cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of multivariate statistics to vestibular testing: discriminating between Meniere's disease and migraine associated dizziness

Meniere's disease (MD) and migraine associated dizziness (MAD) are two disorders that can have similar symptomatologies, but differ vastly in treatment. Vestibular testing is sometimes used to help differentiate between these disorders, but the inefficiency of a human interpreter analyzing a multitude of variables independently decreases its utility. Our hypothesis was that we could objectively discriminate between patients with MD and those with MAD using select variables from the vestibular test battery. Sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test variables were reduced to three vestibulo-ocular reflex physiologic parameters: gain, time constant, and asymmetry. A combination of these parameters plus a measurement of reduced vestibular response from caloric testing allowed us to achieve a joint classification rate of 91%, independent quadratic classification algorithm. Data from posturography were not useful for this type of differentiation. Overall, our classification function can be used as an unbiased assistant to discriminate between MD and MAD and gave us insight into the pathophysiologic differences between the two disorders.
Structures of the colossal RyR1 calcium release channel

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are intracellular cation channels that mediate the rapid and voluminous release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) as required for excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Understanding of the architecture and gating of RyRs has advanced dramatically over the past two years, due to the publication of high resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) reconstructions and associated atomic models of multiple functional states of the skeletal muscle receptor, RyR1. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of RyR architecture and gating, and highlight remaining gaps in understanding which we anticipate will soon be filled.
Abstract B107: Immunotransplant: Merging checkpoint blockade and T-cell transfer into lymphodepleted recipients

Lymphomas, with an estimated 80,000 new cases, are the 5th most common cancer in the United States and the majority of lymphoma subtypes are incurable and in need of novel, mechanistically distinct therapies. Two approaches to potently increase the anti-tumor potential of T cells are: checkpoint blockade (e.g. anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies) and adoptive T-cell transfer into lympho-depleted recipients. We have developed a novel therapy combining these approaches into ‘checkpoint-blockade-primed immunotransplant’ comprised of: -treatment of tumor-bearing host with anti-CTLA-4 and/or anti-PD-1 antibodies -splenocyte harvest and transfer to lympho-depleted recipient Whereas checkpoint blockade alone has minimal anti-tumor effect in the pre-clinical model, our results show that the combined therapy results in superior anti-tumor immunity as seen by increased production of tumor-reactive IFN γ positive T-cells. Treatment of both tumor-bearing donor and recipient with checkpoint antibodies induces cure of the majority of recipients, in a CD8, NK, and IFNγ-dependent manner. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that CD8 T cells exposed to checkpoint blockade and transfer into the lymphopenic host demonstrate greater: -in vivo serum levels of IL-15 and IL-7 -surface expression levels of IL-15R and IL-7R -in vitro STAT5 phosphorylation in response to common γ-chain cytokines -in vivo proliferation in response to exposure to cognate tumor antigen Ongoing studies will seek to assess the dependence of the above observations (cytokine production, proliferation, anti-tumor effect) on specific common γ-chain cytokines, the role of lymphopenia in inducing T cell trafficking to tumor versus healthy tissue, and guide development of the immunotransplant model to optimize the amplification of anti-tumor immunity for near-term clinical translation. Citation Format: Netonia Marshall, Thomas Marron, Judith Agudo, Brian Brown, Joshua Brody. Immunotransplant: Merging checkpoint blockade and T-cell transfer into lymphodepleted recipients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B107.
An Integrated Robotic System for Autonomous Brake Bleeding in Rail Yards

Current operations in rail yards are dangerous and limited by the operational capabilities of humans being able to perform safely in harsh conditions while maintain high productivity. Such issues call out the need for robust and capable autonomous systems. In this paper, we outline one such autonomous solution for the railroad domain, capable of performing the brake bleeding inspection task in a hump yard. Towards that, we integrated a large form factor mobile robot (the Clearpath Grizzly) with an industrial manipulator arm (Yasakawa Motoman SIA20F) to effectively detect, identify and subsequently manipulate the brake lever under harsh outdoor environments. In this paper, we focus on the system design and the core algorithms necessary for reliable and repeatable system execution. To test our developed solution, we performed extensive field tests in a fully operational rail yard with randomly picked rail cars under day and night-time conditions. The results from the testing are promising and validate the feasibility of deploying an autonomous brake bleeding solution for railyards.
Donor–acceptor polymers with tunable infrared photoresponse

Donor–acceptor (DA) conjugated polymers provide an important platform for the development of solution-processed optoelectronic devices. The complex interrelation between electronic properties and conformational disorder in these materials complicates the identification of design guidelines to control the bandgap at low energies, limiting the design of new optoelectronic and device functionalities. Here, we demonstrate that DA polymers comprised of exocyclic olefin substituted cyclopentadithiophene donors, in combination with conventional electron acceptors, display very narrow optical bandgaps (1.2 > Eoptg > 0.7 eV) and primary photoexcitations extending into the shortwave infrared. Theoretical calculations reveal fundamental structure–property relationships toward bandgap and energy level control in these spectral regions. Bulk heterojunction photodiodes fabricated using these new materials demonstrate a detectivity (D*) of > 1011 Jones within a spectral range of 0.6–1.43 μm and measurable D* to 1.8 μm, the longest reported to date for conjugated polymer based systems.
Savings Externalities in a Second-Best World

The debate among legal scholars about individuals’ failure to save enough for retirement happens on a “micro” level. It focuses on the causes and consequences of undersaving from the perspective of individuals and analyzes how legal interventions, such as tax subsidies and nudges, can best address individual saving mistakes. This debate depends on certain assumptions about how the macroeconomy operates. When these assumptions do not hold, neither do the implications of the micro analysis, turning the conventional analysis of undersaving on its head. In fact, in a variety of circumstances, saving imposes a negative externality. Consequently, what looks like undersaving at the individual level may result in oversaving in the aggregate, and private vice may become a public virtue. We adopt a macro perspective and argue for reforms of legal interventions designed to increase savings.
A central mechanism enhances pain perception of noxious thermal stimulus changes.

Pain perception temporarily exaggerates abrupt thermal stimulus changes revealing a mechanism for nociceptive temporal contrast enhancement (TCE). Although the mechanism is unknown, a non-linear model with perceptual feedback accurately simulates the phenomenon. Here we test if a mechanism in the central nervous system underlies thermal TCE. Our model successfully predicted an optimal stimulus, incorporating a transient temperature offset (step-up/step-down), with maximal TCE, resulting in psychophysically verified large decrements in pain response (“offset-analgesia”; mean analgesia: 85%, n = 20 subjects). Next, this stimulus was delivered using two thermodes, one delivering the longer duration baseline temperature pulse and the other superimposing a short higher temperature pulse. The two stimuli were applied simultaneously either near or far on the same arm, or on opposite arms. Spatial separation across multiple peripheral receptive fields ensures the composite stimulus timecourse is first reconstituted in the central nervous system. Following ipsilateral stimulus cessation on the high temperature thermode, but before cessation of the low temperature stimulus properties of TCE were observed both for individual subjects and in group-mean responses. This demonstrates a central integration mechanism is sufficient to evoke painful thermal TCE, an essential step in transforming transient afferent nociceptive signals into a stable pain perception.
Property Rights and CDS Spreads: When Is There a Strong Transfer Risk from the Sovereigns to the Corporates?

When a sovereign faces the risk of debt default, it attempts to expropriate the private sector. But the likelihood of a transfer from the sovereign risk to corporate default risk can be mitigated by legal institutions that provide strong property rights protection. Using a novel credit default swaps (CDSs) dataset covering both government and corporate entities across 30 countries, this paper studies the strength of the transfer risk and the role of institutions in mitigating such risk. We find that sovereign risk on average has a statistically and economically significant influence on corporate credit risk. All else equal, a 100 basis points increase in the sovereign CDS spread leads to an increase in corporate CDS spreads by 74 basis points. The sovereign–corporate relation varies across corporations, with state-owned companies exhibiting a stronger relation. However, strong property rights institutions tend to weaken the connection. In contrast, contracting institutions (protection of creditor rights o...
High-Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare type of invasive breast cancer with only about 5% of all breast cancer cases. However, it is one of the most aggressive forms of invasive breast cancer. It frequently presents with regional lymph node involvement at presentation and is followed by rapid disease progression to distant involvement from micrometastasis in the natural course of disease. With locoregional treatment only, long-term survival is less than 5% [1]. With the addition of systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy together with locoregional treatment, the long term survival has improved significantly but still at the range of 30–50% [2]. Inflammatory breast cancer being a systemic disease and also a chemo-sensitive disease, it makes sense that systemic cytotoxic therapy is the main force of treatment. The main issue is how to improve the systemic treatment to achieve a better survival outcome. One way to improve the systemic treatment is through the concept of dose intensity of cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Sensitive and selective gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the detection of nitrobenzene in tobacco smoke.

Nitrobenzene, a potentially harmful compound found in tobacco smoke, has been largely excluded from prior analysis due to difficulties with quantification. Quantifying harmful compounds in cigarette smoke is useful to compare products, to examine the impact of design parameters on delivery, and to help estimate exposures. A sensitive high-throughput method has been developed for quantifying nitrobenzene in machine-generated mainstream cigarette smoke using isotope dilution gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-GC-MS/MS). This method has sufficient sensitivity to measure vapor phase nitrobenzene concentrations in the low nanogram range, with a 418 pg/cig method limit of detection. Precision estimates from two quality control cigarette products resulted in percent relative standard deviations of 11.5% and 14.9%; product variability estimates from 13 cigarette products resulted in percent relative standard deviations ranging from 2.8% to 16.9%. Nitrobenzene in the machine-generated, mainstream smoke from 15 cigarette products are reported and range from 18 to 38 ng/cig under the Health Canada Intense smoking regimen.
Relativistic magnetron with diffraction output (MDO) with a permanent magnet anode block configuration

This paper discusses the Magnetron with Diffraction Output (MDO) with transparent cathode and a permanent magnet configuration. Conventionally, to produce an axial magnetic field, a pulsed power system with Helmholtz coils is used. A permanent magnet configuration could be used as an alternative source of an axial magnetic field. The following substitution allows the MDO system to be independent of a pulsed power system for the magnetic field production, while maintaining high efficiency, and being compatible with repetition rate operation.
Enzymes and Coenzymes

Water is the common denominator in all biological systems. The nature and consequences of its interactions with the solutes of living organisms represent the central phenomena in explaining the existence of life. Proteins and enzymes require an aqueous environment for expression of their biologic activity—which is essential to the conduct of the life process—and the role of water, while only dimly understood, is the matrix upon which much of the present discussion of enzymic mechanisms is grounded. The reader wishing to pursue this topic further should consult Lewin (1974) and Franks (1975).
Loss of Heterozygosity

The most common molecular alteration observed in human cancers,1 loss of heterozygosity (LOH), is a significant mecha-nism by which critical genes involved in growth regulation and homeostasis become inactivated, or silenced, during disease evolution. This chapter provides a review of LOH and its implications in various cancers as well as a review of LOH in nonmalignant diseases. Only 0.08% of those base pairs within the entire human genome (3 billion base pairs) vary between any two humans, and only 0.02% of those variations actually result in an expressed protein with a different amino acid as a result of the change.2 Even more remarkable, 90% of those variations are changes that are common in the population and lead to normal variation in traits among individuals; eye color, for example.
Instructor vs Peer Writing Feedback in a Large First-Year Engineering Course

Over the past 40 years, developments in writing studies research have emphasized the importance of both process-orientation - incorporation of scaffolding through feedback and revision - and situativity - recognizing that knowledge is best learned within the context it is to be applied. Engineering faculty, however, often view writing in ways at odds with both of these developments: treating writing as something to be taught elsewhere or integrating writing into engineering courses without incorporating feedback or revision. This mismatch is problematic, because improving engineering students’ writing is a critical problem for engineering education. Additionally, feedback is often unfeasible within the constraints of many engineering courses-instructor time and large student-faculty ratios. One potential way to address these concerns is to use peer feedback. An open question, however, is how instructor and peer feedback practices differ and how that difference impacts students' revising process. We present results of an empirical analysis of peer vs. instructor feedback on a writing assignment in a large first-year engineering course. Findings indicate that peer feedback was at least as effective as instructor feedback in terms of quality improvement and that trained peer reviewers give feedback that is more consistent with effective practices than untrained instructors.
A multimodal light-sheet microscope that is compatible with all clearing techniques

Combined with optical clearing protocols, light-sheet microscopy offers rapid and sensitive imaging of whole organs. We report a light sheet microscope with isotropic, submicron resolution that is compatible a refractive index range of 1.33-1.56.
Evaluating Path Costs in Multi-Attributed Fuzzy Weighted Graphs

In this paper, we consider the problem of choosing a least-cost path from a graph that is attributed with multiple fuzzy weights. The cost of a path is determined by multiple conflicting objectives that seek to minimize either the total or maximum values of each feature over the length of the path. We present a framework for evaluating paths with various agent preferences. Our method allows the agent to pick any Pareto optimal path and can be used within a larger framework to model decision-making behavior. Our approach is demonstrated on a hand-crafted example problem.
Neuropsychopharmacology of Childhood Psychoses

ABSTRACT The interaction of clinical and basic research in the expansion of knowledge of central nervous system (CNS) biochemistry, childhood psychoses and treatment is presented. An overview of the literature on pre- and perinatal assaults of the CNS, physical, biochemical, and neuroendocrine findings in this population is given. The need for defining subgroups within the etiologically heterogeneous group of childhood psychotics by a variety of parameters is emphasized. The results of selected drug studies with both therapeutic and untoward effects are summarized. Methodologically sound studies, using objective rating scales and designed to answer crucial questions, are required in order to place the psychoactive drugs currently available for psychoses of childhood in the right perspective.
Obesity and Obesogenic Behaviors in Asian American Children with Immigrant and US-Born Mothers.

Child obesity is understudied in Asian Americans, which include a growing population of recent immigrants. We examined the relationship between maternal nativity and time in the US, and obesity and obesogenic behaviors among Asian American children. We analyzed public-use data from the 2013–2016 California Health Interview Survey for Asian American children ages 2 to 11 years. We used logistic regression to determine the odds of obesity and obesogenic behaviors associated with maternal nativity and time in the US. This study included n = 609 children. Children of US-born mothers had lower odds of obesity (adjusted odds ratio, AOR, 0.12; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.91) and lower fruit intake (AOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.81) than children of recent immigrants (< 5 years in the US). Asian American children with recent immigrant mothers are more likely to be obese and eat less fruit than children with US-born mothers. Efforts to prevent obesity and increase fruit consumption are particularly important for this vulnerable population of children of recent immigrants.
Effects of caspofungin, tolcapone and other FDA-approved medications on MRSA susceptibility to vancomycin.

Abstract Objectives Vancomycin is a first-line antibiotic for the treatment of invasive infections in humans caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Based on the premise that antibiotic combinations can exhibit synergistic and antagonistic interactions, medications used for the treatment of infection and other medical conditions were evaluated for their ability to alter MRSA susceptibility to vancomycin. Methods A chemical library comprised of 1237 pharmacological agents was evaluated in a 96-well plate format for its ability to inhibit MRSA growth in combination with half the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin. Caspofungin and tolcapone were further assessed for synergistic potential by isobologram (checkerboard) and flow cytometric analysis. In addition, the antibacterial activity spectrum and effects of growth conditions of the two drugs were delineated by MIC determination. Results The study identified 17 nonantibiotic library members with synergistic or additive potential, including caspofungin and tolcapone. Further analyses revealed that the respective medications for invasive candidiasis and Parkinson disease were bactericidal and bacteriostatic inhibitors of S. aureus growth. Flow cytometric analysis of viability further demonstrated that caspofungin in combination with vancomycin increased MRSA cell death in an additive manner, whereas tolcapone appeared to suppress the bactericidal action of vancomycin. Conclusion Overall, this proof of concept study concluded that nonantibiotic drugs can alter the pharmacodynamic properties of vancomycin, with potential clinical implications in patients with a MRSA infection receiving medications for other medical conditions.
Potential-Dependent Layering in the Electrochemical Double Layer of Water-in-Salt Electrolytes

Water-in-salt electrolytes (WiSE) are concentrated aqueous electrolytes recently developed that are of great interest because of their possible relevance for batteries. The origin for their promisi...
Plasmon Orbital Angular Momentum Generation

In the previous PEEM experimental setup, the femtosecond light pulses come from an oblique angle, which launch and interfere with SPPs to form a beating pattern with a period that is larger than the wavelength of the SPP waves. While the advantage of oblique excitation it its strong photoemission signal because of the strong coupling of the out-of-plane light component, its drawback is that it creates a phase delay along the light propagation direction and lacks the SPP field information on the scale its wavelength. In this chapter, I describe the results where the SPP fields are generated from normally incident light, where light uniformly illuminates the sample with homogenous phase, and a geometric phase can be introduced by the SPP coupling structure. Under this excitation condition, we can study novel SPP phenomena by fabricating devices such as circular SPPs focusing lens or Archimedean spirals structures, where the SPP waves have engineered phase fronts to form desired spatio-temporal distributions. One particular case is the generation of surface plasmon polariton vortex, where the SPP fields undergo an orbiting motion around the core of the Archimedean spiral (AS), with geometrically engineered orbital angular momentum (OAM). When the SPPs vortex OAM = 1, we generate a novel quasiparticle composed of the spin texture of the SPP field, which we define as plasmonic spin Skyrmion. Such quasiparticle has 3D spin texture that resembles the topological spin texture of stable magnetic Skyrmions in magnetic materials, but in the case of plasmonic generation, it lasts only for approximately the laser pulse duration.
Letter: Photodistribution of viral exanthems.

The recent paper on photodistribution of viral exanthems1 was of great interest to me and has stimulated the following comments. 1. Figures 1 and 2 are apparently reversed and the reference to viral size on the same page is off by a factor of 1,000. 2. A quick review of the literature on echo 9 viral exanthems reveals one patient whose rash was confined to areas of sunburn; after exposure to the sun it became much brighter in color.2
Humour as a Resource for Children

Humour is present even in young children, although in rudimentary forms, and children’s stages of humour development can be observed from infancy to middle childhood (Bergen, Play as a context for humor development. In D. F. Fromberg & D. Bergen, Eds., Play from Birth to Twelve: Contexts, Perspectives, and Meanings (pp. 159–172). Routledge, 2015; Bergen, Humor as a developmental phenomenon: The contributions of Paul McGhee. In W. Ruch & J. Goldstein (Eds.), Special Issue of HUMOR: Festschrift for Paul McGhee. Humor across the lifespan, theory, measurement, and applications, 2018). Young children find events and objects humorous as soon as they “know” what should be happening in behaviours and language, and they laugh at environmental variations that cause humour, such as a picture of a dog wearing a hat. During the early childhood years, they begin to produce actions and language that make others laugh and use various conventions of humour (e.g., riddles, unusual actions, language play) to elicit laughter. By early elementary age, they produce humour in the joke format, although they may not tell the joke correctly or know how to explain why it is funny, and by later elementary age, many children are adept at telling jokes and using other forms of humour effectively. By that age, gender differences may appear in relation to when and where females and males express their humour, as well as in the types of humour they express. Humour is both a pervasive factor in positive child development and a major resource for children when they encounter scary, painful, or unusual circumstances. Both their own humour generation and their responses to adult generated humour during stressful life situations can be observed. Thus, humour can serve as a resource for children both for helping them understand their everyday world and for enabling them to deal with traumatic experiences in their lives.
Serum symmetric dimethylarginine concentration in healthy neonatal Thoroughbred foals.

BACKGROUND Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is widely used in other species as a marker of renal dysfunction and is considered a more sensitive indicator of glomerular filtration rate than creatinine. Reference ranges are established in healthy adult horses (≤14 μg/dL) and concentrations are increased in horses with acute kidney injury (median 32 μg/dL; range 15-92). OBJECTIVES To establish the normal range of SDMA concentrations in neonatal Thoroughbreds. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. METHODS Blood samples were collected from Thoroughbred foals <36 h old deemed healthy by physical examination. Exclusion criteria included foals from mares undergoing treatment for placentitis and foals that developed clinical disease or died/euthanised <2 weeks from birth. Biochemistry and serum SDMA concentrations were obtained. RESULTS Subjects included 120 foals. Median age was 13.5 h (range 1.0-34.0). Median and 95% confidence interval for SDMA concentration was 69.0 µg/dL (63.0, 75.0; range 35.0-376.0). A cut-off value of 168 µg/dL would include 95% of individuals and is therefore suggested. Serum SDMA concentration was correlated with age (R = -.3, P = .003), creatinine concentration (R = .6, P ≤ .001) and urea concentration (R = .3, P = .002). MAIN LIMITATIONS Limitations include a small sample size, no consideration of subclinical disease and a short follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS In equine neonates, SDMA concentration is higher than in adult horses, older foals and adults with acute kidney injury. Therefore, currently SDMA cannot be used as a marker of renal dysfunction in this age group. Further work is required to assess whether SDMA concentration is increased in neonates with renal disease and, if so, what cut-off should be used.
Impact of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography on management of cancer of unknown primary: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Background Cancers of unknown primary (CUP) have traditionally been treated empirically, with a dismal prognosis. Compared with standard diagnostic tests, including CT and MRI, imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET or PET/CT has shown the capacity to better identify the primary tumour site and detect additional sites of metastasis. However, its clinical impact is not well established. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prior studies to assess the impact of FDG-PET or PET/CT on the management of patients with CUP. Materials and methods Pubmed and EMBASE databases were searched up to 4th February 2021. Studies that reported the proportion of patients with CUP who experienced a management change after FDG-PET or PET/ computed tomography (CT) were included and the proportions were pooled using the random-effects model. Study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore heterogeneity. Results Thirty-eight studies (involving 2795 patients) were included. The pooled proportion of patients with management changes was 35% (95% confidence interval 31%–40%). There was substantial heterogeneity among the studies (Q-test, p Conclusion FDG-PET or PET/CT had a meaningful impact on the management of patients with CUP. Approximately, a third of patients had their management changed because of FDG-PET or PET/CT results, and this finding was consistent across numerous subgroups.
Accelerated removal of pesticides from domestic animals.

Domestic animals may be exposed to pesticides in a variety of ways. They may consume feed with residues present. These residues in or on feed are absorbed in the intestinal tract. Some of the residues are de-toxified and excreted in feces and urine. In the case of the chlorinated insecticides a portion of the residues are deposited in lipid tissues in the body. A second means of contamination is when animals are treated directly for control of pests with insecticides. If animals are present when spraying for pests is done in buildings or out in the open they may become contaminated by inhaling the spray material or having sprays come in contact with the skin. Another possible method of contamination is for animals to come in contact with surfaces which have been sprayed with chlorinated pesticides and absorb these residues through the skin.
Optimal Site Selection within Complex Markets: A Preliminary Solution

Although site selection has always been an important retailing decision, the selection of new sites in recent times has become more complex. The complexity of new site selection eminates from the reduction in the number of major regional malls being constructed, by the desire of many retail chains to enter smaller population communities, and the desire to maximize market share in existing markets by either opening new units or by improving assortments, employee productivity, or atmospheric elements to increase sales from existing units.
Does cholecystectomy prior to the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer affect outcome

Early diagnosis and curative resection are significant predictors of survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. We hypothesize that cholecystectomy within 12 months of pancreatic cancer affects 1-year survival. The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database linked to Medicare data was used to identify patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer who underwent cholecystectomy 1 to 12 months prior to cancer diagnosis. The SEER database identified 32,569 patients from 1995 to 2002; 415 (1.3%) underwent cholecystectomy prior to cancer diagnosis. Patients who underwent cholecystectomy had a higher proportion of diabetes (40.2% vs 20.5%; P < 0.01), obesity (8.9% vs 3.1%; P < 0.01), jaundice (17.3% vs 0.7%; P < 0.01), cholelithiasis (70.4% vs 4.2%; P < 0.01), choledocholithiasis (0.7% vs 0.0%; P < 0.01), weight loss (17.3% vs 4.7%; P < 0.01), abdominal pain (79.5% vs 22.5%), steatorrhea (0.7% vs 0.0%; P < 0.01), and cholecystitis (32.3% vs 1.7% ; P < 0.0001). After controlling for tumor stage, patient demographics, and symptoms, survival at 1 year was significantly lower in patients undergoing cholecystectomy (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.58-0.97). Recent cholecystectomy is associated with decreased 1-year survival among patients with pancreatic cancer. For patients older than 65 years of age, further evaluation prior to cholecystectomy may be necessary to exclude pancreatic cancer, especially patients with jaundice, weight loss, and steatorrhea.
LIBRA-LiTE, a ballistic focus light ion Inertial Confinement Fusion reactor

Ballistic propagation of ions in a light ion Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) reactor has potential advantages over propagation using plasma channels, but it requires that focusing magnets be close to the target. Ballistic transport is simpler and potentially more efficient, but limits on the ion microdivergence make a small focal spot and a large focal length simultaneously impossible. Target ignition requires a beam intensity above some minimum value, assumed to be 127 TW/cm2. To achieve this intensity, one adjusts the total beam energy, the positions of the focusing magnets, the microdivergence of the ion beam, and the time of flight bunching of the beam. LIBRA-LiTE is a 1000 MWe power plant design consistent with ballistic ion focusing, where these parameters have been optimized.
Studies on the characterization of the sodium-potassium transport adenosinetriphosphatase: XII. Evidence for interaction of the acyl phosphate at the active site with neighboring groups

Abstract The sodium-potassium adenosinetriphosphatase (NaK ATPase), partially purified from beef brain, has been phosphorylated with [γ- 32 P]ATP in the presence of Na and Mg and digested with pronase. A single 32 P-labeled peptide spot has been identified on paper electrophoresis, accounting for 60% of the radioactivity in the 32 P-labeled enzyme, the remainder of the radioactivity being [ 32 P]-orthophosphate resulting from breakdown of the highly labile acyl phosphate during pronase digestion. The 32 P in the pronase peptide was released as [ 32 P]-orthophosphate by N -propylhydroxylamine—as to be expected of an acyl phosphate compound. The pH stability of the acyl phosphate in the denatured phosphorylated NaK ATPase, in the pronase peptide and in acetyl phosphate were quite different. The phosphorylated protein had the lowest stability of higher pHs, acetyl phosphate had the highest stability, and the pronase peptide had an intermediate stability. These results indicate that the neighboring groups in the polypeptide chain containing the acyl phosphate residue influence the stability of the acyl phosphate bond.
Financial Reporting in the Russian Energy Sector

This article discusses financial reporting in the Russian energy sector and makes some comparisons involving both Russian companies and comparable non-Russian companies.
The product of the UL31 gene of herpes simplex virus 1 is a nuclear phosphoprotein which partitions with the nuclear matrix.

Abstract The nucleotide sequence of the UL31 open reading frame is predicted to encode a basic protein with a hydrophilic amino terminus and a nuclear localization signal. To identify its gene product, we constructed a viral genome in which the thymidine kinase gene was inserted between the UL31 and UL32 open reading frames. The thymidine kinase gene was then deleted, and in the process, the 5' terminus of the UL31 open reading frame was replaced with a 64-bp sequence in frame with the complete, authentic sequence of the UL31 open reading frame. The inserted sequence encoded a hydrophilic epitope derived from glycoprotein B of human cytomegalovirus and for which a monoclonal antibody is available. We report that in infected cells, the tagged protein localized in and was dispersed throughout the nucleus. Nuclear fractionation studies revealed that the UL31 protein partitions with the nuclear matrix. The protein is phosphorylated in infected cells maintained in medium containing 32Pi.
Endocardial stimulation of efferent parasympathetic nerves to the atrioventricular node in humans: optimal stimulation sites and the effects of digoxin.

The purposes of this study were to identify optimal sites of stimulation of efferent parasympathetic nerve fibers to the human atrioventricular node via an endocardial catheter and to investigate the interaction between digoxin and vagal activation at the end organ.
Gravitational adaptation of animals

The effect of gravitational adaptation is studied in a group of five Leghorn cocks which had become physiologically adapted to 2 G after 162 days of centrifugation. After this period of adaptation, they are periodically exposed to a 2 G field, accompanied by five previously unexposed hatch-mates, and the degree of retained acceleration adaptation is estimated from the decrease in lymphocyte frequency after 24 hr at 2 G. Results show that the previously adapted birds exhibit an 84% greater lymphopenia than the unexposed birds, and that the lymphocyte frequency does not decrease to a level below that found at the end of 162 days at 2 G. In addition, the capacity for adaptation to chronic acceleration is found to be highly heritable. An acceleration tolerant strain of birds shows lesser mortality during chronic acceleration, particularly in intermediate fields, although the result of acceleration selection is largely quantitative (a greater number of survivors) rather than qualitative (behavioral or physiological changes).
Stochastic processes with non-additive fluctuations: II. Some applications of Itô and Stratonovich calculus

Abstract We present by way of examples a comparison of the Fokker-Planck equations obtained by the Ito prescription and by the Stratonovich prescription for physical systems described by a Langevin equation with non-additive fluctuations. The particular examples we consider include Kubo line broadening and chemically reacting systems. We conclude that the Stratonovich prescription should always be used to analyze physical systems.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing the Impact of Yoga and Physical Education on the Emotional and Behavioural Functioning of Middle School Children

Background Yoga programmes geared for school children have become more widespread, but research regarding its impact on children is lacking. Several studies have reported positive outcomes, though there is a need for more RCTs. Objectives To determine the effects of yoga on children's emotional and behavioural functioning when compared with physical education (PE) classes. Methods Thirty middle school children were randomised to participate in either a school-based ashtanga-informed yoga or PE class three times a week for 12 weeks. Emotional (i.e. affect, self-perceptions) and behavioural (i.e. internalising and externalising problems, aggression) functioning were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results There were no significant changes between groups in self-reported positive affect, global self-worth, aggression indices or parent reports of their children's externalising and internalising problems. However, negative affect increased for those children participating in yoga when compared to the PE programme. Conclusions In general, findings suggest that yoga and PE classes do not differentially impact on middle school children's emotional and behavioural functioning. However, children reported experiencing increased negative emotions after receiving yoga while children in the PE group reported a decrease in these feelings. Implications of these results and potential directions for future research on children's yoga are discussed.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Historical Overview

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Discovery 3 Physics 4 Chemistry 5 Biology 6 Magnetic Resonance Imaging 7 Human MRI 8 Concluding Remarks 9 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
The Immunology of Coccidioidomycosis

Coccidioidomycosis is a disease of protean manifestations. Of those infected with Coccidioides immitis (CI), only approximately 40% become ill and, in most of these, the illness consists of prolonged and often severe, but self-limited, influenza-like symptoms, commonly with pneumonitis. Approximately 5% are left with pulmonary residuals such as nodules and cavities which may be variably symptomatic.1 Fewer than 1% of those infected develop clinically apparent extrapulmonary dissemination.
Hodge Cycles and Crystalline Cohomology

This paper is a collection of musings about several questions related to crystalline cohomology that have plagued me for the past few years. It contains many more conjectures than proofs, and my justification for publishing is the hope that others will find the problems as intriguing as I did but perhaps have more success in solving them.
Nucleic acid amplification in vitro: detection of sequences with low copy numbers and application to diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

The enzymatic amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences in vitro has revolutionized the use of nucleic acid hybridization assays for viral detection. With this method, the copy number of a pathogen-specific sequence is increased several orders of magnitude before detection is attempted. The sensitivity and specificity of detection are thus markedly improved. Mullis and Faloona devised the first method of sequence amplification in vitro, the polymerase chain reaction (K.B. Mullis and F.A. Faloona, Methods Enzymol. 155:355-350, 1987). By this method, synthetic oligonucleotide primers direct repeated, target-specific, deoxyribonucleic acid-synthetic reactions, resulting in an exponential increase in the amount of the specific target sequence. The application of sequence amplification to viral detection was initially performed with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and human T-cell lymphoma virus type I. In principle, however, this approach can be applied to the detection of any deoxyribonucleic or ribonucleic acid virus; the only requirement is that sufficient nucleotide sequence data exist to allow the synthesis of target-specific oligonucleotide primers. The use of target amplification in vitro will permit a variety of studies of viral pathogenesis which have not been feasible because of the low copy number of the viral nucleic acids in infected material. This approach is particularly applicable to the study of human retroviral infections, which are chronic and persistent and are characterized by low titers of virus in tissues. In addition, target amplification in vitro will facilitate the development of new methods of sequence detection, which will be useful for rapid viral diagnosis in the clinical laboratory.
Abstract 405: Functional Characterization of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Associated SNPs at the ADAMTS7 Locus

SNPs in the genomic region containing the gene ADAMTS7, a gene that codes for a metalloproteinase involved in vascular smooth muscle cell migration, are significantly associated with CAD in humans. Recently, our lab demonstrated that knock out of Adamts7 in mice is protective against atherosclerosis, suggesting that ADAMTS7 is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Several of the top CAD-associated SNPs (p<5e-8) identified by CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium lie in putative enhancer regions of ADAMTS7.. We investigated the functionality of CAD associated SNPs that overlap 5 active regulatory elements as predicted by vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) ChIP-seq signals, ENCODE histone methylation peaks, and aortic smooth muscle cell DNase hypersensitivity peaks. Several regions containing association SNPs showed enhancer activity in minimal promoter luciferase reporter assays. Region 2 showed an 8.2 (p<0.01) and a 32.4 (p<0.005) fold increase in luciferase activity in HEK293T and A7r5 rat aorti...
Reprint of:Modeling Tonal and Broadband Interaction Noise☆

Abstract The fan interaction noise is modeled as an annular cascade in terms of the Euler equations linearized about a nonuniform rotational flow. The model accounts for the inflow-fan-duct coupling and the high frequency of the interaction process. An efficient split velocity formulation is developed, making it suitable for broadband calculations. The validity of the inviscid approach for loaded cascades is supported by recent LES simulations of an airfoil in a gust indicating that the interaction process is dominated by inertia forces. Analytical and numerical analysis of disturbances in rotational flows is developed and exact inflow/outflow boundary conditions are derived, yielding directly the radiated acoustics. The upstream disturbances evolve in rotational flows and as a result the aerodynamic-aeroacoustic response of the annular cascade depends on the initial conditions location. Comparison with a linear cascade model shows a significant change of the blade sectional lift and the acoustic response. The model is extended to broadband noise calculations using the method of multiple scales. Comparison with NASA SDT data shows excellent agreement.
Regulation of Signal Transduction by Enzymatically Inactive Antiviral RNA Helicase Proteins MDA5, RIG-I, and LGP2

Intracellular pattern recognition receptors MDA5, RIG-I, and LGP2 are essential components of the cellular response to virus infection and are homologous to the DEXH box subfamily of RNA helicases. However, the relevance of helicase activity in the regulation of interferon production remains elusive. To examine the importance of the helicase domain function for these signaling proteins, a series of mutations targeting conserved helicase sequence motifs were analyzed for enzymatic activity, RNA binding, interferon induction, and antiviral signaling. Results indicate that all targeted motifs are required for ATP hydrolysis, but a subset is involved in RNA binding. The enzymatically inactive mutants differed in their signaling ability. Notably, mutations to MDA5 motifs I, III, and VI and RIG-I motif III produced helicase proteins with constitutive antiviral activity, whereas mutations in RIG-I motif V retained ATP hydrolysis but failed to mediate signal transduction. These findings demonstrate that type I interferon production mediated by full-length MDA5 and RIG-I is independent of the helicase domain catalytic activity. In addition, neither enzymatic activity nor RNA binding was required for negative regulation of antiviral signaling by LGP2, supporting an RNA-independent interference mechanism.
Transmembrane Topography of Subunit a in the Escherichia coli F1F0 ATP Synthase

Subunit a is the least understood of the three subunits that compose the F0 sector in theEscherichia coli F0F1 ATP synthase. In this study, we have substituted Cys into predicted extramembranous loops of the protein and used chemical modification to obtain topographical information on the folding of subunit a. The extent of labeling of the substituted Cys residues by fluorescein-5′-maleimide was determined. The localization of reactive Cys residues was inferred from differences in the extent of labeling in inside out and right side out membrane vesicles. The NH2-terminal segment of subunit a was localized to the outside (periplasmic) surface and the COOH terminus to the cytoplasmic surface by these procedures. Loop residues in two periplasmic extramembranous loops and in two cytoplasmic extramembranous loops were also localized. The localization of two cytoplasmic Cys residues was confirmed by using 4-acetamido-4′-maleimidylstilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid to block fluorescein-5′-maleimide labeling. From the localization of the Cys residues, a model for the topography is proposed that consists of five transmembrane segments with the NH2 terminus periplasmic and the COOH terminus cytoplasmic. The positions of second site suppressors, including several isolated here to the nonfunctional E219C and H245C substitutions, provide support for the topographical model proposed.