cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Charge-transfer and barrier-layer effects in YBa2Cu3O7 superlattices.

Superconducting superlattices composed of Y${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ and various "barrier-layer" materials have been studied extensively experimentally and several theoretical attempts to correlate the resistivity $R$ as a function of temperature $T$ with the superlattice structure have appeared in the literature. Theoretical interest in such structures comes about primarily because of the insight they may provide into dimensionality effects, interlayer coupling, and interlayer charge redistribution in the high-${T}_{c}$ superconductors. In this paper, $R(T)$ data up to $T=300$ K are analyzed by least-squares fitting for 17 superlattices consisting of Y${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ and barrier layers of Pr${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$, ${\mathrm{Pr}}_{0.7}$${\mathrm{Y}}_{0.3}$${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$, and ${\mathrm{Pr}}_{0.5}$${\mathrm{Ca}}_{0.5}$${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$. The fitting model incorporates results from Kosterlitz-Thouless (vortex-antivortex unbinding) and Aslamazov-Larkin (fluctuation-enhanced conductivity) theories in the resistive transition region and charge-transfer effects, variable-range hopping, etc., in the normal state. The results show that "interface" and barrier-layer conductivity must be taken into account in order to explain the unusual normal-state $R(T)$ behavior in some superlattices. These effects may also contribute in the transition region where vortex-antivortex unbinding and fluctuation effects play the major roles.
Dexlansoprazole: A proton pump inhibitor with a dual delayed-release system.

Background: Dexlansoprazole, the dextrorotatory enantiomer of lansoprazole, is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) formulated to have dual delayed-release properties. It is indicated for healing all grades of esophagitis, maintaining the healing of erosive esophagitis (EE), and treating heartburn associated with nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease. Objective: This article reviews the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of dexlansoprazole, as well as its clinical efficacy and tolerability. Methods: MEDLINE (1966–April 2010) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–April 2010) were searched for original research and review articles published in English using the terms dexlansoprazole and TAK-390MR. The reference lists of identified articles were reviewed for additional pertinent publications. Abstracts from 2007–2009 American College of Gastroenterology and Digestive Disease Week meetings were searched using the same terms. Results: By irreversibly binding to H+K+-ATPase, dexlansoprazole inhibits acid production by the parietal cell. Its dual delayed-release formulation provides 2 distinct releases of medication, prolonging the mean residence time compared with lansoprazole (5.56–6.43 vs 2.83–3.23 hours, respectively). In 2 identical Phase III trials of the healing of EE, there were no significant differences in rates of complete healing after 8 weeks between dexlansoprazole 60 and 90 mg once daily and lansoprazole 30 mg once daily. In 2 studies of the maintenance of healing of EE, rates of healing at 6 months were significantly higher with dexlansoprazole 30, 60, and 90 mg once daily compared with placebo (P < 0.001). Patients with nonerosive reflux disease who received dexlansoprazole 30 or 60 mg once daily had significantly more 24-hour heartburn-free days compared with those who received placebo (P < 0.001). Dexlansoprazole was well tolerated compared with placebo or lansoprazole in all studies. Conclusions: In the studies reviewed, dexlansoprazole was well tolerated and effective in the healing and maintenance of EE, and in the treatment of nonerosive reflux disease. However, most of the available evidence involved comparisons with placebo, making it difficult to draw meaningful conclusions about the place of dexlansoprazole among PPIs. More head-to-head comparative trials with other PPIs are needed to determine whether the unique formulation of dexlansoprazole translates into a clinically meaningful improvement in outcomes.
Stress Minimum Forms for Elastic Solids

This article concerns the problem of determining shapes of minimum stress concentration. Special emphasis is place upon the mathematically precise formulation of these problems and upon the study of cases in which the optimum shape can be found in a highly explicit form. For all the cases discussed, a mathematical proof of the optimality is given. 40 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.
The Global Health Network and globalization of higher education

The year 2001 and the next millennium will soon be upon us. The major gains in health in the 20th century were primarily the result of improvements in public health including sanitation and immunization. Global health improvements will occur in the 21st century through improvements in information (in particular health training). We will describe a new paradigm for transnational training, the supercourse. In the next century global lecture-shareware training will take place, with Deming based quality control systems on the Internet. Faculty will thus share their best, most passionate lectures on the internet. During the past 100 years there has been a 25-year increase in life expectancy. It has been estimated that 24 of the 25 years were the result of prevention. Most prevention activity is sharing of information. We are working with leaders from WHO, the World Bank, IBM, NASA, PAHO to create a discipline called telepreventive medicine. This is the application of low band with information systems (the Internet) to large numbers of well people to prevent disease. One of the most important aspect of this work is the establishment globalisation of prevention education; the Supercourse. We are developing a "Library of Lectures" with passionate lectures in public health from across the world such as seen here from South Africa. We propose to expand this to all areas of research in health. Our program consists of: We have published over 68 papers in leading medical journals including the Lancet, British Medical Journal, Nature Medicine among others. We are working with PAHO to put mirrored servers into every medical school in the Americas this year, with 5 years we should reach globally all medical schools. WHO has developed a Supercourse. Initial pilot studies reveal that 2500 individuals will see each lecture each year, which is 50 times that of our classroom teaching. We have beta tested lectures in 2 centers in Japan and one in South Africa with very positive results. We are now developing a Chinese Heritage course. []
Pattern of plasma levels of catecholamines in familial dysautonomia.

This report extends previous investigations of endogenous catecholamine levels in patients with orthostatic hypotension due to familial dysautonomia (FD), to define better the neurochemical phenotype and elucidate possible pathophysiological mechanisms. Ten FD patients (age 26.1±2.6 (SEM) years) and eight control subjects (age 29.5±3.7 years) were studied. Heart rate, blood pressure and venous blood samples were obtained while supine and after 5 min in the upright position. Plasma levels of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were measured. When supine, the FD group had greater NA and DOPA levels, and lower DHPG levels. Plasma NA did not increase with erect posture in FD patients. Individual FD mean blood pressures were correlated positively with plasma NA levels when supine and with plasma DA and DOPAC when upright. In FD, DOPA:DHPG ratios were above the range found in normal subjects or that reported in patients with acquired forms of dysautonomia regardless of posture, whereas DOPAC:DHPG ratios remained normal. Thus FD patients have a characteristic neurochemical pattern which probably reflects either decreased vesicular storage of catecholamines or limited oxidative deamination despite normal or increased tyrosine hydroxylation.
Stem cell transplantation in acute leukemia

Both autologous and allogeneic transplantation have been used to treat and cure patients with acute leukemia. An important component of the cure mediated by allogeneic transplantation comes from a graft-versus-tumor effect of the graft. The immunotherapeutic effect can be used to treat patients whose conditions relapse after allogeneic transplantation using donor leukocyte infusions. Research conducted in the areas of histocompatibility and stem cell biology have expanded the potential cellular sources for allogeneic transplantation, including matched unrelated marrow donors, unrelated cord blood, and allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells. Molecular studies in patients with leukemia have refined the assessments of minimal residual disease following therapy, including for patients who have undergone transplantation, and may provide an opportunity for intervention prior to overt relapse. The results of allogeneic and autologous transplantation preparative regimens, including the use of targeted radioimmunotherapy and individualized pharmacokinetics, may improve the effectiveness and lessen the toxicity of the treatment.
Models of neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the USA and most western countries. Prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed form of prostate cancer. Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is less frequently identified at the time of initial diagnosis, but this highly aggressive form of prostate cancer is increasingly observed in patients who have failed first- and second-line hormone therapy. Thus, developing and exploring models of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NePC) are of increasing importance. This review examines the relevant xenograft tumor and genetically engineered mouse models of NePC, with the aim of addressing salient features and clinical relevance.
Soluble guanylate cyclase: not a dull enzyme.

Arthur Kornberg, who shared with Severo Ochoa the 1959 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, stated in his autobiography that he had never met a dull enzyme.1 We strongly believe that soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC; E.C.4.6.1.2) is no exception to this. Article see p 2781 Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important physiological role as a signaling molecule as well as a cytotoxic agent. It is produced by 3 distinct NO synthases, specifically endothelial, neuronal, and inducible NO synthase. In the vasculature, endothelial NO synthase plays an important role in vascular homeostasis because NO generated in endothelial cells promotes vascular smooth muscle cell relaxation and inhibits platelet aggregation. Importantly, bioavailability of NO can be reduced in cardiovascular diseases, a condition which has been termed “endothelial dysfunction.” This phenomenon provides a rationale for therapeutic intervention. The primary target of NO is sGC, which is a heterodimeric enzyme consisting of an α- and β-subunit and a prosthetic heme group, which is located in the β-subunit. The heme group contains a ferrous iron atom (Fe2+). Binding of NO to this iron changes the conformation of the enzyme and leads to a >100-fold increase in catalytic rate (ie, the conversion of guanosine triphosphate to the second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate [cGMP]). The NO-induced cGMP signal modulates intracellularly the activity of several effector molecules: cGMP-dependent protein kinases, cGMP-regulated phosphodiesterases, and cGMP-gated ion channels. Of note, both heme iron oxidation (Fe3+) and heme removal render sGC unresponsive to NO (Figure). These 2 conditions could therefore provide a mechanism for “vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction” in cardiovascular disease states, which are often characterized by marked vasoconstriction either systemically or in specific organs. Figure. Schematic illustrating 3 different forms of soluble guanylate cyclase and their respective responsiveness to nitrovasodilators, sGC stimulators (eg, BAY 41–2272), and sGC …
The distribution of vanadium and sulfur in the blood cells, and the nature of vanadium in the blood cells and plasma of the ascidian, Ascidia ceratodes

Abstract Blood cells:| 1. 1. At least three blood cell types contain vanadium and sulfur: morula, compartment, and pigment cells. 2. 2. The S contents of the pigment and morula cells are nearly the same, but less than that of the compartment cells; while the V contents of the pigment and compartment cells are nearly the same, but greater than that of the morula cells. 3. 3. S/V ratios suggest an ontological relation between compartment and morula cells, if the change in cell type only involves a dilution or concentration of the S- and V-containing constituents. 4. 4. Vanadium (III) in the blood cells is partly present as the dimer VOV4+, but the dimer is not found in the V(IV)- containing aplousobranch ascidian Ciona intestinalis or the low V-containing stolidobranch ascidian Pyura haustor. Plasma: 5. 1. Vanadium(V) is present in the blood plasma at 0.01 – 0.06 mM. 6. 2. The form of V(V) in the plasma is different than in seawater at the same concentration. 7. 3. Vanadium(V) levels in the plasma appear to be regulated.
Numerical methods in calculating boson and fermion loop corrections

Abstract We present accurate numerical methods for calculating the one boson and the one fermion loop energy in a static, spherically symmetric background field for a simple theory of fermions interacting with bosons through Yukawa coupling. Various FORTRAN codes have been developed and tested for the calculations. The methods presented here should be useful in general problems involving one loop quantum corrections, and in other problems where one needs to calculate the Green's function for a particle moving in a background field.
Understanding customer level profitability implications of satisfaction programs

Purpose – Achieving high level of customer satisfaction (CS) involves spending marketing resources in terms of money, managerial time, and focus. Consistent with the return on quality framework this paper aims to look at both the costs and benefits of a satisfaction program.Design/methodology/approach – This paper reports the results of a longitudinal study of a beverage distributor. Two satisfaction surveys were conducted before and after the launch of the program. Profitability was calculated using activity based costing (ABC) principles. The link between changes in satisfaction and changes in profitability was analyzed.Findings – It was found that as a result of the launch of satisfaction program CS increased significantly, but the weighted least square analysis of the relationship between CS and customer profitability (CP) shows that it does not necessarily result in higher customer profits. CS is found to be positively related to sales volume and gross profits at the customer level. However, a net pr...
The concepts of the ventral striatopallidal system and extended amygdala.

: The concepts of the ventral striatopallidal system and extended amygdala have significantly improved our understanding of basal forebrain organization. As a result of these and other advances during the last twenty years, many of the most prominent basal forebrain structures, including the nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, and amygdaloid body, have all but lost their relevance as independent functional anatomical units. In order to appreciate the distinct differences that exist between the ventral striatopallidal system and the extended amygdala, and as a way of explaining the choice of the terms ventral striatopallidal system and extended amygdala, we will review the discovery and subsequent elaboration of these two systems. On the background of these discussions, we will then proceed to dispel some recently published misgivings regarding the usefulness of the extended amygdaloid concept.
Radiology on the air. A continuing medical education experiment.

Rationale and objectives The purpose of Radiology on the Air was to assess the technical and educational feasibility of providing radiologic continuing medical education via a fully interactive live telecommunications network. Methods Thirty-nine radiologic conferences were broadcast over the communications network of the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC). Category 1 credit for the Physicians Recognition Award of the American Medical Association was available to participants who returned a completed program evaluation sheet by mail. Results Three participating academic institutions regularly offered the programming to a total of 684 participants, of whom 129 viewed programs at distant sites. Despite adequate-to-excellent technical quality and positive feedback concerning educational content, no continuing medical education (CME) credits were issued by the parent institution. Conclusions The Radiology on the Air experiment suggests that a live telecommunications network is a capable vehicle for providing CME in radiology.
Sprinkler Technologies, Soil Infiltration, and Runoff

Previous simulation studies dealing with surface runoff use mathematical models based on a single soil infiltration relationship to estimate the influence of irrigation application depths and rates on surface runoff depths. Soil infiltration is influenced by such parameters as soil type, tillage practices, and soil water content. Surface runoff data from a field study with a continuous-move irrigation lateral indicate that Green and Ampt soil infiltration parameter values may also be influenced by sprinkler technologies. Soil infiltration parameter values derived from a sprinkler test with a low application rate may produce results that overestimate runoff values for sprinklers with higher application rates. Likewise, parameter values derived from a sprinkler with a high application rate can produce results that underestimate surface runoff for sprinkler technologies with lower application rates.
Chaos theory in hydrology: important issues and interpretations

Abstract The application of the concept of chaos theory in hydrology has been gaining considerable interest in recent times. However, studies reporting the existence of chaos in hydrological processes are often criticized due to the fundamental assumptions with which the chaos identification methods have been developed, i.e. infinite and noise-free time series, and the inherent limitations of the hydrological time series, i.e. finite and noisy. This paper is designed: (1) to address some of the important issues in the application of chaos theory in hydrology; and (2) to provide possible interpretations to the results reported by past studies reporting chaos in hydrological processes. A brief review of some of the past studies investigating chaos in hydrological processes is presented. An insight into the studies reveals that most of the problems, such as data size, noise, delay time, in the application of chaos theory have been addressed by past studies, and caution taken in the application of the methods and interpretation of the results. The study also reveals that the problem of data size is not as severe as it was assumed to be, whereas the presence of noise seems to have much more influence on the nonlinear prediction method than the correlation dimension method. The study indicates that the presence of noise in the data could be an important reason for the low-prediction accuracy estimates achieved in some of the past studies. These observations, with the fact that most of the past studies used the correlation dimension either as a proof or as a preliminary evidence of chaos, suggest that the hypothesis of deterministic chaos, as the basis in those studies, for hydrological processes is valid and has great practical potential.
Detecting and assessing severity of coronary artery disease in humans.

Quantitation of stenosis severity has become an essential part of cardiac diagnosis and therapy, not only in research but also in clinical practice. Since our introduction of the concept 15 years ago, arterial coronary flow reserve for assessing effects of coronary narrowing has evolved into two independent but complementary measurements: coronary flow reserve and stenosis flow reserve. Coronary artery flow reserve and/or myocardial perfusion reserve takes into account not only stenosis geometry but also collateral function and physiologic conditions of perfusion pressure, vasomotor tone, coronary venous pressure, and myocardial vascular bed size. Coronary artery flow reserve is measured invasively by flowmeter or by Doppler catheter. Its noninvasive equivalent is myocardial perfusion reserve, assessed by myocardial perfusion imaging with positron emission tomography before and after intravenous dipyridamole with hand grip stress. Both have been experimentally and clinically validated for identifying and/or quantifying severity of coronary artery disease. By either invasive or noninvasive methods, coronary artery or myocardial perfusion reserve may be subcategorized as either absolute flow or perfusion reserve (max flow/resting flow) and/or relative flow or perfusion reserve (max flow through stenotic artery/max flow through normal artery). Absolute flow reserve depends not only on stenosis severity but also on unrelated physiologic parameters such as aortic pressure and the vasodilatory state of the distal coronary vascular bed; in contrast, relative flow reserve is independent of these physiologic variables and reflects stenosis severity alone. Stenosis flow reserve is invasively determined by automated, quantitative coronary arteriography accounting for all stenosis dimensions and is independent of ambient physiologic conditions such as pressure, vasomotor tone, or other variables affecting the distal coronary vascular bed. It has also been validated experimentally, tested clinically, and is applicable to cine x-ray film-based systems or to on-line digital angiographic cath lab facilities for quantifying effects of therapeutic interventions. Both functional and anatomic measurements are necessary to completely define stenosis severity. Of noninvasive functional approaches for assessing stenosis severity, cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) is the optimum for assessing relative and absolute myocardial perfusion reserve. Of the invasive anatomic approaches, quantitative coronary arteriography is the optimum for determining stenosis flow reserve from all stenosis dimensions under standard conditions.
Semantic Externalism and the Mechanics of Thought

I review a widely accepted argument to the conclusion that the contents of our beliefs, desires and other mental states cannot be causally efficacious in a classical computational model of the mind. I reply that this argument rests essentially on an assumption about the nature of neural structure that we have no good scientific reason to accept. I conclude that computationalism is compatible with wide semantic causal efficacy, and suggest how the computational model might be modified to accommodate this possibility.
Expert system assisted identification of line faults on delta-delta distribution systems

Line faults in delta-delta distribution systems continue to pose a problem for the power industry. The authors focus on the first facet of the effort needed to implement an integrated algorithm for the detection and location of line faults in power distribution systems. This work entailed the analysis of the fault characteristics and the development of a preliminary fault identification technique. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which uses Delta - Delta power transformers has identified four different single line fault types as being the most prevalent faults in their distribution systems. The analysis addresses these four single line faults. An integrated software package was developed which contained a simulation program written in FORTRAN and an expert system written in PROLOG. A laboratory experiment was performed to generate measured data to test the computer simulation program and to serve as an initial test pattern for verification of the expert system. The expert system architecture is dealt with. The results obtained using data acquired by the experiment are outlined. >
Response to Intervention in Writing: A Suggested Framework for Screening, Intervention, and Progress Monitoring

Writing may be the most complex facet of the language arts. Students need to become competent writers to succeed in school and society; therefore, teaching these skills is an important educational goal. To accomplish this goal, schools must identify students who have writing difficulties early in order to enact effectual interventions. Early screening and intervention is even more important in the current educational climate of response to intervention. In this article we discuss how schools can create a tiered system of screening, intervention, and progress monitoring for writing.
Pulmonary Dysfunction in Chronic Liver Disease

Pulmonary abnormalities and symptoms are common in patients with chronic liver disease. If questioned, up to 70% of cirrhotic patients undergoing evaluation for liver transplantation complain of dyspnea. 1 In screening studies of patients with chronic liver disease, arterial blood gas abnormalities are found in as many as 45% and abnormal pulmonary function tests in as many as 50%. 2 A variety of causes for pulmonary dysfunction in liver disease have been identified and include intrinsic cardiopulmonary disorders not specifically related to liver disease as well as unique problems associated with the presence of liver disease and/or portal hypertension (Table 1). The recognition that a subset of patients with hepatic disease develop significant pulmonary vascular alterations, either microvascular dilation leading to the hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) or arteriolar vasoconstriction leading to portopulmonary hypertension, indicates that unique changes in the pulmonary vasculature may occur in liver disease. These pulmonary vascular syndromes significantly impact morbidity and mortality in affected patients and influence candidacy for liver transplantation. This review will focus on the most common abnormality in the pulmonary vasculature in liver disease: HPS. It will address the differential diagnosis, clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and pathogenesis of this increasingly well-recognized syndrome.
EFFECT OF ANATOMIC MOTION ON PROTON THERAPY DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT

Purpose: To determine the dosimetric impact of interfraction anatomic movements in prostate cancer patients receiving proton therapy. Methods and Materials: For each of the 10 patients studied, 8 computed tomography (CT) scans were selected from sets of daily setup CT images that were acquired from a cohort of prostate cancer patients. The images were acquired in the treatment room using the CT-on-rails system. First, standard proton therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans were designed for each patient using standard modality-specific methods. The images, the proton plan, and the IMRT plan were then aligned to the eight CT images based on skin marks. The doses were recalculated on these eight CT images using beam from the standard plans. Second, the plans were redesigned and evaluated assuming a smaller clinical target volume to planning target volume margin (3 mm). The images and the corresponding plans were then realigned based on the center of volume of the prostate. Dose distributions were evaluated using isodose displays, dose–volume histograms, and target coverage. Results: For the skin-marker alignment method, 4 of the 10 IMRT plans were deficient, whereas 3 of 10 proton plans were compromised. For the alignment method based on the center of volume of the prostate, only the proton plan for 1 patient was deficient, whereas 3 of the 10 IMRT plans were suboptimal. Conclusion: A comparison of passively scattered proton therapy and highly conformal IMRT plans for prostate cancer revealed that the dosimetric impact of interfractional anatomic motions was similar for both modalities.
Surface heterogeneity of trimethylphenylammonium-smectite as revealed by adsorption of aromatic hydrocarbons from water

Adsorption studies of aromatic hydrocarbons of various molecular sizes on organo-clays in aqueous solution were carried out for characterizing the surface heterogeneity of organo-clays. Benzene, toluene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene and n-propylbenzene adsorption by a smectite with 5 different exchange degrees of trimethylphenylammonium (TMPA) cations for Ca2+ was measured. The Langmuir isotherm equation did not adequately describe the experimental data, especially for small molecules, whereas the Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) equation combined with a gamma-type adsorption energy distribution function described all experimental data well, suggesting the surface and structural heterogeneity of TMPA-smectites. The calculated adsorption energy distributions indicated that the apparent heterogeneity depends on the molecular size of adsorbates. Small adsorbate molecules such as benzene explore a highly heterogeneous surface of TMPA-smectites while large molecules such as n-propylbenzene detect a relatively homogeneous surface. The surface fractal dimension was dependent on the extent of TMPA exchange for Ca2+. When TMPA content is less than 75% of the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the smectite, the heterogeneity decreases as TMPA content increases; it increases with TMPA content thereafter. These results are related to the size distribution of micropores in TMPA-smectites, which are defined by the 2 semi-infinite aluminosilicate sheets and the interlayer cations. The micropore size distributions and, hence, heterogeneity are created in part by the inhomogeneity of the charge density of clay surfaces and the tendency for cation segregation in these systems.
Inhibition of uptake-1 activity in the human heart in a hypernoradrenergic state

Uptake-1, mediated by the cell membrane norepinephrine transporter (NET), constitutes the main route of inactivation of norepinephrine at sympathetic nerve terminals. In vitro, the NET can be saturated with a KM between 0.1 and 1 μmol/L. This study addressed whether endogenous norepinephrine levels can attain high enough plasma concentrations in humans to inhibit cardiac uptake-1. patients with pheochromocytoma, a catecholamine-secreting tumor, were imaged by 6-[18F]fluorodopamine positron emission tomography. Above 3 nmol/L (about 500 pg/ml) in antecubital venous plasma, left ventricular myocardial 6-[18F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity varied inversely with the logarithm of plasma norepinephrine concentration (R = −0.77, P <0.0001). Treatment of the pheochromocytoma resulted in decreased norepinephrine levels and increased myocardial 6-[18F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity. In the liver and left ventricular chamber, there was no significant relationship between 6-]18F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity and plasma norepinephrine. Therefore, at sufficiently high plasma concentrations, endogenous norepinephrine competes with sympathetic imaging agents at uptake-1 sites. As a result, this competition could lead to erroneous conclusions of sympathetic denervation, net dysfunction, or, in the case of pheochromocytoma, tumor burden. drawing quantitative conclusions about uptake-1 activity in hypernoradrenergic states should be approached with caution. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P54–P54; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.206
Evi3, a zinc-finger protein related to EBFAZ, regulates EBF activity in B-cell leukemia

Retroviral insertions that activate proto-oncogenes are a primary cause of tumors in certain strains of mice. The AKXD recombinant inbred mice are predisposed to a variety of leukemias and lymphomas as a result of viral integration. One common insertion site, the ecotropic viral insertion site 3 (Evi3), has been implicated in most B-cell tumors in the AKXD-27 strain. The Evi3 gene encodes a zinc-finger protein with sequence similarity to the Early B-cell Factor-Associated Zinc-finger gene (EBFAZ). We show that the Evi3 gene is overexpressed in several tumors with viral insertions at Evi3, which results in the upregulation of Early B-cell Factor (EBF)-target gene expression, suggesting that Evi3 modulates EBF activity. Reconstitution of primary leukemia cells showed that these tumors express high densities of the B-cell surface proteins CD19 and CD38, which are EBF targets. Using a transactivation assay, we show that the terminal six zinc-fingers of Evi3 are required for modification of EBF activity. This is the first evidence that Evi3 expression in tumors alters the level of EBF target genes, and the first characterization of the Evi3 protein domains required for modulation of EBF activity. Further, these data imply that Evi3 misexpression initiates tumorigenesis by perturbing B-cell development via an interaction with EBF.
Topology-aware overlay networks for group communication

We propose an application level multicast approach, Topology Aware Grouping (TAG), which exploits underlying network topology information to build efficient overlay networks among multicast group members. TAG uses information about path overlap among members to construct a tree that reduces the overlay relative delay penalty, and reduces the number of duplicate copies of a packet on the same link. We study the properties of TAG, and model and experiment with its economies of scale factor to quantify its benefits compared to unicast and IP multicast. We also compare the TAG approach with the ESM approach in a variety of simulation configurations including a number of real Internet topologies and generated topologies. Our results indicate the effectiveness of the algorithm in reducing delays and duplicate packets, with reasonable algorithm time and space complexities.
Identification of Factors Associated With Sural Nerve Regeneration and Degeneration in Diabetic Neuropathy

OBJECTIVE Patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN) demonstrate variable degrees of nerve regeneration and degeneration. Our aim was to identify risk factors associated with sural nerve degeneration in patients with DN. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and anatomical data of subjects with DN from a 52-week trial of acetyl - L - carnitine were retrospectively examined. Based on the change in sural nerve myelinated fiber density (ΔMFD%), subjects were divided into three groups: regenerator (top 16 percentiles, n = 67), degenerator (bottom 16 percentiles, n = 67), and intermediate ( n = 290), with dramatically increased, decreased, and steady ΔMFD%, respectively. ANOVA, Fisher exact test, and multifactorial logistic regression were used to evaluate statistical significance. RESULTS ΔMFD%s were 35.6 ± 17.4 (regenerator), −4.8 ± 12.1 (intermediate), and −39.8 ± 11.0 (degenerator). HbA1c at baseline was the only factor significantly different across the three groups ( P = 0.01). In multifactorial logistic regression, HbA1c at baseline was also the only risk factor significantly different between regenerator (8.3 ± 1.6%) and degenerator (9.2 ± 1.8%) (odds ratio 0.68 [95% CI 0.54–0.85]; P < 0.01). Support Vector Machine classifier using HbA1c demonstrated 62.4% accuracy of classifying subjects into regenerator or degenerator. A preliminary microarray experiment revealed that upregulated genes in the regenerator group are enriched with cell cycle and myelin sheath functions, while downregulated genes are enriched in immune/inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS These data, based on the largest cohort with ΔMFD% information, suggest that HbA1c levels predict myelinated nerve fiber regeneration and degeneration in patients with DN. Therefore, maintaining optimal blood glucose control is likely essential in patients with DN to prevent continued nerve injury.
DETERMINANTS OF ATTITUDES TOWARD CITY POLICE

This paper reports the results of a survey of attitudes toward police and police service among 273 citizens in 4 neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Extensive socioeconomic and personal history data were collected for all individuals. Results indicate that personal history. particularly respondents’ perceptions of the way in which specific officers have related to them personally in previous encounters. is a more signijicant determinant of general attitudes towards police than were all socioeconomic variables including race and income. Results thus suggest that positive styles of policing will significantly aflect police-community relations, and that police-community relations programs stressing officer-citizen interaction in a law enforcement context will have the highest probability of success.
SOCIAL INTERACTION AND COMMUNITY CRIME: EXAMINING THE IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBOR NETWORKS

The social disorganization perspective assumes that social interaction among neighbors is a central element in the control of community crime. Moreover, social interaction among neighbors that occurs frequently, such as every day, is assumed to be most effective. This analysis tests that assumption by exploring the consequences of frequent and infrequent interaction. I construct 10 alternative measures of social interaction and separately examine the effect of each on the rates of three serious crimes across 60 urban neighborhoods. Findings suggest that type of interaction matters. Getting together once a year or more with neighbors has the most consistent and generally strongest effect on burglary, motor vehicle thejl, and robbery. Further this form of interaction mediates a significant proportion of the effect of ecological characteristics on community crime. Implications for community crime research are discussed. Current social disorganization research is built on the notion that welldeveloped, local network structures reduce crime. This formulation is grounded in the systemic model of community organization, which views the local community “as a complex system of friendship and kinship networks and formal and informal associational ties rooted in family life and
Automatic synthesis of filters to discard buffer overflow attacks: a step towards realizing self-healing systems

Buffer overflows have become the most common target for network-based attacks. They are also the primary propagation mechanism used by worms. Although many techniques (such as StackGuard) have been developed to protect servers from being compromised by buffer overflow attacks, these techniques cause the server to crash. In the face of automated, repetitive attacks such as those due to worms, these protection mechanisms lead to repeated restarts of the victim application, rendering its service unavailable. In contrast, we present a promising new approach that learns the characteristics of inputs associated with attacks, and filters them out in the future. It can be implemented without changing the server code, or even having access to its source. Since attack-bearing inputs are dropped before they corrupt the victim process, there is no need to restart the victim; as a result, recovery from attacks can be very fast. We tested our approach on 8 buffer overflow attacks reported in the past few years on securityfocus.com and were available with working exploit code, and found that it generated accurate filters for 7 out of these 8 attacks.
Comparison of a Commercial Real-Time PCR Assay for tcdB Detection to a Cell Culture Cytotoxicity Assay and Toxigenic Culture for Direct Detection of Toxin-Producing Clostridium difficile in Clinical Samples

Rapid detection of toxin-producing strains of Clostridium difficile is essential for optimal management of patients with C. difficile infection. The BD GeneOhm (San Diego, CA) Cdiff assay, a real-time PCR assay that amplifies tcdB, was compared to a cell culture neutralization assay (Wampole C. difficile Toxin B [TOX-B] test; TechLab, Blacksburg, VA) and to toxigenic culture. Using liquid (n = 273) and soft (n = 131) stool specimens from 377 symptomatic patients, all testing was performed on the same day by independent laboratory staff according to the manufacturers' protocols. Toxigenic bacterial culture was performed as follows. A 0.5-ml aliquot of stool was heated to 80°C for 10 min, followed by inoculation onto modified cycloserine cefoxitin fructose agar with and without horse blood (Remel, Lenexa, KS) and into prereduced chopped-meat broth. Of the 404 stool specimens tested, 340 were negative and 40 were positive (10.0% prevalence) both by PCR for tcdB and by cytotoxin production. The overall agreement between the BD GeneOhm Cdiff assay and the TOX-B test was 94.8% (380/401). When the TOX-B test was used as the reference method, the initial sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the BD GeneOhm Cdiff assay were 90.9% (40/44), 95.2% (340/357), 70.2% (40/57), and 98.8% (340/344), respectively. When toxigenic culture was used as the “gold standard,” the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the BD GeneOhm Cdiff assay were 83.6%, 98.2%, 89.5%, and 97.1%, respectively, and those of the TOX-B test were 67.2%, 99.1%, 93.2%, and 94.4%, respectively. PCRs for three samples were inhibited upon initial testing; one sample was resolved upon retesting. One sample produced nonspecific cytotoxin results. The BD GeneOhm Cdiff assay performed well compared to a standard cell culture neutralization assay and to toxigenic culture for the detection of toxigenic C. difficile directly from fecal specimens.
Cyclosporiasis: Clinical and Histopathologic Correlates

Although the histopathologic changes associated with Cyclospora cayetanensis infection have been previously described, the histopathology and the appearance of various life cycle stages have not been correlated with severity, stage, and duration of clinical disease. We report a prospective clinical investigation of disease characteristics and histopathologic findings in three otherwise healthy, immunocompetent patients with symptomatic C. cayetanensis infection, the duration of which ranged from 6 to 60 days. Varying degrees of gross and microscopic gastrointestinal inflammation were seen before treatment. An electron-dense phospholipid membrane/myelin-like material was variably present both before and after treatment. The greatest amount of myelin-like material was seen in the patient with prolonged disease. The results of our study suggest that inflammatory changes associated with C. cayetanensis infection may persist beyond parasite eradication. It is intriguing to speculate that the myelin-like material is a marker for persistent inflammation, but further study and confirmation are needed.
Evaluation and Management of Urinary Retention Following Colorectal and Gynecologic Oncologic Surgery

Urinary retention after radical pelvic surgery is a relatively common, well-recognized complication. The primary problem is neural disruption to or from the bladder during curative surgery. Resulting symptoms may include urinary retention presenting post operatively early or late. Other symptoms include overflow incontinence, to controlled stress incontinence, or urinary tract infections. Management is predicated on the clinical history, examination, physical findings and urodynamic evaluations. The principles of neurogenic bladder management are based on management of urinary incontinence or retention, prevention of urinary tract infections, prevention of stone disease and preservation of renal function. While not all patients who undergo radical pelvic surgery for oncological disease, develop neurogenic bladder, it must be considered in patient’s with urinary retention. In men, retention after pelvic surgery may not be caused by BPH, but neurogenic bladder, thus a transurethral resection of prostate may not be the appropriate management. Management of urological complications of pelvic surgery depends on a full neurourological assessment of the patient, and a treatment plan based on objective findings of the complete examination.
The Association Between Tooth Loss and Coronary Heart Disease in Men and Women

Ob]ectives: This paper evaluates the relation of tooth loss to incidence of coronary heart disease in two large cohort studies. Methods: Participants included 41,407 men and 58,974 women free of any cardiovascular diseases at baseline. We recorded 1,654 incident coronary heart disease events (562 fatal events) among men during 12years of follow-up and544 events (158 fatal events) among women during 6 years of follow-up. Results: After controlling for important cardiovascular risk factors, compared to men with 25-32 teeth at baseline, men with 0-10 teeth had a significantly higher risk of coronary heart disease (relative risk [RR]=1.36; 95 percent confidence interval [Cl 95% CI=1.31, 2.05). The association was similar for fatal events (RR=1.65; 95% CI=l. 1 1, 2.46). The association between number of teeth and incidence of coronary heart disease was similar between men with and without a history of periodontal disease, and there was no significant association between tooth loss during follow-up and coronary heart disease. Conclusions: This study showed a significant association between number of teeth at baseline and risk of coronary heart disease and the mechanisms to explain this association should be further clarified. [J Public Health Dent 2004;64(4):209- 151
Do people watch “television” or “programs'? A measurement problem

It has often been said that the commercial rating services are “the only game in town.” Thus far, the academic researchers usually have left it up to the operators of the “game” to test and refine their methods. The following article is one of the exceptions: an interesting methodological study of how people respond when queried in different ways about their viewing. Dr. Green‐berg is associate professor of communication at Michigan State University; Miss Dervin and Mr. Dominick are graduate students in the same department.
Assessment of female ballet dancers' ankles in the en pointe position using high field strength magnetic resonance imaging.

BackgroundThe en pointe position of the ankle in ballet is extreme. Previously, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of ballet dancers’ ankles en pointe was confined to a low field, open MR device.Purp...
Geochemistry of the lunar highlands as revealed by measurements of thermal neutrons

Thermal neutron emissions from the lunar surface provide a direct measure of bulk elemental composition that can be used to constrain the chemical properties of near-surface (depth 85%, are generally associated with large impact basins and are colocated with clusters of nearly pure plagioclase identified with spectral reflectance data.
Indigenous Elder Insights About Conventional Care Services in Alaska: Culturally Charged Spaces.

ABSTRACTIndigenous peoples around the world endure health and social disparities. In the United States, such disparities are typically ameliorated through conventional care services and organizations. Purpose: To examine points of tension that characterize culturally pluralistic care services in the United States, specifically Alaska, within context of Indigenous colonial histories. Design and Methods: The research design is ethnographic and multisited, comprising 12 months of fieldwork across urban, rural and remote village sites in Alaska. A conceptual lens that accounts for culturally diverse social spaces where relations of power are at stake frames research presented here. This work incorporates relational and participatory action research principles with Alaska Native Elders. Ethnographic evidence was collected through multiple methods, including field notes, documents, and interviews, with ethnographic analysis involving atlas.ti. Findings: Alaska Native Elders describe salient points of tension ch...
Posterior Vitreous Detachment Associated with Non-arteritic Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy

It has been hypothesised that non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy is caused by vitreous traction on the optic nerve. The authors recently took care of a patient who developed a posterior vitreous detachment shortly after she was diagnosed with non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy. Her visual field spontaneously improved after the posterior vitreous detachment. This case report provides some evidence that non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy, vitreous traction, and posterior vitreous detachment may be related.