cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Ah regulatory gene product. Survey of nineteen polycyclic aromatic compounds' and fifteen benzo[a]pyrene metabolites' capacity to bind to the cytosolic receptor

The capacity of 19 polycyclic aromatic compounds and 15 benzo[a]pyrene metabolites to displace [1,6-3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxine ([3H]Tcdd) from the mouse liver cytosolic Ah receptor was examined. We compared our data with various parameters taken from previously published results: the capacity of seven polycyclic hydrocarbons to induce aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity in human cell cultures, the capacity of 10 polycyclic hydrocarbons to induce azo dye N-demethylase activity in rat liver, the capacity of 6 polycyclic hydrocarbons to shorten zoxazolamine paralysis times in the intact rat, and the capacity of 15 benzo[a]pyrene metabolites to induce AHH activity in rat hepatoma H-4-II-E cultures. An excellent correlation is seen between the capacity to displace the radioligand from the Ah receptor and the capacity to induce these monooxygenase activities. Differences in the rate of cellular uptake and formation of alkali-extractable metabolites of dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, 3-methylcholanthrene, and benzo[a]anthracene in Hepa-1 mouse hepatoma cell cultures do not account for differences in the capacity of these three polycyclic hydrocarbons to displace [3H]TCDD from the Ah receptor.
'Knowing the patient': a review of research on an emerging concept

Knowing the patient is an important concept emerging from recent studies of nursing practice. The concept is relevant to therapeutic decision-making. Also, knowing the patient actualizes a cherished value in nursing: the treatment of persons as unique individuals. Investigators described that knowing the patient comprises two components: the nurse's understanding of the patient and the selection of individualized interventions. In addition, the nurse's experience with caring for patients, chronological time and a sense of closeness between the patient and nurse, are three factors consistently related to knowing the patient. The concept has implications for practice, including that knowing the patient may result in positive patient outcomes. Also, expert nurse decision-making may be characterized by knowing the patient. Recommendations for further research in this area include the clarification and refinement of the concept, as well as the examination of relationships between knowing the patient and outcomes of care.
Application of atomic force microscope to the study of bio-cells

Ultrasonic atomic force microscopy (U-AFM) was used to image the elastic properties of hamster kidney (BHK) cells. Force-distance curves and finite element analysis were also used in this work assist in the description of the U-AFM images. These tools helped explain the differences in contrast seen from the center to the edge of the cell. The explanation of the U-AFM image contrast will lead to more analytical tools to investigate both nonviable and viable materials. Improvement of our system for living cell (in a culture) imaging is also discussed.
Effect of Ethanol Chemistry on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Carbon Steel in Fuel-Grade Ethanol

Abstract A systematic study was carried out to understand the effect of ethanol chemistry (chloride, water, pHe, and oxygen level) as well as other controlling parameters on the stress corrosion cr...
Optimizing the Dose and Schedule of Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antibodies in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the world's leading cause of cancer death. Most patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with advanced disease. Median survival is approximately 8-10 months for patients who receive standard platinum-based doublet therapy. In 2006 the FDA approved the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab for patients with advanced, non-squamous, NSCLC based on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group E4599 trial. This trial demonstrated a 2-month improvement in overall survival when bevacizumab was added to carboplatin/paclitaxel. European investigators presented further data supporting improvement in progression-free survival with the use of bevacizumab and a cisplatin doublet in the Avastin in Lung Cancer (AVAiL) trial. Bevacizumab at doses of 7.5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg are both effective and safe for patients with advanced NSCLC. Fatal hemorrhage has been reported for patients receiving the antiangiogenesis antibody. According to a retrospective study, the only significant clinical and radiographic variable associated with increased risk of pulmonary hemorrhage is the presence of cavitation. Common side effects include hypertension, proteinuria and minor mucosal bleeding. Bevacizumab monotherapy given every 21 days can be safely continued for patients without evidence of progression and for whom side effects of therapy are acceptable. Many questions remain, such as the role of the anti-VEGF antibody in early-stage disease, the safety of bevacizumab in patients with squamous histology NSCLC, and the benefit of combination therapy in elderly patients.
Learning about Older Learners: Training Undergraduates as Researchers.

Students in an experimental design class were trained in survey research and gerontological research issues through a class project that involved interviewing older adults and resulted in a term paper written as a journal manuscript. Various other aspects of the course, including statistical analysis, library searches, informed consent issues, and dealing with sexist and ageist language, were integrated into this class project. Benefits of this approach to teaching experimental design are discussed.
Short‐Term Regulation of NHE3 by EGF and Protein Kinase C but Not Protein Kinase A Involves Vesicle Trafficking in Epithelial Cells and Fibroblasts

NHE3 is an intestinal epithelial isoform Na+/H+ exchanger that is present in the brush border of small intestinal, colonic, and gallbladder Na(+)-absorbing epithelial cells. NHE3 is acutely up- and downregulated in response to some G protein-linked receptors, tyrosine kinase receptors, and protein kinases when studied in intact ileum, when stably expressed in PS120 fibroblasts, and in the few studies reported in the human colon cancer cell line Caco-2. In most cases this is due to changes in Vmax of NHE3, although in response to cAMP and squalamine there are also changes in the K'(H+)i of the exchanger. The mechanism of the Vmax regulation as shown by cell surface biotinylation and confocal microscopy in Caco-2 cells and biotinylation in PS120 cells involves changes in the amount of NHE3 on the plasma membrane. In addition, in some cases there are also changes in turnover number of the exchanger. In some cases, the change in amount of NHE3 in the plasma membrane is associated with a change in the amount of plasma membrane. A combination of biochemical studies and transport/inhibitor studies in intact ileum and Caco-2 cells demonstrated that the increase in brush border Na+/H+ exchange caused by acute exposure to EGF was mediated by PI 3-kinase. PI 3-kinase was also involved in FGF stimulation of NHE3 expressed in fibroblasts. Thus, NHE3 is another example of a transport protein that is acutely regulated in part by changing the amount of the transporter on the plasma membrane by a process that appears to involve vesicle trafficking and also to involve changes in turnover number.
A study of the course of rheumatic heart disease

Abstract In this study of the course of 160 cases of rheumatic heart disease, it was disclosed that at the time of examination at the Mayo Clinic 81 per cent of the patients were less than fifty years of age. The disease occurred most commonly in the fifth decade, forty-seven cases (29 per cent). Only seventeen patients (19 per cent) were more than fifty. The sex incidence was equal, and no striking differences were found in a comparison of the data divided on the basis of sex. The first attack occurred before the age of thirty in 136 cases (85 per cent) and before the age of twenty in 103 cases (64 per cent). The primary infection occurred in only five cases (3 per cent) after the fortieth year. The average age at the time of death was thirty-two years. The cases were divided into three groups for comparative study according to the clinical diagnosis of valvular involvement. In Group I with mitral involvement there were 124 cases, in Group II with aortic involvement twenty-one cases, and in Group III with both mitral and aortic involvement, fifteen cases. In Group I, fifty-one patients were males and seventy-three females; the first rheumatic infection occurred before the thirtieth year in 106 cases (85 per cent), and in only three cases (3 per cent) was the first attack after the fortieth year. The average age at death was thirty years. In Group II there were nineteen males and two females; rheumatic infection occurred before the thirtieth year in seventeen cases (81 per cent); the average age at death was forty-three years. In Group III there were ten males and five females; in thirteen (86 per cent) the initial rheumatic infection occurred before the thirtieth year; the average age at death was thirty-two years. Recurrent rheumatic infections were most prevalent in the first decade of life in which they occurred in sixteen cases (55 per cent). The greatest number of attacks in any one case was eight. There was no instance of recurrent infection after the thirtieth year. There was only one instance of recurrent infection in Group II. No constant relationship is revealed in this study between the number of attacks of rheumatic fever and the age at which death occurred. There is little difference between the incidence of recurrent infection in the two sexes. In sixty-two cases (39 per cent) there was congestive failure at the time of examination. Auricular fibrillation occurred in sixty cases (38 per cent). Death from gradual heart failure occurred in 147 cases, while sudden death occurred in eight cases. Five patients died from subacute bacterial endocarditis.
The NPOESS Preparatory Project Science Data Segment: The Final As Built Description

The NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) provides remotely-sensed land, ocean, atmospheric, ozone, and sounder data that will serve the meteorological and global climate change scientific communities while also providing risk reduction for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), the U.S. Government's future low-Earth orbiting satellite system monitoring global weather and environmental conditions. NPOESS is a joint mission of three federal agencies: NASA, NOAA, and DoD. NASA Science Data Segment's (SDS) primary role in NPP is to independently assess the quality of the NPP science and environmental data records for climate research. Such assessment is critical for making NPOESS products the best that they can be for operational use and ultimately for climate studies. The SDS supports science assessment by assuring the timely provision of NPP data to NASA's science teams organized by climate measurement themes. The SDS breaks down into ten major elements: an input element that receives data from the operational agencies and acts as a buffer, a calibration analysis element, five elements devoted to measurement based quality assessment, one Production Element for Earth Radiation, an element used to test algorithmic improvements, and an element that coordinates overall science direction and results. This paper describes how the NPP SDS leveraged existing systems, the final system architectures, and lessons learned for the development of mission-reliable research-ready systems capable of supporting the assessment of NPP derived products.
Mechanisms of killing of measles virus-infected cells by human lymphocytes: Interferon associated and unassociated cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Abstract Human fibroblasts infected with measles virus express viral hemagglutinin (HA) and fusion (F) glycoproteins on their surface. These infected cells are killed by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) within 2 to 4 hr of incubation in vitro . Both syngeneic and allogeneic PBLs harvested from human adults, all previously recovered from childhood measles virus infection (immune donors), are efficient in mediating this cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity is also expressed by PBLs from a donor with no history of measles virus and lacking circulating anti-measles virus antibodies. This cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) is not due to anti-measles virus IgG in that it is not abrogated by purified F(ab′) 2 fragments from rabbit IgG anti-human F(ab′) 2 . The killer lymphocytes are Fc-receptor positive and erythrocyte rosetting and non-erythrocyte resetting, as assessed by both positive and negative selection experiments. Exposure of viral glycoproteins at surfaces of infected cells is necessary for this early CMC, which can be completely abrogated by F(ab′) 2 fragments to measles virus glycoproteins. However, the same F(ab′) 2 fragments are not effective in blocking CMC after an 8-hr incubation period (late CMC), suggesting that a different mechanism of CMC operates at the later time. Interferon (IFN)-like activity cannot be demonstrated in culture fluids within 4 hr of incubation, and early CMC is not inhibited by antibody to human IFN. In contrast, after 8 hr of incubation, culture fluids do possess antiviral activity, and do have the capacity to recruit new CMC indicating that IFN is now present in the system. Therefore, viral glycoproteins expressed at the surface of infected cells induced CMC early in the infectious cycle and this CMC is not associated with IFN-like activity. Later during the infection, a different IFN-associated CMC is also present.
Effect of Sympathicolytic and Other Agents on Toxicity of Digitalis in Cats

Summary933F, 883 F, procaine and quinidine do not increase tolerance of cats to lethal effects of digitalis. Ventricular fibrillation induced by digitalis overdosage is of a different type than that elicited by epinephrine or related agents.
Influence of Surface Roughness on Friction and Contact Resistance in Sliding Electrical Contacts

An experiment is conducted to investigate the role of surface roughness on the coefficient of friction and contact resistance of sliding electrical contacts. A hemispherical pin is sliding along both smooth and rough 2-meter rail surface. Tests are performed at both low and moderate sliding speed and for a range of electrical current densities, ranging from 0 to about 12 GA/m2 . It was found that surface roughness had a significant influence on the coefficient of friction, with the smoother surfaces exhibiting higher coefficients of friction. Contact resistance, on the other hand, did not show as strong an effect of surface roughness, except for a few parameter combinations. At the higher current densities studied (>10 GA/m2 ), it was found that the contact resistance values tended to be on the order of 1 mΩ, independent of load, speed and roughness. This convergence may be due to presence of liquid metal film at the interface, which established ideal electrical contact.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Characterization of the AhR-hsp90-XAP2 core complex and the role of the immunophilin-related protein XAP2 in AhR stabilization

The unliganded aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) exists in the cytoplasm in a tetrameric 9S core complex, consisting of the AhR ligand-binding subunit, a dimer of hsp90, and the hepatitis B virus X-a...
Biological activity of truncated C-terminus human heat shock protein 72

Abstract Heat shock protein 72 (Hsp72), a canonical intracellular molecular chaperone, may also function as an extracellular danger signal for the innate immune system. To further delineate the biological role of Hsp72 in the innate immune system, we generated two truncated versions of the full length human Hsp72 (N-terminus Hsp72, amino acids 1–430; and C-terminus Hsp72 amino acids 420–641) and directly compared their ability to activate cells from the macrophage/monocyte lineage. In RAW 264.7 macrophages transfected with a NF-κB-dependent luciferase reporter plasmid, C-terminus Hsp72 was a more potent inducer of NF-κB activity than N-terminus Hsp72, and this effect did not seem to be secondary to endotoxin contamination. C-terminus Hsp72-mediated activation of the NF-κB pathway was corroborated by increased activation of IκB kinase, degradation of IκBα, and increased NF-κB–DNA binding. C-terminus Hsp72 was a more potent inducer of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages and in primary murine peritoneal macrophages from wild-type mice. C-terminus Hsp72 did not induce TNFα expression in primary murine peritoneal macrophages from Toll-like receptor (TLR4) mutant mice, indicating a role for TLR4. In human THP-1 mononuclear cells, C-terminus Hsp72 induced tolerance to subsequent LPS stimulation, whereas N-terminus Hsp72 did not induce tolerance. Finally, control experiments using equimolar amounts of N-terminus or C-terminus Hsp72 demonstrated a higher biological potency for C-terminus Hsp72. These data demonstrate that the ability of human Hsp72 to serve as an activator for cells of the macrophage/monocyte lineage primarily lies in the C-terminus region spanning amino acids 420–641.
Use of IV Radionuclide Total Body Arteriography To Evaluate Arterial Bypass Shunts—A New Method— A Review of Several Cases

Currently, Doppler ultrasound and contrast angiography are the main imaging procedues being used to evaluate arterial bypass shunts. IV radionuclide total body arteriogra phy (TBA) is another useful imaging procedure for evaluation of bypass shunts.The authors reviewed 33 patients, 19 women and 14 men, ranging in age from forty-three to eighty-five, who had TBA done after arterial bypass surgery. Ten patients had multiple shunts and 5 had multiple follow-up studies. In total there were 80 shunts, including 43 femoropopliteal, 16 axil lofemoral, 1 axillopopliteal, 13 cross over femorofemoral, and 7 aortofe moral shunts. Sixty-two of the 80 shunts were patent, 14 were oc cluded, and 4 had partial occlusion. The results were confirmed by Dop per studies, contrast angiograms, an d/or surgical exploration without false positives or false negatives. Since the radiotracer used was 99mTc labeled red blood cells, a MUGA study can also be performed immedi ately following TBA in the same in jection. Twenty-eight pat...
Outcome after perforation sustained during pneumatic dilatation for achalasia

Although esophageal perforation complicates about 5% of pneumatic dilatations performed for achalasia, little is known about associated hospital and long-term courses. In order to assess the outcome of such patients undergoing emergency surgery for repair, records of seven patients sustaining perforation during pneumatic dilatation were compared to those of five patients undergoing elective myotomy during the same period. In perforation patients, mean intervals following the procedure were 3.6 hr to administration of antibiotics and 9.6 hr to surgery. The perforation and elective myotomy groups had similar mean durations of operation (3.8 vs 3.3 hr), intensive care stays (2 vs 1 days) and hospitalization (12 vs 11 days); perforation patients had a significantly longer mean interval from surgery to oral intake (7 vs 5 days). Postdischarge long-term outcomes were alike in the groups. It is concluded that patients with perforation from pneumatic dilatation that is recognized and treated promptly have outcomes that are comparable to those of patients who undergo elective myotomy.
Identification and control of two-dimensional smart structures using distributed sensors

In recent years, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film has been extensively used in the development of distributed sensors. However, very few results are available for shaping distributed sensors for control of two dimensional structures. In this study, we have utilized simple geometric shapes for the implementation of feedback controllers on a cantilevered plate system. Multiple distributed sensors along with their time derivatives are used for system identification and the implementation of complex controllers. The resulting direct implementation minimizes the electronic hardware requirements of the controller. A system identification technique for deriving a state variable representation of the structural system using distributed sensors is studied. The state variables of the model are defined as the quantities being measured by the distributed sensors. This technique was originally developed for one-dimensional structures and is extended to the two-dimensional plate system in this paper. The availability of the states of the system simplifies the state space control system design and the implementation of full-state feedback controllers. Linear quadratic regulator (LQR) and H(infinity ) controllers can be implemented with simple analog hardware. A full state feedback LQR controller is implemented on the experimental system which incorporates all of the necessary signal conditioning electronics. The results of simulation and experimental results are presented.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Human Figure Drawings and Children's Recall of Touching.

In 2 studies, children ages 3 to 7 years were asked to recall a series of touches that occurred during a previous staged event. The recall interview took place 1 week after the event in Study 1 and immediately after the event in Study 2. Each recall interview had 2 sections: In 1 section, children were given human figure drawings (HFDs) and were asked to show where the touching took place; in the other section, the same questions were asked without the HFDs (verbal condition). Children were randomly assigned to 2 different conditions: HFD 1st/verbal 2nd or verbal 1st/HFD 2nd. There were 2 major findings. First, HFDs elicited more errors than the verbal condition when used to probe for information that the child had already been asked. Second, regardless of interview method, children had poor recall of the touches even when these occurred minutes before the interview. It is suggested that cognitive mechanisms involving memory and semantics underlie children's poor recall of touching in both verbal and HFD conditions.
Characteristics of multidimensional holographic associative memory in retrieval with dynamically localizable attention

This paper presents the performance analysis of multidimensional holographic associative memory (MHAC). MHAC has the unique ability to retrieve pattern-associations with changeable attention. In attention actuated retrieval the user can dynamically select any subset of the elements in the example query pattern and expect the memory to confine its associative match only within the specified field of attention. MHAC, with the unique ability of localizable attention, can retrieve information correctly even with cues as small as 10% of the query frame. This paper investigates the performance of MHAC in attention actuated retrieval both analytically and experimentally. Besides confirmation, the experiments also identify an operational range space for this memory within which various attention based applications can be built with a performance guarantee.
Nanotechnology for targeted cancer therapy

Cancer nanotechnology is currently under intense development for applications in cancer imaging, molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy. The basic rationale is that nanometer-sized particles, such as biodegradable micelles, semiconductor quantum dots and iron oxide nanocrystals, have functional or structural properties that are not available from either molecular or macroscopic agents. When linked with biotargeting ligands, such as monoclonal antibodies, peptides or small molecules, these nanoparticles are used to target malignant tumors with high affinity and specificity. In the 'mesoscopic' size range of 5-100 nm in diameter, nanoparticles also have large surface areas and functional groups for conjugating to multiple diagnostic (e.g., optical, radioisotopic or magnetic) and therapeutic (e.g., anticancer) agents. Recent advances have led to multifunctional nanoparticle probes for molecular and cellular imaging, nanoparticle drugs for targeted therapy, and integrated nanodevices for early cancer detection and screening. These developments have opened exciting opportunities for personalized oncology in which cancer detection, diagnosis and therapy are tailored to each individual's molecular profile, and also for predictive oncology, in which genetic/molecular information is used to predict tumor development, progression and clinical outcome.
Impact of Prices on Profit Functions in Dairy Cattle

Eleven different combinations of income and expense factors were used to estimate relative net profit on a lifetime and per day of productive life basis for 176,902 Holstein cows with opportunity for production through 72 mo of age. Price changes affected mean and standard deviation of profit estimates for both lifetime and per day of productive life. Deviating profit estimates from contemporaries stabilized means across prices, but standard deviations were little affected. Correlations between lifetime profit function exceeded .90 for all combinations except those with the relative net profit estimate using high feed and low product price where five correlations were from .72 to .79. Another profit estimate using medium feed and product prices and high fixed and operating expense produced four correlations from .87 to .89. When profit was expressed per day of productive life, correlations exceeded .99 in all cases except one (.97). Relationships between profit functions and other lifetime performance variables are presented.
Correlation analysis and applications in wireless microsensor networks

Sensor readings in a wireless microsensor network are correlated both spatially and temporally. Various coding and storage schemes and also other applications have been developed to exploit these correlations; therefore it is crucial to efficiently track the correlations. In this paper, a linear prediction algorithm is developed to initially establish the correlations, and the order of linear prediction has been derived from the prediction error power distribution. A tracking algorithm uses discrete Kalman filter to track the correlation once it is initially obtained. This Kalman filter based algorithm uses the gradient computed at each step as the input control vector. This approach is suitable for quantifying geographical spatial correlation and multimodality correlation. Experimental results using various data sets have shown that the proposed scheme can accurately obtain the correlation and consumes much less energy as compared to known schemes.
fNIRS detects temporal lobe response to affective touch

Touch plays a crucial role in social–emotional development. Slow, gentle touch applied to hairy skin is processed by C-tactile (CT) nerve fibers. Furthermore, ‘social brain’ regions, such as the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) have been shown to process CT-targeted touch. Research on the development of these neural mechanisms is scant, yet such knowledge may inform our understanding of the critical role of touch in development and its dysfunction in disorders involving sensory issues, such as autism. The aim of this study was to validate the ability of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), an imaging technique well-suited for use with infants, to measure temporal lobe responses to CT-targeted touch. Healthy adults received brushing to the right forearm (CT) and palm (non-CT) separately, in a block design procedure. We found significant activation in right pSTS and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to arm > palm touch. In addition, individual differences in autistic traits were related to the magnitude of peak activation within pSTS. These findings demonstrate that fNIRS can detect brain responses to CT-targeted touch and lay the foundation for future work with infant populations that will characterize the development of brain mechanisms for processing CT-targeted touch in typical and atypical populations.
The “Doctors” Will See You Now: A Pharmacist’s Take on the “Truth in Advertising” Campaign

In response to this growing movement of allied health “doctors,” the American Medical Association (AMA) launched its “Truth in Advertising” campaign in 2011, which aims to pass legislation regarding use of the “doctor” title. As a result of this initiative, several states have enacted laws that require any nonphysician practitioners who evoke the “doctor” salutation with patients to immediately identify their profession. Although designed to prevent confusion among patients, this initiative is misguided, and we as pharmacists need to use our professional organizations to open a dialog with the AMA and address this issue.
Limit study of energy & delay benefits of component-specific routing

As feature sizes scale toward atomic limits, parameter variation continues to increase, leading to increased margins in both delay and energy. The possibility of very slow devices on critical paths forces designers to increase transistor sizes, reduce clock speed and operate at higher voltages than desired in order to meet timing. With post-fabrication configurability, FPGAs have the opportunity to use slow devices on non-critical paths while selecting fast devices for critical paths. To understand the potential benefit we might gain from component-specific mapping, we quantify the margins associated with parameter variation in FPGAs over a wide range of predictive technologies (45nm-12nm) and gate sizes and show how these margins can be significantly reduced by delay-aware, component-specific routing. For the Toronto 20 benchmark set, we show that component-specific routing can eliminate delay margins induced by variation and reduce energy for energy minimal designs by 1.42-1.98×. We further show that these benefits increase as technology scales.
Iso-Contour Queries and Gradient Descent with Guaranteed Delivery in Sensor Networks

We study the problem of data-driven routing and navigation in a distributed sensor network over a continuous scalar field. Specifically, we address the problem of searching for the collection of sensors with readings within a specified range. This is named the iso-contour query problem. We develop a gradient based routing scheme such that from any query node, the query message follows the signal field gradient or derived quantities and successfully discovers all iso-contours of interest. Due to the existence of local maxima and minima, the guaranteed delivery requires preprocessing of the signal field and the construction of a contour tree in a distributed fashion. Our approach has the following properties: (i) the gradient routing uses only local node information and its message complexity is close to optimal, as shown by simulations; (ii) the preprocessing message complexity is linear in the number of nodes and the storage requirement for each node is a small constant. The same preprocessing also facilitates route computation between any pair of nodes where the the route lies within any user supplied range of values.
National trends in cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor use since market release : Nonselective diffusion of a selectively cost-effective innovation

Background The withdrawal of rofecoxib has highlighted concerns regarding the safety of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. In some patients COX-2 inhibitors may be safer than nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); however, the public health benefit of COX-2 inhibitors depends on their use in patients at higher than normal risk from NSAIDs. We examined trends in COX-2 inhibitor use based on risk for adverse events from NSAIDs. Methods We analyzed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (1999-2002) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (1999-2001), nationally representative surveys of community and hospital-based outpatient practices. The main outcome measure was the proportion of patient visits in which COX-2 inhibitors were prescribed, stratified by risk of adverse gastrointestinal (GI) events from NSAIDs. Results Of the visits in which either a COX-2 inhibitor or NSAID was prescribed, the frequency of COX-2 inhibitor use increased from 35% (1999) to 55% (2000) to 61% (2001 and 2002). Among patients with the lowest risk for adverse events from NSAIDs, the proportion receiving a COX-2 inhibitor increased from 12% in 1999 to 35% in 2002. Overall, increases in COX-2 inhibitor use among patients in whom NSAIDs could be used accounted for more than 63% of the growth in COX-2 inhibitor use during the period examined. Conclusions Marked increases in COX-2 inhibitor use have occurred since their release, primarily among patients at low risk for adverse events from NSAIDs. These findings demonstrate the challenge of limiting innovative therapies to the settings in which they are initially targeted and maximally beneficial.
Antiseptics and disinfectants. Current issues

The authors address current issues regarding use of antiseptics and disinfectants with particular emphasis on the problems associated with claims made by manufacturers of various chemical agents. Other issues include the efficacy and limitations of commercial products, selecting the most appropriate formulation for proper disinfection, especially with instruments that come in contact with the patient, and preventing or minimizing iatrogenic infections in clinical practices. The authors stress that low-level and some intermediate-level disinfectants are unreliable because of their narrow safety margin and that chemical agents with a high level of activity should be used by all practitioners because of multi-drug resistant microorganisms and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Global convergence of max-type equations

Consider a difference equation whose evolution rule is defined as the maximum of several first-order equations. It is shown that if the first-order equations are individually contractive, then the aggregated max-type equation converges to a fixed point. A corresponding result holds for local convergence.
Vocal Improvisation and Creative Thinking by Australian and American University Jazz Singers A Factor Analytic Study

In this study, the author investigated factors underlying vocal improvisation achievement and relationships with the singers' musical background. Participants were 102 college students in Australia...
Comparison of energy and nutrient sources of elderly Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in New Mexico.

Abstract Objective Identification and comparison of frequently consumed foods and important food sources of energy, protein, total fat, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B-6, folate, and calcium of elderly Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. Design Dietary intake data were collected using a modified Health Habits and History Questionnaire (a food frequency questionnaire) for 735 subjects who participated in the New Mexico Elder Health Survey. Subjects The sample consisted of 330 Hispanics (176 men and 154 women) and 405 non-Hispanic whites (214 men and 191 women) between the ages of 65 and 96 years. Subjects were those with food frequency data among 883 participants who completed the clinical visit of the New Mexico Elder Health Survey. Results Results show the top-ranked frequently consumed foods by gender and ethnicity and top-ranked food sources of energy and 8 nutrients. Regional foods were important sources of nutrients in the diets of both Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites, however, more so for the Hispanics. Chile sauces were notable sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate among both groups. Both ethnic groups demonstrated selection of low-fat and skim milk and moderation in consumption of red meat. Applications These data will be useful for designing nutrition education programs, for studying the relationship between diet and disease among elderly Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites, and for designing assessment instruments for the elderly and other ethnic populations. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99:572–582 .
Anaphase aberrations: a measure of genotoxicity in mutagen-treated fish cells.

Rainbow trout gonad cells (RTG-2) were cultured for various lengths of time in the presence of several classes of known mutagenic chemicals and several related compounds that possessed no known mutagenic/carcinogenic activity. During the course of exposure the cells were examined for the presence of abnormalities in the chromosome arrangement of anaphase figures during mitosis. Untreated and solvent-treated (dimethylsulfoxide-treated) cells exhibited a background abnormality rate of 12% with only minor chromosomal defects being observed. This was also true for those cells exposed to naphthol and anthracene, two chemicals with no proven mutagenic or carcinogenic activity. Conversely, significant increases in the frequency of anaphase aberrations were produced in cells treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, benzo(a)pyrene, 9-aminoacridine and mitomycin-C. These abnormalities were also far more complex and extensive than those observed in the control and nonmutagen-treated cells. Many species of fish have extremely small and numerous chromosomes, making resolution of chromosome defects such as sister chromatid exchange and deletions more difficult than in most mammalian diploid cells, which generally have larger and fewer chromosomes. Examination of cells during anaphase eliminates the need to observe each chromosome separately as well as the need to produce well-spread metaphase chromosomes. Since the sensitivity of anaphase aberrations tomore » known mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds appears to be quite high in trout cells and since hundreds of suitable cells are available for analysis, this may be an appropriate alternative or addition to some of the more standard chromosome macrolesion tests developed in mammalian systems.« less
The Prostacyclin Analogue Carbacyclin Inhibits Ca2+-Activated K+ Current in Aortic Baroreceptor Neurones of Rats

1. Previous studies indicate that prostacyclin (PGI2) increases the activity of baroreceptor afferent fibres. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that PGI2 inhibits Ca(2+)-activated K+ current (IK(Ca))in isolated baroreceptor neurones in culture. 2. Rat aortic baroreceptor neurones in the nodose ganglia were labelled in vivo by applying a fluorescent dye (DiI) to the aortic arch 1-2 weeks before dissociation of the neurones. Outward K+ currents in baroreceptor neurones evoked by depolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of -40 mV were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. 3. Exposure of baroreceptor neurones to the stable PGI2 analogue carbacyclin significantly inhibited the steady-state K+ current in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. The inhibition of K+ current was not caused indirectly by changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. The Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel blocker charybdotoxin (ChTX, 10(-7) M) also inhibited the K+ current. In the presence of ChTX or in the absence of Ca2+, carbacyclin failed to inhibit the residual K+ current. Furthermore, in the presence of high concentrations of carbacyclin, ChTX did not cause further reduction of K+ current. 4. Carbacyclin-induced inhibition of IK(Ca) was mimicked by 8-bromo-cAMP and by activation of G-protein with GTP gamma S. The inhibitory effect of carbacyclin on IK(Ca) was abolished by GDP beta S, which blocks G-protein activation, and by a selective inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, PKI5-24. 5. The results demonstrate that carbacyclin inhibits ChTX-sensitive IK(Ca) in isolated aortic baroreceptor neurones by a G-protein-coupled activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. This mechanism may contribute to the PGI2-induced increase in baroreceptor activity demonstrated previously.
Gelastic Seizures Misdiagnosed as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can have variable manifestations including regurgitation, irritability, arching, choking, and apnea. The disorder is also frequently mistaken for seizures (Sandifer syndrome). We report 6 patients in whom the opposite phenomenon occurred: their seizures were mistaken for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Six of 77 patients (6.8%) with gelastic seizures and epilepsy symptomatic of hypothalamic hamartomas were noted to be misdiagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease in infancy. As is typical in these patients, gelastic seizures were not diagnosed until months, or often years, later. Delayed diagnosis of hypothalamic hamartomas can lead to a potentially deleterious syndrome involving refractory epilepsy, developmental problems, and precocious puberty. Gelastic seizures should be considered among the conditions that can mimic reflux symptoms.
In pursuit of the proper null: Reply to Chen and Risen (2009)

Chen argued that the proper null hypothesis for free-choice studies examining shifts in choice was 66.7%. Sagarin and Skowronki (2009) questioned the appropriateness of this value, noting that it was based on an unwarranted assumption that subjects always choose preferred options over less preferred options. In this paper, we respond to the points raised by Chen and Risen (2009), noting that: (a) violations of an additional unwarranted assumption (perfect transitivity) also move the proper null hypothesis towards 50%; (b) the validation of pretest measures would enable researchers to estimate an upper bound on the proper null; (c) the ‘‘blind” choice methodology proposed by Sagarin and Skowronski places the null unambiguously at 50%; and (d) Sagarin and Skowronski correctly call for null-hypothesis tests where needed. In the end, we again endorse the idea that this debate is best resolved empirically, but we believe the empirical avenues available are wider than those endorsed by Chen and Risen. Chen and Risen (2009) properly note that the debate about freechoice studies that examine post-decision shifts in choice centers on the appropriate value for the null hypothesis. The analysis presented in Chen (2008) suggested that the proper value for the null is 66.7%. The analysis presented in Sagarin and Skowronski (2009) questioned the appropriateness of this value. It did so by noting that Chen’s (2008) reasoning was based on an unsubstantiated assumption: that choice-making maps onto prechoice preferences in such a way that the preferred option is always chosen over the non-preferred option. We noted that there is a long history of research in choice-making suggesting that subjects do not always choose their preferred option. Accordingly, we argued that subjects would select a preferred option over a less preferred option only a proportion of the time, and that this proportion is likely related to the magnitude of the preference difference between the two options. In this regard, we noted that pretesting prior to choice experiments usually indicates that the preference difference among options is small and that this provides additional reason to believe that people would only be somewhat more likely to choose the preferred option over a less preferred option. The extent to which our analysis is valid suggests that the actual expected value for choice-making behavior is lower than Chen’s (2008) proposed 66.7% figure. In fact, we suggested that research
Identifying Control Redundancy for Computer Interface Analysis

Correctly identifying the redundancy in a system design and its interface with other systems or subsystems is essential for determining if the overall design meets the desired reliability requirements. Incorrectly listing components or interfaces as redundant or not recognizing the redundant functions the components provide can cause the reliability analyst to be unsuccessful in catching common cause failures in the overall system design. The Space Shuttle program reliability requirements contain a requirement for separation of redundant command and control paths. Its intention is to keep common cause failures from stopping redundant commands from being issued when needed as well as preventing inadvertent activation of redundant commands. Determining if commands and/or components provide redundancy to other commands or components in a system cannot be determined merely from looking at how the commands/components connect to each other. One must first determine what the critical function(s) the components need to accomplish for the system to operate successfully. The critical function could be to turn something ON, or the critical function might be to ensure something turns OFF at the right time. It could be that keeping something from prematurely turning ON or OFF is the critical function. After determining the critical functions the commands/components need to perform, the analyst can consider how they connect and can identify the commands/components in the system that provide redundancy for the critical function
Evaluation of breast sentinel lymph node coverage by standard radiation therapy fields.

Background Biopsy of the breast sentinel lymph node (SLN) is now a standard staging procedure for early-stage invasive breast cancer. The anatomic location of the breast SLN and its relationship to standard radiation fields has not been described. Methods and Materials A retrospective review of radiotherapy treatment planning data sets was performed in patients with breast cancer who had undergone SLN biopsy, and those with a surgical clip at the SLN biopsy site were identified. The location of the clip was evaluated relative to vertebral body level on an anterior–posterior digitally reconstructed radiograph, treated whole-breast tangential radiation fields, and standard axillary fields in 106 data sets meeting these criteria. Results The breast SLN varied in vertebral body level position, ranging from T2 to T7 but most commonly opposite T4. The SLN clip was located below the base of the clavicle in 90%, and hence would be excluded from standard axillary radiotherapy fields where the inferior border is placed at this level. The clip was within the irradiated whole-breast tangent fields in 78%, beneath the superior–posterior corner multileaf collimators in 12%, and outside the tangent field borders in 10%. Conclusions Standard axillary fields do not encompass the lymph nodes at highest risk of containing tumor in breast cancer patients. Elimination of the superior–posterior corner MLCs from the tangent field design would result in inclusion of the breast SLN in 90% of patients treated with standard whole-breast irradiation.
Control of chloroplast structure by light.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on certain of the striking similarities between physiological properties of chloroplasts and mitochondria. Special emphasis is given to the action of light on the control of chloroplast structure which includes such problems as light-dependent mechanisms for controlling the water and ion composition of chloroplasts from higher plants and algae. The elucidation of the light effect on the shape and volume of chloroplasts is complex because light induces not only size changes of chloroplasts, but also secondary reactions which can mask the occurrence of these phenomena within the cell. For example, illumination can initiate chloroplast movements in the cell perhaps by modifying the physical state of the surrounding protoplasm. In some instances, light has been found to induce a protoplasmic streaming which is strongly influenced by salts. Temperature, ions, and light, which affect protoplasmic viscosity can indirectly alter the volume of chloroplasts in vivo. The chapter also discusses the control of chloroplast structure in vitro and volume changes in chloroplasts and mitochondria. Chloroplasts and mitochondria show a remarkable resemblance to one another on a comparative physiological basis. Both possess an osmotic mechanism and two types of active mechanisms for promoting volume changes. Chloroplasts and mitochondria both appear to have an energy transfer pathway that seems capable of diverting energy generated by electron flow mechanisms into various modalities for work.