cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of UDP-apiose in Bacteria: The marine phototroph Geminicoccus roseus and the plant pathogen Xanthomonas pisi

The branched-chain sugar apiose was widely assumed to be synthesized only by plant species. In plants, apiose-containing polysaccharides are found in vascularized plant cell walls as the pectic polymers rhamnogalacturonan II and apiogalacturonan. Apiosylated secondary metabolites are also common in many plant species including ancestral avascular bryophytes and green algae. Apiosyl-residues have not been documented in bacteria. In a screen for new bacterial glycan structures, we detected small amounts of apiose in methanolic extracts of the aerobic phototroph Geminicoccus roseus and the pathogenic soil-dwelling bacteria Xanthomonas pisi. Apiose was also present in the cell pellet of X. pisi. Examination of these bacterial genomes uncovered genes with relatively low protein homology to plant UDP-apiose/UDP-xylose synthase (UAS). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these bacterial UAS-like homologs belong in a clade distinct to UAS and separated from other nucleotide sugar biosynthetic enzymes. Recombinant expression of three bacterial UAS-like proteins demonstrates that they actively convert UDP-glucuronic acid to UDP-apiose and UDP-xylose. Both UDP-apiose and UDP-xylose were detectable in cell cultures of G. roseus and X. pisi. We could not, however, definitively identify the apiosides made by these bacteria, but the detection of apiosides coupled with the in vivo transcription of bUAS and production of UDP-apiose clearly demonstrate that these microbes have evolved the ability to incorporate apiose into glycans during their lifecycles. While this is the first report to describe enzymes for the formation of activated apiose in bacteria, the advantage of synthesizing apiose-containing glycans in bacteria remains unknown. The characteristics of bUAS and its products are discussed.
A Review of Patents on Therapeutic Potential and Delivery of Hydroge n Sulfide.

Background Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless gas with a characteristic smell of rotten eggs. Once only thought of as a toxic gas, evidence now shows that H2S plays major roles in pathological and physiological activities. These roles are being utilized to treat diseases and disorders ranging from hypertension, inflammation, edema, cardiovascular issues, chronic pain, cancer, and many more. Challenges facing the use of H2S currently involve achieving the optimum therapeutic concentrations, synthesizing chemically and physiologically stable donors, and developing clinically appropriate delivery systems. Methods We did an extensive literature search on therapeutic potentials and related issues of H2S which were presented in a systematic flow pattern in introduction. Patents accepted/filed on various aspects of hydrogen sulfide were searched using the United States Patent and Trademark Office database at http://patft.uspto.gov/ and google patents at https://patents.google.com/. The important search terms combined with H2S were therapeutic effect, pharmacological action, biochemistry, measurement, and delivery. We also incorporated our own experiences and publications while discussing the delivery approaches and associated challenges. Results In the process, researchers have discovered novel techniques in preparing the noxious gas by discovering and synthesizing H2S donors and developing controlled and predictable delivery systems. Donors utilized thus far include derivatives of anti-inflammatory drugs like H2S -aspirin, Allium sativum extracts, inorganic salts, phosphorodithioate derivatives, and thioaminoacid derivatives. Use of controlled delivery systems for H2S is critical to maintain its physiological stability, optimum therapeutic window, increase patient compliance, and make it easier to manufacture and administer. Numerous patents overcoming the challenges of using H2S therapeutically with various donors and delivery mechanisms have been reviewed. Conclusion The scientific knowledge gained from the last decade researches has moved H2S from a foul smelling pungent gas to the status of a gasotransmitter with many potential therapeutic applications. However, developing a suitable donor and a delivery system using that donor for providing precise and sustained release of H2S for an extended period, is critically needed for any further development towards its translation into clinical practices.
Topical adjuvants incompletely remove adherent Staphylococcus aureus from implant materials.

Adjuvant treatments including Betadine, Dakin's solution (sodium hypochlorite), or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have been attempted to eradicate prosthetic joint infection caused by biofilm or intracellular bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro abilities of chemical adjuvants to decrease Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilm presence on orthopaedic implant grade materials, including titanium, stainless steel, and cobalt chrome. S. aureus biofilms were grown for 48 hours and evaluated for baseline colony forming units/centimeter squared (CFU/cm2) and compared to treatments with Betadine, Dakin's solution, H2O2, or 1% chlorine dioxide (ClO2). Control discs (n=18) across all metals had an average of 4.2 x107 CFU/cm2. All treatments had statistically significant reductions in CFU/cm2 when compared to respective control discs (p < 0.05). For all metals combined, the most efficacious treatments were Betadine and H2O2, with an average 98% and 97% CFU/cm2 reduction, respectively. There were no significant differences between reductions seen with Betadine and H2O2, but both groups had statistically greater reductions than Dakin's solution and ClO2. There was no change in antibiotic resistance patterns after treatment. Analysis of S. aureus biofilms demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in biofilm after a five-minute treatment with the modalities, with an average two log reduction in CFU/cm2. Statement of Clinical Significance: While statistically significant reductions in CFU/cm2 were accomplished with chemical adjuvant treatments, the overall concentration of bacteria never fell below 105 CFU/cm2, leading to questionable clinical significance. Further techniques to eradicate biofilm should be investigated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea) infecting the gill lamellae of some beloniform fishes from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, with a redescription of Hareocephalus thaisae Young, 1969 and descriptions of six new species of Hemirhamphiculus Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1969

Three species of beloniform fishes were found infected with species of Monogenoidea Bychowsky, 1937 during a survey of the diversity of parasites infecting the fishes of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. The diagnoses of Hareocephalus Young, 1969 and Hemirhamphiculus Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1969 (both Polyonchoinea Bychowsky, 1937: Dactylogyridae Bychowsky, 1933) were emended. Hareocephalus thiasae Young, 1969, type-species of the genus, was recorded and redescribed from the gill lamellae of the stout longtom Tylosurus gavialoides (Castelnau) (Belonidae), and six new species of Hemirhamphiculus were described from the gill lamellae of three host species: Hemirhamphiculus exserocephalus n. sp. from T. gavialoides; Hemirhamphiculus choanophallus n. sp. and Hemirhamphiculus flagrum n. sp. from the river garfish Hyporhamphus regularis (Gunther) (Hemiramphidae); and Hemirhamphiculus perexiguus n. sp., Hemirhamphiculus krabsi n. sp., and Hemirhamphiculus imcomptus n. sp. from the southeastern snub-nose garfish Arrhamphus sclerolepis krefftii (Steindachner) (Hemiramphidae). An unidentified species of the Suborder Microcotylinea Lebedev, 1972 (Heteronchoinea Boeger & Kritsky, 2001) was found infecting single specimens of each of H. regularis and A. sclerolepis krefftii. Parahemirhamphiculus Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1969 is placed in junior subjective synonymy with Hemirhamphiculus, and its three species, Parahemirhamphiculus pinguis Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1969, Parahemirhamphiculus brevilamellatus Zhang, 2001, and Parahemirhamphiculus longilamellatus An & Zhang, 1988 are transferred to Hemirhamphiculus.
The Bun's in the Oven, Now What?: How Pre-Birth Orders Promote Clarity in Surrogacy Law

Confounding legal scholars and practitioners alike, surrogacy law represents a disorganized patchwork of ideals that offers no clear answer in parentage disputes. While some states convey their approval by statute or case law, many states convey their distaste for the practice of surrogacy in the same manner. Then again, a handful of states remain silent about whether surrogacy is considered lawful or patently illegal. By surveying surrogacy laws, and the lack thereof, from the fifty states and the District of Columbia, this article formulates a solution to determine legal parentage in surrogacy arrangements — pre-birth orders. Per the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution, pre-birth orders provide a legitimate, enforceable judgment that declares the intended parents in a surrogacy arrangement as a child’s legal parents. Since courts are constitutionally required to honor orders made in other states, pre-birth orders provide family law practitioners and prospective parents with a method to navigate conflict of laws when prospective parents cross state borders. Without advocating that all states should permit surrogacy to take place, this article suggests a requirement for the states legalizing surrogacy to issue pre-birth orders and for all states to recognize pre-birth orders.
Dialectical anthropology and class struggle: a closer look at the Wobblies and their socialist allies

The boldly interdisciplinary essay by Durrenberger and Doukas usefully opens a discussion of class and class struggle in the USA relating to the crises of our time. The discussion may be advanced through a critical engagement with what they have written. Approaching the question of class historically can provide a greater sense of motion, of the past flowing into the future. The citation by Durrenberger and Doukas of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) calls out for a more detailed examination of IWW thinking regarding stratification within the working class. This can enrich what the two authors have to say on the matter. An examination of race and racism by IWW-affiliated radicals provides additional insights and challenges. Finally, the authors’ one-sided view of the Progressive Era (1900–1920) seems to miss the quality of “contested terrain” which suggests approaches that might benefit activists of today.
Cross-Sectional Study on Acceptability of the Media Channels About Ebola Virus Disease in Guangzhou, China

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the information seeking about Ebola virus disease (EVD) and media channels, then to provide theory evidence fo...
Experimental demonstration of an optical-coherence converter

By treating coherence as a shareable resource between multiple degrees of freedom (DoFs), we experimentally demonstrate a reversible exchange of coherence between polarization and spatial DoFs using only unitary transformations.
Radiation Safety Perceptions and Practices Among Pediatric Anesthesiologists: A Survey of the Physician Membership of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND:Pediatric anesthesiologists are exposed to ionizing radiation from x-rays on an almost daily basis. Our goal was to determine the culture of safety in which they work and how they adhere to preventative strategies that minimize exposure risk in their daily practice.METHODS:After Instituti
Loss of expression of zymogen granule protein 16 in colorectal cancer

1929 When analyzing high density transcript profiles in normal/tumor colon tissues, we found that zymogen granule protein 16 (ZG-16) was the most significant down-regulated gene among all transcripts analyzed. We performed real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 25 pairs of normal/tumor colon tissues and confirmed significant down-regulation of the gene in these tumors. To further explore the expression levels of this gene, we generated a polyclonal antibody and performed immunohistochemistry analysis using tissue arrays. These arrays included a variety of normal tissues and tissues from patients with various diseases, which included 40 cases with colorectal cancers, 2 cases with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, 3 cases with juvenile polyposis syndrome, 10 cases with adenomatous polyps, and 6 cases with chronic ulcerative colitis. We found that ZG-16 was expressed in an organ-specific manner: specifically, very high expression levels in normal epithelial cells of the small and large intestine and no or weak expression in other tissue types. Protein expression was predominantly localized to the top one-third of the colon crypt, suggesting that control of expression is linked to epithelial differentiation. We also found that expression of the ZG-16 was completely lost in all 40 colon cancers tested, and partially lost in the 3 hamartomatous polyps from juvenile polyposis syndrome, the 10 adenomatous polyps and the 6 tissues with chronic ulcerative colitis (4 with cancer, 2 without cancer), while remained unchanged in the 2 hamartomatous polyps from Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. The partial loss in adenomas demonstrated a unique distribution. For example, complete loss in one crypt was observed with normal expression in another. The partial loss in chronic ulcerative colitis displayed an evenly distributed weak signal along affected crypts. Protein sequence analysis of the gene showed that the putative protein had a signal peptide and a jacalin-like lectin domain, indicating that it is a secretory protein and has similar function with jackfruit jacalin. It has been reported that jacalin selectively stimulates CD4+ lymphocytes and specifically binds to IgA. Jacalin also displays strong affinity for Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen, an oncofetal protein, and inhibits the proliferation of colon cancer cells. Therefore, ZG-16 may play an important role in colon immunity and tumorigenesis. Further characterization of the protein will facilitate our understanding of colorectal cancer and may provide a new strategy for cancer prevention.
DIRECT: Distributed Cross-Domain Resource Orchestration in Cellular Edge Computing

Network slicing and edge computing are key technologies to enable compute-intensive applications for vertical industries in 5G. We define cellular networks with edge computing capabilities as cellular edge computing. In this paper, we study the cross-domain resource orchestration solution for dynamic network slicing in cellular edge computing. The fundamental research challenge is from the difficulty in modeling the relationship between the slice performance and resources from multiple technical domains across the network with many base stations and distributed edge servers. To address this challenge, we develop a distributed cross-domain resource orchestration (DIRECT) protocol which optimizes the cross-domain resource orchestration while providing the performance and functional isolations among network slices. The main component of DIRECT is a distributed cross-domain resource orchestration algorithm which is designed by integrating the ADMM method and a new learning-assisted optimization approach. The proposed resource orchestration algorithm efficiently orchestrates multi-domain resources without requiring the performance model of the network slices. We develop and implement the DIRECT protocol in a small-scale prototype of cellular edge computing which is designed based on OpenAirInterface LTE and CUDA GPU computing platforms. The performance of DIRECT is validated through both experiments and network simulations.
Can Patient Expectations of Returning to Work Documented Before, During, or at the End of Treatment Predict Actual Return to Work Post-treatment? An Evidence-Based Structured Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND There is significant evidence that patient expectations can impact their treatment outcomes. The hypothesis of this systematic review was then the following. There will be significant consistent evidence as specified by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines that chronic pain patient (CPP) expectations for returning to work documented before, during, or at the end of treatment will predict actual return to work post-treatment. METHODS Of 316 references, 12 studies fulfilled inclusion criteria. These studies analyzed expectations of returning to work documented before, during, or at the end of treatment and utilized these for predicting return to work post-treatment. Relevant aspects of these studies were abstracted into tabular form for numerical analysis. All studies were rated independently by two reviewers for quality. The percentage of the 12 studies supporting the hypothesis was determined. This was then utilized to determine an AHCPR guideline rating for consistency. RESULTS No studies had a rejection quality score. All studies were type 4. The hypothesis was supported by 91.6% of the studies. According to the AHCPR guidelines, this translated into an A rating: consistent findings from multiple type 4 studies. CONCLUSIONS CPP expectations of returning to work as documented before, during, or at the end of treatment may predict actual return to work post-treatment.
MRCAT: In Situ Prototyping of Interactive AR Environments

Augmented reality (AR) blends physical and virtual components to create a mixed reality experience. This unique display medium presents new opportunities for application design, as applications can move beyond the desktop and integrate with the physical environment. In order to build effective applications for AR displays, we need to be able to iteratively design for different contexts or scenarios. We present MRCAT (Mixed Reality Content Authoring Toolkit), a tool for in situ prototyping of mixed reality environments. We discuss the initial design of MRCAT and iteration after a study (\(N = 14\)) to evaluate users’ abilities to craft AR applications with MRCAT and with a 2D prototyping tool. We contextualize our system in a case study of museum exhibit development, identifying how existing ideation and prototyping workflows could be bolstered with the approach offered by MRCAT. With our exploration of in situ prototyping, we enumerate key aspects both of AR application design and targeted domains that help guide design of more effective AR prototyping tools.
Rheological response of entangled isotactic polypropylene melts in strong shear flows: Edge fracture, flow curves, and normal stresses

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) melts are industrial semicrystalline polymers whose processing typically involves strong shear flows. The study of the rheological response of iPP melts, well beyond the linear viscoelastic limit, is limited by edge fracture, which manifests in rotational rheometers. In this work, we used a reflection polariscope under shear to detect the onset shear rate at which edge fracture is observed for various rotational rheometry fixture diameters. The onset shear rate for edge fracture was found to correlate with the zero-shear viscosity, thereby enabling the prediction of edge fracture by only knowing the zero-shear viscosity; a quantity that is easier to measure compared to the second normal stress difference. Edge fracture is then mitigated by using a cone-partitioned plate, which enabled the study of the first normal stress difference, and in combination with capillary rheometry, allowed the measurement of flow curves with a very well-resolved shear thinning region. For strongly polydisperse iPPs at high shear rates, we found that viscosity scales as the −0.7 power of the shear rate, while primary normal stress difference scales as the square root of the shear rate. The dependence of the shear thinning of iPPs on polydispersity was then unravelled, offering a broad set of data to develop and test molecular models.
Charting Change in the City: Urban Political Orders and Urban Political Development:

Cities matter. They are often the sites in which the helping hand and the clenched fist of the state makes first contact with the citizen. They are engines of national economic growth and, often, t...
Rising Income Inequality and Economic Growth…Are Americans Better Off? Evidence from Subjective Well-Being Data

A large portion of the real income gains from economic growth in the US since the 1970's have accrued to the top income quartile. We evaluate the equality-efficiency trade-off using subjective wellbeing data from the General Social Survey. Specifically, we estimate the parameter of inequality aversion within a neo-utilitarian framework of welfare analysis and calculate the Atkinson Inequality Index. We then use this to evaluate social welfare over the period 1974-2012. The analysis suggests that economic growth has been sufficient to raise social welfare despite the rising level of income inequality, but Americans have become more inequality averse over time.
Multiple GnRH Molecules, Phylogeny and Evolution

The hypophysiotropic GnRH molecule is found in hypothalamic and preoptic regions of vertebrate brains. This localization enables the GnRH neuroterminals to have access to the portal capillary system leading to the anterior pituitary, or directly to the pituitary gland itself in fish. While it was thought for many years that this was the only location of GnRH cells in the brain, at least two other populations of GnRH neurons have been discovered in the past decade. The hypophysiotropic GnRH neurons found in the preoptic area (POA)-anterior hypothalamus (AH) of most species are referred to here as the GnRH-1 system (see below for nomenclature). A second population, found predominantly in the midbrain is referred to as the GnRH-2 neurons. A terminal nerve/olfactory population of GnRH cells that is distinct from the other populations, henceforth called GnRH-3 cells, was recently identified in several species. In fact, two or even three distinct populations of GnRH cells have been identified in the brain of a single species. While the functions of the GnRH-2 and GnRH-3 cells are not understood, their localization and lack of a hypophysiotropic projection suggest a function distinct from gonadotropin release. It has been speculated that these latter cells play a role in the mediation of sexual behavior and pheromonal cues, although this is yet to be proven.
Colorectal Cancer Survivorship Management

An estimated 96,830 new cases of colon cancer and 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer occurred in 2014, according to the most recent estimates from the American Cancer Society. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the number of survivors of all types of cancer increased from 9.8 million in 2001 to 11.7 million in 2007, and about 10 % of these were survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC). By the year 2030, the number of patients with CRC is estimated to increase by as much as 30 %. Given these overwhelming demographic changes, it is extremely important to improve our understanding of the essential health care needs and management issues of long-term CRC survivors. The term “cancer survivor” is now commonly used to describe a person from the time of cancer diagnosis through the remaining years of life. This chapter addresses CRC survivorship care and management issues, including risk evaluation, proper staging, available treatment options, surveillance recommendations, quality of life concerns, and prevention of recurrence.
Making the Most of California's Correctional Education Reform: A Survey and Suggestions for Further Steps

This paper surveys California's correctional education reform, arguing for expanded services on the grounds that improved education reduces recidivism, saves money, and facilitates prisoner reentry. People with educational difficulties are more likely to end up members of the incarcerated population, and those who improve their educational status while incarcerated are less likely to commit future crimes. After exploring the widespread consensus that effective education for incarcerated individuals yields tangible and demonstrable benefits and examining national data on the educational deficits observable in incarcerated populations, the paper turns to an analysis of the current programming reform in California, advocating for careful data collection and analysis, universal assessment and programming participation, and the consideration of computer-facilitated education.
Red algal polysaccharide industry: economics and research status at the turn of the century

Commercial research priorities target production cost reduction and expansion of new applications for established products to increase profitability. Cost effective seaweed production for phycocolloids relies on: (1) species and strain selection, (2) vegetative reproduction, (3) improvements in cultivation, harvesting and drying and storage. Increasingly, present linear technologies based on consumption of raw materials and production of product, and waste, will be replaced by cyclic technologies which maximize utilization of waste as raw material resources. Co-production and synergistic product development are not only green, but cost effective. Transportation of resources and products is energy expensive, but regional production promises to reduce transportation costs. Marine phycologists have important roles to play in the phycocolloid industry, especially in the development of co-generation and co-production technologies, in the domestication of seaweed cultivars to remove harvest pressure on target species and sensitive ecosystems, and in the development of regional low technology production.
New geometric techniques for linear programming and graph partitioning

In this thesis, we advance a collection of new geometric techniques for the analysis of combinatorial algorithms. Using these techniques, we resolve several longstanding questions in the theory of linear programming, polytope theory; spectral graph theory, and graph partitioning. The thesis consists of two main parts. In the first part, which is joint work with Daniel Spielman, we present the first randomized polynomial-time simplex algorithm for linear programming, answering a question that has been open for over fifty years. Like the other known polynomial-time algorithms for linear programming; its running time depends polynomially on the number of bits used to represent its input. To do this, we begin by reducing the input linear program to a special form in which we merely need to certify boundedness of the linear program. As boundedness does not depend upon the right-hand-side vector, we run a modified version of the shadow-vertex simplex method in which we start with a random right-hand-side vector and then modify this vector during the course of the algorithm. This allows us to avoid bounding the diameter of the original polytope. Our analysis rests on a geometric statement of independent interest: given a polytope {x | A x ≤ b} in isotropic position, if one makes a polynomially small perturbation to b then the number of edges of the projection of the perturbed polytope onto a random 2-dimensional subspace is expected to be polynomial. In the second part of the thesis, we address two long-open questions about finding good separators in graphs of bounded genus and degree: (1) It is a classical result of Gilbert, Hutchinson, and Tarian [25] that one can find asymptotically optimal separators on these graphs if he is given both the graph and an embedding of it onto a low genus surface. Does there exist a simple, efficient algorithm to find these separators given only the graph and not the embedding? (2) In practice, spectral partitioning heuristics work extremely well on these graphs. Is there a theoretical reason why this should be the case? We resolve these two questions by showing that a simple spectral algorithm finds separators of cut ratio O( g/n ) and vertex bisectors of size O( gn ) in these graphs, both of which are optimal. As our main technical lemma, we prove an O(g/n) bound on the second smallest eigenvalue of the Laplacian of such graphs and show that this is tight, thereby resolving a conjecture of Spielman and Teng. While this lemma is essentially combinatorial in nature, its proof comes from continuous mathematics, drawing on the theory of circle packings and the geometry of compact Riemann surfaces. While the questions addressed in the two parts of the thesis are quite different, we show that a common methodology runs through their solutions. We believe that this methodology provides a powerful approach to the analysis of algorithms that will prove useful in a variety of broader contexts.
The human fibroblast receptor for gp86 of human cytomegalovirus is a phosphorylated glycoprotein.

Abstract A human embryonic lung (HEL) cell receptor for gp86 of human cytomegalovirus that functions in virus-cell fusion was further characterized. Anti-idiotype antibodies that mimic gp86 were used to immunoprecipitate the 92.5-kDa fibroblast membrane receptor for gp86, which was preincubated with various endoglycosidases. The receptor, which has a pI ranging from 5.3 to 5.6, appears to be a glycoprotein with primarily N-linked sugar residues, some of which have high concentrations of mannose and some of which are complex oligosaccharides. Western blots (immunoblots) of electrophoretically transferred receptor incubated with various biotinylated lectins confirmed the presence of sugar moieties, including N-acetylglucosamine, glucose or mannose, and galactose, but not fucose or N-acetylgalactosamine. This gp86 receptor from uninfected HEL cells also incorporated radiolabeled phosphate from orthophosphoric acid, indicating that it is a constitutively phosphorylated receptor.
Evaluation of PET/CT and Thallium-201 imaging for brain tumors vs. necrosis

2120 Objectives The added benefit of using both Thallium-201 SPECT/CT and F-18 FDG PET/CT for differentiating recurrent metastatic brain tumors from radiation necrosis gives the physicians the ability to adequately access the correct diagnosis and treatment for each patient. The purpose of this study is to show the benefits and correlation between these two imaging techniques. Methods During the study period 50 patients were identified who had been referred for evaluation of brain tumors or necrosis. These patients had a Thallium-201 SPECT/CT scan followed by a F-18 FDG PET/CT scan either the same day or in two separate appointments. The data was reviewed by nuclear medicine physicians. The SPECT/CT scan was performed by using a Phillips Precedence SPECT/CT camera while the PET/CT was performed on a GE Discovery LightSpeed PET/CT scanner. Results The results of the Thallium-201 SPECT/CT scans were compared to the F-18 FDG PET/CT results to determine if there was a correlation between the two studies. After comparing the diagnosis from both studies together of either radiation necrosis or tumor for each patient the diagnosis matched up for both Thallium-201 and PET/CT scans. Conclusions By analyzing images from Thallium-201 SPECT/CT and F-18 FDG PET/CT scans, physicians are better able to determine the best course of treatment for a patient and/or if surgery is needed. Also, surgeons are better able to locate lesions or necrotic tissue
Adipokines as novel biomarkers and regulators of the metabolic syndrome

Over the past two decades our view of adipose tissue has undergone a dramatic change from an inert energy storage tissue to an active endocrine organ. Adipose tissue communicates with other central and peripheral organs by synthesis and secretion of a host of molecules that we generally refer to as adipokines. The levels of some adipokines correlate with specific metabolic states and have the potential to impact directly upon the metabolic homeostasis of the system. A dysregulation of adipokines has been implicated in obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and an ever-growing larger list of pathological changes in a number of organs. Here, we review the recent progress regarding the synthesis, secretion, and physiological function of adipokines with perspectives on future directions and potential therapeutic goals.
Patient and clinic factors predictive of missed visits and inactive status in a multicenter clinical trial

Abstract Obtaining complete patient follow-up in clinical trials is important for the analysis of treatment results and for good patient care. Incomplete data can introduce bias into study results and can alter conclusions concerning treatment efficacy. The purpose of this study was to explore in a case-control design patient and clinic factors that may be associated with missed visits or inactive status within three clinical trials conducted as part of the Macular Photocoagulation Study. All inactive patients, all patients with any missed visits, and a random sample of patients with no missed visits were selected for interview. A total of 175 patients (60% of 292 selected) participated in the study. Two factors were found to be significantly associated (P 100 miles, in addition to health problems any time during follow-up and problems with travel costs, was found to be associated only with having any missed visits. This study emphasizes the importance of maintaing good patient-staff interactions and sensitivity to the events in a patient's life in order to obtain complete patient follow-up.
RECOGNITION AND ADHESION OF EMBRYONIC CELLS

To test the hypothesis that deviations in cell recognition and adhesion may be involved in abnormal development, chick embryonic cells were used to develop a quantitative assay for adhesive recognition and to investigate its molecular basis. The assay avoids dissociated cells containing altered surfaces, and is based upon the differential ability of preformed cell aggregates to bind to cultured cell layers. The proportion of aggregates bound was independent of the number added, was second-order with respect to time of incubation and this second order rate varied with the cell type. Adhesion between like types was greater than between unlike types, indicating that, the assay measures cell recognition. Modification of binding by varying incubation temperature, treatment with metabolic inhibitors and with varying concentrations of protein cross-linkers showed that adhesive recognition involves mobile elements embedded within the plasma membrane and is not dependent upon metabolic activity; that the elements involved in recognition differ from those involved in adhesion, and that the effect of these modifiers varied with the cell type. These data suggest that intercellular adhesive recognition is due to complementary surface components which differ in concentration on various cell types. Mouse fibroblasts showed similar adhesive recognition properties, possibly allowing analysis of these properties in fibroblasts from individuals with birth defects.
Norms of composition operators with rational symbol

We compute the norms of composition operators with rational symbols that satisfy certain properties, extending Christopher Hammond's methods on operators with linear fractional symbols. This leads to a host of new examples of composition operators whose norms are calculable.
A hybrid blob-slice model for accurate and efficient detection of fluorescence labeled nuclei in 3D

Background: To exploit the flood of data from advances in high throughput imaging of optically sectioned nuclei, image analysis methods need to correctly detect thousands of nuclei, ideally in real time. Variability in nuclear appearance and undersampled volumetric data make this a challenge. Results: We present a novel 3D nuclear identification method, which subdivides the problem, first segmenting nuclear slices within each 2D image plane, then using a shape model to assemble these slices into 3D nuclei. This hybrid 2D/3D approach allows accurate accounting for nuclear shape but exploits the clear 2D nuclear boundaries that are present in sectional slices to avoid the computational burden of fitting a complex shape model to volume data. When tested over C. elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish and mouse data, our method yielded 0 to 3.7% error, up to six times more accurate as well as being 30 times faster than published performances. We demonstrate our method’s potential by reconstructing the morphogenesis of the C. elegans pharynx. This is an important and much studied developmental process that could not previously be followed at this single cell level of detail. Conclusions: Because our approach is specialized for the characteristics of optically sectioned nuclear images, it can achieve superior accuracy in significantly less time than other approaches. Both of these characteristics are necessary for practical analysis of overwhelmingly large data sets where processing must be scalable to hundreds of thousands of cells and where the time cost of manual error correction makes it impossible to use data with high error rates. Our approach is fast, accurate, available as open source software and its learned shape model is easy to retrain. As our pharynx development example shows, these characteristics make single cell analysis relatively easy and will enable novel experimental methods utilizing complex data sets.
Hairy Cell Leukemia—New Genes, New Targets

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL), a B cell malignancy comprising 2 % of all leukemias, has become quite exciting recently with regard to the development of new targets for therapy. This review will focus on advancements made within the past 1–2 years in targeted therapy for this disease. These advances may be grouped into two very difference categories, namely targeting of CD22 with the recombinant immunotoxin moxetumomab pasudotox, and targeting of the mutated BRAF component of the MAP kinase pathway. Moxetumomab pasudotox in phase I testing was recently reported to be associated with an overall response rate of 86 % and a complete remission (CR) rate of 46 % in 28 patients with relapsed and refractory HCL. Many of the CRs are without minimal residual disease (MRD). Severe or dose limiting toxicity was not observed on this trial, but a completely reversible and largely asymptomatic form of grade 2 hemolytic uremic syndrome occurred in two patients during retreatment. This agent has commenced phase III multicenter testing to validate its phase I results. An extensive number of studies have documented the V600E mutation in nearly all HCL patients, but not in similar hematologic malignancies. The thymidine kinase inhibitor vemurafenib, which inhibits the V600E mutant of BRAF, was reported to induce a CR in multiply relapsed and refractory HCL, with nearly complete clearing of MRD. One additional partial and one additional complete remission were subsequently reported.
Targeting vasculature in urologic tumors: Mechanistic and therapeutic significance

Recent advances toward understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating cancer initiation and progression provide new insights into the therapeutic value of targeting tumor vascularity by interfering with angiogenic signaling pathways. The functional contribution of key angiogenic factors toward increased vascularity characterizing metastatic tumors and their therapeutic exploitation is considered in three major urologic malignancies, renal, bladder, and prostate cancer. With the realization that the success of the therapeutic efficacy of the various anti-angiogenic approaches for the treatment of urologic tumors has yet to be proven clinically, the challenge remains to select critical angiogenesis pathways that can be targeted for an individual tumor. Here we discuss the major mechanisms that support formation of vasculature in renal, bladder, and prostate tumors and the current results of targeting of specific molecules/regulators for therapeutic intervention against metastastic disease.
The Behavioral Consequences of HIV Testing: An Experimental Investigation

Abstract This research examines the behavioral consequences of HIV testing by focusing on whether and how members of a large, increasingly at-risk group (heterosexual young adults) alter their willingness to engage in risky sexual behavior on the basis of their awareness of their own and their potential partners’ HIV risk status. In particular, this research draws on an expected-utility model of risky sexual behavior to test its basic prediction that in certain conditions, changes in risk perceptions induced by HIV testing can result in an increase in risky sexual behavior. The results of two experimental studies using projective scenarios provide general support for the predictions that stem from the expected-utility model, particularly in conditions of low infection likelihood. Moreover, accounting for decision makers’ altruistic impulses in the risky-sex context enhances the descriptive validity of the economic model of risky sexual behavior.
Catalytic hydrogenation over platinum complexes with poly(vinylpyridine)s

Abstract Platinum complexes with poly(vinylpyridine) ligands have been studied as catalysts in the reaction of nitrobenzene and 2-propen-1-ol hydrogenation. Pretreatment of the complexes with NaBH4 causes the reduction of part of platinum into lower valent states (XPS data) and a decrease of catalytic activity of polymer-metal complexes. The structure of polymer ligands and the position of substituents on the pyridine ring of poly(vinylpyridine) have been shown to affect properties of obtained catalysts. A platinum complex with poly(2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine) was active in hydrogenation reaction.
Planning in the New York city police department—Politics and process

Abstract Criminal Justice Planning has been under increasing criticism in the last few years. Most recently, in the House and Senate Hearings which preceded the enactment of the Justice Systems Improvement Act of 1979, the requirement for comprehensive planning was considered by many to be ineffectual at best and a cumbersome burden at worst. By reexamining the planning process we may be able to gain some insight into the use, misuse, and potential of planning as an organizational tool and reassess what can be realistically expected. Through a case study of the way in which the NYCPD implemented and practiced formal planning in the three decades from 1948 to 1978, three problems can be identified. It has been very difficult to operationally define the term planning which has resulted in confusion, conflict, and criticism. There is an inherent conflict between the organization's survival needs and its rational planning processes. ‘Rational’ plans may not take account of changes in the political environment or may be distorted or subverted when implemented by field personnel. It appears that an unexpectedly long time may be necessary for fundamental systemic changes to be accepted in an organization. This means that in a ‘results oriented’ organization, where a plan is expected to ‘be successful’ in one to three years, plans may be discarded before they have been allowed sufficient time to develop. In addition to examining these issues, the study identifies and describes the various phases in the life cycle of the planning unit.
Experiments on dispersal: Short-term floatation of insular anoles, with a review of similar abilities in other terrestrial animals

The floatation ability of a common Carribean insular lizard, Anolis sagrei, was tested under controlled conditions in a laboratory seawater wave tank. Short-term passive floatation abilities are extensive: all 39 animals survived 1 h, and 30% of those tested were still afloat by 24 h.The survival times for anoles in seawater are much greater than those reported in the literature for the 19 species of small mammals tested in freshwater; only mediumsized mammals have comparable abilities. Floatation, unaided by rafts, is a likely means of dispersal for anoles and perhaps other lizards between nearby islands such as in the Bahamas. The literature on observed overwater dispersal distances in non-volant animals is tabulated; data are rather scarce.
Simultaneous adjustment of pH and total acidity in wine

Abstract An ion exchange procedure coupled with the use of KHCO 3 can be employed simultaneously to adjust the acidity and the pH of wines to predetermined values. The ion exchange procedure is used to deacidify a calculated portion of the wine whilst the KHCO 3 treatment is used primarily to adjust pH. The calculations employed take into consideration the buffer capacity of the wine and the stoichiometry of acidbase neutralisation phenomena. The acidity may be reduced 50% without adversely affecting the wine and the procedure is both commercially practical and economically feasible.
Evaluating an optimal gastric closure method for transgastric surgery

The transgastric approach is currently being studied as a potentially less invasive alternative to conventional laparoscopy for intra-abdominal surgery. A major obstacle to overcome is the closure of the transgastric incision in a rapid, reproducible, and safe manner. The effectiveness of various techniques for gastrotomy closure were compared by assessing leak pressures in an ex vivo porcine stomach model. Whole stomachs from adult white pigs were suspended in a Plexiglas box to facilitate endoscopic technique. Standard gastrotomies were made by needle knife incision and dilation with a controlled radial expansion (CRE) balloon. The first arm used standard QuickClips™; the second, a prototype device developed by LSI Solutions; the third, hand-sewn by a senior surgeon; the final, a control with open gastrotomy. Five stomachs were tested per study arm. After closure, each stomach was inflated by an automated pressure gauge. The pressures to achieve air leakage and liquid leakage were recorded. The unclosed controls demonstrated air leakage at a median pressure of 15 mmHg, representing baseline system resistance. The QuickClip closures leaked air at a median pressure of 33 mmHg. The prototype gastrotomy device yielded the highest median air leak pressure of 85 mmHg while dramatically diminishing time for incision and gastrotomy closure to approximately 5 min. The hand-sewn closures leaked air at a median pressure of 47 mmHg. Using Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis, the comparisons were significant (p = 0.0019). Post hoc paired comparisons using MULTTEST procedure with both Bonferroni and bootstrap adjustments revealed that the difference between prototype and clips was significant; prototype versus hand-sewn was not. Liquid-leak pressures produced similar results. The prototype device decreases procedure time and yields leak-resistant gastrotomy closures that are superior to clips and rival hand-sewn interrupted stitches.
Apollo 11 and 12 close-up photography

Abstract A special camera was designed and used on the Apollo 11 and 12 missions to record the appearance of the lunar surface. The chief purpose was to bring back information that could not be contained in the returned sample, such as fine detail in the deposition of the soil. The camera takes color stereo pictures capable of resolving 80 microns in a field of 7.6 × 8.3 cm. Seventeen pictures of excellent quality were obtained in the Apollo 11 mission and fifteen in the Apollo 12 mission. These pictures shed light on processes that have taken place on the lunar surface.