cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transplacental induction of fatty acid oxidation in term fetal pigs by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha agonist clofibrate.

To induce peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) expression and increase milk fat utilization in pigs at birth, the effect of maternal feeding of the PPARα agonist, clofibrate (2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methyl-propanoic acid, ethyl ester), on fatty acid oxidation was examined at full-term delivery (0 h) and 24 h after delivery in this study. Each group of pigs (n = 10) was delivered from pregnant sows fed a commercial diet with or without 0.8% clofibrate for the last 7 d of gestation. Blood samples were collected from the utero-ovarian artery of the sows and the umbilical cords of the pigs as they were removed from the sows by C-section on day 113 of gestation. HPLC analysis identified that clofibric acid was present in the plasma of the clofibrate-fed sow (~4.2 μg/mL) and its offspring (~1.5 μg/mL). Furthermore, the maternal-fed clofibrate had no impact on the liver weight of the pigs at 0 h and 24 h, but hepatic fatty acid oxidation examined in fresh homogenates showed that clofibrate increased (P < 0.01) 14C-accumulation in CO2 and acid soluble products 2.9-fold from [1-14C]-oleic acid and 1.6-fold from [1-14C]-lignoceric acid respectively. Correspondingly, clofibrate increased fetal hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) activities by 36% and 42% over controls (P < 0.036). The mRNA abundance of CPT I was 20-fold higher in pigs exposed to clofibrate (P < 0.0001) but no differences were detected for ACO and PPARα mRNA between the two groups. These data demonstrate that dietary clofibrate is absorbed by the sow, crosses the placental membrane, and enters fetal circulation to induce hepatic fatty acid oxidation by increasing the CPT and ACO activities of the newborn.
Acidified Sprays, Pollinator Safety, and Integrated Pest Control on Alfalfa Grown for Seed

Ten out of 11 kinds of proprietary nutrient spray acidifiers reduced the pH of alkaline spray waters of eastern Washington from 7.7-7.9 to 3.1-6.6 at a dilution of 1:800, Acidification of trichlorfon sprays increased their effectiveness against Lygus bugs, Lygus hesperus Knight and L. elisus Van Duzee, by as much as 2 weeks of maintenance below levels for which control is recommended. Acidified trichlorfon sprays were not more hazardous to alfalfa leaf cutter bees, Megachile rotundata (F.); alkali bees, Nomia melanderi Cockerell; or beneficial predators. However, acidification markedly increased the hazard of trichlorfon to honey bees, Apis mellifera L., especially at buffer dilutions less than 1:800. Acidification did not change the highly toxic effect or carbofuran to honey bees. However, it increased the effectiveness against lygus bugs, and the aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), and Macrosiphum creelii Davis. Enhancement of the previously erratic performance of trichlorfon supports the development of an integrated control program for lygus bugs on alfalfa raised for seed, especially utilizing big-eyed bugs, Geocoris pallens Still and G. bullatus (Say), and damsel bugs, Nabis alternala Parshley, predators.
Seismic detection of fractures from injection illustrated through a field example

Detection of fractures using geophysical methods has proven elusive. A significant amount of theory has been developed over the years; however, convincing applications of the theory to field data have been scarce. In this article, we show a clear example of seismic amplitude changes resulting from controlled fracturing from injection at the Alpine Field in Alaska. We use the ability of time-lapse seismic (4D) data to remove the background geology so that the seismic amplitude changes caused by the creation of fracture systems are clearly exposed around injectors.
Intimacy Motivation and Subjective Mental Health in a Nationwide Sample

Over 1,200 adults in a representative nationwide sample were administered the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and an unstructured interview which produced 25 measures of subjective mental health and ultimately six factor scores: unhappiness, lack of gratification, strain, feelings of vulnerability, lack of self-confidence, and uncertainty. The TATs were scored for intimacy motivation (McAdams, 1980)--a recurrent preference or readiness for experiences of warm, close, and communicative interaction with others. Controlling for age, education, and their interaction, high intimacy motivation in women was associated with greater happiness and gratification, whereas in men it was associated with lack of strain and lack of uncertainty. Women high in intimacy motivation who were living alone reported lower levels of gratification and more uncertainty in their lives than other women. Intimacy motivation also declined significantly over the life span for women, but not for men. Finally, demographic effects on intimacy motivation were examined. Controlling for age, education, and their interaction, professional men (e.g., doctors, lawyers, and teachers) scored higher on intimacy motivation than did men in other occupational categories, while among women the occupational groups with highest intimacy motivation were service workers and craftspersons.
Rapid, modular and reliable construction of complex mammalian gene circuits

We developed a framework for quick and reliable construction of complex gene circuits for genetically engineering mammalian cells. Our hierarchical framework is based on a novel nucleotide addressing system for defining the position of each part in an overall circuit. With this framework, we demonstrate construction of synthetic gene circuits of up to 64 kb in size comprising 11 transcription units and 33 basic parts. We show robust gene expression control of multiple transcription units by small molecule inducers in human cells with transient transfection and stable chromosomal integration of these circuits. This framework enables development of complex gene circuits for engineering mammalian cells with unprecedented speed, reliability and scalability and should have broad applicability in a variety of areas including mammalian cell fermentation, cell fate reprogramming and cell-based assays.
Coupled-Resonator Optical Waveguides (CROWs) Based on Grating Resonators with Modulated Bandgap

We theoretically study CROWs based on modulated grating resonators. The defect sections between resonators control the coupling coefficients and frequency detuning. The transmission spectra of CROWs rely on a proper choice of the defect length.
Human genetics, natriuretic peptides and hypertension

Results We used a candidate gene association study of common variants across the NPPA-NPPB locus to identify genetic variants that influence atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) [1]. The minor alleles of three noncoding SNPs rs5068 (MAF 0.06), rs198358 (MAF 0.19) and rs632793 (MAF 0.38) were associated with higher ANP (+0.42 SD p=8x10-70; +0.20 p=8x10-30; +0.08 p=2x10-10, respectively) and higher BNP (+0.17 SD p=3x10-12, +0.18 p=9x10-25, +0.21 p=2x10-68) in 14,515 individuals of European ancestry. The alleles of rs5068 and rs198358 associated with higher ANP/BNP were associated with lower SBP (p=2x10-6, p=6x10-5, respectively) and lower DBP (p=1x10-6, p=5x10-5) as well as lower odds of HTN (OR 0.85 p=4x10-5, OR 0.90 p=2x10-4) in 29,717 individuals. The association of rs5068 was replicated in the Global BPgen GWAS [2]. Recently, Kato et al reported the association of a common variant downstream of NPR3 encoding the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor [3]. Murine NPR3 knockout is associated with lower BP, consistent with higher levels of circulating natriuretic peptides [4]. The minor allele of a SNP highly correlated to the BP NPR3 SNP has recently been reported to be associated with taller stature in humans [5], consistent with the effect of murine knockout [4] or apparent loss-of-function mutations [6] in NPR3.
Prognostic value of atrial pacing and thallium-201 scintigraphy in patients with stable chest pain

The value of atrial pacing and thallium-201 scintigraphy for assessing risk of subsequent cardiac events was examined in 210 patients with stable chest pain. Follow-up information was complete in 195 patients (mean age 61 years). Over an average follow-up of 19 months, cardiac events occurred in 38 patients--unstable angina in 20, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in 6 and death from cardiac causes in 12. A history of previous myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension or peripheral vascular disease at the time of pacing was not associated with an increased frequency of subsequent cardiac events. Six of 38 patients with later cardiac events had a history of congestive heart failure, compared with 8 of 157 without cardiac events (p less than 0.05). Neither pacing-induced angina, ST depression, nor the presence of a fixed perfusion defect was significantly more frequent in patients with cardiac events as a whole compared with patients without such events. Reversible defects and abnormal scans (reversible or fixed defects) were present, respectively, in 19 and 31 of 38 patients with cardiac events, compared with 42 and 79 patients, respectively, of the 157 patients without cardiac events (both p less than 0.01). In patients who developed unstable angina, a reversible defect was seen in 13 and an abnormal scan in 16 (both p less than 0.01 compared with patients without cardiac events). In 12 patients who died from a primary cardiac event, fixed defects were present in 8 and an abnormal scan in 11 (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively, compared with patients without cardiac events).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Heterochronic misexpression of Ascl1 in the Atoh7 retinal cell lineage blocks cell cycle exit

Retinal neurons and glia arise from a common progenitor pool in a temporal order, with retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) appearing first, and Muller glia last. The transcription factors Atoh7/Math5 and Ascl1/Mash1 represent divergent bHLH clades, and exhibit distinct spatial and temporal retinal expression patterns, with little overlap during early development. Here, we tested the ability of Ascl1 to change the fate of cells in the Atoh7 lineage when misexpressed from the Atoh7 locus, using an Ascl1-IRES-DsRed2 knock-in allele. In Atoh7Ascl1KI/+ and Atoh7Ascl1KI/Ascl1KI embryos, ectopic Ascl1 delayed cell cycle exit and differentiation, even in cells coexpressing Atoh7. The heterozygous retinas recovered, and eventually produced a normal complement of RGCs, while homozygous substitution of Ascl1 for Atoh7 did not promote postnatal retinal fates precociously, nor rescue Atoh7 mutant phenotypes. However, our analyses revealed two unexpected findings. First, ectopic Ascl1 disrupted cell cycle progression within the marked Atoh7 lineage, but also nonautonomously in other retinal cells. Second, the size of the Atoh7 retinal lineage was unaffected, supporting the idea of a compensatory shift of the non-proliferative cohort to maintain lineage size. Overall, we conclude that Ascl1 acts dominantly to block cell cycle exit, but is incapable of redirecting the fates of early RPCs.
Influence of insulation geometry on the current at microdisk electrodes

Abstract The chronoamperometric current at a microdisk electrode of radius a lying on top of a semi-infinite insulating cylinder of radius b is simulated using the hopscotch algorithm as a function of σ=a/b . The usual problem of a microdisk embedded in an infinite insulating plane is the special case σ =0. At short times the current is close to that obtained for σ =0 for all σ . At long times the current increases with increasing σ , becoming about 40% larger than the σ =0 result as σ →1. For σ =0.5 the current is identical to the σ =0 values up to t=a 2 /D , becoming nearly 10% larger at steady state. Thus, as long as the radius of the insulation is greater than twice the radius of the electrode, the infinite plane model is a useful approximation for analyzing experimental results.
Attractor dimension estimates for two-dimensional shear flows

Abstract We study the large time behavior of boundary and pressure-gradient driven incompressible fluid flows in elongated two-dimensional channels with emphasis on estimates for their degrees of freedom, i.e., the dimension of the attractor for the solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations. For boundary driven shear flows and flux driven channel flows we present upper bounds for the degrees of freedom of the form cα Re 3 2 where c is a universal constant, α denotes the aspect ratio of the channel (length/width), and Re is the Reynolds number based on the channel width and the imposed “outer” velocity scale. For fixed pressure gradient driven channel flows we obtain an upper bound of form c'α Re2, where c' is another universal positive constant and the Reynolds number is based on a velocity defined by the infimum, over all possible trajectories, of the time averaged mass flux per unit channel width. We discuss these results in terms of physical arguments based on small length scales in turbulent flows.
A Novel Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Regimen Induces a High Incidence of Sustained Donor-Derived Neutrophil and Platelet Engraftment after Double-Unit Cord Blood Transplantation

Abstract A preparative regimen of reduced intensity that can reliably engraft cord blood (CB) and can be used as an alternative to either high-dose myeloablative or nonmyeloablative conditioning is needed. We evaluated double-unit CB transplantation in 30 patients (median age, 56 years; range, 18 to 69) with acute leukemia or myelodysplasia using a regimen of cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg, fludarabine 150 mg/m2, thiotepa 10 mg/kg, and 400 cGy total body irradiation with cyclosporine-A/mycophenolate mofetil immunosuppression. Ninety-seven percent of patients engrafted at a median of 26 days (range, 13 to 43), and 93% of patients had recovered platelets by day 180. Grades II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) incidence was 67% at day 180, and chronic GVHD was 10% at 1 year. Transplant-related mortality was 20% at day 180, and relapse was 11% at 2 years. Overall, 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 60% at 2 years. A hierarchy in DFS was seen according to the Sorror comorbidity score: 11 patients (median age, 55 years) with a score of 1 had a 2-year DFS of 82% compared with 62% in 9 patients (median age, 51 years) with a score of 2 to 3 and 40% in 11 patients (median age, 58 years) with a score of 4 to 5 (P = .13). This reduced-intensity regimen combined with double-unit CB transplantation reliably facilitates sustained donor engraftment without antithymocyte globulin. Although other approaches are needed in patients with high comorbidity scores, this regimen is highly effective in patients ≥50 years old who are otherwise reasonably fit. It also represents a promising alternative to high-dose conditioning in younger patients.
Geometry of the space of triangulations of a compact manifold

In this paper we study the spaceT M of triangulations of an arbitrary compact manifoldM of dimension greater than or equal to four. This space can be endowed with the metric defined as the minimal number of bistellar operations required to transform one of two considered triangulations into the other. Recently, this space became and object of study in Quantum Gravity because it can be regarded as a “toy” discrete model of the space of Riemannian structures onM. Our main result can be informally explained as follows: LetM be either any compact manifold of dimension greater than four or any compact four-dimensional manifold from a certain class described in the paper. We prove that for a certain constantC>1 depending only on the dimension ofM and for all sufficiently largeN the subsetT M(N) ofT M formed by all triangulations ofM with ≦N simplices can be represented as the union of at least [C N] disjoint non-empty subsets such that any two of these subsets are “very far” from each other in the metric ofT M. As a corollary, we show that for any functional from a very wide class of functionals onT M the number of its “deep” local minima inT M(N) grows at least exponentially withN, whenN→∞.
Effect of temperature on sperm quality of captive Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock

Effect of temperature on reproductive quality of captive male Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock was investigated by measuring sperm count and percentage of abnormal sperm per compound spermatophore. Variability in these responses among and within experimental units also was evaluated. Male shrimp with an initial average weight of 48.0 g were maintained in 3.7-m diameter circular tanks with recirculating seawater, and exposed to constant temperatures of 26°C, 29°C, and 32°C for 42 days. Significantly higher mean sperm count (18.6 million cells) and lower percentage of sperm abnormalities (36.7%) were observed in shrimp held at 26°C, as compared to broodstock at 29°C (mean sperm count=0.1 million cells; percentage of sperm abnormalities=99.7%) or 32°C (no sperm cells) (P<0.05). Results indicate that adequate sperm count and percentage of abnormal sperm of L. vannamei broodstock can be maintained at water temperature of 26°C, but not at 29°C or 32°C, at least within the time span of 42 days. The importance of treatment replication and sampling sufficient numbers of shrimp from culture tanks in experiments concerning male reproductive quality is discussed.
Reversed Phase Ion-Pair Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Nicotine in Commercial Tobacco Products. 2. Cigarettes

A reversed phase ion-pair liquid chromatographic method for the determination of nicotine in commercial tobacco products was previously developed and optimized (Ciolino, L. A.; Turner, J. A.; McCauley, H. A.; Smallwood, A. W.; Yi, T. Y. J. Chromatogr. 1999a, 852 (2), 451-463) and provided reliable results for the determination of nicotine in commercial moist snuff (Ciolino, L. A.; McCauley, H. A.; Fraser, D. B.; Barnett, D. Y.; Yi, T. Y.; Turner, J. A. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1999b, 47, 3706-3712). The method uses an aqueous-based sample extraction and provides rapid separation of nicotine from the minor tobacco alkaloids and other commercial tobacco components. In the present work, the method is evaluated for the determination of nicotine in commercial cigarettes and compared to both an official AOAC method for total alkaloids in tobacco (AOAC, AOAC Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, 16th ed.; AOAC International: Gaithersburg, MD, 1995; pp 30-31), and a published GC method (Lyerly, L. A.; Greene, G. H. Beitr. Tabakforsch. 1976, 8 (6), 359-361). Good agreement was obtained between the ion-pair LC method and the GC method with relative differences in determined nicotine contents of 0.6 to 5% for a series of commercial and reference cigarettes.
Avulsion fractures of the pediatric knee

Although avulsion fractures of the pediatric knee are uncommon, they are important injuries to recognize because they are frequently associated with adjacent soft-tissue and osteocartilaginous abnormalities. Related injuries, which include entrapment of soft-tissue structures, intra-articular fracture extension, and intra-articular loose bodies, can complicate or alter therapy. The most commonly affected soft-tissue structures include the cruciate ligaments, collateral ligaments and supporting tendons, and extensor mechanism and retinacula. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to review avulsion fractures of the pediatric knee and to highlight associated injuries.
Alterations in steroid and gonadotropin release resulting from surgical stress during the morning of proestrus in 5-day cyclic rats.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether surgical stress on the morning of proestrus would elicit an early release of gonadotropin from the pituitary. Animals exhibiting 5-day estrous cycles underwent bilateral sham-ovariectomy under ether anesthesia at 0800 h of proestrus. These animals had high levels of progesterone and estradiol following the surgery. These steroids were thought to be adrenal in origin, since animals adrenalectomized at 0800 h of proestrus had low progesterone levels and estradiol comparable to unoperated controls. Subsequently, the shamoperated animals showed high FSH but not LH values at 1300 h, prior to the normal critical period for gonadotropin release. By 1400, the LH surge had begun, and progesterone was again being released. Adrenalectomized and unoperated controls showed no increase in any steroid or gonadotropin measured before 1400 h. These findings suggest that stress-induced release of adrenal estradiol and progesterone, rather than some other consequence o...
Light chain amyloidosis circa 2010: six prognostic markers and one sobering reality.

The amyloidoses are a spectrum of disorders characterized by tissue deposition of various types of misfolded proteins. In light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, the most common subtype in the West, the culprit protein is the immunoglobulin light chain (either k or l), produced by a proliferating clone of plasma cells. Amyloid deposition in the heart, kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract, and peripheral nerves may lead to organ failure. Cardiac involvement with the AL subtype may have more grave functional manifestations compared with other types. This is attributed to direct toxicity of the circulating immunoglobulin light chains and/or microvascular myocardial ischemia caused by the perivascular amyloid deposits. Untreated, median survival is 12 months overall, 4 months if the patient has heart failure. There is no available treatment to reverse myocardial infiltration. Current treatment strategies aim to stop excessive production of light chains by suppressing neoplastic plasma cells. The most aggressive of these is high-dose chemotherapy, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, an option associated with high treatment-related mortality in the sickest patients but ironically one that provides the best long-term results in those who can tolerate it. In light of the high mortality associated with this disease, knowing which clinical, laboratory, and imaging markers identify high-risk patients is critical. Advanced heart failure is consistently the most important prognostic marker. Other variables found to be independently predictive of survival include hepatomegaly, concomitant multiple myeloma, elevated alkaline phosphatase, troponin T > 0.035 mg/L, troponin I > 0.1 mg/L, N-terminal pro– brain natriuretic peptide > 332 ng/L, and circulating free light chains > 152 mg/L. In echocardiography, we have moved away from looking for the classic granular sparkling appearance of the myocardium because of the subjectivity of this finding as well as the advent of harmonic imaging, which may make even normal myocardium attain a sparkling appearance. The common findings of cardiac involvement include ventricular thickening, reduced cavity size, presence of diastolic dysfunction usually (but not always) with preserved systolic function, and concomitant pericardial effusion. More recently, advances in strain and 3-dimensional echocardiography have demonstrated abnormalities in myocardial strain and synchrony.
Chlorine promotion of styrene epoxidation on Au(111).

For the first time, we show that chlorine has a dramatic effect on the selectivity for olefin epoxidation promoted by Au. Chlorine coadsorbed with oxygen on Au(111) inhibits combustion, formation of organic acids, and deposition of residual carbon. The temperature required for formation of styrene oxide is also lowered relative to O-covered Au(111), indicating faster kinetics for epoxidation. This work provides strong evidence that chlorine would be an effective promoter for enhancing the performance of Au-based selective oxidation catalysts.
Frequency of Dopamine Concentration Transients Increases in Dorsal and Ventral Striatum of Male Rats during Introduction of Conspecifics

Transient, elevated concentrations of extracellular dopamine were characterized in the dorsal and ventral striatum of male rats during solitude, brief interaction with a conspecific, and copulation. Conspecific rats were systematically presented to male rats and allowed to interact for 30 sec; the males were kept in solitude between each presentation. During these episodes, 125 dopamine concentration transients from 17 rats were detected with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes (peak amplitude, 210 +/- 10 nm; duration, 530 +/- 20 msec). The frequency of dopamine transients increased sixfold during conspecific episodes compared with solitude. However, the phasic dopamine activity habituated on the second presentation of the conspecifics. When males were allowed to copulate with receptive females, additional dopamine transients were observed at frequencies approximately 20% of those during the previous interaction episodes. A subset of these transients immediately preceded intromission. Overall, phasic dopamine activity appeared to be associated with input from multiple sensory modalities and was followed by a variety of approach and appetitive behaviors, consistent with electrophysiological observations of dopaminergic neuron burst-firing. In summary, (1) dopamine concentration transients occur in awake rats during solitude, in the absence of overt external cues; (2) dopamine transients are significantly more frequent in the presence of a conspecific, although this effect habituates; and (3) dopamine transients are less frequent during copulation than during brief conspecific episodes. These results establish for the first time that transient dopamine fluctuations occur throughout the dorsal and ventral striatum and demonstrate that they are more frequent with salient stimuli that elicit a response behavior.
High performance compact antenna for HF radar

This paper summarizes the results of an ongoing design effort to miniaturize HF antennas for HFSWR and OTHR systems. The proposed design is based on a meander antenna described in [1]. Design modifications include a multi-element folding to increase the radiation efficiency and improve the impedance matching and also the incorporation of a back conducting plane reflector to improve the gain. Based on simulation results using the FEKO and IE3D software and experimental measurements, we were able to successfully demonstrate the anticipated advantages of the proposed prototype design.
Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by tissue damage and loss of function due to an immune response that is directed against specific organs. This review is focused on the role of impaired intestinal barrier function on autoimmune pathogenesis. Together with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and the neuroendocrine network, the intestinal epithelial barrier, with its intercellular tight junctions, controls the equilibrium between tolerance and immunity to non-self antigens. Zonulin is the only physiologic modulator of intercellular tight junctions described so far that is involved in trafficking of macromolecules and, therefore, in tolerance/immune response balance. When the zonulin pathway is deregulated in genetically susceptible individuals, autoimmune disorders can occur. This new paradigm subverts traditional theories underlying the development of these diseases and suggests that these processes can be arrested if the interplay between genes and environmental triggers is prevented by re-establishing the zonulin-dependent intestinal barrier function. Both animal models and recent clinical evidence support this new paradigm and provide the rationale for innovative approaches to prevent and treat autoimmune diseases.
Local and National Impacts from Landing North Sea Gas in Western Norway

A simple framework is presented for the analysis of the local employment, income, sales, and local government impacts of landing North Sea gas at either of two Norwegian kommunes (municipalities). These impacts indicate the different forms of economic change arising from a major economic development event. The average annual net change in these economic measures is estimated for the operational phase of a gas terminal. The analysis indicated substantial differences in local and regional net gains. Both sites yielded positive net economic gains, which means noneconomic and national considerations become key decision determinates. These national issues provide the setting to judge the local/regional net gains. The unresolved questions include the national benefits and costs of the landing decision given the small scale of the Norwegian economy, potential future gas finds, and a fully employed economy.
HER2 testing in gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma: new diagnostic challenges arising from new therapeutic options

Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and stomach constitute a substantial number of cancer cases worldwide. Most patients in the United States are diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage and, therefore, the prognoses have been poor. New treatments are needed to augment standard surgical and medical management. Recent studies have shown that a subset of esophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas overexpress the HER2 protein, similar to the overexpression seen in breast cancer. Because trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody to the HER2 receptor, has been used with success in primary and HER2 positive metastatic breast cancers, the phase III ToGA trial was designed to assess the impact of trastuzumab in patients with HER2 positive gastric cancers. They have reported an increase in overall survival time for patients treated with chemotherapy and trastuzumab compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone. They have reported an increase in overall survival time for patients treated with chemotherapy and trastuzumab compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone. This means that accurate HER2 testing in gastric and esophageal carcinomas is necessary. While the breast cancer scoring system can be used to determine HER2 status in most cases, modifications are necessary to accommodate the heterogeneity and incomplete membrane staining that are observed more frequently in gastric cancers. An understanding of the scoring modifications is required for proper stratification of gastric cancer patients for treatment.
Product quality alignment and business unit performance

Abstract Over the past decade, new strategic approaches to the management of product quality have become prime drivers of product and process innovation and change in many firms. However, many firm’s product quality improvement efforts have failed to deliver anticipated business performance benefits. Implementation problems are generally viewed as significant factors in explaining such failures. Further, the literature suggests that firms’ views of product quality are often very different from those of their customers. However, to date this issue has received little empirical attention. The objective of this research was to examine the causes and performance outcomes of product quality alignment - differences between firms’ views of the product quality they deliver and customer views of the product quality delivered to them. We conducted exploratory interviews with quality and marketing managers aimed at developing a grounded understanding of the nature, antecedents and consequences of product quality alignment. These fieldwork insights were combined with the existing literature to delineate the central product quality alignment construct and develop specific hypotheses concerning the antecedents and performance consequences of product quality alignment at the SBU-level. Using data from a mail survey of multiple key informants (general managers, quality managers and marketing managers), we tested hypothesized relationships using a structural equation model methodology. Our quantitative findings provide empirical evidence that product quality alignment positively affects business unit performance. Our data also suggest that the degree to which quality goals spanning customer-focused and internally-oriented criteria influence decision-making and actions taken is positively associated with product quality alignment. Further, our data indicate that while the use of marketing tools in developing and executing product quality improvement efforts is positively associated with product quality alignment, no such association is observed with more commonly recommended TQM tools. Our results also suggest that effective interfunctional interactions between quality and marketing functions (higher levels of interfunctional connectedness and lower levels of interfunctional conflict) are positively associated with product quality alignment. Overall, our results suggest that product quality alignment is an important concept in understanding product quality improvement-performance linkages at the SBU level and that minimizing mis-alignment may be an appropriate focus for management attention.
Sequence specificity for DNA binding by Escherichia coli SoxS and Rob proteins

Summary SoxS is a transcriptional activator of oxidative stress genes in Escherichia coli. SoxS in vitro binds the promoters of soxRS-regulated genes such as micF, zwf, nfo and sodA, forms multiple protein-DNA complexes, and recruits RNA polymerase to the promoters. E. coli Rob protein, with an N-terminus 55% identical to SoxS, was initially identified by its binding to the oriC replication origin, but Rob in vitro binds some of the same promoters as SoxS and in vivo activates some SoxS-regulated genes. In this work we show that the multiple complexes with SoxS arise from the presence at least two independent binding sites in each of the micF and zwf promoters. SoxS and Rob each form only a single complex with a 20 bp DNA oligonucleotide corresponding to the region immediately upstream of the -35 element of the micF promoter. Methylation interference identified several conserved purine residues required for binding to micF and five other SoxS-binding sites. Together with binding studies using mutated oligonucleotides and published DNase I footprinting data, this information was used to form a consensus for SoxS sequence specificity: AN2GCAYN7CWA (where N is any base, Y is a pyrimi-dine, and W is A or T). The sequence requirements for Rob binding differed somewhat from those of SoxS. Using the SoxS-binding consensus, several genes potentially regulated by soxRS were identified in an E. coli genomic database; some of these genes have functions that might contribute to cellular resistance to oxidative stress.
Survey of the Effectiveness of Internet Information on Patient Education for Bone Morphogenetic Protein.

Objective In light of recent reports of potential short- and long-term complications of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and increasing “off-label” use among spine surgeons, we wished to analyze online information on BMP and its controversial uses, as patients frequently search the Internet for medical information, even though the quality and accuracy of available information are highly variable. Methods Between December 2014 and January 2015, we conducted a Google search to identify the 50 most accessed websites providing BMP information using the search phrase “bone morphogenetic protein.” Websites were classified based on authorship. Each website was examined for the provision of appropriate patient inclusion and exclusion criteria, surgical and nonsurgical treatment alternatives, purported benefits, disclosure of common and potential complications, peer-reviewed literature citations, and discussion of off-label use. Results Two percent of websites were authored by private medical groups, 2% by academic medical groups, 10% by insurance companies, 16% by biomedical industries, 4% by news sources, 0% by lawyers, and 66% by others. Sixty-two percent referenced peer-reviewed literature. Benefits and complications were reported in 44% and 26% of websites, respectively. Surgical and nonsurgical treatment alternatives were mentioned in 16% and 4% of websites, respectively. Discussion of off-label BMP use occurred in 18% of websites. Conclusions Our study showed the ineffectiveness of the Internet in reporting quality information on BMP use. We found that websites authored by insurance companies provide an acceptable foundation for patient education. This, however, cannot replace the need for a thorough dialogue between doctor and patient about risks, benefits, and indications.
Seizing an Opportunity for the Endocannabinoid System

Exogenous cannabinoids can limit seizures and neurodegeneration, and their actions are largely mimicked by endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids). Endocannabinoids are mobilized by epileptiform activity and in turn influence this activity by inhibiting synaptic transmission; both excitatory and some inhibitory synapses can be suppressed, leading to potentially complex outcomes. Moreover, the endocannabinoid system is not a fixed entity, and its strength can be enhanced or reduced. Endocannabinoids and their receptors are altered by epileptic seizures in ways that can reduce the efficacy of both exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids in sometimes unexpected ways.
Critical linkage of imperiled species: Gulf Sturgeon as host for Purple Bankclimber mussels

AbstractOne of the largest impediments to the conservation of freshwater mussels is the absence of host-fish data. Suitable hosts must be present in sufficient numbers and occur at the appropriate time for successful mussel recruitment. Habitat degradation and fragmentation caused by dams and other anthropogenic alterations may reduce host availability. Host data are lacking for the federally threatened Purple Bankclimber mussel (Elliptoideus sloatianus), which is endemic to the Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint basin (ACF) in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, and the Ochlockonee basin in Florida and Georgia. We tested 29 fish species in 7 families as potential hosts for Purple Bankclimbers and observed high metamorphosis success (79–89%) with 4 species of sturgeon: Gulf (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi), Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), Lake (Acipenser fulvescens), and Shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum). Metamorphosis was less successful with Blackbanded Darters (Percina nigrofasciata) and Halloween ...
FAMILY, ACQUAINTANCE, AND STRANGER HOMICIDE: ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR RATE CALCULATIONS*

This paper describes the extent of missing data within the Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR), collected as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the FBI. The yearly SHR provides coded information on the victim, the offender, and the circumstances of all reported homicides in the United States. Thus, the data allow the computation of specific kinds of homicide rates, such as those involving family members, acquaintances, and strangers. However, missing data within reported events, primarily on offender characteristics and thus the victim/offender relationship, present a serious obstacle to the accurate calculation of such rates. The authors propose computational procedures designed to compensate for missing data and empirically evaluate the impact of these procedures on comparative analyses of homicide rates for cities, metropolitan areas, and states.
Biodegradation of Azotobacter vinelandii exopolymer by Lake Superior microbes

Exopolymer and cells from Azotobacter vinelandii, a soil bacterium, and cells of Scenedesmus bijugatus, a eucaryotic alga, were radiolabcled to experimentally measure their mineralization by hypolimnetic microbes from Lake Superior during July and August 1992. Rates of mineralization were calculated from measurements of microbially respired 14C0, released in respiration bottles during 14-22-d incubations. Hypolimnetic microbes mineralized the exopolymer from A. vinelandii (0.32-0.36% d-l) about twice as fast as they mineralized S. bijugatus cells (0.16-0.20% d-l). A. vinelandii cells were mineralized 5 times faster than S. bijugatus cells were mineralized. Bacterial growth efficiencies for these substrates were estimated at the end of the experiments by dividing the cumulative amounts of bacterial biomass produced by the mass of substrate that was utilized in the different respiration bottles. Although the Azotobacter cells were rapidly mineralized, they were a poor substrate for producing new bacterioplankton biomass. Hypolimnetic bacterioplankton were more efficient at converting S. bijugatus into new biomass (growth efficiency = 18-30%) than at converting either the A. vinelandii cells or exopolymer (2% and 8-10% growth efficiencies, respectively). Decaying bacterioplankton blooms may be rapidly mineralized in the upper hypolimnion of Lake Superior, based on the results from the model bacterium (A. vinelandii). Conversely, exopolymers or phytoplankton from the epilimnion may support heterotrophic bacterial production throughout the water column and limit bacterioplankton growth during periods when small amounts of these substrates are produced. Autochthonous production is the major source of organic matter in the oceans and the Laurentian Great Lakes (Fcnchel and Jorgensen 1977; Munawar and Munawar 1986; Scavia and Laird 198 7), except in nearshore areas where allochthonous inputs may predominate (Kemp et al. 1978). Phytoplankton provide a rich source of particulate detritus that can be utilized by aquatic microbes (Cole ct al. 1988). Extraccllular polymers produced by many organisms, however, have adsorptive properties that are ideal for concentrating and sequestering nutrients (Kaplan et al. 1987; Decho 1990; Biddanda and Riemann 1992). These properties may be important to the dynamics of the detrital food web because rarely in natural aquatic environments are nutrient concentrations sufficient to support maximal growth rates of the microbial flora (Logan and Hunt 1987).
Modeling environmental mobility and its effect on network protocol stack

In this paper we address the effects of environmental mobility, that is, the ambient motion of entities like people and vehicles in the vicinity of wireless communication, on the channel characteristics and wireless network performance. We present a three step process of measurements, modeling and network simulations to quantify the significance of environmental mobility. Our field experiments show that presence of people not only cause deep fades but also distorts the fading distribution. We model the shadowing loss by three knife-edge diffraction model and propose a two-state Markov process channel fading behavior. The models are validated against measurement data and implemented in a network simulator. The models are scalable and incur execution overhead less than 15%. We also show the impact of environment mobility on protocol performance by means of two simulation case studies. We show that MAC layer data rate adaptation behavior is sensitive to environmental mobility and can result in 40% packets being delivered at lower rates. Second study on ad-hoc network performance show the throughput is decreased by 20%. We have identified that with environmental mobility the links are more sensitive to interference and the routes are less stable
Amphetamine Blocks Long-Term Synaptic Depression in the Ventral Tegmental Area

The mesolimbic dopamine system is essential for reward-seeking behavior, and drugs of abuse are thought to usurp the normal functioning of this pathway. A growing body of evidence suggests that glutamatergic synapses on dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are modified during exposure to addictive drugs, producing sensitization, a progressive augmentation in the rewarding properties of psychostimulant drugs with repeated exposure. We have tested the hypothesis that psychostimulant exposure interferes with the synaptic plasticity of glutamatergic inputs to the VTA. We find that excitatory synapses onto VTA dopamine neurons exhibit long-term depression (LTD) in response to low-frequency stimulation and modest depolarization. LTD in the VTA is NMDA receptor-independent but is dependent on intracellular Ca(2+) and can be induced by driving Ca(2+) into the dopamine neuron. Brief exposure to amphetamine entirely blocks LTD at glutamatergic synapses in the VTA, by releasing endogenous dopamine that acts at D2 dopamine receptors. The block of LTD is selective, because amphetamine has no effect on hippocampal LTD. The LTD we have discovered in the VTA is likely to be an important component of excitatory control of the reward pathway; amphetamine will inhibit LTD, removing this normal brake on the glutamatergic drive to dopamine neurons. This effect of amphetamine represents an important mechanism by which normal function of the brain reward system may be impaired during substance abuse.
InAs/AlSb HEMT and Its Application to Ultra-Low-Power Wideband High-Gain Low-Noise Amplifiers

Two antimonide-based compound semiconductor (ABCS) microstrip monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), i.e., single- and three-stage ultra-low-power wideband 0.3-11-GHz low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) using 0.1-mum gate-length InAs/AlSb metamorphic high electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), have been fabricated and characterized on a GaAs substrate. The single-stage wideband LNA demonstrated a typical associated gain of 16 dB (0.3-11 GHz) with less than a 1.7-dB noise figure (2-11 GHz) at 5-mW dc power dissipation, and the three-stage wideband LNA demonstrated a typical associated gain of 30 dB (0.3-11 GHz) with less than a 2.6-dB noise figure (2-11 GHz) at 7.5-mW dc power dissipation. We believe these wideband LNA MMICs demonstrate the lowest dc power consumption with the highest gain-bandwidth product of any MMIC to date. These results demonstrate the outstanding potential of ABCS HEMT technology for ultra-low-power wideband applications
Usefulness of the Rorschach Inkblot Test in Assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The Rorschach inkblot test is commonly used in the psychological evaluation of children. Yet there is little information about the Rorschach performance of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The responses of 24 children rigorously diagnosed with ADHD were scored using the Exner system and compared with normative data. Given their greater impulsivity, poor attention span, and increased responsivity to external stimuli, we predicted that, when compared to norms, the ADHD group would have more color dominant responses (CF), a lower FC:CF + C ratio, fewer human movement responses (M), lower sumM:WsumC and sumM + WsumC ratios, poorer form quality (X-%), and would have the same number of or more detail (D) responses. The results yielded support only for those hypotheses concerning M, X-%, and sumM:WsumC. Comparisons between small subgroups with and without ODD suggested differences in the frequency of Human but not Aggressive responses. Possible reasons for the discrepancies from predictions are discussed.
γ-Secretase and Human Disease

The suspected culprit in Alzheimer's disease has been γ-secretase, an enzyme that cleaves type 1 transmembrane proteins. It processes amyloid precursor protein (APP), generating the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides that give rise to the characteristic brain plaques of Alzheimer's disease patients. Presenilin is the presumptive catalytic subunit of γ-secretase, and mutations in the PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes that encode this subunit are the most common cause of familial Alzheimer's disease. On page 1065 of this issue, Wang et al. ( 1 ) report that mutations in PSEN1 are also associated with a severe skin disorder, acne inversa. Mutations in genes encoding two other subunits of γ-secretase are also linked to this severe skin condition. The finding raises questions about the function of γ-secretase in human diseases, with implications for the development of therapeutics.