cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase I Study of Capecitabine With Concomitant Radiotherapy for Patients With Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Expression Analysis of Genes Related to Outcome

Purpose To establish the feasibility of capecitabine with concurrent radiotherapy (XRT) in patients with locally advanced (LA) pancreatic cancer and evaluate the effect of XRT on thymidine phosphorylase (TP), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Patients and Methods Fifteen patients with LA pancreatic cancer received three-dimensional conformal XRT to a dose of 50.4 Gy with capecitabine at escalating doses from 600 to 1,250 mg/m2 bid (Monday through Friday). Following chemo-XRT, stable and responding patients were treated with capecitabine 2,000 mg/m2 orally bid for 14 days every 21 days. Tumor specimens were procured with endoscopic ultrasound–guided fine-needle aspiration 1 week before and 2 weeks after chemo-XRT to evaluate TP, DPD, and TNF-α mRNA levels. Results Dose-limiting grade 3 diarrhea was observed in two of six patients treated at a capecitabine dose of 1,000 mg/m2 with XRT. Three patients (20%) achieved partial response. Mean percent difference in TP...
Posterior Cingulate Cortex Mediates Outcome-Contingent Allocation of Behavior

Adaptive decision making requires selecting an action and then monitoring its consequences to improve future decisions. The neuronal mechanisms supporting action evaluation and subsequent behavioral modification, however, remain poorly understood. To investigate the contribution of posterior cingulate cortex (CGp) to these processes, we recorded activity of single neurons in monkeys performing a gambling task in which the reward outcome of each choice strongly influenced subsequent choices. We found that CGp neurons signaled reward outcomes in a nonlinear fashion and that outcome-contingent modulations in firing rate persisted into subsequent trials. Moreover, firing rate on any one trial predicted switching to the alternative option on the next trial. Finally, microstimulation in CGp following risky choices promoted a preference reversal for the safe option on the following trial. Collectively, these results demonstrate that CGp directly contributes to the evaluative processes that support dynamic changes in decision making in volatile environments.
Computerized Measurement of Injection Tunes at the Zero Gradient Synchrotron

Half of the Zero Gradient Synchrotron (ZGS) ring is filled with a 1.0 microsecond, debunched beampulse from the linac. As the main magnetic field rises, particle orbits spiral inward. The difference signal from a pi induction electrode is used to obtain radial position data of the coasting beam as a function of time. A sharp cutoff bandpass filter passes betatron tune frequency components to a computing counter. The computing counter uses a resident software program to calculate tune values in real time. Data is available immediately which allows corrections to be made on line.
Completion pneumonectomy: outcomes for benign and malignant indications

Background Past series have identified completion pneumonectomy (CP) as a high-risk operation. We evaluated factors affecting outcomes of CP with a selective approach to offering this operation. Methods We analyzed a prospective institutional database and abstracted information on patients undergoing pneumonectomy. Patients undergoing CP were compared with those undergoing primary pneumonectomy (PP). Results Between January 2000 and February 2011, 211 patients underwent pneumonectomy, of which 35 (17%) were CPs. Ten of 35 (29%) CPs were for benign disease and 25 of 35 (71%) for cancer. Major perioperative morbidity was seen in 21 of 35 (60%) with 4 (11%) perioperative deaths. In univariate analysis, postoperative bronchopleural fistula ( p = 0.05) and benign diagnosis ( p = 0.07) tended to be associated with perioperative mortality. All 10 patients undergoing CP for benign disease developed a major complication compared with 11 of 25 (44%) with malignancy, p = 0.002. A bronchopleural fistula (4 of 35, 11%) was more likely to occur in patients undergoing CP shortly after the primary operation (interval between lobectomy and CP; 0.28 vs 4.5 years; p = 0.018) with a trend toward a benign indication for operation ( p = 0.07). Median survival after CP for benign and malignant indications was 24.3 months and 36.5 months, respectively. Comparing CP patients to those undergoing PP (n = 176), CP patients were more likely to undergo an operation for benign disease (10 of 35, 29% vs 14 of 176, 8%, p = 0.001). Perioperative mortality for PP was 10 of 176 (5.7%), and was statistically similar to CP (11%). Conclusions Despite a selective approach, CP remains a morbid operation, particularly for benign indications. Rigorous preoperative optimization, ruling out contraindications to operation and attention to technical detail, are recommended.
Guest Editors' Introduction: System IC Design Challenges beyond 32 nm

This special issue highlights ongoing research to address some of the challenges in the design of large ICs with dimensions well below 100 nm. The Gigascale Systems Research Center is organized around four themes and a design driver, and each is represented in this issue. There is also an exciting interview with Intel chair Craig Barrett. Accompanying the theme articles are three sidebars written by industry leaders (Richard Oehler of AMD, Ajith Amerasekera of Texas Instruments, and Leon Stok of IBM) on the challenges they see on the horizon, the paths being taken to address these challenges, and the role university programs can play. In addition, a Perspectives article by John Zolper discusses the value of this collaborative program to US national interests, including national security. Finally, there is a Last Byte column by the FCRP executive director Betsy Weitzman.
Bacterial Ammeline Metabolism via Guanine Deaminase

Melamine toxicity in mammals has been attributed to the blockage of kidney tubules by insoluble complexes of melamine with cyanuric acid or uric acid. Bacteria metabolize melamine via three consecutive deamination reactions to generate cyanuric acid. The second deamination reaction, in which ammeline is the substrate, is common to many bacteria, but the genes and enzymes responsible have not been previously identified. Here, we combined bioinformatics and experimental data to identify guanine deaminase as the enzyme responsible for this biotransformation. The ammeline degradation phenotype was demonstrated in wild-type Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas strains, including E. coli K12 and Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Bioinformatics analysis of these and other genomes led to the hypothesis that the ammeline deaminating enzyme was guanine deaminase. An E. coli guanine deaminase deletion mutant was deficient in ammeline deaminase activity, supporting the role of guanine deaminase in this reaction. Two guanine deaminases from disparate sources (Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 and Homo sapiens) that had available X-ray structures were purified to homogeneity and shown to catalyze ammeline deamination at rates sufficient to support bacterial growth on ammeline as a sole nitrogen source. In silico models of guanine deaminase active sites showed that ammeline could bind to guanine deaminase in a similar orientation to guanine, with a favorable docking score. Other members of the amidohydrolase superfamily that are not guanine deaminases were assayed in vitro, and none had substantial ammeline deaminase activity. The present study indicated that widespread guanine deaminases have a promiscuous activity allowing them to catalyze a key reaction in the bacterial transformation of melamine to cyanuric acid and potentially contribute to the toxicity of melamine.
Patient motion correction for multicamera SPECT using 360/spl deg/ acquisition/detector

Conventional partial orbit SPECT acquisition (90/spl deg/, 120/spl deg/ or 180/spl deg/ depending on number of camera heads) on multihead cameras enhance the problems caused by patient motion or change in organ position ("cardiac creep"), since the misplaced data are present at several intervals in the projection set. The authors investigated the effects of source motion and developed new image motion correction methods based on 360/spl deg/ acquisition of each detector on a three camera SPECT system. Experimental measurements with point sources and cardiac phantom were used to evaluate the influence of source motion on SPECT images. A point source phantom was rotated 5-30/spl deg/ CCW and moved axially 0.5-4.0 cm. A cardiac phantom was moved in laterally (0.5-4.0 cm) and in the axial direction (0.5-4.0 cm). Cross-correlation of images from different heads at the same angular position is used to detect and correct for motion. Two correction methods were investigated: (1) summation of complete 360/spl deg/ projection sets without correction, (2) time normalization of projection frames without motion to replace frames affected by motion. The first method corrects for small displacement of the source (<0.5 cm translation and <5/spl deg/ rotation). The second method significantly decreases degradation in image quality and can reduce or eliminate losses in accuracy of quantitative indices calculated from image data since uncorrupted data sets at each angular position are available and used for correction. The proposed method with 360/spl deg/ rotation successfully corrects for arbitrary motion (translations and/or rotations).
Metastatic disease producing internuclear ophthalmolplegia: a case report

Internuclear ophthalmoplegia is a neuro‐ophthalmological disorder of conjugate gaze, which can cause difficulty in both diagnosis and discovery of the underlying cause. It is characterised by unila...
Planktonic larval duration of one hundred species of Pacific and Atlantic damselfishes (Pomacentridae)

The plankton larval duration for 100 species of Pacific and Atlantic damselfishes was estimated from daily growth increments on the otolith of juvenile fish collected at various localities between July 1987 and September 1988. For newly-settled fishes, larval duration was determined by counting the entire number of increments present on the otolith, while for older juveniles estimates were made by counting the number of increments between the center of the otolith and a mark corresponding to settlement. We document the development of otolith formation during the period when eggs are incubated on the reef and show that daily increments are only accreted after larvae hatch and enter the planktonic phase. The planktonic larval duration for damselfish is shorter and less variable, both between and within species, compared to other groups of reef fishes such as wrasses and surgeonfishes. Larval duration ranged from 12 to 39 d. Average duration between species ranged from 13.1 to 35.2 d. The time spent in the plankton was not significantly correlated with geographic distribution when evaluated among species, however, genera with confined regional distribution have a shorter mean larval life than do widely distributed genera. Size at settlement was positively correlated with time spent in the plankton among species, but a significant correlation between these variables was only evident within one of ten species. The low variance in planktonic larval duration within species indicates that most damselfish are unable to delay metamorphosis following competency. This inability to postpone settlement limits the potential for dispersal, especially when dispersal time between suitable habitats is greater than about 30 d.
Explicit Simulation of Midlatitude Cumulus Ensembles: Comparison with ARM Data

Abstract This study describes some results from several simulations of cumulus ensembles at the Southern Great Plains site of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program during the July 1995 Intensive Observation Period (IOP). A 2D cloud ensemble model (CEM) is used to simulate the macroscopic properties of midlatitude cumulus ensembles. The observed large-scale, horizontal advective tendencies and large-scale vertical velocity or the total advective tendencies are used to drive the CEM, in addition to nudging of the simulated, domain-averaged horizontal wind components toward the observed winds. A detailed comparison with available observations and tropical convection is made in this study. In general, the CEM-simulated results agree reasonably well with the available observations from the July 1995 IOP. The differences between simulations and observations are, however, much larger than those obtained in tropical cases, especially those based on the Global Atmospheric Research Program Atlantic Tr...
Performing Nonlinear Blind Source Separation With Signal Invariants

Given a time series of multicomponent measurements x(t), the usual objective of nonlinear blind source separation (BSS) is to find a ?source? time series s(t), comprised of statistically independent combinations of the measured components. In this paper, the source time series is required to have a density function in (s, \mathdot s)-space that is equal to the product of density functions of individual components. This formulation of the BSS problem has a solution that is unique, up to permutations and component-wise transformations. Separability is shown to impose constraints on certain locally invariant (scalar) functions of x, which are derived from local higher-order correlations of the data's velocity \mathdot x. The data are separable if and only if they satisfy these constraints, and, if the constraints are satisfied, the sources can be explicitly constructed from the data. The method is illustrated by using it to recover the contents of two simultaneous speech-like sounds recorded with a single microphone.
A variational approach to Eulerian geometry processing

We present a purely Eulerian framework for geometry processing of surfaces and foliations. Contrary to current Eulerian methods used in graphics, we use conservative methods and a variational interpretation, offering a unified framework for routine surface operations such as smoothing, offsetting, and animation. Computations are performed on a fixed volumetric grid without recourse to Lagrangian techniques such as triangle meshes, particles, or path tracing. At the core of our approach is the use of the Coarea Formula to express area integrals over isosurfaces as volume integrals. This enables the simultaneous processing of multiple isosurfaces, while a single interface can be treated as the special case of a dense foliation. We show that our method is a powerful alternative to conventional geometric representations in delicate cases such as the handling of high-genus surfaces, weighted offsetting, foliation smoothing of medical datasets, and incompressible fluid animation.
NMR Shieldings and Electron Correlation Reveal Remarkable Behavior on the Part of the Flavin N5 Reactive Center

NMR calculations on oxidized lumiflavin using density functional theory (DFT) reveal that methods including electron correlation show significant improvements in the flavin carbon and nitrogen NMR shieldings over uncorrelated Hartree−Fock (HF) results. In particular, the GIAO B3PW91//B3PW91 cc-pVTZ NMR shielding of the important N5 reactive center shows an improvement of 60.7 ppm over GIAO HF//B3PW91 cc-pVTZ, bringing it to within 6.1 ppm of the solvent-corrected experimental value. While the N5 center becomes dramatically shielded upon going from HF to correlated NMR shieldings, with the exception of C10a, all other NMR resonances are systematically deshielded. The nitrogens N1, N3, and N10 become deshielded by 23−26 ppm, and carbons become deshielded by an average of 5.2 ppm, bringing them into better agreement with experiment. Similar results are obtained with the significantly smaller 6-311G(d,p) basis set. The effects of electron correlation through the flavin geometry are also evident. The geometrie...
Remedial Operation for Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Background Remedial surgery for patients with persistent or recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism (1° HPT) remains a significant challenge. Cervical reexploration is technically difficult; reoperative neck anatomy is distorted by fibrosis and, as a result, remedial 1° HPT patients carry an increased risk of injury to the recurrent (RLN) and superior laryngeal nerve(s) as well as to normal residual parathyroid tissue. Causative hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue is also more frequently ectopic in the remedial setting and can thus be difficult to localize.
The Nazis and the Nature Conservationists

(1987). The Nazis and the Nature Conservationists. The Historian: Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 508-538.
Use of a new availability index to evaluate the effect of policy changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on the food environment in New Orleans.

Objective Changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) occurred in 2009 when supplemental foods offered through the programme were updated to align with current dietary recommendations. The present study reports on a new index developed to monitor the retail environment’s adoption of these new food supply requirements in New Orleans. Design A 100-point WIC Availability Index (WIC-AI) was derived from new minimum state stocking requirements for WIC vendors. A sample of supermarkets, medium and small food stores was assessed in 2009 before changes were implemented and in 2010 after revisions had gone into effect. WIC-AI scores were utilized to compare differences in meeting requirements by store type, WIC vendor status and year of measurement. Setting Supermarkets, medium and small WIC and non-WIC food stores in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Results At baseline supermarkets had the highest median WIC-AI score (93·3) followed by medium (69·8) and small food stores (48·0). Small WIC stores had a higher median WIC-AI score at baseline than small non-WIC stores (66·9 v. 38·0). Both medium and small WIC stores significantly increased their median WIC-AI scores between 2009 and 2010 (P<0·01). The increased median WIC-AI score in small food stores was largely attributed to increased availability of cereals and grains, juices and fruit, and infant fruit and vegetables. Conclusions The WIC-AI is a simple tool useful in summarizing complex food store environment data and may be adapted for use in other states or a national level to inform food policy decisions and direction.
Transcriptomic comparison in the leaves of two aspen genotypes having similar carbon assimilation rates but different partitioning patterns under elevated [CO2].

Summary • This study compared the leaf transcription profiles, physiological characteristics and primary metabolites of two Populus tremuloides genotypes (clones 216 and 271) known to differ in their responses to long-term elevated [CO2] (e[CO2]) at the Aspen free-air CO2 enrichment site near Rhinelander, WI, USA. • The physiological responses of these clones were similar in terms of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and leaf area index under e[CO2], yet very different in terms of growth enhancement (0–10% in clone 216; 40–50% in clone 271). Although few genes responded to long-term exposure to e[CO2], the transcriptional activity of leaf e[CO2]-responsive genes was distinctly different between the clones, differentially impacting multiple pathways during both early and late growing seasons. • An analysis of transcript abundance and carbon/nitrogen biochemistry suggested that the CO2-responsive clone (271) partitions carbon into pathways associated with active defense/response to stress, carbohydrate/starch biosynthesis and subsequent growth. The CO2-unresponsive clone (216) partitions carbon into pathways associated with passive defense (e.g. lignin, phenylpropanoid) and cell wall thickening. • This study indicates that there is significant variation in expression patterns between different tree genotypes in response to long-term exposure to e[CO2]. Consequently, future efforts to improve productivity or other advantageous traits for carbon sequestration should include an examination of genetic variability in CO2 responsiveness.
Mild hypothermia alters propofol pharmacokinetics and increases the duration of action of atracurium

Mild intraoperative hypothermia is common. We therefore studied the effects of mild hypothermia on propofol pharmacokinetics, hepatic blood flow, and atracurium duration of action in healthy volunteers. Six young volunteers were studied on two randomly assigned days, at either 34 degrees C or 37 degrees C. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental, 3 mg/kg, and maintained with 70% N2O and 0.6% isoflurane. Core hypothermia was induced by conductive and convective cooling. On the other study day, normothermia was maintained by a Bair Hugger (Augustine Medical, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN) forced-air warmer. Propofol, 1 mg/kg lean body mass (LBM), then was given, followed by a 4-h infusion at 5 mg.kg-1.h-1. After 2 h, atracurium 0.5 mg/kg was administered as an intravenous bolus. Indocyanine green was administered for estimation of hepatic blood flow. Arterial blood was assayed for propofol and indocyanine green concentration. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using NONMEM. Results are reported as means +/- SEM. Propofol blood concentrations averaged approximately 28% more at 34 degrees C than at 37 degrees C (P < 0.05). Hepatic blood flow decreased 23% +/- 11% in normothermic volunteers during the propofol infusion, and 33% +/- 11% in hypothermic volunteers (P = not significant). A three-compartment mamillary model fitted the data best. Inclusion of hepatic blood flow change from the prepropofol baseline as a covariate for total body clearance significantly improved the fit. The intercompartmental clearances were decreased in the presence of hypothermia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Altered reward value of carbohydrate snacks for female smokers withdrawn from nicotine

Discontinuing nicotine intake usually results in weight gain partially due to heightened energy intake from between-meal snacks. This experiment tested the hypothesis that the reinforcing value of palatable carbohydrate-rich snacks increases for female smokers during nicotine deprivation. Eighteen smokers and 18 nonsmokers completed a concurrent-schedules operant computer task on two separate days. Smokers were bioverified abstinent at the second testing. The operant task allowed participants to earn points redeemable for either carbohydrate snacks or money on concurrent variable-ratio schedules of reinforcement. There were five different probabilities of earning points redeemable for snacks (8%, 16%, 25%, 50%, 75%), while the probability of earning points redeemable for money remained fixed at 25%. Reward value of snacks was measured by switch point: the reinforcement ratio at which the effort required to earn snacks exceeded their value to the respondent, as signified by a shift to working for money. Results showed that smokers undergoing nicotine deprivation persisted in working for snacks into leaner reinforcement schedules than nonsmokers (P=.026). Furthermore, nicotine deprivation increased smokers' allocation of effort to earn snack foods relative to their own behavior when smoking (P=.006). Variation in palatability or hunger did not explain these differences in snack reward value. Findings indicate that nicotine deprivation is associated with a heightened reward value of appealing snack foods for female smokers.
Posttraumatic Coping and Distress An Evaluation of Western Conceptualization of Trauma and Its Applicability to Chinese Culture

The current body of knowledge related to trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is primarily based on research conducted in Western nations. Thus, Western clinicians and researchers may know little about whether people from non-Western societies have similar reactions or symptom manifestations to specific traumatic events. Traditional Chinese health beliefs with their roots in Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism influence illness perception and affect coping behaviors of Chinese exposed to traumatic events. This article discusses compatible and incompatible aspects of the traditional Chinese health beliefs with Western beliefs about PTSD and examines how culture-based motivations may possibly impact emotional responses to traumatic events between American and Chinese cultures. This article also reviews the literature on the prevalence and applications of Western diagnostic criteria and measures of PTSD in contemporary Chinese populations and proposes suggestions for developing a culturally sensiti...
Outcomes of co-infection by two potyviruses: implications for the evolution of manipulative strategies

Recent studies have documented effects of plant viruses on host plants that appear to enhance transmission by insect vectors. But, almost no empirical work has explored the implications of such apparent manipulation for interactions among co-infecting pathogens. We examined single and mixed infections of two potyviruses, watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), that frequently co-occur in cucurbitaceae populations and share the same aphid vectors. We found that ZYMV isolates replicated at similar rates in single and mixed infections, whereas WMV strains accumulated to significantly lower levels in the presence of ZYMV. Furthermore, ZYMV induced changes in leaf colour and volatile emissions that enhanced aphid (Aphis gossypii) recruitment to infected plants. By contrast, WMV did not elicit strong effects on plant-aphid interactions. Nevertheless, WMV was still readily transmitted from mixed infections, despite fairing poorly in in-plant competition. These findings suggest that pathogen effects on host-vector interactions may well influence competition among co-infecting pathogens. For example, if non-manipulative pathogens benefit from the increased vector traffic elicited by manipulative competitors, their costs of competition may be mitigated to some extent. Conversely, the benefits of manipulation may be limited by free-rider effects in systems where there is strong competition among pathogens for host resources and/or access to vectors.
Reliability and redundancy in microprocessor controllers

Increasingly, the “Reliability” of microprocessor controllers is an important feature of the design. This is particularly so where a potential hazard to life is involved or where the financial or other penalties of the plant being out of service are high. Examples of industries where these factors are important are: aerospace, power generation (conventional and nuclear), oil/gas production facilities and air/rail tran sport.
Educating English Learners: Reconciling Bilingualism and Accountability

Since Congress enacted the Bilingual Education Act in 1968 as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), policymakers, educators and researchers have debated the use of the home language in the education of students identified as “English Learners.” In recent years, the language question appears to have receded, overtaken by the current national fixation on accountability. The discussion has moved from ”best practices” and the relative merits of dual language instruction to the pros and cons of testing and the feasibility of accommodating language differences in designing valid and reliable assessment tools. The pending reauthorization of the ESEA, and the productivity agenda driving that effort, together present a critical point for addressing these developments and their implications. In this essay, I attempt to reconcile the underlying tension between promoting the EL student’s bilingual potential and holding state and local educators accountable for student achievement. Striking a reasonable balance, I consider the diverse needs and backgrounds of this growing population. I outline essential factors for charting a federal role in affording English Learners an education that gives adequate weight to accountability while allowing local discretion to meet student needs and family preferences regarding home language instruction. And while federal law merely requires that states and school districts provide EL students with English proficiency and “meaningful participation” in the education program, I point to an increasing body of research supporting the benefits of dual language learning as a matter of policy. In the end, I present the child’s home language not as an inherent “deficiency” or barrier to social and economic advancement, as conventionally believed, but as a personal and national resource in a world where multilingual competencies carry political and economic currency.
Does MTV really do a good job of evaluating professors? An empirical test of the internet site RateMyProfessors.com

ABSTRACTConsiderable debate continues regarding the efficacy of the website RateMyProfessors.com (RMP). To date, however, virtually no direct, experimental research has been reported which directly bears on questions relating to sampling adequacy or item adequacy in producing what favorable correlations have been reported. The authors compare the data provided by RMP relative to experimentally controlled, systematically collected data that offers a more rigorous evaluation of the findings reported by RMP. Six equivalent undergraduate course sections with 252 students were systematically studied with respect to professor evaluations using simple RMP scales versus a more complex, multi-item scale. Major findings were twofold: (a) RMP samples were entirely inadequate to statistically project the evaluations of other students at conventionally accepted research levels; and (b) statistically significant differences between stated RMP scores compared to those using a more ample attribute approach were found, wi...
Options on Stock Indexes, Currencies, and Futures

Options on stock indexes, currencies, and futures all have something in common. In each of those cases, the holder of the option does not get the same thing that the holder of the underlying asset gets. This affects the value of the option. In this note, we cover the valuation implications of this for options on stock indexes, currencies, and futures.
Studies on the Site of Sex Pheromone Production in the Cockroach, Byrsotria fumigata

A site of production is proposed for the female sex pheromone of the cockroach, Byrsotria fumigata (Guerin). The digestive system and the colleterial glands were eliminated as possible sources of the attractant. The hypothesis that the genital atrium plays a major role in pheromone release is supported by a high correlation between the presence of plugs in the atrium and negative pheromone assays. Electrocautery of the epithelial lining of the atrium results in a partial or complete suppression of pheromone production. In pheromone-producing animals the distribution of epithelial cell types within the atrium is remarkably consistent whereas that of the non-producers deviates from this pattern. In producers, columnar epithelium of an actively secretory appearance becomes prominent along the middle of the roof of the genital atrium approximately 2000–2700 microns anterior to the posterior tip of the animal. A smaller group of ventral columnar cells 800–1600 microns anterior to this dorsal area also appears actively secretory. In cauterized non-producers these areas differ, appearing more anteriorly, with fewer, smaller cells.
Abstract 2004: Ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 regulates Bcl-2 in human cancer: A potential target for cancer therapy

Ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2) is an essential regulator of DNA synthesis and replication that plays an active role in tumor progression. B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) is an anti-apoptotic protein known to promote cell survival. Elevated levels of Bcl-2 have been observed in many cancer types that predict clinical drug resistance. Both RRM2 and Bcl-2 were identified as prognostic factors and indicators of poor patient outcome in several cancers. Therefore, we hypothesized that RRM2 and Bcl-2 proteins might have cooperative functions in cancer progression. We examined correlations of RRM2 and Bcl-2 protein in tissue samples of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by using quantum dots (QDs)-immunofluorescence (IHF) which allows quantification of biomarkers simultaneously in the same tissue slide. A total of 19 cases in each of HNSCC and NSCLC were analyzed. Spearman9s correlation coefficient was estimated to measure the relationship between these two proteins. Our data demonstrate highly significant positive correlation between RRM2 and Bcl-2 in both types of cancer (HNSCC: R=0.98, p-value Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2004. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2004
Deciphering the early history of a multiply reactivated fault using strain analysis in an adjacent fold: Evidence for early brittle-plastic slip on the Picuris-Pecos fault, New Mexico, USA

Determining the earliest history of a multiply reactivated fault is difficult, particularly when the rock record is incomplete and brittle deformation reorients strain markers. We present a method that incorporates strain analysis of an adjacent fold, inferred deformation temperatures, and published thermochronology to find the initiation age of the north-striking Picuris-Pecos fault of the southern Rocky Mountains (USA). The Picuris-Pecos fault has accommodated at least 37 km of dextral slip. The older east-trending Hondo syncline (New Mexico) is refolded adjacent to the fault and has a map pattern consistent with dextral drag. We analyzed quartz grain shapes, deformation mechanisms, and fractures within the Hondo syncline to determine if the refold is genetically related to the Picuris-Pecos fault. Nine calculated grain-shape ellipsoids predate refolding and are rotated about a vertical axis subparallel to strike of the refold limbs. Healed fractures and semibrittle microstructures are most abundant in the hinge of the refold and adjacent to the fault. We interpret refolding and slip on the Picuris-Pecos fault to have initiated during unroofing through the brittle-plastic transition (∼250–310 °C). Regional thermochronologic studies suggest that the rocks of the Hondo syncline were at this temperature range during the Grenville orogeny. The refold is probably a fault-propagation fold that predated throughgoing faulting, or possibly formed during dextral drag on the Picuris-Pecos fault. Refolding in the Picuris Range and the Truchas Mountains accounts for at least 2.6 km of the total dextral shear on the fault.
Inter-relationships between the severity of metabolic syndrome, insulin and adiponectin and their relationship to future type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Inter-relationships between the severity of metabolic syndrome, insulin and adiponectin and their relationship to future type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Improve the Health Care Macro-System through Micro-Marketing: A Physician/Marketer’s Viewpoint

The macro-marketing system that links medical consumers, providers, regulators and payors is perhaps more complex and difficult to manage than those involved with traditional consumer or industrial products. The complexities of the health care macro-marketing system are characterized through four sectors. Sector 1 in the system is composed of the INITIATORS of medical technologies and innovation such as medical research centers, universities, and the pharmaceutical firms as examples. Sector 2, the SUPPLIERS in the system, adapt the technologies and commercialize them for application in the medical delivery systems. Sector 3, the PROVIDERS, apply technologies which are made available to servicing the needs of the consumer market. Sector 4 is the health care CONSUMER who is the recipient of the end product of the systemic output which ideally is being targeted to provide the necessary diagnosis and treatment. Some threads traverse the entire system, these are the flows of payment at all levels (the patient seldom pays) and government regulations which affect activity in all sectors of the system. The application of marketing systems’ concepts has the potential to reconcile differences in health care delivery including such dilemmas as cost containment, distribution, and equality. As such, systems thinking can help redefine the issues in light of free enterprise and governmental roles, as well as provide a basis by which the health care recipient may participate in health care to a great extent.
Middle Lobe Torsion after Unilateral Lung Transplant

Lobar torsion is well documented after pneumonectomy, but is very rare after lung transplant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the twelfth reported case of lobar torsion after lung transplant. In our case, bronchoscopies and chest radiographs were inconclusive; however, CT scan clearly demonstrated findings consistent with right middle lobe torsion. We review the literature and discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation, imaging features, and treatment considerations for this condition. We also propose that if a clinical picture could be secondary to torsion and bronchoscopies and chest x ray are inconclusive that a CT scan should be obtained as soon as possible since early recognition increases the likelihood of being able to successfully detorse the lung and avoid lobectomy.
Resource deployment and donation allocation for epidemic outbreaks

Non-profit organizations play a central role in responding to the devastating consequences of epidemic outbreaks in developing economies. We propose an epidemic response model in resource-limited countries that determines the number, size, and location of treatment facilities, deploys critical medical staff, locates ambulances to triage points, and organizes the transportation of severely ill patients to treatment facilities. The model is based on the 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti and is general enough to be used for similar epidemic outbreaks. The model enables not-for-profit decision-makers to assess health care triage capabilities, transportation needs, and requirements for medical personnel staffing and deployment. We propose an algorithmic procedure using hierarchical constraints and valid inequalities that reduce the solution time by one order of magnitude. Additionally, we propose a framework that can be used to optimally allocate a donation, to determine a list of priorities for earmarked donations, and to perform a cost-benefit analysis of an intervention strategy financed by a donation. The model is formulated as a large integer problem with many symmetries. An extended analysis based on the 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti provides insights about: the criticality of the resources, the implementation of a balanced response strategy, the optimal allocation of resources in terms of the severity of the attack rate, and the benefits of the proposed response approach with respect to other intervention strategies.
Heinz First to Routinely Catheterize Carotid and Vertebral Arteries in America.

The 1967 article of Amundsen et al, “Cerebral Angiography via the Femoral Artery with Particular Reference to Cerebrovascular Disease,”[1][1] was chosen by the American Journal of Neuroradiology ( AJNR ) as the “Best Paper” in neuroradiology in 2003. Heinz and associates developed the
The Contribution of L-Type Cav1.3 Channels to Retinal Light Responses.

L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (LTCCs) regulate tonic neurotransmitter release from sensory neurons including retinal photoreceptors. There are three types of LTCCs (Cav1.2, Cav1.3, and Cav1.4) expressed in the retina. While Cav1.2 is expressed in all retinal cells including the Muller glia and neurons, Cav1.3 and Cav1.4 are expressed in the retinal neurons with Cav1.4 exclusively expressed in the photoreceptor synaptic terminals. Mutations in the gene encoding Cav1.4 cause incomplete X-linked congenital stationary night blindness in humans. Even though Cav1.3 is present in the photoreceptor inner segments and the synaptic terminals in various vertebrate species, its role in vision is unclear, since genetic alterations in Cav1.3 are not associated with severe vision impairment in humans or in Cav1.3-null (Cav1.3-/-) mice. However, a failure to regulate Cav1.3 was found in a mouse model of Usher syndrome, the most common cause of combined deafness and blindness in humans, indicating that Cav1.3 may contribute to retinal function. In this report, we combined physiological and morphological data to demonstrate the role of Cav1.3 in retinal physiology and function that has been undervalued thus far. Through ex vivo and in vivo electroretinogram (ERG) recordings and immunohistochemical staining, we found that Cav1.3 plays a role in retinal light responses and synaptic plasticity. Pharmacological inhibition of Cav1.3 decreased ex vivo ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes. In Cav1.3-/- mice, their scotopic ERG a-, b-wave, and oscillatory potential amplitudes were significantly dampened, and implicit times were delayed compared to the wild type (WT). Furthermore, the density of ribbon synapses was reduced in the outer plexiform layer of Cav1.3-/- mice retinas. Hence, Cav1.3 plays a more prominent role in retinal physiology and function than previously reported.
Technocrats and the politics of drought and development in twentieth-century Brazil

Historian Eve Buckley wants readers to think hard about the underlying theme of “tech solves”. In Technocrats and the Politics of Drought and Development in Twentieth-Century Brazil, Buckley explor...
Exploring Sensory Neuroscience Through Experience and Experiment

Many phenomena that we take for granted are illusions — color and motion on a TV or computer monitor, for example, or the impression of space in a stereo music recording. Even the stable image that we perceive when looking directly at the real world is illusory. One of the important lessons from sensory neuroscience is that our perception of the world is constructed rather than received. Sensory illusions effectively capture student interest, but how do you then move on to substantive discussion of neuroscience? This article illustrates several illusions, attempts to connect them to neuroscience, and shows how students can explore and experiment with them. Even when (as is often the case) there is no agreed-upon mechanistic explanation for an illusion, students can form hypotheses and test them by manipulating stimuli and measuring their effects. In effect, students can experiment with illusions using themselves as subjects.
Making the Shift to a Co-Teaching Model of Instruction: Considering Relational Trust as a Precursor to Collaboration:

Collaboration among teachers is necessary for school improvement efforts. In the case below, a high school shifts its instructional model to include students with disabilities in general education ...
Regulating Freeriding in Inter-Operator Spectrum Sharing

Existing spectrum regulation policies are based on static spectrum allocations, and sharing of the spectrum bands is only allowed on a secondary basis when the primary user is idle. Taking spectrum sharing between providers to a "primary" level, where sharing could happen among users of primary providers, involves two challenges. First, new regulatory approaches must be embraced to incentivize and encourage providers to share their spectrum resources with customers of other providers. Second, freeriding in such ubiquitously shared markets must be minimized, as a small provider may not be motivated in investing to compete with other providers since its users may already being served by other strong providers. For the former, we consider a government subsidy-based spectrum sharing (SBSS) model where providers are explicitly incentivized. For the latter, we focus on minimizing freeriding in SBSS markets where sharing is pervasive and at the primary level. We introduce a game-theoretic model of freeriding under SBSS markets and use the model to explore operational regimes with minimal freeriding.
CSF Cytokines in Aging, Multiple Sclerosis, and Dementia

Inflammation is a common process involved in aging, multiple sclerosis (MS), and age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), but there is limited evidence for the effects of aging on inflammation in the central nervous system. We collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 105 healthy control subjects representing a wide age range (23-86), and analyzed levels of cytokines associated innate immunity (TNF-α) and different T-helper subtypes: interferon-gamma induced protein 10 (IP-10) for Th1, interleukin-10 (IL-10) for Th2, and interleukin 8 (IL-8/CXCL8) for Th17. We show that CSF levels of TNF-α, IP-10, and IL-8 all increased linearly with age, but levels of IL-10 demonstrated a U-shaped relationship with age. We further found greater age-related increases in TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-8 relative to increases in IP-10 levels, consistent with a shift from Th1 to other inflammatory phenotypes. Finally, when we analyzed the same four cytokines in people with neurological disorders, we found that MS and AD, but not PD or dementia with Lewy bodies, further accentuated the age-related shift from Th1- to non-Th1-related cytokines. We propose that CSF cytokine levels represent powerful surrogates of brain inflammation and aging, and some, but not all, neurological disorders accelerate the shift away from Th1 phenotypes.
Are You There?: Identifying Unavailability in Mobile Messaging

Delays in response to mobile messages can cause negative emotions in message senders and can affect an individual's social relationships. Recipients, too, feel a pressure to respond even during inopportune moments. A messaging assistant which could respond with relevant contextual information on behalf of individuals while they are unavailable might reduce the pressure to respond immediately and help put the sender at ease. By modelling attentiveness to messaging, we aim to (1) predict instances when a user is not able to attend to an incoming message within reasonable time and (2) identify what contextual factors can explain the user's attentiveness---or lack thereof---to messaging. In this work, we investigate two approaches to modelling attentiveness: a general approach in which data from a group of users is combined to form a single model for all users; and a personalized approach, in which an individual model is created for each user. Evaluating both models, we observed that on average, with just seven days of training data, the personalized model can outperform the generalized model in terms of both accuracy and F-measure for predicting inattentiveness. Further, we observed that in majority of cases, the messaging patterns identified by the attentiveness models varied widely across users. For example, the top feature in the generalized model appeared in the top five features for only 41% of the individual personalized models.
Comparison of Common Amplitude Metrics in Event-Related Potential Analysis

Waveform data resulting from time-intensive longitudinal designs require careful treatment. In particular, the statistical properties of summary metrics in this area are crucial. We draw on event-r...