cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P3-06-20: Druggable genomic landscape of primary and metastatic breast cancers

Background: Several studies (e.g. The Pan-Cancer Atlas) have examined the druggable genomic landscape of breast cancers and other malignancies using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). However, TCGA is representative of newly-diagnosed, treatment-naive breast cancers, whereas genomic profiling is typically used to inform therapy for metastatic and/or pre-treated breast cancers. Here, we characterize the druggable genomic landscape of breast cancers using AACR Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE), a multi-institutional pragmatic cancer genomics registry. Methods: We obtained mutation, copy-number amplification (CNA), and fusion data from GENIE, which contains de-identified genomic records from 4506 breast carcinoma and carcinoma-in-situ (CIS) tumors. We used Clinical Interpretation of Variants in Cancer (CIViC) to label the potential druggability of these mutations, CNAs, and fusions. Further, we plan to assess variations in the druggable genomic landscape of breast tumors as a function of tumor characteristics (e.g. histology, tumor mutation burden), patient characteristics (age, sex, ethnicity), and genomics assay characteristics (e.g. PCR vs. hybridization capture). Results: In GENIE, we identified 19932 mutations, 9334 copy number amplifications (CNA), and 987 fusions in 4506 breast tumors. CNAs suggesting potential druggability were relatively common (e.g. ERBB2 amplifications in 9.9% of tumors), whereas fusions suggesting potential druggability were relatively rare (e.g. NTRK fusions in 0.1% of tumors). Mutations suggesting potential druggability were identified in ERBB2 (3.5% of tumors) and mismatch repair genes [MLH1, MSH2, MSH3, MSH6, PMS1, PMS2] (3.7% of tumors). Conclusion: GENIE can be used to infer druggability across a cohort of breast tumors likely to be considered for approved systemic therapy at tertiary academic centers. This may inform use of genomic assays and/or design of clinical trials for patients with breast tumors. *The author would like to acknowledge the American Association for Cancer Research and its financial and material support in the development of the AACR Project GENIE registry, as well as members of the consortium for their commitment to data sharing. Interpretations are the responsibility of study authors. Citation Format: Sun SQ. Druggable genomic landscape of primary and metastatic breast cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-06-20.
Boosting Algorithms for Estimating Optimal Individualized Treatment Rules

We present nonparametric algorithms for estimating optimal individualized treatment rules. The proposed algorithms are based on the XGBoost algorithm, which is known as one of the most powerful algorithms in the machine learning literature. Our main idea is to model the conditional mean of clinical outcome or the decision rule via additive regression trees, and use the boosting technique to estimate each single tree iteratively. Our approaches overcome the challenge of correct model specification, which is required in current parametric methods. The major contribution of our proposed algorithms is providing efficient and accurate estimation of the highly nonlinear and complex optimal individualized treatment rules that often arise in practice. Finally, we illustrate the superior performance of our algorithms by extensive simulation studies and conclude with an application to the real data from a diabetes Phase III trial.
Gaze Direction Changes the Vertical-Horizontal Illusory Effects on Manual Length Estimations

We examined potentially deceptive influences of the vertical-horizontal (V-H) illusion on manual length estimations. When viewing V-H illusory configurations, people perceive that the bisecting segment length exceeds the bisected segment length when segments are actually equal. Participants used downward or rightward pointing movements to manually estimate the length of a short bisecting segment of the V-H illusion in upright or rotated configurations. Participants directed their gaze freely, on the configuration, or on the movement space. Manual length estimations for upright and rotated configurations depended on gaze direction, revealing bisection influences only for restricted viewing. People produced illusory influences on perceptuomotor control only when gaze was directed toward V-H configurations or their movement. Exploitation of deceptive visual cues can direct upper limb control for sensorimotor coordination.
A Study on Student Performance Evaluation using Discussion Board Networks

Node-based social network analysis (SNA) techniques can be used to investigate the significance of actors that play central roles in social networks where the nodes represent people, teams or stakeholders and the links represent the communication, information exchange or collaboration between these nodes (actors). This research investigates how collaborative problem-solving can help in students' learning process. We analyzed the discussion board data collected from online student discussions on Canvas, a Learning Management System (LMS), in a CS1 course of a medium-sized US University. The discussion topics were classified as classroom experiences/learning, question/answers, opinions, and comments and were used to represent the patterns of interactions in the student discussion networks. Node-based network measures were then applied to unravel the students' interaction patterns to gain insights on students' progress. The textual analysis helps find the most challenging/debated topics in a particular course, analyze the leadership and team-based qualities of a group of students, and analyze patterns and trends in female student participation. The experimental analysis reveals that participation in online discussion forums has a positive impact on the students' grades; the study of interaction patterns exhibit similar insights. In conclusion, this research study validates that the analysis of structured discussions can provide useful insights into changes in student collaboration patterns over time and students' sense of belongingness for pedagogical benefits.
CHI3L1 is correlated with childhood asthma.

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the association between CHI3L1 gene two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs12141494 and rs4950928) and susceptibility to pediatric asthma in a Chinese Han population. Methods The case-control study was carried out on 115 children with asthma and 108 healthy controls. Genotypes of rs12141494 and rs4950928 within CHI3L1 gene were determined with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) approach. Chi-square test was employed to analyze the differences of genotype and allele frequencies of the two polymorphisms between case and control groups. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to explain relative susceptibility of pediatric asthma. Results The frequencies of genotypes and alleles of rs4950928 in CHI3L1 gene showed a significant difference between asthmatic children and healthy controls (P 0.05). Conclusion Our results suggested that rs4950928 in CHI3L1 gene was associated with pediatric asthma risk in a Chinese Han population, while rs12141494 was not.
Digital Media Marketing for Dance: Enhancing Audience Engagement with Ballet Companies and Concert Dance Performance

Digital media play increasingly important roles in daily life, including directly influencing users’ interactions with others. Digital media marketing has become an increasingly important tool for dancers and the dance industry. Audience members and observers of the dance industry have grown and larger demographics beyond the dance world have been engaged through digital media marketing efforts and social media platforms. Analyzing audience engagement on social media platforms can provide data to assist dancers, dance studios, dance companies, dance programs, etc. to define their target audience and push them to reach a larger and/or different audiences. In this paper the author (1) assesses the impact of digital media marketing on audience engagement in ballet dance companies and concert dance, and (2) how to effectively strategize to increase audience engagement, in dance.
Sinus Bradycardia after Extensive Neck Dissection and Total Thyroidectomy in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report.

Postoperative complications after total thyroidectomy with extensive neck dissection in thyroid malignancies are well documented in the current literature. However, sinus bradycardia as a postthyroidectomy complication is a rare phenomenon and, to the best of our knowledge, few studies have identified it as a perioperative condition. In our study, we report a case of 9-year-old boy with papillary thyroid carcinoma, who underwent total thyroidectomy and bilateral neck dissection. Postoperatively, the surgery was complicated by initial vocal cord paresis and chyle leak. The patient also suffered from asymptomatic sinus bradycardia which self-resolved. Although causative factors cannot be determined by a single case, hypothyroidism, carotid sinus hypersensitivity, and bilateral damage to the middle cervical sympathetic ganglion could play a significant role in this uncommon pathophysiological condition.
Longitudinal Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Antinucleocapsid and Antispike-1-RBD Antibody Testing Following PCR-Detected SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 serologic assays are becoming increasingly available and may serve as a diagnostic aid in a multitude of settings relating to past infection status. However, there is limited literature detailing the longitudinal performance of EUA-cleared serologic assays in US populations, particularly in cohorts with a remote history of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (e.g., > 2 months). METHODS: We evaluated the diagnostic sensitivities and specificities of the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (anti-N) and Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S (anti-S1-RBD) assays, using 174 residual clinical samples up to 267 days post-PCR diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 154) and a subset of samples obtained prior to the COVID-19 pandemic as negative controls (n = 20). RESULTS: The calculated diagnostic sensitivities for the anti-N and anti-S1-RBD assays were 89% and 93%, respectively. Of the 154 samples in the SARS-CoV-2-positive cohort, there were 6 discrepant results between the anti-N and anti-S1-RBD assays, 5 of which were specimens collected ≥ 200 days post-PCR positivity and only had detectable levels of anti-S1-RBD antibodies. When only considering specimens collected ≥ 100 days post-PCR positivity (n = 41), the sensitivities for the anti-N and anti-S1-RBD assays were 85% and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-S1-RBD assay demonstrated superior sensitivity at time points more remote to the PCR detection date, with 6 more specimens from the SARS-CoV-2-positive cohort detected, 5 of which were collected more than 200 days post-PCR positivity. While analytical differences and reagent lot-to-lot variability are possible, this may indicate that, in some instances, anti-S1-RBD antibodies may persist longer in vivo and may be a better target for detecting remote SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Specialized metabolites as mediators for plant-fungus crosstalk and their evolving roles.

Abstract Plants, fungi, and bacteria produce numerous natural products with bioactive properties essential for ecological adaptation. Because of their chemical complexity, these natural products have been adapted for diverse applications in industry. The discovery of their biosynthetic pathways has been accelerated due to improved ‘omics’ approaches, metabolic engineering, and the availability of genetic manipulation techniques. Ongoing research into these metabolites is not only resolving the enzymatic diversity underlying their biosynthesis but also delving into the physiological and mechanistic basis of their modes of action. This review highlights progress made in the elucidation of biosynthetic pathways and biological roles of specialized metabolites, focusing on some that play important roles at the interface of plant–fungus interactions.
Calciphylaxis in a Patient With Alcoholic Cirrhosis.

A 38-year-old woman with alcoholic cirrhosis was admitted with a recurrent lower extremity rash. She had presented 1 year prior with a history of alcohol abuse, abdominal pain, fatigue, and a violaceous rash over the abdomen and proximal lower extremities. A skin biopsy showed multiple small vessels with calcification of the outer wall suggesting calciphylaxis. The patient was treated with sodium thiosulfate 25 mg intravenously 3 times weekly and serial wound debridement. She had symptom improvement within 3 weeks and resolution of the rash. One year later, the patient presented with recurrence of the painful violaceous rash (Figure 1). She denied any alcohol use over the last year. She had not been receiving albumin infusions or blood transfusions, and her body mass index (BMI) was 22 kg/m2. Evidence of a healed skin graft was noted on her left thigh, with surrounding tender punctate erythema. Her calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, creatinine, and protein C and S levels were normal. An abdominal CT was significant for findings consistent with cirrhosis. The patient was started on sodium thiosulfate therapy and local wound care, and responded well without recurrence to date.
On the Consistency of Multiclass Classification Methods

Binary classification is a well studied special case of the classification problem. Statistical properties of binary classifiers, such as consistency, have been investigated in a variety of settings. Binary classification methods can be generalized in many ways to handle multiple classes. It turns out that one can lose consistency in generalizing a binary classification method to deal with multiple classes. We study a rich family of multiclass methods and provide a necessary and sufficient condition for their consistency. We illustrate our approach by applying it to some multiclass methods proposed in the literature.
Task Switching in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks

Mobile wireless sensor networks have the ability to monitor wide geographical areas. A suitable distribution of sensors can provide an optimal coverage (according to a predefined criterion) of the area of interest. On the other hand, mobile sensors can also move to the point of interest if necessary, thereby possibly leaving large regions vulnerable. In this paper we study how to balance optimal coverage with the need to quickly respond to an event. In particular, we show that by coordinating their actions, sensors can effectively estimate the location of a biochemical source while still providing a high level of coverage of the area of interest. We describe two switching control laws that achieve such a coordination and analyze their performance.
Correlation Immunity and the Summation Generator

It is known that for a memoryless mapping from GF(2)N into GF(2) the nonlinear order of the mapping and its correlation-immunity form a linear tradeoff. In this paper it is shown that the same tradeoff does no longer hold when the function is allowed to have memory. Moreover, it is shown that integer addition, when viewed over GF(2), defines an inherently nonlinear function with memory whose correlation-immunity is maximum. The summation generator which sums N binary sequences over the integers is shown as an application of integer addition in random sequence generation.
Onsite QTc Interval Screening for Patients in Methadone Maintenance Treatment

ABSTRACT To improve the electrocardiogram screening process and early detection of patients at high risk for cardiac arrhythmias, the authors created a model in their clinic where they provided an onsite electrocardiogram screening that might be feasible and practical. The authors then performed a retrospective chart review to access the efficacy and feasibility of their new onsite procedure in identifying methadone maintained patients at high risk for cardiac arrhythmias. Records from all patients who are currently or had previously been maintained on methadone in the methadone maintenance program at the Atlanta VA Medical Center between 2002 and 2009 were evaluated. Of the 140 patients treated at the clinic between 2002 and 2009, 85 were excluded from the study because they had been treated as guests (had been in treatment in other clinics but received methadone dosing temporarily from our clinic), were treated in the clinic for less than 6 months, or dropped out of treatment. Thus, 55 patient charts we...
Time Spent in Lateral Sleep Position and Asymmetry in Glaucoma.

Author(s): Kaplowitz, Kevin; Blizzard, Sonya; Blizzard, Daniel J; Nwogu, Eberechi; Hamill, Cecily E; Weinreb, Robert N; Mohsenin, Vahid; Loewen, Nils A | Abstract: PurposeTo explore sleep position in asymmetric primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with a focus on low pressure glaucoma (LPG).MethodsSleep laboratory videos of 54 POAG patients were examined for lateral sleep. Then, 29 LPG patients (intraocular pressure [IOP] l 22 mm Hg) with an intereye visual field index (VFI) asymmetry of more than 5% continuously recorded their sleep position at home for 2 nights by using a portable device. Correlations were sought between sleep position, visual field (VF), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) symmetry as well as ocular biometric data and positional IOP changes. Finally, an expanded data set of 178 POAG patients (63 LPG and 115 high pressure glaucoma [HPG; IOP ≥ 22 mm Hg]) was used to correlate VF and the RNFL symmetry to the self-assessed sleep position collected in a survey.ResultsIn the video analysis, patients spent 19% ± 2% (mean ± SEM) more time sleeping on one side than on the other. Right-sided sleep was preferred. Right-sided sleep was 1.6 times more common in continuously recorded home data and correlated to an asymmetric VF that was worse in the left eye (b = -0.422, P = 0.002). Pulse amplitude of left eyes was lower in the right decubitus position (P = 0.02). In the expanded survey, 73% of LPG and 58% of HPG patients slept asymmetrically. Right-sided sleepers had a worse RNFL symmetry score.ConclusionsAsymmetric sleep behavior is common. Right-sided sleep was preferred and correlated with a lower VFI on the left.
Optimal timing of autologous cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy in children.

Object The object of this study was to determine if early cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy for elevated intracranial pressure in children reduces complications. Methods Sixty-one consecutive cases involving pediatric patients who underwent autologous cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy for raised intracranial pressure at a single academic children's hospital over 15 years were studied retrospectively. Results Sixty-one patients were divided into early (< 6 weeks; 28 patients) and late (≥ 6 weeks; 33 patients) cranioplasty cohorts. The cohorts were similar except for slightly lower age in the early (8.03 years) than the late (10.8 years) cranioplasty cohort (p < 0.05). Bone resorption after cranioplasty was significantly more common in the late (42%) than the early (14%) cranioplasty cohort (p < 0.05; OR 5.4). No other complication differed in incidence between the cohorts. Conclusions After decompressive craniectomy for raised intracranial pressure in children, early (< 6 weeks) crani...
Integrated scheduling and buffer management input queued switches under extreme traffic scheme conditions

This paper addresses scheduling and memory management in input queued switches having finite buffer space to improve the performance in terms of throughput and average delay. Most of the prior works on scheduling related to input queued switches assume infinite buffer space. In practice, buffer space being a finite resource, special memory management scheme becomes essential. We introduce a buffer management scheme called iSMM (integrated scheduling and memory management) that can be employed jointly with any deterministic iterative scheduling algorithm. We applied iSMM over iSLIP, a popular scheduling algorithm, and examined its effect under extreme traffic conditions. Simulation results indicate iSMM to perform better than the raw iSLIP and maximum weighted matching (MWM) scheduling algorithms both in terms of throughput and delay.
Polle syndrome: chronic diarrhea in Munchausen's child

A child with a complex history of chronic diarrhea and a seizure disorder, with multiple nondiagnostic previous evaluations, is presented. Under careful observation and with minimal diagnostic studies, the source of this child's chronic disorder was confirmed to be exogenous drug administration by the mother. Polle syndrome, a child-abuse variant of Munchausen syndrome, must be considered as part of an aberrant family social setting by adult or pediatric physicians who uncover a chronic factitious disease. More attention to psychosocial history gathering may preclude well-meaning, but unwarranted, multiple diagnostic endeavors.
The necessary conditions for the existence of local Ginzburg-Landau minimizers with prescribed degrees on the boundary

We study the minimization problem for simplified Ginzburg-Landau functional in doubly connected domain. This minimization problem is a subject to "semi-stiff" boundary conditions: |u| = 1 and prescribed degrees p and q on the outer and inner boundaries respectively. Following the work of Berlyand and Rybalko (J. Eur. Math. Soc. 12 (2010), 1497-1531), we additionally prescribe the degree in the bulk (approximate bulk degree) to be d .T he work (J. Eur. Math. Soc. 12 (2010), 1497-1531) established the sufficient conditions on the existence of Ginzburg-Landau minimizers, given in terms of p, q and d. The present work complements the result of (J. Eur. Math. Soc. 12 (2010), 1497-1531) by providing the necessary conditions for the existence of nontrivial (nonconstant) minimizers.
ZD1839 (Iressa™): What’s in It for the Patient?

™ ) · NSCLC ABSTRACT Although cytotoxic chemotherapy has had a signifi- cant impact on the treatment of some malignancies, its impact against most solid tumors is limited. This is espe- cially true in the case of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in which about 90% of patients ultimately die from metastatic disease. Although chemotherapy has pro- duced modest improvements in response rates and survival in a subset of patients with advanced NSCLC, its primary objective remains to provide palliation of disabling disease- related symptoms. It is hoped that the introduction of new, rationally designed anticancer agents, with greater speci- ficity and less toxicity, will improve the outcome for patients with a range of tumor types, including NSCLC. ZD1839 (Iressa ™ ) is the first of a new class of epider- mal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The results of two large phase II trials have shown that ZD1839 provides clinically significant symptom relief for many patients with extensively pretreated advanced NSCLC. Moreover, this improvement in dis- ease-related symptoms correlated with improved sur- vival and tumor response. ZD1839 also had an acceptable tolerability profile: most drug-related adverse events were mild and reversible and quite dif- ferent from those typically associated with cytotoxic agents. Some patients also experienced improved qual- ity of life, particularly those with a partial response or stable disease. Thus, ZD1839 offers a new treatment option providing meaningful symptom relief for many patients with advanced NSCLC. The Oncologist
Does “subthreshold” posttraumatic stress disorder have any clinical relevance?

The present report examined the extent to which subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (without lifetime PTSD) and full PTSD are associated with impairment or distress, controlling for comorbidity (i.e., major depression and panic disorder) in a sample of treatment-seeking psychiatric patients. Patients were administered diagnostic interviews and assessed for psychosocial impairment and whether or not they desired treatment for their PTSD symptoms. No significant differences were found between patients with full PTSD (N = 156) and those with subthreshold PTSD (N = 56) in degree of impairment (i.e., social and work functioning, as well as number of suicide attempts). In contrast, those with full PTSD had significantly more psychiatric hospitalizations and worse global functioning and were more likely to want treatment for their PTSD symptoms compared to those with subthreshold PTSD, albeit the majority of patients with subthreshold PTSD wanted treatment for their PTSD symptoms. These findings, like past research, suggest that subthreshold PTSD is associated with levels of social and work morbidity comparable to full PTSD. However, the report also underscores the difficulties in identifying a set of clinical criteria that clearly delineates between full PTSD and subthreshold PTSD.
News of Latin America on network television, 1972–1981: A northern perspective on the Southern Hemisphere

This study describes Latin American coverage on U.S. network television from 1972 through 1981 and suggests its implications for network newsgathering and U.S. foreign policy toward the region. Latin America received low levels of attention, primarily focused on eight nations. It led other world regions in its proportion of domestic video (usually Washington Bureau) reporting, and over half of direct visual reporting by its correspondents dealt with spot crisis news. Network orientation toward visually exciting crises, together with no permanent presence in the region, encourages a lack of attention to social developments, with adverse consequences for foreign policy.
THE PERFECT STAGE OF FLAGELLOSPORA PENICILLIOIDES

THE FUNGI IMPERFECTI are commonly reported components of the fresh-water floras of North Africa, Europe and North America. Many of these fungi, particularly representatives of the form family Moniliaceae, grow and sporulate while completely submerged; other representatives grow submerged but produce conidiophores that extend to the surface of the water before conidia are produced. On agar culture a small number of the species that produce conidia entirely beneath the surface of the water will sporulate aerially. Although an extensive literature concerning the distribution, taxonomy, culture and nutrition of these interesting fungi is accumulating (Ingold, 1942; Van Beverwijk, 1953; Ranzoni, 1951, 1953; Waid, 1954), no description of a sexual stage for any aquatic hyphomycete has been published. Acting upon the assumption that these organisms are heterothallic, the writer carried out a number of mating experiments in the attempt to induce a perfect stage (Ranzoni, 1953). Different strains of Anguillospora longissima (Sacc. & Syd.) Ingold, Tetracladium gracile Ingold, Clavariopsis aquatica De Wild. and Lemonniera cornuta Ranzoni were mated without success. In the spring of 1954, however, the perfect stage of one of the aquatic hyphomycetes was accidentally discovered. MATERIALS AND METHODS.-The imperfect fungus, Flagellospora penicillioides Ingold, was isolated from a collection of decomposing maple leaves found in a stream at Green Valley Falls, near Vallejo, California, in February, 1954. Several single spore isolations of this species were made and the fungus was grown in pure culture on one per cent malt agar. Most of the examinations were made on living material. In some instances paraffin sections were employed. Blocks of the fungus material were cut from the agar cultures, killed and fixed in Craf III and processed by the tertiary butyl alcohol method (Johansen, 1940). The sections were cut at 10 IL, stained with Heidenhain's iron hematoxylin and counterstained with phloxine (one per cent in 95 per cent ethyl alcohol). THE CONIDIAL STAGE.Flagellospora penicilliaides Ingold occurs on the submerged, decaying leaves and woody tissues of various angiosperms, particularly alder, willow and maple. In nature the sigmoid conidia (fig. 2, 6) are formed and released beneath the surface of the water. The conidiophores, as indicated by the specific epithet, are
Obesity increases inflammation and impairs lymphatic function in a mouse model of lymphedema

Although obesity is a major clinical risk factor for lymphedema, the mechanisms that regulate this effect remain unknown. Recent reports have demonstrated that obesity is associated with acquired lymphatic dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine how obesity-induced lymphatic dysfunction modulates the pathological effects of lymphatic injury in a mouse model. We used a diet-induced model of obesity in adult male C57BL/6J mice in which experimental animals were fed a high-fat diet and control animals were fed a normal chow diet for 8-10 wk. We then surgically ablated the superficial and deep lymphatics of the midportion of the tail. Six weeks postoperatively, we analyzed changes in lymphatic function, adipose deposition, inflammation, and fibrosis. We also compared responses to acute inflammatory stimuli in obese and lean mice. Compared with lean control mice, obese mice had baseline decreased lymphatic function. Lymphedema in obese mice further impaired lymphatic function and resulted in increased subcutaneous adipose deposition, increased CD45(+) and CD4(+) cell inflammation (P < 0.01), and increased fibrosis, but caused no change in the number of lymphatic vessels. Interestingly, obese mice had a significantly increased acute inflammatory reaction to croton oil application. In conclusion, obese mice have impaired lymphatic function at baseline that is amplified by lymphatic injury. This effect is associated with increased chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and adipose deposition. These findings suggest that obese patients are at higher risk for lymphedema due to impaired baseline lymphatic clearance and an increased propensity for inflammation in response to injury.
Modifications to the neutral detergent cellulase digestibility method for the prediction of the metabolisable energy of compound feedstuffs containing palm kernel meal

Abstract: Practical use of the prediction equation for metabolisable energy (ME) of ruminant feeds, which resulted from a study commissioned by the UK Agriculture Industry in 1986 (MAFF 1990), has produced low predictions for feeding stuffs containing palm kernel meal. This was found to be due to the presence of galactomannans which are not readily hydrolysed by the enzymes in the cellulase preparation used in the second stage of the neutral-detergent cellulase digestibility method. An additional commercially available enzyme, Gamanase, was identified as capable of hydrolysing these compounds. Whilst Gamanase was active at the same temperature and pH range as cellulase it was found necessary to extend the incubation period from 24h to 40h to achieve adequate agreement with in-vivo digestibility. Experiments showed that the modifications to the method had no significant effect on the predicted ME for feeding-stuffs not containing palm kernel meal.
Lesions of the basal forebrain alter stimulus-evoked metabolic activity in mouse somatosensory cortex

The role that acetylcholine plays in processing sensory stimuli is beginning to be characterized; however, morphological correlates of cholinergic effects on activity patterns in sensory cortex are not available. To study this problem, unilateral neurotoxic lesions that depleted the necortex of acetylcholine were made in the basal forebrains of mice. The aim of these experiments was to study the effect of cholinergic depletion on stimulus-evoked activity in the barrel field of the mouse somatosensory cortex. One month following the lesion, 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) experiments were conducted on the lesioned and on normal mice while the animal received bilateral stimulation to the C3 whisker. The tissue was processed for acetylcholinesterase and cytochrome oxidase histochemistry and 2DG autoradiography. Evaluation of the column-like 2DG label evoked in the somatosensory cortex revealed that the activity on the lesioned side was significantly reduced in dimension and intensity from that in the normal hemisphere. On the normal side, the activated barrels averaged 641 microns in tangential width, were 76.5% above background in density, and extended from lamina I-V. On the lesioned side, the activated barrels were 485 microns in tangential width, 65.4% above background in density, and extended from lamina II-V. In other cortical regions, outside the stimulus-evoked barrel field, 2DG activity values were similar on the normal and lesioned side. Additionally, both the pattern and intensity of the cytochrome oxidase staining within the barrel field displayed no differences in either hemisphere. These studies suggest that acetylcholine plays a significant role in the processing of somatosensory information. Neurotoxic lesions that diminish cortical cholinergic innervation cause a reduction of stimulus-evoked activity levels, while underlying metabolic activity is either not affected or recovers over time.
Comment on “A Note on the Two-Spring Tomlinson Model”

A recent note by Lu et al. presented a theoretical study of atomic friction using a two-spring Tomlinson model. In this comment, we argue that the conclusion of the note can be understood in a simple manner, and that the discussion of the criterion for the onset of stick-slip is unnecessarily complicated and potentially misleading.
An approach to mechanics of the cochlea

A central problem in cochlear mechanics is an assessment of the mechanical basis of the ability of the ear to distinguish tones of different frequency. The starting point here is a fairly complete description of the cochlea as a hydroelastic system. The equations of an incompressible inviscid fluid, coupled to those of an elastic plate lead to a linear eigenvalue problem. Since the cochlea has a slender geometry, asymptotic methods can be used to generate a sequence of simplified problems. In the first approximation an interaction problem must be solved in a cross-plane. Integral properties of the second order problem connect the cross-plane solutions. Mode shapes and eigenvalues can then be calculated. It is found that the spectrum is relatively dense, which has importance in terms of the frequency sensitivity of the ear.
Etching of polyethylene terephthalate

A degradative etching technique has been employed with polyethylene terephthalate films to demonstrate the existence of several different structures, the size of which vary from hundreds of microns to hundreds of Angstroms. The micron-sized structures are a function of the processing and orientation of the film and occur in regular geometric patterns. Thus, parallel stretch-direction lines are etched into one-way stretched film, the number of lines being dependent upon film history. Etched, two-way stretched films reveal a lamellate composition, each layer possessing a brick wall-like structure. This general structural pattern has been found in other types of film by similar methods. Examination of the etched areas by electron microscopy demonstrates that the micron-sized blocks are composed of spheres, 700 A. in diameter, which are aligned over moderate distances.
A new method for processing impact excited continuous-scan laser Doppler vibrometer measurements

Abstract A scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) can acquire non-contact vibration measurements from a structure with high spatial detail in an automated manner; one only need redirect the laser via computer-controlled mirrors to acquire measurements at additional points. However, since most LDV systems are only capable of measuring one point at a time, conventional scanning vibrometry cannot be effectively employed in some situations, for example when the time record is long at each measurement point or when the structure changes with time. Conventional scanning LDV systems are also difficult to employ with impact excitation because there is considerable variation in the impact location, angle and the character of the impacts, which leads to errors in the mode shapes that are extracted from the measurements. This paper presents a method by which one can determine the mode shapes, natural frequencies and damping ratios of a structure from as little as one response record by sweeping the laser continuously over the vibrating structure as the measurement is acquired. A novel resampling approach is presented that transforms the continuous-scan measurements into pseudo-frequency response functions, so they can be processed using standard identification routines to find the modal parameters of the structure. Specifically, this work employs a standard multi-input–multi-output identification routine and the complex mode indicator function to the continuous-scan laser Doppler vibrometry (CSLDV) measurements. The method makes no assumptions regarding the shape or properties of the surface and only requires that the laser scan periodically and that the structure vibrate freely. The method is demonstrated experimentally on a free–free beam, identifying the first nine mode shapes of the beam at hundreds of points from a few time histories. For this system, this represents a two-order of magnitude reduction in the time needed to acquire measurements with the LDV.
Studies on the lack of glucagon response to glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis and decrease in protein synthesis in isolated hepatocytes from hypophysectomized animals

Abstract Effect of various concentrations of glucagon on gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis was studied in isolated hepatocytes obtained from normal and hypophysectomized animals. Addition of glucagon (10 −10 to 10 −6 M) stimulated glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis by 2–3 fold in normal hepatocytes. However, this concentration of glucagon had only a slight effect in isolated hepatocytes obtained from hypophysectomized animals. This lack of glucagon response was not due to reduction in glycogen levels in isolated hepatocytes obtained from hypophysectomized animals. Studies on the incorporation of 14 C-alanine, 14 C-leucine and 14 C-valine showed a 3–5 fold decrease in the incorporation of these amino acids into protein in hypophysectomized animals compared to normal controls.
Transcriptional Down-regulation of m2 Muscarinic Receptor Gene Expression in Human Embryonic Lung (HEL 299) Cells by Protein Kinase C (∗)

m2 muscarinic receptor gene expression was investigated following stimulation of protein kinase C (PKC) with the phorbol ester 4β-phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) in HEL 299 cells. PDBu (100 nM) caused a time-dependent decrease in the steady-state levels of m2 receptor mRNA and in specific [3H]N-methyl-scopolamine binding. Preincubation with the PKC inhibitor GF-109203X inhibited the reduction in M2 receptor and mRNA levels induced by PDBu, confirming the involvement of PKC. Chronic PDBu treatment also caused desensitization of the receptor as forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation, inhibited by carbachol in control cells, was lost upon treatment with PDBu for 24 h. Co-incubation with PDBu and the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, inhibited PDBu-mediated reduction of m2 receptor mRNA, indicating new protein synthesis is required for down-regulation. Half-life studies using the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D suggested that the stability of the m2 receptor mRNA was not altered by PDBu treatment (t1/2 = 2 h). Nuclear run-on assays showed a 50% reduction in the rate of m2 receptor gene transcription after treatment with PDBu for 12 h. In conclusion we have provided evidence for heterologous regulation of m2 receptor gene expression through changes in gene transcription resulting in uncoupling of M2 receptors. Furthermore, the synthesis of an unidentified factor is required for the down-regulation process.
Cancellation of Non-Harmonic Waves Using a Cycloidal Turbine

We computationally investigate the ability of a cycloidal turbine to cancel two-dimensional non-harmonic waves in deep water. A cycloidal turbine employs the same geometry as the well established Cycloidal or Voith-Schneider Propeller. It consists of a shaft and one or more hydrofoils that are attached eccentrically to the main shaft and can be independently adjusted in pitch angle as the cycloidal turbine rotates. We simulate the cycloidal turbine interaction with incoming waves by viewing the turbine as a wave generator superimposed with the incoming flow. The generated waves ideally are 180° out of phase and cancel the incoming wave downstream of the turbine. The upstream wave is very small as generation of single-sided waves is a characteristic of the cycloidal turbine as has been shown in prior work. The superposition of the incoming wave and generated wave is investigated in the far-field and we model the hydrofoil as a point vortex. This model has previously been used to successfully terminate regular deep water waves as well as intermediate depth water waves. We explore the ability of this model to cancel non-harmonic waves. Near complete cancellation is possible for a non-harmonic wave with components designed to match those generated by the cycloidal turbine for specified parameters. Cancellation of a specific wave component of a multi-component system is also shown. Also, step changes in the device operating parameters of circulation strength, rotation rate, and submergence depth are explored to give insight to the cycloidal turbine response characteristics and adaptability to changes in incoming waves. Based on these studies a linear, time-invarient (LTI) model is developed which captures the steady state wave frequency response. Such a model can be used for control development in future efforts to efficiently cancel more complex incoming waves.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Application of the Kalman filter to the arterial travel time prediction: a special event case study

A sudden traffic surge immediately after special events (e.g., conventions, concerts) can create substantial traffic congestion in the area where the events are held. It is desirable that the special events-related traffic flow be monitored and measured so that available methods (e.g., a temporary traffic signal timing adjustment and coordination) can be used to alleviate congestion. The travel time variable is a good operational measure of effectiveness of traffic systems and can be used to detect incidents and quantify congestion. Effective prediction of travel times is crucial to many advanced traveller information and transportation management systems. This paper focuses on the arterial travel time prediction using the Kalman filtering and estimation technique, and a special event is selected as our case study. The global positioning system (GPS) test vehicle technique is used to collect after-events travel time data. Based on the field data collected, a discrete-time Kalman filter is implemented and applied to predict travel time exiting the area under study. The performance is assessed and its effectiveness at the test site is investigated. The available techniques to further improve the accuracy of the prediction error are also discussed. Although this paper presents a case study, the results can be easily applied to large-scale special events held in other metropolitan areas.
Neighborhood spillover effects between rezoning and housing price

The objective of this research was to investigate neighborhood spillover effects between rezoning of vacant parcels and housing price in the Knoxville, TN area. The study is unique in that it correctly highlights the need to analyze the dynamics of zoning structure and accommodates the neighborhood spillover effects associated with the real estate market. Results indicate that the probability of rezoning vacant land is expected to increase as housing price in a neighboring location increases. The rise in the housing price in a neighboring location implies increasing pressure on housing demand. This increased pressure on housing demand likely contributes to greater demands for residential development and commercial development that complements residential use. Currently, the major guidelines for the approval of rezoning petitions, according to the planners in the Knoxville area, are consistency with long-and short-range land use plans adopted by state, municipality, and county governments, and consistency with surrounding land use and environmental constraints, e.g., slope, flooding, and drainage. Local planning authorities can modify and update consistency measures in the current guidelines by accounting for varying degrees of housing demand pressure. For example, consistency measures can be strengthened in areas with greater housing-price increases, if preservation is desirable because these areas are likely to experience greater rezoning pressure.
Impact of photolithography and mask variability on interconnect parasitics

Due to photolithography effects and manufacture process variations, the actual features printed on wafer are different from the designed ones. This difference results in the inaccuracy on parasitic extraction, which is critical for timing verification and design for manufacturability. Most of the current layout parasitic extraction (LPE) tools ignore these effects and can cause as high as 20% errors. This paper proposes a new strategy to extract interconnect parasitics with the consideration of photolithography effects and process variations. Based on the feedback from lithography simulation, a shape correction process is setup to adjust the interconnect structure for LPE tools. Compared with the traditional extraction methodology, the parasitics extracted from this adjusted geometry are more accurate. This method can be implanted into the current design flow with minimum change. Meanwhile, this paper studies the impacts of mask critical dimension (CD) variations on interconnect parasitics. The variability analysis is based on PROLITH lithography simulation software and is tested on RAPHAEL interconnect library. The results show a high nonlinear relationship between the mask variation and the interconnect parasitics.
3p 6 3d 8 –3p 5 3d 9 transitions in ironlike ions from Ru 18+ to Gd 38+

Spectra of 14 Fe-like ions from Ru18+ to Gd38+ were observed with laser-produced plasmas and grazing-incidence spectrographs. The wavelengths range from 26 to 78 A. Line identifications were made for transitions of the 3p63d8–3p53d9 array. The number of identifications varied from 42 in Ru18+ to 10 in Gd38+. Experimental values for many of the energy levels of the 3p63d8 and 3p53d9 configurations were derived from the measured wavelengths. Predicted values for missing levels and for ions not observed in the isoelectronic sequence were obtained from parametric fits of the differences between the observed level values and relativistically calculated level values. Results are given for all ions of the sequence from Ru18+ to Yb44+. Wavelengths for magnetic dipole transitions within the 3p63d8 configuration calculated from the energy levels are given for several ions.
Concurrent myocardial and cerebral infarctions after intranasal cocaine use.

Cardiac and cerebrovascular complications associated with cocaine abuse have increasingly been reported, but concurrent development of cocaine-induced cardiac disease and stroke has rarely been reported.A 37-year-old man with a remote history of intravenous heroin and amphetamine use, cardiomyopathy, and recent cocaine use developed chest pain and ventricular tachycardia 30 minutes after intranasal cocaine hydrochloride use and jogging on a cold winter morning. Ventricular tachycardia was converted to atrial fibrillation. He was proven to have a small myocardial infarction. Within 6 hours of cocaine use he suffered a left hemisphere stroke. Cardiac electrophysiologic evaluation revealed inducible ventricular tachycardia.To our knowledge, this is the first report of concurrent myocardial infarction, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, and cerebral infarction temporally related to cocaine use. It is probable that one mechanism by which cocaine use causes stroke is to trigger expression of a known card...