cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Do the United States and India Have in Common (Besides Indians): Enough for a Strategic Alliance?

The United States and India have much in common (besides Indians), enough in fact to constitute a comprehensive alliance. Both countries are former British colonies. Both use the English language: unofficially but more in the US; and, officially but less in India. Both are complimentarily large, the US in terms of area and India in terms of population. The people of India are however younger and poorer. Both countries have long coastlines and together they are adjacent the major oceans of the world: Pacific, Artic, and Atlantic including the Gulf of Mexico; and, Indian including the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The United States of America and the Republic of India have now converged as welfare states. The US was once more capitalistic whereas India was once more socialistic. Both countries use Affirmative Action: for minorities and women in the US; and, for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes in India. Both governments are secular but the US is predominately Christian whereas India is predominately Hindu. Both countries face the threat of Islamic terrorism particularly the US vis-a-vis Afghanistan and India vis-a-vis Pakistan. And both the United States and India must contend with the new super-state, China.
Database management for multimedia distributed collaborative writing

Traditional computer applications have been designed to be run by one user at a time who does some work in a single medium, such as ASCII text, and very little regard has been given to the fact that people often work together. With the recent development of computer networks and the widespread deployment of networked workstations, automating the group writing process for geographically distributed users has become feasible. In this paper, a software package which supports distributed, real-time, multimedia collaborative work, known as the Distributed Collaborative Writing Aid (DCWA), is described. The DCWA has five major parts but the emphasis of this paper is on the DCWA's distributed database, which is crucial to making the entire system work together both logically and consistently. The database is a specialized, distributed system based on the client-server model implemented in C++ running under 4.3BSD Unix and provides dynamic management capabilities unique for a multimedia collaborative working environment.
Developmental Polymorphism Induced by Intraspecific Predation in the Ciliated Protozoon Onychodromus quadricornutus

ABSTRACT. The hypotrich ciliate Onychodromus quadricornutus is remarkable in its potential for voluminous size (up to 900 μm in length), its possession of a unique set of four dorsal spines or horns, and its capability to express two kinds of developmental polymorphism induced by intraspecific predation. Cell length frequencies in replicates of a well-fed clone show normal distributions; starvation followed by intraspecific predation, however, induces cells within a clone to transform into two size classes: small lanceolate cells and cannibal giants. Induction experiments indicate that a substance released by cannibal giants stimulates defensive spine growth in clonemates within 24 h. Giants can also induce spine growth in non-clonemates. Furthermore, O. quadricornutus cells exposed to the predacious ciliate Lembadion magnum also develop hypertrophied spines. Selection experiments show that conspecific giants prey on cells with undeveloped spines ( 40 μm in length). Transformation of a population of similarly sized O. quadricornutus cells into two different size classes may function to increase the range of potential prey sizes available to the O. quadricornutus population; hypertrophied spines appear to function as an inducible defense against intermittent predators appearing in the system including conspecific giants. This is the first reported case of a defensive developmental polymorphism induced by intraspecific predation.
Phase-Sensitive Fluorescence Lifetime Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis

A simple and highly sensitive fluorescence lifetime detection method for capillary electrophoresis has been introduced. The detection scheme is based on the integrated phase-sensitive fluorescence intensity. The integrative nature of the method results in high sensitivity of lifetime detection. The limit of detection is 7.8 amol of fluorescein injected, representing a 2 orders of magnitude improvement over the detection limits previously reported in the UV−visible region. Rayleigh scattering, Raman scattering, and background fluorescence can be effectively suppressed by setting the detector out of the phase from the background signal. Fluorescence background can be eliminated whether the fluorescence lifetime of the background is longer or shorter than the solute molecules of interest. The signal-to-noise ratio of measurements is optimized by varying the modulation frequency and the detector phase angle.
Recognition of simian virus 40 T antigen synthesized during viral lytic cycle in monkey kidney cells expressing mouse H2Kb- and H2Db-transfected genes by SV40-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes leads to the abrogation of virus lytic cycle

Abstract Simian virus 40 (SV40)-encoded tumor or T antigen localizes in the membranes in addition to the nucleus of SV40-infected permissive monkey cells and SV40-transformed nonpermissive cells. The surface T antigen in SV40-transformed mouse cells provides a target for the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) which recognize SV40 T antigen in association with murine K/D, class I H-2 antigens. In order to demonstrate that SV40 T antigen synthesized in SV40-infected permissive monkey kidney cells (TC-7) may also function as a target for CTL, cloned murine H2D b and H2K b genes were expressed in TC-7 cells by DNA transfection and TC-7 cell lines expressing high levels of either H2K b or HD b antigens were established after cell sorting. SV40-infected TC-7/H2K b and TC-7/H2D b cells became susceptible to lysis by SV40-specific H-2 b restricted CTL. The susceptibility of these transfected SV40-infected monkey cells to anti-SV40 bulk culture CTL and SV40-specific H2D b - and H2K b -restricted CTL clones depended upon the synthesis of SV40 T antigen and the expression of the appropriate H2K b or H2D b restriction elements. Treatment of SV40-infected TC-7/H2D b and TC-7/H2K b With CTL clones abrogated the virus lytic cycle indicating that CTL may play an important role in limiting papovavirus infection in the natural host.
Challenging paradigms: long non-coding RNAs in breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

OVERVIEW The continuing challenges to the treatment of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) warrant a new avenue of investigation. In parallel, a startling revelation of the first post-genomic decade has been the rising prominence of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as key gene regulators, including in breast cancer. High-throughput experimental surveys of the human transcriptome show that lncRNAs are abundant. In contrast to microRNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs possess multiple, diverse, heterogeneous molecular mechanisms of action making them high-level master regulators of gene regulatory networks and pathways in cancer. In particular, lncRNAs directly regulate the activity of transcription proteins and epigenetic modifiers, which, in turn, govern their own downstream sets of target genes. Therefore, provided that such lncRNA regulatory activities are functional in cancer, including DCIS, targeting the lncRNAs or the regulatory networks which they mediate can represent an important new avenue of treatment. Development of lncRNAtargeting therapies may emerge into a key innovation generated in clinical and translational research by the innovative use of the latest human genome annotation datasets combined with high throughput transcriptome analyses. We propose a paradigm shift: direct interrogation of lncRNAs in the molecular characterization of DCIS subtypes, including the idea that lncRNAs may be the trigger for progression from in situ to invasive cancer.
Technique for Percutaneous Fluoroscopically Guided G-Tube Placement in a High-BMI Patient

Enteral feeding is still the preferred method of nutritional support even in patients with excessive body mass index. Often, this mass poses a hindrance in performing routine procedures. We present a case describing the technique used to safely place a fluoroscopically guided G-tube in a patient with a significant nutritional deficit after repair of a ruptured thoracic aneurysm. Her admission weight was in excess of 180 Kg. However, protracted respiratory insufficiency and mechanical ventilation prolonged her hospital course. The G-tube was successfully placed using a fluoroscopically guided technique. The advantages of such an approach are discussed.
Unexpected bias in NIST 4πγ ionization chamber measurements.

Abstract In January of 2010, it was discovered that the source holder used for calibrations in the NIST 4πγ ionization chamber (IC) has not been stable. The positioning ring that determines the height of the sample in the reentrant tube of the IC has slowly shifted during 35 years of use. This has led to a slow change in the calibration factors for the various radionuclides measured by this instrument. The changes are dependent on γ-ray energy and the time the IC was calibrated for a given radionuclide. A review of the historic data with regard to when the calibrations were done has enabled us to approximate the magnitude of the changes with time. This requires a number of assumptions, and corresponding uncertainty components, including whether the changes in height were gradual or in steps as will be shown in drawings of sample holder. For calibrations the changes in calibration factors have been most significant for low energy gamma emitters such as 133 Xe, 241 Am, 125 I and 85 Kr. The corrections to previous calibrations can be approximated and the results corrected with an increase in the overall uncertainty. At present we are recalibrating the IC based on new primary measurements of the radionuclides measured on the IC. Likewise we have been calibrating a new automated ionization-chamber system. A bigger problem is the significant number of half-life results NIST has published over the last 35 years that are based on IC measurements. The effect on half-life is largest for long-lived radionuclei, especially low-energy γ-ray emitters. This presentation will review our results and recommend changes in values and/or uncertainties. Any recommendation for withdrawal of any results will also be undertaken.
Reassessing the uranium decay constants for geochronology using ID-TIMS U–Pb data

As the internal precision of radiometric dates approaches the 0.1% level, systematic biases between different methods have become apparent. Many workers have suggested that calibrating other decay constants against the U–Pb system is a viable solution to this problem. We test this assertion empirically and quantitatively by analyzing U–Pb systematics of zircon and xenotime on the single- to sub-grain scale by high-precision ID-TIMS geochronology on 11 rock samples ranging from 0.1 to 3.3 Ga. Large statistically equivalent datasets give 207 Pb/ 206 Pb dates that are systematically older than 206 Pb/ 238 U dates by 0.15% in Precambrian samples to as much as 3.3% in Mesozoic samples, suggesting inaccuracies in the mean values of one or both of the U decay constants. These data are used to calculate a ratio of the U decay constants that is lower than the accepted ratio by 0.09% and is a factor of 5 more precise. Four of the samples are used to augment existing data from which the U–Pb and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar systems can be compared. The new data support most previous observations that U–Pb and 207 Pb/ 206 Pb dates are older than 40 Ar/ 39 Ar by 61%, though scatter in the amount of offset in samples as a function of age suggests that the bias is not entirely systematic, and may incorporate interlaboratory biases and/or geologic complexities. Studies that calibrate other decay schemes against U–Pb should include an assessment of inaccuracies in the U decay constants in addition to other systematic biases and non-systematic geologic uncertainty.
Cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activation in canine tracheal smooth muscle by methacholine and sodium nitroprusside.

Abstract Methacholine (3 μM) and sodium nitroprusside (300 μM) increased cGMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios (activity without cGMP divided by activity with 2 μM cGMP) in canine tracheal smooth muscle from a control value of 0.47 to 0.55 and 0.71, respectively. This correlates with 3-fold and 6-fold increases in cGMP concentrations in response to methacholine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively. Addition of charcoal to the homogenizing buffer prior to homogenization had no significant effect on the cGMP-dependent protein kinase response to either agent, suggesting that activation of the enzyme was not occurring as a result of cGMP release during homogenization. In order to limit cGMP dissociation from cGMP-dependent protein kinase during the assay procedure, it was necessary to perform assays at a reduced temperature (0°C) and with an abbreviated incubation time (2.5 min). When assayed at 30°C, activated cGMP-dependent protein kinase rapidly lost activity. This inactivation occurred whether the enzyme had been activated exogenously, by exposing a supernatant fraction of canine trachealis to 0.1 μM cGMP, or endogenously, by treating intact canine trachealis with methacholine or sodium nitroprusside. By assaying instead at 0°C, the inactivation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase was minimized. Therefore, the activity ratio obtained by this new modified assay provided an estimate of the endogenous activation state of cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The data indicate that cGMP responses in canine trachealis to both methacholine and sodium nitroprusside are functionally linked to activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase and are consistent with the hypothesis that cGMP, via cGMP-dependent protein kinase activation, regulates smooth muscle contractility.
Efficacy, abuse, and toxicity of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in the pediatric population.

AbstractPurpose of reviewOver-the-counter cough and cold medicines are widely prescribed by general pediatricians in order to relieve cough and other symptoms in the setting of upper respiratory infections. This article will review the pharmacologic components found in over-the-counter cough medicin
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in Parkinson's disease: A pilot study

The present study was conducted to examine the feasibility and effect of an individual cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for depression that was modified to meet the unique needs of the PD patient and incorporated a separate social support intervention for caregivers. Fifteen PD patients with Major Depressive Disorder participated in the study with a caregiver. Patients received 10-14 sessions of modified individual CBT. Caregivers attended 3-4 psychoeducational sessions, occurring separately from the patients treatment sessions, which focused on strategies for offering appropriate support, and ways to respond to the patients' negative thoughts in a targeted manner. Patients experienced a significant reduction in depressive symptoms and negative cognitions, and an increased perception of social support over the course of treatment. Gains were maintained at 1-month follow-up. In conclusion, individual CBT, when modified appropriately, may be a feasible and effective option for PD depression. Larger, randomized controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of this intervention and to identify specific mechanisms of change.
Central Venous Stenosis in the Hemodialysis Patient: Incidence and Efficacy of Endovascular Treatment:

Central venous stenosis occurs as a complication of central venous catheterization and significantly complicates delivery of dialysis through arteriovenous grafts in the ipsilateral upper limb. This report includes two separate studies. Functioning expanded polytetrafluorethylene grafts have been prospectively evaluated using duplex scanning and angiography performed in all patients with stenoses > 50%. From this, it has been prospectively established that the incidence of unsuspected central venous stenoses in patients with functioning grafts is 29%. In the second part of the report, the authors' experience in the treatment of 25 central venous stenoses with percutaneous angioplasty and stent placement has been retrospectively reviewed. Initial technical success rate was 88%. Primary patency was 84% at 1 month, 42% at 6 months, and 17% at 1 year. Mean primary patency was 5.7 months. Stents were placed in five patients. Prevention of central venous stenosis by avoiding subclavian catheterization is optimal. Balloon angioplasty provides short-term patency, but it is the only option in most cases. The role for endovascular stent placement remains to be defined but early results are not optimistic.
Arteriovenous fistulas as adjuncts to venous bypass grafts.

A canine model of occlusive hindlimb venous hypertension was used to determine which of two different, clinically applicable, adjunctive arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), sequential or peripheral, would augment flow in autogenous cross-femoral venous bypass grafts (CFBs) with the least alteration of hindlimb hemodynamics. Unilateral venous hypertension was produced by iliofemoral venous ligation in three groups of five dogs: group I, venous ligation only (controls); group II, venous ligation followed by CFB with a sequential AVF; and group III, venous ligation with CFB and peripheral AVF. Bilateral hindlimb venous and arterial pressures and flows, and graft flows, were measured preoperatively and for 4 h postoperatively. Insertion of a CFB eliminated the venous hypertension in all 10 bypass dogs. Graft flow was augmented by addition of the sequential AVF (to 1167 +/- 309 mL/min from 92 +/- 12.3 mL/min: p less than .0001). However, this was accompanied, both in the limb ipsilateral to the AVF and in the contralateral limb, by the return of significant venous hypertension (p less than .001) and significant reduction (even reversal) of femoral vein flow caudad to the CFB (p less than .005). In contrast, adding the peripheral AVF augmented graft flow (to 200 +/- 62 mL/min from 65 +/- 43.7 mL/min; p less than .0001), but did not elevate venous pressure or impair venous flow in either hindlimb. The data from this short-term canine model suggest that a peripheral adjunctive AVF may effectively augment CFB graft flow without the potential for detrimental effects on venous hemodynamics characteristic of the sequential AVF.
Steranes and triterpanes generated from kerogen pyrolysis in the absence and presence of minerals.

Changes in the degree of isomerization of steranes and triterpanes during kerogen pyrolysis in the absence or presence of minerals are described. Kerogen from a Monterey Formation diatomite core sample was pyrolyzed under reduced pressure at 300 C for 2-1000 hrs in the presence or absence of calcite, illite, and montmorillonite. It is observed that the extent of isomerization of biomakers in C-20 in 14 alpha(H), 17 alpha(H)-steranes, at C-22 in 17 alpha(H), 21 beta(H)-hopanes and of 17 beta(H), 21 beta(H)-hopanes correlates to early diagenetic stages in rock extracts from sedimentary basins, and faster isomerization for steranes and triterpanes in the bitumen then for those in the kerogen structure are detected. The effects of the minerals on the isomerization reactions are examined; calcite inhibits, and illite and montmorillonite catalyze the reactions.
Crossflow-induced vibrations of heat exchanger tube banks

Abstract This paper presents a mathematical model for crossflow-induced vibration of tube banks. Motion-dependent fluid forces and various types of flow noises are incorporated in the model. An analytical solution for the fluid inertia force, hydrodynamic damping force, and fluid elastic force is given for tube banks arranged in an arbitrary pattern. Based on the model, a better understanding of the vibrations of heat exchanger tube banks subjected to various flow excitations can be developed.
Determinants of Use of a Walking Device in Persons With Parkinson's Disease

Abstract Objective To identify determinants for the use of a walking device in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). Design Cross-sectional study of participants with PD. Setting Laboratory. Participants Persons with PD (N=85; 60 men) were studied. Their mean age was 69.4±8.9 years. The average time since diagnosis was 7.9±5.3 years. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Age, sex, disease duration, disease severity, and motor impairment were recorded. Participants were asked whether they usually used any walking device (eg, cane or walker) and were categorized as either an "independent walker" or a "device walker." Clinical balance measures including functional reach, turn duration, 5-meter timed Up and Go (5m-TUG) test, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale were investigated for their contribution to the prediction of walking with a device. Results Thirty-one participants (36.5%) reported that they usually used a walking device. Classification and regression tree analysis determined that the 5m-TUG test and the ABC scale were important factors in differentiating participants who used a walking device from those who did not. Critical thresholds included 13 seconds for the 5m-TUG test and a score of 75 for the ABC scale in determining device walking. Using only these 2 determinants, the classification and regression tree model correctly classified 81% of the patients as either independent or needing a walking device. Conclusion The 5m-TUG test and the ABC scale may be useful in clinical assessments of the need for a walking device in persons with PD.
Investigation of the Chemical Differences between Native and Bypass Coronary Artery Plaques from the Same Heart Using Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CP/MAS-NMR)

The plaque deposits in bypass arteries and native arteries from the same heart have been studied using solid state cross polarization nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS NMR). Both 13C and 31P signals were observed. The samples are of interest because plaque in native arteries may have deposited during the lifetime of the patient. However, plaque in the bypass occurred since bypass surgery. It has been observed that the mature plaque in native arteries was more calcified than that in bypass arteries, especially if the latter had not matured to become significant in size. Results showed that the concentrations of carboxylate carbons present in cholesterol esters were similar in native and bypass arteries. However, the areas of the 13C peaks of the carboxylate compared to the sum of areas of all other 13C arteries indicated that the carboxylate was attached to five or six other carbons. From this we can calculate that the carboxylate to other carbon ratio in the remainder must be 1:4 or 1:3. This indicates large quantities of other organic compounds in the deposits. Studies of 31P showed that phosphorus existed primarily as hydroxyapatite in the crystalline native plaque. However, a large proportion existed as organic phosphorus in the bypass plaque. In addition, we studied the interactions of calcium with homocysteine and cholesterol. Calcium-homocysteine and cholesterol-homocysteine precipitates were characterized using 13C solid state NMR. Results showed that calcium appeared to interact with sulphur in the homocysteine which seemed to form dimers and polymers.
Effect of the Seasonal Variation of Fatty Acids in Milk Fat on the Sensitivity of a Test for Vegetable Fat Adulteration

Abstract The objective of this study was to ascertain whether the sensitivity of a test for vegetable fat adulteration of milk fat might be improved by considering the seasonal variation of the criteria for identifying suspect samples. The test is based on the ratio of the concentrations of butyric acid to oleic acid (C 4 : C 18:1 ). Samples of milk fat that exhibit a ratio value greater than 2 standard deviations from the mean can be considered abnormal and possibly adulterated with vegetable fat. For the 6 mo of November through April, when the value of this ratio is typically high, the criteria for identifying suspect samples can be modified, that is, the minimum value of the ratio for pure milk fat can be increased. The minimum amount of vegetable fat in a sample of milk fat that can be detected using this method is reduced for 10.5% to approximately 8.2%. The second objective of this study was to determine the suitability of the test for detecting vegetable fat adulteration of milk fat from sources other than block Mozzarella, i.e., from ice cream and Mozzarella cheese from frozen pizzas.
Hedgehog signaling: mechanisms and evolution

The Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins plays essential roles in the development of a wide variety of animal species and underlies multiple human birth defects and cancers. To ensure the proper range of signaling, the Hh proteins are modified with lipids, assembled into water-soluble multimers, and interact with multiple cell surface proteins. In the target cells, a largely conserved intracellular signal transduction pathway, from the cell surface receptor Patched to the Glioma-associated oncogene homolog (Gli) family of transcription factors, mediates the transcriptional responses from fruit flies to mammals. A significant divergence between vertebrates and insects is the vertebrate-specific requirement of cilia for Hh signal transduction and Gli protein activation. Finally, transcription-independent cellular responses to Hh have been described in certain developmental processes. With clinical trial underway to treat Hhrelated diseases, more work is urgently needed to reach a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of Hh signaling in development and diseases.
Murals as text: a social-cultural perspective on family literacy events in US prisons

Literacy and parenting programmes in US prisons tend to be generic and skills-oriented, insensitive to pressing personal needs of parents and their distant children. This study reports on a prison-based family/art/literacy programme that attended to the local needs and interests of participants through a mural project. The article describes some of the social-cultural purposes that buttressed family engagement. It further explains how the project attended to idiosyncratic needs within a carefully structured, yet flexible, programme design. Six principles for contextualised, family/art/literacy programmes in prison are suggested.
Attitudes About Marketing in Higher Education: An Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT This article describes a study measuring the attitudes of higher education professionals about the marketing policies of their institutions. The study employed elements of qualitative and quantitative methods. Results of the study indicate that respondents agree that marketing efforts are now “critically important” to their institutions' future. Results also identify attitudes about who should be responsible for marketing policies, as well as attitudes about the effectiveness of the policies. The article also draws implications from the study which might serve as a catalyst for future research that could benefit the field of marketing in higher education.
Two notes on subshifts

We prove two unrelated results about subshifts. First, we give a condition on the lengths of forbidden words that is sufficient to guarantee that the corresponding subshift is nonempty. The condition implies that, for example, any sequence of binary words of lengths 5, 6, 7, . . . is avoidable. As another application, we derive a result of Durand, Levin and Shen [2, 3] that there are infinite sequences such that every substring has high Kolmogorov complexity. In particular, for any d < 1, there is a b ∈ N and an infinite binary sequence X such that if τ is a substring of X, then τ has Kolmogorov complexity greater than d |τ | − b. The second result says that from the standpoint of computability theory, any behavior possible from an arbitrary effectively closed subset of nN (i.e., a Π1 class) is exhibited by an effectively closed subshift. In technical terms, every Π1 Medvedev degree contains a Π 0 1 subshift. This answers a question of Simpson [10].
Timing of subsequent new tumors in patients who present with basal cell carcinoma or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Importance Patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (often termed nonmelanoma skin cancer or keratinocyte carcinoma [KC]) often develop new KCs, but information is limited on the frequency and timing of these subsequent tumors. This information is crucial to guide follow-up care. Objective To determine the timing of subsequent new KCs in patients who present with KC. Design, Setting, and Participants We enrolled a consecutive cohort of 1426 patients diagnosed as having biopsy-proven KC from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2000, in a university dermatology practice and its affiliated Department of Veterans Affairs dermatology service. After exclusion of patients with basal cell nevus syndrome and immunocompromise, 1284 patients (90.0%) were followed up prospectively for a mean of 5.7 (range, 0-12.3) years. Main Outcomes and Measures We assessed the risks for subsequent KCs over time using single-failure and multiple-failure models. We separately assessed outcomes after first lifetime KCs and after nonfirst lifetime KCs. We also performed secondary analyses of the risk for a subsequent BCC after a prior BCC diagnosis and the risk for a subsequent SCC after a prior SCC diagnosis. Results The risk for a subsequent KC was substantially lower after the first lifetime KC diagnosis: 14.5% (95% CI, 11.9%-17.7%) at 1 year, 31.1% (95% CI, 27.3%-35.3%) at 3 years, and 40.7% (95% CI, 36.5%-45.2%) at 5 years, than after a nonfirst KC: 43.9% (95% CI, 42.0%-45.9%) at 1 year, 71.1% (95% CI, 69.1%-73.0%) at 3 years, and 82.0% (95% CI, 80.2%-83.7%) at 5 years. Secondary analyses of the risks for a subsequent BCC after a prior BCC diagnosis and of a subsequent SCC after a prior SCC diagnosis yielded results consistent with the analyses for the pooled KC sample. Conclusions and Relevance Although all patients with KC are assumed to be at high risk for subsequent tumors, a subset may not develop another KC after their first tumor. Whether these findings are related to biological or behavioral differences or to differences in health care services should be investigated further to inform and improve care. Ongoing routine screening for subsequent KC may not be indicated for all patients with KC. Skin cancer screening can be improved with a better understanding of the course and frequency of subsequent KC diagnoses.
Deep inelastic neutron scattering from liquid4He in aerogel glass

We report highQ inelastic neutron scattering studies of liquid4He confined inside porous aerogel glass in both the normal and superfluid phases. The scattering consists of a broad component, which we interpret as due to atoms localized on the surface of the glass, and a narrow component, which we interpret as due to the confined liquid inside the pores. The broad component is quite small, and no quantitative analysis is attempted. However, the narrow component due to the confined liquid is sufficiently large that information on the kinetic energy and condensate fraction may be obtained. The measurements are at large enoughQ (23 A−1) that the incoherent approximation may be used to directly extract the kinetic energy. Furthermore, the observed scattering is consistent with the impulse approximation, allowing information on both the momentum distribution and the condensate fraction to be extracted. The kinetic energy of the confined liquid is close to previous measurements of the kinetic energy in the bulk liquid. The condensate fraction of the confined liquid, which is estimated using a modification of a method due to Sears, is close to previous estimates of the condensate fraction in the bulk liquid.
Sensitivity and specificity of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire for detecting bipolar disorder.

Abstract Background: This study aims to replicate the sensitivity and specificity of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) for bipolar disorder and assess the impact of insight on the MDQ’s sensitivity. Unlike prior telephone-based validation, this is the first clinical study to assess the validity of the MDQ. Methods: 37 consecutive patients with bipolar spectrum illness received the MDQ, as well as 36 consecutive patients with unipolar depression. MDQ diagnoses were compared to DSM-IV-based SCID diagnoses. A total of 16 bipolar patients also received the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD) to measure insight. Results: Overall sensitivity for the MDQ was 0.58, higher in bipolar I disorder (0.69) than in bipolar II/NOS (0.30, P=0.06). The sample was highly insightful, but the two patients with lowest insight both had false negative screens. Patients’ low ratings of severity of mania (question 3 of the MDQ) explained almost half of all false negative results. Specificity was 0.67. Conclusions: The MDQ demonstrates good sensitivity in insightful patients with bipolar I disorder, but may be less useful in patients with impaired insight or milder bipolar spectrum conditions.
Sleep Apnea in Normal Subjects following Mandibular Osteotomy with Retrusion

Two women, 43 and 46 years old, weighing respectively 51 kg and 49 kg, underwent mandibular osteotomy with retrusion, after which they began to snore heavily at night. The initial events were central; obstructive apneic and hypopneic events, documented by polysomnography, developed over time. When patient 2 was on her back, she frequently had central apneas (identified by esophageal pressure monitoring) preceded by increasing swings in pressure, indicative of increased airway resistance without oxygen desaturation.
Studies of hydrogen exchange in proteins. V. The correlation of ribonuclease exchange kinetics with the temperature-induced transition.

Abstract RNase hydrogen exchange kinetics are similar to the characteristically complex hydrogen exchange of proteins in general. We have analyzed these kinetic data in terms of distributions of first order rates. Two classes of exchanging sites in tritiated RNase can be identified and isolated by their temperature dependence. The pH and cosolvent effects on each class have been measured separately. Each class contains a distribution of first order rates evenly distributed over the range. The rank order of exchange is pH and temperature independent. One class exchanges with an apparent activation energy (E*app) similar to that of random conformation polypeptides and substituted amides, ≃22 kcal. The second class exchanges with an E*app of ≃60 kcal. The number of sites exchanging in each class is pH dependent. At pH 3.15 about 50% of the measured sites exchange with low E*app, while at pH 6 about 90% exchange with low E*app. To account for the range and temperature dependence of the high E*app distribution of exchange rates we propose a model involving an equilibrium between the folded and thermally unfolded state. This model is supported by (a) the agreement between observed and calculated rates estimated from the literature values of the thermal unfolding equilibrium constant, (b) the pH dependence of the high E*app exchange, and (c) the urea and ethanol dependence of the high E*app exchange. It is proposed that the low E*app exchange is from the folded protein, and as such offers a uniquely sensitive probe of the conformational dynamics of the folded state. The pH dependence of the low E*app rates is less than one-third that observed in model random conformational polypeptides.
Effect of visuo-haptic co-location on 3D Fitts' task performance

Given the ease that humans have with using a keyboard and mouse in typical, non-colocated computer interaction, many studies have investigated the value of co-locating the visual field and haptic workspaces using immersive virtual reality (VR) modalities. Significant understanding has been gained by previous work comparing physical tasks against VR tasks, visuo-haptic co-location versus non-colocation, and even visuo-haptic rotational misalignments in VR. However, few studies have explored all of these paradigms in context with each other and it is difficult to do inter-study comparisons because of the variation in tested motor tasks. Therefore, the goal for the current study was to characterize human performance of Fitts' point-to-point reaching task - an established test of manual performance - in the physical, co-located/non-colocated VR, and rotated VR visualization conditions. A key finding was the significant decrease observed in end-point error for tasks performed in a co-located virtual reality environment. The results also showed cyclic performance degradations due to rotational visuo-haptic misalignments that were consistent with trends reported by the literature
Antecedents and Effects of Outside Director’s Awareness of CEO Decision Style

There have been increasing calls for greater outside directors to be more aware and informed about the firm S decisions and decision-making process. If outsiders are more informed, it is presumed that they will work more closely with the CEO, and as a result, positively influence firm performance. This research examined individual outside directors’ awareness of one prominent aspect of the CEO’S activity, namely the CEO’S strategic decision style. We found that the outside director3 awareness of the CEOS decision style was positively related to financial profitability and negatively related to financial risk after controlling for industry, organizational size, profit orientation, board leadership, and proportion of insiders. In addition, we found that the CEOS tenure was negatively related to outsider awareness, but this relationship was stronger in non-profit organizations and situations where the CEO did not chair the board. Implications of the findings for future research and application are discussed.
The Journey of the Malaria Parasite in the Mosquito: Hopes for the New Century

In this review, Anil Ghosh, Marten Edwards and Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena follow the journey of the Plasmodium parasite in the mosquito vector. At each developmental step, they highlight some of the major unanswered questions currently challenging cell and molecular biologists. A more thorough understanding of Plasmodium-mosquito interactions might lead to the development of mosquitoes unable to support parasite development.
Transport of methotrexate and other folate compounds: components, mechanism and regulation by cyclic nucleotides.

Abstract Transport of Methotrexate and other folate compounds into cells of L1210 mouse leukemia or Lactobacillus casei occurs via “active,” carrier-mediated processes. In the bacterial system, transport is linked to glycolysis and is unaffected by cyclic nucleotides. A folate-binding protein, believed to be the carrier in the transport process, has been solubilized by treatment of L. casei membranes with Triton X-100 in the presence of [ 3 H]folate and purified to homogeneity. The protein (MW 25,000) binds an equimolar amount of folate. Owing to a preponderance of hydrophobic amino acids, the binding protein is insoluble in aqueous media unless encased in a Triton micelle. Similar experiments suggest that L1210 cells may contain a Triton-extractable membrane protein that binds 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate and Methotrexate. Transport of Methotrexate into L1210 cells is depressed by exogenous cyclic nucleotides or compounds that elevate the level of endogenous cyclic nucleotides, such as phosphodiesterase inhibitors, adenyl cyclase stimulators, glucose, ATP, ADP and GTP. Implications of these observations for cancer chemotherapy are discussed.
In vitro assays of angiogenesis for assessment of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic agents

Blood vessels, either in insufficient numbers or in excess, contribute to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Agents that stimulate angiogenesis can improve blood flow in patients with ischemic diseases, whereas anti-angiogenic agents are used to treat disorders ranging from macular degeneration to cancer. In this review I describe in vitro assays that can be used to assess the activity of agents that affect angiogenesis. Means of quantifying endothelial cell matrix degradation, migration, proliferation, apoptosis and morphogenesis are discussed, as are embryoid body, aortic ring and metatarsal assays of vessel outgrowth. Strengths and limitations of these techniques are also addressed.
Effects of cannabinoids on synaptic membrane enzymes. I. In vitro studies on synaptic membranes isolated from rat brain.

The understanding of the effects of cannabinoids in human subjects has been obscured by a lack of knowledge about how the various active principles from marijuana act at the cellular level in the brain. For this reason the present study was undertaken to determine the effects of cannabinoids on the enzymes associated with the synaptic membranes. Electron micrographic analysis was performed to determine the purity of synaptic membrane preparations from rat brain, and subsequently such preparations were subjected to additions of ethanol, Tween-80, 80% glycerol, and either Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or cannabinol. Both sodium and potassium activated ATPase (Na+,K+-ATPase), and Mg2+—ATPase were measured as the µM orthophosphate (Pi) released per minute per µg membrane protein and these specific activities of the enzymes expressed as absolute values and as the percentage depression brought about by the cannabinoids. The ATPase specific activities are taken from the rate curve ...
Changes in Cognitive State Alter Human Functional Brain Networks

The study of the brain as a whole system can be accomplished using network theory principles. Research has shown that human functional brain networks during a resting state exhibit small-world properties and high degree nodes, or hubs, localized to brain areas consistent with the default mode network (DMN). However, the study of brain networks across different tasks and or cognitive states has been inconclusive. Research in this field is important because the underpinnings of behavioral output are inherently dependent on whether or not brain networks are dynamic. This is the first comprehensive study to evaluate multiple network metrics at a voxel-wise resolution in the human brain at both the whole brain and regional level under various conditions: resting state, visual stimulation, and multisensory (auditory and visual stimulation). Our results show that despite global network stability, functional brain networks exhibit considerable task-induced changes in connectivity, efficiency, and community structure at the regional level.
A Dysphagia Management Model for Rural Elderly

Therapists working in rural areas with the elderly often find coordinated support staff unavailable, or insufficiently trained in identification and management of unique health care problems. One such problem is swallowing disorders, or dysphagia. A model is presented providing an intervention program for the identification and management of dysphagia for people residing in rural nursing homes and home care settings. Training guidelines for care providers to observe, record, and report clients with dyshagia are given. Guidelines for the development of a professional resource network of specially trained professionals in management and treatment of dysphagia are offered.
Reduction of Benzenoid Synthesis in Petunia Flowers Reveals Multiple Pathways to Benzoic Acid and Enhancement in Auxin Transport

In plants, benzoic acid (BA) is believed to be synthesized from Phe through shortening of the propyl side chain by two carbons. It is hypothesized that this chain shortening occurs via either a beta-oxidative or non-beta-oxidative pathway. Previous in vivo isotope labeling and metabolic flux analysis of the benzenoid network in petunia (Petunia hybrida) flowers revealed that both pathways yield benzenoid compounds and that benzylbenzoate is an intermediate between L-Phe and BA. To test this hypothesis, we generated transgenic petunia plants in which the expression of BPBT, the gene encoding the enzyme that uses benzoyl-CoA and benzyl alcohol to make benzylbenzoate, was reduced or eliminated. Elimination of benzylbenzoate formation decreased the endogenous pool of BA and methylbenzoate emission but increased emission of benzyl alcohol and benzylaldehyde, confirming the contribution of benzylbenzoate to BA formation. Labeling experiments with 2H5-Phe revealed a dilution of isotopic abundance in most measured compounds in the dark, suggesting an alternative pathway from a precursor other than Phe, possibly phenylpyruvate. Suppression of BPBT activity also affected the overall morphology of petunia plants, resulting in larger flowers and leaves, thicker stems, and longer internodes, which was consistent with the increased auxin transport in transgenic plants. This suggests that BPBT is involved in metabolic processes in vegetative tissues as well.
Age-dependent expression of MeCP2 in a heterozygous mosaic mouse model

Functional deficiency of the X-linked methyl-CPG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) leads to the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). Due to random X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), most RTT patients are females who are heterozygous for the MECP2 mutation and therefore mosaic in MeCP2 deficiency. Some MECP2 heterozygote females are found to have unbalanced XCI, which may affect the severity of neurological symptoms seen in these patients; however, whether MeCP2 deficiency affects XCI in the postnatal and adult brain is unclear. Here we developed a novel MeCP2 mosaic mouse model in which the X chromosome containing the wild-type Mecp2 expresses a green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene, while the X chromosome harboring the mutant Mecp2 does not. Due to random XCI, the neurons in the female MeCP2 mosaic mice express either wild-type MeCP2 (GFP+) or mutant MeCP2 (GFP−), and the two can be distinguished by GFP fluorescence. Using this mouse model, we evaluated XCI in female heterozygote mice from 3 to 9 months after birth. We found that MeCP2 deficiency does not affect XCI at 3 months of age, but does alter the proportion of wild-type MeCP2-expressing neurons at later ages, suggesting that MeCP2 impacts XCI patterns in an age-dependent manner. Given the important function of MeCP2 in neuronal development, our data could shed light on how MeCP2 deficiency affects postnatal brain functions and the dynamic changes in the neurological symptoms of RTT.
Integrating evidence from multiple sources to evaluate post-approval safety: an example of sildenafil citrate and cardiovascular events.

ABSTRACTObjective: Recent high-profile medicine withdrawals have highlighted the complex decision-making process that regulators, pharmaceutical companies, prescribers, and patients must undertake in determining whether a drug has an appropriate benefit–risk balance. Our objective was to analyze the utility of different drug safety data sources and methods, using the experience of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) and post-approval concerns about its potential association with cardiovascular (CV) events (i.e., myocardial infarction [MI] and death) as a case study.Methods: We evaluated safety data from three sources: the standard passive surveillance system (i.e., spontaneous reports filed to Pfizer Inc), pooled clinical trial data, and a prospective observational cohort study, the International Men's Health Study (IMHS).Results: More than 28 000 spontaneous reports were received in the first 7 years after approval. Between 2001 and 2005, the proportion filed by persons other than healthcare professionals (61%) ...