cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Animal models: Prenatal diagnosis of Chediak-Higashi syndrome in the cat by evaluation of cultured chorionic cells

The autosomal recessive disease Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a progressive and generally fatal disease of humans. The under lying genetic defect in CHS is unknown and prenatal diagnostic methods have not been applied to this disease. The purpose of this study was to determine if CHS chorionic cells expressed a characteristic of CHS—enlarged lysosomes—that would permit the prenatal diagnosis of the disease. Cats with CHS, which have been shown to be homologous with human CHS, were used as the model system in this study. Chorionic tissue samples were obtained from CHS and control cat fetuses and cultures of cells were established. Acid phosphatase was utilized as a marker of lysosomes and cultures of chorionic fibroblasts from CHS and control fetuses were stained histochemically for acid phosphatase. The diameter of the largest lysosomes in 150 cells of each fetus was determined. The mean (±SD) diameter (in μm) of the largest lysosomes of normal fetuses was 0.9 ± 0.13 (range 0.5–7.0 μm), whereas the mean diameter of lysosomes in CHS chorionic cells was 3.9 ± 0.65 μm (range 0.5–25 μm). These means were significantly different (P < 0.0001). These data suggest that it should be possible to diagnose human CHS in the first trimester by chorionic villus sampling.
Long pulse electron beams produced from carbon fiber cathodes

Carbon fiber cathodes have been used to produce electron beams from 10's of nanoseconds to 10's of microseconds. Cathode areas can vary from a single fiber (/spl sim/10 micron diameter) to many hundreds of square cm. The micron size diameter of the fiber is responsible for the high electric field produced at the tips which allows operation of these cathodes at average fields as low as 10 kV/cm. During operation the emitting tips heat up and some plasma forms and erosion takes place. However, carbon has the highest sublimation energy per unit volume among all the elements. It does not melt and it sublimation temperature is high (4000 K). Therefore, no rounding of the tips take place (metals always melt and form a small sphere which turns off the emission). These properties allow producing cathodes with very million shot lifetimes at current densities of 10's to 1000's of A/cm/sup 2/. We describe our work on carbon fiber cathodes which range in operation from 6 kV to 500 kV anode-cathode voltage and up to a few microseconds pulse duration.
Micro-repetitive Structure of Genomic Sequences and the Identification of Ancient Repeat Elements

For many years the attempts to identify functional elements in genomic sequences through motif over- representation have been problematic, as every procedure to isolate such motifs resulted in a very large number of candidates with highly significant p-values. In this paper we postulate that most of these elements originate in ancient transpositional activity, with copies becoming so broken over time that they cannot be recognized as such any more. We have written a software tool which efficiently locates possible ancient repeats and, while the nature of much of our findings in real genomic sequences have yet to be confirmed by further biological analysis, our test results on well understood data sets have been encouraging.
A case of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with Crohn's disease: dilemma in management

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare but important complication of IBD. Timely diagnosis, particularly in younger patients, requires a high level of suspicion in order to prevent potentially devastating complications such as hemorrhage or venous infarction. The paper presents a 44-year-old Caucasian woman with a previous history of Crohn’s disease and deep venous thrombosis. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of CVST. Achieving therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin was difficult, due to presumed pharmacological interaction between warfarin and 6-mercaptopurine. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for CVST when a patient with Crohn’s disease presents with acute headache, and be aware of challenges related to medical management.
An abbreviated history of the International Stress Management Association (ISMA)

The American Association for the Advancement of Tension Control was founded in 1973 as an interdisciplinary effort encompassing the fields of dentistry, education, medicine, physical therapy, psychology, and speech pathology. The broad purpose was to facilitate the acquisition, dissemination, and application of sound knowledge for the benefit of society throughout the world. Annual meetings were held through 1978 with dues-paying members numbering almost 1000. Name changes were first to the International Stress and Tension-Control Association and then to the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) whereupon international meetings were held in 1979, 1981, 1983, 1988, and 1992. ISMA is flourishing, with meetings planned for The Netherlands (1995) and Australia (1996).
Demonstration That Mutation of the Type II Transforming Growth Factor β Receptor Inactivates Its Tumor Suppressor Activity in Replication Error-positive Colon Carcinoma Cells

Escape from negative growth regulation by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) as a result of the loss of TGF-beta type II receptor (RII) expression has been found to be associated with the replication error (RER) colorectal cancer genotype, which is characteristic of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancers. The RER-positive HCT 116 colon carcinoma cell line was examined for RII mutations. A 1-base deletion was found within a sequence of 10 repeating adenines (nucleotides 709-718), which resulted in a frameshift mutation. Although it is reasonable to predict that the loss of RII function would be an important determinant of malignancy, the large number of potential mutations in cells of this phenotype raises the possibility that an RII mutation may not be a key event in the tumorigenic phenotype of these cells. One way to test directly the importance of RII mutations in determining the malignant phenotype would be to restore its expression. If restoration of expression leads to diminished tumorigenicity, it would indicate that RII mutation is an important determinant of malignancy in the RER phenotype. To determine whether restoration of RII would lead to reversal of malignancy in RER colon cancers, an RII expression vector was transfected into the HCT 116 cell line. RII stable clones showed mRNA and protein expression of transfected RII. The fibronectin mRNA level was increased by exogenous TGF-beta 1 treatment in a dose-dependent manner in RII-positive clones, whereas the control cells remained insensitive. The RII transfectants showed reduced clonogenicity in both monolayer culture and soft agarose. They were growth arrested at a lower saturation density than control cells. TGF-beta 1-neutralizing antibody stimulated the proliferation of RII-transfected but not control cells, indicating that the alterations in the growth parameters of the transfected cells were due to the acquisition of autocrine-negative activity. Tumorigenicity in athymic mice was reduced and delayed in RII transfectants. These results indicate that reconstitution of TGF-beta autocrine activity by reexpression of RII can reverse malignancy in RER colon cancers, thus verifying that the malignancy of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer can be directly associated with the loss of RII expression.
Basal melt rates beneath Whillans Ice Stream, West Antarctica

Basal water lubricates and enables the fast flow of the West Antarctic ice streams which exist under low gravitational driving stress. Identification of sources and rates of basal meltwater production can provide insight into the dynamics of ice streams and the subglacial hydrology, which remain insufficiently described by glaciological theory. Combining measurements and analytic modeling, we identify two regions where basal meltwater is produced beneath Whillans Ice Stream, West Antarctica. Downstream of the onset of shear crevasses, strong basal melt (20-50 mm a -1 )i s concentrated beneath the relatively narrow shear margins. Farther upstream, melt rates are consistently 3-7 mm a -1 across the width of the ice stream. We show that the transition in melt-rate patterns is coincident with the onset of shear margin crevassing and streaming flow and related to the development of significant lateral shear resistance, which reorganizes the resistive stress regime and induces a concentration of basal resistance adjacent to the shear margin. Finally, we discuss how downstream freeze-on in the ice-stream center coupled with melt beneath the shear margin might result in a slowing but widening ice stream.
Some remarks on moments for stochastic chemical kinetics

We analyze a class of chemical reaction networks for which all moments can be computed by finite-dimensional linear differential equations. This class allows second and higher order reactions, but only under special assumptions on structure and/or conservation laws.
A microcomputer-based emergency response system*.

A microcomputer-based system was developed to provide local officials responsible for disaster management with assistance during the crucial period immediately following a disaster, a period when incorrect decisions could have an adverse impact on the surrounding community. While the paper focuses on a potential disaster resulting from an accident at a commercial nuclear power generating facility, the system can be applied to other disastrous situations. Decisions involving evacuation, shelter and the deployment of resources must be made in response to floods, earthquakes, accidents in the transportation of hazardous materials, and hurricanes to name a few examples. As a decision aid, the system was designed to enhance data display by presenting the data in the form of representations (i.e. road maps, evacuation routes, etc.) as well as in list or tabular form. The potential impact of the event (i.e. the release of radioactive material) was displayed in the form of a cloud, representing the dispersion of the radioactive material. In addition, an algorithm was developed to assist the manager in assigning response resources to demands. The capability for modelling the impact of a disaster is discussed briefly, with reference to a system installed in the communities surrounding the Indian Point nuclear power plant in New York State. Results demonstrate both the technical feasibility of incorporating microcomputers indecision support systems for radiological emergency response, and the acceptance of such systems by those public officials responsible for implementing the response plans.
ROSEWOOD, FLORIDA: THE DESTRUCTION OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

(1996). Rosewood, Florida: The Destruction of an African American Community. The Historian: Vol. 58, No. 3, pp. 605-622.
Are Federal Programs Immortal? Estimating the Hazard of Program Termination

Two perspectives on program longevity informwork on the life cycle and political control of federal programs. One set ofwork represents programs as immortal and implies that elected officials face severe problems controlling programs. Asecond set ofwork claims that programs face pressures that lead to termination. A single empirical feature—the hazard of program termination over time—distinguishes these mutually exclusive perspectives. A survival data analysis strategy is applied to a sample of federal credit programs to estimate this hazard. The data indicate high risks of termination early in the life of a program and lower risks as programs age. Further, the types of new programs that are terminated—programs that rely on direct loans or are housed in independent agencies—influence the long-term structure of federal intervention in capital markets.
Why do florivores prefer hermaphrodites over females in Nemophila menziesii (Boraginaceae)

Although florivores can destroy significant amounts of sexual tissues and indirectly affect pollination, little is known about their preferences, which could shape the evolution of floral traits or defense. In this study, we used a gynodioecious plant Nemophila menziesii, and its main florivore Platyprepia virginalis, to test which floral characteristics are associated with florivory in the field and with florivore choice in the laboratory. Hermaphrodite flowers consistently received more damage than nearby females in the field. In the laboratory setting, florivores also preferred unmanipulated hermaphrodites versus unmanipulated females. Systematic evaluation of hermaphrodite traits, such as corolla size, anther presence, and corolla color, revealed that corolla diameter was the main determinant of florivore preference in this system. Here, we discuss the implications of both pollinator and florivore choice in the evolution of corolla size and sex ratio in gynodioecious species with cytoplasmic male sterility and emphasize the need for more information on the preferences of florivores.
Electroencephalographic investigations during evaluation of the antiepileptic agent sulthiame.

Summary In a double-blind crossover trial of sulthiame, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, and diphenylhydantoin as sole medication for partial epileptic seizures, EEG changes were related to the drug administered. On sulthiame, the parieto-occipital rhythms in awake patients were faster and the response to hyperventilation was less pronounced than when the patients were treated with diphenylhydantoin. Epileptiform activity tended to be more frequent on sulthiame and was consistent with change in frequency of seizures more often than not. Epileptiform activity was the less frequent as the serum concentration of diphenylhydantoin was higher. Resume Dans une etude en double-aveugle “crossover” avec le sulthiame (un inhibiteur de L'anhydrase carbonique) et la diphenylhydantoi'ne comme medicament unique des crises epileptiques partielles, des changements EEG ont ete mis en relation avec le medicament administere. Avec le sulthiame, les rythmes parieto-occipitaux chez les sujets eveilles ont ete plus rapides, et la reponse a L'hyperpnee moins prononcee que lorsque les sujets prenaient de la diphenylhydantoi'ne. L'activiteepileptiforme avait tendance aetre plus frequente avec le sulthiame et le plus souvent etait en rapport avec un changement de frequence des crises. L'activiteepileptiforme etait d'autant moins frequente que la concentration serique en diphenylhydantoi'ne, etait plus elevee. ZUSAMMEnfassung In einem Doppelblindversuch wurden Sulthiame, ein Carboanhydrase-Inhibitor und Diphenylhydantoin als Monotherapie gegen partielle epileptische Anfalle verabfolgt, die EEG-Veranderungen in Beziehung zur Medikation gesetzt. Unter Sulthiame waren die parieto occipitalen Rhythmen im Wach-EEG schneller und die Hyperventihitionsantwort weniger ausgepragt als unter Behandlung mit Diphenylhydantoin. Die epileptiforme Aktivitat schien haufiger unter Sulthiame; ihre Veranderung war enger an die Veranderungen der Aufalls-haufigkeit gebunden. Die epileptiforme Aktivitat nahm in dem Masse ab, in dem die Serumkonzentration des Diphenylhydantoins stieg. RESUMEN En un estudio doble ciego, se administero difenilhidantoina, como medicacion unica para el control de convulsiones focales, y “sulthiame,” un inhibidor de la carbon-anhidrasa. Se investigaron los cambios del EEG y estas alteraciones se relacionaron con la medicacion administrada. Cuando se utilize el “sulthiame” se observo un aumento de la frecuencia de los ritmos parieto-occipitales en los enfermos despiertos y una respuesta mas atenuada a la hiperventilacion que en los casos tratados con difenilhidantoina. La actividad epileptogenica era mas frecuente cuando se utilizeo el “sulthiame” consistente con un aumento de los ataques clinicos. Por el contrario la actividad epileptiforme fue menos frecuente a medida que la concentracion serica de difenilhidantoina aumentaba.
A Review of: “Metal-Matrix Composites: Custom-Made Materials for Automotive and Aerospace Engineering, Karl U. Kainer, Editor”

This book provides an elegant and informative overview of the current status of research and development as well as a realistic introduction to materials that find use in various application areas....
Soluble lipofuscin in commercially-available human serum albumin solutions.

AbstractTwo studied commercial human serum albumin solutions had developed yellow colors during storage. These yellow materials were isolated and shown to be soluble lipofuscin. Aqueous solutions of this lipofuscin exhibited fluorescence spectra with 355 nm excitation and 432 nm emission maxima. After acid hydrolysis of this lipofuscin a nonhydrolysable lipid-melanin fraction was obtained. Ethanol-ether extraction yielded a lipid-containing solution. When evaporated and mixed with water, a solution-suspension was obtained that produced very similar fluorescence spectra to those described above, with 368 nm excitation and 432 nm emission maxima. The separated melanin component was not fluorescent. The isolated lipofuscin exhibited a weak electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum and its g-value has been found to be 2.0069 and its line width 9.8 G. The albumin solution contained approximately 0.23 g of melanin precipitate per 9.31 g of soluble lipofuscin isolated from 25 g of albumin. The deleterious cardiac...
Long-term effects of single-tree selection cutting on structure and composition in upland mixed-hardwood forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains

In 1946, this study was initiated to examine the efficacy of single-tree selection cutting in submesic to mesic mixed-hardwood forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Seven stands comprising 40 ha of mixedhardwood forests plus three unmanaged stands were utilized. Species composition of the overstorey prior to treatment was dominated by species intolerant and mid-tolerant of shade, including oak (Quercus L.) species and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.). After 10 years of improvement cuttings, the BDq method of regulating stocking was employed. Selective cuttings occurred in 1956–1957, 1962, 1970, 1984 and 2006. Early observations suggested that control of shade-tolerant midstory species might be required to regenerate the mid-tolerant overstory species. In 1972, shade-tolerant species between the 5 and 20 cm d.b.h. classes present in small openings created during the 1970 entry were injected with herbicide in all seven managed stands. In 1986, another treatment which included the complete removal of the shade-tolerant midstory occurred in two of those seven stands. After 60 years, the majority of managed stands have diameter distributions other than the traditional reverse-J shape, including concave and rotated sigmoid shapes. Even after the treatment of shade-tolerant competitors, results suggest that single-tree selection has thus far been ineffective at recruiting the desirable tree species that are intolerant or mid-tolerant of shade. In fact, the density of mid-tolerant oak-hickory and shade-intolerant species in the sapling and pole size classes in the managed stands did not differ from that in unmanaged stands. As applied in this study, the BDq approach to single-tree selection cutting has led to the sapling and pole size classes being increasingly dominated by shade-tolerant species and is not likely to be sustainable, in terms of both desirable species composition and structure, in the long-term.
HUMAN ARM TRAJECTORY FORMATION

In order to investigate the strategies used to plan and control multijoint arm trajectories, two-degrees-of-freedom arm movements performed by normal adult humans were recorded. Only the shoulder and elbow joints were active. When a subject was told simply to move his hand from one visual target to another, the path of the hand was roughly straight, and the hand speed profile of their straight trajectories was bell-shaped. When the subject was required to produce curved hand trajectories, the path usually had a segmented appearance, as if the subject was trying to approximate a curve with low curvature elements. Hand speed profiles associated with curved trajectories contained speed valleys or inflections which were temporally associated with the local maxima in the trajectory curvature. The mean duration of curved movements was longer than the mean for straight movements. These results are discussed in terms of trajectory control theories which have originated in the fields of mechanical manipulator control and biological motor control. Three explanations for the results are offered.
Who is adherent with preoperative psychological treatment recommendations among weight loss surgery candidates

Abstract Background Adherence to treatment regimens is critical for success with weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery patients commonly undergo a psychological evaluation before surgery. When indicated, patients are provided with preoperative behavioral recommendations; yet, little is known about the adherence to these recommendations. In this study, we evaluated the following: (1) level of adherence to behavioral treatment plans; (2) characteristics that differentiate adherent patients from nonadherent patients; and (3) the weight loss of delayed-adherent patients compared with those whose surgery was not delayed. Methods We performed a case review of psychological evaluations, preoperative behavioral treatment plans, and subsequent adherence rates. Results Of the 837 patients evaluated, 68 (8%) had significant psychosocial issues and were given behavioral treatment recommendations before surgery. Of these 68 patients, 38 (56%) were adherent and subsequently underwent surgery, and 30 (46%) were nonadherent and were not offered surgery in our program. Adherence did not differ relative to body mass index, age, education, race, marital status, depression, anxiety, or rate of eating disorders. Adherence did differ by gender: 31% percent of the men were adherent to recommendations while 62% of the women were adherent. Individuals with complex treatment plans were less likely to be adherent than those with less complex recommendations. Additionally, increased hostility reduced the adherence rates. Patients adherent to the psychological recommendations had weight loss within 2 years, which was similar to that of patients who did not require behavioral treatment recommendations. Conclusion The results of this study have provided information regarding adherence to preoperative psychological treatment recommendations. Although most patients are psychologically suitable for weight loss surgery at the initial evaluation, a better understanding of the factors influencing the adherence with preoperative behavioral programs could improve care for those with major psychosocial issues.
Two dogs, new tricks: A two‐rover mission simulation using K9 and FIDO at Black Rock Summit, Nevada

[1] An experiment illustrating two rovers cooperatively exploring a field site was performed at Black Rock Summit, Nevada, in May 2000. The rovers FIDO and K9 are mechanically identical prototype planetary rovers designed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. FIDO carried high-resolution false-color infrared and low-resolution monochrome stereo cameras and an infrared point spectrometer on a mast-mounted pointable platform, a manipulator arm equipped with a color microscopic imager, and a coring drill for sample collection. K9 carried on a mast-mounted pointable platform high-resolution color and low-resolution monochrome stereo cameras, and a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer for standoff elemental analysis. A team located at Jet Propulsion Laboratory commanded the two rovers for 3 days. K9 obtained stereo images of targets, and three-dimensional models were constructed to determine the best locations for FIDO to obtain core samples. A drilling target was selected 1.5 m from the starting position of FIDO. Six command cycles and 2 m of traversing were required for FIDO to reach, drill into, and place an instrument on the target. K9 required 11 command cycles to traverse 60 m and obtain full-coverage stereo images of two rock targets along its route. Virtual reality-based visualization software called Viz provided situational awareness of the environment for both rovers. Commands to K9 were planned using Viz, resulting in improved rover performance. The results show that two rovers can be used synergistically to achieve science goals, but further testing is needed to completely explore the value of two-rover missions.
The synthesis of poly(hydroxamic acid) from poly(acrylamide)

Poly(hydroxamic acid) in gel or water soluble from was prepared from the reaction of poly(acrylamide) and hydroxylamine in basic aqueous solution (pH > 12) at room temperature. The polymers were composed of 70% hydroxamic acid groups, less than 5% carboxylic acid groups, and 25% unreacted amide groups. The polymers exhibited high affinity to iron(III) and copper(II) in the pH range of 1 to 5 with a high binding rate. A binding of 3 mmol/g for both metals was achieved. Preliminary tests demonstrated the urease inhibitory activity of both linear and crosslinked poly(hydroxamic acids).
Strategic Teaching of Strategic Thinking

This paper will explore strategic thinking as a threshold concept and key integrative framework within the management discipline. Threshold-concept primed applications with which to enhance both the teaching and learning of this concept will then be offered as means to also facilitate transfer of learning to other contexts, including the workplace setting. The theory of threshold concepts (cf: 1, 44), actionable and rich in explanatory merit, underpins this research and ultimately gives definition to a highly strategic approach to teaching strategic thinking.
Shift change: Putting democracy to work

The opening scenes of Shift Change, the new documentary by film-makers Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young, are filled with familiar images of an American city decimated by the economic crisis – boarded...
A Theorem about Computationalism and Absolute Truth

This article focuses on issues related to improving an argument about minds and machines given by Kurt Godel in 1951, in a prominent lecture. Roughly, Godel's argument supported the conjecture that either the human mind is not algorithmic, or there is a particular arithmetical truth impossible for the human mind to master, or both. A well-known weakness in his argument is crucial reliance on the assumption that, if the deductive capability of the human mind is equivalent to that of a formal system, then that system must be consistent. Such a consistency assumption is a strong infallibility assumption about human reasoning, since a formal system having even the slightest inconsistency allows deduction of all statements expressible within the formal system, including all falsehoods expressible within the system. We investigate how that weakness and some of the other problematic aspects of Godel's argument can be eliminated or reduced.
Cost utility analysis of endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background The purpose of this work was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) compared to medical therapy for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods The study design consisted of a microsimulation Markov decision-tree economic model with a 31-year time horizon. A cohort of 489 patients who underwent ESS for CRS were matched 1 to 1 with a cohort of 489 patients from the national Medical Expenditures Panel Survey database who underwent medical management for CRS. Utility scores were calculated from responses to the EuroQol 5-Dimension instrument in both cohorts. Decision-tree analysis and a subsequent 10-state Markov model utilized published event probabilities as well as primary data from a large multisurgeon prospective outcomes study to calculate long-term costs and utility. The primary outcome measure was incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed. Results The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for ESS vs medical therapy alone was $13,851.26 per QALY. The cost effectiveness acceptability curve demonstrated 85.84% and 98.69% certainty that the ESS strategy was the most cost-effective option at willingness-to-pay thresholds of $25,000 and $50,000 per QALY, respectively. Conclusion This study shows ESS to be a cost-effective intervention compared to medical therapy alone for the management of patients with CRS.
Modulating the electronic structure of chromophores by chemical substituents for efficient energy transfer: application to fluorone.

Strong electron correlation within a quasi-spin model of chromophores was recently shown to enhance exciton energy transfer significantly. Here we investigate how the modulation of the electronic s...
Utilization of iodine by the thyroid of the platyfish, Xiphophorus (Platypoecilus) maculatus.

Summary1. One hundred platyfish, Xiphophorus (Platypoecilus) maculatus, 12 pretreated with potassium iodide, were injected with a tracer dose of carrier-free I131 and sacrificed at intervals up to 144 hours after injection. Groups of 4 fish were processed together. The lower jaws, containing the thyroidal tissue, were removed, hydrolysed, and measured for I131 uptake. Such hydrolysates then were analyzed by chromatographic technics and the relative rates of synthesis of monoiodotyrosine, diiodotyrosine, and thyroxine were determined. 2. The thyroid tissue accumulated about one-third of the injected isotope. Uptake was rapid but loss was slow so that 144 hours after injection 15% of the I131 was still held in the thyroid. Thyroid tissue of fish kept in 60 p.p.m. KI solution accumulated only 3% of the injected dose of I131. 3. The loss of radioiodine into the water was much more rapid in fish treated with KI than in the others. 4. As in mammals, the thyroid first synthesized monoiodotyrosine, then diiodotyr...
New Approaches to Understanding Lesch–Nyhan Disease

Since first described 32 years ago, Lesch–Nyhan disease has caught the imagination of clinicians and scientists,1 largely because of the intriguing fact that a precise metabolic error produces a co...
Clinical Management of CINV

Antiemetic guidelines have been published by NCCN [1], ASCO [2], and MASCC [3]. These guidelines form the basis for the recommendations for the management of CINV. As new information and new studies emerge, the guidelines will evolve to provide the highest quality evidence-based clinical practice.
Vibrational imaging of glucose uptake activity in live cells and tissues by stimulated Raman scattering microscopy(Conference Presentation)

Glucose is consumed as an energy source by virtually all living organisms, from bacteria to humans. Its uptake activity closely reflects the cellular metabolic status in various pathophysiological transformations, such as diabetes and cancer. Extensive efforts such as positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence microscopy have been made to specifically image glucose uptake activity but all with technical limitations. Here, we report a new platform to visualize glucose uptake activity in live cells and tissues with subcellular resolution and minimal perturbation. A novel glucose analogue with a small alkyne tag (carbon-carbon triple bond) is developed to mimic natural glucose for cellular uptake, which can be imaged with high sensitivity and specificity by targeting the strong and characteristic alkyne vibration on stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscope to generate a quantitative three dimensional concentration map. Cancer cells with differing metabolic characteristics can be distinguished. Heterogeneous uptake patterns are observed in tumor xenograft tissues, neuronal culture and mouse brain tissues with clear cell-cell variations. Therefore, by offering the distinct advantage of optical resolution but without the undesirable influence of bulky fluorophores, our method of coupling SRS with alkyne labeled glucose will be an attractive tool to study energy demands of living systems at the single cell level.
Colonel Higginson as Mentor

Dickinson’s poems as well as some of her letters help to graph the patterns of her health, her poetics, and her awareness of the horrors of war. For instance, in March 1860 she writes to her cousin Lou, “I’ve had a curious winter, very swift, sometimes sober, for I haven’t felt well, much, and March amazes me!” (LII 360). Her later letters show that, despite Vinnie’s being in Boston to care for Aunt Lavinia (Lou’s and Fanny’s mother), the poet did not expect her beloved aunt to die. As we have seen, Dickinson wrote a number of poems about that loss. But intermingled with those poems are others that seem to illustrate concerns about her own health. Some are based on “recovery”—of health? Of consciousness? Of goodness?—as in “Just lost, when I was saved!” and “‘Tis so much joy! ’Tis so much joy!” works which seem simpler than a poem from the same period like “To learn the transport thro’ the pain” (Poems #132, #170, and #178 Fr173, 205–6, and 212). Other poems seem to describe a person’s wounded physical body, as in “A wounded deer—leaps highest” with its imagery of both bleeding and a “hectic” cheek, a clear tubercular symptom, and particularly the lament “Dying! Dying in the night!” a poem in which “Dollie” (Dickinson’s name for Susan Gilbert) is able to give the speaker comfort that no heavenly messenger can bring (Poems #181 and #222 Fr 215 and 249).
Neck Abscesses and Deep Neck Infections

Although upper respiratory tract infections are common in children, suppurative extension to the cervical lymph nodes or deep neck structures is uncommon. Knowledge of clinical features of suppurative lymphadenitis of cervical lymph nodes and deep neck infections in children is important because these uncommon infections may be associated with airway compromise or complications due to involvement of contiguous vital structures. Most often these infections are due to gram-positive organisms, however, polymicrobial infections are well described and may alter antimicrobial therapy. Surgical management is often indicated in young children, large abscesses or those complicated by extension to critical structures. Once the source of abscess or deep neck infection is controlled and purulent collections drained, antibiotic therapy can often be transitioned to an oral agent provided there is evidence of clinical improvement.
A model for building trustworthiness in online stores

More and more research is being done everyday in the world of e-commerce as consumers and merchants alike realize how powerful a selling tool the internet has become. Research shows that trust is key to the success of electronic commerce [14] [21] [87] [35]. However, the question of how trust is obtained and sustained online has yet to be answered. What is it that makes an online store trustworthy to consumers? A conceptual model for trustworthiness in online stores was developed from the current literature and then enhanced by an observational study of consumers making actual purchases. The conceptual model identified the situation needed for trustworthiness to be of issue when shopping online, the factors that affect the trustworthiness of an online store, and indicators or outcomes of consumers perceiving an online store to be trustworthy. A questionnaire was conducted and validated the conceptual model. The questionnaire focused on the trustor and trustee characteristics of the model, their relationships with each other, and the relative importance of trustee characteristics. This combination of both qualitative and quantitative data has provided insight into the online shopping experience, which can be built upon to create guidelines.
CHOICE VERSUS ORDERINGS

This chapter presents the choice versus orderings. A social welfare functions is a special type of a collective choice rule and it requires that all social preferences be orderings, social preferences must be reflexive, complete, and transitive. If it is required that there be a best alternative in every subset, reflexivity and completeness are not dispensable, but transitivity is not really necessary. Given reflexivity and completeness of a preference relation, the necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a choice function is a condition that one called acyclicity. If x 1 is preferred to x 2 , x 2 to x 3 , and so on until x n , then acyclicity requires that x 1 be regarded as at least as good as x n . This is a much weaker condition than transitivity, which would have required that x 1 be strictly preferred to x n , and further would have required the transitivity of indifference. Transitivity, incidentally, is essentially a condition on triples, on sets of three alternatives.
Correction to: Simulated Temperature Programmed Desorption of Acetaldehyde on CeO2(111): Evidence for the Role of Oxygen Vacancy and Hydrogen Transfer

The temperature programmed desorption of acetaldehyde adsorbed on partially reduced CeO2(111) has been studied in detail using microkinetic modeling based on self-consistent, periodic density functional theory calculations at the GGA-PW91+U level. Previous experimental studies (Chen et al. J. Phys. Chem. C 115: 3385, 2011; Calaza et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134: 18034, 2012) have shown that, whereas on fully oxidized CeO2(111) acetaldehyde desorbs molecularly with a peak temperature of 210 K, the polymerization and enolization of acetaldehyde dominate the surface reactivity on partially reduced CeO2(111), resulting in acetaldehyde desorption at higher temperatures. Here we propose a comprehensive reaction mechanism that is consistent with the spectroscopic evidence of the identities of the surface intermediates and with the observed desorption activities, including the formation of ethylene and acetylene. Besides acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) and its enolate (CH2CHO), several other C2H x O species are proposed as key intermediates which are not seen spectroscopically, including ethoxy (CH3CH2O), ethyleneoxy (CH2CH2O), and formylmethylene (CHCHO). Our study suggests that oxygen vacancies play the critical role of activating the carbonyl bond and thereby facilitating β C–H bond scissions in acetaldehyde, leading to enolization, intermolecular hydrogen transfer, deoxygenation, and potentially C–C coupling reactions.
Subjective Colocalization Analysis with Fuzzy Predicates

Understanding the protein-to-protein interactions at the subcellular level, as well as other organic molecules, is crucial to explain cellular functions and to elucidate disease mechanisms. These interactions can be captured visually by overlapping the fluorescent microscopic images of two proteins tagged with fluorescent labeling agents that react to green and red wavelengths respectively. Interaction is determined by subjectively assessing the amount colocalization of green and red on the image composite based on the amount of yellow present in the image composite (i.e., green and red form yellow). Attempts to reduce the subjectivity of this process have focused on the computation of statistical coefficients and related methods. Even though statistical colocalization coefficients give a degree of correlation among the imaged proteins, they still need to be interpreted with subjective qualifiers like ”high”, ”low”, ”strong”, etc. Hence, there is no current agreement on the meaning of these coefficients among researchers. In this paper we propose the use of fuzzy linguistic variables to model the subjective interpretation of co-localization coefficients. Based on interpretations found in the literature, we produce a set of rules that map the coefficient values to a linguistic interpretation. The result of this work is a tool that provides an descriptive ensemble of coefficient interpretations that could guide researchers to a uniform interpretation colocalization criteria.
646. Isolation and Evaluation of Novel Anti-AAV2 and AAV3B Antibody Clones from a Human Donor

Neutralizing antibodies against AAV, whether generated via natural exposure or viral vector, have been shown to significantly reduce the efficiency of gene transfer, particularly following intravenous administration. One proposed approach to overcoming this obstacle is the engineering of an AAV capsid that is able to evade neutralization by these antibodies. The epitopes of a handful of antibodies have been mapped to their respective AAV capsids via cryo-EM or X-ray crystallography, but these antibodies are most often mouse monoclonals and their relevance to human vector immunology is unknown. In addition, these antibodies likely represent only a small fraction of the humoral response to AAV, as no comprehensive panel against a single serotype has been studied; rather, one or two quality capsid:Fab structures have been obtained for a given serotype. Given recent advancements in B cell cloning technologies, it is now possible to develop a panel of human monoclonals against AAV for the evaluation of neutralizing capacity and epitope mapping to identify the immunodominant regions of the AAV capsid. To obtain these monoclonals, we screened 30 human donors for NAbs against AAV2 and AAV3B and selected the donors with a titer of 1:320 against AAV3 and a titer of 1:40 against AAV3B. We obtained bulk switched memory B cells via magnetic bead sorting and seeded single sorted cells on irradiated 3T3-msCD40L cells in the presence of IL-2 and IL-21 and cultured cells for 2 weeks to promote expansion and antibody secretion. Culture supernatants were screened for AAV2 and AAV3B reactivity via ELISA; of positive clones obtained, 39% were specific for AAV2, 41% were specific for AAV3B, and the remaining 20% were reactive towards both AAV2 and AAV3B. In order to obtain heavy and light chain sequences for expression and characterization of these antibodies, we have performed nested PCR based on conserved regions in the immunoglobulin gene for some anti-AAV monoclonals and are currently completing PCR on the remaining clones. Of the sequences obtained thus far, the majority display a substantial amount of somatic hypermutation relevant to corresponding germline sequences; the percentage of base pair substitutions resulting in a missense mutation within the complementarity-determining regions was approximately 80%, with the frequency of mutation averaging 0.26 per residue. Mutations preferentially occurred in CDRs over framework regions, again suggesting that these antibodies have undergone maturation in response to exposure to AAV antigen. Subsequent analysis of the neutralizing capacity of these antibodies as well as the mapping of their epitopes will provide critical information for evaluating the feasibility of designing AAV variants capable of evading neutralization by anti-AAV antibodies.
Interpreting temporal variations in river response functions: an example from the Arkansas River, Kansas, USA

Groundwater/surface-water interactions can play an important role in management of water quality and quantity, but the temporal and spatial variability of these interactions makes them difficult to incorporate into conceptual models. There are simple methods for identifying the presence of groundwater/surface-water interactions; however, identifying flow mechanisms and pathways can be challenging. More complex methods are available to better identify these mechanisms and pathways but are often too time consuming or costly. In this work, a simple method for interpreting and identifying flow mechanisms and sources using temporal variations of river response functions is presented. This approach is demonstrated using observations from two sites along the Arkansas River in Kansas, USA. A change in flow mechanisms between the rising and falling limbs of river hydrographs was identified, along with a second surface-water source to the aquifer, a finding that was validated with stable isotope analyses.
Racial health disparities in ovarian cancer: not just black and white

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, which disproportionately affects African American (AA) women. Lack of awareness and socioeconomic factors are considered important players in OC racial health disparity, while at the same time, some recent studies have brought focus on the genetic basis of disparity as well. Differential polymorphisms, mutations and expressions of genes have been reported in OC patients of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Combined, it appears that neither genetic nor the socioeconomic factors alone might explain the observed racially disparate health outcomes among OC patients. Rather, a more logical explanation would be the one that takes into consideration the combination and/or the interplay of these factors, perhaps even including some environmental ones. Hence, in this article, we attempt to review the available information on OC racial health disparity, and provide an overview of socioeconomic, environmental and genetic factors, as well as the epigenetic changes that can act as a liaison between the three. A better understanding of these underlying causes will help further research on effective cancer management among diverse patient population and ultimately narrow health disparity gaps.
Comparative Analysis of Policies for ICT in Education

National policies and programs can be an important tool for the realization of ICTs promise in education and some of their major components are the focus of this chapter. The chapter presents a framework of alternative rationales and program components that can be used by researchers and policymakers to analyze, formulate, revise, and compare national ICT efforts. The framework consists of four alternative policy rationales-or “strategic” policy positions-and five components of ICT programs, or “operational” policies. Strategic and operational policies of various countries are used to illustrate these rationales and components. The chapter concludes with recommendations that countries can use when formulating or updating their educational ICT plans.
PRESTRESSED BEAMS IN TORSION, BENDING, AND SHEAR

Reported are test results of 32 rectangular prestressed, with and without eccentricity, concrete beams under various combinations of torsion, bending, and shear. The general behavior, torsional and flexural stiffness, and ductility of the beams are examined. The ultimate strength and interactions between torque-moment and torque-shear are presented in nondimensional form. Circular and linear relationships are proposed, respectively, for torque-moment and torque-shear interactions. Compared with the test results of other investigators, it was noted that the presence of shear reduced the ultimate torsional capacity of the beams by 10 to 20%. Further, the torsional capacity was increased with decreasing shear span-depth ratio. The flexure and shear capacities of the beams were not affected in the presence of torsion up to 50% of the pure torsion capacity.