cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anesthesia and Analgesia

Publisher Summary This chapter provides excellent reviews of anesthesia, anesthesia principles, and how they can be applied to small animals such as rabbits, gerbils, hamster, and small mammals. Animals, no matter how large or small, should have their health assessed before being subjected to any anesthetic protocol. Many drugs commonly used for anesthesia, analgesia, and sedation are classified as controlled substances due to their potential for abuse and risk. Benzodiazepines are sedative hypnotics used as single agents, and in combination with opioid analgesics as a preanesthetic medication. Alpha2-agonists such as xylazine and medetomidine are sedative-hypnotic agents that provide sedation, muscle relaxation, and analgesia. Induction chambers are widely used for the anesthetic induction of small and difficult-to-handle research animals. A prime feature of induction chambers is very minimal or slight rebreathing of expired gases; therefore, expired carbon dioxide is removed by dilution. Analgesia and pain-relief protocols are based on the individual species
Review of the Outcomes of Ovarian Cancer Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal carcinomas (OVCA) most commonly present in advanced stages and despite aggressive surgical resection and chemotherapy will likely recur. Although OVCA can recur in the liver, chest or brain, it most commonly recurs within the peritoneal cavity. Peritoneal spread is problematic and often results in bowel obstruction and the inability to maintain nutritional goals. Given the lethality of peritoneal disease as well as the difficulty in treating this recurrence pattern, novel tactics to treat peritoneal dissemination have been a focus of research in OVCA. Heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been well studied and is utilized to treat appendiceal malignancies, which similarly involve the peritoneum. HIPEC has been shown to improve survival and decrease the risk of peritoneal recurrence in patients with appendiceal malignancies. This technique has also been shown to improve outcomes in patients with peritoneal metastases due to colorectal cancers and gastric cancers. Over the past three decades, HIPEC has been used to treat OVCA with mixed results. The aim of this paper is to review the use of HIPEC in the treatment of OVCA in the upfront and recurrent setting.
Can you get there from here? An analysis of walkability among PulsePoint CPR alert dispatches.

Abstract Background Bystander CPR before the arrival of EMS is a major factor in out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival. To recruit trained bystanders, mobile phone-based alert systems have been developed, but their limitations are not well understood. Objective We investigated the effects of landscape features on the capabilities of the PulsePoint CPR dispatch platform in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. We hypothesized that landscape features would reduce walkable area within dispatch zones and that larger alert radii could mitigate these effects. Methods CPR alert location data were obtained from the Allegheny County 911 PulsePoint deployment from July 2016–2019 (n = 1100). PulsePoint, a smartphone-based citizen CPR dispatch platform, alerts volunteers to public OHCAs within 400 m. Digital maps of alerts were generated for walkability analysis using the image Labeler MATLAB polygon tool. Unwalkable areas were labeled, classified into five categories, and quantified. Results Of the 1100 events analyzed, encompassing 212 mi2, 357 (32.45%) had no impediments to walkability. Within a 400 m radius of partially impeded events, the median proportion of obstructed area was 0.2250 (Min: 0.0005, Max: 0.8338, IQR: 0.3004, Sx: 0.1923). When the alert radius was expanded to 468 m, the median increased to 0.2336 (Min: 0.0016, Max: 0.8597, IQR: 0.3064, Sx: 0.1950). The percentages of total unwalkable area by each category were: terrain (54.286%), water (24.674%), road w/o crosswalk (11.3197%), railroad (7.4100%), private property (2.3102%). Conclusions In this region, most PulsePoint alerts had unwalkable areas, mostly from terrain and water. Contrary to our initial hypotheses, moderately increasing dispatch radius did not improve walkability.
Review of Single Center's Experience with Mycoplasma Hominis

Purpose Mycoplasma Hominis is an increasingly recognized pathogen and growing concern in lung transplant recipients. In the literature, it is described as occurring at a low incidence and is associated with hyperammonemia and high mortality rate. We sought to define our centers experience and outcomes with this organism. Methods Single center, retrospective review of patients transplanted November 1st 2016 (when testing first began at our center) through September 30th 2019. Clinical characteristics of donor and patient were reviewed along with how the organism was identified, ammonia level at time of diagnosis, treatment, response and outcome variables at 30 and 365 days after the mycoplasma was identified. Results The historic cohort consisted of 82 patients with 4 patients (4%) of this group testing positive for mycoplasma hominis. Three of the four patients had cultures that grew mycoplasma, while one patient was identified though PCR of the blood that returned positive, and negative cultures otherwise. All 4 patients had ammonia levels that were less than 35 micromol/L at time of diagnosis and throughout hospital stay. They did have other clinical findings that were suspicious for infection. For treatment: 2 patients were treated with Doxycycline and moxifloxacin and 2 patients were treated with Doxycycline as monotherapy. Duration ranged from 7 days to 6 weeks, with duration determined by location. There were no overlapping donor or recipient characteristics seen. All patients showed clinical clearance of their infections and all patients went on to survive to discharge. 1 patient of this 4 was not alive at 365 day mark, due to AMR. Conclusion Mycoplasma Hominis is a pathogen that continues to occur in lung transplant recipients. Not all patients with disease burden will grow this difficult to culture organism, and PCR testing should be utilized as screening for patients as part of clinical evaluation for patients who are suspected to be infected. Not all patients will present with hyperammonemia and therefore ammonia levels should not be used as a reliable screening tool to evaluate for presence of this organism.
A novel method for detection of exfoliated prostate cancer cells in urine by RNA in situ hybridization

In the current study, we explore the feasibility of detecting exfoliated prostate cancer cells in urine using an RNA in situ hybridization (RISH) assay. We hypothesized that robust and specific labeling of prostate cancer cells could be achieved in post-digital rectal examination (DRE) urine samples using RISH. We focused on method development, optimization, and analytical evaluation of RISH-based detection of prostate cancer in urine. We optimized a sample collection, processing, and target detection workflow for urine cytology specimens in conjunction with RNA target detection by RISH. We screened a panel of 11 prostate-specific RNA targets, and selected NKX3-1 and PRAC1 as markers for cells of prostate origin and PCA3 as a marker of prostate malignancy. Following analytical validation of a multiplexed NKX3-1/PRAC1/PCA3 assay, we evaluated whether prostate cancer cells can be detected in a pilot cohort of 19 post-DRE specimens obtained from men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Using cytology specimens prepared from spiked urine samples, we established the analytical validity of the RISH assay for detection and visualization of prostate cells in urine. Cells of prostate origin could be readily and specifically identified and separated into benign and malignant cell populations based on the multiplex test that consisted of markers specific for prostate cells (NKX3-1, PRAC1) and prostate cancer cells (PCA3). Upon evaluation of post-DRE urine from a pilot cohort of prostate cancer patients, we identified 11 samples in which prostate cells were present, 6 of which were also positive for prostate cancer cells. Multiplex RISH enables the direct visualization and molecular characterization of individual exfoliated prostate cells in urine. This proof-of-principle study provides evidence supporting the application of RISH as a potential noninvasive tool for prostate cancer detection.
Obeticholic acid attenuates human immunodeficiency virus/alcohol metabolism-induced pro-fibrotic activation in liver cells.

Obeticholic acid attenuates human immunodeficiency virus/alcohol metabolism-induced pro-fibrotic activation in liver cells
Socioeconomic Factors and Survival of Multiple Myeloma Patients.

Background: Outcome of Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients has improved as the result of the introduction of novel medications and use of autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, this improvement comes at the expense of increased financial burden. It is largely unknown if socioeconomic factors influence MM survival. Methods: We used the National Cancer Database, a database that houses data on 70% of cancer patients in the US, to evaluate the effect of socioeconomic factors on the survival of 117,926 MM patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2014. Results: Patients aged ≥65 years who were privately insured lived longer than patients with Medicare (42 months vs. 31 months, respectively, p < 0.0001). Treatment in academic institutions led to better survival (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.39, 1.59). Younger age, fewer comorbidities, treatment in academic centers, and living in a higher median income area were significantly associated with improved survival. After adjusting for confounders, survival of Medicare patients was similar to those with private insurance. However, the hazard of death remained higher for patients with Medicaid (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.36, 1.87) or without insurance (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.99), compared to privately insured patients. Conclusion: Economic factors and treatment facility type play an important role in the survival of MM patients.
Inducible CRISPR activation screen for interferon-stimulated genes identifies OAS1 as a SARS-CoV-2 restriction factor

Interferons establish an antiviral state in responding cells through the induction of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). ISGs antagonize viral pathogens directly through diverse mechanisms acting at different stages of viral life cycles, and indirectly by modulating cell cycle and promoting programmed cell death. The mechanisms of action and viral specificities for most ISGs remain incompletely understood. To enable the high throughput interrogation of ISG antiviral functions in pooled genetic screens while mitigating the potentially confounding effects of endogenous IFN and potential antiproliferative/proapoptotic ISG activities, we adapted a CRISPR-activation (CRISPRa) system for inducible ISG induction in isogenic cell lines with and without the capacity to respond to IFN. Engineered CRISPRa cell lines demonstrated inducible, robust, and specific gRNA-directed expression of ISGs, which are functional in restricting viral infection. Using this platform, we screened for ISGs that restrict SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results included ISGs previously described to restrict SARS-CoV-2 as well as multiple novel candidate antiviral factors. We validated a subset of candidate hits by complementary targeted CRISPRa and ectopic cDNA expression infection experiments, which, among other hits, confirmed OAS1 as a SARS-CoV-2 restriction factor. OAS1 exhibited strong antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2, and these effects required OAS1 catalytic activity. These studies demonstrate a robust, high-throughput approach to assess antiviral functions within the ISG repertoire, exemplified by the identification of multiple novel SARS-CoV-2 restriction factors.
Moderately repetitive DNA in evolution.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of moderately repetitive DNA in evolution. Moderately repetitive sequences are found as dispersed segments among unrelated, often single-copy DNA sequences throughout the genome, while simple-sequence DNAs occur in long tandemly repeated clusters, frequently at the centromeric or telomeric regions of chromosomes. The chapter examines data on the organization of the moderately repetitive component in representatives of a spectrum of eukaryote lineages, paying attention to the differences in groups of relatively established phyletic affinity. Information is derived from studies involving direct experimental comparisons within taxa and genomes because this bears on the evolution of moderately repetitive DNA components in different groups. Thus, group-specific or convergent peculiarities may be readily identified. The chapter describes the approaches that can be made using the reassociation and sizing techniques as well as the types of information they have revealed in some prototype studies. The aspects of population genetics and speciation processes which may influence the evolution of moderately repetitive components are also considered.
STUDIES OF SODIUM-POTASSIUM ACTIVATED ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATASE. VII. INHIBITATION BY ERYTHROPHLEUM ALKALOIDS.

Erythrophleine and cassaine, two alkaloids occurring in the bark, leaves, and seeds of the genus Erythrophleum, were shown to be potent inhibitors of the digitalissensitive Na-K activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na-K ATPase) of rabbit brain, kidney, and ciliary body and cat choroid plexus. At 10−4 M concentration, erythrophleine inhibited Na-K ATPase activity in all four tissues completely, while cassaine at 10−4 M inhibited Na-K ATPase activity in the same tissues-an average of 86 per cent. Neither of these compounds caused significant inhibition of Mg-activated ATPase activity. The inhibition curves for erythrophleine and cassaine in rabbit brain had the same general shape as the curve for ouabain. The negative logarithms of the molar inhibitor concentration at which 50 per cent inhibition of Na-K ATPase activity occurs were 6.58 for erythrophleine, 5.96 for ouabain, and 5.28 for cassaine. All three compounds caused a stimulation of approximately 6 per cent at about 1300 of their halfaximal inhibition concentrations. Increasing the K concentration in the assay medium from 0 to 40 mM caused 75 per cent reversal of the inhibition of rabbit brain Na-K ATPase by 5 × 10−7 M erythrophleine as well as by 5 × 10−7 M ouabain. No reversal was obtained of the Na-K ATPase inhibition by 10−4 M erythrophleine and ouabain. It is concluded that the similarity of the effects of the erythrophleum alkaloids and the digitalis glycosides on the Na-K ATPase system may explain the remarkable similarity between these two groups of compounds in pharmacological properties and in inhibitory effects on active cation transport.
Identification of D group chromosomes by autoradiography and fluorescence microscopy. A comparative study.

Identification of D group chromosomes was done by quinacrine mustard staining and fluorescence microscopy, as well as by 3H–thymidine labeling and autoradiography. No special instruments were used for the fluorescence microscopy studies. Chromosome 13 was recognized easily by fluorescence microscopy by its typical fluorescence pattern in the lower two–thirds of the long arm, the region of the late labeling in autoradiography. Chromosomes 14 and 15 could be recognized by fluorescence microscopy in most cases. If differentiation is not quite definite, 3H–thymidine labeling and autoradiography should be used to support the findings.
Morphometric Analysis of Rice Seed Protein Bodies (Implication for a Significant Contribution of Prolamine to the Total Protein Content of Rice Endosperm)

Electron microscopic observation of thin sections of rice (Oryza sativa L.) endosperm revealed two types of protein bodies (PBs): spherical and irregular-shaped ones. Immunocytochemical localization studies using antibodies raised against purified glutelins, prolamines, and globulins indicated that the prolamines were localized in the spherical PB, whereas the irregular-shaped PB contained glutelins and globulins. We counted and measured the surface area and the relative volume of 2303 PBs randomly selected from two different developmental stages and from different locations within the endosperm. The ratio of spherical to irregular-shaped PBs was 1:1.6. Double-label immunogold electron microscopic localization indicated that the globulins represented about 18% of the surface area of the irregular-shaped PBs. Based on our morphometric analysis, we estimate the relative contribution of glutelin as 53%, that of prolamine as 35%, and that of globulin as 12% of the total seed protein.
A two-dimensional analysis of surface deformation due to dip-slip faulting

abstract A two-dimensional model of dip-slip faulting is developed on the basis of elastic dislocation theory. General relationships among the fault-slip distribution, the stress-drop distribution, and the crustal surface deformation are derived for this model for arbitrary dip angle. The relationships are valid for arbitrary distribution of slip on the fault plane, except for the requirement that all stress components be finite at the boundaries of the slip zone. In order to illustrate some of the features of the derived relationships, a sample calculation based on surface deformation data obtained following the 1964 Alaska earthquake is performed, and the calculated values of various fault parameters appear to fall within accepted limits. For purposes of direct comparison, the same calculations are performed assuming the slip distribution to be uniform over the slip zone.
Mutations in a satellite RNA of turnip crinkle virus result in addition of poly(U) in vivo.

Abstract Turnip crinkle virus (TCV) is associated with many subviral RNAs including satellite (sat-) RNAs which require a helper virus for infectivity. When plants were inoculated with TCV and transcripts of TCV sat-RNA C containing deletions of 3 to 8 nucleotides beginning at position 100 and extending toward the 5′ end, some of the sat-RNA isolated from plants migrated more slowly than expected on denaturing polyacrylamide gels. Cleavage of the sat-RNA into two segments by digestion with RNase H following hybridization to an oligonucleotide complementary to internal sat-RNA sequence indicated that the 5′ one-third of the molecule was involved in the abnormal gel migration. Sat-RNAs derived from transcripts with a deletion of bases in position 96–100 were cloned. Sequencing of the cDNAs revealed that the aberrant migration of the sat-RNAs was due to the presence of variable lengths of poly(U) 10 nucleotides downstream from the deletion at a position which already contained five U residues. Deletions extending toward the 3′ end in the same region did not result in poly(U) additions. Mutations in the original five U residues along with the 5′ deletions also did not lead to poly(U) additions. The insertion of poly(U) in TCV sat-RNA C may be a new example of replicase stuttering with the distinction that it only occurs following specific upstream mutations.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH: Alzheimer's Disease as a Paradigm

As illustration of the integration of molecular biological studies into psychiatric research, use of molecular techniques in the study of Alzheimer's disease is described, and the resultant observation of otherwise undetectable pathological changes is noted. Using postmortem Alzheimer brain messenger RNA, recombinant DNA studies led to the ability to clone and characterize the expressed genetic transcript for amyloid. Application of this methodology is discussed in terms of establishing cellular and animal models for a neuropsychiatric disease.
Transcriptional Initiation: Taking the initiative

Recent results suggest that there may be several ways to assemble active transcription complexes containing RNA polymerase II, and highlight the potential importance of core promoter elements in gene regulation.
Fluorescence probes for chemical reactivity at the interface of a self-assembled monolayer

Abstract New methods for reversible photoimaging of spatially defined surfaces represent attractive technological applications of thin organized films. Surface immobilization of photoresponsive derivatives of alkanethiols on gold can influence attainable excited state partitioning among competing reaction pathways. Surface fluorescence measurements on such reflective metal surfaces can be used to monitor surface composition when highly emissive molecules are attached to a self-assembled monolayer. These measurements can also be used as a probe for in situ chemical modification of a self-assembled monolayer and for photoreactivity of coumarin- and anthracene-derivatives attached at the end of a variable length tether anchored through an alkyl sulfide onto a smooth polycrystalline gold surface. The observed changes in the fluorescence can be related to local structure and to the unusual environment encountered by the probe molecule within the self-assembled monolayer.
A randomized trial of Prophylactic Uterosacral Ligament Suspension at the time of hysterectomy for Prevention of Vaginal Vault Prolapse (PULS): Design and methods

The primary aim of this randomized trial is to evaluate whether a standardized uterosacral ligament suspension colpopexy (USLSC), added to a planned hysterectomy for an indication other than pelvic organ prolapse (POP), decreases the rate of subsequent vaginal vault prolapse in women without preoperative symptomatic POP. Secondary aims include comparison of perioperative complications, urinary, bowel and sexual functions between subjects with and without concomitant USLSC. If shown to be beneficial, the cost-effectiveness of prophylactic USLSC at the time of hysterectomy will be evaluated. This trial will be performed at 4 centers across the United States. The data will be analyzed by the data-coordinating center of the Southern California Kaiser Permanente. Standardized questionnaires and objective measurements will be obtained. The patients and providers performing assessments are masked to treatment assignment. The primary outcome, defined as absence of POP at/distal to the hymen on Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitative examination, will be determined 12 months post-operatively. Secondary outcomes include: no prolapse symptoms by questionnaires, and no treatment for POP besides the prophylactic study intervention. Additional follow-up occurs annually for a total of 5 years. Accrual is projected to take 3 years. Given cost and morbidity of surgical repair of post-hysterectomy prolapse, preventive strategies are of outmost importance. The risks and benefits of prophylactic USLSC have never been studied prospectively. This trial is designed to determine if USLSC is an appropriate clinical adjunct at the time of hysterectomy, with subsequent reduction of symptomatic POP.
Models of clumpy photodissociation regions

FIR fine structure line and submillimeter line emissions important in the cooling of photodissociation regions (PDRs) as they would arise in clumpy regions are investigated with a simple two-component model for clumpy PDRs consisting of high-density clumps embedded in a lower density interclump medium. The effects of varying the densities of the clump and interclump material in a self-consistent manner are studied. It is found that, while the clump filling factor moderately affects the penetration of the UV field, the density of the interclump material is the most important factor in determining the penetration of the UV field. Observational evidence for the effects of clumpiness in PDRs is found in the spatially extended C II and C I forbidden line emissions which reveal the extent of the UV penetration, and in the observed high intensities of the high CO transitions which indicate the presence of high-density clumps.
Types of newcomers in an online developer community

In this interactive paper we present preliminary results from an analysis of help seeking interactions of newcomers in an online developer community for beginners. We develop the distinctions among newcomers to create different profiles of newcomers which are often clubbed together in a homogeneous group. These profiles are generalizations of activities, behavior and attitudes of newcomers in these communities and they highlight the differences among members of this group.
Evapotranspiration of annual and perennial biofuel crops in a variable climate

Eddy covariance measurements were made in seven fields in the Midwest USA over 4 years (including the 2012 drought year) to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) of newly established rain-fed cellulosic and grain biofuel crops. Four of the converted fields had been managed as grasslands under the USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 22 years, and three had been in conventional agriculture (AGR) soybean/corn rotation prior to conversion. In 2009, all sites were planted to no-till soybean except one CRP grassland that was left unchanged as a reference site; in 2010, three of the former CRP sites and the three former AGR sites were planted to annual (corn) and perennial (switchgrass and mixed-prairie) grasslands. The annual ET over the 4 years ranged from 45% to 77% (mean = 60%) of the annual precipitation (848–1063 mm; November–October), with the unconverted CRP grassland having the highest ET (622–706 mm). In the fields converted to annual and perennial crops, the annual ET ranged between 480 and 639 mm despite the large variations in growing-season precipitation and in soil water contents, which had strong effects on regional crop yields. Results suggest that in this humid temperate climate, which represents the US Corn Belt, water use by annual and perennial crops is not greatly different across years with highly variable precipitation and soil water availability. Therefore, large-scale conversion of row crops to perennial biofuel cropping systems may not strongly alter terrestrial water balances.
Decision-Directed Detector for Overlapping PCM/NRZ Signals

A decision-directed (DD) technique for the detection of overlapping PCM/NRZ signals in the presence of white Gaussian noise is investigated. The performance of the DD detector is represented by probability of error PE versus input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). To examine how much improvement in performance can beachieved with this technique, PE's with and without DD feedback are evaluated in parallel. Further, analytical results are compared with those found by Monte Carlo simulations. The results are shown in good agreement.
Chemotropic guidance facilitates axonal regeneration and synapse formation after spinal cord injury

A principal objective of spinal cord injury (SCI) research is the restoration of axonal connectivity to denervated targets. We tested the hypothesis that chemotropic mechanisms would guide regenerating spinal cord axons to appropriate brainstem targets. We subjected rats to cervical level 1 (C1) lesions and combinatorial treatments to elicit axonal bridging into and beyond lesion sites. Lentiviral vectors expressing neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) were then injected into an appropriate brainstem target, the nucleus gracilis, and an inappropriate target, the reticular formation. NT-3 expression in the correct target led to reinnervation of the nucleus gracilis in a dose-related fashion, whereas NT-3 expression in the reticular formation led to mistargeting of regenerating axons. Axons regenerating into the nucleus gracilis formed axodendritic synapses containing rounded vesicles, reflective of pre-injury synaptic architecture. Thus, we report for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the reinnervation of brainstem targets after SCI and an essential role for chemotropic axon guidance in target selection.
Object-action association: a HCI design model

While developing the Simple Gesturing User Interface (SGUI) API for incorporating simple gestures into personal digital assistant (PDA) user interfaces, we developed an object-based HCI model and design process. The model assists designing direct manipulation interfaces by proposing that all interface objects are amenable to user manipulation. The model extends object-action interface models by emphasizing the relationship between the interface objects and their actions, object-action associations. We delineate three association properties: directness, localness, and appropriateness. We illustrate the design process and the utility of SGUI by developing Experimental Assistant, a graphing software for high school science experiments on the PDA.
Nuclear Receptor Cofactors in PPARγ-Mediated Adipogenesis and Adipocyte Energy Metabolism

Transcriptional cofactors are integral to the proper function and regulation of nuclear receptors. Members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family of nuclear receptors are involved in the regulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. They modulate gene transcription in response to a wide variety of ligands, a process that is mediated by transcriptional coactivators and corepressors. The mechanisms by which these cofactors mediate transcriptional regulation of nuclear receptor function are still being elucidated. The rapidly increasing array of cofactors has brought into focus the need for a clear understanding of how these cofactors interact in ligand- and cell-specific manners. This review highlights the differential effects of the assorted cofactors regulating the transcriptional action of PPARγ and summarizes the recent advances in understanding the physiological functions of corepressors and coactivators.
Special section on human vision and electronic imaging

This collection of papers commemorates the tenth anniversary of the IS&T/ SPIE Conference on Human Vision and Electronic Imaging. These papers represent major trends in the conference and demonstrate the interplay between real-world imaging applications and vision research.
Outcomes analysis in 100 liver Transplantation Patients

background There is an increasing demand for outcomes analysis, including quality of life and financial analysis, following medical interventions and surgical procedures. We analyzed outcomes for 100 consecutive patients undergoing liver transplantation during a period of case management revision. methods Patient survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier actuarial methods. The Karnofsky performance status was objectively assessed for surviving patients up to 6 years after transplantation and was evaluated by repeated measures analysis of variance and covariance. Subjective evaluation of quality of life over time was obtained using the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale. The correlations between time and scale were calculated. Financial data were accumulated from billing records. results : Six-month, 1 -year, 2-year, and 3through 5-year survival was 86%, 84%, 83%, and 78%, respectively. Karnofsky performance status confirmed poor functional status; preoperatively with a mean of 53 ±2, but significantly improving to 72 ± 2 at 3 months, 80 ± 2 at 6 months, 90 ± 1 at 1 year, 92 ± 1 at 2 years, 94 ± 1 at 3 years, 96 ± 1 at 4 years, and 97 ± 1 at 5 years (P conclusions Quality of life parameters assessed both by care givers (Karnofsky) and by patients (Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale) improved dramatically following transplantation and over time, demonstrating that liver transplantation effectively restores a good quality of life. Outcomes can be improved while reducing length of stay and charges through modifications in case management. Am J Surg. 1998;175:348353.
WE‐A‐BRB‐04: Comparison of the Radiation and Thermal Dose Distributions of a Novel Thermo‐Brachytherapy Seed

Purpose: A novel thermo‐brachytherapy seed implant recently developed by our group combines a radioactive source (I–125) with a ferromagnetic core, capable of producing heat when placed in an alternating magnetic field. The seed is intended for concurrent hyperthermia and brachytherapytreatments for deep‐seated solid tumors. The maximized heat production is achieved when all implants are aligned along the magnetic field direction. For optimal coverage, the planned thermal and radiationdose distributions should be closely matched. As the algorithm used by the commercial treatment planning software is inadequate for accurate calculation of the dose distribution from parallel seeds at short distances, a Monte Carlo (MC) model was developed and utilized for comparison of the radiation and thermal distributions. Methods: A model consisting of an array of seeds separated from each other by 1 cm, oriented parallel to the magnetic field direction, was studied in a cylindrical water phantom. The radiationdose distribution was obtained with the MC code MCNP5. The thermal distribution was modeled for various magnetic field intensities and frequencies, and accounts for heat loss due to blood perfusion using a finite element analysis (FEA) package COMSOL Multiphysics. Results: A radiationdose distribution obtained from the MC calculations accounts for the interseed shielding effect and assumes non‐random (parallel) orientation of the seeds. A comparison between this dose distribution and thermal coverage data calculated by the FEA method shows that they may be made to coincide closely by adjusting the magnetic field intensity and frequency. Conclusions: Maximum heating and optimal thermal coverage are obtained when the thermo‐brachytherapy seeds are orientated in the direction of the magnetic field. For a specific seed placement a thermal distribution similar to the radiationdose distribution can be achieved via seed alignment and adjustments of the frequency and intensity of the applied magnetic field. Nothing to doisclose
Dialysis membrane chambers as a device for evaluating impacts of pollutants on plankton under natural conditions

Abstract Growth rates of a marine dinoflagellate, treated with DDE at 1, 5 or 10 parts per thousand million (10 9 ; ptm) and cultured in dialysis membrane bags suspended in the tidal channel of an estuarine marsh, were compared with growth rates of untreated organisms cultured under the same conditions or as laboratory (batch) cultures in natural water or nutrient-enriched artificial seawater. DDE-treated cells were inhibited (relative to controls) for 2–4 days, consistent with previous laboratory tests which revealed the high sensitivity of this organism to low concentrations of DDE. Untreated cells in dialysis bags in the estuary grew at a faster rate after the first few hours than either type of batch culture, and yielded a higher final cell density than laboratory cultures utilizing the same natural water.
An inventory control and pricing model for smart building load management

We consider a smart building infrastructure, where building owners provide energy sources to tenants. All building owners and tenants are equipped with smart meters, including energy consumption controller (ECC) units. These smart meters provide a communication infrastructure among building owners and tenants. We consider the scenario that building owners could adjust electricity price to shape building tenants' consumptions. We present both thermal and illumination models to control heating/cooling and illumination consumptions. We focus on the maximal social impacts by investigating an incentive pricing scheme for building load management. The case study of buildings in Singapore validates our proposed incentive pricing scheme and demonstrates the efficiency of our proposed models and algorithms.
Ritual circumcision in the age of germ theory amongst nineteenth-century new york immigrants.

While Jewish ritual circumcision continues to be a controversial issue in Europe and the US, metzitzah b’peh, the addendum to brit milah, which requires the mohel (ritual peritomist) to orally suck blood from the wound immediately following the excision of the foreskin, remains a divisive topic. While medical historians have studied European outbreaks of infectious disease following metzitzah b’peh, no one has assessed the response of the nineteenth century New York Jewry. This paper analyses how this nascent community responded to the thorough report by the New York Board of Health following an alleged and discredited outbreak of syphilis attributed to metzitzah b’peh in 1873, especially in the context of nineteenth century immigration, popular perception of syphilis and American medicine.
Statistical and visual crossdating in R using the dplR library

Abstract I demonstrate new functionality for the Dendrochronology Program Library in R (dplR) that allows for flexible statistical crossdating of tree-ring data. Using a well-dated ring-width file, I give examples of how dplR can be used to examine correlations between each series and a master chronology according to overlapping time periods (segments) specified by the user; examine moving correlations of suspect series; and compute cross-correlation functions to identify specific dating issues. I also show how automatically generated skeleton plots can be used to visually crossdate. Much of the terminology and approach used for crossdating in dplR will be familiar to users of COFECHA.
Negative effect of seroma on breast balloon brachytherapy dosimetry

Abstract Purpose Balloon brachytherapy is commonly used to deliver Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI). Seroma interference is a relatively common phenomenon during APBI. The negative effect of seroma accumulation on the planning target volume evaluation (PTV_Eval) coverage is not well understood. Methods and Materials This is a dosimetric replanning study on 10 patients with evidence of seroma collection at time of initial computed tomographic simulation around the catheter. Total dose was 34 Gy given at 3.4 Gy twice a day over 5 treatment days. A total of 20 plans were generated, 10 plans without accounting for and 10 after subtracting the seroma. We then compared the changes seen in PTV_Eval between plans as a factor of the seroma volume. Results Median age was 62 years (51-83). Histology was invasive in 7/10 cases and in situ in 3/10. Median balloon to skin distance was 8.5 mm (3-14). Median balloon volume was 39 cc (30-104). Median seroma volume was 3.34 cc (1.13-13.71). For every 1 cc of accumulated seroma the percentage of PTV_Eval coverage by the 90% isodose line (V90) was found to decrease by 2.45% ( P P Conclusions Accumulation of seroma was associated with a considerable negative impact on PTV_Eval dosimetry with a greater impact on V90 compared with the V100. Clinicians must be careful in detecting and accounting for such accumulation in treatment plans to prevent underdosing of the at risk target breast tissue.
Effect of liquid content on distortion and rearrangement densification of liquid-phase-sintered W-Cu

Tungsten and copper exhibit negligible solubility for each other, so densification during liquid phase sintering of W-Cu is limited to rearrangement of the W particles and solid-state sintering of the W skeleton. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the effects of Cu volume fraction on liquid phase sintering of W-Cu. Sintered microstructures are quantitatively analyzed and are used to define critical microstructural parameters that prevent distortion and rearrangement densification. Slumping is prevented first by capillary forces, then by formation of a rigid W skeleton at critical values of contiguity and connectivity, which depend on the dihedral angle. A refined expression for the dependence of contiguity on volume fraction that includes the effect of the dihedral angle is developed. An analysis of gravitational, capillary, and bonding forces acting on W particles in liquid Cu explains the ability to achieve high sintered densities through rearrangement despite a lack of distortion with up to 80 vol pct liquid. Capillary forces are sufficient to break weak solid-solid bonds that form during heating, enabling rearrangement to occur even without dissolution of these bonds. At higher solid volume fractions, sufficient particle contacts form to prevent rearrangement by these capillary forces, thus limiting sintered densities.
INFLUENCE OF WEIGHT (AGE), DIET AND DOSAGE ON RESPONSE OF THYROID AND PARATHYROID GLANDS OF MALE GUINEA PIG TO POTASSIUM IODIDE; EFFECT OF THIS SUBSTANCE ON ADRENAL GLAND1

THE RESPONSE OF the thyroid gland to the administration of potassium iodide has been a matter of controversy for many years. It has been maintained by Marine and his co′workers (1−3) that, when the iodine intake is lessened below the normal level, the thyroid gland tends to undergo hyperplasia, and, conversely, that the administration of iodine diminishes the activity of this gland, causing the production of hard colloid and low epithelium. Similarly, Levine, Remington and von Kolnitz (4) and also Chapman (5) have reported that hypertrophy of the thyroid of rats results from a low iodine intake. On the other hand, Loeb and his associates (6‒13) have reported, in a large series of investigations, that the administration of KI primarily results in a stimulation of the thyroid gland, which is characterized by an increase in mitotic activity of the acinar epithelium associated with a softening of the colloid, an increase in the number of phagocytes in the colloid, and an in′crease in height of the cells linin...
What the Spiders Did: U.S. and Soviet Counterintelligence before the Cold War

Counterintelligence history has too often relied on a “wilderness of mirrors” trope, which suggests that the discipline is driven by personalities and self-delusion. Using the newly available Vassiliev notebooks and other sources, this article takes a closer look at the historical evolution of U.S. and Soviet counterintelligence as they developed and changed tactics in response to a changing world and the evolving actions of their opponents. Although blind at times to one another, they moved—especially on the American side—toward greater clarity of the opponent and a more complex approach to counterintelligence, driven by real-world experience and a growing knowledge of the threat posed by the other side.
The mechanism of arsenate inhibition of the glucose active transport system in Neurospora crassa.

The mechanism of arsenate inhibition of the glucose active transport system in wild-type cells of Neurospora crassa has been examined. Arsenate treatment results in approximately 65% inhibition of the glucose active transport system with only a small depression of cellular ATP levels. The transport system is not inhibited in cells treated with sodium arsenate in the presence of sodium azide. The transport inhibition is suppressed when orthophosphate is present during arsenate treatment, but is not reversed by orthophosphate when added after the arsenate treatment. The transport inhibition is completely reversed by treatment of the cells with mercaptoethanol. Gel chromatography of sonicates of intact cells which had been treated with (/sup 74/As)arsenate reveals three radioactive peaks, one with the elution volume of arsenate, one with the elution volume of arsenite, and in high molecular-weight radioactive fraction. Treatment of the high molecular-weight radioactive fraction with mercaptoethanol results in the production of radioactive arsenite. In view of these findings, it is proposed that arsenate inhibition of the glucose active transport system in Neurospora involves transport of arsenate into the cells, probably via the orthophosphate transport system, reduction of the transported arsenate to arsenite, and interaction of arsenite with some component of the glucosemore » active transport system, presumably via covalent binding with vicinal thiol groups. 15 references, 4 figures, 2 tables.« less
Asian American preferences for an ideal mental health treatment provider

This study sought to investigate the preferences of Asian American college students (n = 37) for an ideal treatment provider. Specifically, we examined preferences regarding the preferred type of mental health provider, the relative importance of certain provider characteristics and the preferred interpersonal attributes of an ideal provider. Additionally, the Orthogonal Cultural Identification Scale (OCIS) was used to compare preferences between participants with higher and lower Asian cultural identification. Results indicate some differences in all the three provider preference areas depending on the level of Asian identity. Clinical implications for accommodating the mental health provider preferences of Asian American individuals are discussed.
[3H]AMPA binding to glutamate receptor subpopulations in rat brain

The glutamate analog (RS)-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA), displaced 11% of the binding of l-[3H]glutamate to rat brain membranes, amounting to 22% of the specific binding displaceable by excess non-radioactive glutamate. AMPA-sensitive l-[3H]glutamate binding was additive with that displaced by kainic acid (1 μM) plus N-methyl-d-aspartate (10 μM) when low concentrations of non-radioactive AMPA (1 μM) were employed to determine non-specific background, but partially over-lapped when higher concentration of AMPA (100 μM) were used. [3H]AMPA binding was 21% specific (displaceable by non-radioactive 0.1 mM AMPA) in sodium-, calcium- and chloride-free buffer, but increased to over 30% in the presence of 0.1 M chloride. AMPA-sensitive glutamate binding and AMPA binding were both stimulated dramatically by thiocyanate and by several other anions. [3H]AMPA binding activity was resistant to freezing and thawing, optimal at 0–4 °C, and detectable at slightly reduced levels by filtration assays and in tissue section autoradiography. AMPA showed a heterogeneous affinity in displacement of l-[3H]glutamate, and [3H]AMPA binding showed heterogeneity with respect to AMPA, quisqualate, and glutamic acid diethyl ester. Scatchard plots gave a best fit for two sites with Kd values of 28 and 500 nM and Bmax values of 200 and 1800 fmol/mg protein, respectively. [3H]AMPA was inhibited by quisqualate (IC50 = 60 nM), l-glutamate (2 μM), (RS)-3-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo-[5,4-c]- pyridine-7-carboxylic acid (7-HPCA, 5 μM), kainic acid (20 μM) and glutamic acid diethyl ester (21 μM) but insensitive to l-aspartate, ibotenic acid, N-methyl-d-aspartate, (RS)-2-amino-phosphonobutyric acid and (RS)-2-amino-phosphonovaleric acid. This is consistent with labeling of a quisqualate-specific subpopulation of glutamate receptors. The high affinity (28 nM) and intermediate affinity (0.5 μM) AMPA sites had similar pharmacological specificity and brain regional distribution as determined by autoradiography. The latter revealed high densities of [3H]AMPA binding in the superficial layers of the cerebral cortex; stratum pyramidale, stratum radiatum, and stratum oriens of the hippocampus; and stratum moleculare of the dentate gyrus. Within the cerebellum, higher densities of binding were observed in the molecular layer than in the granule cell layer. In many regions, [3HAMPA binding had a similar distribution to that of l-[3H]glutamate binding displaced by AMPA (1 μM). However, additiional l-[3H]glutamate binding displaceable by 100 μM cold AMPA did not appear to correspond with sites labeled by [3H]AMPA and could represent other subpopulations of glutamate binding sites; therefore, concentrations of AMPA of under 10 μM are recommended for displacement of ‘AMPA sites’.