cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CXCL12 Chemokine Expression Suppresses Human Pancreatic Cancer Growth and Metastasis

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an unsolved health problem with nearly 75% of patients diagnosed with advanced disease and an overall 5-year survival rate near 5%. Despite the strong link between mortality and malignancy, the mechanisms behind pancreatic cancer dissemination and metastasis are poorly understood. Correlative pathological and cell culture analyses suggest the chemokine receptor CXCR4 plays a biological role in pancreatic cancer progression. In vivo roles for the CXCR4 ligand CXCL12 in pancreatic cancer malignancy were investigated. CXCR4 and CXCR7 were consistently expressed in normal and cancerous pancreatic ductal epithelium, established cell lines, and patient-derived primary cancer cells. Relative to healthy exocrine ducts, CXCL12 expression was pathologically repressed in pancreatic cancer tissue specimens and patient-derived cell lines. To test the functional consequences of CXCL12 silencing, pancreatic cancer cell lines stably expressingthe chemokine were engineered. Consistent with a role for CXCL12 as a tumor suppressor, cells producing the chemokine wereincreasingly adherent and migration deficient in vitro and poorly metastatic in vivo, compared to control cells. Further, CXCL12 reintroduction significantly reduced tumor growth in vitro, with significantly smaller tumors in vivo, leading to a pronounced survival advantage in a preclinical model. Together, these data demonstrate a functional tumor suppressive role for the normal expression of CXCL12 in pancreatic ducts, regulating both tumor growth andcellulardissemination to metastatic sites.
Pedodiversity in an old-growth northern hardwood forest in the Huron Mountains, Upper Peninsula, Michigan

We investigated three primary causes of old-growth forest pedodiversity imposed by top-down trophic interactions, including pit and mound topography from past tree fall events, current canopy gaps ...
Modeling the effects of mining and erosion on biomass production

Abstract A biomass productivity model and a soil loss model were used to simulate effects of mining and erosion on the productivity potential of a 600-ha site. Biomass productivity, expressed as a relative productivity index pi ( 0 ⩽ pi ⩽ 1 ), was computed as a product of a root distribution function and limiting soil property levels derived from literature. Distribution of soil loss or deposition was estimated using a recently developed erosion-deposition model. Effects of two scenarios are compared. In the first, the site is assumed to have been surface mined for coal and the effects on productivity are examined if existing soil is replaced with a minesoil. In the second, erosion-deposition model is used to predict changes in productivity after a severe storm. Under the assumptions of this study, biomass productivity appears more likely to decline because of mining than because of erosion.
Burgers vectors of interfacial dislocations

Abstract By reformulating the basic definition of the Burgers vector, the distinction is introduced between the proper “Burgers vector” with its invariance properties and which is understood as an abstract dimensionless coordinate difference ( 1 2 [110] instead of a 2 [110]!), and its local representation which is the representation of this coordinate difference within the equivalance class of local unit cells, which are all imageable onto the same unit cell of the reference lattice. In this way, the Burgers vector balance can be satisfied within interfaces as well as across them.
Effect of process distillation on the distribution of amino polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in refined coal-derived liquids

Abstract After fractional distillation of SRC-I process solvent, 3- and 4-ring amino polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (amino PAH) are essentially absent from fractions boiling at
The evolution of apical dominance in maize

The domestication of crop plants has often involved an increase in apical dominance (the concentration of resources in the main stem of the plant and a corresponding suppression of axillary branches). A striking example of this phenomenon is seen in maize (Zea mays spp. mays), which exhibits a profound increase in apical dominance compared with its probable wild ancestor, teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis). Previous research has identified the teosinte branched1 (tb1) gene as a major contributor to this evolutionary change in maize. We have cloned tb1 by transposon tagging and show here that it encodes a protein with homology to the cycloidea gene of snapdragon. The pattern of tb1 expression and the morphology of tb1 mutant plants suggest that tb1 acts both to repress the growth of axillary organs and to enable the formation of female inflorescences. The maize allele of tb1 is expressed at twice the level of the teosinte allele, suggesting that gene regulatory changes underlie the evolutionary divergence of maize from teosinte.
New technique for vagal nerve stimulation.

Introduction: The vagus nerve travels in a neurovascular bundle with the carotid artery and internal jugular vein. The present study was designed to assess whether transvascular stimulation through the carotid artery of the dog can be used to directly stimulate the vagus nerve and increase parasympathetic tone. Methods: In five anesthetized dogs, a steerable electrode catheter was positioned under fluoroscopic guidance in the right carotid artery in the mid neck via the femoral artery. Multipolar catheters were positioned transvenously through the femoral vein in the right atrium, across the tricuspid valve to record a His-bundle electrogram, and in the right ventricle. Results: In all five animals, vagal nerve stimulation was successfully achieved with outputs ranging between 10 and 30 mA. Sinus cycle length increased from 473±113 ms at baseline to 894±315 ms (P<0.025) during stimulation from the right carotid artery. There was an increase in the AH interval from 55±14 to 77±23 ms (P<0.03), a shortening of the atrial effective refractory period from 136±8 to 126±6 ms (P<0.01), and a fall in the systolic blood pressure from 135±20 to 117±20 mmHg (P<0.005) with stimulation from the right carotid artery. A prolongation of the AV and VA block cycle lengths and the AV nodal effective refractory period was also noted with stimulation from the right carotid artery. Atrial fibrillation was not induced at baseline in any animal. During stimulation from the right carotid artery, atrial fibrillation was induced in three of five animals and persisted for the duration of stimulation from the right carotid artery. Conclusion: Cardiac parasympathetic stimulation can be achieved by positioning a catheter in the neurovascular bundle in the neck adjacent to the vagus nerve with resultant effects on cardiac electrophysiology.
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with alterations in markers of fetoplacental wellbeing.

AbstractBackground: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with adverse fetal outcomes in some studies. Second trimester Down syndrome screening markers reflect fetal and fetoplacental wellbeing. We aimed to compare markers of fetal and feto-placental wellbeing in women with OSA and low risk controls.Methods: A retrospective case-control study of pregnant women with OSA and available second trimester markers was performed. Controls were screened for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) at the time of delivery using a questionnaire. Women at low risk for OSA were selected. Marker levels were adjusted for gestational age and race and reported as multiples of median and later adjusted for body mass index (BMI).Results: Twenty-four OSA cases and 166 controls were identified. Women with OSA had a higher mean BMI when compared to controls (37.1 ± 12.7 versus 24.1 ± 5.1, p = 0.03). Estriol (uE3) multiples of the median (MoM) levels were lower in women with OSA compared to controls, even after adjusting fo...
Reflections on bladder neoplasia Exophytic papillary urothelial tumors versus planophytic carcinoma in situ

Exophytic (papillary) urotheliomas often occur concomitantly or sequentially with the planophytic carcinomas in situ. The natural history of the two types differs: the former initially shows cell uniformity, orderly arrangement of cell layers, and an adequate vascular supply whose branchings penetrate centrally into the fronds. They tend to respond favorably to any of the present-day modalities of treatment (excision, fulguration, thiotepa, etc). The exophytic urotheliomas are apparently stimulated by the host's normal urine: diversion of the latter is usually followed by disappearance of the tumors. The planophytic carcinomas in situ from incipiency show cell disorganization, hyperchromasia, a paucity of vascularity resulting in ulceration, invasion, nodularity, and endophytic spread. Response to the usual modalities of therapy is unpredictable and often disappointing. These reflections warrant reappraisal of our management and treatment, particularly in light of possible damage to the normal urothelium and the carcinogenic potential of the various agents presently employed. Since we do not at present have a specific cure for cancer of the bladder that has invaded and spread, it behooves us to avoid further injury and instead to maintain the integrity of the normal cells and retard the spread of the malignant ones. Vitamin C administered orally strengthens collagen that binds cells together and counteracts hyaluronidase - a product of the cancer cells - which loosens cells and accelerates their spread. Vitamin C is non-toxic and non-carcinogenic.
Uterine fibroid embolization: assessment of treatment response using perfusion-weighted extraslice spin tagging (EST) magnetic resonance imaging.

In this pilot study, we demonstrate the feasibility of using an arterial spin tagging technique, Extraslice Spin Tagging (EST), to assess tumor perfusion before and after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) and correlate the changes in perfusion with fibroid size reduction. We followed two patient volunteers over a six-month period. The perfusion-weighted image intensity decreased immediately after UFE. The size of the tumor decreased by 14% immediately after UFE and continued to decrease over a six-month period to 84%. The imaging methods presented allow for rapid measurement of tumor volume and the evaluation of perfusion of the tumor without the need for intravenous administration of gadolinium compounds. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:982–986. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Semi-analytic treatment of the three-dimensional Poisson equation via a Galerkin BIE method

A systematic treatment of the three-dimensional Poisson equation via singular and hypersingular boundary integral equation techniques is investigated in the context of a Galerkin approximation. Developed to conveniently deal with domain integrals without a volume-fitted mesh, the proposed method initially converts domain integrals featuring the Newton potential and its gradient into equivalent surface integrals. Then, the resulting boundary integrals are evaluated by means of well-established cubature methods. In this transformation, weakly-singular domain integrals, defined over simply- or multiply-connected domains with Lipschitz boundaries, are rigorously converted into weakly-singular surface integrals. Combined with the semi-analytic integration approach developed for potential problems to accurately calculate singular and hypersingular Galerkin surface integrals, this technique can be employed to effectively deal with mixed boundary-value problems without the need to partition the underlying domain into volume cells. Sample problems are included to validate the proposed approach.
Comparison of traditional and molecular analytical methods for detecting biological agents in raw and drinking water following ultrafiltration

Aims: To compare the performance of traditional methods to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for detecting five biological agents in large-volume drinking-water samples concentrated by ultrafiltration (UF). Methods and Results: Drinking-water samples (100 l) were seeded with Bacillus anthracis, Cryptospordium parvum, Francisella tularensis, Salmonella Typhi, and Vibrio cholerae and concentrated by UF. Recoveries by traditional methods were variable between samples and between some replicates; recoveries were not determined by qPCR. Francisella tularensis and V. cholerae were detected in all 14 samples after UF, B. anthracis was detected in 13, and C. parvum was detected in 9 out of 14 samples. Numbers found by qPCR after UF were significantly or nearly related to those found by traditional methods for all organisms except for C. parvum. A qPCR assay for S. Typhi was not available. Conclusions: qPCR can be used to rapidly detect biological agents after UF as well as traditional methods, but additional work is needed to improve qPCR assays for several biological agents, determine recoveries by qPCR, and expand the study to other areas. Significance and Impact of the Study: To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the use of traditional and qPCR methods to detect biological agents in large-volume drinking-water samples.
Comparing Two Ground-Cover Measurement Methodologies for Semiarid Rangelands

The limited field of view (FOV) associated with single-resolution very-large-scale aerial (VLSA) imagery requires users to balance FOV and resolution needs. This balance varies by the specific questions being asked of the data. Here, we tested a FOV-resolution question by comparing ground cover measured in the field with the use of point-intercept transects with similar data measured from 50-mm-per-pixel (mmpp) VLSA imagery of the same locations. Particular care was given to spatial control of ground and aerial sample points from which observations were made, yet percent cover estimates were very different between methods. An error budget was used to calculate error of location and error of quantification. These results indicated location error (43.5%) played a substantial role with significant quantification error (21.6%) also present. We conclude that 1) although the georectification accuracy achieved in this project was actually quite good, the level of accuracy required to match ground and aerial sample points represents an unrealistic expectation with currently available positioning technologies, 2) 50-mmpp VLSA imagery is not adequate for accurate species identification or cover assessments of plant functional groups, and 3) the balance between resolution and FOV needs is best addressed by using multiple cameras to acquire nested imagery at multiple VLSA resolutions simultaneously. We recommend ground cover be measured from 1-mmpp imagery and that the imagery be nested in lower-resolution, larger FOV images simultaneously acquired.
Binding of peroxiredoxin 6 to substrate determines differential phospholipid hydroperoxide peroxidase and phospholipase A2 activities

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) differs from other mammalian peroxiredoxins both in its ability to reduce phospholipid hydroperoxides at neutral pH and in having phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity that is maximal at acidic pH. We previously showed an active site C47 for peroxidase activity and a catalytic triad S32-H26-D140 necessary for binding of phospholipid and PLA2 activity. This study evaluated binding of reduced and oxidized phospholipid hydroperoxide to Prdx6 at cytosolic pH. Incubation of recombinant Prdx6 with 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine hydroperoxide (PLPCOOH) resulted in peroxidase activity, cys47 oxidation as detected with Prdx6-SO2(3) antibody, and a marked shift in the Prdx6 melting temperature by circular dichroism analysis indicating that PLPCOOH is a specific substrate for Prdx6. Preferential Prdx6 binding to oxidized liposomes was detected by changes in DNS-PE or bis-Pyr fluorescence and by ultrafiltration. Site-specific mutation of S32 or H26 in Prdx6 abolished binding while D140 mutation had no effect. Treatment of A549 cells with peroxides led to lipid peroxidation and translocation of Prdx6 from the cytosol to the cell membrane. Thus, the pH specificity for the two enzymatic activities of Prdx6 can be explained by the differential binding kinetics of the protein; Prdx6 binds to reduced phospholipid at acidic pH but at cytosolic pH binds only phospholipid that is oxidized compatible with a role for Prdx6 in the repair of peroxidized cell membranes.
Fast scanning fluorescence optical tomography for small animal whole body biodistribution assays

We present a fluorescence optical tomography system for imaging the kinetics of probe distributions in small animals. Serial imaging (Δt=2.2 min.) of mice provides the time dependence of probe uptake in different tissue types.
Stress intensity factors for internal multiple cracks in thick-walled cylinders stressed by internal pressure using load relief factors

Abstract The concept of “load relief factor’ is used to determine in an approximate manner stress intensity factors for a multiply-cracked plane and an axisymmetric body. To demonstrate the validity of the method, which utilizes known available solutions, it is first shown to conservatively agree, within engineering accuracy, to that obtained from a more exact formulation. Stress intensity factors are then found for multiple-internal radial cracks in hollow cylinders of various wall ratios, stressed by internal pressure. Such a solution, although approximate and heretofore unavailable, will aid in ordnance design applications and serve as guidance until more rigorous analyses become available.
Short sales, institutional investors and the cross-section of stock returns

Abstract Short-sale constraints are most likely to bind among stocks with low institutional ownership. Because of institutional constraints, most professional investors simply never sell short and hence cannot trade against overpricing of stocks they do not own. Furthermore, stock loan supply tends to be sparse and short selling more expensive when institutional ownership is low. Using institutional ownership as a proxy, I find that short-sale constraints help explain cross-sectional stock return anomalies. Specifically, holding size fixed, the under-performance of stocks with high market-to-book, analyst forecast dispersion, turnover, or volatility is most pronounced among stocks with low institutional ownership. Ownership by passive investors with large stock lending programs partly mitigates this under-performance, indicating some impact of stock loan supply. Prices of stocks with low institutional ownership also underreact to bad cash-flow news and overreact to good cash-flow news, consistent with the idea that short-sale constraints hold negative opinions off the market for these stocks.
Overview of fluoroquinolone safety

The safety of the fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents is reviewed, discussing documented and potential clinical and laboratory adverse effects and drug-drug interactions. In prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trials comparing fluoroquinolones to nonquinolone drugs or placebo, the fluoroquinolones were not significantly different (22 studies) or were superior (5 studies) to comparison agents but were only rarely more toxic (2 studies). Adverse effects included mild gastrointestinal toxicities and less common but more problematic central nervous system toxicities. Clinically important interactions occurred with coadministration of antacids and all fluoroquinolones and with theophylline and enoxacin and to a lesser extent ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin but not other fluoroquinolones. Potential adverse effects such as cartilage damage, DNA damage, teratogenicity, and crystalluria, while of concern, have not as yet been shown to be of clinical importance. Therapy of bacterial infections in children and adolescents is relatively contraindicated, but growing clinical experience with treatment of these patients has not so far revealed serious bone or cartilage toxicity. The fluoroquinolones thus far have exhibited a favorable safety profile, but our clinical experience is still limited, and monitoring for as yet unappreciated toxicities is warranted.
Parovarian cystadenocarcinoma of low-malignant potential

In the world's literature, only 16 patients with parovarian malignancies have been described, five of which have been of low-malignant potential. All but one of these low-malignant potential lesions have been serous tumors. This is the second low-malignant potential parovarian tumor to be described with mucinous and serous components as well as hobnail cells. These tumors occur almost exclusively in young women, yet they are so rare that no treatment plan has been developed. We propose that until more data becomes available, these low-malignant potential lesions be treated as are their ovarian counterparts with staging laparotomy and surgery which conserves reproductive functioning being appropriate for women who meet the rigid clinical and histologic criteria for a very early potentially nonaggressive tumor, and complete extirpative surgery for those who do not.
Vibrio comma and pH

Excerpt To the editor: In a recent letter (1) and article (2) (Bull WHO47:31-36, 1972) no reference was made to statements on gastrointestinal hydrogen ion concentration and cholera that were publi...
Alveolar haemorrhage in a case of high altitude pulmonary oedema

A case of high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) in a climber who made a rapid ascent on Mt McKinley (Denali), Alaska is described. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid contained increased numbers of red blood cells and an abundance of haemosiderin laden macrophages consistent with alveolar haemorrhage. The timing of this finding indicates that alveolar haemorrhage began early during the ascent, well before the onset of symptoms. Although evidence of alveolar haemorrhage has been reported at necropsy in individuals dying of HAPE, previous reports have not shown the same abundance of haemosiderin laden macrophages in the BAL fluid. These findings suggest that alveolar haemorrhage is an early event in HAPE.
Shotgun Lipidomics Reveals the Temporally Dependent, Highly Diversified Cardiolipin Profile in the Mammalian Brain: Temporally Coordinated Postnatal Diversification of Cardiolipin Molecular Species with Neuronal Remodeling†

Large-scale neuronal remodeling through apoptosis occurs shortly after birth in all known mammalian species. Apoptosis, in large part, depends upon critical interactions between mitochondrial membranes and cytochrome c. Herein, we examined the hypothesis that the large-scale reorganization of neuronal circuitry after birth is accompanied by profound alterations in cardiolipin (CL) content and molecular species distribution. During embryonic development, over 100 CL molecular species were identified and quantitated in murine neuronal tissues. The embryonic CL profile was notable for the presence of abundant amounts of relatively short aliphatic chains (e.g., palmitoleic and oleic acids). In sharp contrast, after birth, the CL profile contained a remarkably complex repertoire of CL molecular species, in which the signaling fatty acids (i.e., arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids) were markedly increased. These results identify the rapid remodeling of CL in the perinatal period with resultant alterations in the physical properties of the mitochondrial membrane. The complex distribution of aliphatic chains in the neuronal CL pool is separate and distinct from that in other organs (e.g., heart, liver, etc.), where CL molecular species contain predominantly only one major type of aliphatic chain (e.g., linoleic acid). Analyses of mRNA levels by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions suggested that the alterations in CL content were due to the combined effects of both attenuation of de novo CL biosynthesis and decreased remodeling of CL. Collectively, these results provide a new perspective on the complexity of CL in neuronal signaling, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and apoptosis.
Risk of periodontal defects after third molar surgery: An exercise in evidence-based clinical decision-making

Objective The object of this study was to apply evidence-based principles to answer the question, What is the risk of having periodontal defects on the distal aspect of the mandibular second molar (M2) following third molar (M3) removal? Study design To identify relevant articles for review, we completed a computerized literature search of Medline. The inclusion criteria for articles included prospective cohort studies or randomized clinical trials with follow-up periods of 6 months or more, and preoperative and postoperative measurements of periodontal probing depths (PDs) or attachment levels (ALs). Results Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the reported mean changes in ALs or PDs on the distal of M2 6 months after M3 removal were clinically insignificant, ie, less than 2 mm. Six months after M3 removal, 52% to 100% of subjects had no change or improvement in ALs or PDs. Given periodontal disease present preoperatively, the number needed to treat (NNT) ranged from 3 to 10. Given healthy periodontal status preoperatively, 48% had worsening of their periodontal measures after M3 removal and the number needed to harm (NNH) was 2. Conclusion Commonly, the second molar periodontal probing depth or attachment levels either remain unchanged or improve after third molar removal. For subjects with healthy second molar periodontium preoperatively, the indication for third molar removal needs to be evaluated carefully as these subjects have an increased risk for worsening of probing depths or attachment levels after third molar removal.
The Effects of Fatal Vision Goggles on Drinking and Driving Intentions in College Students.

The present study was designed to examine the effectiveness of Fatal Vision Goggles in reducing intentions to drink and drive. Participants performed a field sobriety task and drove in a traffic simulator while wearing the goggles. A regression analysis was performed in order to predict changes in intentions to drink and drive, using typical drinking patterns, perceived likelihood of getting into a collision when drinking and driving, self efficacy, and driving independence as predictor variables. Results showed that drinking and driving intentions were reduced following the use of Fatal Vision Goggles among those that typically drink more during outings, among those that believe the likelihood of collisions when drinking and driving are greater, and among those less likely to drive to achieve independence and autonomy. These results indicate that Fatal Vision Goggles can be an effective tool in altering drinking and driving attitudes among drivers with specific attitudinal and personal characteristics.
Pericarditis following mild or silent coronary episodes: An attempt at narrowing the field of idiopathic pericarditis

Abstract “Coronary” pericarditis represents a syndrome consisting of pericarditis, pleurisy, and pneumonitis, which develops secondary to arteriosclerotic heart disease. It can be readily diagnosed when it follows shortly after a well-defined myocardial infarction. However, when the acute coronary episode is mild or silent, and there is a lapse of many weeks between the coronary attack and the appearance of pericarditis, the causal relationship may be obscured and idiopathic pericarditis diagnosed. Five cases are reported to illustrate this point. The search for etiology in any given case of pericarditis should include among other causes “coronary” origin. Diagnostic considerations of this kind will result in the separation of cases hitherto assigned to idiopathic pericarditis and in the reduction of this undesirable group.
The origin of aqueous sulfate in Frio pore fluids and its implication for the origin of oil field brines

Abstract The O and S isotopic composition of aqueous S0 4 in saline formation waters from the Frio Formation of S Texas can be used to deduce the origin of the S0 4 . The average O and S isotopic composition of aqueous S0 4 in Frio brines is + 13.4‰ SMOW and + 8.2‰ CDT, respectively. The O isotopic compositions fall within the range of Mesozoic and Cenozoic seawater values and are interpreted to be derived from dissolved Jurassic evaporites. The S values appear to have been modified by the addition of light S derived from the oxidation of pyrite. We conclude, therefore, that some of the chemical components in Frio brines are derived from water-rock interactions that occurred in much deeper units and that these components have migrated into the Frio.
Cracks in the Glass Ceiling? An Empirical Study of Gender Differences in Income in the Hospitality Industry:

Previous empirical research has substantiated the presence of significant gender-based differences in income within the hospitality industry. However, relatively little research has identified the ...
Human ecology and crime: A routine activity approach

Prior explanations of the distributions of crime have tended to emphasize the criminal intentions of people without considering adequately the circumstances in which criminal acts occur. This paper examines how community structure generates these circumstances and applies Amos Hawley's human ecological theory in treating criminal acts as routine activities which feed upon other routine activities. For example, we consider how married women in the labor force, persons living alone, and lightweight durable goods provide offenders with circumstances favorable for carrying out certain illegal acts. We examine in particular how directcontact predatory violations require the convergence in space and time of offenders, suitable targets,and the absence of effective guardians.Various trends in the social structure can alter crime rates by affecting the likelihood of this convergence, without necessarily requiring changes in the criminal inclinations of individuals.
A simplified model for analysis of conversion of methionine to cysteine in vivo.

Abstract The time course of incorporation of cysteine-35S and methionine-35S into serum albumin following the intravenous injection of radioactive methionine is approximated by an equation of the form: cysteine - 35 S methionine - 35 S =αt β Where α and β are constants and t is time. With α = 2.3 and β = 0.226, the above relationship holds with an error of 7% for values of t up to 1000 hr (three decades of t) after intravenous injection of radioactive methionine. The above exponential equation is thus a simple but close numerical approximation for a complicated metabolic function which involves de novo cysteine synthesis as well as methionine, cysteine, and albumin turnover. Description of these complicated metabolic inter-relationships in simple mathematical terms provides a tool for handling and comparing data which bear on in vivo transsulfuration pathway activity.
Derivation and characterization of monkey embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cell based therapy carries great potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, before clinical application is realized, the safety, efficacy and feasibility of this therapeutic approach must be established in animal models. The rhesus macaque is physiologically and phylogenetically similar to the human, and therefore, is a clinically relevant animal model for biomedical research, especially that focused on neurodegenerative conditions. Undifferentiated monkey ES cells can be maintained in a pluripotent state for many passages, as characterized by a collective repertoire of markers representing embryonic cell surface molecules, enzymes and transcriptional factors. They can also be differentiated into lineage-specific phenotypes of all three embryonic germ layers by epigenetic protocols. For cell-based therapy, however, the quality of ES cells and their progeny must be ensured during the process of ES cell propagation and differentiation. While only a limited number of primate ES cell lines have been studied, it is likely that substantial inter-line variability exists. This implies that diverse ES cell lines may differ in developmental stages, lineage commitment, karyotypic normalcy, gene expression, or differentiation potential. These variables, inherited genetically and/or induced epigenetically, carry obvious complications to therapeutic applications. Our laboratory has characterized and isolated rhesus monkey ES cell lines from in vitro produced blastocysts. All tested cell lines carry the potential to form pluripotent embryoid bodies and nestin-positive progenitor cells. These ES cell progeny can be differentiated into phenotypes representing the endodermal, mesodermal and ectodermal lineages. This review article describes the derivation of monkey ES cell lines, characterization of the undifferentiated phenotype, and their differentiation into lineage-specific, particularly neural, phenotypes. The promises and limitations of primate ES cell-based therapy are also discussed.
Reaction of thioxanthen-9-one with the superoxide anion in an aqueous system containing dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide

This research deals with the oxidation of thioxanthen-9-one with the superoxide anion to the sulfoxide and to the sulfone. We were also interested in determining whether the thioxanthen-9-one could be oxidized further to carbon dioxide. The experiments revealed that no carbon dioxide was formed from the oxidation of thioxanthen-9-one. However, it was found that carbon dioxide was formed from the anode reacting with the superoxide anion.
Robust voice recognition over IP and mobile networks

This work looks at the issues involved in performing robust speech recognition over mobile and IP networks. The conventional method for sending speech across a mobile or IP network is to encode the speech on the terminal device using a low bit-rate codec and then transmit the stream of codec parameters. It is shown in this work that for speech recognition applications an alternative is available whereby the front-end processing part of a network-based speech recogniser is detached and moved onto the terminal device. Recognition features are then sent over the network to the remote recogniser. Simulations demonstrate that sending the speech features in this manner can provide a significant enhancement in recognition performance over the traditional codec-based approach. This technique forms the basis of the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) Aurora standard. Problems arising with access over IP networks are also considered and in particular that of packet loss. A novel two-stage identification and estimation strategy is introduced which compensates for this loss of speech packets. Simulation results show that an almost negligible loss in recognition performance is possible at packet losses of up to 50%.
Fast-acting and nearly gratuitous induction of gene expression and protein depletion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We describe the development and characterization of a system that allows the rapid and specific induction of individual genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae without changes in nutrients or temperature. The system is based on the chimeric transcriptional ac- tivator Gal4dbd.ER.VP16 (GEV). Upon addition of the hormone β-estradiol, cytoplasmic GEV localizes to the nucleus and binds to promoters containing Gal4p consensus binding sequenc- es to activate transcription. With galactokinase Gal1p and transcriptional activator Gal4p absent, the system is fast-acting, resulting in readily detectable transcription within 5 min after addition of the inducer. β-Estradiol is nearly a gratuitous inducer, as indicated by ge- nome-wide profiling that shows unintended induction (by GEV) of only a few dozen genes. Response to inducer is graded: intermediate concentrations of inducer result in production of intermediate levels of product protein in all cells. We present data illustrating several applica- tions of this system, including a modification of the regulated degron method, which allows rapid and specific degradation of a specific protein upon addition of β-estradiol. These gene induction and protein degradation systems provide important tools for studying the dynam- ics and functional relationships of genes and their respective regulatory networks.
High frequency acceleration feedback significantly increases the realism of haptically rendered textured surfaces

Almost every physical interaction generates high frequency vibrations, especially if one of the objects is a rigid tool. Previous haptics research has hinted that the inclusion or exclusion of these signals plays a key role in the realism of haptically rendered surface textures, but this connection has not been formally investigated until now. This paper presents a human subject study that compares the performance of a variety of surface rendering algorithms for a master-slave teleoperation system; each controller provides the user with a different combination of position and acceleration feedback, and subjects compared the renderings with direct tool-mediated exploration of the real surface. We use analysis of variance to examine quantitative performance metrics and qualitative realism ratings across subjects. The results of this study show that algorithms that include high-frequency acceleration feedback in combination with position feedback achieve significantly higher realism ratings than traditional position feedback alone. Furthermore, we present a frequency-domain metric for quantifying a controller's acceleration feedback performance; given a constant surface stiffness, the median of this metric across subjects was found to have a significant positive correlation with median realism rating.
Anti-Ma2 Paraneoplastic Encephalitis in Association with Recurrent Cervical Cancer

Background Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are rare, and although they are frequently associated with gynecological malignancies, cervical cancer is a rare cause. The symptoms of anti-Ma2 encephalitis are diverse and often present prior to the diagnosis of malignancy. Case report We report a case of a 37-year-old woman with a history of cervical cancer presenting with unexplained weight gain and vertical supranuclear gaze palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed lesions within the bilateral hypothalami and midbrain. Anti-Ma2 antibodies were eventually found in the serum, prompting a search for malignancy. Recurrent metastatic cervical cancer was found in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Conclusions This is the first report of cervical cancer in association with anti-Ma2 encephalitis, and highlights the need for a high degree of suspicion in patients with a cancer history presenting with neurological symptoms. The symptoms associated with anti-Ma2 encephalitis are diverse and typically precede the diagnosis of cancer in patients, and should trigger a search for an underlying malignancy.
Outcomes Research of Home-Visit Nursing Care in Japan:

Since the implementation of long-term care insurance (LTCI) in Japan, home care services have received more national attention. Because the utilization of home-visit nursing is increasing, evaluati...
PCN21: HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY IN MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER

INTRODUCTION and OBJECTIVES: Treatment for prostate cancer has significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We examine HRQOL in a cohort of men who opted for surveillance as initial treatment followed by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and compare them with other treatments. METHODS: CaPSURE (Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor) is a national observational database of men with prostate cancer. We identified a cohort of newly diagnosed men with prostate cancer who completed two or more instruments that measure generic and disease-specific HRQOL. Individuals were grouped by initial treatment: ADT, surveillance, radical prostatectomy, and radiation therapy. RESULTS: Initial treatment was as follows: ADT (n = 167), surveillance (n = 106), radical prostatectomy (n = 351), radiation therapy (n = 75). Sixty-seven men selected surveillance followed by ADT. Mean age at diagnosis was 73 years with surveillance patients being older. Men had significantly poorer urinary (decline of 7 points on a 100 point scale) and sexual function (decrease of 10 points) compared with surveillance. HRQOL for ADT, surveillance and radiation therapy patients changed little over the year following treatment, while men undergoing radical prostatectomy showed improvement in all aspects of HRQOL. Scales are scored from 0–100 with 100 = better function and a difference of 7–10 points is considered clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving ADT had reduced energy, poorer sexual and urinary function and were more bothered by their urine function than patients undergoing other treatments. Longer follow-up after start of ADT and surveillance is needed to discern the impact of other factors, including comorbidities.
Subwavelength Waveguide Grating Coupler

We propose a new method for waveguide mode transformation and coupling between an optical fiber and a sub-micrometer waveguide. The method is based on mode effective index modification by a subwavelength grating and it is demonstrated by FDTD simulations of coupling between an SMF-28 fiber and a thin SOI waveguide
Harvesting LOX in LEO: Toward a Hunter-Gatherer Space Economy

[Abstract] One of the great impediments to using traditional chemical rocket technology to support space activity over the long run is the need to boost oxidizer (and other parts of the rocket fuel package) to Low Earth Orbit. The key to operating in space over the long run will depend on the ability to refuel in space, especially if one wants to move to SSTO technology. Thus, the proposed Oxygen Harvesting System promises to kick open the door to space well before the next generation of space drives is available and massively reduce the cost of reaching destinations in the inner solar system. It will also probably also be the first profitable product oriented space industry that is not based on an information product. Certainly it paves the way to the first interplanetary trade system as gases in short supply or completely lacking on the Moon and abundant on or near the Earth are delivered to the Moon at low cost.
Meiotic Pachytene Arrest in MLH1-Deficient Mice

Germ line mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes including MLH1 cause hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer. To understand the role of MLH1 in normal growth and development, we generated mice that have a null mutation of this gene. Mice homozygous for this mutation show a replication error phenotype, and extracts of these cells are deficient in mismatch repair activity. Homozygous mutant males show normal mating behavior but have no detectable mature sperm. Examination of meiosis in these males reveals that the cells enter meiotic prophase and arrest at pachytene. Homozygous mutant females have normal estrous cycles and reproductive and mating behavior but are infertile. The phenotypes of the mlh1 mutant mice are distinct from those deficient in msh2 and pms2. The different phenotypes of the three types of mutant mice suggest that these three genes may have independent functions in mammalian meiosis.
Engaging Women Who Are Depressed and Economically Disadvantaged in Mental Health Treatment

Women disadvantaged by poverty, as well as racial or ethnic minority status, are more likely to experience depression than the rest of the U.S. population. At the same time, they are less likely to seek or remain in treatment for depression in traditional mental health settings. This article explores a therapeutic, psychosocial engagement strategy developed to address the barriers to treatment engagement and the application of this strategy to a special population—women of color and white women who are depressed and living on low incomes. The conceptual foundations of this intervention—ethnographic and motivational interviewing—as well as its key techniques and structure are reviewed. Finally, a case example description and promising pilot data demonstrate the usefulness of this strategy.
Proficiency with Tense and Aspect Concordance: Children with SLI and their Typically Developing Peers.

Children with SLI have difficulty with tense and agreement morphology. This study examined the proficiency of these children and their typically developing peers with the coordination of tense and aspect markers in two-clause sentences. Scenarios designed to elicit past tense were presented to five- to eight-year-old children with SLI (n=14) and their normally developing age- and MLU-matched peers (n=24) to examine the omission of tense markers in complex sentences (Owen, 2010). Responses with overt tense/aspect morphology in both clauses were recoded for how similar the use of tense and aspect was across the two clauses. Tense and aspect concordance was high across both sentence types, but aspect-only mismatches were more common than tense mismatches. The three groups of children did not differ from each other on any comparisons. Coordination of temporal information in sentences with more than one time marker does not appear to be especially difficult for these children.
NOVA: State Assignment of Finite State Machines for Optimal Two-Level Logic Implementations

The problem of encoding the states of a synchronous Finite State Machine (FSM), so that the area of a two-level implementation of the combinational logic is minimized, is addressed. As in previous approaches, the problem is reduced to the solution of the combinatorial optimization problems defined by the translation of the cover obtained by a multiple-valued logic minimization or by a symbolic minimization into a compatible boolean representation. In this paper we present algorithms for their solution, based on a new theoretical framework that offers advantages over previous approaches to develop effective heuristics. The algorithms are part of NOVA, a program for optimal encoding of control logic. Final areas averaging 20% less than other state assignment programs and 30% less than the best random solutions have been obtained. Literal counts averaging 30% less than the best random solutions have been obtained.
Plasticity in Nanomaterials

Abstract : There have been many predictions of the reinforcing effects of carbon nanotubes in various composite matrices but large improvements in properties have not yet been convincingly demonstrated. In the present study, we have successfully realized this possibility in reinforcing nanocrystalline alumina. Fully dense single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCN)/Al2O3 nanocomposites with nanocrystalline alumina matrix have been fabricated at sintering temperatures as low as 1150 deg. C by spark-plasma-sintering (SPS). A fracture toughness of 9.7 MPam(exp 1/2), nearly three times that of pure nanocrystalline alumina, has been achieved in the 10 vol.% SWCN/Al2O3 composite. Moreover, high-strain-rate superplasticity has been achieved in Al2O3/ZrO2/MgAl2O4 nanocomposite with truly nanocrystalline grain size of 100 nm. Compression superplastic tests were conducted in the temperature range of 1300-1450 deg. C at strain rates 10(exp -3) - 10(exp -1) /s . The results generated a stress exponent of approx. 2 and an activation energy of approx. 620 kJ/mol.