cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two-Step, One-Flask Synthesis of an N-Confused Porphyrin Bearing Pentafluorophenyl Substituents.

A two-step, one-flask reaction of pyrrole and pentafluorobenzaldehyde was investigated as a streamlined synthetic route to an N-confused porphyrin bearing pentafluorophenyl substituents previously prepared by a stepwise route. A survey of acid catalysts, acid catalyst concentration, DDQ quantity, and reaction time was performed with monitoring by HPLC. The targeted N-confused porphyrin was observed from many reaction conditions. The best condition afforded the N-confused porphyrin in an isolated yield of 10–12% (245–281 mg), providing improved access to this interesting porphyrinoid.
Diplopia is better than no plopia

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension often presents with cranial nerve VI paresis. Infrequently, other cranial nerve dysfunction may occur. We report a case of idiopathic intracranial hypertension that presented with bilateral cranial nerve III paresis. Review of the literature suggests that severe elevation of intracranial pressure may predispose patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension to cranial nerve III dysfunction.
Teachers’ Perceived Likelihood of Intervening in Bullying Situations: Individual Characteristics and Institutional Environments

ABSTRACTComplex issues such as bullying have brought to light the importance of expanding school prevention efforts to include interventions focused on multiple levels of practice. Utilizing data gathered from middle-school teachers across the state of Michigan, this study examines how both individual and organizational characteristics influence teacher interventions in bullying situations. The study found that teachers’ beliefs about the perceived seriousness of the bullying situation, teachers’ level of sympathy/empathy toward the students being bullied, and teachers’ ages consistently contributed to their reported likelihood of interventions in bullying situations. Surprisingly, the majority of organizational-level characteristics were not significant predictors of teachers’ reported likelihood of intervention. The findings align with many of the seminal theories of bystander intervention and suggest that school professionals should focus on programs and policies that educate teachers on both the serio...
Recent Scholarship on Hume's Theory of Mental Representation

In a recent paper, Karl Schafer argues that Hume's theory of mental representation has two distinct components, unified by their shared feature of having accuracy conditions. As Schafer sees it, simple and complex ideas represent the intrinsic imagistic features of their objects whereas abstract ideas represent the relations or structures in which multiple objects stand. This distinction, however, is untenable for at least two related reasons. Firstly, complex ideas represent the relations or structures in which the impressions that are the objects of their simple components stand. Secondly, abstract ideas are themselves instances of complex ideas. I draw two important conclusions from these facts. Firstly, contra Schafer and Garrett (to whom Schafer responds), the Copy Principle, properly emended, constitutes the entirety of Hume's theory of mental representation. Secondly, whereas paradigm examples of complex ideas, e.g. ideas of spatial and temporal complexes, are structured by relations of contiguity, abstract ideas are those complex ideas instead structured by relations of resemblance. As such, they represent their objects not as spatially or temporally contiguous but rather as resembling.
The Creating of Motivation in Tourism by Using Entertainment Media and the Achievement in Health Tourism Management in South Korea

The Creating of Motivation in Tourism by Using Entertainment Media and the Achievement in Health Tourism Management in South Korea are objectively to study the Creating of Motivation in Tourism Levels through the S. Korea’ Entertainment Media, to study the Achievement in Health Tourism Management of South Korea, to Compare the Creating of Motivation in Tourism Levels through the Entertainment Media and to Compare the Achievement Levels in Health Tourism Management in South Korea distinguishes by Tourism Locations in South Korea and to find the relationships between the Creating of Motivation in Tourism through Entertainment Media with the Achievement in Health Tourism Management in South Korea. However, sampling group is the total of 384 Thai tourists that made trip to travel in South Korea. Tool is Questionnaire and the Statistics used are means, t-test, Pearson’s Simple Correlation Moment. Thus, the study found that the Creating of Motivation in Tourism through South Korea’s Entertainment Media is in high level and the Achievement Level in Health Tourism Management is also in high level. Furthermore, also found that the Creating of Motivation in Tourism through Entertainment Media has relationship with the Achievement in Health Tourism Management in South Korea is in moderate level in the statistical significant level of .01 with correlation coefficient value of .682.
Intravenous magnesium sulfate for acute myocardial infarction

Source Citation Woods KL, Fletcher S, Roffe C, Haider Y. Intravenous magnesium sulphate in suspected acute myocardial infarction: results of the second Leicester Intravenous Magnesium Intervention ...
Data Issues in MDS

Data is the first step in process of any statistical analysis. Since MDS has a bit different terms associated with data concepts and it can be confusing, I try to discuss the data used for MDS with terms that are more understandable or relevant to the common research setting.
Brain region effects of clozapine on amino acid and monoamine transmission

The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of clozapine and haloperidol on monoamine and amino acid transmission in limbic and extrapyramidal brain regions of the rat. In vivo microdialysis was used to measure the concentrations of neurotransmitters after acute and chronic drug administration. The acute administration of clozapine increased dopamine and glutamate in the medial prefrontal cortex and produced a greater increase, compared with haloperidol, in GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) efflux within the ventral pallidum. Chronic treatment with clozapine increased dopamine and serotonin in the medial prefrontal cortex. Chronic haloperidol administration increased glutamate in the striatum by fivefold whereas chronic clozapine treatment had no effect on striatal glutamate. Furthermore, chronic haloperidol administration transiently increased, then decreased, GABA efflux in the substantia nigra. Overall, clozapine has a preferential effect on mesocorticolimbic neurotransmission whereas haloperidol alters glutamate and GABA efflux within the extrapyramidal motor system.
The human circadian clock from health to economics

In the course of evolution, health is prioritized for human well-being and economies. Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that modern life habits, including eating habits, and living and working conditions, can deteriorate health through circadian misalignment. This has been most commonly observed with urban societies and working classes of non-standard working schedules (NSWSs), such as shift work, night work, and overtime work. Poor health conditions with NSWSs generate economic burden for the modern society. Therefore, we attempt to provide a systematic approach to understanding the relations among the circadian clock, health, and economics. To understand these connections, we review the mechanisms of the human circadian clock and how modern living conditions can misalign the circadian system and associated health consequences. We also emphasize the importance of health for the modern economy and the economic costs of health disorders associated with circadian disruption and NSWSs.
Games and Miscellaneous

The following program to deal whist/bridge hands exhibits yet another use of encodde, this time to assign a random drawing from the 52 cards of a pack to a suit/value are assigned by indexing in line 6 which also sorts each hand in suit order.
Administrative National Security

In the past two decades, the United States has applied a growing number of foreign and security measures directly targeting individuals—natural or legal persons. These individualized measures have been designed and carried out by administrative agencies. Widespread application of individual economic sanctions, security watchlists and no-fly lists, detentions, targeted killings, and action against hackers responsible for cyberattacks have all become significant currencies of U.S. foreign and security policy. Although the application of each of these measures in discrete contexts has been studied, they have yet to attract an integrated analysis. This Article examines this phenomenon with two main aims. First, it documents what I call “administrative national security”: the growing individualization of U.S. foreign and security policy, the administrative mechanisms that have facilitated it, and the judicial response to these mechanisms. Administrative national security encompasses several types of individualized measures that agencies now apply on a routine, indefinite basis through the exercise of considerable discretion within a broad framework established by Congress or the President. It is therefore best understood as an emerging practice of administrative adjudication in the foreign and security space. Second, this Article considers how administrative national security integrates with the presidency and the courts. Accounting for administrative national security illuminates the President’s constitutional role as chief executive and commander-in-chief and his control of key aspects of administrative foreign and security action. It also challenges deeply rooted doctrines underlying foreign relations and national security law, including the portrayal of the President as the “sole organ” in international relations. Administrative national security further informs our understanding of the role of courts in this context. It renders more foreign and security action reviewable in principle under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and provides a justification for the exercise of robust judicial power in this category.
P740 Improving syphilis diagnosis and treatment in an urban population through routine emergency department screening

Background With the recent nationwide increase in syphilis, it is imperative to find novel means of reaching at-risk populations for early diagnosis and treatment. Many urban communities have both high rates of syphilis and frequently utilize the emergency department (ED) as a primary source of medical care. In late 2018, the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) began a quality improvement project directing providers to screen ED patients for syphilis regardless of presenting complaint. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential utility of ED screening for syphilis. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with positive syphilis antibody testing from October through December of 2018, and all patients with positive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) or Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TP-PA) testing were included as cases. Results In the last three months of 2018, a total of 727 patients (average of 242 patients per month) were screened for syphilis in the ED. Of these, 61 (8.4%) tested positive for syphilis, 37 (60.1%) of whom had evidence of active infection, and 24 (39.3%) were late or unknown stage. 40.9% of patients testing positive for syphilis had presented with complaints other than abdominal pain, rash, or genitourinary symptoms. Two (3%) of patients testing positive for syphilis were also newly found to be pregnant and both were referred for antibiotic treatment in the first trimester. Conclusion Early data suggests that screening of patients for syphilis in the ED regardless of presenting complaint yields high positive rates. ED screening may represent an effective way of combating the syphilis epidemic, particularly in the most vulnerable populations. In the near future, we plan to hold a provider awareness initiative combined with an update to the electronic medical record system with automated ordering reminders to increase the numbers of patients screened. Disclosure No significant relationships.
CORONARY FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF PULMONARY EMBOLISM

Pulmonary embolism is a relatively common diagnosis. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) due to coronary fibromuscular dysplasia is a rare cause and presents a challenge in treatment. 44-year-old female with dyspnea and hemoptysis. EKG demonstrated q-waves in the inferior leads and
Technical Note: Comprehensive performance tests of the first clinical real-time motion tracking and compensation system using MLC and jaws

PURPOSE To evaluate the performance of the first clinical real-time motion tracking and compensation system using multileaf collimator (MLC) and jaws during helical tomotherapy delivery. METHODS Appropriate mechanical and dosimetry tests were performed on the first clinical real-time motion tracking system (Synchrony on Radixact, Accuray Inc) recently installed in our institution. kV radiography dose was measured by CTDIw using a pencil chamber. Changes of beam characteristics with jaw offset and MLC leaf shift were evaluated. Various dosimeters and phantoms including A1SL ion chamber (Standard Imaging), Gafchromic EBT3 films (Ashland), TomoPhantom (Med Cal), ArcCheck (Sun Nuclear), Delta4 (ScandiDos), with fiducial or high contrast inserts, placed on two dynamical motion platforms (CIRS dynamic motion-CIRS, Hexamotion-ScandiDos), were used to assess the dosimetric accuracy of the available Synchrony modalities: fiducial tracking with nonrespiratory motion (FNR), fiducial tracking with respiratory modeling (FR), and fiducial free (e.g., lung tumor tracking) with respiratory modeling (FFR). Motion detection accuracy of a tracking target, defined as the difference between the predicted and instructed target positions, was evaluated with the root mean square (RMS). The dose accuracy of motion compensation was evaluated by verifying the dose output constancy and by comparing measured and planned (predicted) three-dimensional (3D) dose distributions based on gamma analysis. RESULTS The measured CTDIw for a single radiograph with a 120 kVp and 1.6 mAs protocol was 0.084 mGy, implying a low imaging dose of 8.4 mGy for a typical Synchrony motion tracking fraction with 100 radiographs. The dosimetric effect of the jaw swing or MLC leaf shift was minimal on depth dose (<0.5%) and was <2% on both beam profile width and output for typical motions. The motion detection accuracies, that is, RMS, were 0.84, 1.13, and 0.48 mm for FNR, FR, and FFR, respectively, well within the 1.5 mm recommended tolerance. Dose constancy with Synchrony was found to be within 2%. The gamma passing rates of 3D dose measurements for a variety of Synchrony plans were well within the acceptable level. CONCLUSIONS The motion tracking and compensation using kV radiography, MLC shifting, and jaw swing during helical tomotherapy delivery was tested to be mechanically and dosimetrically accurate for clinical use.
Detection and molecular characterization of novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus isolated from the first human case in Zhejiang

Objective To detect and analyze the throat swab and nasal cavity lavaging fluid samples from one suspected human avian influenza in Xiaoshan,in order to deepen the understanding of the antigenic variation characteristics of influenza A virus,and to strengthen laboratory diagnostic ability.Methods The influenza virus nucleic acid from the samples were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (real-time PCR).In addition,unallocated HA,NA and M genes were amplified by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and sequenced after cloning.Meanwhile,MDCK cells were inoculated with the sample for viral culturing.Results RNA extracted from the sample was positive for influenza A virus nucleic acid,but could not be typed.Furthermore,the results of gene sequencing revealed that the HA,NA,M genes were most closely related to H7,N9,M genes of avian origin,respectively,and the viral culturing was also positive for influenza A virus.Conclusions The patient was infected with a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus,and was the first case in Zhejiang Province. Key words: Influenza in birds; H7N9; Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR; Sequence analysis
Factors Associated with Lower HIV Testing Rates in an Insured Urban Population.

Abstract Background As of 2017 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were over one million individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the United States (CDC, 2017). Regionally the epicenter of HIV infection is in Washington DC with a prevalence rate of 1.9% (HAHSTA, 2018). Several wards including 5, 6, 7 and 8 are disproportionately impacted. Although the lack of insurance has been identified as a challenge for HIV detection and linkage to care, many insured individuals deny previous HIV testing. We implemented a routine HIV screening program in our institution since 2006. We present an analysis of our HIV testing data over a 42-month period to assess factors leading to lower HIV testing rates in an urban insured population. Methods Rapid HIV screening was conducted using an opt-out methodology in the emergency department (ED) and an outpatient testing site (OTS) at Howard University Hospital (HUH). Data analysis was performed for clients aged 30-80 years. Results Of the 20,008 adults tested the majority (92.4%) were African Americans (AA), and 52% were men. Overall 88 % had health insurance, most (74%) were covered by Medicaid. Out of those insured 9% (1637) reported no previous HIV testing. In this group (64%) were 50 years and older. Unprotected sex was the leading reported risk factor (19%). Conclusion 1637 of those insured reported no previous HIV testing. Age greater than 50 and unprotected sex were significant risk factors. Health insurance status did not always correlate with previous testing. HIV prevention efforts should target this population with appropriate messaging and screening during routine evaluations.
Astrochronology of the Ediacaran Shuram carbon isotope excursion, Oman

Abstract The Ediacaran is a highly dynamic period in terms of large perturbations in Earth's atmosphere, biosphere, and climate. Among these perturbations, a pronounced negative carbon isotope excursion, known as the Shuram excursion (SE), is characterized by the most depleted δ 13 C values (-12‰) that have ever been observed in the geological record. A poorly determined chronostratigraphic framework makes the SE difficult to correlate and compare globally. Therefore, it is hard to study the potential connection between the SE and coeval climate and biological variations. Here, we present a high-resolution astrochronological study of the Ediacaran Shuram and Buah Formations, Nafun Group, Oman, in which the SE is reported for the first time. Power spectral analysis of the 600-m long gamma ray log of the Miqrat-1 Well shows that a hierarchy of astronomically-forced climate cycles (eccentricity, obliquity, and precession) is accurately-preserved. Using multiple statistical tests, we constructed a sedimentation rate variation profile that covers the entire SE, which is characterized by low rates in shale-dominated layers and high rates in shale-carbonate interbedded layers. The duration of the SE in Oman is suggested to be 7.7 ± 0.2 Myr, which agrees with estimates from South Australia, South China, and the United States. An identical duration of the SE supports its global synchroneity and indicates a primary origin of the depleted δ 13 C values. Combined with the newly proposed termination age (562.5 ± 1.1 Ma) of the SE, our astrochronological results suggest that the onset age of the excursion is 570.2 ± 1.1 Ma. The astrochronology of the SE delineates the tempo of the excursion, with a rapid decrease (∼ 1 Myr) from the onset to its isotopic nadir followed by a more gradual recovery (∼ 6–7 Myr) towards the termination. The new chronostratigraphic framework permits further investigations of the potential causal links between the global carbon cycle and the widespread glaciation, the oceanic oxygenation, and the biological diversification in Ediacaran time.
Opportunities for paediatric resident education via social media.

To the editor, As medical educators continue to explore the use of technology and electronic media to support asynchronous learning amidst a changing educational landscape, social media may play a beneficial role in physician development.1 2 There are scattered reports of educational content delivered to medical trainees of all training levels over popular social media applications such as Facebook and Twitter, while other platforms such as YouTube and podcasts have also been studied, though to a lesser degree. Millennials are high users of social media, though few studies have assessed learner needs and preferences regarding medical education via social media,3 and to our knowledge, none in a paediatric sample. We sought to characterise personal social media behaviours of paediatric trainees and explore their interest in engaging with graduate medical education (GME) through social media. We conducted a curricular needs assessment at an accredited residency programme in New York, New York, USA. An electronic questionnaire was developed to examine attitudes, behaviours and practices regarding personal social media use, obtain an understanding of learning preferences and assess interest in using social media for medical education. When possible, items from previously published …
A statistics-based threshold for the RMS-energy oscillation detector

Abstract Power system operators and reliability coordinators currently rely on extensive baselining studies to set thresholds for their oscillation detectors. The resulting thresholds are based largely on engineering judgment and may vary significantly between organizations. In this paper, statistical distribution theory is used to derive a threshold for the widely deployed root-mean-square (RMS)-energy oscillation detector. This expression provides a theoretical basis for the detector’s configuration, simplifies the process of selecting the threshold, and enables improved consistency among organizations that need to coordinate during system-wide oscillations. Three methods for calculating the threshold using synchrophasor measurements are also proposed. These methods ensure that the threshold can be calculated reliably for various applications. Tests with simulated and field-measured data demonstrate that the statistics-based threshold provides consistent detection of oscillations while maintaining a low probability of false alarm.
Interstitial lung abnormalities and pulmonary fibrosis in COVID-19 patients: a short-term follow-up case series.

Fibrotic lung changes are well-known complications of SARS, MERS, and ARDS from other causes and are anticipated in recovered COVID patients. However, there is limited data so far showing a temporal relationship between lung changes on imaging in the acute phase and follow-up imaging after recovery from the infection. We present 12 patients who demonstrate the development of interstitial lung changes and pulmonary fibrosis in the same distribution and pattern as the acute phase findings, up to 6 months after the acute infection, demonstrating a direct relationship between these changes and COVID-19 pneumonia.
Characterization of Two New Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O103-Infecting Phages Isolated from an Organic Farm.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O103 strains have been recently attributed to various foodborne outbreaks in the United States. Due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, lytic phages are considered as alternative biocontrol agents. This study was to biologically and genomically characterize two STEC O103-infecting bacteriophages, vB_EcoP-Ro103C3lw (or Ro103C3lw) and vB_EcoM-Pr103Blw (or Pr103Blw), isolated from an organic farm. Based on genomic and morphological analyses, phages Ro103C3lw and Pr103Blw belonged to Autographiviridae and Myoviridae families, respectively. Ro103C3lw contained a 39,389-bp double-stranded DNA and encoded a unique tail fiber with depolymerase activity, resulting in huge plaques. Pr103Blw had an 88,421-bp double-stranded DNA with 26 predicted tRNAs associated with the enhancement of the phage fitness. Within each phage genome, no virulence, antibiotic-resistant, and lysogenic genes were detected. Additionally, Ro103C3lw had a short latent period (2 min) and a narrow host range, infecting only STEC O103 strains. By contrast, Pr103Blw had a large burst size (152 PFU/CFU) and a broad host range against STEC O103, O26, O111, O157:H7, and Salmonella Javiana strains. Furthermore, both phages showed strong antimicrobial activities against STEC O103:H2 strains. The findings provide valuable insight into these two phages’ genomic features with the potential antimicrobial activities against STEC O103.
Red Clover HDT, a BAHD Hydroxycinnamoyl-Coenzyme A:L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase That Synthesizes Clovamide and Other N-Hydroxycinnamoyl-Aromatic Amino Acid Amides

Red clover leaves accumulate high levels (up to 1 to 2% of dry matter) of two caffeic acid derivatives: phaselic acid (2-O-caffeoyl-L-malate) and clovamide (N-caffeoyl-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine [L-DOPA]). These likely play roles in protecting the plant from biotic and abiotic stresses, but can also help preserve protein during harvest and storage of the forage via oxidation by an endogenous polyphenol oxidase. We previously identified and characterized HMT, a hydroxycinnamoyl-coenzyme A (CoA):malate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase from red clover. Here, we identified a hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:L-DOPA hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HDT) activity in unexpanded red clover leaves. Silencing of the previously cloned HMT gene reduced both HMT and HDT activities in red clover, even though the HMT enzyme lacks HDT activity. A combination of PCR with degenerate primers based on BAHD hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA transferase sequences and 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to clone two nearly identical cDNAs from red clover. When expressed in Escherichia coli, the encoded proteins were capable of transferring hydroxycinnamic acids (p-coumaric, caffeic, or ferulic) from the corresponding CoA thiolesters to the aromatic amino acids L-Phe, L-Tyr, L-DOPA, or L-Trp. Kinetic parameters for these substrates were determined. Stable expression of HDT in transgenic alfalfa resulted in foliar accumulation of p-coumaroyl- and feruloyl-L-Tyr that are not normally present in alfalfa, but not derivatives containing caffeoyl or L-DOPA moieties. Transient expression of HDT in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in the production of caffeoyl-L-Tyr, but not clovamide. Coexpression of HDT with a tyrosine hydroxylase resulted in clovamide accumulation, indicating the host species’ pool of available amino acid (and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA) substrates likely plays a major role in determining HDT product accumulation in planta. Finally, that HDT and HMT proteins share a high degree of identity (72%), but differ substantially in substrate specificity, is promising for further investigation of structure-function relationships of this class of enzymes, which could allow the rational design of BAHD enzymes with specific and desirable activities.
Into Alfred Schütz’s World

The title of my exploration tells its intent. It comprises an effort to enter the world of Alfred Schutz himself. I say “Alfred Schutz himself,” rather than Alfred Schutz’s work, because I wish to do right by something that is as trivial as it is important, as obvious as it is quite generally ignored, namely, that works, even in philosophy, not to mention sociology, are written by human beings (hard as it may sometimes be to believe). Taking this seriously means that there is a point in the effort to understand a piece of writing (or any other work) at which it is necessary to go outside of it and to its author so that our understanding may be illuminated by encountering the human being the author is, as well as the time and place in which the author lived, just as in this same process author, time, and place are illuminated by illuminating the work.
Cognitive control of conscious error awareness: error awareness and error positivity (Pe) amplitude in moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Poor awareness has been linked to worse recovery and rehabilitation outcomes following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (M/S TBI). The error positivity (Pe) component of the event-related potential (ERP) is linked to error awareness and cognitive control. Participants included 37 neurologically healthy controls and 24 individuals with M/S TBI who completed a brief neuropsychological battery and the error awareness task (EAT), a modified Stroop go/no-go task that elicits aware and unaware errors. Analyses compared between-group no-go accuracy (including accuracy between the first and second halves of the task to measure attention and fatigue), error awareness performance, and Pe amplitude by level of awareness. The M/S TBI group decreased in accuracy and maintained error awareness over time; control participants improved both accuracy and error awareness during the course of the task. Pe amplitude was larger for aware than unaware errors for both groups; however, consistent with previous research on the Pe and TBI, there were no significant between-group differences for Pe amplitudes. Findings suggest possible attention difficulties and low improvement of performance over time may influence specific aspects of error awareness in M/S TBI.
Pregnancy in a patient with myxedema

Abstract Pregnancy in a myxedematous patient, before treatment with thyroid hormone, is recorded. The course and outcome of the pregnancy were uneventful. Other examples of normal pregnancy occurring in patients with myxedema and cretinism are cited.
A modeling approach to feature selection

An information-theoretic approach is used to derive a new feature selection criterion capable of detecting features that are totally useless. Since the number of useless features is initially unknown, traditional class-separability and distance measures are not capable of coping with this problem. The useless feature-subset is detected by fitting a probability model to a given training set of classified feature-vectors using the minimum-description-length criterion (MDLC) for model selection. The resulting criterion for the Gaussian case is a simple closed-form expression, having a plausible geometric interpretation, and is proved to be consistent, i.e., it yields the true useless subset with probability 1 as the size of the training set grows to infinity. Simulations show excellent results compared to the cross-validation method and other information-theoretic criteria, even for small-sized training sets. >
Tracking and disturbance rejection for the benchmark nonlinear control problem

Considers the benchmark nonlinear control problem and designs a backstepping controller for tracking. The authors show that the control effort and disturbance rejection of the closed-loop system can be significantly improved by exploiting the built-in flexibility of the backstepping design.
Abstract #LB-146: Scaffold attachment factor-1 (SAFB1) is a critical regulator of immune system

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Introduction: During the past decade, much insight has been gained regarding the mechanisms underlying the dynamic interplay between immune cells and tumor progression. A growing body of literature has emerged demonstrating that leukocytes functionally contribute to the development of most human solid tumors. SAFB1 is a matrix binding protein and a known ER\#945; co-repressor. Estrogens increase aspects of innate immunity and contributeto sex differences in the prevalence of autoimmune diseasesand in response to infection. Thus in the present study we evaluated the role of SAFB1 in immune system. Methods: 1) Phenotypic, histological and haemopoietic evaluation of SAFB1 knock out mouse, 2) microarray analysis of MCF7 breast cancer cell line in the presence and absence of SAFB1, 3) SAFB1 ChIP-on-chip analysis of MCF7 cells, 4) analysis of IFN\#947; response to target genes in MCF7 and HT1080 fibrosacroma cell lines in the presence and absence of SAFB1, and 5) protein-protein interaction studies to understand SAFB1 interaction with JAK-STAT pathway. Results: Severe immune system defects were evident with SAFB1 null mice. Reduction of T cell in SAFB1 null mice was also consistently observed in their spleens. We have also observed a maturational block at double positive (DP) stage in thymocyte differentiation with an increase in T cell DP population in SAFB1 null mice. Since the double-positive cells are matured by positive selection with MHC class 1 and class II proteins, we analyzed the role of SAFB1 in the regulation of MHC cluster. Microarray analysis of MCF7 cells showed a significant alteration in several immune genes including induction of MHC class I and class II genes with the loss of SAFB1. This observation was further confirmed by qPCR analysis in MCF7 and HT1080 cell lines after treating with IFN\#947;. ChIP-on-chip analysis suggest that SAFB1 binds to the promoter regions of several MHC class I and class II genes including HLA-C, HLA-E, HLA-DRA, HLA-DMA and HLA-DPB1. This suggests that SAFB1 binds and regulate MHC loci. Co-immunoprecipitation studies suggest that SAFB1 directly interact with other MHC regulatory proteins in the JAK-STAT pathway including STAT1 and PIAS1. Conclusion: Our current observations suggest that the potential master regulator protein SAFB1 alters the immune network including regulation of MHC proteins. This striking observation may significantly contribute to tumor immunology and immune based cancer therapy. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr LB-146.
Agonist-specific effects of monovalent and divalent cations on adenylate cyclase-coupled alpha adrenergic receptors in rabbit platelets.

The alpha adrenergic receptors of rabbit platelets can be identified by using [3H]-dihydroergocryptine. The binding of [3H]dihydroergocryptine to platelet lysates reaches equilibrium in 30 min and is slowly reversible. The maximal number of binding sites is 280 ± 25 fmoles/mg, and the dissociation constant was determined to be 2.26 ± 0.48 nM. The specificity of the binding sites for receptor agonists and antagonists is consistent with that of an alpha adrenergic response in inhibiting prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylate cyclase in the same lysate preparation and is thus in agreement with the classical definition of alpha adrenergic receptors in mediating physiological responses. Divalent cations such as magnesium and manganese and monovalent cations such as sodium markedly influence the binding affinity of agonists but have little or no effect on the binding of antagonists. Calcium produces no change in binding. Neither magnesium nor sodium alters the number of receptor sites. Magnesium (1.25 mM) increases the binding affinity of (-)-epinephrine by a factor of 4. In contrast, sodium chloride (100 mM) strikingly decreases the binding affinity of agonists (more than 10-fold). The effect of sodium chloride on agonists is apparent with concentrations as low as 10 mM, and shows a dose-dependent response. LiCl and KCl are only 44% and 19% as effective, respectively, as sodium chloride. The magnitude of the shift in binding affinity of alpha adrenergic agents produced by sodium chloride is directly related to the intrinsic activity of those agents for inhibition of prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylate cyclase. The results suggest that physiological concentrations of magnesium chloride and sodium chloride may selectively regulate the binding affinity of agonists.
icuroom.net – a new critical care addendum

Critical care medicine practitioners and physicians-in-training often turn to web resources to seek relevant information. Due to the overwhelming amount of critical care literature, complex critical care formulas and medications, a web resource that provides 'one stop' quick, easy, efficient access to critical care information, including various therapies, calculations and medications, is of great help. icuroom.net is a relatively new addition to the web based resources available to critical care clinicians. The resource is useful for both physicians-in-training and for practicing intensivists. The major feature of the website is a list of links to critical care resources that review specific intensive care unit (ICU) topics. Examples of these topics include acid-base physiology, determination of brain death, sedation guidelines, and antibiotics. The sources of information for these reviews include practice parameters from other institutions and organizations, power point presentations from clinicians, and published systemic reviews. Some of these reviews are from various societies and institutions, such as the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Food and Drug Administration, and Johns Hopkins University. The site also provides links to various other critical care societies, as well as to ICU algorithms and medication dose calculators. The home page has a daily 'teaching pearl' in critical care medicine, as well as a link to previous teaching pearls. A recent pearl gives seven tips on fever and blood cultures in the ICU. The site is free, does not require registration or special software, is easy to navigate, and has a search feature. The site has many weaknesses. The major weakness is that much of the information provided is not evidence based. The site simply provides links to various other websites and articles, and does not critically evaluate the topics. The number of topics covered is presently limited, but the site is likely to get better as more modules are added. Some of the material cannot be downloaded, and some of the reviews provided do not clearly identify the author. The website itself is not visually pleasing and looks somewhat amateurish. Although the site is designed and managed by Iqbal Ratani MD, no other information about the webmaster is provided. There is no indication of how often the site is updated. Overall, there is a wealth of information presented in this site. Medical students and residents will obtain great educational value from visiting the site. In addition to physicians with an interest in intensive care medicine, the site should also be of interest to emergency room physicians, and internists.
Particulate matter neurotoxicity in culture is size-dependent.

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution produces inflammatory damage to the cardiopulmonary system. This toxicity appears to be inversely related to the size of the PM particles, with the ultrafine particle being more inflammatory than larger sizes. Exposure to PM has more recently been associated with neurotoxicity. This study examines if the size-dependent toxicity reported in cardiopulmonary systems also occurs in neural targets. For this study, PM ambient air was collected over a 2 week period from Sterling Forest State Park (Tuxedo, New York) and its particulates sized as Accumulation Mode, Fine (AMF) (>0.18-1μm) or Ultrafine (UF) ( 12.5μg/ml) but was only significant at the highest concentration of AMF (50μg/ml). To examine if PM size-dependent neurotoxicity was retained in the presence of other cell types, dissociated brain cultures of embryonic rat striatum were exposed to AMF (80μg/ml) or UF (8.0μg/ml). After 24h exposure, a significant increase of reactive nitrogen species (nitrite) and morphology suggestive of apoptosis occurred in both treatment groups. However, morphometric analysis of neuron specific enolase staining indicated that only the UF exposure produced significant neuronal loss, relative to controls. Together, these data suggest that the inverse relationship between size and toxicity reported in cardiopulmonary systems occurs in cultures of isolated dopaminergic neurons and in primary cultures of the rat striatum.
Spectral force analysis using atomic force microscopy reveals the importance of surface heterogeneity in bacterial and colloid adhesion to engineered surfaces

Abstract Coatings developed to reduce biofouling of engineered surfaces do not always perform as expected based on their native properties. One reason is that a relatively small number of highly adhesive sites, or the heterogeneity of the coated surface, may control the overall response of the system to initial bacterial deposition. It is shown here using an approach we call spectral force analysis (SFA), based on force volume imaging of the surface with atomic force microscopy, that the behavior of surfaces and coatings can be better understood relative to bacterial adhesion. The application of vapor deposited TiO2 metal oxide increased bacterial and colloid adhesion, but coating the surface with silica oxide reduced adhesion in a manner consistent with SFA based on analysis of the “stickiest” sites. Application of a TiO2-based paint to a surface produced a relatively non-fouling surface. Addition of a hydrophilic layer coating to this surface should have decreased fouling. However, it was observed that this coating actually increased fouling. Using SFA it was shown that the reason for the increased adhesion of bacteria and particles to the hydrophilic layer was that the surface produced by this coating was highly heterogeneous, resulting in a small number of sites that created a stickier surface. These results show that while it is important to manufacture surfaces with coatings that are relatively non-adhesive to bacteria, it is also essential that these coatings have a highly uniform surface chemistry.
VELOCITY PROFILES OF THORIA SUSPENSIONS IN TURBULENT PIPE FLOW

Velocity profiles and friction factors of non-Newtonian fluids in turbulent pipe flow can be displayed with the semiempirical forms developed for Newtonian fluids in which the apparent viscosity evaluated at the wall shear stress is used. Friction factors and velocity profiles were obtained for a dilute and a concentration aqueous thoria suspension and compared with the Newtonian correlations and with previous data obtained from widely different non-Newtonian fluids including a viscoelastic fluid. A relationship is shown between the decrease of the friction factor and the change in the velocity distribution towards a more laminar profile. A generalized method of deriving the friction factor-Reynolds number plot from the velocity profile based on the von Karman relationship for Newtonian fluids is derived and compared with the data.
Selective Up-regulation of Fatty Acid Uptake by Adipocytes Characterizes Both Genetic and Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents

Long chain fatty acid transport is selectively up-regulated in adipocytes of Zucker fatty rats, diverting fatty acids from sites of oxidation toward storage in adipose tissue. To determine whether this is a general feature of obesity, we studied [3H]oleate uptake by adipocytes and hepatocytes from 1) homozygous male obese (ob), diabetic (db), fat (fat), and tubby (tub) mice and from 2) male Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats fed for 7 weeks a diet containing 55% of calories from fat. Vmax andKm were compared with controls of the appropriate background strain (C57BL/6J or C57BLKS) or diet (13% of calories from fat). Vmax for adipocyte fatty acid uptake was increased 5–6-fold in ob, db, fat, and tub mice versus controls (p
Effect of anionic ion-pairing reagent concentration (1–60 mM) on reversed-phase liquid chromatography elution behaviour of peptides

The homologous series of volatile perfluorinated acids-trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), pentafluoropropionic acid (PFPA) and heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA)--continue to be excellent anionic ion-pairing reagents for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) after more than two decades since their introduction to this field. It was felt that a thorough, step-by-step re-examination of the effects of anionic ion-pairing reagents over a wide concentration range on RP-HPLC peptide elution behaviour is now due, particularly considering the continuing dominance of such reagents for peptide applications. Thus, RP-HPLC was applied over a range of 1-60 mM phosphoric acid, TFA, PFPA and HFBA to two mixtures of 18-residue synthetic peptides containing either the same net positive charge (+4) or varying positive charge (+1, +2, +3, +4). Peptides with the same charge are resolved very similarly independent of the ion-pairing reagent used, although the overall retention times of the peptides increase with increasing hydrophobicity of the anion: phosphate < TFA- < PFPA- < HFBA-. Peptides of differing charge move at differing rates relative to each other depending on concentration of ion-pairing reagents. All four ion-pairing reagents increased peptide retention time with increasing concentration, albeit to different extents, again based on hydrophobicity of the anion, i.e., the more hydrophobic the anion, the greater the increase in peptide retention time at the same reagent concentration. Interestingly, phosphoric acid produced the best separation of the four-peptide mixture (+1 to +4 net charge). In addition, concentrations above 10 mM HFBA produced a reversal of the elution order of the four peptides (+1 < + 2 < + 3 < + 4) compared to the elution order produced by the other three reagents over the entire concentration range (+4 < + 3 < + 2 < + 1).
Production of a prompt photon in association with a charm quark at next-to-leading order in QCD

A second order $O({\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}^{2})$ calculation in perturbative quantum chromodynamics of the two particle inclusive cross section is presented for the reaction $p+\overline{p}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}+c+X$ for large values of the transverse momentum of the prompt photon and charm quark. The combination of analytic and Monte Carlo integration methods used here to perform phase-space integrations facilitates the imposition of photon isolation restrictions and other selections of relevance in experiments. Differential distributions are provided for various observables. Positive correlations in rapidity are predicted.
Performance-enhancing supplement use in patients with testicular cancer.

Abstract Objectives To identify supplement use among patients diagnosed with testicular cancer. The incidence of testicular cancer has increased, as has supplement use, including those designed specifically for exercise performance enhancement. Methods A questionnaire was administered to patients with testicular germ cell cancer treated at our institution between 1990 and 2004. This survey addressed the use of supplements before, during, and after the diagnosis of cancer. Results Of the 129 patients who completed the questionnaire, 26 (20.1%) used some form of supplements, most of which were ingested for exercise performance enhancement. The most common supplement taken was protein/amino acids (12.4%) followed by creatine (9.3%) and androstenedione (1.6%). The mean duration of supplement use was 17.0 months. The mean age of the patients who had used supplements was 27.6 years (median 26, range 17 to 47) compared with 35.7 years (median 34, range 14 to 76) for patients who had not used supplements. Of the 57 patients diagnosed before 2000, 9 (16%) reported supplement use and 3 (5%) reported creatine use. Of the 72 patients diagnosed during or after 2000, 17 (24%) reported supplement use and 9 (13%) reported creatine use. Conclusions Supplement use is common and increasing among patients with testicular cancer. The use of exercise performance-enhancing supplements was as great as 20%. Given the increasing incidence of testicular cancer, coupled with the widespread use of these performance-enhancing supplements in this at-risk group, additional study is required to determine what association, if any, exists between the use of these substances and the development of testicular cancer.