cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin‐10 inhibits neutrophil phagocytic and bactericidal activity

Effective host defense against bacterial invasion is characterized by the vigorous recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells, which is dependent upon the coordinated expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a recently described cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory properties in vivo and in vitro. In this study we investigated whether IL-10 could directly regulate the ability of neutrophils (PMN) to phagocytose and kill bacteria. Initial studies demonstrated that human recombinant IL-10 (hrIL-10) inhibited the ability of PMN to phagocytose Escherichia coli in vitro. Inhibition of phagocytosis occurred in the absence of changes in CR1 (C3b) or Fc receptor expression, as treatment of PMN with IL-10 failed to induce significant changes in FcγIIR, FcγIIIR or CR1 cell surface expression. However, incubation of PMN with IL-10 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in CD11b (Mac-1) expression. In addition to effects on PMN phagocytosis, hrIL-10 significantly attenuated PMN microbicidal activity, as bactericidal assays revealed that co-incubation of PMN with hrIL-10 resulted in a marked decrease in killing of phagocytosed bacteria. Furthermore, IL-10 inhibited the production of superoxide from PMA-stimulated PMN, suggesting that the detrimental effects of IL-10 on PMN microbicidal activity were due, in part, to suppression of respiratory burst. In summary, our studies indicate that IL-10 inhibits PMN-dependent phagocytosis and killing of E. coli in vitro, and suggest that this cytokine may impair effective antibacterial host defense in vivo.
Silver nanoparticle toxicity to Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) and Caenorhabditis elegans: A comparison of mesocosm, microcosm, and conventional laboratory studies

The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in consumer products and industrial applications, as well as their recent detection in waste streams, has created concern about potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The effect of complex environmental media on AgNP toxicity was investigated using wetland mesocosms and smaller scale microcosms. Mesocosms were dosed with 2.5 mg Ag/L as gum arabic (GA)-coated AgNPs, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated AgNPs, or AgNO3. Water samples were taken from mesocosms 24 h after dosing for acute toxicity tests with embryos and larvae of Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Acute toxicity tests were also performed on Atlantic killifish with AgNO3, GA AgNPs, and PVP AgNPs prepared in the laboratory with similar water. For killifish embryos, mesocosm samples were much less toxic than laboratory samples for all types of silver. For larvae, in contrast, all 3 silver mesocosm treatments exhibited toxicity. Interestingly, mesocosm samples of AgNO3 were less toxic than laboratory samples; samples containing GA AgNPs were similar in toxicity, and samples containing PVP AgNPs were more toxic. For C. elegans, results were similar to killifish larvae. Results obtained from the mesocosms were not replicated on the smaller scale of the microcosms. These results indicate that environmental factors unique to the mesocosms acted differentially on AgNO3 to reduce its toxicity in a manner that does not translate to AgNPs for larval fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;9999:1–9. © 2014 SETAC
I-TCP: indirect TCP for mobile hosts

IP based solutions to accommodate mobile hosts within existing internetworks do not address the distinctive features of wireless mobile computing. IP-based transport protocols thus suffer from poor performance when a mobile host communicates with a host on the fixed network. This is caused by frequent disruptions in network layer connectivity due to i) mobility and ii) unreliable nature of the wireless link. We describe I-TCP, which is an indirect transport layer protocol for mobile hosts. I-TCP utilizes the resources of Mobility Support Routers (MSRs) to provide transport layer communication between mobile hosts and hosts on the fixed network. With I-TCP, the problems related to mobility and unreliability of wireless link are handled entirely within the wireless link; the TCP/IP software on the fixed hosts is not modified. Using I-TCP on our testbed, the throughput between a fixed host and a mobile host improved substantially in comparison to regular TCP.
Multipoint Galerkin asymptotic waveform evaluation for model order reduction of frequency domain FEM electromagnetic radiation problems

In this paper, a model order reduction technique is presented. This technique, known as Galerkin asymptotic waveform evaluation (GAWE), or multipoint Galerkin asymptotic waveform evaluation (MGAWE) if multiple expansion points are considered simultaneously, can be used to reduce matrices describing electromagnetic (EM) phenomena generated through the finite element method (FEM) to a smaller space while still accurately approximating the characteristics of the original responses. The resulting solution procedure of using GAWE or MGAWE, to solve FEM equations allows for wideband frequency simulations with a reduction in total computation time. Numerical simulations using these methods are shown along with traditional methods such as using an LU decomposition at each frequency point of interest and asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE). Comparisons in accuracy as well as computation time are also given.
Toward a computational model of affective responses to stories for augmenting narrative generation

Current approaches to story generation do not utilize models of human affect to create stories with dramatic arc, suspense, and surprise. This paper describes current and future work towards computational models of affective responses to stories for the purpose of augmenting computational story generators. I propose two cognitively plausible models of suspense and surprise responses to stories. I also propose methods for evaluating these models by comparing them to actual human responses to stories. Finally, I propose the implementation of these models as a heuristic in a search-based story generation system. By using these models as a heuristic, the story generation system will favor stories that are more likely to produce affective responses from human readers.
The 5-HT deficiency theory of depression: perspectives from a naturalistic 5-HT deficiency model, the tryptophan hydroxylase 2Arg439His knockin mouse

A decreased level of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has been theorized to be a core pathogenic factor in depression for half a century. The theory arose from clinical observations that drugs enhancing extracellular levels of 5-HT (5-HTExt) have antidepressant effects in many patients. However, whether such drugs indeed correct a primary deficit remains unresolved. Still, a number of anomalies in putative biomarkers of central 5-HT function have been repeatedly reported in depression patients over the past 40 years, collectively indicating that 5-HT deficiency could be present in depression, particularly in severely ill and/or suicidal patients. This body of literature on putative 5-HT biomarker anomalies and depression has recently been corroborated by data demonstrating that such anomalies indeed occur consequent to severely reduced 5-HTExt levels in a mouse model of naturalistic 5-HT deficiency, the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 His439 knockin (Tph2KI) mouse. In this review, we will critically assess the evidence for 5-HT deficiency in depression and the possible role of polymorphisms in the Tph2 gene as a causal factor in 5-HT deficiency, the latter investigated from a clinical as well as preclinical angle.
Transcription factor MEF2A mutations in patients with coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD), including its most serious complication myocardial infraction (MI), is the leading cause of death in the US and developed countries. We recently discovered that a seven-amino acid deletion in MEF2A, a transcription factor with a high level of expression in the endothelium of coronary arteries, co-segregates with CAD/MI in one family, and it suppresses transcription activation activity of MEF2A by a dominant-negative mechanism. In this study, we used single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequence analyses to identify mutations in MEF2A in 207 independent CAD/MI patients and 191 controls with normal angiograms. We identified three novel mutations in exon 7 of MEF2A in four of 207 CAD/MI patients (1.93%). No mutations were detected in the 191 controls. The mutations identified here include N263S identified in two independent CAD patients, P279L in one patient and his father with the diagnosis of CAD and G283D in one patient. These mutations are clustered within or close to the major transcriptional activation domain of MEF2A. They significantly reduce the transcriptional activation activity of MEF2A and act by a loss-of-function mechanism. The gene carriers with loss-of-function mutations appear to be associated with less severe CAD. These results suggest that CAD/MI can result from a spectrum of MEF2A transcription dysfunctions ranging from loss-of-function to dominant-negative suppression and that a significant percent of the CAD/MI population (1.93%) may carry mutations in MEF2A, although further definition of the prevalence of MEF2A mutations is warranted.
Relational frames as mediators of everyday talk and relational satisfaction in stepparent–stepchild relationships

This study tested the degree to which stepchildren’s relational frames operate as explanatory mechanisms for the positive association between everyday talk and relational satisfaction in stepparent–stepchild relationships. Participants included 127 stepparent–stepchild dyads from the Midwest and Southwest regions of the U.S. Results indicated that stepchildren’s everyday talk with their residential stepparent positively predicts their positive regard for the stepparent, the parental authority they grant the stepparent, and their affective certainty within the relationship. Bootstrapping analyses revealed significant indirect effects for both stepchildren’s and stepparents’ everyday talk on stepchildren’s relational satisfaction through stepchildren’s positive regard (i.e., an affiliation–disaffiliation frame). When combined, everyday talk and stepchildren’s relational frames account for 74% of the shared variance in stepchildren’s satisfaction with their stepparent.
Respiration of Potato Mitochondria and Whole Tubers and Relation to Sugar Accumulation

SUMMARY: We have made a quantitative assessment of the changes in reducing and non-reducing sugar contents and respiration in stored White Rose potato tubers as a function of temperature of storage. The increase in sugar content with decrease in storage temperature and the decrease in sugars with increase in temperature is accounted for in only a minor way by the corresponding decrease or increase in respiratory’activity of the tubers. The maximal possible contribution of respiratory activity to the changes in sugar content varied from less than 1% to 13% depending on the particular storage conditions. The temperature-dependence of respiratory activity of potato mitochondria was compared to that of whole tubers, and a quantitative comparison was made of the potential respiratory activity of the mitochondria to respiration of the whole tubers. The potential mitochondrial activity is such that respiration of whole tubers would not be limited by this factor at any temperature studied although it is recognized that the effect of mitochondrial activity could be an indirect one. Unlike whole tubers, mitochondria displayed a temperature response typical of an enzymic reaction with an apparent energy of activation of 14,000 cal/mole with succinate as substrate. The temperature-dependence of potato mitochondrial respiration is typical of that found for other plant mitochondrial systems but differs markedly from that of mitochondria of mammals and poikilotherms.
Attention and conduct problems in children exposed to family violence

This study examines the impact of family violence on the development of attention and conduct problems in girls and boys. Mothers (n = 287) were interviewed and given diagnostic assessment instruments to measure attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder in 1 of their children. Six years later, youths were interviewed about their delinquent behavior. Family violence related to attention and conduct problems in girls only. Girls who displayed these problems in childhood were not necessarily at risk for later delinquency. Family violence in childhood had a direct effect on delinquency in girls. Boys who developed attention problems were more likely to show conduct problems that eventually led to adolescent delinquency. Family violence failed to account for problems or delinquency in boys.
Method for prediction of protein function from sequence using the sequence-to-structure-to-function paradigm with application to glutaredoxins/thioredoxins and T1 ribonucleases.

The practical exploitation of the vast numbers of sequences in the genome sequence databases is crucially dependent on the ability to identify the function of each sequence. Unfortunately, current methods, including global sequence alignment and local sequence motif identification, are limited by the extent of sequence similarity between sequences of unknown and known function; these methods increasingly fail as the sequence identity diverges into and beyond the twilight zone of sequence identity. To address this problem, a novel method for identification of protein function based directly on the sequence-to-structure-to-function paradigm is described. Descriptors of protein active sites, termed "fuzzy functional forms" or FFFs, are created based on the geometry and conformation of the active site. By way of illustration, the active sites responsible for the disulfide oxidoreductase activity of the glutaredoxin/thioredoxin family and the RNA hydrolytic activity of the T1 ribonuclease family are presented. First, the FFFs are shown to correctly identify their corresponding active sites in a library of exact protein models produced by crystallography or NMR spectroscopy, most of which lack the specified activity. Next, these FFFs are used to screen for active sites in low-to-moderate resolution models produced by ab initio folding or threading prediction algorithms. Again, the FFFs can specifically identify the functional sites of these proteins from their predicted structures. The results demonstrate that low-to-moderate resolution models as produced by state-of-the-art tertiary structure prediction algorithms are sufficient to identify protein active sites. Prediction of a novel function for the gamma subunit of a yeast glycosyl transferase and prediction of the function of two hypothetical yeast proteins whose models were produced via threading are presented. This work suggests a means for the large-scale functional screening of genomic sequence databases based on the prediction of structure from sequence, then on the identification of functional active sites in the predicted structure.
Seasonal Hydroclimatic Forecasts as Innovations and the Challenges of Adoption by Water Managers

AbstractTechnological advances in forecasting the Earth’s climate offer a potentially useful tool to support planning and management decisions in water resources. Previous research has found that the implementation of new ideas and practices are impeded by many challenges such as low forecast skill, institutional obstacles, and political disincentives to innovation. To better understand barriers to forecast use at seasonal-to-interannual, decadal, or longer time scales, this paper evaluates a diffusion of innovations (DoI) framework to assess the adoption of hydroclimatic forecasts by water managers in the Northeast United States. Specifically, this paper seeks to understand how five innovation characteristics, relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability, influence the rate of adoption. Methods used for this analysis include the distribution of a survey, interviews, and a literature review. Results indicated that while much attention has focused on institutional obstacle...
Monitoring immune cells trafficking fluorescent prion rods hours after intraperitoneal infection.

Presence of an abnormal form a host-encoded prion protein (PrPC) that is protease resistant, pathologic and infectious characterizes prion diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) of cervids and scrapie in sheep. The Prion hypothesis asserts that this abnormal conformer constitutes most or all of the infectious prion. The role of the immune system in early events in peripheral prion pathogenesis has been convincingly demonstrated for CWD and scrapie 1-3. Transgenic and pharmacologic studies in mice revealed an important role of the Complement system in retaining and replicating prions early after infection 4-6. In vitro and in vivo studies have also observed prion retention by dendritic cells 7-10, although their role in trafficking remains unclear 11-16. Macrophages have similarly been implicated in early prion pathogenesis, but these studies have focused on events occurring weeks after infection 3,11,17. These prior studies also suffer from the problem of differentiating between endogenous PrPC and infectious prions. Here we describe a semiquantitative, unbiased approach for assessing prion uptake and trafficking from the inoculation site by immune cells recruited there. Aggregated prion rods were purified from infected brain homogenate by detergent solubilization of non-aggregated proteins and ultracentrifugation through a sucrose cushion. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, coomassie blue staining and western blotting confirmed recovery of highly enriched prion rods in the pelleted fraction. Prion rods were fluorochrome-labeled then injected intraperitoneally into mice. Two hours later immune cells from peritoneal lavage fluid, spleen and mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes were assayed for prion rod retention and cell subsets identified by multicolor flow cytometry using markers for monocytes, neutrophils, dendritic cells, macrophages and B and T cells. This assay allows for the first time direct monitoring of immune cells acquiring and trafficking prions in vivo within hours after infection. This assay also clearly differentiates infectious, aggregated prions from PrPC normally expressed on host cells, which can be difficult and lead to data interpretation problems in other assay systems. This protocol can be adapted to other inoculation routes (oral, intravenous, intranervous and subcutaneous, e.g.) and antigens (conjugated beads, bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens and proteins, egg) as well.
The SPI2-encoded SseA chaperone has discrete domains required for SseB stabilization and export, and binds within the C-terminus of SseB and SseD

SseA, a key Salmonella virulence determinant, is a small, basic pI protein encoded within the Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 and serves as a type III secretion system chaperone for SseB and SseD. Both SseA partners are subunits of the surface-localized translocon module that delivers effectors into the host cell; SseB is predicted to compose the translocon sheath and SseD is a putative translocon pore subunit. In this study, SseA molecular interactions with its partners were characterized further. Yeast two-hybrid screens indicate that SseA binding requires a C-terminal domain within both partners. An additional central domain within SseD was found to influence binding. The SseA-binding region within SseB was found to encompass a predicted amphipathic helix of a type participating in coiled-coil interactions that are implicated in the assembly of translocon sheaths. Deletions that impinge upon this putative coiled-coiled domain prevent SseA binding, suggesting that SseA occupies a portion of the coiled-coil. SseA occupancy of this motif is envisioned to be sufficient to prevent premature SseB self-association inside bacteria. Domain mapping on the chaperone was also performed. A deletion of the SseA N-terminus, or site-directed mutations within this region, allowed stabilization of SseB, but its export was disrupted. Therefore, the N-terminus of SseA provides a function that is essential for SseB export, but dispensable for partner binding and stabilization.
Inequality of Opportunity: Reply to Pedro Rosa Dias and Erik Schokkaert

The authors welcome the comments of Pedro Rosa Dias and Erik Schokkaert on our Editorial as a means of stimulating further debate on the usefulness of estimates of inequality of opportunity, especially for policy purposes. Our responses to their comments are in three categories. First, they broadly agree with many of our criticisms of the Paes de Barros et al. approach to measuring inequality of opportunity, but they say that these criticisms are already well appreciated in the literature. The authors beg to differ. Given our knowledge of work in policy settings, the authors believe that strong health warnings are in order. Second, the authors feel they do not sufficiently engage with a number of our points, including on talent and on luck. Third, while we agree with them that a strong focus on the income-health gradient leaves out many other considerations, the authors will nevertheless continue to argue for this focus on pragmatic grounds in the realm of policy.
The Critical Importance of Retrieval—and Spacing—for Learning

We examined the impact of repeated testing and repeated studying on long-term learning. In Experiment 1, we replicated Karpicke and Roediger's (2008) influential results showing that once information can be recalled, repeated testing on that information enhances learning, whereas restudying that information does not. We then examined whether the apparent ineffectiveness of restudying might be attributable to the spacing differences between items that were inherent in the between-subjects design employed by Karpicke and Roediger. When we controlled for these spacing differences by manipulating the various learning conditions within subjects in Experiment 2, we found that both repeated testing and restudying improved learning, and that learners' awareness of the relative mnemonic benefits of these strategies was enhanced. These findings contribute to understanding how two important factors in learning-test-induced retrieval processes and spacing-can interact, and they illustrate that such interactions can play out differently in between-subjects and within-subjects experimental designs.
Rapid HIV Testing and Obstetrical Characteristics of Women With Unknown HIV Serostatus at Time of Labor and Delivery

Objective To describe the obstetrical characteristics of women without prenatal care and/or undocumented human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus who presented for delivery and to assess the usefulness of rapid HIV screening in these women. Materials and Methods The study design was a retrospective analysis. Demographics, labor, delivery characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes of women without prenatal care and/or unknown HIV serostatus were reviewed. Results Three hundred fifty parturients met the inclusion criteria: 15.2% presented at complete cervical dilation, 48.6% with cervical dilation of at least 5 cm, and 43.1% with ruptured membranes. Twenty-two percent of parturients delivered within 1 hour of admission, 47.6% delivered within 4 hours of admission, and 5.5% delivered prior to arrival to the hospital. With the lengthy admission process and procurement of zidovudine from the pharmacy requiring at least 1 hour at best, 27.5% would not have the benefit of intrapar-tum zidovudine treatment. Single Use Diagnostic System HIV-1 rapid test was reactive and confirmed in 7 women (2.5%). conclusion Rapid HIV screening is a useful tool for guiding immediate obstetrical management and coordinated care for the neonate. In some circumstances, the full benefit of rapid HIV detection will not be realized due to advanced labor, ruptured members, or delivery prior to arrival.
Student Performance in Intermediate Economic Theory: Does 'Diligence' Matter

We employ a production function approach to analyze the performance of our intermediate theory students. The dependent variables are measures of examination performance. The explanatory variables include measures of intellectual ability and performance in prerequisite courses and personal characteristics such as gender. Since we want to determine whether diligence has a statistically significant impact on examination performance, the explanatory variables include three measures of effort: the average grade on homework exercises completed, the share of homework exercises completed, and the number of unexcused absences. We find that all three have a statistically significant on test averages. The homework grade and share of homeworks completed have positive effects on test performance, while the number of unexcused absences has a negative effect. We also examine the impact of these variables on the written, problem, and multiple-choice subsections of the macroeconomics exams. Here the impact of our effort variables on student performance mixed.
Smart Electronic Materials: ELECTRONIC LEVELS IN SOLIDS

INTRODUCTION In the previous chapter we have seen a number of important outcomes from the application of quantum mechanics to electronic states in solids. The key outcomes are: (i) Depending upon the physical system (i.e., the potential energy profile) certain energy levels are allowed and other energies are forbidden. This means an electron in the system can only occupy the allowed energy levels, (ii) In some systems the allowed energies form a continuous band extending over a range of energies, (iii) In allowed bands near the edge of the bands it is possible to describe electrons by an effective mass and an effective equation of motion that looks similar to Newton's equation. In this chapter we will examine several categories of solids and see how the outcomes listed above impact their electronic properties. The solution of the Schrodinger equation for a particular system is just the first step in being able to understand and manipulate the behavior of the system. The second step in the problem is to obtain information on the distribution of particles in the allowed states (energy levels). Finally, we use quantum mechanics to understand the response of the particles to an external disturbance. In the next section we will discuss how electrons are distributed in allowed states. OCCUPATION OF STATES: DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION Let us say we have solved the Schrodinger equation for electrons or Maxwell's equation for photons and we have a certain number of particles. How will the particles distribute among the allowed states? To answer this question we need to use statistical physics; in particular, quantum statistical physics.
Endovascular Repair for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms has Improved Outcomes Compared to Open Surgical Repair.

Introduction:Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) remains a critical diagnosis, and research is needed to address outcomes following surgical repair. The purpose of this study was to compare nationwide outcomes for patients who received either endovascular repair (EVAR) or open surgical repair (OSAR) for rAAA.Methods:The Medicare Provider Analysis and Review file from 2005 to 2009 was used to identify patients diagnosed with rAAA and treated with either EVAR or OSAR. Those patients with both procedures were excluded. Primary outcomes included mortality, postoperative complications, and readmission rates. Secondary outcomes included hospital resource utilization and length of stay (LOS).Results:A total of 8480 patients with rAAA who underwent EVAR (n = 1939) or OSAR (n = 6541) were identified. On multivariate regression, the likelihood of dying in the hospital after OSAR compared to EVAR was significantly greater (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.74-2.18). There was significant...
Hydrogen Passivation of Impurities in Al2O3

Carbon and nitrogen are contaminant impurities in Al2O3 dielectrics grown by atomic layer deposition, leading to deleterious effects in device performance. We investigate whether these impurities can be passivated using hydrogen. The role of atomic hydrogen in the electronic properties is addressed by examining formation energies and charge-state transition levels of C–H and N–H complexes. Combined with calculated band alignment, we then assess the impact on Al2O3/semiconductor interfaces. We find that hydrogen is indeed an effective passivating agent: it removes carbon-related carrier traps and passivates negative fixed charge associated with nitrogen.
Factors that influence standard uptake values in FDG PET/CT

1356 Learning Objectives 1. Illustrate factors that alter standard uptake values in FDG PET/CT to include patient, biodistribution and technical factors. 2. Discuss role of qualitative FDG uptake when SUV is unreliable in order to determine response to therapy. 3. Describe quality control measures used to minimize factors that could influence SUV variation. BACKGROUND: In addition to FDG PET/CT being used for baseline imaging of cancer patients, this imaging modality is used as a mainstay to determine response to therapy. In order to achieve this utility, standard uptake values (SUV) are compared from the baseline or subsequent imaging to the follow up imaging to determine if FDG activity in the primary neoplasm and metastases has increased, remained the same, decreased or resolved. There are many intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect the SUV which need to be understood to insure accuracy in comparing SUV among different studies. These factors affecting SUV will be reviewed in this exhibit. METHODS: Selected cases demonstrating altered SUV will be presented from Emory University. Examples of patient related factors include: postprandial blood glucose levels, insulin levels, steroids, and acute illness. Altered biodistribution of FDG can affect SUV due to anemia, marrow stimulating factors, excessive exercise, renal failure, aggressive tumor steal phenomenon, anasarca and morbid obesity. Technical factors include: incorrect units, varying times from injection to scanning, dose infiltration, and image processing such as iterations or filters. Small lesions can underestimate SUV due to partial volume effect or breathing artifact. When SUV values are determined non diagnostic, qualitative FDG uptake may be used to determine therapy response. Quality control measures used to minimize factors that could influence SUV will be described. CONCLUSION: Understanding factors that influence SUV in FDG PET/CT will ensure accurate comparison on follow up imaging to determine therapy response. Nuclear medicine physicians need to be aware of when SUV may be unreliable or underestimated to avoid misdiagnosis.
Disorders of the Body Mass

This chapter outlines the etiologies, prevalence, pathophysiology, genetic and environmental contributions to the development of human obesity. The basic physiology of control of feeding, energy storage, fat partitioning and energy expenditure are discussed, along with the genetic variations that impact this physiology and energy homeostasis. Human population linkage and association studies that identify loci implicated in the obesity phenotype are reviewed. Single gene defects causing obesity in rodents and humans are described in detail. Relevant nonhuman models are also presented.
A female pelvic bone shape model for air/bone separation in support of synthetic CT generation for radiation therapy

Separating bone from air in MR data is one of the major challenges in using MR images to derive synthetic CT. The problem is further complicated when the anatomic regions filled with air are altered across scans due to air mobility, for instance, in pelvic regions, thereby the air regions estimated using an ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequence are invalid in other image series acquired for multispectral classification. This study aims to develop and investigate a female pelvic bone shape model to identify low intensity regions in MRI where air is unlikely to be present in support of synthetic CT generation without UTE imaging. CT scans of 30 patients were collected for the study, 17 of them also have corresponding MR scans. The shape model was built from the CT dataset, where the reference image was aligned to each of the training images using B-spline deformable registration. Principal component analysis was performed on B-spline coefficients for a compact model where shape variance was described by linear combination of principal modes. The model was applied to identify pelvic bone in MR images by deforming the corresponding MR data of the reference image to target MR images, where the search space of the deformation process was constrained within the subspace spanned by principal modes. The local minima in the search space were removed effectively by the shape model, thus supporting an efficient binary search for the optimal solution. We evaluated the model by its efficacy in identifying bone voxels and excluding air regions. The model was tested across the 17 patients that have corresponding MR scans using a leave-one-out cross validation. A simple model using the first leading principal mode only was found to achieve reasonable accuracy, where an averaged 87% of bone voxels were correctly identified. Finally dilation of the optimally fit bone mask by 5 mm was found to cover 96% of bone voxels while minimally impacting the overlap with air (below 0.4%).
Evaluation of the SAVI SCOUT Surgical Guidance System for Localization and Excision of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions: A Feasibility Study.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the SAVI SCOUT surgical guidance system, which uses a nonradioactive infrared-activated electromagnetic wave reflector, to localize and excise nonpalpable breast lesions. We evaluated the system's use in 15 nonpalpable breast lesions in 13 patients. CONCLUSION. Image-guided placement was successful for 15 of 15 (100%) reflectors. The final pathologic analysis found that lesion excision was successful, including five malignancies with negative margins. No patients required reexcision or experienced complications. SAVI SCOUT is a feasible method for breast lesion localization and excision.
How to Cheat in After Effects

"How to Cheat in After Effects is an easy-to-follow book that lets you in on all of the little secrets to create those commonly needed effects with ease and speed. With clear pictures illustrating the step-by-step procedures, this is the perfect tool for the arsenal of any After Effects user, fromnovice to advanced." - Michele Yamazaki, Vice President Marketing and Web Development Czarina, Toolfarm.com Compose eye-popping After Effects projects quickly and creatively with dozens of concise, step-by-step tutorials accompanied by vivid 4-color illustration. Covering features new to CS5 such as Freeform AE, Refine Matte, Roto Brush, and more, this book clearly explains how to perform advanced, typically time-consuming tasks in simplified, quick steps. * Create an entire 3D planet scene from scratch * Create true 3D text * Make smoke, snow, rain, chocolate, molten gold, and more from scratch with particles * Create animated growing vines * Fake a tilt shift effect, and so much more The companion DVD includes project files allowing you to work alongside the exercises in the book, as well as QuickTime movies displaying the techniques shown in the book. Chad Perkins is an award winning software trainer, as well as a filmmaker, musician, and visual effects artist. He is also the creator/owner of Movies and Computers (moviesandcomputers.com), which provides training in independent filmmaking. He is an Adobe Certified Instructor in After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere. Chad is also the author of the book The After Effects Illusionist (Focal Press, 2009). * Conquer your After Effects challenges quickly and creatively with dozens of concise, step-by-step tutorials for performing advanced-level techniques * Lavish 4 color illustration and humorous presentation provide inspiration and keep you engaged in each project * DVD features project files and tutorial videos, allowing you to watch instruction and recreate the exact projects in the book immediately
Prognostic factors for metastatic kidney cancer.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is associated with a poor prognosis, a result of the lack of effective systemic therapy.’ Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy and hormone therapy lack significant antitumor effect in the treatment of metastatic RCC. Response rates to standard cytotoxic chemotherapies are less than 10%02and hormonal therapy is inactive (antiandrogens, antiestrogens, androgens, progestins), with response rates of 1-2%.The rare but consistent incidence of spontaneous tumor regression,plus the naturally occurring phenomenon of lymphocytic infiltration in the renal tumors of untreated patients,’ instigated the study of immunotherapy against renal cell cancer.
Drama, Theatre, and Identity in the American New Republic: Patriotic interrogations: committees of safety in early American drama

A lthough american theatrical managers preferred to stage such demonstrable British favorites as The Poor Soldier and The West Indian to anything by an American author, playwrights in the United States recognized more readily than their transatlantic counterparts the dramatic potential of Revolutionary life. Either because of personal suffering or an acute eye for the marked change in social interactions as a result of the polarizing politics from 1775 onward, a few writers offered much darker assessments of republican life than, say, Royall Tyler in his generally affirmative The Contrast , assessments that asked serious questions about precisely who had control not only over social and political structures but also over personal life. As has been observed above, both Michel de Crevecoeur and Judith Sargent Murray examine fractured domestic relationships brought about by the politics of separation, with one seeing only ruin, the other positing reconciliation as the outcome of a completed war. Yet in both plays, the writers leave a number of questions unanswered, especially about the larger implications of reconceived patterns of patriarchy, deference, and participation of previously subordinated or marginalized groups. One of the questions the plays pose has to do with the legitimacy of popular, rather than elite, authority to prosecute public affairs. When the Continental Congress convened in 1774, it established the Continental Association, an agreement among the colonies not to import British goods. To enforce the policies of the Association, local bodies were formed called Committees of Safety.
Ion Fluxes and Cell Swelling in Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury: The Role of Excitatory Amino Acids

Several earlier studies have demonstrated, using ion-sensitive electrodes, that massive ionic fluxes across the brain cell membrane occur in response to traumatic brain injury even when the cell membrane is not primarily damaged (Takahashi et al. 1981, Tsubokawa 1983, Hubschman and Kornhauser 1983, DeSalles et al. 1986). However, no data are currently available regarding the exact mechanism of such ionic events. Similar changes in ionic distribution in anoxic or ischemic brain injury have been shown to produce cellular swelling as a direct consequence (Van Harreveld and Ochs 1956, Hansen et al. 1980). While the occurrence of cellular swelling in traumatie brain injury is not well documented to date, the massive ionic fluxes are likely to result in changes in cell volume regardless of their cause. Therefore, understanding these phenomena would provide insight into the intraparenchymal pathology seen clinieally in traumatic brain injury.
The Role of Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Cutaneous Melanoma

Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) has becomes an integral part of the staging, managing, and surveillance of high-risk malignant melanoma. By using PET and CT, the imaging modality offers a unique method of providing the functional and anatomical details of the disease process not previously available. The in-line acquisition of data is synergistic in providing more sensitive and specific information about malignant melanoma regardless of initial location. In addition, the functional information not only helps with the localization and extent of the disease but also may provide prognostic information by assessing the metabolic activity of the cancer.
Estimating the melting point, entropy of fusion, and enthalpy of fusion of organic compounds via SPARC

The entropy of fusion, enthalpy of fusion, and melting point of organic compounds can be estimated through three models developed using the SPARC (SPARC Performs Automated Reasoning in Chemistry) platform. The entropy of fusion is modelled through a combination of interaction terms and physical descriptors. The enthalpy of fusion is modelled as a function of the entropy of fusion, boiling point, and flexibility of the molecule. The melting point model is the enthalpy of fusion divided by the entropy of fusion. These models were developed in part to improve SPARC's vapour pressure and solubility models. These models have been tested on 904 unique compounds. The entropy model has a RMS of 12.5 J mol(-1) K(-1). The enthalpy model has a RMS of 4.87 kJ mol(-1). The melting point model has a RMS of 54.4°C.
Structural Features in Metal–Organic Nanotube Crystals That Influence Stability and Solvent Uptake

Porous hybrid materials such as metal–organic nanotubes are of interest due to synthetic tunability, possibility for 1-D flow, and confinement of solvent molecules. In the current study, the stability and solvent selectivity of two hybrid materials with nanotubular arrays, (pip)0.5[(UO2)(HIDA)(H2IDA)]·2H2O (UIDA; IDA = iminodiacetate) and [(UO2)(PDC)(H2O)] (UPDC; PDC = pyridine dicarboxylate) were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. The fine details of the structural characterization, such as the presence of solvent molecules, were found to be important to the overall properties of the materials as evidenced by the increased stability of the UIDA compound when formed from a solvent mixture containing acetone. Careful analysis of the UPDC compound indicated that the ligated solvent molecule can be exchanged, which may impact the hydration state of the material. Overall, the UIDA compound displays complete selectivity...
Formation of non-magmatic iron-meteorite group IIE

Abstract Instrumental neutron-activation (INAA) data for metal in 22 nonmagmatic IIE meteorites show narrow ranges in Ir and other refractory siderophiles; the Ir range is a factor of 2.6, a factor of ∼2 smaller than in nonmagmatic IAB-MG, and orders of magnitude smaller than in the large magmatic groups. Siderophile data show no evidence of fractional crystallization. IIE irons can be split into two sets, a larger main-set and a set of 6 Cu- (or FeS) rich irons. Elemental concentrations in metal from veins in H5 chondrite Portales Valley fall within the IIE range with the exceptions of Co (high) and Ga (low). H-group-chondrite and Au-normalized IIE abundances for siderophiles show that IIE irons are ∼30% higher than H in refractory siderophiles Re, Ir and W and are about 30% lower than H chondrites in the volatiles Ga and Sb, inconsistent with proposals that IIE irons formed from H chondrites. The IIE fractionations contrast with those in L chondrites which are about 15% lower than H in the three refractory elements and 40% higher than H in volatiles indicating that IIE irons did not form from H chondrites but from a more reduced and siderophile-rich kind of ordinary chondrite (“HH” chondrites). Most O-isotope data support a close relationship between IIE irons and H or HH chondrites; lower Δ17O in primitive (chondritic) silicates support an HH classification. Literature isotopic data for Ru and Mo also show that IIE metal formed from an ordinary chondrite parent; it appears that the silicates and metal were formed by melting of a single asteroid. There is no evidence for radiogenic (26Al) heating; this, the rapid cooling recorded in the sizes of parental gamma crystal in the metal and the absence of fractional crystallization strongly support the hypothesis that IIE melting was the result of impacts. To summarize, the weight of the evidence favors the conclusion that IIE meteorites were formed by one or more impacts on an HH asteroid. The target probably had a composition like the chondritic materials in Netschaevo, but was unequilibrated and had much higher porosity.
A Review on Thermoelectric Devices

A Thermoelectric Device (TE) is made up of dissimilar conducting materials that take a tem- perature dierence (waste heat) and converts it to electrical power. In addition, depending on the direction of the current ow, a TE can also be used for heating/cooling. The reason why TEs are able to provide heating/cooling and be a source of electrical power is due to the Seebeck and Peltier eect. Due to TEs only having a ZT, figure of merit, value of one a lot of eort is being put into finding materials that could improve the improve the figure of merit. This paper reviews how the TEs are implemented in current applications.
An Experimental Assessment of the Coin-Tap Technique for Detecting Defects in Adhesively Bonded Sheet Steel Joints

It is likely that most bonded joints contain some imperfections or defects. The significance of these will depend not only on their extent, but also on their position, the loading and environmental conditions which the bond will experience in service and, fortunately, in many cases, their existence will not be detrimental. It has been shown, for instance, that a debond extending to over 50% of the area in the centre of a simple overlap has very little effect on the initial strength of the joint [1].
Recent advances in droplet vaporization and combustion

Recent progress on understanding the fundamental mechanisms governing droplet vaporization and combustion are reviewed. Topics include the classical d2-Law and its limitations; the major transient processes of droplet heating and fuel vapor accumulation; effects due to variable transport property assumptions; combustion of multicomponent fuels including the miscible fuel blends, immiscible emulsions, and coal-oil mixtures, finite-rate kinetics leading to ignition and extinction; and droplet interaction. Potentially promising research topics are also suggested.
Fight or flight: An assessment of Fremont territoriality in Nine Mile Canyon, Utah

The territorialization of resources is a continual topic of interest for researchers investigating human social organization and resource competition. While scholars have proposed numerous archaeological markers of territoriality, these indicators are often established using qualitative observation and speculation rather than standardized methods and quantitative tests. In this article, we investigate the link between archaeological data and prehistoric territoriality using Formative period Fremont sites from Nine Mile Canyon (NMC), Utah, and geospatial statistical tests. Numerous researchers have suggested the presence of NMC sites with explicit defensive functions. The existence of large tower structures and remote storage units have led many to hypothesize that these features were part of a Fremont strategy to maintain territorial boundaries and defend resources from human predation. Here, we focus on the tower sites and their relationship to Fremont territoriality. Our results support the hypothesis that the tower sites of NMC functioned as defensive refuges. The presence of refuge sites reveals that the NMC Fremont avoided the confrontations necessary to exclude competitors and maintain territorial boundaries. We propose an explanatory model relating to seasonal mobility and settlement dispersion to explain why the costs of territoriality may have outweighed the benefits.