cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New players in haemostasis and thrombosis

The blood coagulation cascade is essential for haemostasis, but excessive activation can cause thrombosis. Importantly, recent studies have identified factors that contribute to thrombosis but not haemostasis. These include factor XII (FXII), tissue factor-positive microparticles (MPs) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Studies have shown that FXII plays a role in thrombosis but not haemostasis. FXII is activated in vivo by a variety of negatively-charged polyphosphates, which include extracellular RNA, DNA and inorganic polyphosphate (PolyP) that are released during cell damage and infection. These findings have led to the development of nucleic acid-binding polymers as a new class of anticoagulant drug. Other studies have analysed the role of MPs in experimental thrombosis. MPs are small membrane vesicles released from activated or apoptotic cells. We and others have found that tissue factor-positive MPs enhance thrombosis in mouse models and are elevated in the plasma of pancreatic cancer patients. Finally, NETs have been shown to contribute to experimental venous thrombosis in mouse models and are present in human thrombi. NETs are composed of chromatin fibers that are released from neutrophils undergoing cell death. NETs can capture platelets and increase fibrin deposition. The recent advances in our understanding of the factors contributing to thrombosis in animal models provide new opportunities for the development of safer anticoagulant drugs.
CHLOROPHYLL LEVELS AND LEAF ULTRASTRUCTURE AS ECOTYPIC CHARACTERS IN XANTHIUM STRUMARIUM L.

A B S T R A C T Comparison of six different populations of Xanthiun str-umarium grown under controlled laboratory conditions revealed a general pattern of greater chlorophyll levels with increase in latitude of origin. Indications of ultrastructural differences were found, with plants containing greater chlorophyll levels having more chloroplasts with greater membrane development compared to plants of this species from more southern or lower latittude habitats. IN RECENT YEARS emphasis has been placed on research efforts to understand the mechanisms of adaptation found in ecological races. Hiesey and
Enhancement of amniotic cyclooxygenase type 2 activity in women with preterm delivery associated with twinsor polyhydramnios

Abstract Objective: We tested the hypothesis that preterm delivery in women with twins or polyhydramnios is associated with enhanced expression and activity of cyclooxygenase type 2 in the amnion. Study Design: We obtained amniotic tissue samples from women undergoing preterm delivery complicated by either twins or polyhydramnios and also from women undergoing preterm cesarean delivery before or after labor. We measured amniotic prostaglandin E 2 content and determined cyclooxygenase type 1 and type 2 expressions. We inhibited cyclooxygenase type 1 and type 2 activities with selective inhibitors. Results: Preterm delivery attributed to twins or polyhydramnios was associated with higher prostaglandin E 2 production and enhanced amniotic expression of cyclooxygenase type 2. In contrast, cyclooxygenase type 1 expression was unchanged. Incubation of amniotic samples in vitro with either indomethacin or the selective cyclooxygenase type 2 inhibitor SC-236, but not with the cyclooxygenase type 1 inhibitor SC-560, effectively reduced prostaglandin E 2 production. Conclusion: Preterm delivery related to multiple gestation or polyhydramnios was associated with enhanced amniotic expression and activity of cyclooxygenase type 2. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:117-22.)
Electrocardiographic and Cineangiographic Correlations in Assessment of the Location, Nature and Extent of Abnormal Left Ventricular Segmental Contraction in Coronary Artery Disease

The relationship between the resting electrocardiogram and left ventricular contractile pattern, as documented by angiography, was evaluated in 123 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent left ventriculography. Dyssynergy was present in 73/77 (95%) patients with pathologic Q waves on ECG recordings in contrast to 11/46 ( 24%; P P 3 and 58% to V 5 or V 6 ; P P P P
Multi-proxy paleolimnological assessment of biogeochemical versus food web controls on the trophic states of two shallow, mesotrophic lakes

The frequency of nuisance algal blooms has been increasing during the last two decades in the shallow, headwater East Pond (Smithfield, Maine, USA). Meanwhile, the hydrologically linked North Pond has not experienced an increase in algal blooms, despite similar morphometry and higher external nutrient loads. Possible explanations for this difference include stronger trophic cascade effects from planktivorous white perch (Morone americana) in East Pond as well as differences in phosphorus (P) release from the sediments of these two lakes. We conducted a paleolimnological investigation of these two lakes to assess whether sedimentary evidence supported trophic cascade effects based on cladoceran ephippia size, diatom fossils, and fossil pigments or biogeochemical controls based on potential sedimentary P release as the primary driver of these increased algal blooms in East Pond. At the time of white perch introduction (~1930–1950), ephippia size increases in East Pond, although no changes are observed in either diatom abundance or trends in the algal pigments. Instead, algal pigments increase in recent decades (~1980 to present) along with an increase in diatom taxa with higher TP optima These results suggest that predation by white perch is not resulting in top-down effects on algal abundance in East Pond, as predicted by the trophic cascade hypothesis. While the P content of sediments from both lakes is relatively equal, the releasable P in the top 10 cm of sediment in East Pond constitutes a greater percentage of the P extracted. Also, North Pond sediments exhibit a greater capacity to permanently bury P via the mechanisms of sorption to Al(OH)3(s) and a slower mineralization of organic P compounds. The results of this investigation suggest that the ultimate driver of the recent algal blooms in East Pond is internal P release from the sediments instead of trophic cascade effects.
Vortex dynamics and decay of supercurrent in 2-D superconductors

The decay of supercurrent in a 2-d superconductor through the homogenous quantum nucleation of vortex-antivortex pairs is formulated as a (2+1)-d scalar quantum electrodynamic problem. The calculation of the quantum decay rate can then be simplified to the usual single particle WKB calculation. We show explicitly that the homogeneous quantum nucleation of vortex-antivortex pairs is incompatible to the existence of the magnus force in the absence of dissipation, and point out more complicated nucleation processes needed to be studied by the vortex dynamics method in such case.
Jefferson Lab 12 GeV Science Program

The Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) and associated experimental equipment at Jefferson Lab are presently being upgraded, which will enable a new experimental program with substantial discovery potential to address important topics in nuclear, hadronic, and electroweak physics. Further in the future, it is envisioned that the Laboratory will evolve into an electron-ion colliding beam facility.
Souvenirs of a Career

She would be 48 years old now and might have teens of her own. Something tells me she was a survivor and has been able to put it behind her. It was over 30 years ago, in my first year of emergency medicine. Ironically, it was the first rape exam I ever did, and still the most memorable. With the help of a good emergency nurse, far more experienced than me, I was able to muddle my way through the kit. It’s hard to imagine now, but I was yet to become the jaded, cynical, and calloused guy I am today. I remember being deeply touched by the story of the innocent 16-year-old girl, in a way that I don’t think is even possible nowadays. Not only raped repeatedly, but then taken on the streets to sell her body to others . . . . I tried to be caring and supportive, and I remember being impressed by her composure, despite it all. Later, in a waiting room at court as an impending witness, I saw that same girl thrice go into the hostile courtroom to tell her story. After each session, she emerged in tears, composed herself, and went back in. I admired her courage then and still do today. I’m proud that my testimony helped her get a measure of justice that day. I never saw her again. Later, I got a thank-you card with her picture, sent by her father. I treasure it still, in a file I reserve for those infrequent notes and gratitude of our patients. In that same file, I have an unusual letter from an attorney, not looking to sue me, but rather retained by the appreciative elderly father of my patient. The attorney was instructed to find and distribute small monetary gifts to the doctors who took the time to find him and call him in rural Mississippi. I had phoned him with the sad news he knew he would one day get with a son who was a slave to the drink. We had talked for a while, as much as my workload had allowed, father to father. He told me E
Analyse des GIBBS'schen Adsorptionstheorems†

The author has shown previously that three of the independent derivations of the GIBBS adsorption theorem, namely the ones by GOUY & MILNER, by GUGGENHEIM and by FOWLER & GUGGENHEIM, are invalid. It has also been shown that a totally different adsorption relation by J. J. THOMSON is extant and this relation has been extended to a completely general form. Finally it has been indicated that all remaining independent derivations have the starting relation and certain assumptions regarding this relation in common with the original GIBBS' derivation.
Private Cities: Global and Local Perspectives – By Georg Glasze, Chris Webster and Klaus Frantz; Gated Communities – By Rowland Atkinson and Sarah Blandy

The article reviews the books “Private Cities: Global and Local Perspectives," by Georg Glasze, Chris Webster, and Klaus Frantz, and "Gated Communities," by Rowland Atkinson and Sarah Blandy.
Incidence of deep vein thrombosis after arthroscopic knee surgery: A prospective study

Abstract Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with subsequent pulmonary emboli (PE) is the most life-threatening complication of knee arthroscopy. Although the incidence of clinically diagnosed DVT after arthroscopy is low, clinical examination is less sensitive and specific than other diagnositc modalities for the detection of venous clot. This study used compression ultrasound to prospectively evaluate patients before and after arthroscopic surgery for the presence of DVT. Preoperatively, patients were screened for DVT risk factors. Eighty-five patients completed the study. Three asymptomatic "silent" DVTs were identified, for an incidence of 3.5%. There was no statistically significant difference between those with and without risk factors for the development of DVT.
The accuracy of lay integrity assessments in simulated employment interviews

Abstract Two studies were conducted to determine if lay judges could accurately assess another individual’s integrity level when using overt and covert integrity inventories. In Study 1, participants took part in simulated employment interviews and then both the participants and lay interviewers completed an overt integrity test comparable to the Reid Report integrity survey [Reid London House. (2004). Abbreviated Reid Report. Minneapolis, MN: NCS Pearson]. Self-lay judge agreement and peer-lay judge agreement were used as the criteria for accuracy. In Study 2, participants took part in either a simulated structured, unstructured or informal employment interview format and completed both overt and covert integrity inventories. The results suggest that lay judges (as well as acquaintances) are fairly accurate in assessing others’ integrity levels based upon a very brief 10-min interaction with an individual, when using either an overt or covert integrity inventory. The findings also suggest that the informal interview format can significantly enhance the accuracy of a lay-judge’s assessment of the participant’s integrity level when a covert measure of integrity is used.
Probability learning and attitude toward women as a function of monetary risk, gain, and sex

When prediction involved the risk of losing a small amount of money, college students achieved statistical maximizing on a probability learning task. The possibility of winning the same small amount of money was less effective. Males outperformed females on the probability learning task. This was unrelated to the literalness of subjects’ scores on the attitudes toward women scale, but the latter scores were affected by the sex of the subject and experimenter. Specifically, women seemed to score according to “demand characteristics, ” that is, according to what a male or female experimenter might expect of them; whereas men tested by women seemed to show the “screw you” effect, that is, they scored more conservatively than when tested by a male.
Electrical properties of carbon-doped amorphous boron films☆

Abstract Resistivity, EPR, and Poole-Frenkel Effect were investigated in amorphous boron films containing up to 16 at.% carbon. The resistivity increases with carbon content while the EPR signal remains essentially unchanged. The increase in resistivity is discussed in terms of a compensation model.
Effects of Halothane on the Acetylcholine Receptor Channel in Cultured Xenopus Myocytes

General anesthetics, regardless of their molecular structure, cause disordering of membrane lipids and are believed to increase membrane fluidity (1, 2). General anesthetics also reduce the amplitude and time course of nerve-evoked endplate depolarization (3). The latter effect results from an increase in the decay rate of endplate currents, presumably due to the shortening of AChR channel open times. We have used the patch clamp technique (4) to determine what effects the volatile anesthestic, halothane, may have on the properties of single acetylcholine receptor (AChR) channels.
The Impact of Cobranding on Customer Evaluation of Brand Counterextensions

A brand that successfully extends from its parent category into a new extension category often faces a counterextension by a brand from the extension category back into its own parent category. However, there is little guidance available on how brand extension strategies should be adjusted to mitigate the risk to the parent brand from counterextensions. This research examines the differential impact of cobranded versus solo-branded extensions on customer evaluations of brand counterextensions. It demonstrates that customers evaluate a counterextension less favorably if the preceding extension by the focal brand is cobranded than if it is solo branded. The findings suggest that cobranding not only improves the attribute profile of a brand’s own extension but also helps protect the brand against counterextensions.
Bone marrow diffusion measures correlate with dementia severity in HIV patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Escalation in monocyte trafficking from the bone marrow into the brain may play a critical role in central nervous system injury and cognitive deterioration in patients with HIV infection. This study tested the hypothesis that the mean diffusivity is sensitive to marrow changes in HIV patients and that these quantitative imaging measurements correlate with the severity of dementia. METHODS: The mean diffusivity (MD), determined for clival and calvarial marrow regions, was compared in 11 HIV-infected patients and 9 control subjects. The imaging measurements were also evaluated for relationships with dementia severity and markers of disease progression (CD4 and viral load in plasma). RESULTS: The MD was significantly reduced in both clival and calvarial marrow in HIV-infected patients ( P =.006). Diffusion measurements for clival ( P =.02) and for calvarial ( P =.03) regions were significantly correlated with the severity of dementia. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation support the utility of diffusion strategies for monitoring the marrow and provide further evidence of a relationship between marrow status changes and neurologic progression in HIV patients.
Designing Landscapes for Performance Based on Emerging Principles in Landscape Ecology

We have proposed a framework for transforming landscapes to improve performance by integrating ecological principles into landscape design. This effort would focus on the development of multifunctional landscapes, guided by the rapidly growing knowledge base of ecosystem services provided by landscape features. Although the conventional approach to landscape ecology is based on a model that assumes poor ecological quality in the human-dominated matrix, a review of recent literature reveals important opportunities to improve the quality of the landscape matrix by increasing spatial heterogeneity through the addition of seminatural landscape elements designed to provide multiple ecosystem services. Taken alone, these individual elements might not appear to have a large impact on the environment, but when considered together within the entire landscape, the contribution could be significant, particularly when these elements are intentionally designed to improve landscape performance. Previous attention has focused on the value of large patches of native vegetation for conservation efforts. These efforts have included preserving those areas that still remain, restoring those that once existed, and providing connectivity between them. But great opportunities exist to improve the quality of the matrix by designing multifunctional elements throughout the landscape. Through a synthesis of knowledge in landscape architecture and landscape ecology, we have demonstrated some important applications of the landscape performance framework in urban and agricultural settings. Based on a review of the literature, we have suggested several methods of evaluating and monitoring landscape performance to determine the relative success of a designed landscape.
A DME based area navigation systems for GPS/WAAS interference mitigation in general aviation applications

The Federal Aviation Administration is leading the National Airspace System modernization effort, in part by supplanting traditional air traffic services with GPS aided by the wide and local area augmentation systems (WAAS & LAAS). Making GPS the sole-means of navigation will enhance safety, flexibility and efficiency of operations for all aircraft ranging from the single engine general aviation aircraft to the complex commercial jet-liners. This transformation of the National Airspace System will be gradual and the build-up to a sole-means GPS capability is expected to occur concurrently with the de-commissioning of a significant number of existing ground-based navigational facilities. Temporary interruptions of GPS services due to intentional or unintentional interference during this transition period could present significant problems for general aviation aircraft. To successfully deal with such outage scenarios, this paper discusses the use of an existing radio-navigation aid, the distance measuring equipment (DME), to provide a redundant navigation system alongside GPS/WAAS during this phase out period. Specifically, a system that fuses a low-end DME receiver with low cost dead-reckoning sensors (inertial, air-data and magnetometers) is shown to provide an affordable area navigation capability for general aviation users. The justification for choosing DME over other ground based navigational aids is discussed. This back-up system allows a reduction of the number of operational radio-navigation aids required while still providing adequate coverage for navigation during the transition to a sole-means GPS National Airspace System.
Efficient grasping from RGBD images: Learning using a new rectangle representation

Given an image and an aligned depth map of an object, our goal is to estimate the full 7-dimensional gripper configuration—its 3D location, 3D orientation and the gripper opening width. Recently, learning algorithms have been successfully applied to grasp novel objects—ones not seen by the robot before. While these approaches use low-dimensional representations such as a ‘grasping point’ or a ‘pair of points’ that are perhaps easier to learn, they only partly represent the gripper configuration and hence are sub-optimal. We propose to learn a new ‘grasping rectangle’ representation: an oriented rectangle in the image plane. It takes into account the location, the orientation as well as the gripper opening width. However, inference with such a representation is computationally expensive. In this work, we present a two step process in which the first step prunes the search space efficiently using certain features that are fast to compute. For the remaining few cases, the second step uses advanced features to accurately select a good grasp. In our extensive experiments, we show that our robot successfully uses our algorithm to pick up a variety of novel objects.
Balanced Factorial Designs for cDNA Microarray Experiments

Balanced factorial designs are introduced for cDNA microarray experiments. Single replicate designs obtained using the classical method of confounding are shown to be particularly useful for deriving suitable balanced designs for cDNA microarrays. Classical factorial designs obtained using methods other than the method of confounding are also shown to be useful. The paper provides a systematic method of deriving designs for microarray experiments as opposed to algorithmic and ad-hoc methods and generalizes several of the microarray designs given recently in the literature.
Priority ratings in more than one dimension

This paper presents certain theoretical and empirical results for problems which involve the assignment of priority ratings or indicators of military worth, where either several of these ratings must be aggregated or the outcome is to be evaluated by a multi-valued criterion. The first portion of the paper contains a discussion of the logic of the problem and the axiomatic structure of a desirable solution. The second section includes the results of an experiment in which random demands were processed by running them through a model supply system using several alternative systems of priorities.
The effect of damage nucleation on the toughness of an adhesive joint

Abstract The intrinsic toughness of an adhesive joint has been shown to be different depending on whether the adherends remain elastic or deform in a plastic fashion. This phenomenon occurs because the different constraint imposed by the adherends results in a change in the deformation mechanisms of the adhesive layer. In the elastic geometry, damage nucleation occurs when the stresses in the adhesive layer reach a critical value before the conditions for fracture are met. Void growth then leads to large-scale bridging across the adhesive layer and an increase in the measured toughness. In contrast to this behavior, the reduced constraint associated with adherends that are thin enough to deform plastically allows the fracture criterion to be met before damage nucleation occurs. There is then no bridging contribution to the toughness. The effect of damage in an adhesive layer can be viewed either as a bridging zone behind the crack tip, or as an extended cohesive zone ahead of the crack tip. The toughness ...
Optimal Runge-Kutta Methods for First Order Pseudospectral Operators

New Runge?Kutta methods for method of lines solution of systems of ordinary differential equations arising from discretizations of spatial derivatives in hyperbolic equations, by Chebyshev or modified Chebyshev methods, are introduced. These Runge?Kutta methods optimize the time step necessary for stable solutions, while holding dispersion and dissipation fixed. It is found that maximizing dispersion minimizes dissipation, and vice versa. Optimal methods with respect to large stability intervals on the imaginary axis and with respect to the eigenvalue spectra of the underlying pseudospectral discretizations are developed. In the latter case, stability regions are optimized to include the outliers of the spatial operators. Performance on a model problem in computational aeroacoustics is evaluated. The optimized schemes have two more function evaluations per timestep than the standard fourth order Runge?Kutta method, but allow timesteps up to 1.7 times larger. Moreover, dissipation and dispersion are reduced.
Puzzling, and puzzling about puzzle development

This paper has two roles in this collection. First, it illustrates Exploratory Practice (EP) in action, with two classroom investigations. Secondly, it goes further, and throws light on the key mechanism of EP (see Allwright, this issue, Sections III.1(d) and IV.2) - puzzlement. It thus presents two different puzzling processes, the EP process as set out in the introductory paper to this issue, and a meta-process of puzzling about our own puzzlement processes. First, we carried out separate research studies as EP practitioners, with one of us investigating the puzzle, ‘does the dictionary really help our students to understand the text?’, and the other investigating the puzzle, ‘why do my students translate words even when they’ve already understood their meanings in English?’ Then we puzzled about the process of puzzle development itself. This further investigation contributed, we believe, to a better understanding about how intra and inter puzzlement processes can be integrated. Our emerging understandi...
A framework for quality versus efficiency tradeoffs in STFT analysis

A framework is presented for increasing the computational efficiency of STFT analysis by sacrificing the quality of each signal frame's DFT in terms of SNR, frequency resolution, and frequency coverage. The resulting algorithms are dominated by a frame-adaptive vector summation process designed to ensure that the number of additions per frame does not exceed any desired limit. >
Review: Pearson, Remaking Custom: Law and Identity in the Early American Republic

This book review appears in 30 Law & History Review 290 (2012). The Review distills and contextualizes the main arguments set forth in Ellen Holmes Pearson's book Remaking Custom (2011), an important study examining the writings of American legal scholars from the 1790s to the 1830s and the role those scholars played in the formation of an American legal "identity." The Review concludes with a few critical observations on Pearson's book.
Legal Aspects of Epilepsy

Legal issues must be considered in caring for patients with epilepsy. Doctors caring for people with epilepsy may be legally involved in three primary ways: as the agent of social control, as patient advocate, and as the target of liability or malpractice suits.
MOLECULAR HETEROCHRONIES AND HETEROTOPIES IN EARLY ECHINOID DEVELOPMENT

By comparing the spatial and temporal distribution of three proteins during early development in seven echinoid species, we demonstrate that both heterochronies and heterotopies in gene-product expression have accompanied the radiation of post-Paleozoic echinoids. All three proteins examined showed significant alterations in time of expression, site of expression, or both. These molecular heterochronies and heterotopies indicate that early development is not necessarily as evolutionarily conservative as morphology of embryos alone would suggest. Evolutionary alterations in early development may be more common than is generally assumed.
Current status of percutaneous ventricular assist devices for cardiogenic shock.

Purpose of reviewPercutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVADs) are being increasingly used in patients with cardiogenic shock. They offer a means of instituting rapid and adequate cardiac support in patients with cardiogenic shock unresponsive to inotropes/vasopressors and intraaortic balloon pump
Eucelatoria sp. Females: Factors Influencing Response to Cotton and Okra Plants

In olfactometer tests okra was more attractive than cotton to Eucelatoria sp. females and the difference in attractancy was time dependent. Cotton leaves were attractive even when plants were subjected to short natural photoperiods, but certain weather conditions reduced the attractancy of okra and cotton. For okra the flower was the most attractive component tested and size affected the attractancy of leaves. Water vapor from plant components had no effect on attraction of flies to okra and cotton.
Leadership in science-engineering libraries: considerations and realities for the future

Leadership for scientific and technical libraries of the future encompasses a variety of attributes. A sense of vision is critical. Effective communication skills underlie other key attributes. The leader is able to anticipate the future and willing to make necessary adjustments or changes in the existing organizational patterns processes, or structure to meet user information needs of the future.
Discovery and Characterization of a Photo-Oxidative Histidine-Histidine Cross-Link in IgG1 Antibody Utilizing 18O-Labeling and Mass Spectrometry

A novel photo-oxidative cross-linking between two histidines (His-His) has been discovered and characterized in an IgG1 antibody via the workflow of XChem-Finder, 18O labeling and mass spectrometry (Anal. Chem. 2013, 85, 5900−5908). Its structure was elucidated by peptide mapping with multiple proteases with various specificities (e.g., trypsin, Asp-N, and GluC combined with trypsin or Asp-N) and mass spectrometry with complementary fragmentation modes (e.g., collision-induced dissociation (CID) and electron-transfer dissociation (ETD)). Our data indicated that cross-linking occurred across two identical conserved histidine residues on two separate heavy chains in the hinge region, which is highly flexible and solvent accessible. On the basis of model studies with short peptides, it has been proposed that singlet oxygen reacts with the histidyl imidazole ring to form an endoperoxide and then converted to the 2-oxo-histidine (2-oxo-His) and His+32 intermediates, the latter is subject to a nucleophilic atta...
Feasibility Focused Design of Electric On-demand Aircraft Concepts

In this paper the feasibility of electric on-demand aircraft is discussed in a context that includes the performance characteristics of the aircraft but also its potential cost. Traditional vehicle sizing methods are utilized and weight regressions are updated to link the performance of the aircraft to its acquisition cost. Moreover, cost variables sensitive to performance are identified to enable the integration between the costs of operation and aircraft performance. This formulation is used to assess the feasibility of the aircraft by considering the coupling of its physical constraints and its cost. With this integration a design environment that enables design space exploration is constructed. The environment can aid in the identification of favorable design conditions that could make an electric ondemand vehicle feasible in the future.
Relating Wind and Stress under Tropical Cyclones with Scatterometer

AbstractOcean surface stress, the turbulent transport of momentum, is largely derived from wind through a drag coefficient. In tropical cyclones (TCs), scatterometers have difficulty measuring strong wind and there is large uncertainty in the drag coefficient. This study postulates that the microwave backscatter from ocean surface roughness, which is in equilibrium with local stress, does not distinguish between weather systems. The reduced sensitivity of scatterometer wind retrieval algorithms under the strong wind is an air–sea interaction problem that is caused by a change in the behavior of the drag coefficient rather than a sensor problem. Under this assumption, a stress retrieval algorithm developed over a moderate wind range is applied to retrieve stress under the strong winds of TCs. Over a moderate wind range, the abundant wind measurements and the more established drag coefficient value allow for sufficient stress data to be computed from wind to develop a stress retrieval algorithm for the scat...
Management of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis. The role of the hand therapist.

SUMMARY The treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis requires a team approach, with the patient as the key player. These patients have a chronic disease that necessitates monitoring by physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and vocational counselors. The hand therapist provides individual exercise and activities programs, hand splinting, and instruction in joint protection and energy conservation techniques. When a patient requires surgery, the hand therapist works in conjunction with the surgeon in both the preoperative phase of patient evaluation and education, and in the postoperative management. The team working together helps the patient receive maximum benefits from treatment and to live more comfortably with his disease.
The JCAH Approach to Continuing Education in the Clinical Laboratory

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) evaluates continuing education in the clinical laboratory as part of its accreditation program. Specific methods by which continuing education standards can be met are suggested.
Force-time characteristics of reflexive muscle contractions

Studies of the force-time properties of the myotatic reflex have been conducted in a medical, physiological, and biophysiological context. There have been few, however, dealing with the variability of these reflex characteristics. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze these components of the response of the human quadriceps muscle when phasic stretch was applied to the patellar tendon of the right leg.
HDL and microRNA therapeutics in cardiovascular disease

microRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs (sRNA) that post-transcriptionally regulate gene (mRNA) expression and are implicated in many biological processes and diseases. Many miRNAs have been reported to be altered in cardiovascular disease (CVD); both cellular and extracellular miRNA levels are affected by hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. We and other groups have reported that lipoproteins transport miRNAs in circulation and these lipoprotein signatures are significantly altered in hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery disease (CAD). Extracellular miRNAs are a new class of potential biomarkers for CVD; however, they may also be new drug targets as high-density lipoproteins (HDL) transfer functional miRNAs to recipient cells in an endocrine-like form of intercellular communication that likely suppresses vascular inflammation. Recently, RNA-based drugs have emerged as the next frontier in drug therapy, and there are many miRNA inhibitors and mimics in clinical development. Here, we discuss specific miRNA drug targets and how their manipulation may impact CVD. We also address the potential for manipulating HDL-miRNA levels to treat CVD and the use of HDL as a delivery vehicle for RNA and chemical drugs. Finally, we outline the current and future challenges for HDL and miRNA-based therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of CVD.
Optimizing Protein Specificity in the Crowded Cell through Concentration Balance and Network motif Selection

Mammalian cells contain ∼21,000 genes encoding upwards to 100,000 protein types. 5-40% of cell volume is occupied by macromolecules, posing challenges for cell proteins to locate functional partners and increasing the risk of nonspecific (nonfunctional) interactions. Overexpressed proteins in particular will saturate functional partners, leaving leftovers for nonspecific binding instead. Eukaryotic cells have evolved various methods to help proteins function reliably, including compartmentalization, allostery, and structural and chemical properties of binding sites. Cells may optimize specificity as a function of their binding networks; first through concentration balance, next through network structure. Using the Gillespie algorithm, we simulated specific and nonspecific binding in 500 networks of 90-200 nodes with varying topological properties under equal, random, and stoichiometrically balanced protein concentrations. Binding affinities for all specific and nonspecific interactions were determined using a coarse-grained protein sequence model. Concentration balance significantly reduced the number of nonspecific interactions, as did local topological patterns (motifs) that allowed increased difference between specific and nonspecific binding affinities. To test if these motifs are selected for in real networks, we sampled possible interface-interaction networks (IINs) for the Clathrin-mediated endocytosis PPI network in yeast, using a Monte Carlo algorithm and a fitness function to select for features that allow increased specificity. Our fitness function reproduced several features of the real IIN, including fragmentation, a scale-free degree distribution, the presence of square motifs and low number of chain and triangle motifs. These features differed significantly from unbiased sampling. We conclude that there is selective pressure on the evolution of real IINs to avoid nonfunctional interactions, and that non-optimal features of the real IIN (chains, larger network components) likely serve a functional purpose.
Engagement in decision-making and patient satisfaction: a qualitative study of older patients' perceptions of dialysis initiation and modality decisions.

Background Although shared decision-making (SDM) can better align patient preferences with treatment, barriers remain incompletely understood and the impact on patient satisfaction is unknown. Methods This is a qualitative study with semistructured interviews. A purposive sample of prevalent dialysis patients ≥65 years of age at two facilities in Greater Boston were selected for diversity in time from initiation, race, modality and vintage. A codebook was developed and interrater reliability was 89%. Codes were discussed and organized into themes. Results A total of 31 interviews with 23 in-center hemodialysis patients, 1 home hemodialysis patient and 7 peritoneal dialysis patients were completed. The mean age was 76 ± 9 years. Two dominant themes (with related subthemes) emerged: decision-making experiences and satisfaction, and barriers to SDM. Subthemes included negative versus positive decision-making experiences, struggling for autonomy, being a 'good patient' and lack of choice. In spite of believing that dialysis initiation should be the patient's choice, no patients perceived that they had made a choice. Patients explained that this is due to the perception of imminent death or that the decision to start dialysis belonged to physicians. Clinicians and family frequently overrode patient preferences, with patient autonomy honored mostly to select dialysis modality. Poor decision-making experiences were associated with low treatment satisfaction. Conclusions Despite recommendations for SDM, many older patients were unaware that dialysis initiation was voluntary, held mistaken beliefs about their prognosis and were not engaged in decision-making, resulting in poor satisfaction. Patients desired greater information, specifically focusing on the acuity of their choice, prognosis and goals of care.
A Phase II Trial of Doxil, Vincristine and Reduced Schedule Dexamethasone (DVd) for Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) typically have responses to initial cytotoxic or steroid based therapy. Disease relapse occurs in all patients. As high as 90% of patients with relapsed or refractory disease will have over-expression of the multi-drug resistance (MDR) gene. Pharmacokinetic data suggest that prolonged exposure to high concentrations of doxorubicin can overcome MDR. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin can theoretically achieve this goal as the angiogenic activity of the MM bone marrow is significantly increased. We proceeded with a phase II trial to evaluate the response rate of patients with relapsed or refractory MM (R/R-MM) to the DVd regimen. Eligible patients had clinically active R/R-MM following at least one prior cytotoxic based treatment regimen. Patients received intravenous (IV) pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 day 1, vincristine 2 mg day 1 and oral or IV dexamethasone 40 mg daily days 1–4. Cycles were repeated every 28 days for a minimum of 6 cycles and 2 cycles after best response. Myeloma parameters were measured at the start of each cycle. SWOG criteria were used to determine response. Thirty-five patients (21 male and 14 female) with R/R-MM clinically active disease were enrolled. Median age was 59 years (range 43–87). Patients received a median of 2 (range 1–4) prior cytotoxic based treatments. All patients received at least one cycle of treatment (median=5; range 1–12) and were evaluable for response. Ten (29%) patients responded to therapy; 5 partial responses (PR > 50%) and 5 responses (R > 75%) were observed after a median of 2 cycles (range 1–9). Median progression free survival of responding patients (PR + R) was 4.5 mos. (range 0.67–44.8). Patients achieving R had a median progression free survival of 32.5 mos. (3.0–44.8). Thirteen (37%) patients had stable disease (SD) for a median of 1.4 mos. (range 0.8–9.9). Twelve (34%) patients had progressive disease after a median of 1 cycle (range 1–5). The most common toxicities were hematologic; there were four occurrences of febrile neutropenia. Three patients experienced grade 3 constipation and one grade 3 palmar-plantar erythrodysethesia was observed. This study suggests that in patients with R/R-MM, DVd alone yields response rates similar to bortezomib with patients achieving an R experiencing a durable plateau phase. Ongoing studies of DVd in combination with thalidomide or CC-5013 in patients with R/R-MM have resulted in higher and better quality response rates (comparable to autologous SCT) translating to a durable progression free survival. We would not recommend the DVd regimen in patients with R/R-MM without the addition of an immune modulator such as thalidomide.
Correlation between prolactin and breast density.

A20 Among women, breast cancer is the most common cancer and is second only to lung cancer in the number of deaths per year. In 2006, approximately 212,920 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States and 41,430 women will die from breast cancer. Thus, breast cancer represents a major burden to women and methods to impact risk identification and modification are paramount. Aside from age the most consistently reported breast cancer risk factor is mammographic (breast) density. Comparing the highest category of breast density to the lowest, there is a 4- to 6-fold increased risk of breast cancer development. The variation that is observed in breast density is likely due to hormones and/or growth factors. One of those hormones for which there is substantial laboratory and in vitro data suggesting a role in breast carcinogenesis is prolactin. Prolactin acts as a mitogen and differentiating agent, especially during pregnancy and lactaction by acting directly on mammary epithelium to produce lobuloalveolar development. Using a cross-sectional study design, we examined the correlation between breast density and serum prolactin levels in postmenopausal women (n=515) enrolled in MAMS (Mammograms and Masses Study). All women selected for this study had no history of cancer and had a recent (within 3 months) mammogram. In addition women were selected from both the well control group (n=372; women with negative mammograms) and from the benign control group (n=143; women with benign breast masses). Four women were excluded from the analysis due to outlying prolactin values as determined by the generalized extreme studentized deviate many-outlier detection method. Due to the non-normal distribution of prolactin, Spearman9s correlation coefficient were used to examine the correlation between prolactin and breast density. In the overall sample (all postmenopausal women), a weak but positively significant correlation was observed between prolactin and breast density (r=0.120, p-value=0.006). Because prolactin levels may be influenced by hormone use (HRT), we stratified the sample based on current HRT use. No significant correlations were observed for postmenopausal women on HRT. However, for postmenopausal women not on HRT (n=384), the positively significant correlation between prolactin and breast density persisted (r=0.148, p-value=0.004). When the analysis was further stratified by control group, the correlation decreased slightly for those women classified as well (r=0.115, p-value=0.04), but increased slightly for those women classified as benign (r=0.246, p-value=0.037). Our data suggest that prolactin is positively correlated with breast density and may play a role in breast cancer carcinogenesis, especially for women with benign breast masses. This correlation will need to be further explored, but if it9s collaborated by other studies, then prolactin antagonists may be explored as potential chemopreventive agents for breast cancer.
Excessive Regulation Through Bureaucratic Bullying: Evaluating Broadcast Regulation in South Asia

This article highlights the intricacies and perplexities involved in policymaking in the area of communication. Policymaking in the field of communication is considered a measured intervention by the government in the structural designs and business plans of companies offering media and communication services. In developing countries such as India and Pakistan, where privatization of electronic media and its regulation are nascent experiences, communication regulation grows even more complex. This study compares broadcasting regulation in Pakistan and India through the lens of normative models of media performance. The article examines why and how the bureaucratic powers have hampered the process of broadcast regulation in India and Pakistan. The comparison is heuristically significant despite social and political difference between Pakistan and India, as both countries have inherited similar laws governing broadcasting from the British colonial rule and most of the pre-partition regulations are still in place. The article concludes that a great deal of political effort is required to establish independent regulatory authorities in both countries due to the overarching control of bureaucracies in both societies.
Degree of Tissue Differentiation Dictates Susceptibility to BRAF-Driven Colorectal Cancer

Summary Oncogenic mutations in BRAF are believed to initiate serrated colorectal cancers; however, the mechanisms of BRAF-driven colon cancer are unclear. We find that oncogenic BRAF paradoxically suppresses stem cell renewal and instead promotes differentiation. Correspondingly, tumor formation is inefficient in BRAF-driven mouse models of colon cancer. By reducing levels of differentiation via genetic manipulation of either of two distinct differentiation-promoting factors ( Smad4 or Cdx2 ), stem cell activity is restored in BRAF V600E intestines, and the oncogenic capacity of BRAF V600E is amplified. In human patients, we observe that reduced levels of differentiation in normal tissue is associated with increased susceptibility to serrated colon tumors. Together, these findings help resolve the conditions necessary for BRAF-driven colon cancer initiation. Additionally, our results predict that genetic and/or environmental factors that reduce tissue differentiation will increase susceptibility to serrated colon cancer. These findings offer an opportunity to identify susceptible individuals by assessing their tissue-differentiation status.