cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin aggregation in aqueous media and its effect on alpha-chymotrypsin-mediated proteolytic degradation.

Self-association of zinc–insulin monomers into dimers and hexamers may lead to enhanced protection of the peptide from proteolytic degradation. The present study has been undertaken to investigate the relationship, if any, between the rate of enzymatic degradation of insulin by a protease, alpha-chymotrypsin, and the extent of insulin aggregation in aqueous solutions. Insulin solutions (0.6 mg/ml) containing varying proportions of dimer and hexamer were obtained by adding ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) within a concentration range of 0.005 to 0.040 mM. As the EDTA concentration was increased above 0.040 mM, a complete dissociation of hexamers to dimers occurred and the rate of enzymatic degradation reached its maximum. The overall first-order rate constants appeared to be linearly related to the square of EDTA concentrations. The apparent first-order rate constants for dimer and hexamer degradation obtained from a linear plot of rate constant versus EDTA squared concentration were found to be 0.02800 ± 0.00065 and 0.00798 ± 0.00075 min−1, respectively. Two major insulin degradation products were also detected and the kinetics of product appearance agreed well with the disappearance kinetics of insulin. The results indicated that the degradation of insulin dimers by alpha-chymotrypsin is about 3.5 times faster than the degradation of the hexamer. The second-order dependency of degradation rate on EDTA concentration might be due to the fact that insulin hexamers contain two zinc ions which are sequestered by two EDTA molecules. Chelation of zinc ions by EDTA lead to hexamer deaggregation to dimers as was evidenced from a circular dichroism study. Formation of three dimer species from one hexamer aggregate should theoretically enhance the rate of degradation threefold, a value consistent with the experimentally determined ratio of 3.5.
Shared ride services in North America: definitions, impacts, and the future of pooling

Shared ride services allow riders to share a ride to a common destination. They include ridesharing (carpooling and vanpooling); ridesplitting (a pooled version of ridesourcing/transportation netwo...
The Coach-Athlete Relationship and Athlete Psychological Outcomes

This study examined associations among athlete perceptions of the coach-athlete relationship and psychological outcomes of burnout and engagement across a competitive season. We hypothesized that h...
DESIGN OF A TRANSDUCER FOR FRAGMENTING LARGE KIDNEY STONES USING BURST WAVE LITHOTRIPSY.

Burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) is a potential noninvasive treatment for breaking kidney stones. BWL requirements of high-pressure output, limited aperture for acoustic window, and specific focal length and frequency constrain the focal beam width. However, BWL is most effective only on stones smaller than the beam width. We tested a porous piezoelectric material (PZ36) to increase the output power and designed acoustic lenses that broaden the beam. A weighted iterative angular spectrum approach was used to calculate the source phase distribution needed to generate desired cross sectional focal beam profiles each of 12 mm width. The phase calculations were then 3D printed as holographic lenses placed over a circular aperture of 80-mm diameter, 350 kHz PZ36 to produce the desired beam at 85 mm depth. The difference in simulated beam width and that measured by hydrophone was <1 mm, and the structural-similarity index value was greater than 0.65. The differences in structures were due not to shape and size of the 6-dB contours but to amplitude distribution within the contour. In conclusion, this design approach combined with 3D printing provides a way to tailor focal beam profiles for lithotripsy transducers.
Do contradictions in TQIP measures affect perceptions of quality. An analysis of TQIP definitions on quality outcomes for placement of ICP monitoring at a single level one trauma center.

Abstract Background TQIP quality measures as currently defined on occasion provide discordant conclusions. A recent TQIP report of an urban level one-trauma center suggested a low employment of ICP monitoring while also demonstrating aggressive implementation of ICP monitoring (ave. within 90 min of arrival). This apparent contradiction leads to the question; Does TQIP define correctly the patient cohort who would most benefit from ICP monitoring? Methods A retrospective IRB approved review of all patients reported to TQIP with severe TBI was performed at an ACS verified level one trauma center. All patients admitted to the TS during the TQIP study period were reviewed. Demographic data as well as AIS, ISS, GCS, injury type and outcomes were reviewed. Data were reported as aggregate. Results Trauma registry review determined 108 patients met the TQIP definition for severe TBI. Analysis of these patients revealed only 58%(63) met clinical criteria for severe TBI. In this group 45.4%(49) suffered non-survivable TBI. ICP monitoring was not initiated in this subgroup of patients. 42%(45) of the patients were determined to have mild to moderate TBI. In this cohort the initial GCS reported in the trauma registry overestimated the severity of the TBI in 19.4%(21) of the patients. ICP monitoring was initiated 29%(30) patients. The analysis would indicate 13%(14) would have benefited from ICP monitoring indicating an 15%(16) over utilization. The majority of these patients sustained meaningful neurologic recovery indicating a better-defined criterion may be necessary to determine when ICP monitoring is a quality indicator. Conclusion This study indicates the current TQIP definition used to justify ICP monitoring appears to overestimate the number of patients who would benefit from ICP monitoring. The corrected quality analysis indicates an overutilization rather than an underutilization of ICP monitoring. Further study of the effect of definitions on quality measures should be considered.
Variational Assimilation of Streamflow Observations in ImprovingMonthly Streamflow Forecasting

Abstract. Uncertainties associated with the initial conditions (e.g. soil moisture content) of a hydrologic model have been recognized as one of the main sources of errors in hydrologic predictions, specifically over a rainfall-runoff regime. Apart from the recent advances in Data Assimilation (DA) for improving hydrologic predictions, this study explores variational assimilation (VAR) of gauge-measured daily streamflow data for updating initial state of soil moisture content of Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) Land Surface Model (LSM) in order to improve streamflow simulations as well as monthly streamflow forecasting. The study is conducted for the Tar River basin in North Carolina over 20-year period (1991–2010). The role of two critical parameters of VAR DA – the frequency of DA application and the length of assimilation window – in determining the skill of DA-improved streamflow predictions is also assessed. We found that correcting VIC model's initial conditions using a 7-day assimilation window results in the highest improvement in the skill of streamflow predictions quantified by Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) metrics. In addition, the potential gain from VAR DA framework is quantified and compared under two 1-month ahead streamflow forecasting schemes: 1) deterministic forecasts developed by using ECHAM4.5 GCM 1-month ahead precipitation forecasts and 2) Probabilistic forecasts from Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) approach. This study also examines the persistence of the DA impact in the monthly predictions by quantifying the enhanced accuracy in daily flows over extending forecast lead time blocks. Analyses show that the the corrected initial state conditions continually enhance the 7–8 days ahead predictions, but after that the errors in forcings dominate the DA effects. Still, the overall impact of VAR DA in monthly streamflow forecasting is positive.
Influence of the facility caseload on the subsequent survival of men with localized prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND Several studies have investigated the relationship between experience measured by caseload and oncological outcomes, economics, and access to care for prostate cancer care. Oncological outcomes have been limited to biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy. Questions remain regarding the more definitive measures of outcomes and their relationship with caseload. METHODS The National Cancer Database was used to investigate the outcomes of radical prostatectomy in the United States. With overall survival (OS) as the primary outcome, the relationship between the facility annual caseload (FAC) for all prostate cancer encounters and the facility annual surgical caseload (FASC) for those requiring radical prostatectomy was examined with a Cox proportional hazards model. Four volume groups were defined by caseload: <50th percentile (volume group 1 [VG1]), 50th to 74th percentiles (volume group 2 [VG2]), 75th to 89th percentiles (volume group 3 [VG3]), and ≥90th percentile (volume group 4 [VG4]). By FAC/FASC, 11%/8%, 17%/18%, 25%/26%, and 47%/49% of patients were treated in VG1 through VG4, respectively. RESULTS Between 2004 and 2014, 488,389 patients underwent radical prostatectomy. At a median follow-up of 60.75 months, the median OS was not reached. There was a significant OS benefit as the caseload increased. For FAC, the adjusted OS difference between VG1 and VG4 at 90th percentile survivorship reached 13.2 months (hazard ratio [HR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.23-1.36; P < .0001). For FASC, this was 11.3 months (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.192-1.321; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS There is a statistically significant OS advantage from performing radical prostatectomy at a facility with a high annual caseload. Caseload measured by all prostate cancer encounters is a better predictor of favorable outcomes than the number of surgeries performed at a facility. LAY SUMMARY An in-depth analysis of 488,389 cases of radical prostatectomy performed in more than 1000 facilities over a 10-year period showed better survival when surgery was performed in facilities with more experience and greater caseload. A survival difference of up to 13 months was observed when comparing patients treated at less experienced versus more experienced centers. Experience across all stages of prostate cancer was a stronger predictor of survival outcome than just the number of surgeries performed.
Abstract WP165: Retinal Oxygen Metabolic, Anatomical, and Biochemical Changes in Experimental Carotid Artery Occlusion

Purpose: Retinal ischemia has been implicated in vision-threatening diseases. Permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) studies have reported retinal degeneration and gliosis, as ...
High-Grade Serous Carcinoma of Ovary With Choriocarcinomatous Differentiation: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Non-gestational choriocarcinoma (NGC) of the ovary is a rare, highly malignant neoplasm usually of germ cell origin. Rarely, NGC has been observed in association with ovarian epithelial neoplasms. So far 11 cases of NGC with choriocarcinomatous differentiation have been described in the relevant literature. Here we describe a case of NGC differentiation in a high-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary. A 53-year-old nulliparous, postmenopausal woman presented with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Abdominal imaging revealed a complex pelvic mass and carcinomatosis. The patient underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and peritoneal tumor debulking. Microscopic examination of the bilateral ovarian mass tissue revealed a high-grade serous carcinoma with a distinct component of choriocarcinomatous differentiation. The presence of choriocarcinomatous differentiation in epithelial malignancy is associated with a very poor prognosis. Our patient succumbed to disease within 2 months of diagnosis. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2020;9(3):53-59 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo669
Abstract A23: Dissecting the SMAD4 metastasis suppressor complex to identify novel prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for colon cancer

Colon cancer is the second most lethal cancer in men and women in the United States and metastasis is the primary cause of mortality. Hence, there is an urgent need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying metastasis to identify new prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Previous studies reported that SMAD4 is either mutated frequently (10-20%) or exhibits low expression, which is associated with poor prognosis, presence of metastases, and resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the common chemotherapeutic agent for colon cancer. Our analyses confirmed that the probability of overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) is worse in patients with low levels of SMAD4 expression and found that it is associated with resistance to both 5-FU and irinotecan, two of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents for treating colon cancer. Since our previous studies found that SMAD4 interacts with and inhibits HIF1α, leading to reduced expression of HIF1α target genes such as VEGF (angiogenesis) and GLUT1 (glucose uptake), we hypothesized that SMAD4 forms a metastasis suppressor complex to inhibit colon cancer progression. Here, we report the identification of the components in the SMAD4 metastasis suppressor complex using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, with potential roles in regulating metastasis and for conferring resistance to chemotherapy. We will discuss the characterization of candidate genes, which include PI3K/mTOR pathway genes that might serve as biomarkers in predicting disease progression/prognosis and as therapeutic targets to treat metastatic colon cancer. Citation Format: Chen Khuan Wong, Sam Thiagalingam. Dissecting the SMAD4 metastasis suppressor complex to identify novel prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for colon cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling; 2018 Nov 30-Dec 8; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(10_Suppl):Abstract nr A23.
Scalable and stable silica-coated silver nanoparticles, produced by electron beam evaporation and rapid thermal annealing, for plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis

Abstract This study demonstrates an easy, scalable way to fabricate stable plasmonic photocatalysts for gas-phase photocatalysis. Silver nanoparticles, coated with silica for improved stability, were fabricated via electron beam evaporation and rapid thermal annealing, modeled via finite difference time domain simulations, and characterized. Catalytic performance was evaluated by monitoring total volatile organic compound concentration from toluene degradation in a gas-phase recirculating batch reactor. Results of cycled experiments demonstrate 5-fold increase in apparent quantum yield and 18% increase in reaction rate constant over TiO2. This approach may enable plasmonic photocatalysis by offering a simple, scalable fabrication method more reliable than colloidal synthesis.
3-D Printing Fabric Swatches with Recycled Materials

A qualitative case study was conducted to determine a 3-D printing method that would best produce a textile swatch that would reduce waste and meet consumer needs. Unstructured, open-ended interviews with two graduate students studying material science engineering and one student library media center attendant were conducted. The interview data was analyzed using thematic analysis and two themes emerged from the interview data: 1) waste reduction; and 2) end-product characteristics. Based on the results of these interviews and available printing methods, the FDM printing method was selected produce a textile swatch. While using this method created little to no waste and was less transparent, making the design more appropriate for apparel use, the swatch did not fulfill aesthetic and functional consumers’ needs such as a pleasing body-garment relationship and comfort. Future researchers should continue to develop in-fill patterns suitable for potential 3D printed apparel use.
Skin cancer in non-white liver transplant recipients: Mayo Clinic experience.

Background Limited data are available on the development of skin cancer and the associated risk factors for non-White liver transplant (LT) recipients. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of newly diagnosed skin cancer postoperatively and to identify the risk factors for the development of skin cancer in non-White LT recipients. Methods We conducted an initial retrospective chart review of non-White LT patients who received a transplant at our center between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013. Results Of the 96 patients in the study cohort, 32% were Black, 17% were Asian, 15% were White Hispanic, and 10% were Black Hispanic. One patient had a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer before transplant. No skin cancers were diagnosed during follow-up (median, 1.3 years; range, 17 days to 8.6 years). Conclusion Our center's experience is consistent with the literature and suggests that the incidence of newly diagnosed skin cancer in non-White liver transplant recipients is low. Longer follow-up may provide additional insights into the specific risk factors for the posttransplant development of skin cancer.
StopWatch: Pilot study for an Apple Watch application for youth with ADHD.

IntroductionTo address the need for non-pharmacologic, scalable approaches for managing attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young people, we report the results of a study of an a...
Finite Element Simulation of Inkjet Printed Flexible Parallel Plate MIM Capacitors on Polyimide Film

As the potential usage of flexible electronics inkjet printing (IJP) is rapidly growing in flexible electronics, we present a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with electrostatic modeling of a Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) type parallel plate capacitor using COMSOL Multiphysics designed for application in flexible electronic circuits. In this study, silver was used as the conductive metal parallel plates and Poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP) was used as the insulator material. We compared our simulated result with IJP parallel plate capacitors where the bottom and top plate was printed with JS B40 silver ink and dielectric layer was printed with PVP dielectric ink. We also compared our simulation results with ideal calculated capacitance values. Our simulated results are promising and matched closely with the calculated and experimental results from fabricated capacitances. We demonstrated the change of capacitance due to variance of design parameters, such as, the area of the capacitance. Our printed IJP capacitors provided us the capacitance in the range of 8.8 pF to 467 pF for capacitor area 1 to 36 mm, while the simulated capacitance range was recorded between 9 pF to 455 pF. For four coat PVP the minimum and maximum capacitance obtained from simulations were 13.3 pF and 455 pF for capacitor area 1 mm2 and 36 mm2 respectively. The simulated capacitances with six coat PVP were 9 pF and 310 pF for 1 mm2 and 36 mm2 capacitor area respectively. For flexible electronics devices like body-worn sensors, IJP electronic components will be significant in near future and this paper lays the key foundation for that endeavor.
Communication-Based Intervention for Problem Behavior: A User's Guide for Producing Positive Change

Based on extensive field-testing and the dual principles that problem behavior often serves a purpose for the individual displaying it and that intervention should take place in the community, this user-friendly manual details methods for conducting functional assessments, communication-based intervention strategies, procedures for facilitating generalization and maintenance, and crisis management tactics. Useful for handling intense behavior problems, this book will be invaluable for educators, supported employment and group home staff, behavior specialists, psychologists, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, medical staff, speech-language pathologists, family members, and others working with people who have developmental disabilities. Also included are case studies and checklists of things to do to ensure success.
Drugs and rights

This important book was the first serious work of philosophy to address the question: Do adults have a moral right to use drugs for recreational purposes? Many critics of the 'war on drugs' denounce law enforcement as counterproductive and ineffective. Douglas Husak argues that the 'war on drugs' violates the moral rights of adults who want to use drugs for pleasure, and that criminal laws against such use are incompatible with moral rights. This is not a polemical tract but a scrupulously argued work of philosophy that takes full account of all available data concerning drug use in the United States today. The author is careful to describe the properties a recreational drug would have to possess before the state would be justified in prohibiting it. Since criminal laws against the use of recreational drugs are justified neither by the harm users cause to themselves nor by the harm users cause to each other, Professor Husak concludes that such laws are, in almost all cases, unjustified.
Prospective study of hepatitis B in thirty-two inadvertently infected people.

Abstract Red blood cells from a single donor were used for stimulation of red-cell antibodies in 32 volunteers. In mid-April 1978, the RBC donor had sexual contact with a partner who later developed hepatitis. The donor was asymptomatic, HB s Ag negative and had normal SGOT at the time of the donations of June 14 and July 19, but became HB s Ag positive by August 30, and developed acute hepatitis in October 1978. The donor's blood was infective at least 36 and possibly 76 days before HB s Ag became detectable by radioimmunoassay. Washing of RBC had no effect on the incidence of seroconversion. Hepatitis B surface antigen or anti-HB s or both became detectable in 28 (87.5%) of the 32 volunteers. Thirteen (42%) developed a self-limited acute hepatitis with jaundice. None became an HB s Ag carrier. There were no secondaries among work, casual, or family contacts, but close family members and sexual partners were given hepatitis-B immune globulin.
Maternal and fetal pharmacokinetics of moxalactam given intrapartum.

Abstract Two grams of moxalactam was given intravenously to 28 women at high risk for infection following cesarean delivery. After a mean time of 48 minutes from infusion, maternal sera, cord sera, and uterine tissue obtained at delivery had concentrations of moxalactam of 62 μg/ml, 22.2 μg/ml, and 9.6 μg/gm, respectively. The maternal serum half-time was calculated to be 2.1 hours. R and S epimeric distribution was determined in these sera and tissues, and the mean R/S ratios were 0.95, 0.93, and 1.22 for the three groups, respectively. The significance of these observations is discussed. A new method in which a high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay is used is described, and results are compared to those obtained with the microbiological assay. The high-pressure liquid chromatographic method was found to be quick, accurate, and reproducible.
Children of holocaust survivors: Separation obstacles, attachments, and anxiety.

This article will discuss a research study conducted on the transmission of Holocaust trauma to children of survivors. The study examines and focuses on the effects Holocaust survivor parents have on their children focusing on three variables: separation obstacles, the ability to form substantial intimate relationships, and anxiety. Most Holocaust survivor parents perceive separation in a disapproving way and therefore it is often interpreted and handled differently in survivor families.
Politics at the Water's Edge: The Presidency, Congress, and US Policy toward North Korea

This article seeks to explain why the Clinton and Bush administrations ultimately failed to prevent a nuclear North Korea. It finds the origins of this failure in the relations between the executive and the legislative branches and, more specifically, different government types: unified government and divided government. It particularly emphasizes the role of Congress and partisan politics in the making of US policy toward North Korea. This study finds that divided government played a pivotal role. Partisan politics are also central to the explanation: politics did not stop at the water's edge. A divided US government produced more passive policies toward North Korea than a unified US government, while a unified government produced more active policies. Moreover, a unified government with a Republican President produced more aggressive policies toward North Korea, whereas a unified government with a Democratic President produced more conciliatory policies.
Behavior problems of children as perceived by teachers, mental health professionals, and children

The objective of this study was to examine current teacher and mental health professional ratings regarding the relative seriousness of 50 specific children's behavior problems and to compare the results to those found by Wickman (1928). Wickman's questionnaire and procedures were replicated to insure comparability. A second objective was to extend Wickman's work so that children's ratings of their own behavior problems may be ascertained. An increase in the similarity between teachers' and mental health professionals' judgements concerning the seriousness of specific children's behavior problems was found. These findings were attributable to a more pragmatic approach taken by mental health professionals. A very high agreement on the seriousness of specific behavior problem ratings was demonstrated by children and teachers. This similarity may be the result of proximity of effects.
Home energy management as a service over networking platforms

About 40% of the U.S. primary energy is consumed in the buildings. Therefore, to manage the energy consumption and its usages pattern, for instance, the U.S. state of California mandated Zero Net Energy buildings by 2020 for the residential sector (22% of the U.S. primary energy). Moreover, towards this goal, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office is trying to develop techniques to improve the efficiency of buildings. Home Energy Management (HEM) may be used to improve the energy consumption in the residential buildings. However, the cost, scalability, and flexibility of the software and hardware architectures available, have increased the time-to-market and have made HEMs hard to penetrate the consumer market. To solve these limitations, in this paper, we have presented a novel HEM platform, which utilizes a low power IEEE 802.15.4 standard to monitor and control all the appliances in a house. Moreover, it utilizes Service-Oriented Architecture and Devices Profile for Web Services to implement the monitoring and controlling algorithms and therefore may significantly improve the scalability and flexibility of the platform. Also, some other features like: plug-n-play capability, remote access feature, and open source architecture are implemented in this platform. Finally, a table-top prototype of the HEM platform is demonstrated in the paper.
Abstract 10957: Association of Insulin Resistance and Dysglycemia With Components of Blood Pressure: A Study From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Background: Data are conflicting regarding the extent to which insulin resistance or dysglycemia contribute to the development of elevated blood pressure (BP). Therefore, we examined whether these metabolic abnormalities are associated with distinct BP components, including measures of pulsatile versus steady state load (surrogates for large and small artery disease) in a large community-based cohort. Methods: We studied 10,720 non-diabetic participants from 4 U.S. sites in the Hispanic Community Health Study / Study of Latinos who were free of cardiovascular disease and not on any anti-hypertensive medications. We used linear regression for complex survey sampling and non-parametric spline models to examine the relation of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and dysglycemia (HbA1c) with components of BP (systolic, diastolic, pulse pressure [PP, reflecting pulsatile load], and mean arterial pressure [MAP, reflecting steady state load]) while adjusting for established clinical correlates of BP. Results: The targe...
The pseudohyperbolic metric and Bergman spaces in the ball

The pseudohyperbolic metric is developed for the unit ball of C" and is applied to a study of uniformly discrete sequences and Bergman spaces of holomorphic functions on the ball.
Abstract A61: Characterizing inflammatory breast cancer among Arab Americans in the California, Detroit, and New Jersey Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries (1988-2008).

Introduction: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is characterized by an apparent geographical distribution in incidence, being more common in North Africa than other parts of the world. Despite the rapid growth of immigrants to the United States from Arab nations, because a racial category is rarely appropriated for this group, little is known about disease patterns among Arab Americans. The aim of this study was to describe the proportion of IBC among different racial groups, including Arab Americans from the Detroit, New Jersey and California Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries. Methods: We utilized a validated Arab surname algorithm to identify women of Arab descent from the SEER registries. Differences in the proportion of IBC out of all breast cancer and IBC characteristics by race and menopausal status were evaluated using chi-square tests for categorical variables, t-tests and ANOVA tests for continuous variables, and log-rank tests for survival data. We modeled the association between race and IBC among all women with breast cancer using hierarchical logistic regression models, adjusting for individual and county-level variables. Results: Statistically significant differences in the proportion of IBC out of all breast cancers by race were evident. In a hierarchical model, adjusting for age, estrogen and progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth receptor 2, registry and county-level socioeconomic position, Arab-Americans (OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.2,1.9), Hispanics (OR=1.2, 95% CI=1.1,1.3), Non-Hispanic Blacks (OR=1.3, 95% CI=1.2, 1.4), and American Indians/Alaskans (OR=1.9, 95% CI=1.1, 3.4) had increased odds of IBC, while Asians had decreased odds of IBC as compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (OR=0.6, 95% CI=0.6, 0.7). Conclusions: IBC may be more common among certain minority groups, including Arab American women. Understanding the descriptive epidemiology of IBC by race may generate hypotheses about risk factors for this aggressive disease. Future research should focus on etiologic factors that may explain these differences. Citation Format: Kelly A. Hirko, Amr S. Soliman, Mousumi Banerjee, Julie Ruterbusch, Joe B. Harford, Robert Chamberlain, Jon J. Graff, Sofia D. Merajver, Kendra Schwartz. Characterizing inflammatory breast cancer among Arab Americans in the California, Detroit, and New Jersey Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries (1988-2008). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A61.
Practical syntactic error recovery in compilers

A substantial portion of any programmer's time is spent in debugging. One of the major services of any compiler ought to be to provide as much information as possible about compile-time errors in order to minimize the time required for debugging. A good error detection and recovery scheme should maximize the number of errors detected but minimize the number of times it reports an error when there is none. These spurious error detections and their associated error messages are usually engendered by an inappropriate recovery action.In this paper we describe a recovery scheme for syntax errors which provides high quality recovery with good diagnostic information at relatively low cost. In addition, implementation of the recovery scheme can be automated - that is, the recovery routine can be created by a parser-generator. Therefore, the compiler designer need not be burdened with the difficulties of error recovery and the programming effort necessary to design and debug a myriad of ad hoc recovery routines.
The topoisomerase-related function gene TRF4 affects cellular sensitivity to the antitumor agent camptothecin.

Camptothecin is an antitumor agent that kills cells by converting DNA topoisomerase I into a DNA-damaging poison. Although camptothecin derivatives are now being used to treat tumors in a variety of clinical protocols, the cellular factors that influence sensitivity to the drug are only beginning to be understood. We report here that two genes required for sister chromatid cohesion,TRF4 and MCD1/SCC1, are also required to repair camptothecin-mediated damage to DNA. The hypersensitivity to camptothecin in the trf4 mutant does not result from elevated expression of DNA topoisomerase I. We show that Trf4 is a nuclear protein whose expression is cell cycle-regulated at a post-transcriptional level. Suppression of camptothecin hypersensitivity in the trf4 mutant by gene overexpression resulted in the isolation of three genes: another member of the TRF4 gene family, TRF5, and two genes that may influence higher order chromosome structure, ZDS1 and ZDS2. We have isolated and sequenced two humanTRF4 family members, hTRF4-1 and hTRF4-2. The hTRF4-1gene maps to chromosome 5p15, a region of frequent copy number alteration in several tumor types. The evolutionary conservation ofTRF4 suggests that it may also influence mammalian cell sensitivity to camptothecin.
Risk factors for the development of serious medical complications after resection of meningiomas: Clinical article

Object While the surgical and neurological risks of meningioma surgery have been reported, much less effort has been devoted to studying the rates of serious medical complications following such a procedure. The authors performed a review of 834 patients who underwent craniotomy for meningioma at their institution and analyzed the rate of major cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic complications. Methods The authors identified all patients between 1993 and 2007 who underwent craniotomy for meningioma. Clinical information was reconstructed using patient medical records, medication records, radiological data, and pathological specimens from both the author institution and outside medical facilities. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association between the dependent variable (rate of medical complications) and all covariates with a p < 0.2 on univariate testing. Results Fifty-seven patients (6.8%) experienced 61 serious medical complications following surgery for...
Simultaneous determination of citrulline and urea using diacetylmonoxime

Abstract A rapid method of simultaneously determining concentrations of citrulline and urea in biological fluids is presented. This method and the accompanying nomograph are based on urea and citrulline absorption peaks at 478 and 490 nm, respectively. Using the diacetylmonoxime method it is possible to determine 0.005 to 0.10 μmole citrulline/ml and 0.025 to 0.07 μmole urea/ml, without dilution. Reactions with other chromogens are discussed.
RHEOLOGICAL MODELING OF RANDOMLY PACKED GRANULES WITH VISCO-ELASTIC BINDERS OF MAXWELL TYPE

Abstract This paper focuses attention on the modeling of a particle assembly bonded by a visco-elastic binder material. The inter-particle behavior for two particles with a visco-elastic binder is modeled based on two basic elements, a spring and a dashpot. Different combinations of the basic elements characterize different inter-particle behavior. Here, we mainly consider the viscoelastic binder of Maxwell type. Thus, granular materials can be viewed as a discrete system of particles connected with springs and dashpots. The discrete system can be simulated by an equivalent visco-elastic continuum. The macrorheological behavior of granular materials is derived based on both kinemetic and static methods.
Beta vulgaris L.: The characterization of three polyphenols isolated from the leaves

Abstract An alcoholic extract of leaves of Beta vulgaris L. was found to contain five phenolic compounds. Two of these compounds were characterized using chromatographic and absorption spectral techniques. One of them yielded glucose and quercetin upon acid hydrolysis; the second yielded xylose, glucose and a C-glycoside whose spectral and chromatographic behavior was similar to those of vitexin. An isolation procedure for milligram quantities of the C-glycoside was devised. An acetyl derivative was prepared. A third phenolic compound was shown to be 3-hydroxytyramine by i.r. and u.v. spectra and further confirmed by the preparation of two derivatives. Previous work has shown this phenol when oxidized to be closely associated with resistance to the causal organism of sugar beet leaf spot Cercospora beticola in culture.
Addressing an array Yi in k-dimensions by Fortran for analysis of variance

In analysis of variance and covariance of data in factorial designs, multidimensional arrays are the rule rather than the exception. The 1620 FORTRAN language is severely limited in its DIMENSION statements in that subscripting may be done for a maximum of only three dimensions. In the technique described, a one-dimensional ordered array may be entered into storage and without additional identification treated as multidimensional. The conceptual technique illustrated below for summation may be expanded to handle any number of factors and is limited only by the storage capacity of the computer.
Suppression of chick pancreatic xanthine dehydrogenase by unsaturated fatty acids

Abstract A study of pancreatic xanthine dehydrogenase levels in chicks immediately after hatching has revealed that the sharp developmental increase normally occurring can be suppressed by maintenance on whole egg ( Fisheret al., 1967; Woodward and Fisher, 1967 ). Further work has shown that ether extracts of egg yolks are equally effective in supressing this developmental increase. Of the lipid components present, four have been found to affect the accumulation of pancreatic xanthine dehydrogenase: linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acids suppress and stearic acid enhances. It seems reasonable to believe that the suppressing activity of ether extracts of eggs is due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids. The administration of specific fatty acids leads to increased concentrations of these materials in the lipids of the pancreas.
Aminoglycoside-induced translational read-through in disease : Overcoming nonsense mutations by pharmacogenetic therapy

A third of inherited diseases result from premature termination codon mutations. Aminoglycosides have emerged as vanguard pharmacogenetic agents in treating human genetic disorders due to their unique ability to suppress gene translation termination induced by nonsense mutations. In preclinical and pilot clinical studies, this therapeutic approach shows promise in phenotype correction by promoting otherwise defective protein synthesis. The challenge ahead is to maximize efficacy while preventing interaction with normal protein production and function.
Cyclonellin, a New Cyclic Octapeptide from the Marine Sponge Axinella carteri

Cyclonellin (1), a new cyclic octapeptide, was isolated from an aqueous extract of the marine sponge Axinella carteri. Its structure was elucidated by interpretation of NMR spectral data of the intact compound and N-terminal Edman sequencing of linear peptide fragments obtained by partial hydrolysis of 1. The absolute configurations of the constituent amino acids were determined by acid hydrolysis, derivitization with FDAA, and LC-MS analyses.
Metal artifact suppression from reformatted projections in multislice helical CT using dual-front active contours.

Purpose: Large metallic implants, such as hip prosthesis and shoulder implants, can cause severe artifacts in CT exams. As such, there have been significant efforts on the design of various image- or projection-based correction methods or iterative reconstruction methods with the hope to reconstruct artifact-free images. Unfortunately, suppression of metal artifacts remains a very challenging problem, in which metal region segmentation is one of the most important steps in assuring the efficiency of artifact suppression. In this article, the authors propose a novel, semiautomatic metal region segmentation algorithm based on a dual-front active contour model and a boundary mapping strategy to detect multiple large metal implants on reformatted projection data and to effectively suppress or eliminate metal artifacts on reconstructed images. Methods: First, the projections created from helical scan data were reformatted by combining data at the same view angle over the full longitudinal scan range. In this way, the shape, location, and number of the metal structures show up clearly on each reformatted projection, changing only slightly between adjacent projections. Second, an initial boundary on one of the reformatted projections is defined, and a boundary mapping strategy was utilized to map the metal boundary on the first reformatted projection to the next adjacent projection. Third, a novel dual-front active contour model was used to evolve the mapped boundary from the prior projection to the actual boundary in the current projection. By iteratively performing the boundary mapping and boundary evolution procedure, the metal structures (one or multiple) on all the projections can be extracted efficiently and accurately. Finally, a Delaunay triangulation was applied to fill the metal shadows and the corrected projection data were reconstructed with a commercially available algorithm. Results: Experimental studies on clinical hip and shoulder CT exams and a comparison with a gradient-based threshold method were performed. The results demonstrated that the proposed segmentation strategy was able to segment multiple metal implants more accurately than the threshold method. Soft-tissue visibility was improved dramatically. Conclusions: In total, the artifacts caused by dense metal implants were suppressed dramatically with the proposed metal artifact suppression technique.
Obesity research and medical journalism.

With publication of the first number of volume 3 of OBESITY RESEARCH, the time is ripe to review where we have been and where we are going. There are now two widely accepted journals covering the field of obesity. It was not always so. Until 20 years ago only one journal had appeared with the word “obesity” in its title, and its publication was short lived (Table 1). The growth of medical journalism in this field over the past 20 years, as in other fields, is a reflection of the growth of scientific manpower and knowledge which had its beginnings in the scientific revolution more than 300 years ago. The frustration engendered by this steady and rapid growth of scientific journals has been reflected in the quotations from many scholars. Below are a few of these.
The ATLAS transition radiation tracker (TRT) from construction to installation

Abstract This paper shows the evolutions of the TRT construction during the last two years. After a presentation of the TRT and a description of its front-end electronics, the tests for this electronics are described. These tests have shown that 99% of the channels are functional. Some results concerning the tests of the services are also given. In 2006, the ATLAS SemiConductor Tracker (SCT) has been inserted inside the TRT. The barrel and one of the two endcaps have been tested in a SCT + TRT combined cosmic test. Some results from this combined test are presented. Finally, some noise measurements done after the successful installation of the TRT barrel in the ATLAS cavern are given.
Environmental Risk Management: A Critical Part of Corporate Strategy

Environmental risk management is becoming a critical component of corporate strategy. Until the 1960s, there was little concern with environmental risks on the part of businesses, governments or societies. An unrealistic and nao Eve attitude existed which considered that natural systems had an in®nite capacity to absorb the pollutants and wastes of industrial economies. Environmental risks and costs were externalized with internal risks and costs effectively at zero; thus there was no ®nancial incentive for environmental risk management systems to exist. Various events, such as Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring, smog levels in Los Angeles, Love Canal, and the burning Cuyuga and Rhine Rivers, began to gradually shift public opinion to the realization that environmental risks do indeed exist and require the attention of risk management systems. The ®rst level of environmental risk management was termed command and control and basically involved compliance with various regulations. Compliance responsibilities were typically handled by engineering departments with little involvement of risk managers. While environmental regulations were seen as being necessary to protect the environment, they were often felt by business to be excessive, inef®cient, and unreasonably expensive. Regulations were typically seen in a negative light as adding only costs and no bene®ts to a business. More recently, a newer, second-level approach for dealing with environmental risks has been developing. Under this approach environmental risk management is seen as an integral part of overall business and strategic management. Sustainable development and environmentally friendly systems and products are emphasized. It is proactive rather than reactive. The orientation is positive rather than negative. Environmental risk management systems are seen as adding value to products and services, creating a competitive advantage, improving community image, reducing costs, and increasing the bottom line. Recent texts like Natural Capitalism (Hawken, Lovins and Lovins, 1999) and The Sustainable Business Challenge (Williams, 1998) provide strategic direction and numerous corporate examples and models. These second-level systems are largely voluntary and motivated by the notion that this is the right way to go for both ethical and business reasons. European businesses and societies have been the most accepting of these second-level systems. Certainly not all businesses have voluntarily developed second-level, environmental risk management systems, particularly in
Cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (CYP7A): Patterns of messenger RNA expression during rat liver development

Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase is a rate-limiting enzyme in bile acid synthesis, a major pathway for cholesterol catabolism. It plays a crucial role in postnatal development and survival. In an adult liver, its activity and messenger RNA (mRNA) are heterogeneously distributed with concentration in the pericentral area. We defined how the pattern of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA evolves during rat liver development, correlated this with its total liver mRNA levels, and determined when its heterogeneous pattern of expression is established. Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA was undetectable in 18-day-old fetal livers by Northern blot. It was increased markedly in newborns with a homogeneous liver lobular distribution as determined by in situ hybridization. At postnatal day four, mRNA levels were markedly decreased with concomitant appearance of a lobular gradient: mRNA was detected only in a few hepatocytes located around efferent venules. At 22 days, the time of highest mRNA expression, a marked extension of the gradient towards the periportal area was observed, indicating that the increase in total liver cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA level was a result of recruitment of hepatocytes upstream from the central vein area. By 28 days, the adult pattern was observed. Thus, expression of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA is tightly regulated during rat liver development, both temporally and spatially supporting its critical role in normal postnatal development.