cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TRAPPC9: Novel insights into its trafficking and signaling pathways in health and disease (Review)

Trafficking protein particle complex 9 (TRAPPC9) is a protein subunit of the transport protein particle II (TRAPPII), which has been reported to be important in the trafficking of cargo from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi, and in intra‑Golgi and endosome‑to‑Golgi transport in yeast cells. In mammalian cells, TRAPPII has been shown to be important in Golgi vesicle tethering and intra‑Golgi transport. TRAPPC9 is considered to be a novel molecule capable of modulating the activation of nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB). Mutations in TRAPPC9 have been linked to a rare consanguineous hereditary form of mental retardation, as part of the NF‑κB pathways. In addition, TRAPPC9 has been reported to be involved in breast and colon cancer and liver diseases. The present review highlights the most recent publications on the structure, expression and function of TRAPPC9, and its association with various human diseases.
Labor Politics in North Africa: After the Uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia

The Arab Uprisings of 2010 and 2011 had a profound effect on labor politics in the region, with trade unions mobilizing to an extent never before seen. How did these formerly quiescent trade unions become militant? What linkages did they make to other social forces during and after the revolutions? And why did Tunisian unions emerge cohesive and influential while Egyptian unions were fractured and lacked influence? Following extensive interviews, Ian M. Hartshorn answers these questions and assesses how unions forged alliances, claimed independence, and cooperated with international groups. Looking at institutions both domestically and internationally, he traces the corporatist collapse and the role of global labor in offering training and new possibilities for disgruntled workers. With special attention to the relationship with rising Islamist powers, he also examines the ways in which political parties tried to use labor, and vice versa, and provides a detailed study of the role of labor in ousting the first Islamist governments.
Study on AC Resistance of Layering Enamelled Stranded Conductor

In recent years, with the rapid development of large-length ultra-high-pressure voltage extrusion insulated submarine cable technology, the cable system in the medium-length offshore power grid interconnection project has been gradually replaced by XLPE insulation by traditional oil-paper insulation. There are many large cross-section conductors used in long-distance power transmission cables, and according to the IEC 60287-1-1, it is recommended to use Milliken conductors to reduce the AC resistance of conductors, at the same time, in submarine cables, there is a high requirement on the water-blocking performance of conductors and the water resistance of Milliken conductors is poor, so it is not used in submarine cable conductors. This paper puts forward a layering enamelled stranded conductor and a calculation method of AC / DC resistance ratio for it. The validity of the calculation method is verified by experimental tests. At the same time, the calculation shows that the AC / DC resistance of the conductor at 1800 mm2 nominal cross section can be reduced by 16% compared with the conventional round compacted conductor in the prior art. The effectiveness of this conductor in reducing AC resistance is verified by finite element simulation.
Analytical characterization of Parylene-C degradation mechanisms on Utah arrays: evaluation of in vitro Reactive Accelerated Aging model compared to multiyear in vivo implantation

Implantable neural microelectrodes are integral components of neuroprosthetic technologies and can transform treatments for many neural-mediated disorders. However, dielectric material degradation during long-term (> 1 year) indwelling periods restricts device functional lifetimes to a few years. This comprehensive work carefully investigates in vivo material degradation and also explores the ability of in vitro Reactive Accelerated Aging (RAA) to evaluate implant stability. Parylene C-coated Utah electrode arrays (UEAs) implanted in feline peripheral nerve for 3.25 years were explanted and compared to RAA-processed devices, aged in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) + 20 mM H2O2 at either 67 or 87 {degrees}C (28 or 7 days, respectively). Electron microscopy revealed similar physical damage characteristics between explants and RAA (87{degrees} C) devices. Parylene C degradation was overwhelmingly apparent for UEAs from both RAA cohorts. Controls aged in PBS alone displayed almost no damage. Spectroscopic characterization (EDX, XPS, FTIR) found clear indications of oxidation and chlorine abstraction for parylene C aged in vivo. While in vitro aging was also accompanied by signs of oxidation, changes in the chemistry in vivo and in vitro were statistically different. Analysis of RAA- aged devices identified UEA fabrication approaches that may greatly improve device resistance to degradation. This work underscores the need for an improved understanding of in vivo damage mechanisms, to facilitate the critical need for representative in vitro accelerated testing paradigms for long-term implants.
AVALIAÇÃO DA TAXA DE PRENHEZ DE VACAS DE LEITE COM A UTILIZAÇÃO DE PROTOCOLOS COM E SEM A PRESENÇA DE FOLÍCULOS ESTIMULANTES

Objetivou-se neste presente estudo avaliar a responsividade da PGF2α (Sincrocio) em 9 animais mesticos Holandes/Zebu em diferentes fases do ciclo estral, taxa de prenhes, a viabilidade em relacao custo:inseminacao em vacas de leite. Foi avaliada a estrutura ovariana dos animais com a utilizacao de ultrassom, avaliacao do escore corporal, alimentacao, historico vacinal e vermifugacao de cada animal individualmente antes de ser submetidas ao protocolo de sincronizacao. O protocolo consistiu na observacao do cio nos primeiros 7 dias, em que dois animais manifestaram cio e foram inseminados. Apos os 7 primeiros dias foi feita a primeira aplicacao da PGF2α e 5 animais apresentaram cio em ate 5 dias apos a aplicacao e foram inseminados; 2 animais foram submetidos a segunda aplicacao 7 dias apos a primeira e nao foi observado cio nos mesmos; 2 dos 5 animais que apresentaram cio a primeira aplicacao repetiram cio. Totalizando 7 animais responsivos ao protocolo. Dos 9 animais submetidos a sincronizacao 5 tiveram a prenhes confirmada, 2 vacas nao manifestaram cio na primeira e nem na segunda aplicacoes e 2 repetiram cio ao termino do estudo. Conclui-se que a administracao de PGF2α em protocolo de sincronizacao de ovulacao em vacas mesticas obteve 55% de prenhes confirmada e 77% de responsividade ao protocolo com custo baixo em relacao a outros protocolos no mercado. Mais estudos sao necessarios para explicar a fisiologia subjacente da utilizacao de PGF2α em protocolos.
Serum CA19-9 Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy Predicts Tumor Size Reduction and Survival in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

The optimal cutoffs for carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) response after neoadjuvant therapy (NT) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are not well characterized. This study aimed to analyze the relationship of serum CA19-9 to other markers of response and to identify thresholds correlating to outcomes. A retrospective review of resected PDAC patients from 2010 to 2017 at an academic tertiary referral center was conducted. The analysis enrolled 250 subjects. Normalization and multiple cutoff points for CA19-9 response were assessed. Normalization was not associated with improved survival (35.17 vs. 29.43 months; p = 0.173). Although a response 45% or higher was associated with longer survival (35 vs. 20 months; p = 0.018), a response of 85% or higher was optimal (55.7 vs. 25.97 months; p < 0.0001). A response of 85% or higher remained a strong independent predictor of survival [hazard ratio (HR), 0.47; p = 0.007]. Subjects with a response of 85% or higher had received more NT cycles [3 (range 2–6) vs. 3 (range 2–4) cycles; p = 0.006] and fewer adjuvant cycles [4 (range 3–6) vs. 5 (range 3–6) cycles; p = 0.027]. Reduction in T-size correlated with a drop in CA19-9 and a size reduction of 25% or higher (56.97 vs. 28.17 months; p = 0.016) improved survival. A serum CA19-9 response of 85% or higher was a strong independent predictor of a reduction in T-size of 25% or higher (HR 2.40; p = 0.007). A CA19-9 response of 85% or higher is the optimal threshold for predicting survival. It is predictive of T-size reduction. Future NT trials should incorporate CA19-9 response as an end point.
The unique predictive value of discrete depressive symptoms on derailment.

Abstract Background Studies have consistently demonstrated a positive cross-sectional association between depressive symptoms and derailment, or the sense of being “off-course” in life. Still unknown is whether all symptoms of depression similarly relate to derailment. Given that depressive symptoms do not weigh equally in the prediction of other important outcomes, this study aimed to bridge the gap between these novel findings and emerging perspectives focused on the impact of individual depressive symptoms. Methods The study was preregistered prior to data collection. The analytic sample contained 1,457 adults (Mage = 37.46 years, 54.22% female) recruited from Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Participants self-reported on depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and perceived changes in identity and self-direction using the Derailment Scale. Results All symptoms of depression shared positive unadjusted associations with derailment. Feelings of failure, fatigue, and sleep problems shared positive unique associations with derailment, and represented the top three contributors to the explained variance in derailment. Limitations This study relied on self-report methods, making results vulnerable to bias (e.g., social desirability, errors in memory, interpretation). Conclusions As work understanding the association between depressive symptoms and derailment continues to unfold, this study has provided markers for researchers and clinicians by suggesting that those who feel like they have failed, are fatigued, or report sleep problems may be the most likely to feel off-course and disconnected from their past selves. This work helps establish the utility of considering identity within the context of mental health, and future directions stemming from these findings are discussed.
Proteomic analysis of the S. cerevisiae response to the anticancer ruthenium complex KP1019

Like platinum-based chemotherapeutics, the anticancer ruthenium complex indazolium trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(iii)], or KP1019, damages DNA, induces apoptosis, and causes tumor regression in animal models. Unlike platinum-based drugs, KP1019 showed no dose-limiting toxicity in a phase I clinical trial. Despite these advances, the mechanism(s) and target(s) of KP1019 remain unclear. For example, the drug may damage DNA directly or by causing oxidative stress. Likewise, KP1019 binds cytosolic proteins, suggesting DNA is not the sole target. Here we use the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model in a proteomic study of the cellular response to KP1019. Mapping protein level changes onto metabolic pathways revealed patterns consistent with elevated synthesis and/or cycling of the antioxidant glutathione, suggesting KP1019 induces oxidative stress. This result was supported by increased fluorescence of the redox-sensitive dye DCFH-DA and increased KP1019 sensitivity of yeast lacking Yap1, a master regulator of the oxidative stress response. In addition to oxidative and DNA stress, bioinformatic analysis revealed drug-dependent increases in proteins involved ribosome biogenesis, translation, and protein (re)folding. Consistent with proteotoxic effects, KP1019 increased expression of a heat-shock element (HSE) lacZ reporter. KP1019 pre-treatment also sensitized yeast to oxaliplatin, paralleling prior research showing that cancer cell lines with elevated levels of translation machinery are hypersensitive to oxaliplatin. Combined, these data suggest that one of KP1019's many targets may be protein metabolism, which opens up intriguing possibilities for combination therapy.
Raman imaging of metabolic activities in brain

Brain is a complex organ displaying cellular structural and functional heterogeneity. Understanding the dynamics of metabolism in brain with cellular resolution is essential to unraveling the mechanistic basis of many neuronal activities. Traditional imaging methods cannot provide metabolic activity information with high resolution in situ. We developed a new method that combines bioorthogonal labeling and Raman Scattering microscopy to visualize metabolic dynamics in brains. For example, the incorporation of deuterated glucose, or heavy water (D2O) into biomolecules will generate new carbon-deuterium (C-D) bonds in protein, lipids and nucleic acids in brain. We obtained new insights through high resolution imaging of whole brain, such as new protein and lipids synthesis in different brain regions during the developmental and aging processes. We demonstrate that this is an efficient methods for visualizing metabolic activities in brain.
Implications of a Sub-Threshold Resonance for Stellar Beryllium Depletion

Abundance measurements of the light elements lithium, beryllium, and boron are playing an increasingly important role in the study of stellar physics. Because these elements are easily destroyed in stars at temperatures 2--4 million K, the abundances in the surface convective zone are diagnostics of the star's internal workings. Standard stellar models cannot explain depletion patterns observed in low mass stars, and so are not accounting for all the relevant physical processes. These processes have important implications for stellar evolution and primordial lithium production in big bang nucleosynthesis. Because beryllium is destroyed at slightly higher temperatures than lithium, observations of both light elements can differentiate between the various proposed depletion mechanisms. Unfortunately, the reaction rate for the main destruction channel, 9Be(p,alpha)6Li, is uncertain. A level in the compound nucleus 10B is only 25.7 keV below the reaction's energetic threshold. The angular momentum and parity of this level are not well known; current estimates indicate that the resonance entrance channel is either s- or d-wave. We show that an s-wave resonance can easily increase the reaction rate by an order of magnitude at temperatures of approximately 4 million K. Observations of sub-solar mass stars can constrain the strength of the resonance, as can experimental measurements at lab energies lower than 30 keV.
Novel Route to Enhance the Solubility of Apatite, a Potential Nanofertilizer, through Structural Incorporation of Sodium and Potassium Ions

We investigated the selective incorporation of sodium and potassium, cations of highly soluble salts, in a hydroxyapatite nanoparticle (HANP) with the end goal to enhance the solubility. The indire...
Clinical trial emulation can identify new opportunities to enhance the regulation of drug safety in pregnancy.

From the perspective of most regulatory agencies, it is usually unethical to perform interventional clinical trials on pregnant people. While this policy recognizes the vulnerability of an expectant mother and unborn child, it has created a public health emergency for millions of pregnant patients through a dearth of robust safety data for many common drugs. To address this problem, we harnessed an enterprise collection of 2.8M electronic health records (EHRs) originally collected from routine primary care, leveraging the data linkage between mothers and their babies to create a surrogate for randomized, controlled drug trials in this population. To demonstrate the feasibility of our clinical trial emulation platform to stimulate new hypotheses for post-market drug surveillance, we identified 1,054 drugs historically prescribed to pregnant patients and developed a medication history-wide association study and follow-up evidence synthesis platform (leveraging expert clinician review and real-world data analysis) to test the effects of maternal exposure to these drugs on the incidence of neurodevelopmental defects in their children. Our results replicate known teratogenic risks and existing knowledge on drug structure-related teratogenic risks. Herein, we highlight 5 common drug classes that we believe warrant further assessment of their safety in pregnancy. We also discuss our efforts to develop a discovery-to-regulatory framework that could allow for pragmatic translation of our results to enhanced regulatory policy. Collectively, our work presents a simple approach to evaluating the utility of EHRs in guiding new regulatory review programs focused on improving the delicate equipoise of accuracy and ethics inherent to assessing drug safety in an extremely vulnerable patient population.
Detection of fungal infection in almond kernels using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are ubiquitous in natural environments and have the potential to produce aflatoxins that can cause both chronic and acute diseases in humans and animals. The near-infrared (800–2500 nm) reflectance spectra of almonds from the 2012 and 2013 harvest seasons inoculated with one selected isolate of either A. flavus or A. parasiticus were analysed to determine if the spectra could be used to distinguish infected almonds from uninfected control almonds. A canonical classifier was developed that could discriminate infected almonds from the uninfected control kernels with a total cross-validation error rate of 0.26% and zero false negative errors. Additionally, a follow-up canonical classifier was developed to evaluate the potential to discriminate between infections by the two Aspergillus species, once infection was detected. Spectral analysis indicated that the NIR wavebands associated with lipid content were the most indicative factors in both identifying the infected almonds as well as discriminating between almonds infected by the A. flavus or the A. parasiticus isolate. Further comparison of the canonical discriminant analysis results from the 2nd derivative spectra and the original spectra also suggested that the chemical differences caused by the fungal metabolism had a much greater contribution to the discriminant function than the structural changes caused by the fungal invasion. The wavelengths identified in this study could be helpful in developing non-destructive multispectral sensing systems to effectively scan and detect almonds with fungal infection.
Big Data Driven Natural Language Processing Research and Applications

Abstract Due to the inherent complexity of natural languages, many natural language tasks are ill-posed for mathematically precise algorithmic solutions. To circumvent this problem, statistical machine learning approaches are used for natural language processing (NLP) tasks. The emergence of Big Data enables a new paradigm for solving NLP problems—managing the complexity of the problem domain by harnessing the power of data for building high quality models. This chapter provides an introduction to various core NLP tasks and highlights their data-driven solutions. Second, a few representative NLP applications, which are built using the core NLP tasks as the underlying infrastructure, are described. Third, various sources of Big Data for NLP research are discussed. Fourth, Big Data driven NLP research and applications are outlined. Finally, the chapter concludes by indicating trends and future research directions.
Theorizing Digital Business Innovation: Platforms and Capabilities in Ecosystems

This paper focuses on how information and technology drive digital business innovation in business ecosystems where multiple co-contributors work together to innovate new business models. Specifically, we develop a framework based on two novel concepts — (1) digital business innovation (DBI) platforms; and (2) digital business innovation capability at the ecosystem level of analysis. First, we describe DBI platform through three properties — scale, scope and speed. Second, we describe DBI ecosystem capability using three dimensions — operational, dynamic and improvisational capabilities. The DBI platform and capabilities together give rise to business value that are created at the level of the ecosystem and shared by the various co-contributors. We generate a set of theoretical propositions by bringing the role of information and technology as drivers of value creation and capture in ecosystems. While extant research on IT and innovation has focused on the individual, organizational, and rarely at the inter-organizational level of analysis, this paper argues for the importance of innovation ecosystems, which are complex, interdependent, and constantly evolving. We support our conceptual framework and propositions with a case example of digital business innovations with digital technologies underway in the automotive sector. We conclude with a set of critical issues for further development of theory on DBI platforms and ecosystem capabilities that are disrupting and transforming firms, industries, and markets. Our belief is that IS research could make important contributions to the broader innovation literature by explicating how information and technology — individually and in tandem — give rise to business value co-created in ecosystems and shared by the various co-contributors in the ecosystem. Accordingly, we hope this paper will entice IS research to rethink digital business innovation at the level of the ecosystem.
A restriction enzyme from Hemophilus influenzae: II. Base sequence of the recognition site

Abstract Hemophilus influenzae strain Rd contains an enzyme, endonuolease R, which specifically degrades foreign DNA. With phage T7 DNA as substrate the endonuclease introduces a limited number (about 40) double-strand breaks (5′-phosphoryl, 3′-hydroxyl). The limit product has an average length of about 1000 nucleotide pairs and contains no single-strand breaks. We have explored the nucleotide sequences at the 5′-ends of the limit product by labeling the 5′- phosphoryl groups (using polynucleotide kinase) and characterizing the labeled fragments released by various nucleases. Two classes of 5′-terminal sequences were obtained: pApApCpNp … (60%) and pGpApCpNp … (40%), where N indicates that the base in the 4th position is not unique. The dinucleoside monophosphates at the 3′-ends were isolated after micrococcal nuclease digestion of the limit product and identified as TpT(60%) and TpC (40%). We conclude that endonuclease R of H. influenzae recognizes the following specific nucleotide sequence: 5′ … pGpTpPy ¦pPupApCp … 3′ 3′ … pCpApPup ¦PypTpGp … 5′ The implications of the twofold rotational symmetry of this sequence are discussed.
Resolution recommendation for event tickets in service management

In recent years, IT Service Providers have been rapidly transforming to an automated service delivery model. This is due to advances in technology and driven by the unrelenting market pressure to reduce cost and maintain quality. Tremendous progress has been made to date towards attainment of truly automated service delivery; that is, the ability to deliver the same service automatically using the same process with the same quality. However, automating Incident and Problem Management continuous to be a difficult problem, particularly due to the growing complexity of IT environments. Software monitoring systems are designed to actively collect and signal event occurrances and, when necessary, automatically generate incident tickets. Repeating events generate similar tickets, which in turn have a vast number of repeated problem resolutions likely to be found in earlier tickets. In this paper we find an appropriate resolution by making use of similarities between the events and previous resolutions of similar events. Traditional KNN (K Nearest Neighbor) algorithm has been used to recommend resolutions for incoming tickets. However, the effectiveness of recommendation heavily relies on the underlying similarity measure in KNN. In this paper, we significantly improve the similarity measure used in KNN by utilizing both the event and resolution information in historical tickets via a topic-level feature extraction using the LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation) model. In addition, when resolution categories are available, we propose to learn a more effective similarity measure using metric learning. Extensive empirical evaluations on three ticket data sets demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed methods.
Multivariable adaptive control

Adaptive control is a control methodology capable of dealing with uncertain systems to ensure desired control performance. This paper provides an overview of some fundamental theoretical aspects and technical issues of multivariable adaptive control, and a thorough presentation of various adaptive control schemes for multi-input-multi-output systems, literature reviews on adaptive control foundations and multivariable adaptive control methods, and related technical problems. It covers some basic concepts and issues such as certainty equivalence, stability, tracking, robustness, and parameter convergence. It discusses some of the most important topics of adaptive control: plant uncertainty parametrization, stable controller adaptation, and design conditions for different adaptive control schemes. The paper also presents a detailed study of well-developed multivariable model reference adaptive control theory and design techniques. It provides an introduction to multivariable adaptive pole placement and adaptive nonlinear control, and it concludes by identifying some open research problems.
Comunicar a mudança: a promessa da evolução humana

In the present age , human evolution no longer follows the same principal of biological evolution , resulting from the adaptation and survival of competitive species in nature in terms of random mutations . This transformation varies in terms of cultural innovations and moral determinations , the hallmark human species , the only one to subordinate their interests to other genetic issues deems most relevant . The pace of change has accelerated remarkably in the last millennium , especially after the Industrial Revolution, which converted the technological and cultural development into a global phenomenon , led by communication technologies , a factor of change that always led to technological developments , cultural and genetic .
Looking for Law in All the Wrong Places: Some Suggestions for Modeling Legal Decision-making

Many political scientists who study judicial politics are skeptical that law affects decisionmaking. Attitudinal and most strategic accounts of judging rarely consider how law might constrain actors. The so-called "legal model" many studies purport to refute is not a model at all. In this chapter we provide some guidance on how to model law by distinguishing between various types of law (constitutional, statutory, administrative, and common, as well as the public law/private law distinction), by considering differential expected effects of precedent and its channeling function, by recognizing the profound differences in the type of judge being studied, and noting the distinction between the outcome and the opinion. We conclude by explaining that political scientists have been looking for law in (mostly) all the wrong places.
The Effect of Soft Sub Grade on Train Ride Quality

Train ride quality plays an important role in train operation. In this paper, the aim is to explore the train ride quality when trains run on soft sub grade at different speeds especially critical conditions and operation safety on the sub grades with different properties. The responses of track and vehicle such as lateral wheel-rail force (L/V ratio), acceleration of vehicle are studied in this research. It is important to note that a critical condition is when train runs on soft sub grade. In this case, the critical speed effect will occur and resonance between vehicle and track could rise up the vibration level which could cause derailment and bad riding experience. In order to measure the track and vehicle responses, it should combine a detailed vehicle model and a track dynamic model. However, most commercial modeling programs do not have the ability to combine both detailed vehicle and track models. In this research, by integrating a computer program with a 2-D track model to a commercial vehicle dynamic program, the responses of vehicle and track can be calculated at the same time. Conclusions and findings will be illustrated in this paper.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
An Exploratory Study of Nurses' Presence in Daily Care on an Oncology Unit

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES. Explore the use of presence among nurses on an oncology unit. PARTICIPANTS. Five oncology nurses and 10 assigned patients. METHOD. Descriptive qualitative study using participant observation, individual and group interviews. FINDINGS. Presence was embedded in each nurse's individual manner and approach, in the structure and nature of morning care, and in the nature of the individual patient situation. Nurses' presence varied based on patient cues. There was a similarity and pattern to the ways that nurses were present, suggesting an overall process that included three major phases in which the nurse moved from presence, to partial presence, and then full presence. INTERPRETATION/IMPLICATIONS. Morning care is an opportunity for the emergence of different ways of being present with the patient. Developing patient-nurse trust and responsiveness to patient cues is critical to the emergence of full presence. The nurse needs to be aware of potential stressors, whether personal or organizationally based, that could detract from the energy needed to be present. Nurses can use presence as a way to provide emotional support to patients who are exposed to overwhelming threats to their mind, body, and spiritual integrity.
Hypertension in older urban Native-American primary care patients.

OBJECTIVES: To examine hypertension and its management in a population of older urban American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using medical record review. SETTING: Urban health clinic serving predominantly AI/ANs in the Pacific Northwest. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred twenty-four AI/ANs aged 50 and older seen between 1994 and 1995. MEASUREMENTS: Frequency of diagnosed hypertension, undiagnosed hypertension, comorbid conditions, hypertension treatment, control, and quality of care. RESULTS: The prevalence of diagnosed hypertension was 38%, and the prevalence of possible undiagnosed hypertension was 23%. Patients with diagnosed hypertension were more likely to be obese (age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.5), have diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 2.2), depression (OR = 1.7), heart disease (OR = 3.8), or renal disease (OR = 5.6) than patients without hypertension. Undiagnosed hypertension was inversely associated with number of health problems (OR = 0.8). Eighty-one percent of diagnosed patients were treated pharmacologically, but no factors associated with nontreatment were identified. Diuretic and beta-blocker usage was low. Patients with DM used angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors more frequently than patients without DM (OR = 2.4). Blood pressure was well controlled in 37%, with men being less well controlled than women (OR = 0.5). Serum cholesterol, creatinine, and retinal screening were performed more often than urinalyses or electrocardiograms. Lifestyle-modification counseling was uncommon. Number of health problems was the most common factor associated with screening tests for end-organ disease. CONCLUSION: Few studies have examined the care of older urban AI/ANs. Improvements are needed in adherence to recommendations for the detection, management, and monitoring of hypertension and its complications in older urban AI/ANs.
Microresonator-based mid-IR devices

High optical quality (high- Q ) whispering-gallery mode (WGM) microresonators are key enablers for numerous highperformance photonic devices, including ultrasensitive molecular detectors and advanced light sources such as narrowlinewidth lasers and comb generators. For sensing applications, the unique characteristics of such WGM devices appear to be particularly relevant in the mid-IR (MIR) spectral region because of the stronger molecular absorption bands in this spectral region. However, most current WGM-based passive and active devices function in the near-IR (NIR) spectral region. We propose the development of reproducible high- Q WGM microresonators for the MIR by using low phonon energy glasses (such as fluorides, chalcogenides, and tellurides) along with an elegant and reproducible microsphere fabrication technique based on the use of novel state-of-the-art microheaters. In this paper, we first review the current state-of-the-art of WGM MIR microresonators and related optoelectronic devices, and then present recent results of our work on fabrication and characterization of high- Q WGM optical microresonators with several fluoride (ZBLAN, InF 3 and AlF 3 ) glasses. Intrinsic quality factors in excess of ten million have been measured in the NIR regime in the fluoridebased microspheres fabricated in our lab with the proposed -- highly reliable and reproducible – microheater fabrication method, and similar or better performances are expected from similar microspheres at MIR wavelengths between 2 to 5 microns. We next discuss potential applications of these microresonators, notably for low-threshold and narrowlinewidth MIR lasers and MIR comb applications.
Nutritional Anemia in Rats Alleviated by Evaporated Milk and Iron

Summary 1. Evaporated milk supplemented by iron will cure the nutritional anemia produced by feeding raw milk to albino rats. 2. This action of evaporated milk is ascribed to its copper content.
Estimates of fat-free mass (FFM) by densitometry, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) in caucasian and Chinese-American women.

Abstract Estimates of fat-free mass (FFM) from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) were compared to results obtained by densitometry in a group of Caucasian and Chinese-American women. Each group included 38 women between the ages of 18 and 24 years. The Chinese-American women were significantly shorter in stature, had lower body weights, and lower values for FFM compared to the Caucasian women. DXA estimates the FFM were consistently lower than those obtained from densitometry; BIS estimates were similar to densitometry results.
Injection Therapy in the Management of Musculoskeletal Injuries: Hand and Wrist

Injections are valuable diagnostic and therapeutic nonoperative treatments for a myriad of painful conditions affecting the hand and wrist. Corticosteroid and analgesic preparations are frequently injected for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, stenosing tenosynovitis, tendinopathy, and ganglion cysts, as well as for radiocarpal and basilar joint arthrosis. Although upper extremity surgeons frequently perform injections as part of their daily practice, other clinicians may not be as familiar with the appropriate indications and proper techniques required for injection therapy in the hand and wrist. The purpose of this review is to briefly describe the clinical presentation and evaluation of common hand and wrist conditions most frequently amenable to injection therapy. Appropriate indications for injections will be presented along with a detailed description of proper injection technique.
High pressure phase transformation studies of Pd1-xMxSe2 (M=Ru,Co,Ni)

Abstract Members of the system Pd 1-x M x Se 2 (M=Ru,Co,Ni), prepared at ambient pressure, consisted of mixtures of PdSe 2 and pyrite phases. Compositions with x > 0.4 for Ru and x > 0.3 for Co and Ni, prepared at a pressure of 50 Kbars and 1000°C, gave a single phase region crystallizing with the pyrite structure.
The application of differential saturation to distinguish radial and angular modulation mechanisms of electron spin-lattice relaxation

Abstract A paramagnetic center interacting with matrix protons gives rise to proton spin-flip transitions which lead to satellite lines in the electron spin resonance spectra. The relative microwave power saturation behavior of allowed “main” transitions and “forbidden” satellite transitions has been examined in two systems: 63Cu-doped CaCd (OAc)4·6H2O single crystals and PO32− in γ-irradiated Na2HPO3·5H2O single crystals. The satellite and main lines saturate similarly in the 63Cu-doped acetate crystal but show a large difference in their saturation behavior in PO32−. Similarly, the (T1sat/T1main)apparent ratio from the saturation curves is 0.2 for the 63Cu-doped acetate but only 0.01 for PO32−. These differences can be explained semi-quantitatively by the differential saturation theory of Shimizu, and are related to different, dominant electron spin-lattice relaxation mechanisms. The 63Cu-doped acetate system appears to involve radial modulation of the spin-orbit coupling while PO32− appears to involve angular modulation of the electron nuclear dipolar coupling as the dominant contributions to electron spin-lattice relaxation.
Effects of tobacco smoke inhaltion on the tracheo-bronchial microflora of rats

The purpose of work was to study the effects of tobacco smoke on the airway flora in rats. A study on the regional distribution, total numbers and composition of the flora suggested the following: (a) Subacute smoke exposure intensified the penetration of the flora into deeper, normally sterile portions of the airways. (b) On smoking, the predominantly D. pneumoniae type flora of normal rats was found to shift to a form in which Hemophilus sp. was most frequent. (c) Exposure to low or high nicotine content cigarettes did not particularly modify these results.
Note on the dependence of Ac magnetic susceptibility on the magnitude of the measuring field

Ac measurements of susceptibility are analyzed to investigate the effect of a finite measuring field, the effect arising from the interplay of the spin-lattice relaxation time, and the measuring frequency. The analysis constitutes an attempt at rather more rigor than that of a recent discussion by Dawber, Finn, and Kiymac. The consequences for precision magnetic thermometry with cerous magnesium nitrate are summarized.
Diagnostic ultrasound of scrotum

Abstract Ultrasound is a proved, safe diagnostic procedure. Its efficacy in the evaluation of 54 cases of scrotal pathology is reviewed. Ultrasound was 100 per cent accurate in the evaluation of hydroceles, hematoceles, and paratesticular masses, but less informative in testicular abscesses (80%) and epididymo-orchids (77%).
A realization approach to stochastic model reduction

The problem of discrete-time stochastic model reduction (approximation) is considered. Using the canonical correlation analysis approach of Akaike (1975), a new order-reduction algorithm is developed. Furthermore, it is shown that the inverse of the reduced-order realization is asymptotically stable. Next, an explicit relationship between canonical variables and the linear least-squares estimate of the state vector is established. Using this, a more direct approach for order reduction is presented, and also a new design for reduced-order Kalman filters is developed. Finally, the uniqueness and symmetry properties for the new realization—the balanced stochastic realization—along with a simulation result, are presented.
Activity of Fragrance Materials Against Skin Resident Flora Responsible for the Axillary Odor

In order to discover the antimicrobial activity against skin resident microorganisms responsible for axillary odor, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of common fragrance materials were determined by agar plate dilution method.In this assay, Corynebacterium minutissimum (CM), Arthrobacter sp., (LT), Staphylococcus aureus (SA), Staphylococcus epidermidis var. (SE) and Escherichia coli (EC) were tested.Twelve musk chemicals were active against LT. Particularly, the MICs of ethylene brassylate and 5-α-androst-16-en-3-ol were both 12.5ppm. Also, nine sandal chemicals were active against CM, LT, and SA. Among them, the MICs of derivatives of camphorenic aldehyde were 50, 25 and 50ppm against CM, LT and SA respectively. But the MIC of its derivative against SE which dose not generate axillary odor was 2000ppm. Considering the fact that the MICs of fragrance materials ranged from 1000 to 2000ppm against common bacteria, musk and sandal chemicals are by far more effective against aerobic diphtheroids responsible for axillary odor.
Versatile protein engineering vectors for mutagenesis, expression and hybrid enzyme formation

We have developed a pair of plasmids that integrate and simplify the construction, characterization and expression of mutant genes. In this report we describe two novel ATG phagmid vectors, designated pFL260 and pFL261, based on the replicons from pMB1 and p15A respectively. We specifically illustrate the use of such plasmids to modify and express ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase encoded by the rbc gene from Rhodospirillum rubrum
Soft-Tissue sarcomas of the shoulder girdle: Factors influencing local recurrence, distant metastases, and survival

Background: Prognostic factors and the role of radiotherapy have not been well characterized for soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) of the shoulder girdle. Methods: The cases of 70 patients with primary shoulder STS were reviewed for the following information: size, grade and histology of tumors, extent of resection, and use of adjuvant radiotherapy. The influence of these factors on local disease-free survival (LDFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival (OS) rates was analyzed using univariate analysis. Results: With a median follow-up of 108 months, the overall 5- and 10-year survival rates for patients with shoulder girdle STS were 82% and 80%, respectively, whereas the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 63%. There were 25 (35%) tumor recurrences: 12 (17%) distant and 13 (18%) local regional. Tumors >5 cm in size were associated with a significantly decreased 5-year OS rate compared with lesions 5 cm in size. Conclusions: The results indicate that both tumor size and grade are important prognostic factors in shoulder girdle STS. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered in large tumors to improve the LDFS and to decrease the need for radical ablative surgery.
Arsenate-induced apoptosis in murine embryonic maxillary mesenchymal cells via mitochondrial-mediated oxidative injury.

BACKGROUND: Arsenic is a ubiquitous element that is a potential carcinogen and teratogen and can cause adverse developmental outcomes. Arsenic exerts its toxic effects through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that include hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide-derived hydroxyl ion, and peroxyl radicals. However, the molecular mechanisms by which arsenic induces cytotoxicity in murine embryonic maxillary mesenchymal (MEMM) cells are undefined. METHODS: MEMM cells in culture were treated with different concentrations of pentavalent sodium arsenate [As (V)] for 24 or 48 hr and various end points measured. RESULTS: Treatment of MEMM cells with the pentavalent form of inorganic arsenic resulted in caspase-mediated apoptosis, accompanied by generation of ROS and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Treatment with caspase inhibitors markedly blocked apoptosis. In addition, the free radical scavenger N-acetylcysteine dramatically attenuated arsenic-mediated ROS production and apoptosis, and exposure to arsenate increased Bax and decreased Bcl protein levels in MEMM cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings suggest that in MEMM cells arsenate-mediated oxidative injury acts as an early and upstream initiator of the cell death cascade, triggering cytotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, altered Bcl/Bax protein ratios, and activation of caspase-9. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Methods for measuring ethane and pentane in expired air from rats and humans.

Abstract Numerous studies in animals and humans provide evidence that ethane and pentane in expired air are useful markers of in vivo lipid peroxidation. The measurement of breath hydrocarbons, being noninvasive, is well suited for routine use in research and clinical settings. However, the lack of standardized methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing expired air has resulted in the use of a wide variety of different methods that have yielded highly disparate results among investigators. This review outlines the methods that we have developed and validated for measuring ethane and pentane in expired air from rats and humans. We describe the advantages of these methods, their performance, as well as potential errors that can be introduced during sample collection, concentration, and analysis. A main source of error involves contamination with ambient-air ethane and pentane, the concentrations of which are usually much greater and more variable than those in expired air. Thus, it appears that the effective removal of ambient-air hydrocarbons from the subject’s lungs before collection is an important step in standardizing the collection procedure. Also discussed is whether ethane or pentane is a better marker of in vivo lipid peroxidation.
The Use of Flow Cytometry in Diagnosis of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disease with complex pathophysiology, characterized by a global deficiency in glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in the affected cells. The name of the condition emphasizes the occurrence of complement-induced hemolysis due to lack of essential complement regulatory proteins in erythrocytes, particularly CD59. Over time, it became apparent that episodic exacerbations of chronic hemolytic anemia are not necessarily nocturnal, nor do they represent the main presenting symptom in all cases. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria can also manifest with thrombotic events and bone marrow failure, and distinguishing among different types of PNH is important for treatment and prognostic purposes.
The effect of bandpass limiting on noise with a Gaussian spectrum

The effect of limiting on the spectrum of Gaussian noise is computed where the noise has a Gaussian spectrum before limiting, and the output spectral density is plotted for various noise-to-limit level ratios. A decibel scale displays the spectral spreading due to limiting with an accuracy not available in previously published data. The results have application to radar and sonar signal processors which attempt to detect targets in clutter.
Expression and analysis of the rat placental class I cDNA clone encoding the Pa antigen.

The previously sequenced cDNA clone pARL 5 was recloned into the mammalian expression vector pcEXV3, and transient and permanent transfectants were prepared in COS7 green monkey kidney fibroblasts. The transfectants were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies raised in specifically selected rat strain combinations. These studies showed that pARI.5 encodes the Pa antigen and that the Pa molecule is distinct from the Aa molecule. Probes were derived from the pARL5 clone and used to study the genomic DNA from Pa-positive and Pa-negative strains. Two probes derived from the 3' untranslated region (3′apARI.5 and 3′bpARI.5) and one probe derived from the 5' region (5′pARI.5) hybridized nonspecifically in all strains under moderate stringency conditions. By contrast, anXba I restriction fragment unique to thePa gene was detected with the (5′pARI.5) probe under high stringency conditions. This probe hybridized with a 1.8 kilobase (kb) fragment in the Pa-positive strains and with a 1.7 kb band in the Pa-negative strains. These studies suggest that the gene encoding the Pa antigen, or a fragment thereof, is present in both Pa-positive and Panegative strains but may not be expressed in the latter.