cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Angioplasty for Renal Artery Stenosis in Pediatric Patients: An 11-year Retrospective Experience

Purpose Studies of long-term percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) results have been less extensive in children than in adults. The authors sought to evaluate the outcomes of PTA for pediatric renovascular hypertension. Materials and Methods The authors retrospectively evaluated 19 hypertensive children (ages 2–18 years) who underwent renal PTA from 1997–2009. Angiograms were reviewed in consensus to characterize lesions. This information was correlated with data from chart review to determine clinical outcomes. Results Seven patients had neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), and 12 had fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD); one was lost to follow-up. Technical success was achieved in 29 of 32 lesions (91%). Cure of hypertension was achieved in seven of 18 patients (39%) and improvement in three (17%). There was a failed hypertension response in eight (44%): two with refractory stenosis, four with recurrent stenosis, and two with no response despite technical success. PTA was repeated in five children, all with failed response. Cure or improvement was seen in five of seven patients with NF1 and five of 11 with FMD. Most (nine of ten) patients with cure/improvement had single lesions or discrete lesions ≤ 10 mm. Residual stenosis P = .0395). Three of five with bilateral and two of two with intraparenchymal disease demonstrated failure. The percentage of initial stenosis and presence of ostial lesions, aneurysms, or collaterals were not predictive of clinical response to PTA ( P > .05). Cutting balloons were used after failure to efface with conventional balloons in seven patients and was successful in five of seven. Conclusions Despite a high rate of technical success, PTA provided a clinical benefit in a smaller majority of children. This study characterizes the utility of pediatric renal angioplasty and suggests criteria that may be prognostic of patient response.
A study of nonlinear systems with random inputs

IT IS THE PURPOSE of this paper to present the results of investigating the probability distribution of the response of a nonlinear system when it is subjected to a Gaussian random input. The mathematical theory of a Markoff random process is used; the associated Fokker-Planck equation for a generalized continuous nonlinear system is presented. The justification for assuming the error response of a nonlinear control system as being a Markoff process is discussed.
Freundlich and langmuir isotherms as models for the adsorption of toxicants on activated charcoal

The Langmuir isotherm has been widely used to characterize the adsorption of solutes from aqueous solutions. Activated charcoal adsorption data obtained experimentally, using a wide range of adsorbate concentrations, fit the Langmuir isotherm poorly but evidence a good fit to the Freundlich isotherm. Statistical analysis reveals this to be also true of published data that was previously considered to adhere to the Langmuir isotherm. Over the range of possible adsorbate concentrations, the two isotherms predict rather different adsorption behavior. Of the two, the Freundlich isotherm is able to more fully account for observed antidotal effectiveness of activated charcoal in vivo. A method of graphical analysis is advanced that more readily distinguishes the relative goodness-of-fit of the two isotherms. This and the statistical paradigm employed to decide between the two competing hypotheses should allow the adsorption phenomena involving other adsorbents to be re-examined.
39.1: Invited Paper: Fabrication of Antireflection Coatings for Displays

Antireflection and antifogging coatings were fabricated on polycarbonate substrates using the layer-by-layer self-assembly of polyelectrolytes and silica nanoparticles. Antireflective coatings were also built on glass substrates by alternating spraying polyelectrolyte and silica nanoparticle solutions. The transmittance of the sample with both sides coated using the dipping method is above 99 % while the coating built through spraying can reduce the one side reflection from 4% to 1%. Such technology provides a simple approach to fabricate antireflection coatings on displays.
A reanalysis of a longitudinal scleroderma clinical trial using non-ignorable missingness models

When analyzing incomplete longitudinal clinical trial data, it is often inappropriate to assume that the occurrence of missingness is at random, especially in cases where visits are entirely missed. We present a framework that simultaneously models multivariate incomplete longitudinal data and a non-ignorable missingness mechanism using a Bayesian approach. A criterion measure is presented for comparing models. We demonstrate the feasibility of the methodology through reanalysis of two of the longitudinal measures from a clinical trial of penicillamine treatment for scleroderma patients. We compare the results for univariate and bivariate, ignorable and non-ignorable missingness models.
The use of metformin is associated with decreased lumbar radiculopathy pain

Lumbar radiculopathy pain represents a major public health problem, with few effective long-term treatments. Preclinical neuropathic and postsurgical pain studies implicate the kinase adenosine monophosphate activated kinase (AMPK) as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of chronic pain conditions. Metformin, which acts via AMPK, is a safe and clinically available drug used in the treatment of diabetes. Despite the strong preclinical rationale, the utility of metformin as a potential pain therapeutic has not yet been studied in humans. Our objective was to assess whether metformin is associated with decreased lumbar radiculopathy pain, in a retrospective chart review. We completed a retrospective chart review of patients who sought care from a university pain specialist for lumbar radiculopathy between 2008 and 2011. Patients on metformin at the time of visit to a university pain specialist were compared with patients who were not on metformin. We compared the pain outcomes in 46 patients on metformin and 94 patients not taking metformin therapy. The major finding was that metformin use was associated with a decrease in the mean of "pain now," by -1.85 (confidence interval: -3.6 to -0.08) on a 0-10 visual analog scale, using a matched propensity scoring analysis and confirmed using a Bayesian analysis, with a significant mean decrease of -1.36 (credible interval: -2.6 to -0.03). Additionally, patients on metformin showed a non-statistically significant trend toward decreased pain on a variety of other pain descriptors. Our proof-of-concept findings suggest that metformin use is associated with a decrease in lumbar radiculopathy pain, providing a rational for larger retrospective trials in different pain populations and for prospective trials, to test the effectiveness of metformin in reducing neuropathic pain.
Integral wall model for large eddy simulations of wall-bounded turbulent flows

A new approach for wall modeling in Large-Eddy-Simulations (LES) is proposed and tested in various applications. To properly include near-wall physics while preserving the basic economy of equilibrium-type wall models, we adopt the classical integral method of von Karman and Pohlhausen (VKP). A velocity profile with various parameters is proposed as an alternative to numerical integration of the boundary layer equations in the near-wall zone. The profile contains a viscous or roughness sublayer and a logarithmic layer with an additional linear term that can account for inertial and pressure gradient effects. Similar to the VKP method, the assumed velocity profile coefficients are determined from appropriate matching conditions and physical constraints. The proposed integral wall-modeled LES (iWMLES) method is tested in the context of a pseudo-spectral code for fully developed channel flow with a dynamic Lagrangian subgrid model as well as in a finite-difference LES code including the immersed boundary method and the dynamic Vreman eddy-viscosity model. Test cases include a fully developed half-channel at various Reynolds numbers, a fully developed channel flow with unresolved roughness, a standard developing turbulent boundary layer flows over smooth plates at various Reynolds numbers, over plates with unresolved roughness, and a case with resolved roughness elements consisting of an array of wall-mounted cubes. The comparisons with data show that the proposed iWMLES method provides accurate predictions of near-wall velocity profiles in LES while, similarly to equilibrium wall models, its cost remains independent of Reynolds number and is thus significantly lower compared to existing zonal or hybrid wall models. A sample application to flow over a surface with truncated cones (representing idealized barnacle-like roughness elements) is also presented, which illustrates effects of subgrid scale roughness when combined with resolved roughness elements.
A transketolase-based synthesis of (+)-exo-brevicomin

Abstract The naturally occurring beetle pheromone (+)- exo -brevicomin was synthesized by a strategy combining chemical and enzymatic steps. The commercially available enzyme transketolase (EC 2.2.1.1) catalyzed the condensation of β-hydroxypyruvic acid and 2-hydroxybutyraldehyde to furnish the central intermediate in the sequence, optically active hydroxyketone 5 . A short sequence converted ketose 5 to protected aldose 8 . Wittig extension of the aldehyde followed by hydrogenation and ketal hydrolysis generated the title compound.
Corrigendum to “Using electric actuation and detection of oscillations in microcantilevers for pressure measurements” [Sensors and Actuators A: Physical (2008) 203–209]

The author deeply regrets that an error occurred in the printed version of the above article. Please see correction below: In our article “Using electric actuation and detection of oscillations in microcantilevers for pressure measurements”, we miscalculated two values, using the frequency f where we should have used the angular frequency =2 f, After taking into account that f= /2 , the correct value of the damping parameter is 3.21×10−8 N sm−1 under aHe environment at roompressure (calculated using Eq. (2)). Similarly the slope of the 1/QE vs. pressure plot (C1) in the molecular region calculated using Eq. (6) is 1.43×10−4 Torr−1 after correction. Though the legend of our graphs reads “driving frequency (Hz)”, we plotted the data using the driving frequency (f) rather than the angular frequency in rad/s.
Self-Organized Criticality in Earth Systems

Stefan Hergarten, 2002, Springer, Berlin, 272 p. (Hardcover $69.95) ISBN: 3-540-43452-6. How Nature Works is not a modest title for a book, and its author, the late Danish physicist Per Bak (1947–2002) was not a modest man (Jensen, 2002). But the lack of modesty for either is not surprising; in proposing the concept of self-organized criticality (SOC), Bak believed he had discovered an idea that truly explained a great deal of “how nature works.” In this book, and in his numerous publications, Bak described the applicability of SOC to phenomena as disparate as sandpiles, forest fires, earthquakes, economic systems and the evolution of life on earth. His belief in the importance of SOC has been widely shared; the initial paper on SOC (Bak, Tang, and Wiesenfeld, 1987) has been cited more than 1800 times! What is self-organized criticality? Criticality generally refers to a system state where local interactions are replaced by global interactions. Oft-cited examples include the transition from random to aligned magnetic domains at the Curie temperature or the propagation of neutrons in a nuclear chain reaction when the concentration of fissionable material exceeds a certain threshold. Many systems reach criticality when an external variable is set or “tuned” to a particular level, such as temperature in the case of magnetic materials. In the case of SOC, however, such tuning is not necessary; the system reaches the critical state due to its own internal dynamics. It is thus “self-organized.” A system at the critical state is characterized by the occurrence of events of all sizes, with the size distribution of the events following a power law distribution; i.e., there are very few very large events, more medium …
An empirical investigation of online consumer purchasing behavior

This article is focused on examining the factors and relationships that influence the browsing and buying behavior of individuals when they shop online. Specifically, we are interested in individual buyers using business-to-consumer sites. We are also interested in examining shopping preferences based on various demographic categories that might exhibit distinct purchasing attitudes and behaviors for certain categories of products and services. We examine these behaviors in the context of both products and services. After a period of decline in recent months, online shopping is on the rise again. By some estimates, total U.S. spending on online sales increased to $5.7 billion in December 2001 from $3.2 billion in June of 2001 [3, 5]. By these same estimates, the number of households shopping online increased to 18.7 million in December
The development of stimulus‐specific auditory responses requires song exposure in male but not female zebra finches

Juvenile male zebra finches develop their song by imitation. Females do not sing but are attracted to males' songs. With functional magnetic resonance imaging and event-related potentials we tested how early auditory experience shapes responses in the auditory forebrain of the adult bird. Adult male birds kept in isolation over the sensitive period for song learning showed no consistency in auditory responses to conspecific songs, calls, and syllables. Thirty seconds of song playback each day over development, which is sufficient to induce song imitation, was also sufficient to shape stimulus-specific responses. Strikingly, adult females kept in isolation over development showed responses similar to those of males that were exposed to songs. We suggest that early auditory experience with songs may be required to tune perception toward conspecific songs in males, whereas in females song selectivity develops even without prior exposure to song.
Free-air CO2 enrichment of cotton: vertical and lateral root distribution patterns

The objective of this investigation was to determine how free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) affects root distribution in a natural soil environment. For two years cotton was grown on a Trix clay loam under two atmospheric CO2 concentrations (370 and 550 µcool mol−1) and two water treatments [wet, 100% of evapotranspiration (ET) replaced and dry, 75% (1990) and 67% (1991) of ET replaced] at Maricopa, AZ. At early vegetative and mid-reproductive growth, 90 cm soil cores were taken at 0, 0.25, and 0.5 m perpendicular to row center; root variables were ascertained at three 30 cm depth increments. The effect of water stress alone or its interaction with CO2 on measured variables during both samplings were rare and showed no consistent pattern. There was a significant CO2 × position interaction for root length density at the vegetative stage (both years) and reproductive stage (1990 only); the positive effects of extra CO2 were more evident at interrow positions (0.25 and 0.5 m). A CO2 × depth × position interaction at the vegetative phase (1990) indicated that FACE increased root dry weight densities for the top soil depth increment at all positions and at the middle increment at the 0.5 m position. Similar trends were seen at the reproductive sampling for this measure as well as for root length density at both sample dates in 1990. In 1991, a CO2 × depth interaction was noted at both periods; CO2 enhancement of root densities (i.e., both length and dry weight) were observed within the upper and middle depths. Although variable in response, increases for root lineal density under high CO2 were also seen. In general, results also revealed that the ambient CO2 treatment had a higher proportion of its root system growing closer to the row center, both on a root length and dry wight basis. On the other hand, the FACE treatment had proportionately more of its roots allocated away from row center (root length basis only). Results from this field experiment clearly suggest that increased atmospheric CO2 concentration will alter root distribution patterns in cotton.
The Precautionary Principle in Context: U.S. and E.U. Scientists' Prescriptions for Policy in the Face of Uncertainty*

Objective. Our objective is to explain how scientists interpret less-than-certain scientific findings to inform policymakers' choices on controversial science policy issues. We focus on two particularly difficult policy cases concerning global climate change and low-dose radiation protection. Methods. Our method is to analyze data from a unique multination survey of scientists to analyze the ways their views about what is scientifically correct are translated into judgments about appropriate policy. The surveys asked scientists, randomly drawn from U.S. and E.U. subscribers to the journal Science, to indicate the “most likely” relationships between greenhouse gas emissions and average global temperatures and between radiation dose and incidence of cancer in humans. Follow-up questions asked for their judgments about appropriate policy targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emission and safety standards for radiation exposure. The data permit analysis of the relationships between scientific certainty and policy judgments in these two cases. Results. Our results shed light on when and how scientists reach precautionary policy conclusions, demonstrating that scientists' application of precaution is dependent on context. In the case of radiation protection, greater certainty is associated with less precaution. But with respect climate change, we found the opposite relationship. Conclusions. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for the role of scientists, and scientific advice, in the policy process.
Assessing cervical cancer risk.

Maria is a 22‐year‐old single Hispanic woman with four children. She began smoking at 13 years of age and became sexually active at 14 years of age. Over the last eight years, she has had multiple sexual partners and a history of gonorrhea and chlamydia. When she came to the clinic for a routine Papanicolau (Pap) test, she had several clusters of cervical warts. These tested positive for human papilloma virus (HPV) type11. She was also at the clinic for her final application of Podophyllin but when questioned, Maria had never heard of HPV. Josephine is a 44‐year‐old married non‐Hispanic white woman with two children who always has yearly Pap tests. Seven years ago, she had "vaginal warts," and her primary care provider treated her with trichloroacetic acid. She wasn't aware which HPV type caused her warts, or of their exact location. Also, no information was provided to her about the increased risk for cervical cancer in women with certain types of cervical HPV. Charlotte is a 29‐year‐old single African American woman with one child. She became sexually active at 16 years of age and has since had two abortions. Her sexual history includes two previous partners; she came to the clinic to renew her oral contraceptive prescription. Upon pelvic examination, cervical dysplasia was suspected; colposcopic cytology results confirmed the diagnosis. Charlotte was unaware of any history of HPV but she did know that Pap tests could screen for cervical cancer. In addition, she thought the Pap test was done to diagnose sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea.
Manipulating source code in DynamicDesign

DynamicDesign is a Computer-Aided Software Engineering environment for the C language with a layered system architecture for modularity and versatility. DynamicDesign is composed of facilities to edit hypertext objects, maneuver thorough hypertext graphs, build a hypertext graph from a set of existing C source files, and browse source code, documents and system requirements. This paper discusses the DynamicDesign facilities that deal with the source code, sourceBrowser, and source tree builder utilities.GraphBuild is a utility used to convert C source code into a hypertext source graph, based on the program's call tree. A data dictionary is constructed for the program that contains its local and global variables.The source browser allows the user to traverse, view, and edit a source code tree. Additional facilities for understanding and maintaining the source code and its auxiliary documentation are provided by the browser.
Equilibrium kinetic study of the mechanism of mitochondrial and supernatant malate dehydrogenases of bovine heart.

Abstract The kinetics at equilibrium have been examined for mitochondrial and supernatant malate dehydrogenases ( l -malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37) from bovine heart at catalytic concentration by means of isotopic exchange of reactants to compare their catalytic mechanisms. In accord with previous studies of lactate, alcohol and pig heart mitochondrial malate dehydrogenases the rate of substrate interchange exceeded the NAD+ ⇌ NADH rate, in some cases by more than 100-fold, except at lowest substrate concentration. At pH 8.0 a marked depression in the NAD+ ⇌ NADH rate to near zero without inhibition in the oxaloacetate ⇌ malate rate was compatible with a compulsory binding order with substrate binding to E (enzyme)-coenzyme complexes, but not to free enzyme. At pH 9.0 only a moderate depression in the NAD+ ⇌ NADH rate was found, indicating a partially compulsory pathway in which coenzyme dissociation occurs from both E- coenzyme and E- coenzyme-substrate complexes, but is more rapid from the binary complex. Kinetics with variable concentration of non-reactive pairs of substrate and coenzyme suggested the formation of the abortive complex E- NADH malate, but not E- NAD + -oxaloacetate . The initial rate of reduction of oxaloacetate was in all cases greater than the equilibrium rates. Minimum estimates were obtained for some dissociation constants. Despite considerable structural differences, the similar kinetic behavior at equilibrium of the mitochondrial and supernatant enzymes suggests a uniform catalytic mechanism which includes a compulsory binding order at pH 8.0 with coenzyme binding prior to substrate, a partially compulsory pathway at pH 9.0, non-rate-limiting chemical transformation, and formation of the abortive complex, E- NADH-malate . This mechanism is also in accord with that previously found with pig heart mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase.
Specificity studies of 3‐mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase

3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (E.C. 2.8.1.2; MST) is an enzyme believed to function in the endogenous cyanide (CN) detoxification system because it is capable of transferring sulfur from 3-mercaptopyruvate (3-MP) to CN, forming the less toxic thiocyanate (SCN). To date, 3-MP is the only known sulfur-donor substrate for MST. In an effort to increase the understanding of what chemical properties of 3-MP affect its utilization as a substrate, in vitro enzyme kinetic studies of MST were conducted using two mercaptic acids that are structurally related to 3-MP. Neither of these compounds was able to serve as a sulfur-donor substrate for MST. Inhibitor studies determined that 3-mercaptopropionic acid did not affect the Km of MST for 3-MP but did decrease Vmax and, thus, was determined to be a noncompetitive inhibitor. Alternatively, 2-mercaptopropionic acid 2-MPA decreased Km and Vmax and was determined to be an uncompetitive inhibitor of MST with respect to 3-MP. These data indicate that the α-keto group of 3-MP is necessary for its utilization as a substrate, and the inhibitor studies suggest that the position of the sulfur may also affect the binding of these compounds to the enzyme. These observations increase the understanding of what factors can affect the utilization of a compound as a sulfur-donor substrate for MST and may aid in the development of alternative sulfur-donor substrates for MST. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Bogoliubov angle, particle-hole mixture, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in superconductors

Superconducting excitations - Bogoliubov quasiparticles - are the quantum mechanical mixture of negatively charged electron (-e) and positively charged hole (+e). We propose a new observable for Angular Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES) studies that is the manifestation of the particle-hole entanglement of the superconducting quasiparticles. We call this observable a Bogoliubov angle. This angle measures the relative weight of particle and hole amplitude in the superconducting (Bogoliubov) quasiparticle. We show how this quantity can be measured by comparing the ratio of spectral intensities at positive and negative energies.
Beyond BRAFV600: Clinical Mutation Panel Testing by Next-Generation Sequencing in Advanced Melanoma

The management of melanoma has evolved owing to improved understanding of its molecular drivers. To augment the current understanding of the prevalence, patterns, and associations of mutations in this disease, the results of clinical testing of 699 advanced melanoma patients using a pan-cancer next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel of hotspot regions in 46 genes were reviewed. Mutations were identified in 43 of the 46 genes on the panel. The most common mutations were BRAFV600 (36%), NRAS (21%), TP53 (16%), BRAFNon-V600 (6%), and KIT (4%). Approximately one-third of melanomas had >1 mutation detected, and the number of mutations per tumor was associated with melanoma subtype. Concurrent TP53 mutations were the most frequent events in tumors with BRAFV600and NRAS mutations. Melanomas with BRAFNon-V600mutations frequently harbored concurrent NRAS mutations (18%), which were rare in tumors with BRAFV600 mutations (1.6%). The prevalence of BRAFV600 and KIT mutations were significantly associated with melanoma subtypes, and BRAFV600 and TP53 mutations were significantly associated with cutaneous primary tumor location. Multiple potential therapeutic targets were identified in metastatic unknown primary and cutaneous melanomas that lacked BRAFV600and NRAS mutations. These results enrich our understanding of the patterns and clinical associations of oncogenic mutations in melanoma.
A graphic profile and analysis of interchange area development: Case study for 1964–1970

Abstract This research is based on a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of development at every interchange in Alabama for 1964–1970. Most of the developments occurred within 3 yr of the opening of the interchange to traffic and over 80 per cent of the development was highway oriented, primarily gasoline service stations. Efforts to identify variables closely associated with the land use development process were moderately successful.
Interpretation of Liver Chemistries in Adult Donors After Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Objectives: The safety of donors is paramount in adult living donor liver transplantation. Our goal is to compare the pattern of recovery of hepatic synthetic function and aminotransferases in healthy adult donors with and without complications. Methods: We reviewed 47 consecutive patients undergoing right donor hepatectomy at our center. Laboratory data were collected through the first 2 postoperative weeks and results from donors with and without complications were compared. Results: Donor morbidity was 25% and there were no donor deaths. Total bilirubin peaked on postoperative day 3, whereas aminotransferases and international normalized ratio peaked on postoperative day 1. Peak total bilirubin was higher in patients with fluid collections (n = 7) compared with those without fluid collections (n = 40), 4.6 mg/dL and 2.3 mg/dL, respectively, P = 0.02. On postoperative day 3 the peak total bilirubin was greater than 3.0 mg/dL in 86% of donors with fluid collections and 15% of donors without fluid collections, (P = 0.0005) whereas aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase were not significantly different between these 2 groups. Conclusions: After right donor hepatectomy a total bilirubin greater than 3.0 mg/dL on postoperative day 3 should prompt an evaluation for a fluid collection, even if other liver tests are normal or declining.
UV Resonance Raman Spectra and Molecular Orbital Calculations of Salicylic and Phthalic Acids Complexed to Al3+in Solution and on Mineral Surfaces

Salicylic and phthalic acids have been used to study the complexation of aromatic carboxylic acids with Al(III) in solution and on mineral surfaces. A method for studying aqueous and surface carboxylic acids/metal complexes with UV Raman has been developed. The acids and Al(III) solutions were mixed in a 1:1 ratio at concentrations of 0.01 M. The mixtures were adjusted to pH 2.5 and 4 to be above and below the pKa1 values of the carboxylic acids. The pH values of the acid solutions were based on the pKa values for the different acids to examine the neutral and charged species. The carboxylic acids were also adsorbed onto Al2O3. Comparisons between solution and adsorbed complexes were examined. Various possible types of complexes for the metal/acid complexes were modeled with ab initio molecular orbital/density functional theory calculations. The assignments of Al(III)-acid complexes were based on the best fits between experimental and model vibrational frequencies. Results are compared to previous speciat...
Abstract 1324: Melatonin-depleted blood from healthy adult men exposed to environmental light at night stimulates growth, signal transduction and metabolic activity of tissue-isolated human prostate cancer xenografts in nude rats

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Light at night (LAN), via its ability to suppress nocturnal circadian pineal melatonin production, has been associated with an increased risk of prostate, breast, and endometrial cancers reported in rotating night shift workers. In previous studies, we determined that melatonin's tumor growth inhibitory mechanism occurs via an MT1 melatonin receptor-mediated suppression of tumor cAMP leading to an inhibition of tumor linoleic acid (LA) uptake and its metabolism to the mitogenic signaling molecule 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE). These events culminate in down-regulation of the epidermal growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1 pathways. Tissue-isolated, androgen-independent PC3 human prostate tumor xenografts (n=3/group; 57 perfusions) perfused for 60 minutes in situ in male nude rats with melatonin-rich blood (> 100 pg/ml) collected from healthy adult, male subjects (n = 3) during the night were compared to those perfused with melatonin-deficient blood (< 10 pg/ml) collected during the daytime or nighttime following 90 minutes of ocular exposure to bright, white fluorescent light (2800 lux). Perfusion of tissue-isolated PC3 human prostate xenografts with human donor nighttime-collected, melatonin-rich blood samples resulted in substantial reductions (60 – 99%) in tumor cAMP levels, LA uptake, 13-HODE production, glucose uptake, O2 consumption and CO2 production, and [3H]thymidine incorporation into tumor DNA, compared to tumors perfused with daytime-collected or nighttime/light exposure-collected, melatonin-diminished blood samples. The activation of MEK, ERK 1/2, Akt, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), was also markedly diminished in tumors perfused with melatonin-rich, nighttime-collected blood and stimulated in tumors perfused with melatonin-deficient blood collected after exposure to light at night. Tumor inhibitions by melatonin-rich blood were completely prevented by a non-selective MT1/MT2 melatonin receptor antagonist, forskolin, pertussis toxin, or 8-Bromo-cAMP. These results are the first to demonstrate that the nocturnal melatonin signal in blood collected from male human volunteers during the night suppresses signal transduction, metabolic and growth activity in tissue-isolated PC3 human prostate cancer xenografts via an MT1 melatonin receptor-mediated mechanism. These findings are also the first to show that blood collected from human subjects exposed to light at night markedly stimulates human prostate cancer growth, signal transduction and metabolic activity via suppression of the nocturnal circadian melatonin signal. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1324. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1324
Spontaneous allocation of visual attention: dominant role of uniqueness.

Common sense suggests that unique or abruptly changing (transient) elements in a visual scene often draw attention involuntarily. Visual search studies paint a seemingly different picture, however: Unique items usually draw attention involuntarily only when observers seek a unique target. One type of transient— abrupt onsets—draws attention involuntarily, but only when the observer is seeking an onset (Folk, Remington, & Johnston, 1992). One way of reconciling common-sense with these findings is to suppose that when people view a scene with no specific goal or task, they adopt adefault set, which might prioritize novelty and/or transients. In two experiments, 336 subjects saw a single display of six items for 900 msec, expecting to have to describe it (Experiment 1) or make an aesthetic judgment about it (Experiment 2). One item in the display was either uniquely flashing (surrounded by static items) or uniquely static (surrounded by flashing items). In both studies, the unique item, even if static, was more often reported than the nonunique item, with flashing items enjoying an additional advantage.
Trial-by-trial relationship between neural activity, oxygen consumption, and blood flow responses.

Abstract Trial-by-trial variability in local field potential (LFP), tissue partial pressure of oxygen (PO2), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and deoxyhemoglobin-weighted optical imaging of intrinsic signals (OIS) were tested in the rat somatosensory cortex while fixed electrical forepaw stimulation (1.0-ms pulses with amplitude of 1.2 mA at a frequency of 6 Hz) was repeatedly applied. The changes in the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) were also evaluated using a hypotension condition established by our group based on the administration of a vasodilator. Under normal conditions, CBF, PO2, and OIS showed positive signal changes (48%, 32%, and 0.42%, respectively) following stimulation. Over multiple trials, the CBF responses were well correlated with the integral of the LFP amplitudes (∑LFP) (Rmean = 0.78), whereas a lower correlation was found between PO2 and ∑LFP (Rmean = 0.60) and between OIS and ∑LFP (Rmean = 0.54). Under the hypotension condition the LFP responses were preserved, but the CBF responses were suppressed and the PO2 and OIS changes were negative (− 12% and − 0.28%, respectively). In this condition, the trial-by-trial variations in PO2 and OIS were well correlated with the variability in ∑LFPs (Rmean = − 0.77 and − 0.76, respectively), indicating a single trial coupling between CMRO2 changes and ∑LFP. These findings show that CBF and CMRO2 signals are more directly correlated with neural activity compared to blood oxygen-sensitive methods such as OIS and BOLD fMRI.
Telling a Family Culture: Storytelling, Family Identity, and Cultural Membership

This study examines the role of public performance of private family identity through family storytelling. Using Narrative Performance Theory (Langellier & Peterson, 2006a), stories told as part of The Library of Congress’s StoryCorps project were analyzed for how families publicly told private family stories to identify themselves as a particular family as well as a culturally appropriate family in the modern United States. Five themes of cultural identity in family stories were identified. The study found that families largely focused on positive stories that portrayed the family as pro-social and happy. Negative stories focused on how the family overcame their adversities as a group. Laughter was used to minimize face-threatening stories. The construction of the group identity was framed in such a way as to connect the family group to a larger culture that values independence, self-reliance, and cohesion as a family group. The study concludes by arguing that more work should be done to understand how public and private communication in families shape our understanding of what it means to be a family.
Dicyanogold effects on lymphokine production.

Having identified dicyanogold(I) as a common metabolite of gold-based antiarthritis drugs, we are investigating the effects of the compound on the production of lymphokines. Handel, et al. 1 suggested that the transcription factor AP-1, critical to the production of a number of cytokines, might be the target for gold compounds because of a critical cysteine within its DNA binding region. Using Jurkat cells, an established cell line as a model for CD4+ lymphocytes, we have shown that dicyanogold inhibits the binding of AP-1 to DNA and inhibits the synthesis of IL-2 mRNA and protein. In a macrophage line, THP-1, which synthesizes IL-1β in response to mitogen, we have shown that dicyanogold inhibits the binding of a second transcription factor, CREB to DNA. Incubation of THP-1 cells with dicyanogold inhibits the production of IL-1β mRNA. These results suggest that the mechanism of action of gold drugs may be through their interaction with transcription factors necessary for the immune activation seen in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in childhood

Atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, or both, with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome are reported in four children aged between 6 days and 12 years. The ECGs of all four patients revealed rapid ventricular rates and aberrant intraventricular conduction when atrioventricular (AV) conduction occurred via the accessory connection and slowing of the tachycardia with normalization of the QRS complex when AV conduction occurred via the AV node-His Purkinje system. Three had associated heart disease; one had a chronic congestive cardiomyopathy, one had Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve, while in the third patient an atrial septal defect was identified. When atrial flutter or fibrillation are combined with accessory AV connections, promotion by digoxin of very fast ventricular rates has been reported in adults but not in infants and older children. In two of our patients, one aged 6 days and one aged 6 months, digoxin may have produced this undesirable effect. Electrophysiologic studies as well as cardiac catheterization may be necessary for complete diagnostic evaluation in such cases. Quinidine should be considered in the management of these patients, and the use of digoxin alone may be contraindicated.
Measurement of photon polarization in the many-particle EPR experiment

Abstract It is shown that the photon version of the many-particle EPR experiment of Greenberger, Horne and Zeilinger requires one to measure general elliptical polarizations, unlike the case of Bell-type two-particle EPR experiments for which it was enough to measure linear polarizations only.
AN ANALYTICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A UNIVERSAL DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR ULTRA-PRECISION METROLOGY

In recent years, precise metrology up to nanoscale has attracted substantial attention due to an increasing need for ultra-precision measurement systems for micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) and nano electro mechanical systems (NEMS) calibration. In this paper, an analytical and numerical investigation for the proposed design of a 6-degree-of-freedom (6-dof) universal measurement system, using a relatively simple and inexpensive but highly sensitive set up, is presented. This system utilizes a convex mirror and two flat mirrors, one angled and one vertical, as targets to reflect laser beams onto photo detectors. These targets, placed on the object of interest for metrology applications, change the direction of the reflected beam when there is any movement in the object, which is detected by the photo detectors. The use of convex and angled mirrors greatly enhances the sensitivity of the system. Geometric relationships are established among all the optical components to predict the final intersection...
A revision of the Solanum sessile species group (section Geminata pro parte: Solanaceae)

KNAPP, S., 1991. A revision of theSolatium sessilespecies (sectioGeminata pro parte: Solanaceae). The taxonomy of the Solanum sessile species group (a part of the large and unwieldy section Geminata) is reviewed, based on detailed field and herbarium studies. Members of the group are found from Mexico to Bolivia in a variety of habitats. Ten species are recognized: S. obovalifolium, S. sessile, S. monadelphum, S. turgidum, S. triste, S. chlamydogynum, S. rovirosanum, S. palmillae, S. oppositifolium and conferliseriatum.
A hybrid model of categorization.

Category learning is often modeled as either an exemplar-based or a rule-based process. This paper shows that both strategies can be combined in a cognitive architecture that was developed to model other task domains. Variations on the exemplar-based random walk (EBRW) model of Nosofsky and Palmeri (1997b) and the rule-plus-exception (RULEX) rule-based model of Nosofsky, Palmeri, and McKinley (1994) were implemented in the ACT-R cognitive architecture. The architecture allows the two strategies to be mixed to produce classification behavior. The combined system reproduces latency, learning, and generalization data from three category-learning experiments—Nosofsky and Palmeri (1997b), Nosofsky et al., and Erickson and Kruschke (1998). It is concluded that EBRW and ACT-R have different but equivalent means of incorporating similarity and practice. In addition, ACT-R brings a theory of strategy selection that enables the exemplar and the rule-based strategies to be mixed.
Women's and Men's Career Referents: How Gender Composition and Comparison Level Shape Career Expectations

This study examines how women's and men's career referents---the people they see as having similar careers---affect career expectations. We raise two questions. First, what is the relative effect of the gender composition and comparison level of career referents on such expectations? Second, what happens to career expectations when women and men identify career referents at the same comparison level? Current research suggests that women have lower career expectations than men because they compare themselves with women who hold lower-level positions than the career referents identified by men. Thus, if women and men identify with career referents at a similar level, their career expectations should be equal. However, this chain of reasoning has not been tested. Using data collected from a large organization, we identify both the specific individuals that women and men perceive as having similar careers and these referents' career levels, defined as their hierarchical level in the firm. The results show that the level of career referents is more important than their gender composition in explaining individuals' career expectations. In contrast to extant explanations, the results show that even when women identify career referents at the same levels as men do, they still exhibit significantly lower career expectations. Drawing on social comparison theory, we speculate that this occurs because men's expectations are bolstered by extreme upward comparisons, whereas women's expectations are dampened, perhaps because they see high-achieving others as representing a less probable goal.
Sovereign Debt Restructuring and the Best Interest of Creditors

In April 2002 the International Monetary Fund introduced a sovereign bankruptcy proposal only to be rebuffed by the United States Treasury. Where the IMF wanted a mandatory bankruptcy regime, the Treasury wanted to solve distress problems with contractual devices. Sovereign bondholders and sovereign issuers themselves flatly rejected both proposals, even though they were nominally the beneficiaries of both proponents. This Article addresses and explains this bondholder reaction. In so doing, it takes a highly skeptical view of the IMF's proposal even as it shows that the incentive structure surrounding sovereign lending renders untenable the Treasury's contractarian proposal. The Article's analysis follows from a review and restatement of the economic learning on sovereign debt relationships. The IMF and the Treasury share the objective facilitating restructuring by substituting a regime of collective action for the prevailing practice of requiring unanimous bondholder consent to significant amendments of bond contracts. In so doing they follow a conventional wisdom respecting bond contracts under which standard unanimity provisions are inefficient and irrational. The Article shows that this dismissal of the unanimity requirement comes too quickly. Under our analysis of the problem the debtor distress, bondholders rationally may prefer to make compositions harder to conclude. There is no first best equilibrium bond contract; instead bondholders select from a menu of second best forms, making trade offs between unanimous action and collective action provisions in an imperfect world. One factor leading lenders to favor unanimous action is the need to self protect. In a world without a good faith backstop, creditors motivated by side deals can take advantage of majority rule to impose suboptimal compositions. Holding out is the only weapon available to the minority creditor. The Article argues that, given such side deals, a stable majoritarian regime cannot be achieved as a matter of free contract. Mandate will be necessary. It follows that the Treasury's contractarian approach is implausible absent a backstop regime of intercreditor good faith duties. The Article draws on the history of corporate reorganization prior to the enactment of the section 77B of the Bankruptcy Act of 1934 to show that courts have grappled with these questions before, intervening aggressively on equitable principles.
Stretch Hyperreflexia of Triceps Surae Muscles in the Conscious Cat after Dorsolateral Spinal Lesions

Resistive force and electromyograms from triceps surae muscles were measured during dorsiflexion of both ankles of awake cats before and after interruption of one dorsolateral funiculus (DLF). DLF lesions produced ipsilateral increases in dynamic and static reflex force that persisted over 66 weeks. The increase in dynamic reflex force was velocity sensitive, as demonstrated by a greater effect for 60°/sec than for 10°/sec dorsiflexion. Also, the lesions increased dynamic force to a greater extent than static force (increased dynamic index). Background force (recorded immediately before each reflex response) was elevated ipsilaterally. However, increases in reflex force were observed when preoperative and postoperative background forces were matched within 10% and were associated with equivalent resting levels of electromyographic (EMG) activity. Resistive reflex force was significantly correlated with EMG responses to dorsiflexion and was not determined by nonreflexive mechanical stiffness of the muscles. Contralateral background and reflex force and associated EMG activity were decreased slightly, comparing preoperative and postoperative records. Clinical testing revealed ipsilateral postoperative increases in extensor tone, increased resistance to hindlimb flexion, hypermetria during positive support responses, and appearance of the Babinski reflex. However, the most reliable tests of DLF lesion effects were the quantitative measures of dynamic and static reflex amplitude. The enhancement of stretch reflexes is suggestive of spasticity. However, hyperactive stretch reflexes, hypertonicity, and the Babinski reflex were observed soon after interruption of the ipsilateral DLF, in contrast to a gradual development of positive signs that is characteristic of a more broadly defined spastic syndrome from large spinal lesions. Also, other signs that often are included in the spastic syndrome, including clonus, increased flexor reflex activity, and flexor spasms, did not result from DLF lesions. Thus, unilateral DLF lesions provide a model of spasticity but produce only several components of a more inclusive spastic syndrome.