cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Basic requirements for the transfer of fermentation technologies to developing countries

Traditional small-scale fermentation technologies offer considerable potential for stimulating development in the food industry of developing countries in light of their low cost, scalability, minimal energy and infrastructural requirements and the wide consumer acceptance of fermented products in these countries. Efficient transfer and adaptation of these technologies is, however, often limited by inadequate basic scientific knowledge of the processes involved and the lack of appropriate biological inoculants and process controls for these technologies. Basic infrastructures, such as suitably equipped laboratories with consistent working conditions, a constant supply of good quality water and reliable power supplies, are critical elements of a minimal technology base for transfer and adaptation of these technologies. Building the institutional capacity in developing countries to facilitate research and development geared toward a better understanding of the technologies applied in small-scale traditional fermentations is essential, as is the encouragement of governments to formulate supportive national policies, which promote small-scale agro-industrial development. Socioeconomic considerations play a critical role in the successful and sustainable transfer and adoption of technologies and their products in developing countries.
Use of a compact fiber optic spectrometer for spectral feedback during the laser ablation of dental hard tissues and restorative materials

One perceived disadvantage of caries removal using lasers is the loss of the tactile feedback associated with the handpiece. However, alternative methods of acoustic and optical feedback become available with the laser that can be exploited to provide information about the chemical composition of the material ablated, the ablation efficiency and rate, the depth of the incision, and the surface and plume temperature during ablation. Such information can be used to increase the selectivity of ablation, avoid peripheral thermal damage and excessive heat deposition in the tooth, and provide a mechanism of robotic automation. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that a compact fiberoptic spectrometer could be used to differentiate between the ablation of sound and carious enamel and dentin and between dental hard tissues and composite. Sound and carious tooth surfaces along with composite restorative materials were scanned with λ=0.355, 2.79 and 9.3 μm laser pulses at irradiation intensities ranging from 0.5-100 J/cm 2 and spectra were acquired from λ=250-900-nm using a compact fiber-optic spectrometer. Emission spectra varied markedly with the laser wavelength and pulse duration. Optical feedback was not successful in differentiating between sound and carious enamel and dentin even with the addition of various chromophores to carious lesion areas. However, the spectral feedback was successfully used to differentiate between composites and sound enamel and dentin enabling the selective removal of composite from tooth surfaces using a computer controlled λ=9.3-μm pulsed CO 2 laser and scanning system.
China's tobacco industry's communication practices: Paradoxes and proposals for public policymaking

Abstract The People's Republic of China's expanding tobacco-control efforts call for additional, urgent government action on two major fronts: (a) conducting comprehensive health-communication campaigns on the clinical and economic effects of tobacco use; and (b) requiring major policy changes in the (structural and administrative) relationships between the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) and the industry at large, that is, primarily, the China National Tobacco Company (CNTC). China's signing (in 2003) and ratifying (in 2005) the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) place it in a position to adopt some of the anti-smoking measures common in some developed nations. Even though the country's tobacco industry acknowledges publicly health concerns over its products, it engages in communication practices that are paradoxical, in that they circumvent public-health initiatives and the expanding regulatory regimes of product-risk reduction even as the government promotes tobacco use. That paradox calls for three public-policymaking proposals: to conduct more comprehensive, nationwide health-communication campaigns; to use legislation to reduce tobacco use; and to restructure the tobacco industry.
Sex and Group Differences in Reading and Attention Disordered Children with and without Hyperkinesis

Four groups of girls—hyperactive, reading disabled, hyperactive and reading disabled, or solely attention disordered—were contrasted with male counterparts on measures of intelligence, achievement, personality, and cognitive style. Across groups, significant sex differences were found for WISC-R measures, WRAT arithmetic, parent-rated aggressivity, Children's Personality Questionnaire (CPQ) profiles. Children's Embedded Figures Test (CEFT) scores, and self-rated augmentation. For the girls, reading-spelling achievement was robustly associated with WISC-R Verbal scores, while for the boys Sequential Memory scores provided the stronger link. For the girls but not boys cognitive style measures formed a fairly cohesive cluster, as did measures of augmentation, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The boys' but not girls' color-naming speeds and CEFT scores were strongly correlated with age. Within and across sexes, the groups could be discriminated by their WISC-R profiles, arithmetic scores, and ratings of aggres...
Protection of ischemic myocardium by whole-body hypothermia after coronary artery occlusion in dogs

Anesthetized dogs were cooled to a core body temperature of 26 degree C. or maintained at a body temperature of 37 degree C. during periods of 5 and 10 hours of LAD coronary artery occlusion. Subsequent macroscopic dehydrogenase enzyme mapping showed that ischemic injury was 25 per cent less after 5 hours of coronary occlusion and 20 per cent less after 10 hours of occlusion in hypothermic dogs than in normothermic controls. The heart rate and left ventricular minute work in hypothermic dogs decreased to roughly half the levels measured in normothermic animals, while left ventricular contractility was 10 to 40 per cent lower in hypothermic dogs than in normothermic dogs. However, cardiac index and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were unchanged by whole-body cooling. Thus, hypothermia appeared to diminish the oxygen requirements of the ischemic myocardium without reducing the performance of the heart as a pump. Hypothermia may be useful as a therapeutic adjunct to myocardial revascularization or pharmacologic interventions.
Observation of spin exchange by two-dimensional fourier transform 13C cross polarization-magic-angle spinning

The solid-state cross polarization and magic-angle spinning analog of an earlier 2-D FT experiment on liquids is introduced. This technique permits the observation of spin exchange processes. 13C applications include examples of chemical exchange, spin diffusion, the effect of 14N relaxation, and intrinsic T2 effects.
Severe Extrinsic Pulmonic Stenosis Due to Callus Formation of the Sternum

lthough both valvular and infundihular pulmonary stenosis are common cardiac anomalies, stenosis of the right ventricular A outflow tract due to external causes is rare. Recently we had the opportunity to study a patient who had typical clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic findings of severe pulmonic stenosis. Ultimately it was determined that the obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract was caused by callus formation at the site of a previous transverse sternotomy.
Sulfinpyrazone prolongs survival and decreases platelet uptake of heart allografts

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential benefit of the platelet active drug sulfinpyrazone (SPZ) on uptake of indium-III-oxine (111In)-labeled platelets and survival of rat heart allografts. Lewis rats bearing ACI heterotopic heart transplants were treated with SPZ in high, intermediate, or low doses. In 111-labeled platelet uptake was measured 5 days postoperatively and calculated as a ratio between the transplanted and native hearts. Left and right ventricles were measured separately. SPZ given in doses of 400 and 200 mg/kg daily significantly decreased platelet uptake in the graft and reduced the ratio of uptake between transplanted and native hearts (P less than 0.05). In animals treated with SPZ 100 mg/kg/day platelet uptake was not significantly less than that of the nontreated control animals. Survival of allografts was determined by daily palpation and compared to vehicle-treated controls. Mean graft survival was prolonged for animals treated with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg daily, i.e., 19.0 +/- 3.02 and 11.42 +/- 1.97 days, respectively. Animals administered 400 mg/kg did not have longer graft survival than controls (6.63 +/- 0.66 versus 6.31 +/- 0.18 days). Most animals in the 400 mg/kg group died as a result of adverse side effects of the drug. We conclude that SPZ in low to intermediate doses prolongs allografted heart survival. The enhanced survival in the lower dose group may in part be due to mechanisms other than platelet adhesiveness.
Antineoplastic Agents and the Associated Myelosuppressive Effects A Review

Bone marrow is a complex organ responsible for the regulation of hematopoietic cell distribution throughout the human body. Patients receiving antineoplastic agents as a therapeutic intervention for hematologic malignancy often experience varying degrees of myelotoxicity. Antineoplastic agents cause hypocellularity in marrow resulting in a reduction in hematopoietic tissue activity and a corresponding decline in cell production. Quantifying the adverse effects on hematopoiesis is based on the properties of a single agent, the use of individual drugs within a combination chemotherapy regimen, and the course, or courses, of chemotherapy designed to treat cancer. The direct or indirect suppression of erythrocytes, granulocytes, and megakaryocytes has potential for multiple negative clinical consequences ranging from increased monitoring of blood counts to life-threatening infection and death. This review will provide an overview of the structure and function of competent adult bone marrow, describe the process of hematopoiesis, and characterize the myelotoxicities associated with common antineoplastic agents currently used in the treatment of cancer.
Naturally-expressed nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) warrant attention, as they play many critical roles in brain and body function and have been implicated in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including nicotine dependence. nAChRs are composed as diverse subtypes containing specific combinations of genetically-distinct subunits and that have different functional properties, distributions, and pharmacological profiles. There had been confidence that the rules that define ranges of assembly partners for specific subunits were well-established, especially for the more prominent nAChR subtypes. However, we review here some newer findings indicating that nAChRs having largely the same, major subunits exist as isoforms with unexpectedly different properties. Moreover, we also summarize our own studies indicating that novel nAChR subtypes exist and/or have distributions not heretofore described. Importantly, the nAChRs that exist as new isoforms or subtypes or have interesting distributions require alteration in thinking about their roles in health and disease.
An empirical basis for charity in interpretation

In codifying the methods of translation, several writers have formulated maxims that would constrain interpreters to construe their subjects as (more or less) rational speakers of the truth. Such maxims have come to be known as versions of the principle of charity. W. V. O. Quine suggests an empirical, not purely methodological, basis for his version of that principle. Recently, Stephen Stich has criticized Quine's attempt to found the principle of charity in translation on information about the probabilities of various sorts of mistakes. Here 1 defend Quine's approach. These issues have important implications for the supposed a priori status of human rationality.
Net Length based Routability Driven Packing

FPGA CAD requires routability driven algorithms to improve feasibility of mapping designs onto the underlying architecture. At the clustering stage, routability enhancing parameters such as number of absorbed pins, absorbed nets, criticality, connectivity, and number of net terminals have been identified. We argue that net length is an important parameter not explored in this context. In this paper, we show a structural approach to predict individual net lengths based on the intrinsic shortest path length (ISPL) metric, and use it to reduce track count achieved by previous clustering algorithms. For the set of 20 large MCNC benchmarks, we achieve an average channel width reduction of 3.25 tracks with no area overhead compared to previous approaches. The prediction mechanism and modified clustering algorithm have been incorporated into the VPack/VPR (versatile place and route) toolset. This is a first approach that applies apriori net length predictions within the clustering stage to optimize a design for routability.
Nitric oxide release by macrophages in response to particulate wear debris

At the interface between a prosthetic implant and bone, macrophage interaction with particulate wear debris is a key event in the initiation of localized bone resorption, leading to aseptic loosening of the prostheses. Numerous investigators have reported that macrophages release a variety of cytokines and mediators including tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, prostaglandin E2, and interleukin-6 when they are stimulated with particulate wear debris. In this study, we have demonstrated that macrophages stimulated with particulate debris are also capable of releasing in copious amounts a key inflammatory chemical, nitric oxide. This release of nitric oxide was dependent upon the period of culture and the type and dosage of the challenging particles. Titanium-alloy particles were the most stimulatory, followed by commercially pure titanium and polymethyl-methacrylate. While the role of nitric oxide in osteolysis is not clearly understood, the literature suggests that it may be a key mediator in inhibiting DNA synthesis, in cell proliferation, and in stimulating PGE2 release. This finding enhances our understanding of the sequence of events occurring at the bone-implant interface during wear debris-mediated osteolysis, and exposes potential avenues to interrupt this sequence.
N-Cadherin and Integrins: Two Receptor Systems That Mediate Neuronal Process Outgrowth on Astrocyte Surfaces

Abstract Receptor-mediated interactions between neurons and astroglia are likely to play a crucial role in the growth and guidance of CNS axons. Using antibodies to neuronal cell surface proteins, we identified two receptor systems mediating neurite outgrowth on cultured astrocytes. N-cadherin, a Ca 2+ -dependent cell adhesion molecule, functions prominently in the outgrowth of neurites on astrocytes by E8 and E14 chick ciliary ganglion (CG) neurons. β 1 -class integrin ECM receptor heterodimers function less prominently in E8 and not at all in E14 neurite outgrowth on astrocytes. The lack of effect of integrin β 1 antibodies on E14 neurite out-growth reflects an apparent loss of integrin function, as assayed by E14 neuronal attachment and process out-growth on laminin. N-CAM appeared not to be required for neurite outgrowth by either E8 or E14 neurons. Since N-cadherin and integrin β 1 antibodies together virtually eliminated E8 CG neurite outgrowth on cultured astrocytes, these two neuronal receptors are probably important in regulating axon growth on astroglia in vivo.
Development of a piglet model of status epilepticus: Preliminary results

Study objective: Ventilation frequently is impaired during prolonged clinical seizures and their treatment. In a pilot study, respiratory, metabolic, and hemodynamic variables were studied during induced seizures in a lightly anesthetized, spontaneously breathing piglet model. Participants: Weanling, mixed-breed domestic piglets. Interventions: Piglets were instrumented with a tracheostomy, arterial catheter, and epidural electrodes. Conditions included hyperoxia, normothermia, and ketamine maintenance infusion throughout recordings. After baseline recordings, 2 mg/kg IV bicuculline was administered. For further model validation, piglets were randomized to infusions of diazepam (three), lorazepam (two), or saline (control; five) groups after ten minutes of untreated seizures. Measurements and main results: Integrated tidal volume, respiratory rate, Paco 2 , pH, arterial pressure, rectal temperature, heart rate, and bipolar EEG waveforms were recorded and compared at intervals for 60 minutes. Vigorous tonic-clonic seizures occurred in all piglets, confirmed by sudden synchronization and large-amplitude EEG waveforms. Increases in heart rate, arterial pressure, tidal volume, respiratory rate, Paco 2 , minute ventilation, and base deficit occurred in all piglets during seizures as compared with baseline. Five minutes after bicuculline was administered, increases in minute ventilation (4.5 ± 0.4 L/min at baseline to 13 ± 2.1 L/min) were accounted for by increases in both tidal volume and respiratory rate. More abrupt decreases in respiratory rate were observed in anticonvulsant-treated piglets as compared with controls. The duration of continuous seizure activity (12 ± 1.0 minutes versus 21 ± 3.3 minutes; P Conclusion: Significant increases in ventilation occur during generalized seizures in tracheostomized piglets given bicuculline. Diazepam and lorazepam infusions ameliorate seizure activity and suppress increases in respiratory rate but not minute ventilation as compared with controls. Problems with this model included baseline variability, temperature instability, and that direct respiratory stimulation from the convulsant agent may have occurred.
Cyclization of linear chimeric plasmids in vivo by a novel end-to-end joining reaction or by intramolecular recombination: one of the products contains a 147-bp perfect palindrome stable in Escherichia coli

Abstract A fragment of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA containing the region around the viral replication origin was ligated in vitro with Bam HI-cut plasmid pMK2004 DNA by virtue of the complementarity of one end of the SV40 fragment with a Bam HI end of the plasmid. The cyclization of the ligated products in vivo in Escherichia coli resulted in chimeric plasmids containing the whole or portions of the SV40 fragment. One class of chimeras resulted from a novel intramolecular end-to-end joining of the linear precursor DNA molecule in which the participants were a blunt end and a 5′ cohesive end. Three other classes of chimeras were produced by a type of intramolecular recombination and contained deletions of different amounts of DNA near the ends of the linear precursors: the sites of joining utilized in the cyclization reactions were found to possess perfect oligonucleotide sequence homology. Different homologous oligonucleotide sequences were utilized in the production of the three different classes of chimeras, implying that the recombination events were not sequence-specific. One of the above recombinants contained the SV40 insert in the form of a 147-bp palindrome with a perfect twofold rotational axis of symmetry. The structural integrity of this palindrome was fully maintained after 20 passages of the E. coli host harboring this recombinant, as shown by restriction and sequence analyses of DNA preparations made at selected intervals during the passaging. The palindrome was quite stable in E. coli and was not affected by amplification of the recombinant plasmid containing the palindrome to more than 1000 copies per cell using chloramphenicol. The high stability of this palindrome is contradictory to the generally held notion that palindromes are unstable in E. coli .
Synthesis of structurally diverse major groove DNA interstrand crosslinks using three different aldehyde precursors

DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) are extremely cytotoxic lesions that block essential cellular processes, such as replication and transcription. Crosslinking agents are widely used in cancer chemotherapy and form an array of structurally diverse ICLs. Despite the clinical success of these agents, resistance of tumors to crosslinking agents, for example, through repair of these lesions by the cellular machinery remains a problem. We have previously reported the synthesis of site-specific ICLs mimicking those formed by nitrogen mustards to facilitate the studies of cellular responses to ICL formation. Here we extend these efforts and report the synthesis of structurally diverse major groove ICLs that induce severe, little or no distortion in the DNA. Our approach employs the incorporation of aldehyde precursors of different lengths into complementary strands and ICL formation using a double reductive amination with a variety of amines. Our studies provide insight into the structure and reactivity parameters of ICL formation by double reductive amination and yield a set of diverse ICLs that will be invaluable for exploring structure–activity relationships in ICL repair.
082 CM-1 (Cytomodulin), a Synthetic peptide, promotes collagen transcription and wound healing in bioluminescent mice

Cytomodulin (CM-1) is a synthetic heptapeptide. Human dermal fibroblasts cultured in the presence of CM-1 showed increased expression of transforming growth factor–s(TGF-s) and collagen I and decreased expression of MMP-1. TGF-β is involved in numerous vital processes in wound healing, and the rate of wound repair is influenced by its overexpression at the site of injury. To establish the effect of CM-1 in wound healing, we administered several concentrations of CM-1 to incisional wounds and to unwounded skin of collagen-luciferase transgenic mice. Luciferase bioluminescence served as a quantitative reporter of CO1A2 transcription. Imaging was performed to measure the luciferase activity on these mice at different time points after administration of 1, 10 and 100 ug CM-1. The highest amount (100 μg) showed the highest level of collagen expression both in unwounded and wounded skin. In another experiment, we used a scrambled peptide as a control and administered the peptides both topically and by injection. CM-1 was effective in stimulating luciferase expression both by topical and intradermal administration. To determine the effect of CM-1 on wound strength, we measured the tensile strength in incisional wounds of wild type C57B6 mice at 10 d. Histological analysis was also performed to assess the collagen content and organization of the tissue. The data showed a statistically significant increase in tensile strength and collagen content at 10 and 100 μg doses. These results illustrate the utility of CM-1 as a novel, low-molecular weight vulnerary agent.
Kinetics of Manganese Uptake by Excised Roots of Sensitive and Tolerant Tobacco Genotypes

Abstract Understanding genotypic difference in ion uptake and toxicity is important in breeding plants that are able to adapt to unfavorable soil conditions and to phytoremediate contaminated soils. This investigation was carried out to study kinetic behavior of manganese (Mn) uptake by excised roots of two tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) genotypes with different sensitivities to Mn toxicity. Genotype KY 14 was shown previously to be sensitive to Mn toxicity whereas genotype Tobacco Introduction (T.I.) 1112 was shown to be resistant. Kinetic experiments were conducted by exposing the excised roots of the two genotypes to solution Mn containing 1 mM Mn plus 0.5 mM calcium (Ca). Total Mn uptake and the fraction of Mn that remained in the excised roots after desorption using 2 mM Cu–0.5 mM Ca solution at 5°C were determined to estimate Mn accumulation into the apoplast and symplast compartments. The two tobacco genotypes exhibited a similar biphasic total Mn uptake composed of an initial rapid phase followed ...
Testing for variants in CYP2C19: population frequencies and testing experience in a clinical laboratory

Testing for variants in CYP2C19: population frequencies and testing experience in a clinical laboratory
In vivo mobilization of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in psoriasis: relationship to clinical parameters and serum inhibitory factors.

Mean migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) toward autologous and homologous control sera, evaluated by quantitative skin window chamber technique, was only slightly reduced in 60 patients with psoriasis as compared to 27 normal controls ( p
A statistical study of the subauroral electron temperature enhancement using Dynamics Explorer 2 Langmuir probe observations

A statistical study of the subauroral electron temperature enhancement was undertaken using Langmuir probe observations during 488 traversals of the midlatitude plasmapause region by the DE-2 satellite. The subauroral electron temperature enhancement on the nightside is a quasi-permanent feature at all altitudes between 350 and 1000 km with an occurrence frequency that depends on altitude. The occurrence frequency of the subauroral electron temperature peak has a strong altitude dependence on the dayside. The position of the subauroral Te peak decreases with increasing magnetic activity in a manner similar to that of the equatorial plasmapause and other midlatitude plasmapause signatures.
Analysis of scalable data-privatization threading algorithms for hybrid MPI/OpenMP parallelization of molecular dynamics

We propose and analyze threading algorithms for hybrid MPI/OpenMP parallelization of a molecular-dynamics simulation, which are scalable on large multicore clusters. Two data-privatization thread scheduling algorithms via nucleation-growth allocation are introduced: (1) compact-volume allocation scheduling (CVAS); and (2) breadth-first allocation scheduling (BFAS). The algorithms combine fine-grain dynamic load balancing and minimal memory-footprint data privatization threading. We show that the computational costs of CVAS and BFAS are bounded by ?(n 5/3 p ?2/3) and ?(n), respectively, for p threads working on n particles on a multicore compute node. Memory consumption per node of both algorithms scales as O(n+n 2/3 p 1/3), but CVAS has smaller prefactors due to a geometric effect. Based on these analyses, we derive the selection criterion between the two algorithms in terms of the granularity, n/p. We observe that memory consumption is reduced by 75 % for p=16 and n=8,192 compared to a naive data privatization, while maintaining thread imbalance below 5 %. We obtain a strong-scaling speedup of 14.4 with 16-way threading on a four quad-core AMD Opteron node. In addition, our MPI/OpenMP code achieves 2.58× and 2.16× speedups over the MPI-only implementation on 32,768 cores of BlueGene/P for 0.84 and 1.68 million particle systems, respectively.
Area-based determination of bone loss using the glenoid arc angle

In patients with anterior glenohumeral instability, the most commonly observed osseous defect involves the anterior portion of the inferior glenoid. The amount of glenoid bone loss guides surgical treatment, with progressively larger defects not being amenable to arthroscopic soft-tissue procedures. Currently, there is no universally accepted method of quantifying glenoid bone loss. Two-dimensional area-based methods and 1-dimensional methods of measuring bone loss have both been described but cannot be used interchangeably. The surface area of a glenoid bony defect is a more comprehensive descriptor of its magnitude than the 1-dimensional width of the defect. Calculating surface area can be challenging. We describe a method of quantifying glenoid bone loss using a glenoid arc angle that corresponds to the surface area of the defect. The arc angle is easily measured by use of commonly used imaging software tools and is independent of the size of the glenoid or defect orientation. This method may prove valuable in preoperative planning for patients with anterior glenohumeral instability.
Construct validity of the Rorschach Oral Dependency (ROD) Scale: relationship of ROD scores to WAIS-R scores in a psychiatric inpatient sample.

Three-hundred and two psychiatric inpatients (166 women and 136 men) completed Masling, Rabie, and Blondheim's Rorschach Oral Dependency (ROD) Scale and the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised (WAIS-R). As predicted, ROD scale scores were unrelated to WAIS-R scores in subjects of either sex. These findings support the discriminant validity of the ROD scale as a measure of interpersonal dependency, and suggest that deficits in intellectual ability do not underlie the dependency-related behaviors (e.g., suggestibility, conformity, interpersonal yielding) that are associated with high scores on the ROD scale. Implications of these findings for research on the dependency-academic performance relationship are discussed, and suggestions for future studies assessing the convergent and discriminant validity of the ROD scale are offered.
Trans Fatty Acids and Cancer

Despite a general lack of evidence for the carcinogenic effects of trans fatty acids, some recent research and popular media have suggested a possible association. The available scientific data do not support this relationship and are reviewed so as to put this issue in perspective.
Discussion Groups as Preparation for Cesarean Section

Childbirth preparation courses have proven valuable to couples anticipating vaginal delivery. Women expecting to deliver by elective cesarean sections have additional informational and supportive needs. To meet these needs, discussion groups were developed in the obstetrical outpatient department of a large university medical center.
The Role of Palliative External Beam Radiation Therapy in Boney Metastases Pain Management

Bone is the third most common organ affected by neoplastic metastases, and about 70% of patients with breast cancer or prostate cancer that develop metastases will have osseous involvement. As part of a multi-pronged approach to pain management in these patients, external beam radio therapy (EBRT) continues to be a mainstay of treatment for metastatic bone pain. This article reviews the role of radiation therapy in palliative management strategies for patients with bone metastases, including the clinical and cost-effectiveness of single fraction (SFRT) versus multiple fraction (MFRT) EBRT in pain relief. Studies indicate that SFRT is more cost-effective than MFRT, yet both are clinically effective in pain management. Therefore, EBRT use retains an important place among analgesia, bone modifying agents, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy in improving quality of life (QoL) and reducing morbidity from metastatic bone pain.
Enfuvirtide (T-20): A Novel Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Fusion Inhibitor

The development of highly active antiretroviral therapy has improved life expectancy and reduced progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, resistance to currently available classes of antiretroviral drugs has become a problem, limiting the options for patients with advanced disease who have been heavily treated. Enfuvirtide (T-20; ENF), a synthetic peptide, is the first of a new class of antiretrovirals that block entry of virus into host cells. ENF interferes with conformational changes required for membrane fusion and injection of virus into the host cell. Optimal treatment of HIV infection will likely require combinations of drugs that target novel stages of HIV type 1 entry and replication.
The Multi-Vector Portable Intrusion Detection System (MVP-IDS): A hybrid approach to intrusion detection for portable information devices

The Battery-Sensing Intrusion Protection System (B-SIPS) [1] initially took a non-conventional approach to intrusion detection by recognizing attacks based on anomalous Instantaneous Current (IC) drain. An extension of B-SIPS, the Multi-Vector Portable Intrusion Detection System (MVP-IDS) validates the idea of recognizing attacks based on anomalous IC drain by correlating the detected anomalies with wireless attack traffic from both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mediums. To effectively monitor the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mediums for malicious packet streams, the Snort-Based Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Attack Detection and Signature System (BADSS) modules were introduced. This paper illustrates how a blended strategy of using a low overhead tripwire can be combined with more sophisticated detection mechanisms to provide an effective protection system for limited resource wireless information technology devices.
The Bi-Directional Relationship Between Parent–Child Conflict and Treatment Outcome in Treatment-Resistant Adolescent Depression

Objective To examine the bidirectional relationship between parent–child discord and treatment outcome for adolescent treatment-resistant depression. Method Depressed youth who had not responded to an adequate course of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) were randomized to either a switch to another SSRI or venlafaxine, with or without the addition of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in the Treatment of SSRI-Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA) study. The Conflict Behavior Questionnaire was used to assess adolescent (CBQ-A) and parent-reported (CBQ-P) parent–child discord. The impact of remission on parent–child conflict, and the differential impact of medication and CBT on the CBQ-A and CBQ-P, were assessed using generalized linear models. Results Although there were no differential treatment effects on parent or adolescent-report of conflict, remission was associated with improvement in the CBQ-P. In general, intake family conflict did not predict remission, except in the sub-group of participants whose parents reported clinically significant parent–child conflict at intake, for whom high levels of parent-reported conflict predicted a lower likelihood of remission. Conflict also did not moderate treatment response. Conclusions Remission of depression may be sufficient to reduce parent-reported parent–child conflict. However, higher parent-reported conflict, in the clinically significant range, predicts a lower likelihood of remission from depression. Clinical trial registration information—Treatment of SSRI-Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA); http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT00018902.
Estimating Trait and Situational Variance in a Situational Judgment Test

In organizational research, situational judgment tests (SJTs) consistently demonstrate incremental validity, yet our theoretical understanding of SJTs is limited. Our knowledge could be advanced by decomposing the variance of SJT items into trait variance and situation variance; we do that by applying statistical methods used to analyze multitrait–multimethod matrices. A college-student sample (N = 2,747) was administered an SJT of goal orientation traits (i.e., mastery, performance-approach, and performance-avoid). Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the proportions of item variance to attributable to situational differences (across students) and to trait-based differences in students (across situations). Situation factors accounted for over three times the amount of variance as did individual difference factors. We conclude with general implications for the design of SJTs in organizational research.
The Cost of Preserving Privacy: Performance Measurements of RFID Pseudonym Protocols

The purpose of RFID tags is to provide identifying information; the problem is that tags may radiate identifying information to any RFID reader anywhere. Encryption alone does not help: even encrypted IDs are static, and can be identified as unique to a particular object, and are thus vulnerable to tracking. To preserve privacy, pseudonym protocols have been proposed. Using cryptography and pseudonyms, unauthorized entities cannot even link two sightings of the same tag. In this paper, we measure the cost of running tree-based pseudonym protocols. Pseudonym protocols require random numbers, cryptographic operations and writing to onboard memory (in case time-limited delegation is enabled), which we implement using TinyOS system software. For MicaZ hardware, we measure voltage drop with an oscilloscope. Our results show that one Skipjack block cipher (part of the pseudonym encryption process) costs more energy than generating ten random numbers. Therefore, when configuring the tree of secrets, it is more energy-efficient to have a wider rather than a deeper tree
Cell-compatible, integrin-targeted cryptophane-129Xe NMR biosensors.

Peptide-modified cryptophane enables sensitive detection ofproteinanalytes using hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR spectroscopy. Here we report improved targeting and delivery of cryptophane to cells expressing αvβ3 integrin receptor, which is overexpressed in many human cancers. Cryptophane was functionalized with cyclic RGDyKpeptide and Alexa Fluor 488dye, and cellular internalization was monitored by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Competitive blocking assays confirmed cryptophaneendocytosis through an αvβ3 integrin receptor-mediated pathway. The peptide–cryptophane conjugate was determined to be nontoxic in normal human lung fibroblasts by MTT assay at the micromolar cryptophane concentrations typically used for hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR biosensing experiments. Flow cytometry revealed 4-fold higher cellular internalization in cancer cells overexpressing the integrin receptor compared to normal cells. Nanomolar inhibitory concentrations (IC50 = 20–30 nM) were measured for cryptophane biosensors against vitronectin binding to αvβ3 integrin and fibrinogen binding to αIIbβ3 integrin. Functionalization of the conjugate with two propionic acidgroups improved water solubility for hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR spectroscopic studies, which revealed a single resonance at 67 ppm for the 129Xe-cryptophane–cyclic RGDyK biosensor. Introduction of αIIbβ3 integrin receptor in detergent solution generated a new “ bound” 129Xe biosensor peak that was shifted 4 ppm downfield from the “free” 129Xe biosensor.
An Adaptive and Optimized Security Policy Manager for Wireless Networks

The security policy manager resides on each AP. Its sole responsibility is to receive the security policy, transform it into a stack-specific format and then help implement the policy via the underlying protocol stack. Security policy manager receives the policy in a stack-independent XML format. It transforms the policy into a stack-specific format and then determines the changes in the new policy compared to the currently running one. After completing these initial tasks, the Security policy manager helps to carry out these changes in the policy while interacting with the underlying protocol stack, if there will be any conflicts then the security policy manager calls the adaptive security policy optimizer to remove some part of policy and maximizes the output. Changes might require only adding/deleting a new NE to the policy
The Problem of Free Riding in Voluntary Generic Advertising: Parallelism and Possible Solutions from the Lab

Producers of many commodities pay for generic advertising, which is a public good for producers and, in cases like healthy foods, enhances social welfare. Though most programs were initially funded through the Voluntary Contribution Mechanism, many became mandatory to mitigate free riding. This experimental research simulates key economic and psychological details of these programs and produces donation results strikingly similar to a historic example. Because mandatory programs may be declared unconstitutional, the Provision Point Mechanism is tested as an alternative. This research also shows that refund-by-request donation mechanisms establish a status quo of contributing and reduce free riding. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.
Work in progress — An opportunistic approach for learning web application development

Opportunistic software development is not only a common practice, but also of great educational value. In this paper, we describe our experience with guiding students in an opportunistic approach to learning web programming. Our observations indicate that it is an effective approach for introducing topics that cross the boundaries of different technologies.
"How am I doing?" Teaching medical students to elicit feedback during their clerkships.

Aim: This study seeks to explore formative feedback during clerkships from the student perspective and to determine whether a modest intervention aimed at students can impact their attitudes or behavior regarding feedback interactions.Background: Multiple studies document medical student dissatisfaction with a lack of feedback from attending physicians and housestaff regarding their performance during their clerkship rotations. While feedback is essential to skill building, and feedback-seeking a necessary component of self-awareness, studies indicate that little progress has been made in understanding or addressing these student concerns.Methods: Participants included the entire third-year class of a medical school (n = 189). They were surveyed about their attitudes and experience with regard to receiving feedback during clerkships using both Likert-type questions and open-ended questions. Half of the class was assigned to receive a brief intervention, a workshop dealing with the nature of feedback and w...
Treatment of recurrent intracranial aneurysms with the Pipeline Embolization Device

Background The treatment of recurrent aneurysms after previous surgery or embolization is challenging. Little is known regarding the use of the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) for recurrent aneurysms. Objective To analyze the safety and results of PED therapy for recurrent aneurysms. Methods Fifteen patients with recurrent intracranial aneurysms after previous embolization or surgical clipping were treated with the PED at our institution between 2011 and 2012. Procedural complications and clinical and angiographic outcomes were analyzed. Results Median aneurysm size was 12 mm. Previous aneurysm treatment consisted of coiling in eight patients, stent coiling in four, a telescoping stent technique in two and surgical clipping in one. Major procedural complications (leaving significant morbidity) occurred in one patient (6.7%) and minor procedural or technical complications (no or minor morbidity) occurred in four patients (26.7%). Fourteen of the 15 patients (93.3%) had a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2). Of 14 patients with angiographic follow-up, nine (64.3%) had complete aneurysm occlusion (100%), four (28.6%) had near-complete occlusion (≥90%) and only one (7.1%) had incomplete occlusion ( Conclusions Treatment of recurrent aneurysms with the PED appears to be effective, but patients with a previous stent in situ may achieve lower obliteration rates. The morbidity rate associated with PED therapy may be higher than with more standard endovascular techniques using historical data. Larger studies are needed to assess this question better.
Arrhythmogenic Munchausen syndrome culminating in caffeine-induced ventricular tachycardia

We report a patient with numerous abnormal electrocardiograms (ECGs) in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Our patient both simulated and stimulated her arrhythmias with an ECG rhythm generator and intentional caffeine intoxication. To our knowledge, this is the first report of caffeine overdose for arrhythmogenesis.
Noise analysis of a digital tanlock loop

The noise performance analysis of a nonuniform digital phase-locked loop (DPLL), called the digital tanlock loop (DTL), is investigated by both analytic and computer-simulation methods. The results are presented in terms of phase error probability mass function and mean time to skip cycle versus input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). These results are compared to the ones obtained with the conventional sinusoidal DPLL loop (DPLL). It is found that, for low-to-moderate input SNR, the DTL has only a slight improvement over the DPLL. The DTL, however, has larger linear characteristics than the conventional DPLL, which makes it attractive for applications that require an increased tracking range or as a first stage in carrier tracking systems based on optimum estimation procedures such as a Kalman smoother. >
The glutamine transaminase-omega-amidase pathway.

(1977). The Glutamine Transaminase-ω-Amidase Pathwa. CRC Critical Reviews in Biochemistry: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 281-303.
Remedies in Contract Cases: Narrated Multi-Medi Electronic Lessons

These electronic essays discuss Remedies that potentially are available following breaches of contract. After making some important points about remedies generally, the essays discuss non-court remedies for breach, remedies that include Requests for Assurance of Performance, Accords/Satisfactions, Cure, and Reciprocal Non-Performance. The essays also discuss court remedies for breach of contract and discuss money-debt remedies and specific performance (a kind of injunction). There are about thirty individual electronic essays in this overall set of electronic essays, and about thirty accompanying graphics-only versions of these e-essays. The electronic essays themselves are .swf files and can be watched/listened to on Windows PC’s or Macs. These files, which are 10-15 megs in size, are filled with media, including music and narration. The graphics only versions of the essays are ppt files. They too can can be viewed on Windows PC’s or Macs. These ppt files are 2-3 megs in size. This set of electronic essays on Remedies in Contract Cases coordinates with other sets of lessons in an overall group of electronic essays on selected topics in USA Business law. A copy of this electronic lesson can be found online.
Successful intratumoral radionuclide cancer therapy (IRCT) prevents growth of subsequently re-innoculated 13762 mammary tumors in rats

175 Objectives During IRCT, the tumor mass is metabolically ablated but initially retains structural integrety until eventual lysis. This duration may serve important roles to establish immune recognition and amplification to prevent recurrence. This study is to evaluate the ability of initial successful IRCT to suppress growth of subsequently inoculated xenograft of 13762 breast cancer cells. Methods Groups of 3 rats were inoculated with 100000 cells of 13762 mammary tumors (in 0.1ml) IM. They subsequently underwent IRCT using compounds containing iron macroaggregates containing Ga-67 (GIMA), Y-90 (YIMA) or In-111 (InIMA) at radioactivity levels between 0.1-1 mCi. Tumor growth were measured as tumor sizes (S20) at 20 days p.i. Reinoculation (the same 13762 tumor) experiments were conducted on those rats successfully treated without evidence of tumor for at least 60 days. Tumor sizes and occurence rates were compared for those with 0, 1, 2,3 and 4 prior exposure to the tumors. Weekly serial whole-body FDG PET were also conducted on selected rats of control, under IRCT, intratumoral EtOH therapy and with 3 prior tumor exposure to further investigate the time course of tumor growth. Results The tumor occurence rates were >93%, 7%, 0%,0% and 0% for 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 prior expsure to the tumor. Conclusions Early exposure to the tumor prevent subsequent tumor growth to the same tumor. This mechanism should be further explored. Research Support DOD Army Breast Cancer Research Program BC020808 NIH CTEP CAR21 02772