cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MO-AB-207-01: ACR Update in CT

A goal of an imaging accreditation program is to ensure adequate image quality, verify appropriate staff qualifications, and to assure patient and personnel safety. Currently, more than 35,000 facilities in 10 modalities have been accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR), making the ACR program one of the most prolific accreditation options in the U.S. In addition, ACR is one of the accepted accreditations required by some state laws, CMS/MIPPA insurance and others. Familiarity with the ACR accreditation process is therefore essential to clinical diagnostic medical physicists. Maintaining sufficient knowledge of the ACR program must include keeping up-to-date as the various modality requirements are refined to better serve the goals of the program and to accommodate newer technologies and practices. This session consists of presentations from authorities in four ACR accreditation modality programs, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, and mammography. Each speaker will discuss the general components of the modality program and address any recent changes to the requirements. Learning Objectives: 1. To understand the requirements of the ACR MR Accreditation program. The discussion will include accreditation of whole-body general purpose magnets, dedicated extremity systems well as breast MRI accreditation. Anticipated updates to the ACR MRI Quality Control Manual will also be reviewed. 2. To understand the requirements of the ACR CT accreditation program, including updates to the QC manual as well as updates through the FAQ process. 3. To understand the requirements of the ACR nuclear medicine accreditation program, and the role of the physicist in annual equipment surveys and the set up and supervision of the routine QC program. 4. To understand the current ACR MAP Accreditation requirement and present the concepts and structure of the forthcoming ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual and Program.
The Size and Composition of Government Spending in Multi-Party Systems

This paper explores the structure of party competition across democratic nations and its impact on the size and composition of government spending. The analytical framework expands on the norm of universalism, applies it to multi-party legislatures, and develops several propositions. We examine these propositions empirically using panel data for two samples, OECD countries and a large sample of world countries. The findings for both samples indicate that political fragmentation, usually measured by the number of effective political parties, has a positive relationship with the size of the government, and with subsidies and transfers. The findings also indicate that proportional representation (particularly closed lists proportional voting systems) and parliamentary countries favor higher public expenditures.
Coumarin as a Prominent Lead Nucleus, by Virtue of its Diversity in Bioactivity and Therapeutic Potential in Present Scenario of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research

Coumarins are well-known natural products displaying a broad range of biological activities1. Many naturally occurring as well as synthetic derivatives of coumarin have been found to possess diverse biological activities namely anticoagulant2, spasmolytic3, anthelmintic4, diuretic5 and anti-inflammatory6 activities. 4-Pyridyl and 4-piperidyl coumarin have been found to exhibit CNS depressant and analgesic activities in animal models7-9. The halogenated furanyl coumarins show antimicrobial action10, whereas isoxazolinyl and oxadiazolyl coumarins 11 inhibit enzymes like glucouronidase and 1, 2-lipoxygenase. Further, 2-biheterocyclic benzofurans with furan12, chromone13 ring systems exhibit antibacterial, psychotropic and anti-inflammatory properties. Keywords: Furanocoumarins; Coumarins; analgesic; anthelmintic
Retention of 4-hydroxytamoxifen and levels of estradiol in the breast of high-risk women.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 5431 Objective: Evaluate the formation and retention of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-HT) in the breast and determine the relation to estradiol and tamoxifen levels in serum and breast fluid. Background: Tamoxifen is an orally effective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator, reducing the incidence of ER+ breast cancer by approximately 70%; however 30% of ER+ cancers and essentially no ER- cancers are not prevented. There are no published data on variability of formation and retention of the active metabolite of tamoxifen in ductal lavage fluid (DLF) or the concomitant levels of estradiol that may compete for the ER. Methods: Twenty patients with Gail scores of >1.7 were offered tamoxifen for prophylaxis, 20 mg/day. Both women who accepted tamoxifen, and those who declined, were recruited to the study. DLF was collected before treatment and after approximately 6 mo. Blood was collected at the time of ductal lavage. DLF was lyophilized and reconstituted to 4 ml and total protein concentration was measured. Estradiol was measured by ELISA in serum and DLF; tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen were measured by HPLC-mass spectrometry. Results: 13 women accepted TAM therapy. The concentrations of 4-HT in DLF varied from undetectable to 0.81 ng/ml with a CV of 53.6%; those of tamoxifen varied from undetectable to 9.4 ng/ml with a CV of 42.8%. The ratio of 4-HT to tamoxifen in serum was 0.048, and in DLF was 0.124. The correlation of DLF TAM with DLF 4-HT was 0.90, whereas that between serum tamoxifen and DLF 4-HT was 0.49.. The correlation of serum and DLF 4-HT was 0.42. DLF estradiol concentrations were negatively correlated with DLF 4-HT, r = -0.50, but DLF androstenedione and DHEA were not correlated with DLF 4-HT, -0.09 and -0.07, respectively. Tamoxifen treatment increased estradiol levels in the DLF from 20.9 to 77.6 pg/mg protein (p = 0.03 by Wilcoxon’s test) over 6 mo. Conclusions: The concentrations of 4-HT and tamoxifen in DLF are highly variable with undetectable levels in some samples. The higher correlation of DLF 4-HT with DLF tamoxifen and the higher ratio of 4-HT to tamoxifen imply that DLF 4-HT is primarily formed from tamoxifen in the breast. The increase in estradiol in DLF is consistent with previous data on serum levels but the negative correlation of DLF 4-HT with DLF estradiol suggests that, to some degree, 4-HT is competing with estradiol for binding sites in the breast. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that ineffective prophylactic treatment may be related to inadequate inhibition of estrogen action at the level of the breast in some women.
Is there a palliative benefit of gemcitabine plus fluoropyrimidines in patients with refractory colorectal cancer? A review of the literature

Introduction: Fluoropyrimidines with oxaliplatin or irinotecan plus bevacizumab is the standard chemotherapy combination in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Gemcitabine acts synergistically with fluoropyrimidines to enhance the binding of thymidylate synthase and increase inhibition of DNA synthesis. The objective of this review is to evaluate the literature for evidence of efficacy and safety of fluoropyrimidine plus gemcitabine (FG) in patients with advanced CRC. Methods: Relevant studies were identified in PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane database and the American Society of Clinical Oncology abstracts using the following search terms: gemcitabine, fluorouracil, capecitabine and colorectal cancer. Only studies using the FG combination were selected. Results: Forty-two advanced CRC patients were evaluated in two Phase I studies and the maximum tolerated dose of gemcitabine was 900 – 1,000 mg/m2 weekly with either bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine. A total of 216 advanced CRC patients were...
ROLE OF LAMININ POLYMERIZATION AT THE EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL INTERFACE IN BRONCHIAL MYOGENESIS

Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells were isolated from mouse embryonic lungs and plated at subconfluent and confluent densities. During the first 5 hours in culture, all the cells were negative for smooth muscle markers. After 24 hours in culture, the mesenchymal cells that spread synthesized smooth muscle alpha-actin, muscle myosin, desmin and SM22 in levels comparable to those of mature smooth muscle. The cells that did not spread remained negative for smooth muscle markers. SM differentiation was independent of cell-cell contact or proliferation. In additional studies, undifferentiated lung mesenchymal cells were cocultured with lung embryonic epithelial cells at high density. The epithelial cells aggregated into cysts surrounded by mesenchymal cells and a basement membrane was formed between the two cell types. In these cocultures, the mesenchymal cells in contact with the basement membrane spread and differentiated into smooth muscle. The rest of the mesenchymal cells remained round and negative for smooth muscle markers. Inhibition of laminin polymerization by an antibody to the globular regions of laminin beta1/gamma1 chains blocked basement membrane assembly, mesenchymal cell spreading and smooth muscle differentiation. These studies indicated that lung embryonic mesenchymal cells have the potential to differentiate into smooth muscle and the process is triggered by their spreading along the airway basement membrane.
Identification of Acanthamoeba membrane protein that is recognized by TLR4 on corneal epithelial cells

We have shown that Acanthamoeba spp. activate TLR4 on corneal epithelial cells and induce secretion of chemokines. However, the components of Acanthamoeba trophozoites that induce chemokines production remain unknown. We sought to identify the trophozoite molecules that interact with TLR4 on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells and trigger IL-8 production. Acanthamoeba membrane protein (AcMP) was isolated by homogenization of trophozoites. The supernatants were collected, solubilized, and membrane fractions were separated by centrifugation using Mem-PER TM plus kit. To examine functional activity of AcMP, HCE and TLR4-expressing HEK293 cells were incubated with or without A. castellanii (1×10 5 cells/ml) and AcMP (10, 25, and 50 µg/ml) for 24 hours. AcMP was chromatographed by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and fractions were pooled into four peaks (AcMP-P1 - AcMP-P4). TLR4-ligand in AcMP-P1 - AcMP-P4 was determined by Western blotting. HEK293 and HCE cells were incubated with or without A. castellanii , lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 µg/ml), and AcMP-P1 - AcMP-P4 (20 µg/ml) for 24 hours. qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to examine the ability of AcMP-P1 - AcMP-P4 to stimulate IL-8 production in HEK293 and HCE cells. Inhibition of TLR4 involved preincubating HEK293 and HCE cells for 1 hour with neutralizing TLR4-antibody (10 µg/ml) or with the control antibody (10 µg/ml, goat serum) followed by incubation with or without A. castellanii , LPS, and AcMP-P2 for 24 hours. AcMP induced significant IL-8 production at doses of 10, 25, and 50 µg/ml in HEK293 cells while IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 secretion were significantly increased in HCE cells at the dose of 50 µg/ml. Treatments of HEK293 with FPLC chromatographed trophozoites’ proteins, AcMP-P1 - AcMP-P4; only AcMP-P2 upregulated significant IL-8 production and mRNA expression. Western blotting of AcMP-P1 - AcMP-P4 showed TLR4-antigen in AcMP-P2 and was recognized an approximate 15-kDa protein band. Anti-TLR4 antibody attenuated IL-8 secretion that is stimulated by AcMP-P2 from HEK293 and HCE cells. These results suggest that A. castellanii trophozoites recognize TLR4 on HCE and HEK293 cells by an approximate 15-kDa molecular mass protein of AcMP and induce IL-8 secretion.
Relationships between Social Connectedness and Spirituality and Depression and Perceived Health Status of Rural Residents

Purpose: A number of factors impact an individual’s health, including the social, economic and physical environments surrounding the individual, as well as their personal characteristics and behaviors (World Health Organization, 2012a; United States Health and Human Services, 2011). Social factors, such as social norms, social support, and social interactions are known to have a strong impact on health, but are often omitted when looking at the overall health of an individual. Rural residents are vulnerable to poorer health outcomes because they often lack needed resources and have other risk factors for developing adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Lack of social resources in rural areas may lead to social isolation, which may contribute to poorer health outcomes observed in some of these residents. Little is known, however about the relationship of social determinants of health in rural residents and overall health outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine the relationships between 2 social determinants of health, social connectedness and spirituality, on the level of self-reported depression and perceived health in a rural population. Sample: A convenience sample of rural residents in a western Colorado county. Method: Self-reported survey data collection with hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Findings: The more socially connected a person felt, the better they perceived themselves as physically and mentally healthy. Additionally, the more socially connected the individual felt the less depressive symptoms they reported. Spiritual perspective was not found to correlate significantly with either self-reported depression or perceived health. Conclusion: We found that social connectedness is an important factor in the overall well-being of rural residents in this small convenience sample. This has significant implications for assessment of the health needs of rural residents and raises awareness of the need to provide opportunities for residents to become more socially active. Keywords: social connectedness, spiritual perspective, spirituality, depression, health, rural populations, vulnerable populations, social determinants of health. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v14i2.325
The effect of cavitating ultrasound on the aqueous phase hydrogenation of cis-2-buten-1-ol and cis-2-penten-1-ol on Pd-black

Abstract We have studied the effect of cavitating ultrasound on the heterogeneous aqueous hydrogenation of cis -2-buten-1-ol (C4 olefin) and cis -2-penten-1-ol (C5 olefin) on Pd-black to form the trans -olefins ( trans -2-buten-1-ol and trans -2-penten-1-ol) and saturated alcohols (1-butanol and 1-pentanol, respectively). Silent (and magnetically stirred) experiments served as control experiments. As described in an earlier publication by our group, we have added an inert dopant , 1-propanol, in the reaction mixture to ensure the rapid onset of cavitation in the ultrasound-assisted reactions that can lead to altered selectivity compared to silent reaction systems [R.S. Disselkamp, Ya-Huei Chin, C.H.F. Peden, J. Catal. 227 (2004) 552]. The motivation for this study is to examine whether cavitating ultrasound can reduce the [ trans -olefin/saturated alcohol] molar ratio during the course of the reaction. This could have practical application in that it may offer an alternative processing methodology of synthesizing healthier edible seed oils by reducing trans -fat content. We have observed that cavitating ultrasound results in a [( trans -olefin/saturated alcohol) ultrasound /( trans -olefin/saturated alcohol) silent ] ratio quantity less than 0.5 at the reaction mid-point for both the C4 and C5 olefin systems. This indicates that ultrasound reduces trans -olefin production compared to the silent control experiment. Furthermore, there is an added 30% reduction for the C5 versus C4 olefin compounds again at reaction mid-point. We attribute differences in the ratio quantity as a moment of inertia effect. In principle, the C4 versus C5 olefins has a ∼52% increase in moment of inertia about C2 C3 double bond slowing isomerization. Since seed oils are C18 multiple cis -olefins and have a moment of inertia even greater than our C5 olefin here, our study suggests that even a greater reduction in trans -olefin content may occur for partial hydrogenation of C18 seed oils.
Isolation of proteins for peptide mapping, amino acid analyses, and sequencing using disulfide crosslinked polyacrylamide gels.

Abstract Conditions for recovery of small amounts of proteins (1–50 μg) from disulfide crosslinked polyacrylamide gels have been examined. Procedures were developed for solubilization and precipitation of Coomassie blue-stained protein bands excised from gels after electrophoretic separations. The precipitated protein was then resolubilized for use in peptide mapping, amino acid analyses, or microsequencing. The amino acid compositions of standard proteins (bovine albumin, ovalbumin, phosphorylase b , and β-galactosidase) isolated by this method were in good agreement with the values for the corresponding conventionally purified proteins. Sequencing was done with high repetitive yield on samples of 100 pmol or below. The method has been successfully applied to several proteins and protein fragments.
Resolving Multiple Responses in an Associative Memory

An interrogation routine is described which retrieves k multiple responses in, at best, (k+1) memory cycles and, at worst, (2k-1) memory cycles. In comparison, the fastest routine described in the literature, Lewin's routine5, always requires (2k-1) memory cycles. The reduction in number of memory cycles achieved by this interrogation routine is at the expense of some sophistication in the bit plane sensing device, namely, distinguishing between no signal, one unit of signal, and more than one unit of signal rather than distinguishing between absence and presence of signal. For large word lengths in respect to the average number of multiple responses, it is apparent that the best case will be expected.
Blindness of clinical evaluators, parents, and children in a placebo-controlled trial of fluvoxamine.

Objective: Few of the increasing number of pediatric clinical trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in children have been evaluated for level of blindness of investigators, children, and parents. The success of the masking procedures used in a double-blind, pediatric trial of fluvoxamine in children was examined. Method: Clinical evaluators, parents, and children were asked to guess individual treatment assignment at the end of an 8-week, placebo-controlled trial of fluvoxamine conducted in 128 outpatients (6–17 years of age) with anxiety disorders. The relationship between treatment attribution and improvement status or presence of adverse events was examined. Results: The rate of correct guesses was significantly greater than chance among clinical evaluators (78%), parents (81%), and children (67%) (for all, p < 0.001). Attribution to fluvoxamine was associated with presence of clinical improvement, and attribution to placebo with lack of improvement (p < 0.001) in both the fluvoxami...
Metal Ionic Diffusivity: Measurement and Application

Diffusivity of metal compounds in aqueous solutions is a very important parameter in hydrometallurgical processes. In metal extraction using a hydrometallurgical method or in the case of solvent extraction, diffusion of metal ions through various medium frequently plays a controlling role. Therefore, correct information on diffusivity of the relevant species is necessary in order to understand the mechanism of the unit process in question. In this paper, various techniques used in measurement of diffusivity of metal compounds in solution are reviewed. A detailed discussion on the practical applicability of the diaphragm cell technique is given, since this technique is regarded as an easy and reliable technique in measuring diffusivity of species dissolved in aqueous media. Also reviewed are theoretical approaches to diffusivity in aqueous media.
Site-Directed Cleavage of DNA by a Linker Histone−Fe(II) EDTA Conjugate: Localization of a Globular Domain Binding Site within a Nucleosome†

The globular domain of linker histones specifically recognizes and binds to the nucleosome core. However, the exact location of the binding site of the globular domain has not been definitively elucidated. To address this issue, a linker histone has been specifically modified at a site adjacent to the globular domain with a radical-based DNA cleavage reagent. The linker histone-Fe(II) EDTA conjugate was bound to reconstituted nucleosomes containing a Xenopus 5S RNA gene, and the resulting cleavage of DNA was used to precisely map the location of the linker histone binding site. The results indicate that the binding site is located on the inside of the superhelical gyre of DNA, just inside the periphery of the nucleosome core region. The implications of these results for the binding of linker histones within native chromatin complexes are discussed.
Deploying PHP applications on IBM DB2 in the cloud: MediaWiki as a case study

Cloud computing is a simple idea. Building every new server by hand is inordinately time consuming; instead, it's better to create a server image, automate and script anything which used to require manual intervention, and use virtualization to instantly deploy as many servers as needed. In a public cloud context, such as Amazon EC2, this also eliminates initial capital costs for a project. In cloud computing, one does not need to buy servers, instead they can use provision virtual ones on demand and only pay for ongoing use.
TU‐C‐211‐09: Quantitative Total Bone Imaging Methodology and Its Sensitivity to Thresholding

Purpose: Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer among males in the US, and over 90% of patients develop bone metastases. Current treatment response evaluation metrics, such as RECIST, are not suited for assessing bone lesions. The aim of this work is to present an automated segmentation method that identifies and characterizes bone lesions and determine its sensitivity to thresholding. Methods: Patients with metastatic prostate cancer were treated with molecular target therapy and received whole body [F‐18]NaF (bone imaging) PET/CT scans during the course of treatment. Scans were evaluated using the Quantitative Total Bone Imaging (QTBI) methodology, which assesses total bone and individual bone lesions in patients with bone metastases. Individual lesions were segmented using thresholds ranging from 20% to 80% of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) in bone. The mean SUV, total SUV, and volume of the total bone and individual lesions were determined as well as the number of lesions. Treatment response was assessed as the percent change in the imaging metrics relative to pre‐treatment. Results: The QTBI methodology was able to identify and characterize bone lesions. Of the treatment response metrics, change in number of lesions showed the greatest dependence on the threshold. The standard deviation of patient responses ranged from 13.5 to 34.5. Change in mean SUV had the least sensitivity to threshold (SD=0.5–2.0). Change in total SUV and volume both showed intermediate variation (SD=7.5–11.5 and 11.0–12.5, respectively). Conclusions: The QTBI methodology is able to identify and characterize bone lesions. However, because most imaging metric responses vary with different thresholds, careful selection of SUV threshold for segmentation is necessary to accurately identify and characterize bone lesions and assess treatment response. With further refinement, this methodology can be a clinically useful tool to improve patient care and test new therapies for use in metastatic bone disease.
The pinyon pines and man

The pinyon pines of southwestern North America hare been used by man as a source of food, firewood, medicinal compounds, and ceremonial materials for many centuries. The importance of these pines to contemporary inhabitants of the area has decreased markedly in recent years, and in some areas programs have been initiated to curtail the development of the juniper-pinyon association. These programs are aimed at increasing local water resources, but the long-range effects of the methods employed remain to be seen.
Post-thoracentesis trapped lung.

A 68-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus, advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy and and hemodialysis-dependent renal failure was admitted to the hospital with a one-week history of confusion and weakness. Six months prior to admission, he was noted to have a large left pleural effusion, for which he had refused further workup. The patient denied alcohol use. He smoked three cigarettes /day but had been a heavy smoker previously. On examination, he was afebrile, blood pressure was 85/48 mmHg, paced heart rate 60 beats/minute and respiratory rate 22 breaths/minute. Physical examination revealed decreased breath sounds and crackles over the left chest. Initial chest X-ray showed complete opacification of the left hemithorax and patchy infiltrates on the right lung base [Figure 1A]. Empiric treatment of sepsis was begun with broad spectrum antibiotics and crystalloid volume resuscitation. An ultrasound-guided thoracentesis yielded one liter of serous fluid with a pH of 7.2; total cell count of 450/mm 3, 60% neutrophils; total protein 3 g/dl; glucose 32 mg/dl and LDH 790U/L. Cultures grew pan-sensitive Streptococcus pneumoniae. Acid-fast bacilli, fungal stains and cytology of the pleural fluid were negative. Post-thoracentesis chest X-ray demonstrated a decrease in left pleural effusion and left anterior pneumothorax [Figure 1B]. A chest computed tomographic scan revealed a septated area of ex vacuo pneumothorax with collapsed lung and a left pleural effusion [Figure 2]. The patient refused to undergo thoracotomy with decortication and was treated.
Source of the urinary maltose and maltotriose excreted during intravenous infusion of oligosaccharide solutions in young pigs

Pigs infused with preparations of glucose oligosaccharides excrete sizeable quantities of maltose in urine despite the absence of maltose in the infused solution. Maltose infused without other oligosaccharides is well utilized. Our studies examined possible sources of excreted maltose. We first examined whether simultaneous infusion of larger oligosaccharides with maltose inhibits maltose utilization. Four young pigs were infused for four days with 20 g/d of a maltose-free oligosaccharide preparation to which tracer quantities of U-14C-maltose were added. Urinary excretion of maltose-plus-maltotriose increased significantly (P less than .05) from a mean +/- SD baseline value of .01 +/- .01 g/d to an overall four-day mean value of 1.33 +/- 0.47 g/d. However, only 10.7 +/- 0.78% of infused 14C-maltose was excreted, indicating that simultaneous infusion of larger oligosaccharides did not inhibit maltose utilization. The second study examined whether maltotriose present in the oligosaccharide mixture was the source of excreted maltose. Four young pigs were infused for three days with 20 g/d of a special preparation of oligosaccharides containing only trace quantities of maltose and maltotriose. Urinary maltose plus maltotriose excretion increased significantly (P less than .05) from a mean +/- SD baseline value of .01 +/- .01 g/d to 1.65 +/- 0.41 g/d during oligosaccharide infusion. The data suggest that excreted maltose and maltotriose arise from the catabolism of larger oligosaccharides.
Role of EUS in drainage of peripancreatic fluid collections not amenable for endoscopic transmural drainage

Background Increasingly, peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) are managed endoscopically with conventional transmural drainage (CTD). The role of interventional EUS in drainage of PFCs requires further clarification, because the procedure is technically challenging, with limited availability. Objective Identify characteristics that determine the need for drainage of PFC by CTD versus EUS. Patients Consecutive patients with symptomatic PFCs (types: pseudocyst, abscess, and necrosis) referred for endoscopic drainage. Study Design Prospective study. Setting Tertiary-referral center. Methods After ERCP, transmural drainage was attempted by CTD. If unsuccessful, drainage by EUS was then attempted. Findings on contrast-enhanced CT and endoscopy were collected to identify characteristics that predict the need for CTD versus EUS drainage. Main Outcome Measurements Identify characteristics to determine whether CTD or EUS is best suited for drainage of a particular PFC. Technical outcomes and safety of both techniques were also compared. Results Of 53 patients with PFCs, CTD was technically successful in 30 (57%) and failed in 23 (43%). PFC regional location was the pancreatic head in 16, the body in 20, and the tail in 17; in these locations, CTD was successful in 13 (81%), 17 (85%), and 0, respectively. The causes of failed CTD were absence of luminal compression (LC) in 20, difficulty with scope positioning in 2, and bleeding with attempted drainage (portal hypertension) in 1. One PFC drained by CTD was later diagnosed as necrotic sarcoma. Of the 23 patients who failed CTD and underwent EUS, an alternate diagnosis of mucinous neoplasm was made in 2 patients, and EUS-guided drainage was successful in the other 21 patients (100%). Although CTD failed in all PFCs in the tail, all were successfully drained by EUS. In the pancreatic-head region, only those PFCs superior to pancreas and extending into porta hepatis (n = 3) required drainage by EUS. In the pancreatic body, only PFCs that developed bleeding from a transmural puncture or without definitive LC because of gastric mural edema (albumin P P = .02). When compared with CTD, EUS drainages were longer in duration (40 versus 75 minutes; P P = .003) when adjusted for the presence of luminal compression at CT, size of the PFC, serum albumin, and etiology of pancreatitis. Limitations Nonrandomized study. Conclusions Because a majority of PFCs can be drained by CTD in a shorter duration, with comparable outcomes, EUS-guided drainage should be reserved mainly for PFCs located at the pancreatic tail, because these are unlikely to cause luminal compression or are technically difficult to access. Also, all pseudocyst-type PFCs must be evaluated by EUS before any attempts at endoscopic drainage, because EUS identifies an alternate diagnosis in 5% of such patients.
Treatment with Tertiary Oximes Prevents Seizures and Improves Survival Following Sarin Intoxication

The capability of the tertiary oximes, monoisonitrosoacetone (MINA) and diacetylmonoxime (DAM), to reactivate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibited by sarin (GB) in the blood, brain, and peripheral tissues of guinea pigs was compared with that of the quaternary oximes 2-PAM, HLo7, and MMB-4. Animals were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) with 1.0 × LD50 of GB and treated intramuscularly (i.m.) 5 min later with one of these oximes. Sixty minutes after GB exposure, tissues were collected for AChE analysis. At low doses, MINA and DAM produced significant increases in AChE activity in all brain areas examined, but no significant AChE reactivation in peripheral tissues or blood. At higher doses, MINA and DAM increased AChE activity in the brain, peripheral tissues, and blood. In contrast, the quaternary oximes produced significant reactivation in peripheral tissues and blood AChE, but no significant reactivation of brain AChE. In another study, animals were pretreated i.m. with pyridostigmine 30 min prior to s.c. challenge with 2.0 × LD50 of GB and treated i.m. 1 min later with atropine sulfate (2.0 mg/kg), plus a varied dose of oximes. MINA and DAM prevented or terminated GB-induced seizure activity and protected against GB lethality in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast, none of the quaternary oximes prevented or stopped GB-induced seizures. Thus, tertiary oximes reactivated AChE in the brain, improved survival, and terminated seizures following GB intoxication.
Effects of Simulation-Based Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background & Aims Simulation-based training (SBT) in gastrointestinal endoscopy has been increasingly adopted by gastroenterology fellowship programs. However, the effectiveness of SBT in enhancing trainee skills remains unclear. We performed a systematic review with a meta-analysis of published literature on SBT in gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods We performed a systematic search of multiple electronic databases for all original studies that evaluated SBT in gastrointestinal endoscopy in comparison with no intervention or alternative instructional approaches. Outcomes included skills (in a test setting), behaviors (in clinical practice), and effects on patients. We pooled effect size (ES) using random-effects meta-analysis. Results From 10,903 articles, we identified 39 articles, including 21 randomized trials of SBT, enrolling 1181 participants. Compared with no intervention (n = 32 studies), SBT significantly improved endoscopic process skills in a test setting (ES, 0.79; n = 22), process behaviors in clinical practice (ES, 0.49; n = 8), time to procedure completion in both a test setting (ES, 0.79; n = 16) and clinical practice (ES, 0.75; n = 5), and patient outcomes (procedural completion and risk of major complications; ES, 0.45; n = 10). Only 5 studies evaluated the comparative effectiveness of different SBT approaches; which provided inconclusive evidence regarding feedback and simulation modalities. Conclusions Simulation-based education in gastrointestinal endoscopy is associated with improved performance in a test setting and in clinical practice, and improved patient outcomes compared with no intervention. Comparative effectiveness studies of different simulation modalities are limited.
Molecular mechanisms of tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer (Review).

Tamoxifen has been prescribed to millions of females for breast cancer prevention or treatment. However, tamoxifen is known to significantly enhance the risk of developing endometrial lesions, including hyperplasia, polyps, carcinomas, and sarcoma. Notably, tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer often has a poor clinical outcome. Understanding the molecular mechanism of tamoxifen-induced endometrial cancer is essential for developing strategies that minimize tamoxifen’s effects on the endometrium without jeopardizing its breast cancer treatment effects. However, this understanding remains limited. Tamoxifen appears to mediate its effect on endometrial cells through estrogenic and non-genomic pathways, rather than introducing a genomic alteration as a carcinogen. Although tamoxifen functions as an agonist and promotes cell proliferation in endometrial cancer, it also displays antagonist activity towards some estrogen targets. Alterations in estrogen receptor-α and its isoforms, as well as the membrane associated estrogen receptor G protein-coupled receptor 30, have been observed with tamoxifen-exposed endometrial cells, and likely mediate the effects of tamoxifen on endometrial cancer cell proliferation and invasion. In addition, gene profile studies of short-term exposure to tamoxifen indicate that the majority of tamoxifen targets are tamoxifen-specific. However, the tamoxifen regulated gene targets that are involved in mediating the effects of long-term exposure to tamoxifen are not yet fully understood. Recent progress has indicated a potential role of unfolded protein response and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer. In the future, studies focusing on long-term effects of tamoxifen exposure are required to understand the molecular mechanisms of tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer.
Determinants of the peptide-induced conformational change in the human class II major histocompatibility complex protein HLA-DR1.

The human class II major histocompatibility complex protein HLA-DR1 has been shown previously to undergo a distinct conformational change from an open to a compact form upon binding peptide. To investigate the role of peptide in triggering the conformational change, the minimal requirements for inducing the compact conformation were determined. Peptides as short as two and four residues, which occupy only a small fraction of the peptide-binding cleft, were able to induce the conformational change. A mutant HLA-DR1 protein with a substitution in the β subunit designed to fill the P1 pocket from within the protein (Gly86 to Tyr) adopted to a large extent the compact, peptide-bound conformation. Interactions important in stabilizing the compact conformation are shown to be distinct from those responsible for high affinity binding or for stabilization of the complex against thermal denaturation. The results suggest that occupancy of the P1 pocket is responsible for partial conversion to the compact form but that both side chain and main chain interactions contribute to the full conformational change. The implications of the conformational change to intracellular antigen loading and presentation are discussed.
Estradiol replacement enhances fear memory formation, impairs extinction and reduces COMT expression levels in the hippocampus of ovariectomized female mice.

Abstract Females experience depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders at approximately twice the rate of males, but the mechanisms underlying this difference remain undefined. The effect of sex hormones on neural substrates presents a possible mechanism. We investigated the effect of ovariectomy at two ages, before puberty and in adulthood, and 17β-estradiol (E2) replacement administered chronically in drinking water on anxiety level, fear memory formation, and extinction. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that estradiol replacement would impair fear memory formation and enhance extinction rate. Females, age 4 weeks and 10 weeks, were divided randomly into 4 groups; sham surgery, OVX, OVX + low E2 (200 nM), and OVX + high E2 (1000 nM). Chronic treatment with high levels of E2 significantly increased anxiety levels measured in the elevated plus maze. In both age groups, high levels of E2 significantly increased contextual fear memory but had no effect on cued fear memory. In addition, high E2 decreased the rate of extinction in both ages. Finally, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is important for regulation of catecholamine levels, which play a role in fear memory formation and extinction. COMT expression in the hippocampus was significantly reduced by high E2 replacement, implying increased catecholamine levels in the hippocampus of high E2 mice. These results suggest that estradiol enhanced fear memory formation, and inhibited fear memory extinction, possibly stabilizing the fear memory in female mice. This study has implications for a neurobiological mechanism for PTSD and anxiety disorders.
Polarization-Dependent Light-Scattering Measurements Using An Electro-Optical Modulator-Based Instrument

AbstractWe have developed an instrument which permits the direct measurement of all sixteen ele-ments of the 4 x 4 phase matrix. This is accomplished using four electro -optic modulatorsto modulate the polarization of the incident and scattered light. Synchronous detectionis then used to measure each of the sixteen individual matrix elements. The instrument andbrief theory of its operation will be discussed, along with possible applications.IntroductionThe determination of the complete light scattering properties, including all polariza-tion effects, of a light scattering medium has received little experimental attention.We have knowledge of only three instruments, other than our own, which have been construc-ted for this purpose. Of these, only ours makes use of polarization modulation. The other three use conventional polarizers and quarter -wave plates to effect the measurements.It is this difference which makes our instrument superior.To facilitate the discussion of polarized light, it is convenient to use the Stokes
Thermal characteristics of GaAs laser junctions under high power pulsed conditions

Abstract The temperature rise at the junction of a GaAs laser has been calculated for a variety of pulse currents and base temperatures. The problem is first solved analytically by an approximation assuming constant thermal parameters, and then by a machine calculation taking into account the temperature variation of the thermal conductivity and the heat capacity. These solutions are compared and discussed in terms of practical laser design parameters. The effects of bulk resistivity and contact resistance are included.
Fabrication of Complex Three-Dimensional Microchannel Systems in PDMS

This paper describes a method for fabricating three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic channel systems in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) with complex topologies and geometries that include a knot, a spiral channel, a “basketweave” of channels, a chaotic advective mixer, a system with “braided” channels, and a 3D grid of channels. Pseudo-3D channels, which are topologically equivalent to planar channels, are generated by bending corresponding planar channels in PDMS out of the plane into 3D shapes. True 3D channel systems are formed on the basis of the strategy of decomposing these complex networks into substructures that are planar or pseudo-3D. A methodology is developed that connects these planar and/or pseudo-3D structures to generate PDMS channel systems with the original 3D geometry. This technique of joining separate channel structures can also be used to create channel systems in PDMS over large areas by connecting features on different substrates. The channels can be used as templates to form 3D structu...
Plasma processing damage in etching and deposition

Plasma-based etching and deposition are key processes in macroelectronics and microelectronics. The energetic species, the time-changing magnetic fields, and the fluxes inherent in these processes give them their flexibility and functionality but also their potential for process damage. The basic causes of the damage are 1) process-induced current flow and 2) direct exposure to the plasma. The impact of plasma-based etching and deposition damage is very much dependent on process flow as well as on device and circuit layout.
The ovine uterus as a host for in vitro-produced bovine embryos

A series of experiments were conducted to determine whether bovine blastocysts would develop beyond the blastocyst stage in the ovine uterine environment. In Experiment 1, in vitro matured, fertilized and cultured (IVM/IVF/IVC) expanded bovine blastocysts were transferred into uteri of ewes on Day 7 or 9 of the estrous cycle and collected on Day 14 or 15 to determine if the bovine blastocysts would elongate and form an embryonic disk. Springtime trials with ewes that were synchronized with a medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) sponge resulted in a 78% blastocyst recovery rate, and 68% of the recovered spherical or elongated embryos had embryonic disks. In Experiment 2, transfer of 4-cell bovine embryos to the oviducts of ewes at Day 3 resulted in a lower recovery (47 vs 80%) than the transfer of blastocysts at Day 7 when embryos were recovered at Day 14. However, the percentage of embryos containing embryonic disks was higher for embryos transferred at the 4-cell stage (71%) than for embryos transferred as blastocysts (50%). In Experiment 3, IVF embryos from super-ovulated cows or Day 8 in vitro produced embryos transferred to cows were collected at Day 14 and were found to be similar in size to those produced by transfer to ewes in Experiment 2. In Experiment 4, the transfer of bovine blastocysts to ewes did not prolong the ovine estrous cycle. In Experiment 5, extension of the ovine estrous cycle by administration of a MAP releasing intravaginal device allowed bovine embryos to elongate extensively and to become filamentous. In Experiment 6, uterine flushings on Day 14 or Day 16 contained elevated levels of interferon-tau when bovine blastocyst were transferred on Day 7. Transfer of bovine embryos to the reproductive tract of a ewe allows some embryos to develop normally to advanced perimplantation stages and may be a useful tool for studying critical stages of embryo development and the developmental capacity of experimental embryos.
Mesoscale and Convective Structure of a Hurricane Rainband

Abstract The mesoscale thermodynamic, kinematic, and radar structure of a Hurricane Floyd rainband observed on 7 September 1981 is presented. Data are from 26 aircraft passes through the rainband from 150 to 6400 m. A composite technique which presents rainband structure as a function of distance from the storm circulation center reveals inflow from the outer edge of the band and a partial barrier to this flow below 3 km. In the direction parallel to rainband orientation, radar reveals cellular reflectivity structure on the upwind and central portions of the rainband; the frequency of cellular precipitation decreases in favor of stratiform precipitation further downwind as the band spirals gradually towards the eyewall. In the radial direction, a decrease of 12 K in θe, is observed across the rainband in the subcloud layer. Convective scale up- and downdrafts that are associated with cellular reflectivity structure are hypothesized to be responsible for the thermodynamic modification of the cloud and subc...
The Identification of Leadership in Two Texas Communities: A Replication of the Bonjean Technique

The Bonjean reputational technique of identifying community leaders is employed in two small Texas communities differing vastly in demographic and economic characteristics. The rankings of leaders revealed a highly visible power structure in both communities with few concealed leaders (those ranked higher by key influentials than by lower-ranking influentials) and few symbolic leaders (the opposite ranking pattern). High visibility in vastly dissimilar towns is discussed in terms of (low) magni-complexity (Bonjean) and preponderantly horizontal linkages (Warren) found in small communities; this suggests that the Bonjean technique is a more valuable instrument in larger communities. LEADERSHIP STRUCrURE NOW HAS been analyzed according to the Bonjean technique in communities with widely divergent demographic, social, and economic bases. In the first exploratory study, Bonjean (1963) extended the reputational approach by applying the notion of differential visability to community power. Thus, in his case study of Burlington, North Carolina, Bonjean ascertained that key leaders made decidedly different choices concerning "who ruled" than did lower-ranking influentials. Those individuals who had been assigned a substantially higher rank by key influentials than by lower-ranking influentials were termed concealed leaders by Bonjean. Individuals who had been assigned a higher rank by lower-ranking leaders than by key leaders were designated as symbolic leaders. Finally, the leaders who had been assigned approximately the same rank by both key influentials and lower ranking influentials were designated as visible leaders. Bonjean thus demonstrated empirically that the reputational method encompassed an internal differentiation among leaders that could prove helpful in more accurately identifying community power structure. Other research (Miller and Dirksen, 1965; French and Aiken, 1968), in the form of replication studies, has verified Bonjean's findings, in that visible, concealed, and symbolic leaders were identified and patterned differences between the three categories observed. This paper describes a replication of the Bonjean technique. Also, specific community characteristics are examined in relation to leadership visibility. Two Texas communities with the pseudonyms of Oiltown and Farmersville were utilized as the research sites. As can be observed in Table 1, the communities presented extreme contrasts on many important community characteristics; in this manner a simultaneous comparison of the findings observed with this technique could be obtained.' Because of the relative absence of community leader