cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurological Complications of Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapies for Cancer

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies for cancer are associated with a wide spectrum of neurological complications. This review summarizes the neurological toxicity associated with some of the most recently FDA-approved agents or indications. Neurological complications of oral small molecule inhibitors are generally rare or mild, though some recently approved receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors display significant central nervous system toxicities. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with many neurological adverse events, some fatal, and consensus guidelines have been established in regard to managing these complications. Finally, chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy revolutionized the treatment of relapsed refractory leukemia and lymphoma but is associated with an immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. This review focuses on the characterization of neurotoxicities from targeted therapies and immunotherapies and recently reviewed recommendations for management. The neurological complications of new cancer therapies are a complex and rapidly evolving field though ongoing studies are shedding light on the mechanisms and best supportive care for these toxicities.
A new approach to proper orthogonal decomposition with difference quotients.

In a recent work [B. Koc et al., arXiv:2010.03750, SIAM J. Numer. Anal., to appear], the authors showed that including difference quotients (DQs) is necessary in order to prove optimal pointwise in time error bounds for proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) reduced order models of the heat equation. In this work, we introduce a new approach to including DQs in the POD procedure. Instead of computing the POD modes using all of the snapshot data and DQs, we only use the first snapshot along with all of the DQs and special POD weights. We show that this approach retains all of the numerical analysis benefits of the standard POD DQ approach, while using a POD data set that has half the number of snapshots as the standard POD DQ approach, i.e., the new approach is more computationally efficient. We illustrate our theoretical results with numerical experiments.
Ives, Frederic Eugene 1856–1937

Frederic Eugene Ives was an American inventor and scientist who made significant contributions to the field of colorimetry.
Rosai-Dorfman disease in a symptomatic elderly man

An 81-year-old man presented with anemia, fatigue, weight loss, and recurrent urinary tract infections and was found to have diffuse large adenopathy and infiltrating renal masses. Surgical excisio...
Epigenome-wide DNA Methylation in Leukocyte and Toenail Metals: the Normative Aging Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Environmental metal exposures have been associated with deleterious health endpoints. DNA methylation (DNAm) may provide insight into mechanisms underlying these associations. W...
18F DCFPyL PET Acquisition, Interpretation and Reporting: Suggestions Post Food and Drug Administration Approval.

18F-DCFPyL was recently approved by the FDA for evaluation prior to definitive therapy and for biochemical recurrence. Here we focus on the key data that justify the clinical use of 18F-DCFPyL, as well as those aspects of protocol implementation and image interpretation that are important to the nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists who will interpret 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT and PET/MR scans.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Practice Patterns in Breast Radiation Oncology: A Case-Based Survey Study in the United States

Purpose/Objective(s) The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges in resource allocation and breast cancer (BC) treatment decisions. Our study aims to understand changes in practice patterns of United States radiation oncologists (RO) treating BC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials/Methods An IRB-approved 58-question survey with 6 clinical scenarios was distributed between July 17 and November 8, 2020 to ASTRO directory members. The cases included 1) Low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 2) Low-risk BC treated with lumpectomy, 3) Low-risk BC treated with mastectomy with reconstruction 4) BC treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy with reconstruction 5) BC treated with mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy but without reconstruction 6) Metastatic BC with enlarging breast mass. RO were surveyed about treatment recommendations if cases were seen pre-pandemic (PP) and hypothetically during the peak of pandemic (DTPP). Chi-square and McNemar-Bowker tests were used to examine the significance of changes. Results A total of 285 respondents from 48 states completed the survey and reported treating at least one patient with BC in the past 12 months. 45% primarily practice in university affiliated hospitals and 43% in private practice. 22% reported treating ≥ 1 COVID-positive BC patients. Moderate hypofractionation (2.31 - 3 Gy per fraction) in the PMRT and immediate reconstruction setting was recommended by 0.7% PP compared to 10.5% DTPP. In the low-risk PMRT setting, recommendation of no further treatment increased from 13% PP to 20% DTPP. Further, 56% changed their DCIS recommendations if the patient was seen DTPP. For low-risk BC, whole breast RT was preferred by 83.5% PP compared to 46.7% DTPP, and 35.1% recommended delay of RT DTPP compared to 0.4% PP (P 5 Gy per fraction) was significant for low-risk BC after lumpectomy as 0.4% reported its use PP compared to 3.8% DTPP. In addition, utilization of brachytherapy as PBI modality decreased from 23.9% to 17% among respondents PP and DTPP respectively. The Florence fractionation schedule for PBI was recommended by 46.2% for early-stage BC and by 51.7% for DCIS DTPP compared to 20% and 34.4% PP. Finally, 68.1% reported the use of 10-25 fractions PP for the palliative scenario. However, of those who would change their recommendation (48.8%), 62.8% reported recommendation of ≤ 5 fractions DTPP. Additional subset analysis by geographic region and practice type were notable for variable changes in treatment recommendations, and will be presented. Conclusion This large survey of Breast RO clinical decision making demonstrates significant differences in recommendations and rapid adoption of unique fractionation. While likely reflective of intent to optimize resource allocations during the pandemic, maintenance of new practice patterns remains subject to future investigation.
Essentials of orthopedic surgery

Basic Science of Bone and Cartilage Metabolism.- Skeletal Trauma.- Orthopedic Infections.- Tumors of the Musculoskeletal System.- Children's Orthopedics.- Sports Medicine.- The Spine.- The Shoulder.- The Elbow.- The Hand.- The Hip and Femur.- The Knee.- The Foot and Ankle.- Case Studies.- Glossary.
A 2000-word speech recognizer of Italian

A real-time speech recognition system of Italian has been developed at IBM Rome Scientific Center. It handles natural language sentences from a 20000-word dictionary, dictated with words separated by short pauses. The architecture consists of a PC/AT equipped with signal processing hardware. The paper describes the system, shows results of decoding tests and includes descriptions of the topics in speech recognition being currently investigated.
Automatic assignment management and peer evaluation

Students in programming courses can learn from peer evaluation of their work. Also a student can learn by evaluating other students' works and can find many useful techniques in them to improve his/her programming skill. There are many tools available for online course management. However, none of them fully supports anonymous peer evaluation of assignments. In this work, we present a Web-based system that can be used to manage peer evaluation of assignments electronically and anonymously. The peer evaluation of an assignment is guided with a rubric designed and maintained by an instructor. The system has been developed by making use of free distribution of software products available for the public. Such a system can improve the quality of teaching in many computing courses, including all programming courses.
The enzymic hydrolysis of phosphatidyl inositol by guinea pig brain: Sub-cellular distribution and hydrolysis products.

— 1 Phosphatidylinositol hydrolase activity of homogenates of guinea pig brain was studied by using [2-3H]inositol labelled substrate and measuring the release of radioactivity into the acid soluble fraction. 2 Inositol phosphate and diglyceride were found to be the main hydrolysis products. The principal enzyme involved, therefore, is a phosphatidylinositol inositolphosphohydrolase. 3 Most of the enzymic activity (61 per cent) was found in the soluble fraction. Osmotic shock of the high speed particulate fraction resulted in release of an additional 23 1 per cent into the soluble fraction. However, as contrasted to lactate dehydrogenase, significant activity remained particulate bound.
Cytoplasmic Type 80 S Ribosomes Associated with Yeast Mitochondria III. CHANGES IN THE AMOUNT OF BOUND RIBOSOMES IN RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN METABOLIC STATE

Abstract Mitochondria isolated from starved or stationary phase cells (strain SB-1) have 40 to 60 % fewer associated cytoplasmic ribosomes than mitochondria isolated from log phase cells. A similar reduction in the amount of associated ribosomes was obtained when the initiation of cytoplasmic protein synthesis was inhibited using a temperature-sensitive yeast mutant. A change in the amount of mitochondria-bound cytoplasmic ribosomes was correlated directly with a change in the isopyknic density of the isolated mitochondria; moreover, the amount of cytoplasmic ribosomes associated with mitochondria could be predicted from the mitochondrial density. Mitochondria prepared from log phase cells contain 7.6 A260 units of cytoplasmic rRNA per mg of protein and will bind in vitro no more than 0.4 A260 unit of cytoplasmic ribosomes per mg of mitochondrial protein. From these results we calculate that only about 5 % of the ribosome binding sites are vacant in these mitochondrial preparations. On the other hand, mitochondria obtained from starved cells have only 4.7 A260 units of cytoplasmic rRNA per mg of protein and have a considerably greater capacity to bind ribosomes than mitochondria isolated from log phase cells. The binding of free cytoplasmic polysomes or cytoplasmic polysomes extracted from mitochondria to a preparation of EDTA-washed mitochondria was completely inhibited by either 10-4 m aurintricarboxylic acid or 350 mm KCl. However, the addition of 10-3 m aurintricarboxylic acid or 350 mm KCl to the medium used for the isolation of mitochondria had little effect on the amount of cytoplasmic rRNA recovered with the mitochondria. These data support the conclusion that cytoplasmic ribosomes are bound to yeast mitochondria in vivo.
Forecasting Disk Resource Requirements for a Usenet Server

Three years ago the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) decided to embrace netnews as a site-wide, multi-platform communications tool for the laboratory's diverse user community. The Usenet newsgroups as well as other world-wide newsgroup hierarchies were appealing for their unique ability to tap a broad pool of information, while the availability of the software on a number of platforms provided a way to communicate to and amongst the computing community. The previous way of doing this ran only on the VM mainframe system and had become increasingly ineffective as users migrated to other platforms. The increasing dependence on netnews brought with it the requirement that the service be reliable. This was dramatically demonstrated when the long-neglected netnews service collapsed under the load of the traditional fall surge in Usenet traffic and the site was without news service for a week while an upgraded system was installed. One result of that painful event was that efforts were made to forecast growth and the accompanying hardware requirements so that equipment could be acquired and installed before problems became visible to the users. This paper describes the major on-disk databases associated with news software, then presents an analysis of the storage requirements for these databases based on data collected at SLAC. A model is developed from this data which permits forecasting of disk resource requirements for a full feed as a function of time and local policies. Suggestions are also made as to how to modify this model for sites which do not carry a full feed.
A comparison of continuous and discontinuous Galerkin methods for hydrodynamic transport

In anticipation of adding scalar transport capability to an existing three-dimensional hydrodynamic code, an initial study has been undertaken to evaluate several algorthims for computing advective-diffusive transport in a two dimensional framework. The two-dimensional domain is a vertical should be coupled to the horizontal discretization. It is desired to use a finite element based transport algorithm that preserves the effecient parallelization of the hydrodynamic code. Variations of continuous and discontinuous Galerkin finite element discretizations are formulated and compared.
Discovering frequent pattern pairs

Cubes and association rules discover frequent patterns in a data set, most of which are not significant. Thus previous research has introduced search constraints and statistical metrics to discover significant patterns and reduce processing time. We introduce cube pairs comparing cube groups based on a parametric statistical test and rule pairs based on two similar association rules, which are pattern pair generalizations of cubes and association rules, respectively. We introduce algorithmic optimizations to discover comparable pattern sets. We carefully study why both techniques agree or disagree on the validity of specific pairs, considering p-value for statistical tests, as well as confidence for association rules. In addition, we analyze the probabilistic distribution of target attributes given confidence thresholds. We also introduce a reliability metric based on cross-validation, which enables an objective comparison between both patterns. We present an extensive experimental evaluation with real data sets to understand significance and reliability of pattern pairs. We show cube pairs generally produce more reliable results than rule pairs.
P2X7 receptors regulate NKT cells in autoimmune hepatitis.

Adenine nucleotides induce danger signals in T cells via purinergic receptors, raising the question whether they exert similar effects on innate immunity. Here we show that micromolar concentrations of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) induce a rapid increase of annexin V staining in NKT cells in vitro, a response that requires expression of P2X7Rs. Consistent with this result, treatment of mice with NAD causes a temporary decrease of NKT cells in the liver and protects from Con A- and α-galactosylceramide-induced hepatitis, both of which require functional NKT cells. Resistance to liver injury is associated with decreased cytokine production by NKT cells in NAD-treated mice. In contrast, when NAD is injected into Con A- or α-galactosylceramide-primed mice, liver injury is exacerbated and cytokine production by NKT cells is increased. This effect is caused by P2X7R-mediated stimulation of activated NKT cells. In agreement, mice lacking P2X7Rs on lymphocytes suffer reduced liver injury, and animals lacking ADP-ribosyltransferase, the enzyme that uses NAD to attach ADP-ribosyl groups to cell surfaces, are also resistant to Con A-induced hepatitis. These results prompt the conclusion that engagement of P2X7Rs on NKT cells inhibits naive, while stimulating activated cells, resulting in suppression or stimulation of autoimmune hepatitis.
Vitamin B12 Intake Correlated to Physical and Mental Improvements in Multiple Sclerosis Specific Quality of Life

Current literature fails to provide individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) specific dietary recommendations to advance quality of life (QOL). Due to the important structural and functional roles of vitamin B 12 in the nervous system, the purpose of this research was to determine possible correlations between dietary intake of vitamin B 12 and self-reported quality of life (QOL) among individuals with MS. The National MS Society and MS Foundation were used to recruit volunteers age 18 and older with a clinical diagnosis of MS. After the initial response ( n = 89), 46 participants completed an online demographic survey/questionnaire and the MS Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54). Additionally, participants ( n =23), completed a 3-day food record utilizing MyPyramid Tracker . Increased consumption of vitamin B 12 ( M =4.63 ± 3.44 µg) was positively correlated to the MSQOL-54 Subscales, Emotional Well-Being , Health Perceptions , Health Distress , and Overall QOL , as well as, to the QOL Composite Summary score for Mental Health. Individuals who consumed 5.0 µg or more of vitamin B 12 exhibited significantly higher QOL scores for eight of the twelve Subscales, including Pain and Overall QOL ( p <0.01). Additionally, both of the QOL Composite Summary scores (Physical and Mental) were significantly higher ( p <0.01) than individuals who consumed less than 5.0 µg of vitamin B 12 . Dietary intake studies like this one can assist in producing dietary guidelines for individuals with MS, which are currently absent from the Nutrition Care Manual . Since MS currently has no known cure, efforts of healthcare professionals should focus on influencing QOL through specific micronutrient intake recommendations, especially vitamin B 12 . Increased vitamin B 12 requirements may be needed for individuals with MS to achieve greater QOL.
Disease characteristics and treatment patterns in veterans with rheumatoid arthritis and concomitant hepatitis C infection.

Objective To assess disease characteristics, disease activity, and treatment patterns in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with comorbid hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods RA patients with concomitant HCV were identified within the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry. HCV was defined as at least 1 diagnostic code present in medical record databases. Generalized estimating equations in linear regression models compared component and composite measures of disease activity between HCV-positive and HCV-negative patients over the study period, accounting for within-subject correlations. Similar analysis of pharmacy databases evaluated medication use within each group. Results Ninety-two of 1,706 registry participants (5.1%) were identified with concomitant HCV. At enrollment, HCV-positive patients were younger (mean ± SD 61.7 ± 7.1 years versus 67.5 ± 11.2 years; P < 0.001), more often African American (35% versus 15%; P < 0.001), and smokers (48% versus 26%; P < 0.001). In unadjusted and adjusted analyses incorporating all study visits, patient-reported outcomes (pain, tender joints, and patient global scores) were higher in HCV-positive patients, contributing to higher disease activity scores. There was no difference in physician-reported outcomes (swollen joints or physician global scores). HCV-positive patients had lower C-reactive protein levels (β −0.30 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) −0.53, −0.07], P = 0.01). Over all visits, HCV-positive patients were less likely to receive methotrexate (odds ratio [OR] 0.27 [95% CI 0.17, 0.40], P < 0.001), and more likely to receive prednisone (OR 1.41 [95% CI 1.02, 1.97], P = 0.04) and anti–tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) therapies (OR 1.51 [95% CI 1.04, 2.19], P = 0.03). Conclusion RA patients with concomitant HCV have higher disease activity scores, driven primarily by higher patient-reported measures. HCV-positive patients were more likely to be treated with prednisone and anti-TNFα therapies and less likely to receive methotrexate compared to HCV-negative patients.
The evolution and structure of industrial clusters in Japan

This paper focuses on two aspects of the evolution and structure of clusters in Japan, namely, what gives rise to clusters and what benefits are acquired by small firms from participating in clusters. The determinants of clustering are discussed by way of a review of the history of 14 industrial clusters which cover a wide range of industries and locations in Japan. It is noted that different factors dominate in different cases. Among the more important ones are the existence of leading large firms, the availability of a pooled labor market, and the presence of public research and testing facilities.
Establishment of morphine preference in the rat

Three groups of rats were placed on sucrose morphine and milled rat food for 25 days. Morphine HCl content was.5 mg/ml for all three groups. Sucrose concentrations were 2.5%, 5%, and 10%. In a subsequent choice test, all three groups selected their respective sucrose morphine over tap water. In an additional choice test given to the 10% group, the rats selected the sucrose morphine over the vehicle. We report on a highly effective oral method of inducing morphine preference.
The relationship between the elasticity tensor and the fabric tensor

Abstract An algebraic relationship between the fourth rank elasticity tensor of a porous, anisotropic, linear elastic material and the fabric tensor of the material is considered. The fabric tensor is a symmetric second rank tensor which characterizes the geometric arrangement of the porous material microstructure. In developing this result it is assumed that the matrix material of the porous elastic solid is isotropic and, thus, that the anisotropy of the porous elastic solid is determined by the fabric tensor. It is then shown that the material symmetries of orthotropy, transverse isotropy and isotropy correspond to the cases of three, two and one distinct eigenvalues of the fabric tensor, respectively.
Fluorine as a π donor. Carbon 1s photoelectron spectroscopy and proton affinities of fluorobenzenes

The carbon 1s ionization energies for all of the carbon atoms in 10 fluorine-substituted benzene molecules have been measured by high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy. A total of 30 ionization energies can be accurately described by an additivity model with four parameters that describe the effect of a fluorine that is ipso, ortho, meta, or para to the site of ionization. A similar additivity relationship describes the enthalpies of protonation. The additivity parameters reflect the role of fluorine as an electron-withdrawing group and as a pi-electron donating group. The ionization energies and proton affinities correlate linearly, but there are four different correlations depending on whether there are 0, 1, 2, or 3 fluorines ortho or para to the site of ionization or protonation. That there are four correlation lines can be understood in terms of the ability of the hydrogens at the site of protonation to act as a pi-electron acceptor. A comparison of the ionization energies and proton affinities, together with the results of electronic structure calculations, gives insight into the effects of fluorine as an electron-withdrawing group and as a pi donor, both in the neutral molecule and in response to an added positive charge.
Improved conductivity of suspended carbon fibers through integration of C-MEMS and Electro-Mechanical Spinning technologies

Abstract Carbon microfibers suspended across carbon walls were fabricated by Electro-Mechanical Spinning and subsequent pyrolysis of a SU-8 based carbon precursor. The shrinkage and elongation of these polymer fibers during the pyrolysis process was observed to depend on the height of the supporting walls. We demonstrate that this shrinkage and elongation during pyrolysis strongly influences the resulting carbon electrical properties. Compared to fibers that retained their length during pyrolysis, conductivity was enhanced by a factor of seven after fibers were elongated four times their initial pre-pyrolysis length with a concurrent shrinkage of their diameter by half.
Theory of discommensurations and the commensurate-incommensurate charge-density-wave phase transition

The lowest-energy state of the incommensurate charge density wave (CDW) near the lock-in transition is found to be a distorted plane wave. An exact solution is found in the weak-coupling limit and the lock-in phase transition is continuous. A new defect is found in the commensurate CDW, a discommensuration, in which the phase of the CDW slips by $\frac{2\ensuremath{\pi}}{3}$ relative to the perfectly locked in CDW. The lock-in phase transition is interpreted as a defect melting transition with a finite density of discommensurations in the incommensurate state.
Transition services for incarcerated youth: A mixed methods evaluation study

Abstract Despite a considerable overlap between child welfare and juvenile justice populations, the child welfare literature contains sparse information about transition and reentry programs for incarcerated youth. Using mixed methods, this paper explores the benefits and limitations of a six-week transitional living program for incarcerated youth offenders. Logistic regression analysis found that only age at arrest and number of prior offenses predicted the odds of recidivism at one-year post-release. Youth who participated in the transitional living program and dual status youth (those involved in both child welfare and juvenile justice systems) were slightly more likely to recidivate, but these differences were not statistically significant. Qualitative interviews with youth and staff revealed that both groups viewed the transitional living program as having many benefits, particularly independent living skills training. However, follow-up with youth in the community lacked sufficient intensity to handle the types of challenges that emerged. Implications for future research and transition programming with vulnerable youth are discussed.
ISOTROPIC NUCLEAR RESONANCE SHIFTS

It is shown that isotropic (or average) nuclear resonance shifts for a nucleus in a paramagnetic molecule in solution, and in a polycrystalline solid, can be used to distinguish between Fermi contact and ``pseudocontact'' contributions to isotropic nuclear‐hyperfine interactions. The pseudocontact interaction is that isotropic hyperfine coupling which arises from the combined effects of (electron‐spin)‐(nuclear‐spin) coupling, (electron‐orbit)‐(nuclear‐spin) coupling, and electron spin‐orbit interaction. When the magnetic hyperfine interaction between the electronic moment and nuclear spin is approximated by a point dipolar interaction, and the isotropic hyperfine interaction is exclusively pseudocontact, then the isotropic nuclear shift in a polycrystalline solid exceeds the solution shift by the factor 3(g∥+g⊥)/(g∥+2g⊥) where g∥ and g⊥ are the spectroscopic splitting factors parallel and perpendicular to the molecular symmetry axis. Isotropic shifts due to the Fermi contact interaction are the same for both solid state and solution cases.
Differential reinforcement of independent over prompted responding based on reinforcer quality can reduce prompt dependency, but an efficient reinforcer assessment is a must

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Cividini-Motta C., & Ahearn, W.H. (2013). Effects of two variations of differential reinforcement on prompt dependency. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 640–650.Source of funding and disclosure of interest: Not reported and no disclosure of interests was reported.
Pressure drop measurements and flow visualization surrounding roughness elements

The objective of the investigation was to characterize the flow properties surrounding discrete heat-transfer augmentation roughness elements. Tests were performed in a recirculating wind tunnel arrangement with a test section Reynolds number on the order of 10. Several roughness shapes were examined, including a rectangular rib, a trapezoidal rib, and a trapezoidal rib with rounded corners at the base and at the top of the roughness elements. A flow visualization technique employing small tracers allowed both flow direction and flow velocity to be obtained. Pressure drop measurements were taken and the results compared with values obtained under related conditions at Eidgenossisches Institut fur Reaktorforschung (EIR) and transformed using the Warburton-Pirie and the Dalle Donne method. The flow visualization and pressure drop measurements revealed several important factors which resulted in a recommended change in the present shape of the gas-cooled fast breeder fuel rod roughness elements.
Sexually-related expectancies for alcohol use and marijuana use among juvenile detainees

This study is focused on sexually-related expectancies for substance use among juvenile detainees. Over a 6 month period, 272 juveniles recruited from a short-term detention facility completed measures assessing sexually-related expectancies in relation to alcohol use and marijuana use as well as measures assessing their actual use of these substances. Repeated measures analyses of sexual risk expectancy measures indicated that the sample as a whole, and older respondents in particular, expected more sexual risk in relation to using alcohol than in relation to using marijuana. Repeated measures analyses of sexual enhancement expectancy measures indicated that African-American and younger respondents expected more sexual enhancement from using marijuana than from using alcohol. Logistic regression analyses indicated that expectancies for sexual enhancement from alcohol use, and expectancies for sexual enhancement from marijuana use, were respectively associated with the use of these substances in a recent sexual incident. Limitations of the study are discussed.
The Advantages of Compliance or the Disadvantages of Noncompliance? A Meta-Analytic Review of the Relative Persuasive Effectiveness of Gain-Framed and Loss-Framed Messages

A meta-analytic review of the relative persuasiveness of gain-and loss-framed messages (based on 165 effect sizes, N=50,780) finds that loss-framed appeals are not generally more persuasive than gain-framed appeals. For encouraging disease prevention behaviors, gain-framed appeals are more persuasive than loss-framed appeals; for encouraging disease detection behaviors, gain-and loss-framed appeals do not differ significantly in persuasiveness. The relative persuasiveness of differently framed appeals seems little influenced by (a) whether the gain-framed appeals emphasize the attainment of desirable states or the avoidance of undesirable states or (b) whether the loss-framed appeals emphasize the attainment of undesirable states or the avoidance of desirable states.
Inhibitory Neurotransmission, Plasticity and Aging in the Mammalian Central Auditory System

SUMMARY Aging and acoustic trauma may result in partial peripheral deafferentation in the central auditory pathway of the mammalian brain. In accord with homeostatic plasticity, loss of sensory input results in a change in pre- and postsynaptic GABAergic and glycinergic inhibitory neurotransmission. As seen in development, age-related changes may be activity dependent. Age-related presynaptic changes in the cochlear nucleus include reduced glycine levels, while in the auditory midbrain and cortex, GABA synthesis and release are altered. Presumably, in response to age-related decreases in presynaptic release of inhibitory neurotransmitters, there are age-related postsynaptic subunit changes in the composition of the glycine (GlyR) and GABA A (GABA A R) receptors. Age-related changes in the subunit makeup of inhibitory pentameric receptor constructs result in altered pharmacological and physiological responses consistent with a net down-regulation of functional inhibition. Age-related functional changes associated with glycine neurotransmission in dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) include altered intensity and temporal coding by DCN projection neurons. Loss of synaptic inhibition in the superior olivary complex (SOC) and the inferior colliculus (IC) likely affect the ability of aged animals to localize sounds in their natural environment. Age-related postsynaptic GABA A R changes in IC and primary auditory cortex (A1) involve changes in the subunit makeup of GABA A Rs. In turn, these changes cause age-related changes in the pharmacology and response properties of neurons in IC and A1 circuits, which collectively may affect temporal processing and response reliability. Findings of age-related inhibitory changes within mammalian auditory circuits are similar to age and deafferentation plasticity changes observed in other sensory systems. Although few studies have examined sensory aging in the wild, these age-related changes would likely compromise an animal9s ability to avoid predation or to be a successful predator in their natural environment.
Corrosion in Supercritical Water Oxidation Systems: A Phenomenological Analysis

Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) is now being actively developed as a means of destroying highly toxic organic waste (including physiological agents) and for reducing the volume of low level nuclear waste. Pronounced corrosion damage occurs in supercritical water oxidation reactors, and few materials are immune to attack. In this paper, the authors describe a phenomenological model for the corrosion process, and they discuss the effect of electrolyte dissociation and water density, as influenced by temperature and pressure, upon the kinetics of corrosion of metals and alloys in supercritical water. The corrosion process at near-critical temperatures is believed to involve acid attack, with the concentration of H{sup +} being a function of the dissociation constant of HCl, which is a major product of the oxidation of chlorinated organic waste, and of the density of the solution. The authors show that the competing effects of temperature on the heterogeneous rate constant and on the concentrations of H{sup +} and O{sub 2} leads to a pressure (and hence density)-dependent maximum in the corrosion rate in the vicinity of the critical temperature. This result is in general agreement with experimental data on corrosion in aqueous solutions at near-critical temperatures.
Multi-site phosphorylation of Pho4 by the cyclin-CDK Pho80-Pho85 is semi-processive with site preference.

Abstract As part of a nutrient-responsive signaling pathway, the budding yeast cyclin-CDK complex Pho80-Pho85 phosphorylates the transcription factor Pho4 on five sites and inactivates it. Here, we describe the kinetic reaction between Pho80-Pho85 and Pho4. Through experimentation and computer modeling we have determined that Pho80-Pho85 phosphorylates Pho4 in a semi-processive fashion that results from a balance between kcat and koff. In addition, we show that Pho80-Pho85 phosphorylates certain sites preferentially. Phosphorylation of the site with the highest preference inhibits the transcriptional activity of Pho4 when it is in the nucleus, while phosphorylation of the lowest-preference sites is required for export of Pho4 from the nucleus. This method of phosphorylation may allow Pho80-Pho85 to quickly inactivate Pho4 in the nucleus and efficiently phosphorylate Pho4 to completion.
A trickling fibrous‐bed bioreactor for biofiltration of benzene in air

A novel trickling fibrous-bed bioreactor was developed for biofiltration to remove pollutants present in contaminated air. Air containing benzene as the sole carbon source was effectively treated with a coculture of Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas fluorescens immobilized in the trickling biofilter, which was wetted with a liquid medium containing only inorganic mineral salts. When the inlet benzene concentration (C gi ) was 0.37 g/m 3 , the benzene removal efficiency in the biofilter was greater than 90% at an empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 8 min or a superficial air flow rate of 1.8 m 3 /m 2 .h. In general, the removal efficiency decreased but the elimination capacity of the biofilter increased with increasing the inlet benzene concentration and the air (feed) flow rate. It was also found that the removal efficiency decreased but the elimination capacity increased with an increase in the loading capacity, which is equal to the inlet concentration divided by EBRT. The maximum elimination capacity achieved in this study was ∼11.5 g/m 3 .h when the inlet benzene concentration was 1.7 g/m 3 and the superficial air flow rate was 3.62 m 3 /m 2 .h. A simple mathematical model based on the first-order reaction kinetics was developed to simulate the biofiltration performance. The apparent first order parameter K 1 in this model was found to be linearly related to the inlet benzene concentration (K 1 =4.64-1.38 C gi ). The model can be used to predict the benzene removal efficiency and elimination capacity of the biofilter for benzene loading capacity up to ∼30 g/m 3 .h. Using this model, the maximum elimination capacity for the biofilter was estimated to be 12.3 g/m 3 .h, and the critical loading capacity was found to be 14 g/m 3 .h. The biofilter had a fast response to process condition changes and was stable for long-term operation; no degeneration or clogging of the biofilter was encountered during the 3-month period studied. The biofilter also had a relatively low pressure drop of 750 Pa/m at a high superficial air flow rate of 7.21 m 3 /m 2 .h, indicating a good potential for further scale up for industrial applications.
Ethical issues in the pharmaceutical industry: an analysis of US newspapers

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to analyze newspaper coverage of ethical issues in the pharmaceutical industry.Design/methodology/approach – The top five US newspapers were audited over two years and yielded 376 articles, which appeared as front‐page stories or editorials. First, headlines were analyzed and categorized as positive, negative, or neutral toward the industry. Next, the full‐text of each article was analyzed and ethical issues in each article were categorized. Then, articles were evaluated to determine whether the opposing point of view was included. Finally, comparisons were made between the identified issues and the issues cited by PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry's trade association.Findings – Analysis of the ethical issues revealed different results for the two years. In 2004, the most common issues covered were drug pricing, data disclosure and importation/reimportation. In 2005, drug safety was the number one issue, due to Vioxx® with drug pricing a distant second. Headlines we...
Two detector arrays for fast neutrons at LANSCE

The neutron spectrum from neutron-induced fission needs to be known in designing new fast reactors, predicting criticality for safety analyses, and developing techniques for global security application. The experimental data base of fission neutron spectra is very incomplete and most present evaluated libraries are based on the approach of the Los Alamos Model. To validate these models and to provide improved data for applications, a program is underway to measure the fission neutron spectrum for a wide range of incident neutron energies using the spallation source of fast neutrons at the Weapons Neutron Research (WNR) facility at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). In a double time-of-flight experiment, fission neutrons are detected by arrays of neutron detectors to increase the solid angle and also to investigate possible angular dependence of the fission neutrons. The challenge is to measure the spectrum from low energies, down to 100 keV or so, to energies over 10 MeV, where the evaporation-like spectrum decreases by 3 orders of magnitude from its peak around 1 MeV. For these measurements, we are developing two arrays of neutron detectors, one based on liquid organic scintillators and the other on 6Li-glass detectors. The range of fission neutrons detected by organic liquid scintillators extends from about 600 keV to well over 10 MeV, with the lower limit being defined by the limit of pulse-shape discrimination. The 6Li-glass detectors have a range from very low energies to about 1 MeV, where their efficiency then becomes small. Various considerations and tests are in progress to understand important contributing factors in designing these two arrays and they include selection and characterization of photomultiplier tubes (PM), the performance of relatively thin (1.8 cm) 6Li-glass scintillators on 12.5 cm diameter PM tubes, use of 17.5 cm diameter liquid scintillators with 12.5 cm PM tubes, measurements of detector efficiencies with tagged neutrons from the WNR/LANSCE neutron beam, and efficiency calibration with 252Cf spontaneous fission neutrons. Design considerations and test results are presented.
Contrasting membrane localization and behavior of halogenated cyclobutanes that follow or violate the Meyer-Overton hypothesis of general anesthetic potency

The membrane localization and properties of two halogenated cyclobutanes were examined using 2H and 19F NMR. The common predictors of potency indicate that these two compounds will have anesthetic activity; however, 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane (c(CCIFCCIFCF2CF2)) is not an effective anesthetic, whereas 1-chloro-1,2,2-trifluorocyclobutane (c(CCIFCF2CH2CH2)) is an effective general anesthetic. Using 2H NMR, the effect of these compounds on the acyl chain packing in palmitoyl (d31) oleoylphosphatidylcholine membranes was examined. The addition of the anesthetic c(CCIFCF2CH2CH2) results in small increases in the segmental order near the headgroup, whereas segments deeper in the bilayer show decreases in order. These results are consistent with those obtained previously for halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane. On the addition of the nonanesthetic c(CCIFCCIFCF2CF2), the segmental order in vitually unchanged, except for a slightly changed order near the segents 10-12 of the palmitoyl chains. These results, and the 19F chemical shifts, indicate that the anesthetic c(CCIFCF2CH2CH2) exhibits a preference for the membrane interface, as do the other general anesthetics, whereas the nonanesthetic c(CCIFCIFCF2CF2) resides within the membrane hydrocarbon core. The compound c(CCIFCCIFCF2CF2) and other nonanesthetic halocarbons have lower molecular dipole moments compared to effective anesthetic halocarbons, which may account for their altered distribution within the membrane. These data strongly suggest that preferential localization of a halocarbon within the membrane interface is a predictor of anesthetic potency. Furthermore, the data indicate that the properties and forces in the membrane interface deserve consideration as mediators of anesthetic activity.
Challenges of Noncancer Patients Transitioning to Hospice

The traditional model of hospice care based on the course of incurable cancer with rapid decline and death does not apply to chronic diseases. Cancer also may take a chronic course and no longer accounts for the majority of admissions to hospice. Hospice admissions now include a majority of noncancer diagnoses. The second challenge is the wide disparity between chronic disease courses. Case examples of people with different diagnoses demonstrate a variety of contrasting trajectories of illness. With ever-increasing advances in medical care, the indications for intensive treatments have never overlapped so much with the indications for hospice referral. This represents the third challenge. In addition, some treatments and medications that improve symptoms and quality of life may significantly prolong life, thus contradicting the traditional expectation of “foregoing life-sustaining treatment” in favor of enrolling in hospice. Finally, a description of various assessment tools helps in identifying the indic...
De minimis considerations in health risk assessment

Abstract Federal statutes concerned with health and safety are attempts by Congress to establish goals and principles for regulatory agencies to use in setting standards and making other decisions. However, statutory language often provides inadequate guidance or mandate. In some cases, absolute requirements are stated which cannot be satisfied. In other cases, the language is ambiguous as to agency responsibilities and the responsibilities of industry, leaving final interpretations to the courts. This can be costly. One critical issue resulting from this situation is how to set “de minimis” limits for the regulation of chronic health risks from exposure to hazardous substances. Absence of statutory guidance for determining “de minimis” threshold levels of risk which do not merit regulatory efforts has been identified as a critical regulatory problem by many, including recently the U.S. Supreme Court. The consistency, effectiveness, and benefits of regulatory programs will be enhanced if a “rational” approach can be made available to agencies for establishing de minimis risk levels. Setting these levels requires consideration of both individual and population risks as well as risk management principles for allocating scarce resources. The development of a formal de minimis approach requires resolution of several legal and technical issues. In this paper, we provide conceptual and legal rationales for a de minimis policy to determine plausible risk bounds for chronic health risks. We also develop a conceptual framework for adopting generic de minimis policies. Our findings suggest that there are several opportunities for applying this concept under existing statutory mandates.
Resonance Raman scattering and optical absorption studies of MnO - 4 in KClO 4 at high pressure

We have measured the pressure dependence of both the optical absorption and the resonance Raman (RR) excitation profiles of the breathing mode, ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{1}$, and its first two overtones for the substitutional impurity ion ${\mathrm{MnO}}_{4}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, in crystalline ${\mathrm{KClO}}_{4}$. We have used the powerful transform technique of the time-correlator theory of RR scattering to analyze our RR data by calculating the profile line shapes directly from the measured optical absorption. This work constitutes the first successful application of the transform technique to the domain of high-pressure physics. The optical absorption displays a blue shift with increasing pressure, and both the ground- and excited-electronic-state vibrational frequencies increase with pressure. We calculate the renormalized Stokes loss parameter of ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{1}$ directly from ratios of the scaling factors used in fitting our calculated profile line shapes to the data. This ``direct'' transform method presumes the broadening mechanisms to be homogeneous, and it gives a decrease in the renormalized Stokes loss parameter of less than 10% between one atmosphere and 10.6 GPa. We have also used a previously developed extension of the time-correlator theory to incorporate inhomogeneous broadening in the transform calculations. These calculations show that the effect of inhomogeneous broadening is not significant on the RR profile line shapes, but indicate that the decrease in the renormalized Stokes loss parameter with pressure could be as large as 15%.
Coexistence of multiple codes in messenger RNA molecules

Abstract The coexistence of multiple codes in messenger RNA molecules is investigated. A unique biological example of multiple coding is revealed by the rev responsive element (RRE) of lentiviruses. This element overlaps with the env gene and forms a specific, multibranched RNA conformation. An analysis of the similarity in the nucleotide sequences and the similarity in the secondary structures, as well as their relationship, is described. The data suggest a novel evolutionary pathway for the RRE structures: the shifting of base pairings in the secondary structure while preserving both a similar overall RNA conformation and, apparently, the activity of the protein encoded by the overlapping gene. This means that corresponding parts of the consensus secondary structure in different RRE species are formed by non-homologous nucleotides. This pattern has so far not been observed in comparative structural studies of other sets of functionally equivalent RNAs (like tRNAs and rRNAs). The multiple-coding problem is discussed with respect to the structure and function of the RRE and the high rate of viral evolution.