cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Silicone breast implants and systemic rheumatic disease. Some smoke but little fire to date.

For over 20 years, silicone breast implants have been used for cosmetic and breast reconstruction purposes. They have been recently banned by the American Food and Drug Administration other than for reconstruction or in the setting of a study. Complications of rupture, leaking, bleeding, capsular thickening and contracture are acknowledged but the potential of silicone implants in causing classic rheumatic diseases or a new syndrome has caused much controversy; there are millions of dollars at stake in legal suits. The biological plausibility of silicone breast implants causing disease is not without merit. The epidemiological evidence linking the two are reviewed. There is considerable concern as to whether there will ever be a definitive study of the question.
Computational Studies for Turbomachinery Simulation (Kenote Paper)

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of turbulent flow and of convective heat transfer are becoming integral to the complex procedure of gas turbine blade design. The application to heat transfer presents new problems in flow prediction by Reynolds averaged methods. Many fundamental and practical developments are needed before full three-dimensional computational analysis becomes reliable. This article reviews some of our work in this area. Fundamental studies of turbine flow by Direct Numerical Simulation are also surveyed. Reynolds numbers encountered in parts of the turbine are such that DNS is practicable. Our initial simulations were of a flat plate geometry, addressing the topic of wake-induced transition. More recently flow flow in a linear, low pressure turbine cascade has been simulated, examining wake-induced transition, wake distortion, vortex formation and turbulence distortions.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Mycoplasma hominis infections occurring in cardiovascular surgical patients

Background. Postoperative Mycoplasma hominis sternal wound or mediastinal infections are uncommon and difficult to diagnose. Atypical growth characteristics in routine bacterial culture, and the inability to demonstrate the organism on Gram stain, lead to delayed diagnosis of M hominis infectious and increased morbidity. Methods. Postoperative purulent wound drainage or acute mediastinitis caused by M hominis developed in 3 cardiovascular surgery patients. These patients were considered along with 9 patients previously reported in the literature. Results. Operative findings included moderately thick, gray purulent fluid with the degree of tissue necrosis related to duration of infection. Intranperative Gram stain of wound or mediastinal drainage demonstrated no microorganisms, and initial bacterial cultures did not reveal microbial growth. After an average of 4.5 days of culture, minute translucent colonies of M hominis were identified. The institution of appropriate antimycoplasma therapy (doxycycline and clindamycin) was associated with clinical or microbiological cure in all patients. Sternal wound complications developed in 3 patients, and a chronic infection developed in 1 patient. Conclusions. Empiric therapy for M hominis infection should be considered in patients with mediastinitis or a sternal wound infection in which organisms are not observed on Gram stain and are not readily cultured.
Resistance to a residential AIDS home: an empirical test of NIMBY.

Abstract Objective. This study is designed to evaluate the NIMBY (not-in-my-back-yard) syndrome regarding a proposed residential home for HIV-positive individuals. Hypotheses attempted to explain support of the home and fear of loss in real estate values. These variables were analyzed in terms of value of homes, distance to site, fear of AIDS and homophobia. Method. A survey of New Hope, Pennsylvania employed a 10% probability cluster sample. This resulted in 106 responses and a response rate of 70.7%. Correlational and multiple regression analyses were used to test hypotheses. Findings. Support of the home and fear of loss in real estate values were not found to be related to distance from one's home to the site or to value of one's home. Bath were related to fear of AIDS and homophobia. Conclusions. NIMBY opposition in the case of an AIDS residence was found to be primarily related to fear of AIDS and homophobia. This situation, an AIDS residence, appears to be different from other instances of NIMBY.
Facilitation of taxonomic recall in preschool children

Contrary to an older tradition of research, several recent studies have shown that preschool children are capable of conceptualizing item sets with respect to taxonomic, as well as thematic, relationships. The present study investigated the ability of preschool children to employ taxonomic relationships in free recall. Although the recall of thematic materials was shown to be superior to memory for taxonomically related items, taxonomic items, when supported by an orderly spatial arrangement, were recalled at a significantly higher level than were unrelated items. The results add to the growing body of research demonstrating that within appropriate research contexts, relatively abstract levels of conceptual organization may be utilized by preschool children.
Outcomes in patients admitted for chest pain with renal failure and troponin I elevations.

Background The significance of troponin I (TnI) elevations in patients with renal failure (RF) admitted for possible myocardial ischemia is unclear. We therefore compared outcomes in patients with and without TnI elevations based on renal function. Methods Consecutive patients without ST elevation admitted for exclusion of ischemia underwent serial assessment of cardiac markers including TnI. Coronary angiography, significant disease, and revascularization were determined, and 1-year cardiac mortality and all-cause mortality were assessed. Mortality was assessed based on TnI elevations in patients with no (creatinine clearance [CrCl] ≥60 mL/min), moderate (CrCl 30-59 mL/min), and severe (CrCl Results Troponin I elevations were present in 17% of the 3774 consecutive patients and were significantly more frequent in patients with RF (CrCl 60 mL/min: 13%, all P ≤ .01). Coronary angiography was performed significantly less frequently in patients with RF, whether TnI elevations were present. One-year all-cause mortality increased with both RF and TnI positivity (TnI [+] vs TnI [−], CrCl 60 mL/min: 8.9% vs 4.9%, all P 60 mL/min). Conclusions Troponin I elevations identified a high-risk cohort, and its prognostic value was not diminished in patients with RF.
Effect of cyclo(Leu-Gly) on the supersensitivity of dopamine receptors in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract Spontaneously hypertensive rats exhibited dopamine receptor supersensitivity as evidenced by a greater hypothermic response to apomorphine in comparision with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. A single injection of cyclo(Leu-Gly) given prior to apomorphine administration did no alter apomorphine induced hypothermia in either the normotensive or the hypertensive rats. Chronic administration of cyclo(Leu-Gly) for 7 days did not affect apomorphine response in normotensive rats, but blocked the exaggerated response to apomorphine in the hypertensive rats. These studies suggest that cyclo(Leu-Gly) interacts with the dopamine receptors and that the central dopamine receptors may play a role in the pathophysiology of hypertension.
Fault‐free silicon at the silicon/sapphire interface

High‐quality lattice images of silicon films grown epitaxially on sapphire substrates directly demonstrate the absence of misfit dislocations at the silicon/sapphire interface. With a point resolution of about 2.5 A, these images show the absence of lattice faults and detectable strains in the silicon immediately adjacent to the subtrate over interface areas as large as 200 nm in diameter. The incoherent nature of the interface and the absence of misfit dislocations are explained in terms of the chemical bond structure at the interface.
Proteomics of Tribolium castaneum seminal fluid proteins: Identification of an angiotensin-converting enzyme as a key player in regulation of reproduction

Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) play important roles in regulation of reproduction and behavior. Proteomics approaches were used to identify 13 SFPs, including 3 new proteins in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. The 13 SFP genes identified code for Serpin, cysteine-rich protein, odorant binding protein-like (OBPL, G10064 and G10065), Kunitz-like protease inhibitor precursor, and WD 40 family protein and are predominantly expressed in the male accessory glands. The genes coding for 13 putative SFPs were knocked down in males; the RNAi males were mated with virgin females, and the number of eggs produced by the mated females was quantified. Knockdown in the expression of the gene coding for a protein similar to angiotensin-converting enzyme 9 (G15465, TcACE) in the males caused a decrease in egg production by the females when compared to the eggs produced by the females mated with control males. In addition, knockdown in the expression of the gene coding for heat shock cognate 70 led to a reduction in the amount of proteins produced by the male accessory glands by 55%. These data suggest that angiotensin-converting enzyme produced in the male seminal vesicles plays important roles in sperm protection during and after transfer to females.
Resonance background to the decays b-->sl+l-, B-->Kl+l-, and B-->Kl+l-

We consider background to the rare decay modes b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{sl}}^{+}$${l}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${K}^{\mathrm{*}}$${l}^{+}$${l}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, and B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{Kl}}^{+}$${l}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ arising from the process b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{sV}}_{i}$ followed by on- and off-resonance transition ${V}_{i}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${l}^{+}$${l}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$. We obtain dilepton mass spectrum including short-distance effects and then suggest cuts to enhance the signal over background.
Middle Eocene pelagic microfossils from the Nazca Plate

A piston core of the oldest sediment yet recovered from the Nazca Plate was retrieved from the outer ridge of the Peru-Chile Trench, below the present calcite compensation level (CCD). The core, PCOD-19, contains assemblages of nanno-fossils of the upper middle Eocene Discoaster saipanensis Subzone, whereas the foraminifera are assigned to earlier zones of the middle Eocene, suggesting reworking. We suggest that these fossils, as well as basalt pebbles in the core, indicate that normal pelagic sedimentation was interrupted and that tectonic events on the sea floor are in part responsible for the disturbances in obducted stratigraphic sequences.
Uniform trellis coded quantization for image transmission over noisy channels

A combined source/channel coding scheme without explicit error protection is proposed to transmit images through binary noisy channels. Unlike the error protection with re-transmission scheme and error concealment scheme by inserting synchronization codewords to entropy-coded bitstream, the proposed coding scheme employs transform coding, fixed-rate uniform threshold trellis coded quantization (UTTCQ) and optimal bit allocation algorithm (BAA) to organize the bitstream in a way that is less sensitive to channel noise, achieving data compression and error resilience at the same time. An image is first block transformed to the frequency domain and the same frequency components in different blocks are grouped together as a single subsource. Every subsource is then quantized by a uniform threshold trellis coded quantizer constructed based on the mean and variance of the subsource. Steepest descent method and iterative scheme are employed to determine the optimum bit allocation among the subsources subject to the constraints of the average coding rate and allowable bits to each sample. The coding system uses no error protection, no synchronization codewords and no entropy coding. However, it shows decent compression ratio and gracious degradation with respect to increasing channel errors.
On the factors controlling the reversibility of DNA denaturation.

The experiments described in this paper distinguish two processes which lead to a reversal of DNA denaturation and to the re-formation of long-stacked arrays of nucleotide pairs. Type I reversibility is a very rapid intramolecular process which occurs in DNA preparations from viral, bacterial and animal sources, in solvents varying greatly in ionic strength. Type II reversibility (“renaturation”, Marmur & Lane, 1960 ; Doty, Marmur, Eigner & Schildkraut, 1960 ; Marmur & Doty, 1961 ) has the properties of an intermolecular process, is much slower, and occurs only in relatively homogeneous DNA preparations at moderately high ionic strength. Data on the dependence of type I reversibility upon DNA size and composition are consistent with the proposal that type I reversibility is controlled by GC-rich nucleotide pair sequences which act as “nuclei” for the re-establishment of long-range order. Under the conditions of these experiments, such nuclei control the re-stacking of extremely long sections of polynucleotide chain. Consequently, type I reversibility is strongly affected by molecular weight changes in the range 0·5 to 10 × 10 6 . GC-rich “nuclei” may, however, be dissociated by heating. The loss of type I reversibility is accordingly associated with the final stages of the dissociation of a double helix. However, if complementary polynucleotide chains of DNA are linked covalently, type I reversibility is permanent. (Such material is called “reversible” DNA.) The interpretation of experiments on the stability of DNA secondary structure, especially those involving bacterial transformation assays, is discussed in the light of these results.
Comparison of a reference strain and four geographical strains of Artemia as food for winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) larvae

Abstract A reference strain and four commercially available geographical strains of Artemia nauplii were each tested as a diet for winter flounder ( Pseudopleuronectes americanus ) larvae. The Reference strain was provided by the Artemia Reference Center, Ghent, Belgium. The geographical strains evaluated were from Chaplin Lake, Canada; Tientsin, China; Lavalduc, France; and San Pablo Bay, U.S.A. There was no significant difference in survival between the fish fed the Reference (86%), Canadian (78%), and Chinese (72%) strains, and none between those fed Canadian, Chinese and French (61%) (SNK multiple range test). The French strain provided significantly lower survival than the Reference strain, and the San Pablo Bay (15%) strain supported significantly lower survival than all the others. Growth in dry weight was highest in fish fed the San Pablo Bay strain (775 μg), though not significantly different from those fed the French (733 μg), Reference (673 μg), and Chinese (666 μg) strains. The Canadian strain supported significantly lower growth (423 μg). These results are compared with those of a previous study which evaluated the nutritional quality of four additional Artemia strains (Shark Bay, Australia; Margherita di Savoia, Italy; Macau, Brazil; Great Salt Lake, UT, U.S.A.). Of all the strains tested, the Reference, Australian, and Brazilian strains are considered the most suitable for feeding winter flounder larvae. It is recommended that the Reference strain be used as a standard diet in future research done with winter flounder larvae.
Viral-vectored ribozymes as therapy for autosomal dominant retinal disease

Abstract The design, delivery and preclinical testing of ribozymes specific for opsin mutations are discussed with particular focus on their use in the treatment of dominantly inherited retinal disease. There are several preliminary experimental stages that must be completed in order to maximize the chances for a therapeutic result. The first consideration of critical importance for therapy is the way the therapeutic gene is introduced into the retina and how its expression is controlled. The properties of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a viral vector are surveyed with emphasis on those properties best suited for ribozyme-based therapies in the retina. The second key consideration is the design and initial in vitro screening of ribozymes, since we have seen that the behavior of appropriately designed RNA enzymes in cell-free systems is a reasonable predictor of their in vivo activity in the animal. Finally, recent experimental results employing AAV-vectored ribozyme genes are summarized to provide a tangible example of how ribozyme gene therapy for an autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP)-like disease in a rodent model can be approached. Here, we emphasize the need to analyze effects of the therapy at three levels, biochemical, morphological and electrophysiological, in order to gain a full appreciation of any retinal rescue and to understand the mechanism whereby it was achieved.
In vivo assessment of release and metabolism of dopamine in the ventrolateral striatum of awake rats following administration of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonists and antagonists.

The ability of specific dopamine (DA) receptor agonists and antagonists to modify the release and metabolism of DA in the ventrolateral striatum of awake rats was assessed using in vivo microdialysis. The specific DA D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride (0.1, 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.), dose-dependently increased release of DA and levels of the metabolites DOPAC and HVA, while the D2 receptor agonist, quinpirole (0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg), decreased levels of DA, DOPAC and HVA. The DA D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390 [(R + (+)-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl- 1H-3-benzazepin-7-ol) (0.01, 0.05 and 0.25 mg/kg), produced an increase in DA, DOPAC and HVA but of a lesser magnitude than raclopride. The D1 agonist SKF38393 (1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-(1H)-3-benzazepine-7,8-diol) (1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) failed to affect the release of metabolism of DA at any dose. These results support previous findings that activation of D2 receptors has greater control over in vivo DA function, than drugs specifically affecting D1 receptors.
Rethinking security properties, threat models, and the design space in sensor networks: A case study in SCADA systems

In recent years we have witnessed the emergence and establishment of research in sensor network security. The majority of the literature has focused on discovering numerous vulnerabilities and attacks against sensor networks, along with suggestions for corresponding countermeasures. However, there has been little guidance for understanding the holistic nature of sensor network security for practical deployments. In this paper, we discuss these concerns and propose a taxonomy composed of the security properties of the sensor network, the threat model, and the security design space. In particular, we try to understand the application-layer goals of a sensor network, and provide a guide to research challenges that need to be addressed in order to prioritize our defenses against threats to application-layer goals.
Calcific constrictive pericarditis. A rare complication of CREST syndrome

This report describes a patient with limited cutaneous scleroderma in whom calcific constrictive pericarditis developed. This complication of limited cutaneous scleroderma has not been reported previously.
GPR35: Study of Class a GPCR Sequence Divergences using Conformational Memories

GPR35, a recently deorphanized Class A G-protein coupled receptor, shows prominent expression in immune and gastrointestinal tissues (Wang et al. JBC, 2006), with additional expression in pancreatic islets, skeletal muscle, and lung (Horikawa et al. Nat. Genet. 2000), brain and spinal cord. An endogenous ligand of GPR35, kynurenic acid, is one of the major metabolites of the kynurenine pathway; a pathway in which the main route of tryptophan catabolism has been associated with important physiological roles in the brain. Compared with prototypical Class A GPCRs such as the beta-2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR; Cherezov et al. Science 2007), GPR35 has several major sequence differences: (1) in TMH4, GPR35 lacks the Pro at 4.60; (2) in TMH2 there is a Pro shift from 2.59 to 2.58; and, (3) in TMH5, there is an additional Pro at position 5.43. In order to study the consequences of these sequence divergences on the GPR35 structure, we used the Monte Carlo/simulated annealing program, Conformational Memories (Whitnell et. al, J. Comput. Chem. 2007). Each helix was built using the standard phi and psi angles for TMHs, −62.9°/-41.6° (Ballesteroes et al. Meth. Neuro. 1995). CM calculations revealed that the extracellular end of GPR35 TMH4 diverges from that of the β2AR, as the bend, wobble angle and face shift was (26.2°,40.0°,48.0°) compared to the average of 105 CM structures for GPR35 TMH4 (18.04° ± 4.95°, −123.39°± 58°,1.63° ± 11.83°). The GPR35 one residue N-terminal TMH2 proline shift created a face shift of 53.04°± 27.21° compared to 96.8° for the β2AR TMH2. The additional proline in GPR35 TMH5 resulted in a bend and face shift of (12.76° ± 4.74°, 47.43°± 22.74°) vs. (6.0°, 80.1°) for the β2AR. [Support: NIH RO1 DA023204 (MEA) and KO5 DA021358 (PHR)]
FRACTURE OF METAL-POLYMER LINE STRUCTURES. I: SEMIFLEXIBLE POLYIMIDE

The fracture characteristics of metal/polymer line structures formed by depositing Au/Cr lines on a semiflexible polyimide, pyromellitic dianhydride‐oxydianiline (PMDA‐ODA), substrate have been investigated using a stretch deformation technique. The delamination behavior, fracture morphology, fracture energy, and energy dissipation rate have been determined as a function of line width and thickness. The metal dimension was found to influence the crack formation mode and morphology. The experimental studies were supplemented by finite‐element analysis to evaluate the stress distribution and deformation energetics of the line structure, which takes into account the plastic deformation of the metal and the polymer. Results from this analysis show that the observed fracture characteristics can be attributed to the edge and thickness effects induced by metal confinement. Essentially, the deformation behavior is determined by the mechanical environment induced by metal confinement at the interface. Plastic deformation of both metal and polymer plays an important role in controlling the stress distributions as well as the deformation energetics. The fracture energy of the metal‐polyimide interface determined by an overall energy balance method was consistent with that obtained from energy dissipation rate. The average value is 25 J/m2 for the Au/Cr/PMDA‐ODA line structure.
Fully Spiro-Configured Terfluorenes as Novel Amorphous Materials Emitting Blue Light

A series of fully spiro-configured terfluorenes were synthesized and characterized to be amorphous materials showing a Tg of 296 °C with dendritic aromatic pendants, the highest value ever reported for organic molecular systems. X-ray single-crystal analysis of key structural moieties indicated nearly perpendicular orientations at all spiro-links. The spectroscopic comparison of solid film and dilute solution suggested absence of aggregates in the ground state and no increase in torsion angle with an increasing volume of the aromatic pendant. All these conformational characteristics are consistent with molecular mechanics simulation. Thermal annealing in argon caused a decrease in photoluminescence quantum yield with phenyl pendants but an increase with dendritic pendants. These can be understood in terms of local morphological reorganization of molecules to enhance or inhibit interactions between the backbone chromophores.
SUPPLY CONTRACTS WITH PERIODIC, STATIONARY COMMITMENT

The purpose of this paper is to model and analyze supply contracts with periodical commitment, in which the order quantities are fixed and stationary, with limited flexibility to change the order quantity at a cost to the buyer. A solution methodology is provided for the general, stochastic problem, and consideration is given to specific demand distributions. The deterministic model is also investigated, formulating the problem as a mixed-integer linear program and as a network flow problem. Computational analyses are conducted, and the extension of the basic problem to the multiple-product, multiple-constraint problem is discussed.
White matter changes linked to visual recovery after nerve decompression

The relationship between the integrity of white matter tracts and cortical function in the human brain remains poorly understood. We investigate reversible white matter injury, in this case patients with compression of the optic chiasm by pituitary gland tumors, to study the structural and functional changes that attend spontaneous recovery of cortical function and visual abilities after surgical removal of the tumor and subsequent decompression of the nerves. We show that compression of the optic chiasm led to demyelination of the optic tracts, which reversed as quickly as 4 weeks after nerve decompression. Furthermore, variability across patients in the severity of demyelination in the optic tracts predicted visual ability and functional activity in early cortical visual areas. Preoperative measurements of myelination in the optic tracts predicted the magnitude of visual recovery after surgery. These data indicate that rapid regeneration of myelin in the human brain is a component of the normalization of cortical activity, and ultimately the recovery of sensory and cognitive function, after nerve decompression. More generally, our findings demonstrate the use of diffusion tensor imaging as an in vivo measure of myelination in the human brain.
Are educational differences in U.S. self-rated health increasing?: an examination by gender and race.

Recent literature has documented changes in educational differences in health over recent time periods, across the life course, and by gender and race. We unite previous literature regarding period, age, gender, and race variations in educational health differences by examining how trends in educational differences in self-rated health have unfolded from 1982 to 2003 and whether or not such trends vary across gender and race groups. We use 22 years of pooled repeated cross-sectional data from the National Health Interview Survey to examine these trends among U.S. adults aged 35–79. Consistent with recent literature, we find a trend toward widening gaps in self-rated health by educational level in recent years for middle-aged and older adults but relatively stable or even slightly narrowing gaps in recent years for younger adults. All of these changes are in the context of generally improving health across this time period, particularly for persons with a college education. Moreover, we find that these trends differ to some degree by race and gender, with young adult black women being the only group among whom educational differences in health are converging. Our findings point to the continued need to address educational health disparities in the United States, which are increasing for most demographic subgroups despite the national goal of their elimination.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Resection versus Transplantation

Hepatic resection and transplantation remain the standard curative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. These treatments are limited to either patients with early-stage tumors in the case of transplantation or patients with preserved liver function in the case of resection. Currently, patients with early-stage tumors and advanced liver disease are best served by transplant evaluation; however, the best treatment strategy for patients with well-preserved liver function, absence of portal hypertension, and early-stage HCC is debated. Numerous retrospective studies have documented better disease-free survival with transplantation, although the benefit on overall survival is less clear. This effect is likely due to the availability of effective liver-directed therapies for recurrence postresection and the effect of immunosuppression on tumor progression following posttransplant recurrence. Survival studies based on intention-to-treat principle incorporating patients listed for transplantation, but did not undergo the procedure due to waitlist dropoff have also suggested that overall survival rates may not be different despite high recurrence rates following resection. Transplantation has been shown to offer a survival advantage beyond 5-years; however, improvements in adjuvant therapies may narrow this gap. Determining optimal therapy for an individual patient requires consideration of numerous factors including tumor stage, severity of liver disease, and comorbidities as well as geographic and logistical factors that may affect transplant availability.
Respiratory gating for liver tumors: Use in dose escalation

Abstract Purpose: To determine the clinical impact of the Varian Real-Time Position Monitor (RPM) respiratory gating system for treatment of liver tumors. Methods and Materials: Ten patients with liver tumors were selected for evaluation of this passive system, which tracks motion of reflective markers mounted on the abdomen with an infrared-sensitive camera. At simulation, a fluoroscopic movie, breathing trace, and CT scans synchronized at end-expiration (E-E) and end-inspiration were acquired in treatment position using the RPM system. Organs and gross tumor volume were contoured on each CT. Each organ’s positional change between two scan sets was quantified by calculation of the center of volume shift and an “index coefficient,” defined as the volume common to the two versions of the organ to the volume included in at least one (intersection/union). Treatment dose was determined by use of normal tissue complication probability calculations and dose-volume histograms. Gated portal images were obtained to monitor gating reproducibility with treatment. Results: Eight patients received 177 treatments with RPM gating. Average superior-to-inferior (SI) diaphragm motion on initial fluoroscopy was reduced from 22.7 mm without gating to 5.1 mm with gating. Comparing end-inspiration to E-E CT scans, average SI movement of the right diaphragm was 11.5 mm vs. 2.2 mm for two E-E CT scans. For all organs, average E-I SI organ motion was 12.8 mm vs. 2.0 mm for E-E studies. Index coefficients were closer to 1.0 for E-E than end-inspiration scans, indicating gating reproducibility. The average SI displacement of diaphragm apex on gated portal images compared with DRR was 2.3 mm. Treatment was prolonged less than 10 minutes with gating. The reproducible decrease in organ motion with gating enabled reduction in gross tumor volume-to-planning target volume margin from 2 to 1 cm. This allowed for calculated dose increases of 7%–27% (median: 21.3%) in 6 patients and enabled treatment in 2. Conclusion: Gating of radiotherapy for liver tumors enables safe margin reduction on tumor volume, which, in turn, may allow for dose escalation.
Functional Gap Junctions Between Osteocytic and Osteoblastic Cells

Morphological evidence shows that osteocytes, bone cells that exist enclosed within bone matrix, are connected to one another and to surface osteoblasts via gap junctions; however, it is unknown whether these gap junctions are functional. Using a newly established murine osteocytic cell line MLO-Y4, we have examined functional gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between osteocytic cells and between osteocytic and osteoblastic cells. In our hands, MLO-Y4 cells express phenotypic characteristics of osteocytic cells including a stellate morphology, low alkaline phosphatase activity, and increased osteocalcin messenger RNA (mRNA) compared with osteoblastic cells. Northern and Western blot analysis revealed that MLO-Y4 cells express abundant connexin 43 (Cx43) mRNA and protein, respectively. Lucifer yellow dye transferred from injected to adjacent cells suggesting that osteocytic cells were functionally coupled via gap junctions. Functional GJIC between osteocytic and osteoblastic (MC3T3-E1) cells was determined by monitoring the passage of calcein dye between the two cell types using a double labeling technique. The ability of bone cells to communicate a mechanical signal was assessed by mechanically deforming the cell membrane of single MLO-Y4 cells, cocultured with MC3T3-E1 cells. Deformation induced calcium signals in MLO-Y4 cells and those elicited in neighboring MC3T3-E1 cells were monitored with the calcium sensitive dye Fura-2. Our results suggest that osteocytic MLO-Y4 cells express functional gap junctions most likely composed of Cx43. Furthermore, osteocytic and osteoblastic cells are functionally coupled to one another via gap junctions as shown by the ability of calcein to pass between cells and the ability of cells to communicate a mechanically induced calcium response.
Two iridovirus isolates from Carassius auratus (L.)

. Two new viruses, goldfish virus-1 (GFV-1) and goldfish virus-2 (GFV-2), were isolated from swimbladder cultures prepared from healthy Carassius auratus (L.). The isolates were sensitive to pH, heat, and chloroform but stable to freezing and thawing. Treatment with IUDR, Feulgen staining and acridine orange staining indicated that the viruses contain double-stranded DNA. Electron microscopy revealed enveloped virions of 180 nm enclosing icosahedral capsids of 120 nm. Viral growth was studied by light and electron microscopy and infectivity assays. Virions were assembled in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and apparently released through cell degeneration. Infectious virus was first produced at 24 h post-infection. Progressive cytopathology was observed leading to cell ghosts by 96 h post-infection. The results suggest tentative placement of the viruses in the family Iridoviridae.
Coupling the academic research enterprise to the innovation economy

The UCF approach to aiding Florida's innovation economy is discussed. The approach is to focus on key areas of research that overlap our state's economic development plans, work in partnership with existing high tech industry, and develop our regions innovation economy eco-system. One method of focus is to develop multidisciplinary research and education centers that support existing and emerging economic sectors. One example is CREOL, the Center for Research in Optics and Lasers. We incentivize faculty to make their labs and skills available to regional industry through a matching grants program. We work in partnership with regional governments to develop a network of company incubators with high wage and high growth potential.
Avoiding ''Dirac's veto'' in monopole theory

Using ideas introduced by Wu and Yang in their recent nonsingular formulation of an action principle for classical Dirac magnetic monopoles, we modify Dirac's original formulation of the problem so as to avoid the difficulties encountered when charged-particle trajectories intersect singular strings.
Antithetic effects of ryanodine and ruthenium red on osteclast‐mediated bone resorption and intracellular calcium concentrations

In the process of bone remodeling, osteoclasts are responsible for resorption of bone. High levels of intracellular calcium decrease the bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts and increase detachment of osteoclasts from the bone surface. The regulatory role of intracellular calcium in bone resorption is not clearly understood. To understand this phenomenon, we studied the effects of the intracellular calcium modulators ryanodine and ruthenium red on bone resorption using the disaggregated osteoclast pit assay. Changes in intracellular calcium concentrations after treatment with these compounds were detected with the fluoroprobe fura2. With ryanodine, a significant, dose-dependent decrease in bone resorption was detected. This inhibition of bone resorption was reversible upon the removal of ryanodine. Ryanodine increased intracellular calcium concentrations, suggesting that the mechanism of inhibition by ryanodine was via alterations in intracellular stores of calcium. After treatment with ruthenium red, osteoclasts resorbed significantly more bone compared to vehicle-treated cells. This increase in bone resorption correlated with a decrease in intracellular calcium concentrations. The addition of parathyroid hormone or ruthenium red to osteoclast cultures containing ryanodine did not attenuate the decrease in bone resorption caused by ryanodine, suggesting that the mechanism of ryanodine inhibition of bone resorption may involve the "locking" of a calcium channel in an open position.
The Emergency Department Evaluation, Management, and Treatment of Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common symptom-related complaints for visits to primary care physicians and is the most common musculoskeletal complaint that results in visits to the emergency department (ED). With recent national health care initiatives moving toward universal coverage, an increasing number of patients with common complaints such as back pain will visit the ED. The first goal of ED assessment of patients with back pain is to evaluate for potentially dangerous causes that, if not promptly recognized, could result in significant morbidity and mortality. This article focuses on the essential elements of an efficient and effective evaluation, management and treatment of patients with back pain in the ED, with special emphasis on epidural abscess, epidural compression syndrome, malignancy, spinal stenosis, and back pain in children.
Activation of two environmental mixtures by plant S9.

Abstract Nitrated and ozonized pyrene mixtures were assayed for their mutagenic activity in the presence or absence of pea S9 using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 as the indicator organism. The plant enzymes increased the mutagenic response of these mixtures above that obtained in the absence of S9. The optimum S9 protein concentration for the activation of the nitrated pyrene mixture at 0.1 μg was 3.9 mg/plate whereas that for the ozonized pyrene mixture at 33.3 μg was 3.2 mg protein/plate. BSA could not replace S9, and NADPH was a required co-factor in the activation of both mixtures by pea S9. Although the nitrated pyrene mixture was determined to consist of ∼90% 1-nitropyrene, the mutagenic response due to this compound ranged from 30 to 50% of that of the mixture.
Chaos in Oil Prices? Evidence from Futures Markets

Abstract We test for the presence of low-dimensional chaotic structure in crude oil, heating oil, and unleaded gasoline futures prices from the early 1980s. Evidence on chaos will have important implications for regulators and short-term trading strategies. While we find strong evidence of non-linear dependencies, the evidence is not consistent with chaos. Our test results indicate that ARCH-type processes, with controls for seasonal variation in prices, generally explain the non-linearities in the data. We also demonstrate that employing seasonally adjusted price series contributes to obtaining robust results via the existing tests for chaotic structure. Maximum likelihood methodologies, that are robust to the non-linear dynamics, lend support for Samuelson's hypothesis on contract-maturity effects in futures price-changes. However, the tests for chaos are not found to be sensitive to the maturity effects in the futures contracts. The results are robust to controls for the oil shocks of 1986 and 1991.
Synthesis of a Linear Time-variable Parameter Control System†

ABSTRACT The modified adjoint System has been utilized by other researchers in the analysis of time-varying parameter (TVP) systems whoso input signal is a stationary random variable corrupted with noise (Laninng and Battin 1956). The modified adjoint system will be developed in this paper as a synthesis tool for final-value systems. The system error is to be a minimum at time t = T. The technique is applicable to systems which can be represented by ordinary linear differential equations with deterministic functions as coefficients. The modified adjoint system is advantageous since it yields the optimum system, in a mean-square sense, and provides a set of integral equations which makes compensation an easier task than is possible with the original system (Womack 1963). An experimental system and a random signal generator were constructed to test the synthesis procedure. The performance of the experimental system incorporating conventional compensation is compared with the performance of the system includ...
Acculturative stress, depression, and suicidal ideation among Mexican-American adolescents: Implications for the development of suicide prevention programs in schools.

The present study explored the relationship of scores on acculturative stress with those on depression and suicidal ideation among 26 male and 28 female Mexican-American students from a southern California high school. Subjects completed the SAFE acculturative stress scale, the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, and the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior. Analyses suggested that acculturating Mexican-American adolescents who report high scores on acculturative stress may report elevated scores for depression and suicidal ideation. Researchers should assess suicide risk within this and other acculturating groups, and risk factors specific to acculturating groups should be considered in the development and implementation of suicide prevention programs in schools.
Human α(1,3)-Fucosyltransferase IV (FUTIV) Gene Expression Is Regulated by Elk-1 in the U937 Cell Line

The alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase IV (FucTIV) encoded by its gene (FUTIV) is responsible for synthesis of Le(x) (Galbeta4[Fucalpha3]GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta1,R), which causes compaction in the morula stage of the preimplantation mouse embryo, as well as alpha1,3-fucosylation at multiple internal GlcNAc of unbranched poly-N-acetyllactosamine, termed "myeloglycan," the physiological epitope of E-selectin. Since myeloglycan-type structure is also expressed in various types of human cancer and may mediate E-selectin-dependent metastasis, expression of FUTIV is oncodevelopmentally regulated. The mechanisms controlling FUTIV expression remain to be clarified. In this report, we further characterize FUTIV gene structure and define a non-TATA box-dependent transcriptional start region just upstream from the translational start. FUTIV promoter/reporter fusion constructs defined a "full-length" promoter and highly active fragments in the macrophage-derived U937 and myeloid HL60 cell lines. One highly active fragment contains a consensus binding site for the Ets-1 transcription factor (Withers, D. A., and Hakomori, S. (1997) Glycoconj. J. 14, 764). Gel shift analysis shows specific binding to this site in nuclear extracts from U937 cells. Mutation of the Ets consensus site significantly reduces FUTIV promoter activity in both cell lines. Gel supershift and dominant negative cotransfection experiments identified the Ets family member Elk-1 as one component binding and regulating the FUTIV promoter in U937 cells. The significance of FUTIV regulation by Elk-1 is discussed.
The TREX1 C-terminal region controls cellular localization through ubiquitination.

TREX1 is an autonomous 3′-exonuclease that degrades DNA to prevent inappropriate immune activation. The TREX1 protein is composed of 314 amino acids; the N-terminal 242 amino acids contain the catalytic domain, and the C-terminal region (CTR) localizes TREX1 to the cytosolic compartment. In this study, we show that TREX1 modification by ubiquitination is controlled by a highly conserved sequence in the CTR to affect cellular localization. Transfection of TREX1 deletion constructs into human cells demonstrated that this sequence is required for ubiquitination at multiple lysine residues through a “non-canonical” ubiquitin linkage. A proteomic approach identified ubiquilin 1 as a TREX1 CTR-interacting protein, and this interaction was verified in vitro and in vivo. Cotransfection studies indicated that ubiquilin 1 localizes TREX1 to cytosolic punctate structures dependent upon the TREX1 CTR and lysines within the TREX1 catalytic core. Several TREX1 mutants linked to the autoimmune diseases Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus that exhibit full catalytic function were tested for altered ubiquitin modification and cellular localization. Our data show that these catalytically competent disease-causing TREX1 mutants exhibit differential levels of ubiquitination relative to WT TREX1, suggesting a novel mechanism of dysfunction. Furthermore, these differentially ubiquitinated disease-causing mutants also exhibit altered ubiquilin 1 co-localization. Thus, TREX1 post-translational modification indicates an additional mechanism by which mutations disrupt TREX1 biology, leading to human autoimmune disease.
Validation of the Name Anthurium nutibarense (Araceae)

The new species Anthurium nutibarense Croat (Araceae) from Colombia was published invalidly in 2005, not specifically designating the location of the holotype. This oversight is corrected with the validation of the name Anthurium nutibarense Croat.
Movement, Microhabitat, Exploitation, and Management of Gulf of Mexico Sturgeon, Apalachicola River, Florida

Abstract Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus desotoi) in the Apalachicola River, Florida were tagged with radiotelemetry transmitters and conventional external tags from 1982 to 1984 to determine population size, movement, and exploitation rate, and identify the specific microhabitat for this subspecies. The population estimate for sturgeon larger than 450 mm in the upper river was 282 (181-645) fish in 1983. During summer, these sturgeon concentrated in the tailwater basin below Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam (JWLD). This summer microhabitat was characterized by a mean depth of 8.4 m (6.0-12.0 m; SD 1.3) and a mean velocity of 64.1 cm/second (60.0-90.0 cm/ second; SD 6.8). Sturgeon tagged in May-June and recaptured during July and September experienced weight losses between 4 and 15%. Fifteen of 17 radio-tagged fish migrated downstream from JWLD over a 40-day period (October-November) as the water temperature in late fall dropped to 18 C. All 15 fish entered the Brothers River and were located in a...
Anton Boisen: Figure of the future?

From a family that produced a long line of distinguished educators, Boisen came to the Presbyterian ministry by way of Indiana University, Yale For estry School, and Union Theological Seminary in New York.2 When he was forty-four, a series of unfortunate incidents centering around an unsuccessful love affair culminated in an acute psychotic episode. In October of 1920, Boisen began his journey into what he termed "the little-known country" of mental illness. With his illness diagnosed as schizophrenia (dementia praecox) by his physicians at Westboro State Hospital, he remained acutely dis turbed for a period of about two weeks, then snapped out of it, and in early November was transferred to the convalescent ward.
A Shutter-Illumination Device for the Study of Phototropic Dyes*

In order to study the phototropism exhibited by certain monoazo dyes more completely, a shutter and a sample illuminator were constructed for use with a Cary Recording Quartz Spectrophotometer. By use of this device the dye solutions can be exposed to a strong light source during the dark periods of the chopping shutter of the instrument. In this way solutions which show a very rapid phototropic change can be studied.