cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Status Confers Survival Benefit in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Surgical Resection of Brain Metastases: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Few prognostic markers are available for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing neurosurgical resection of symptomatic brain metastases. Objective We investigated whether tumor mutation status (EGFR, KRAS, ALK, ROS1, and BRAF) and treatment history were associated with survival after neurosurgery. Methods We reviewed the electronic health records of 104 patients with NSCLC with genomic profiling who underwent neurosurgical resection for symptomatic brain metastases at an academic institution between January 2000 and January 2018. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models to evaluate the association between overall survival (OS) after neurosurgery and clinicopathologic factors, including mutation status. Results Mean age of patients in this study was 61 (±12) years, and 44% were men. The median OS after neurosurgery was 24 months (95% confidence interval, 18–34 months). Our multivariate analysis showed that the presence of an EGFR mutation in the tumor was significantly associated with improved OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.214; P = 0.029), independent of tyrosine kinase inhibitor use. Presence of KRAS, ALK, ROS1, and BRAF alterations was not associated with survival (all P > 0.05). Conversely, older age (HR, 1.039; P = 0.029), a history of multiple brain irradiation procedures (HR, 9.197; P Conclusions Patients requiring surgical resection of an epidermal growth factor receptor–mutated NSCLC brain metastasis had an associated improved survival compared with patients without this mutation, independent of tyrosine kinase inhibitor use. Decreased survival was associated with older age, multiple previous brain radiation therapies, and extracranial metastasis.
Glimpses of Women at the Tokyo Tribunal

Compared to its Nuremberg counterpart, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East has scarcely been visible in the seven decades since both tribunals’ inception. Recently the situation has changed, as publications of IMTFE documents have occurred alongside divers legal and historical writings, as well as two films and a miniseries. These new accounts give new visibility to the Tokyo Trial – or at least to the roles that men played at those trials. This essay identifies several of the women at Tokyo and explores roles they played there, with emphasis on lawyers and analysts for the prosecution and the defense. As was the case with my 2010 essay, “Portraits of Women at Nuremberg,” the discussion is preliminary, offering glimpses of the Tokyo women in an effort to encourage further research.
Achieving resiliency in major defense programs through nonfunctional attributes

This article examines how the ilities, or nonfunctional attributes, help to understand the concept of resiliency in engineered systems. For engineered systems, resiliency describes the ability of a system to react to and return to full function after an interruption to system operation. The literature on resiliency of engineered systems defines resiliency in both the context of mission and platform resiliency; however, it leaves an opportunity to research how to understand, manage, and achieve resiliency. This work proposes an application of the systems engineering ilities to resiliency to understand how systems engineers can account for resiliency in the design process and incorporate resiliency into systems. Quality, robustness, and agility assist in understanding the components of resiliency and the ilities of repairability, extensibility, flexibility, adaptability, and versatility provide means for systems to achieve resiliency. This article applies this framework to examine two cases of DoD systems, the B‐52 bomber and the F‐117 stealth fighter. These two examples demonstrate how nonfunctional attributes enable engineered systems to achieve resiliency and help to better understand the concept of resiliency in engineered systems.
The More American Sociology Seeks to Become a Politically-Relevant Discipline, the More Irrelevant it Becomes to Solving Societal Problems

The long-standing divide between sociology as an activist discipline vs. sociology as a science is examined in light of the current trend for American sociology focus on a limited set of justice issues resulting from inequalities and discrimination against certain categories of persons. Increasingly, this trend is pushing sociology toward become an activist discipline and, as a result, an ideologically-oriented discipline in its teaching and research activities. The outcome of this trend is the growing marginalization of those committed to sociology as a science in departments and academic meetings, resulting in demoralization of sociology’s scientists and their escalating concern over their fate in a discipline increasingly mimicking a social movement organization. Even more damaging to sociology will be a loss of respect inside academia and a loss of relevance among publics not sharing American sociology’s political biases. Furthermore, the chance for sociology to use its vast store of knowledge to help clients of all types solve their organizational problems will be lost if sociology is defined as a political rather than scientific enterprise. Sociology will thus willingly leave the vast resource niche for applications of social science knowledge to disciplines that know little about social organization (i.e., economics and psychology). Sociology will endure, of course, but it will not realize its enormous potential for reshaping societies.
Variational Inference for Linear Systems with Latent Parameter Space

We present a method to perform identification of systems with external inputs whose parameters are indexed by a lower-dimensional latent space. We apply a variational Bayes inference method to approximate the posterior distribution of the system parameters and latent variables, given input and output measurements. This approach seeks to minimize the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the full (but intractable) posterior distribution of the parameters and an approximating (yet tractable) factorized distribution. The method enables inference for systems whose parameters are subject to latent sources of variation, and therefore constitutes a relevant tool for modeling and control in complex domains, such as biological systems and neuroscience.
Pylephlebitis caused by a liver abscess

Pylephlebitis is a rare complication associated with an intra-abdominal septic process in the portal venous system. It is defined as thrombophlebitis of the portal vein and is often reported in association with appendicitis and diverticulitis. We present a 64-yearold female who presented with fever, chills, myalgia, and loss of appetite. A computerized tomography (CT) chest/abdomen/pelvis was performed and the patient was found to have a low-density lesion within the left lobe of the liver suspicious for a hepatic abscess and a suspected left segmental plyephlebitis. The diagnosis of pylephlebitis can be challenging as there is a broad differential diagnosis to consider. When considering pylephlebitis, empiric antibiotic coverage for poly-microbial infection targeting both gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes should be initiated. Antimicrobial therapy is modified according to blood culture results and treatment can be extended for 4 to 6 weeks. To our knowledge, there are only a few cases identifying liver abscesses as an etiology for pylephlebitis. This case was atypical compared to other cases in that the diagnosis of pylephlebitis was incidental.
Minimal Cerebrospinal Fluid Concentration of Miltefosine despite Therapeutic Plasma Levels during the Treatment of Amebic Encephalitis.

Miltefosine is an alkylphosphocholine compound that is used primarily for treatment of leishmaniasis and demonstrates in vitro and in vivo antiamebic activity against Acanthamoeba species. Recommendations for treatment of amebic encephalitis generally include miltefosine therapy. Data indicate that treatment with an amebicidal concentration of at least 16 μg/ml of miltefosine is required for most Acanthamoeba species. Although there is a high level of mortality associated with amebic encephalitis, a paucity of data regarding miltefosine levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in vivo exists in the literature. We found that despite aggressive dosing (oral miltefosine 50 mg every 6 h) and therapeutic plasma levels, the miltefosine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid was negligible in a patient with AIDS and Acanthamoeba encephalitis.
Controlling dinitrogen functionalization at rhenium through alkali metal ion pairing

The rhenium(I) salt Na[Re(η5-Cp)(BDI)] can be cooled in solution under a dinitrogen atmosphere to selectively access complexes containing rhenium(III) centers bound to direduced, doubly-bonded N2 (i.e. diazenide) fragments. We demonstrate this reactivity is critically dependent on ion pairing involving the Na+ ion in the starting material, as N2 binding by Na[Re(η5-Cp)(BDI)] proved to be much less favorable when the Na+ was sequestered by benzo-12-crown-4. The analogous chemistry of Na[Re(η5-Cp)(BDI)] with carbon monoxide (CO) and 2,6-xylylisocyanide (XylNC) was also investigated, which provided structural and spectroscopic bases for determining the impact of ion pairing on π-acid activation in this system.
Detecting qualitative changes in biological systems

Currently, most diseases are diagnosed only after significant disease-associated transformations have taken place. Here, we propose an approach able to identify when systemic qualitative changes in biological systems happen, thus opening the possibility for therapeutic interventions before the occurrence of symptoms. The proposed method exploits knowledge from biological networks and longitudinal data using a system impact analysis. The method is validated on eight biological phenomena, three synthetic datasets and five real datasets, for seven organisms. Most importantly, the method accurately detected the transition from the control stage (benign) to the early stage of hepatocellular carcinoma on an eight-stage disease dataset.
Simplifying the Numerical Human Model with k-means Clustering Method

Currently, the safety assessment of radio-frequency (RF) heating using computational modeling is limited by the available numerical models which are not patient specific. However, RF-induced heating depends on the physical characteristics of the patient. The numerical model generation is difficult due to the highly time-consuming segmentation process. Therefore, having fewer types of segmented structures simplifies the generation of numerical models and reduces computational burden as a result. In this study, we used the k-means clustering method to reduce the number of dielectric properties of an existing numerical model and investigated the resulting difference in specific absorption rate (SAR) with respect to the number of clusters.
A Novel Weave Tether Technique for Proximal Junctional Kyphosis Prevention in 71 Adult Spinal Deformity Patients: A Preliminary Case Series Assessing Early Complications and Efficacy.

BACKGROUND Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) rates may be as high as 69.4% after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. PJK is one of the greatest unsolved challenges in long-segment fusions for ASD and remains a common indication for costly and impactful revision surgery. Junctional tethers may help to reduce the occurrence of PJK by attenuating adjacent-segment stress. OBJECTIVE To report our experience and assess early safety associated with a novel "weave-tether technique" (WTT) for PJK prophylaxis in a large series of patients. METHODS This single-center retrospective study evaluated consecutive patients who underwent ASD surgery including WTT between 2017 and 2018. Patient demographics, operative details, standard radiographic measurements, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 71 patients (mean age 66 ± 12 yr, 65% women) were identified. WTT included application to the upper-most instrumented vertebrae (UIV) + 1 and UIV + 2 in 38(53.5%) and 33(46.5%) patients, respectively. No complications directly attributed to WTT usage were identified. For patients with radiographic follow-up (96%; mean duration 14 ± 12 mo), PJK occurred in 15% (mean 1.8 ± 1.0 mo postoperatively). Proximal junctional angle increased an average 4° (10° to 14°, P = .004). Rates of symptomatic PJK and revision for PJK were 8.8% and 2.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION Preliminary results support the safety of the WTT for PJK prophylaxis. Approximately 15% of patients developed radiographic PJK, no complications were directly attributed to WTT usage, and the revision rate for PJK was low. These early results warrant future research to assess longer-term efficacy of the WTT for PJK prophylaxis in ASD surgery.
Ultra Low-cost DNA Miniprep Spin-Columns for Rapid Filter-Trapped Proteomics Sample Preparation

Complete proteolytic digestion in the preparation of proteins for bottom-up proteomic analysis is substantially improved by the use of detergents for complete denaturation. This however is incompatible with many proteases, and highly detrimental to LC-MS/MS data collection. Recently, filter-based methods such as FASP (Filter-Aided Sample Prep) have seen wide use due to their ability to remove detergents and other harmful reagents prior to digestion and mass spectrometric analysis. Unfortunately, these techniques can be variable and time consuming. Suspension trapping (S-Trapping) is a newer method that utilizes a depth-filter to trap flocculated proteins, and has proven to be a faster approach for proteomic analysis. Sample preparation by these methods requires careful control of protein concentrations in order to flocculate the sample for collection, and the cost of commercial solutions can be high. We hypothesized that protein suspensions also retain on silica-based filters due to ionic interactions mediated by the presence of sodium (Na+), SO42- and PO43-. As such, we sought to investigate if very low-cost DNA purification spin-filters, so called ‘minipreps’ could efficiently and reproducibly trap proteins for digest and LC-MS/MS analysis. Using model proteins and whole-cell lysates we compared digestion efficiencies, capacities, recovery and identification rates from samples prepared using DNA-minipreps and FASP-based protocols. Samples were analyzed using nano uHPLC MS-MS/MS and Label-Free-Quantitative (LFQ) proteomics. DNA-filters show low variability, excellent recovery, sensitivity, and proteome depth from a commercially obtainable device which costs < $0.25 (US) per sample.
How is mobile technology changing city planning? Developing a taxonomy for the future:

The emergence of web technology creates tremendous opportunity to advance good government, through increased information, interaction with the public, and cost-effective, efficient means of conduct...
"Nonsecretory" Multiple Myeloma

A case of "nonsecretory" multiple myeloma with careful study of urine and serum immunoglobulins is presented. Marrow immunofluorescent studies failed to show production of identifiable immunoglobulins. Bone marrow examination may be the only method of diagnosis in such cases.
The structure and function of endovascular stents: a primer for the interventional nephrologist

The use of stents has become common practice in various interventional fields. The purpose of this article is to provide the interventionalist with an understanding of the basic structure stent. We describe the etymology, the classification and describe various terms used by engineers as they strive to develop that "ideal" stent. We also describe the fabrication process briefly and finally elaborate on the characteristic "build and cut" of some commonly used stents.
Experiences with testbed evaluation of the MobilityFirst Future Internet Architecture

This paper reports results and experiences from the validation process performed to experimentally evaluate the design of the Future Internet Architecture MobilityFirst. Next, we discuss possible evaluation strategies that take into account the desired scale and degree of realism necessary for validation. Specific examples of experimental evaluations for the MobilityFirst architecture running on the ORBIT and GENI testbed are given. These include routing and name resolution scalability experiments on ORBIT, service-level evaluations on GENI, and real world experimentation with end-users using both ORBIT and GENI capabilities. Selected results from these experiments are presented and discussed in context of MobilityFirst evaluation goals.
The Future of HIPAA in the Cloud

This white paper examines how cloud computing generates new privacy challenges for both healthcare providers and patients, and how American health privacy laws may be interpreted or amended to address these challenges. Given the current implementation of Meaningful Use rules for health information technology and the Omnibus HIPAA Rule in health care generally, the stage is now set for a distinctive law of “health information” to emerge. HIPAA has come of age of late, with more aggressive enforcement efforts targeting wayward healthcare providers and entities. Nevertheless, more needs to be done to assure that health privacy and all the values it is meant to protect are actually vindicated in an era of ever faster and more pervasive data transfer and analysis.After describing how cloud computing is now used in healthcare, this white paper examines nascent and emerging cloud applications. Current regulation addresses many of these scenarios, but also leaves some important decision points ahead. Business associate agreements between cloud service providers and covered entities will need to address new risks. To meaningfully consent to new uses of protected health information, patients will need access to more sophisticated and granular methods of monitoring data collection, analysis, and use. Policymakers should be concerned not only about medical records, but also about medical reputations used to deny opportunities. In order to implement these and other recommendations, more funding for technical assistance for health privacy regulators is essential.
Covariance control for discrete periodic systems

The set of all positive definite periodic covariances that a linear discrete periodically time-varying plant with a fixed-order controller may process is characterized. The controllers which assign such periodic covariance to any linear discrete periodically time-varying system are given explicitly in the closed form. The freedom in those covariance controllers is explicitly parameterized by some orthogonal matrices. >
Ganhando uma eleição com performance: transpondo limiares em Gana

Os politicos em Gana regozijam-se chamando uns aos outros de “canalhas perversos” (wicked rascals) e frequentemente se envolvem em ataques e contra-ataques, a chamada “politica do pingue-pongue”. Valendo-se do poder da performance, em 2008, um politico com boa educacao formal recorreu a uma estrategia inovadora na campanha eleitoral: conjurou uma maldicao, insinuando que o partido rival havia feito acusacoes falsas contra o seu partido. Fazendo uso da midia moderna, ele persuadiu os eleitores e seu partido saiu vitorioso. Este artigo explora o elevado valor atribuido a performance na cultura asante e o papel da maldicao na sociedade. Argumenta-se que a performance serve como forca dinâmica para a interacao social e politica, possibilitando transpor limiares na pratica e revelar contradicoes por meio da performance de rituais.
Two new classes of filled functions

The filled function method is an effective approach to find the global minimizer. Two of the recently proposed filled functions are L(X) and L"2(X). Having observed that the second term in L(X) or L"2(X) may result in undesirable computational behaviors, in this paper we propose a new function L"3(X). Having also realized that the essence of the mitigation is to eliminate the discontinuity, we propose another new function L"4(X). Both theoretical analysis and numerical testing results are presented.
Work/Family Benefits: Variables Related to Employees' Fairness Perceptions.

Abstract This study investigated relations between several individual (parental status and gender) and situational (organization size, task interdependence, and productivity maintenance) variables with perceptions of the fairness of work/family benefits. Benefit availability, personal use, and coworker use along with age and race were included as control variables. A total of 283 employees from a variety of organizations participated. Results indicated that age, race, personal use of flexible work arrangements, and task interdependence related to fairness perceptions of work/family benefits. Specifically, younger workers, minorities, those who had used flexible work arrangements, and workers in jobs requiring a greater degree of task interdependence had more favorable perceptions concerning work/family benefits than did older workers, Caucasians, individuals who had not used flexible work arrangements, and those working in jobs requiring a lesser degree of task interdependence. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.
A Molecular Rheostat at the Interface of Cancer and Diabetes

Epidemiology studies revealed the connection between several types of cancer and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and suggested that T2D is both a symptom and a risk factor of pancreatic cancer. High level of circulating insulin (hyperinsulinemia) in obesity has been implicated in promoting aggressive types of cancers. Insulin resistance, a symptom of T2D, pressures pancreatic β-cells to increase insulin secretion, leading to hyperinsulinemia, which in turn leads to a gradual loss of functional β-cell mass, thus indicating a fine balance and interplay between β-cell function and mass. While the mechanisms of these connections are unclear, the mTORC1-Akt signaling pathway has been implicated in controlling β-cell function and mass, and in mediating the link of cancer and T2D. However, incomplete understating of how the pathway is regulated and how it integrates body metabolism has hindered its efficacy as a clinical target. The IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1)-Exocyst axis is a growth factor- and nutrient-sensor that couples cell growth and division. Here we discuss how IQGAP1-Exocyst, through differential interactions with Rho-type of small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), acts as a rheostat that modulates the mTORC1-Akt and MAPK signals, and integrates β-cell function and mass with insulin signaling, thus providing a molecular mechanism for cancer initiation in diabetes. Delineating this regulatory pathway may have the potential of contributing to optimizing the efficacy and selectivity of future therapies for cancer and diabetes.
The guidance of stem cell differentiation by substrate alignment and mechanical stimulation.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) represent a promising and clinically relevant cell source for tissue engineering applications. As such, guiding MSCs toward specific lineages and maintaining these phenotypes have been particularly challenging as the contributions of mechanical, chemical and structural cues to the complex differentiation process are largely unknown. To fully harness the potential of MSCs for regenerative medicine, a systematic investigation into the individual and combined effects of these stimuli is needed. In addition, unlike chemical stimulation, for which temporal and concentration gradients are difficult to control, mechanical stimulation and scaffold-based cues may be relatively more biomimetic and can be applied with greater control to ensure fidelity in MSC differentiation. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of nanofiber matrix alignment and mechanical stimulation on MSC differentiation, focusing on elucidating the relative contribution of each parameter in guided regeneration of functional connective tissues. It is observed that nanofiber alignment directs MSC response to physiological loading and that fibroblastic differentiation requires a combination of physiologically-relevant cell–material interactions in conjunction with mechanical stimulation. Importantly, the results of this study reveal that systemic and readily controllable cues, such as scaffold alignment and optimized mechanical stimulation, are sufficient to drive MSC differentiation, without the need for additional chemical stimuli. Moreover, these findings yield a set of fundamental design rules that can be readily applied to connective tissue regeneration strategies.
Second-law optimization of regenerative heat exchangers, including the effect of matrix heat conduction

Abstract The effects of heat conduction in a regenerator matrix and unbalanced heat-capacity rates on the second-law efficiency of rotary regenerators are documented. The results show that the maximum second-law efficiency increases as the ratio of the heat-capacity rate increases. The overall number of transfer units NTUo corresponding to this optimum also increases with heat capacity rate C ∗ . Including the effect of heat conduction in the regenerator matrix lowers the second-law efficiency and increases the NTUo required to obtain the maximum second-law efficiency. These results can be used to design and optimize the performance of a regenerator considering both heat transfer and pressure drop effects.
MIG-32 and SPAT-3A are PRC1 homologs that control neuronal migration in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The Polycomb repression complex 2 (PRC2) methylates histone H3 lysine 27 at target genes to modify gene expression, and this mark is recognized by PRC1, which ubiquitylates histone H2A. In Caenorhabditis elegans , a complex of the MES-2, MES-3 and MES-6 proteins is functionally analogous to the PRC2 complex, but the functional analog of PRC1, and indeed whether C. elegans has such a complex, has been unclear. We describe here that MIG-32 and SPAT-3A are functional analogs of PRC1 in C. elegans , where they are required for neuronal migrations and during vulval development. mig-32 and spat-3 mutants are defective in H2A ubiquitylation, and have nervous system defects that partially overlap with those of mes mutants. However, unlike the mes mutants, mig-32 and spat-3 mutants are fertile, suggesting that PRC1 function is not absolutely required in the germline for essential functions of PRC2.
Lupus autoimmunity altered by cellular methylation metabolism

Modifications of both DNA and protein by methylation are key factors in normal T and B cell immune responses as well as in the development of autoimmune disease. For example, the failure to maintain the methylation status of CpG dinucleotides in DNA triggers T cell autoreactivity. Methylated proteins are known targets of autoimmunity, including the symmetrical dimethylarginine residues of SmD1 and SmD3 in SLE. Herein, we demonstrate that altering the metabolism of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the major methyl donor for transmethylation reactions, can suppress T cell immunity. A by-product of SAM metabolism, 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA), and an indirect inhibitor of methyltransferases, inhibits T cell responses including T cell activation markers, Th1/Th2 cytokines and TCR-related signaling events. Moreover, treatment of the lupus-prone MRL/lpr mouse with MTA markedly ameliorates splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, autoantibody titers as well as IgG deposition and cellular infiltration in the kidney. Incubation of cells with SAM, which increases intracellular MTA levels, inhibits both TCR-mediated T cell proliferation and BCR (anti-IgM)-triggered B cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. These studies define the central role of MTA and SAM in immune responses and provide a simple approach to altering lymphocyte transmethylation and T cell mediated autoimmune syndromes.
MAP kinases and vascular smooth muscle function

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family members are ubiquitously expressed protein kinases activated in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli and shown to be involved in cell growth, transformation, differentiation and apoptosis. MAP kinases have been implicated in both growth and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) which suggests that they play important roles in cardiovascular diseases such as essential hypertension, atherosclerosis, and restenosis followed angioplasty. The MAP kinases are themselves components of specific kinase cascades characterized by activation by specific stimuli, families of related serine and threonine kinases and downstream substrates that include other kinases, transcription factors, membrane receptors and other cell mediators. Cross-talk among the different MAP kinases results in direct modulation of signal transduction. In addition, increased expression and activation of MAP kinase phosphatases plays an important role in MAP kinase inactivation. Our laboratory has used angiotensin II (Angll), a potent activator of all MAP kinases in VSMC, to study mechanisms by which MAP kinases are regulated by vasoactive peptides. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which Angll activates MAP kinases, and potential roles for MAP kinases in Angll- dependent effects on VSMC function.
United States Foreign Policy towards Cambodia, 1977-92: A Question of Realities

General Editor's Foreword - Preface - Glossary - Chronology of Events - Introduction - Acknowledgements - The Carter Administration - The First Reagan Administration - The Second Reagan Administration - The Bush Administration - Conclusion - Epilogue - Bibliography - Index
Variability in Biological Characteristics of Northern Squawfish in the Lower Columbia and Snake Rivers

Abstract We described and compared population structure, growth, mortality, and reproduction of northern Squawfish Ptychocheilus oregonensis among four reservoirs of the lower Columbia River and among four reservoirs of the lower Snake River. We also pooled data for comparisons among three larger areas: Columbia River reservoirs, Snake River reservoirs, and the unimpounded Columbia River downstream from Bonneville Dam. Females made up 76–100% of northern squawfish 380 mm fork length or greater in individual reservoirs, and 87–99% of fish 380 mm or greater in the three combined areas. Females lived longer and grew faster than males in all reservoirs and areas and had lower annual mortality rates in all but two reservoirs. Proportional stock density was highest and annual mortality rates were generally lowest in Columbia River reservoirs. Northern Squawfish downstream from Bonneville Dam had a lower mean relative weight and higher relative fecundity (eggs per unit fish weight) than populations in impoundmen...
Results of a preliminary survey of computer users in psychological laboratories

A short questionnaire was distributed to a subset of the computer users connected with the National Conference on the Use of On-Line Computers in Psychology to determine the type of computer equipment used by psychologists and the current uses of that equipment. The results of this pilot study are discussed in this paper.
Electron microscopy of the effect of gram‐negative endotoxin on the blood‐brain barrier

Studies with the light microscope (Am. J. Path., 34: 631, '58) indicated that an injection of endotoxin into the carotid artery of a rabbit alters the blood-brain barrier allowing the distribution of subsequently injected colloidal iron throughout the cerebral cortex. The present investigation by electron microscopy determined the distribution of the colloidal iron oxide in the normal and endotoxin altered cerebral capillaries of rabbits. Four hours prior to the intracarotid injection of saccharated iron oxide the animal received an injection via the same artery of either 50 μg gram-negative endotoxin or a control dose of normal saline. The animals were sacrificed at times from 15 minutes to two hours after the injection of iron oxide and samples of the cerebral cortex were processed for electron microscopy by routine methods. In those animals that did not receive endotoxin, the colloidal iron was limited to the lumen of the cerebral capillaries and occasional large endothelial vacuoles. None of the iron was found in the endothelial pinocytotic vesicles. In the endotoxin animals the iron oxide particles were found in quantity in the capillary endothelium phagosomes, the basement membrane, and in astrocytes and their processes. The fine structure of the cerebral capillary is reviewed and evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that the barrier mechanism for colloidal tracers lies in a unique property of the brain's endothelial pinocytotic vesicles.
Altered pattern of differentiation and proliferation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells in the presence of leucocyte conditioned medium

Abstract We have examined the response of HL-60 cell line to leucocyte conditioned medium (LCM), as a source of colony stimulating activity, in vitro. HL-60 cells exhibited initially increased proliferation, as assessed by tritiated thymidine incorporation and the rate of increase of viable cell counts, in response to added LCM. Cells cultured in the presence of LCM also exhibited partial differentiation with a myelomonocytic morphologic appearance and the acquisition of strong reactivity with alpha napthyl acetate esterase staining. Cells cultured in the presence of both DMSO and LCM underwent initial stages of differentiation more rapidly than with DMSO alone, but the appearance of terminally differentiated myeloid cells was delayed and cells acquired a macrophage-monocytic appearance.
SU‐GG‐T‐538: Preliminary Estimates of Adverse Event Probability for Selected Critical Anatomical Structures in SBRT

Purpose: To make a preliminary estimate of the probability of adverse events for various critical anatomical structures for stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT). Method and Materials: An extensive literature search has uncovered a collection of more than 500 published dose tolerance limits for various anatomical critical structures for one to five fractions of SBRT. We have not found any TD5/5 or TD50/5 adverse event probabilities for SBRT yet, and an appreciable number of the authors do not even present minimum dosimetric information for the adverse events they report. We compiled a database from the available published data and performed statistical analysis to obtain a preliminary estimate of probability of adverse events. Results: Sixty five of the 500 dose tolerance limits correspond to a reported adverse event. For nineteen of these cases, the authors reported the number of patients exceeding the stated dose tolerance limit. For braintumors, details of adverse events were reported in optic chiasm and optic nerve, and for lungtumors details of adverse events were reported in bronchi, lungs, and ribs. For these critical structures we can estimate the adverse event probability, although in some cases the number of data points is quite limited. Conclusion: It would be quite helpful for the future if more authors would present dosimetric data corresponding to the adverse events they report. At a minimum, it would be helpful to report the maximum dose received by the involved critical structure, the doses received by a few selected volumes, and the number of patients that received these dose levels. In the meantime, this work provides preliminary estimates of adverse event probability for selected anatomical critical structures from the sparse data available.
Internal consistency of the Human Behavior Rating Scale

The internal consistency of the Human Behavior Rating Scale (HBRS) was investigated. The 91-item Likert-type scale is designed to measure five dimensions: persistence, curiosity, externalizing affect, internalizing affect, and cognition. It is used as a research tool to investigate the tenets of Eaves' 1993 integrated theory of human behavior. Three separate sampling plans were employed. Teachers and nonteachers completed Human Behavior Rating Scale ratings of children ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old. Cronbach coefficients alpha were reported by sex, grade, or age for the three samples. Of the 185 reported alpha coefficients, 175 were at or above .90, while 10 had values between .80 and .89.
Elevated Levels of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme in Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels are elevated in sarcoidosis and have been used both to diagnose and to assess response to treatment of this disease. We report significantly (p
Population genetic effects of human‐mediated plant range expansions on native phytophagous insects

Anthropogenic changes in organismal distributions have affected many, if not all, terrestrial ecosystems. Anthropogenic plant range expansions (APREs) may have profound effects on the population genetics of native phytophagous insects exploiting recent changes in plant distributions. Here I focus on the important, although often overlooked, effects on insect species which feed on such plants, but do not show evidence of host race formation. This article investigates geographic range expansion and increased interpopulation gene flow, which may occur as a result of phytophagous insects exploiting APREs. The two effects have clear predicted genetic signatures: (1) geographic range expansion should result in low levels of genetic diversity in new portions of the insect species' range, relative to older, pre-APRE portions of the range and (2) increased interpopulation gene flow will result in reduced population genetic differentiation. Data from the literature are qualitatively consistent with the predictions of one or both population genetic change scenarios. Higher order effects, such as reduced local adaptation, increased spread of resistance in agricultural systems, and hybridization among formerly isolated lineages, as evidenced by case studies, and the economic and conservation implications thereof are also discussed. Finally, 1 outline future approaches for addressing the impact of APREs on native phytophagous insect ecology and discuss the application of these concepts of population genetic change and resultant outcomes to research outside plant-insect interactions.
The role of isoleucine in differential egg production by the mosquito Aedes aegypti linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae) following feeding on human or guinea pig blood

Abstract 1. 1. Egg production by the Newbam strain of Aedes aegypti was significantly greater following feeding on guinea pig blood than on an equal volume of human blood. 2. 2. One prominent difference between the bloods is the lower isoleucine content of human blood. When fed with either whole human blood or red blood cells suspended in saline, both supplemented with isoleucine, egg production by these females increased to the level of those fed guinea pig blood. 3. 3. The addition of isoleucine to guinea pig blood did not increase egg production. 4. 4. A nutritional role of isoleucine in ovarian development, rather than a trigger for the release of egg development neurosecretory hormone (EDNH), was proved by the following: (a) Isoleucine-poor human blood was as effective in causing EDNH release within 2 hr following feeding as was the isoleucine-richer guinea pig blood. (b) A positive correlation exists between the isoleucine content of ingested media and the degree of follicular maturation. (c) In the presence of isoleucine, fat body organ cultures incorporated greater amount of labelled amino acid into soluble protein (vitellogenins) than in its absence. 5. 5. Sufficiency of isoleucine content in the feeding media resulted in less follicular resorption, and hence a higher level of follicular maturation.
Growth of tissue culture–regenerated salt marsh monocots in a simulated marsh field plot: Implication for wetland creation and restoration

Abstract Phenotypically and genetically variable salt marsh plants are needed for wetland creation and restoration efforts. Selected tissue culture regenerants of five salt marsh monocots, Spartina patens , Spartina alterniflora , Juncus gerardi , Juncus roemerianus , and Scirpus robustus , were planted in a simulated marsh field plot that was flood-irrigated with 10 ppt salt water to compare their phenotypic variation for potential use in wetland projects. Plant growth was evaluated after one growing season. Phenotypic variation among regenerants was found in S. alterniflora , S. patens and J. gerardi , indicating the occurrence of somaclonal variation. In S. alterniflora , significant differences occurred among regenerants in stem density. In J. gerardi , significant differences occurred in height and clone circumference. In S. patens , two of the nine regenerants exhibited higher biomass and stem density than some of the other regenerants. By using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique, genome DNA variation in S. patens regenerants was detected. Genetic variation not only occurred among phenotypically different regenerants, but also among those phenotypically similar for the characteristics measured. Tissue culture–regenerated plants often have desirable genetic characteristics and adaptability as a result of somaclonal variation and may enable a species to perform its ecological functions in created or restored wetlands where ideal environments cannot be achieved. Thus, some previously unrestorable sites may be restorable or marginal marshes made more productive.
40.2: Novel Phototunable Chiral Materials for Single Layer Color Cholesteric Display

Non-symmetric phototunable chiral compounds (1a, 1b) were designed and synthesized, which exhibited high helical twisting power (about 60um−1). The materials tuned the colors for the entirely visible light region from 450nm to 670nm with high color stability and good NTSC. Single layer full color cholesteric display can be generated by the chiral compounds.
The Impact of Physiological Stimuli on the Expression of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) and Other Neuropeptide Genes

The article reviews some of the recent work showing how physiological stimuli act to alter neuropeptide gene expression. It describes how neural and humoral factors activated by physiological stimuli interact with the mechanisms regulating neuropeptide gene expression in neurons with either vascular (neurosecretory) or cellular (centrally directed) synapses. Although the focus will be on corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, comparisons will be made between this neurosecretory cell group and others that express this gene. The regulation of neuropeptide genes colocalized in neurons that synthesize CRH is also considered. The review begins with a brief historical introduction, placing peptides in the overall functional perspective of neurosecretory and centrally directed neurons. It then describes studies using in vitro preparations that reveal details of the signal transduction mechanisms responsible for altering the expression of neuropeptide genes. For the CRH gene they are providing the foundations for future work on how physiological stimuli alter mRNA levels in the whole animal. Physiological stimuli provide a very broad range of signals to neuropeptide neurons commensurate with the wide variety of motor responses they initiate. One important humoral signal impacting neuropeptide neurons is plasma corticosterone, and many workers have addressed this aspect of its function. Corticosterone appears capable of interacting with at least two different neuronal mechanisms to regulate CRH mRNA levels: one is clearly seen in paraventricular neurosecretory neurons, where increasing plasma corticosteroid reduces CRH mRNA levels; the other, seen in neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala, acts to increase them. Since physiological stimuli present a complex mixture of humoral and neural signals to the CNS, integration of these two signal types is a critical aspect of peptide metabolism that requires detailed attention. Studies that are beginning to address this important question are described. Circadian influences play an important role in organizing homeostatic processes, and their influence on CRH gene expression is considered. The viscerosensory-motor integration associated with dehydration offers a useful model for investigating the role of peptides in neuronal function and motor architecture. Much of our work has concentrated on how peptide genes are regulated by alterations to fluid homeostasis, and these studies, along with those of other investigators, are described in this integrative context. Finally, consideration is given to the many studies that have addressed the impact of nonviscerosensory stimulation on neuropeptide gene expression.
A Systematic Review of Behavioral Health Interventions for Sex Offenders With Intellectual Disabilities

This article reviews evaluation studies of programs designed to treat sex offenders with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) published in peer-reviewed journals between 1994 and 2014. The design of this study is mirrored after PRISMA (Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) recommendations for conducting a systematic literature review. The study design, study setting, characteristics of participants, type of treatment, and intervention procedures comprise areas of focus for evaluating the implementation of treatment programs. Therapeutic outcomes include changes in attitudes consistent with sex offending, victim empathy, sexual knowledge, cognitive distortions, and problem sexual behaviors. Eighteen treatment evaluation studies were identified from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Cognitive-behavioral treatments were the most commonly delivered treatment modality to sex offenders with IDD. Other less common treatments were dialectical behavioral therapy, problem solving therapy, mindfulness, and relapse prevention. No randomized controlled trials were identified. The most common designs were multiple case studies and pre- and post-treatment assessments with no control and repeated measures follow-up. Small sample sizes, no control groups, and wide variation in treatment length and follow-up time complicate the qualitative synthesis of study findings. Short follow-up times introduce the potential for bias in conclusions surrounding treatment efficacy for many of the studies reviewed in this analysis. The overall quality of studies examining treatments for sex offenders with IDD is poor and requires further development before rendering firm conclusions about the effectiveness of interventions for this population.
Near-infrared spectroscopic reflectance imaging: methods for functional imaging and in-vivo monitoring

Ten near infrared spectroscopic reflectance images were collected from the forearm of a volunteer subject during the course of two ischemia-reperfusion events, one involving complete circulator arrest (full ischemia), the other a compromised venous out flow (venous occlusion). The data from this time series of spectroscopic images was then analyzed using an unsupervised classification scheme. Fuzzy C-means clustering was performed on a spectroscopic imaging cube, on a time series of 760 nm optical density images extracted from the ten timepoints, and on the time series of hemodynamic images derived from applying a two-wavelength, non-isobestic point oxygen saturation algorithm and a six-wavelength AEThemoglobin, AEoxyhemoglobin and AEcytochrome-aa3 algorithm to the spectra from each time point. Periods of full ischemia and venous occlusion cause very difference changes in the absorption, scattering and hemodynamic parameters of the forearm. The application of various algorithms to the spectra of each timepoint was successful to varying degrees. Near infrared spectroscopic imaging is shown to be an excellent technique to monitor spatial variations in the tissue response to ischemic events.