeons ($41,663, P < 0.05). Only vascular surgeons completed more than 10 EVARs per year. A total of 2531 TEVAR cases were completed during the study period, of which 73.8% were completed by vascular surgeons, 15.8% by cardiothoracic surgeons, 8.0% by interventional radiologists, and the remainder by interventional cardiologists and general surgeons. Interventional radiologists had significantly more elective cases (77.8%, P < 0.001) than cardiothoracic surgeons (47.2%) or vascular surgeons (53.8%), but had a significantly higher rate of stroke (7.6% vs. 1.1%, P < 0.001) and cardiac events (7.2% vs. 3.6%, P < 0.001). Length of stay (LOS, 10.7 days) and median costs ($52,156) were similar across specialties. Vascular surgeons have a low stroke rate (1.1%, P < 0.05 vs. interventional radiologists) and lower rate of cardiac events (3.6% vs. 6.1%, P < 0.01) despite caring for patients with higher diagnosis-related group mortality scores (3.6 vs. 3.4, P < 0.05). Conclusions Vascular surgeons appear to have a comparative advantage over other specialties for EVAR because not only are their complication and mortality rates comparable but overall LOS and hospital charges are lower. Furthermore, primarily only vascular surgeons are performing the high volume of annual EVARs necessary to ensure optimal patient outcomes. For TEVAR, vascular surgeons have the lowest overall morbidity compared with the other specialties, and lower mortality compared with cardiothoracic surgeons. These findings may impact patient referral patterns and hospital privileges for providers.
Thiazide Diuretics for the Treatment of Children With Idiopathic Hypercalciuria and Hematuria

AbstractWe describe our experience in 14 children with idiopathic hypercalciuria and hematuria who received a finite course of thiazide diuretics. Thiazides reduced urinary calcium excretion and resolved hematuria in all cases. Serum calcium concentration was not altered with treatment. Serum potassium concentration decreased, and total carbon dioxide content and uric acid concentrations increased in response to therapy but these changes did not necessitate discontinuation of treatment. Thiazides were discontinued electively after 16 ± 15 months of treatment (range 3 to 40 months). Six children maintained normal urinary calcium excretion, while 8 displayed excessive calcium excretion for 16 ± 4 months after treatment was stopped. Renal calculi were not detected in any patient during this interval but hematuria recurred in 4 children. These findings suggest that thiazides are safe and effective for resolving hypercalciuria and hematuria. Thiazides may be discontinued safely in some children, while others w...
Simulation and Experimental Study of Metal Organic Frameworks Used in Adsorption Cooling

ABSTRACTMetal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently attracted enormous interest over the past few years in energy storage and gas separation, yet there have been few reports for adsorption cooling applications. Adsorption cooling technology is an established alternative to mechanical vapor compression refrigeration systems and is an excellent alternative in industrial environments where waste heat is available. We explored the use of MOFs that have very high mass loading and relatively low heats of adsorption, with certain combinations of refrigerants to demonstrate a new type of highly efficient adsorption chiller. Computational fluid dynamics combined with a system level lumped-parameter model have been used to project size and performance for chillers with a cooling capacity ranging from a few kW to several thousand kW. These systems rely on stacked micro/mini-scale architectures to enhance heat and mass transfer. Recent computational studies of an adsorption chiller based on MOFs suggests that a the...
Different Psychological Worlds, Part 1

Issues related to race, gender, and class manifest themselves in many surprising and unexpected ways on community college campuses and classrooms. A significant body of recent research from a variety of disciplines complicates our understanding of student success at open admissions institutions in profound ways—and suggests, ultimately, that different cohorts of students inhabit very different psychological worlds. In this chapter, we examine Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir’s work on “scarcity,” Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley’s landmark study on language acquisition (Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experience of Young American Children), and Annette Lareau’s research on the role that parenting styles play in shaping the lives of children (Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life).
Lead-Free Mixed Tin and Germanium Perovskites for Photovoltaic Application

The power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of lead halide perovskite photovoltaics has reached 22.1% with significantly improved structural stability, thanks to a mixed cation and anion strategy. However, the mixing element strategy has not been widely seen in the design of lead-free perovskites for photovoltaic application. Herein, we report a comprehensive study of a series of lead-free and mixed tin and germanium halide perovskite materials. Most importantly, we predict that RbSn0.5Ge0.5I3 possesses not only a direct bandgap within the optimal range of 0.9–1.6 eV but also a desirable optical absorption spectrum that is comparable to those of the state-of-the-art methylammonium lead iodide perovskites, favorable effective masses for high carrier mobility, as well as a greater resistance to water penetration than the prototypical inorganic–organic lead-containing halide perovskite. If confirmed in the laboratory, this new lead-free inorganic perovskite may offer great promise as an alternative, highly efficie...
Countering Anti-Forensics of Lateral Chromatic Aberration

Research has shown that lateral chromatic aberrations (LCA), an imaging fingerprint, can be anti-forensically modified to hide evidence of cut-and-paste forgery. In this paper, we propose a new technique for securing digital images against anti-forensic manipulation of LCA. To do this, we exploit resizing differences between color channels, which are induced by LCA anti-forensics, and define a feature vector to quantitatively capture these differences. Furthermore, we propose a detection method that exposes anti-forensically manipulated image patches. The technique algorithm is validated through experimental procedure, showing dependence on forgery patch size as well as anti-forensic scaling factor.
Registration – A Sine Qua Non for Refugee Protection

Identification, registration and documentation are a critical feature of our daily lives. Access to work, education, health care, and social benefits is severely constrained without the right papers. There are few people for whom papers are more crucial than for refugees. A refugee ID card often serves quite literally as a lifeline as it prevents the card holder from being deported to what can be a life-threatening situation. This chapter documents the key steps involved in identifying, registering and documenting refugees, ranging from rudimentary registration during mass outflows to sophisticated asylum determination systems. The chapter highlights the various functions of refugee registration and stresses the need for international refugee protection, provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Given the strong link between registration and data collection, the chapter presents concrete recommendations for strengthening data on the number and condition of refugees. These recommendations should be considered in light of the global compact for refugees that the General Assembly has agreed to develop by 2018.
Experimental Study of Distributed Massive MIMO (DM-MIMO) in In-building Fiber-Wireless Networks

We experimentally demonstrate up to 10× greater system capacity using Distributed M-MIMO compared to Collocated M-MIMO in an indoor environment. We further show that user-distribution-driven antenna placement enables significant infrastructure savings up to 25%.
Exploiting Three-Dimensional Gaze Tracking for Action Recognition During Bimanual Manipulation to Enhance Human–Robot Collaboration

Human-robot collaboration could be advanced by facilitating the intuitive, gaze-based control of robots, and enabling robots to recognize human actions, infer human intent, and plan actions that support human goals. Traditionally, gaze tracking approaches to action recognition have relied upon computer vision-based analyses of two-dimensional egocentric camera videos. The objective of this study was to identify useful features that can be extracted from three-dimensional (3D) gaze behavior and used as inputs to machine learning algorithms for human action recognition. We investigated human gaze behavior and gaze-object interactions in 3D during the performance of a bimanual, instrumental activity of daily living: the preparation of a powdered drink. A marker-based motion capture system and binocular eye tracker were used to reconstruct 3D gaze vectors and their intersection with 3D point clouds of objects being manipulated. Statistical analyses of gaze fixation duration and saccade size suggested that some actions (pouring and stirring) may require more visual attention than other actions (reach, pick up, set down, and move). 3D gaze saliency maps, generated with high spatial resolution for six subtasks, appeared to encode action-relevant information. The "gaze object sequence" was used to capture information about the identity of objects in concert with the temporal sequence in which the objects were visually regarded. Dynamic time warping barycentric averaging was used to create a population-based set of characteristic gaze object sequences that accounted for intra- and inter-subject variability. The gaze object sequence was used to demonstrate the feasibility of a simple action recognition algorithm that utilized a dynamic time warping Euclidean distance metric. Averaged over the six subtasks, the action recognition algorithm yielded an accuracy of 96.4%, precision of 89.5%, and recall of 89.2%. This level of performance suggests that the gaze object sequence is a promising feature for action recognition whose impact could be enhanced through the use of sophisticated machine learning classifiers and algorithmic improvements for real-time implementation. Robots capable of robust, real-time recognition of human actions during manipulation tasks could be used to improve quality of life in the home and quality of work in industrial environments.
Trade Linkages to Traditional and Non-Traditional Security: Lessons and Prospects

With ongoing problems in concluding the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO), countries have pursued a variety of alternative trade arrangements to increase market access. In particular, we have seen a dramatic increase in efforts in the Asia–Pacific to conclude transregional, regional, and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs).
The in vivo equivalence of a cell-free system for RNA processing and transport.

Abstract The equivalence of messenger RNA released (transported) from isolated rat liver nuclei to three selected media, with messenger RNA normally released to liver cytoplasm in vivo , has been evaluated by competitive DNA: RNA hybridization. Near normal nuclear restriction was exhibited by nuclei in media fortified with ATP, salts, spermidine and dialyzed cytosol. The RNA transport in the latter system was markedly inhibited by colchicine as was also the transport of RNA in vivo . Both nuclear restriction and sensitivity of the RNA transport to colchicine in media lacking spermidine and cytosol deviated significantly from the in vivo norm. The results emphasize the importance of establishing the in vivo equivalence in cell-free systems designed to study RNA synthesis, processing and transport.