Deterministic Separation of Cancer Cells from Blood at 10 mL/min

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating clusters of cancer and stromal cells have been identified in the blood of patients with malignant cancer and can be used as a diagnostic for disease severity, assess the efficacy of different treatment strategies and possibly determine the eventual location of metastatic invasions for possible treatment. There is thus a critical need to isolate, propagate and characterize viable CTCs and clusters. Here, we present a microfluidic device for mL/min flow rate, continuous-flow capture of viable CTCs from blood using deterministic lateral displacement arrays. We show here that a deterministic bump array can be designed such that it will isolate with efficiency greater than 85% CTCs over a large range in sizes from millimeter volume clinical blood samples in minutes, with no effect on cell vitality so that further culturing and analysis of the cells can be carried out

Effect of Surgical Fusion on Volitional Weight-Shifting in Individuals With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design Prospective. Objectives The goals of this study were to (1) evaluate the differences in weightbearing symmetry between individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and typically developing controls; (2) observe the effect of posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSFI) on volitional weight-shifting at 1 and 2 years postoperatively; and (3) evaluate whether lowest instrumented fusion level (ie, lowest instrumented vertebra [LIV]) in PSFI has an effect on volitional weight-shifting. Summary of Background Data Previous studies have conflicting findings with regard to the effect of scoliosis on postural control tasks as well as the effect of surgery. They have also noted an inconsistent effect of PSFI at different LIVs, with more distal LIVs exhibiting greater reductions in postoperative range of motion. Methods The study was designed with an AIS group of 41 patients (8 males and 33 females) with AIS who underwent PSFI, along with a Control Group of 24 age-matched typically developing participants (12 male and 12 female). Both groups performed postural control tasks (static balance and volitional weight-shifting), with the AIS group repeating the tasks at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Results At baseline, the AIS group showed increased weightbearing asymmetry than the Control Group (p = .01). The AIS group showed improvements in volitional weight-shifting at 2 years over baseline (p \u3c .01). There was no effect of LIV on volitional weight-shifting by the second postoperative year. Conclusions Individuals with AIS have greater weightbearing asymmetry but improved volitional weight-shifting over typically developing controls. PSFI improves volitional weight-shifting beyond preoperative baseline but does not differ significantly by LIV

Effect of Lowest Instrumented Vertebra on Trunk Mobility in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing a Posterior Spinal Fusion

Study Design Prospective. Objectives The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of posterior spinal fusion surgery terminating at different lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV) on trunk mobility in individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Summary of Background Data Posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation is the standard surgical technique employed in AIS for correcting spine deformities with Cobb angles exceeding 50°. Surgical correction of curve deformity reduces trunk mobility and range of motion. However, conflicting findings from previous studies investigating the impact of different LIV levels on the reduction in trunk mobility after surgery have been reported. Methods The study was designed as a prospective study with 47 patients (7 males and 40 females) with AIS who underwent posterior spinal fusion. Patients were classified into 5 groups based on their surgical LIV level (ie, T12, L1, L2, L3, and L4). Trunk flexion-extension (sagittal plane), lateral bending (coronal plane), and axial rotation (transverse plane) kinematics were assessed during preoperative, 1 year postoperative, and 2 years postoperative evaluation visits. Results There were postoperative reductions of 41%, 51%, and 59% in trunk range of motion in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes, respectively (p \u3c .0001). A trend toward greater postoperative reductions in peak forward flexion at more distal LIVs was observed (p = .04). Conclusions Fusion reduces trunk mobility in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes. More distal LIV fusions limit peak forward flexion to a greater extent which is considered clinically significant. After fusion, the reductions seen in axial rotation, lateral bending, and backward extension do not differ significantly at more distal LIVs

Effect of Surgical Fusion on Volitional Weight-Shifting in Individuals With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design Prospective. Objectives The goals of this study were to (1) evaluate the differences in weightbearing symmetry between individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and typically developing controls; (2) observe the effect of posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSFI) on volitional weight-shifting at 1 and 2 years postoperatively; and (3) evaluate whether lowest instrumented fusion level (ie, lowest instrumented vertebra [LIV]) in PSFI has an effect on volitional weight-shifting. Summary of Background Data Previous studies have conflicting findings with regard to the effect of scoliosis on postural control tasks as well as the effect of surgery. They have also noted an inconsistent effect of PSFI at different LIVs, with more distal LIVs exhibiting greater reductions in postoperative range of motion. Methods The study was designed with an AIS group of 41 patients (8 males and 33 females) with AIS who underwent PSFI, along with a Control Group of 24 age-matched typically developing participants (12 male and 12 female). Both groups performed postural control tasks (static balance and volitional weight-shifting), with the AIS group repeating the tasks at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Results At baseline, the AIS group showed increased weightbearing asymmetry than the Control Group (p = .01). The AIS group showed improvements in volitional weight-shifting at 2 years over baseline (p \u3c .01). There was no effect of LIV on volitional weight-shifting by the second postoperative year. Conclusions Individuals with AIS have greater weightbearing asymmetry but improved volitional weight-shifting over typically developing controls. PSFI improves volitional weight-shifting beyond preoperative baseline but does not differ significantly by LIV

NICMOS Imaging of the Nuclei of Arp 220

We report high resolution imaging of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220 at 1.1, 1.6, and 2.22 microns with NICMOS on the HST. The diffraction-limited images at 0.1--0.2 arcsecond resolution clearly resolve both nuclei of the merging galaxy system and reveal for the first time a number of luminous star clusters in the circumnuclear envelope. The morphologies of both nuclei are strongly affected by dust obscuration, even at 2.2 microns : the primary nucleus (west) presents a crescent shape, concave to the south and the secondary (eastern) nucleus is bifurcated by a dust lane with the southern component being very reddened. In the western nucleus, the morphology of the 2.2 micron emission is most likely the result of obscuration by an opaque disk embedded within the nuclear star cluster. The morphology of the central starburst-cluster in the western nucleus is consistent with either a circumnuclear ring of star formation or a spherical cluster with the bottom half obscured by the embedded dust disk. Comparison of cm-wave radio continuum maps with the near-infrared images suggests that the radio nuclei lie in the dust disk on the west and near the highly reddened southern component of the eastern complex. The radio nuclei are separated by 0.98 arcseconds (corresponding to 364 pc at 77 Mpc) and the half-widths of the infrared nuclei are approximately 0.2-0.5 arcseconds. At least 8, unresolved infrared sources -- probably globular clusters -- are also seen in the circumnuclear envelope at radii 2-7 arcseconds . Their near-infrared colors do not significantly constrain their ages.Comment: LaTex, 15 pages with 1 gif figure and 5 postscript figures. ApJL accepte

Interferometric Observations of the Nuclear Region of Arp220 at Submillimeter Wavelengths

We report the first submillimeter interferometric observations of an ultraluminous infrared galaxy. We observed Arp220 in the CO J=3-2 line and 342GHz continuum with the single baseline CSO-JCMT interferometer consisting of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). Models were fit to the measured visibilities to constrain the structure of the source. The morphologies of the CO J=3-2 line and 342GHz continuum emission are similar to those seen in published maps at 230 and 110GHz. We clearly detect a binary source separated by about 1 arcsec in the east-west direction in the 342GHz continuum. The CO J=3-2 visibility amplitudes, however, indicate a more complicated structure, with evidence for a compact binary at some velocities and rather more extended structure at others. Less than 30% of the total CO J=3-2 emission is detected by the interferometer, which implies the presence of significant quantities of extended gas. We also obtained single-dish CO J=2-1, CO J=3-2 and HCN J=4-3 spectra. The HCN J=4-3 spectrum, unlike the CO spectra, is dominated by a single redshifted peak. The HCN J=4-3/CO J=3-2, HCN J=4-3/HCN J=1-0 and CO J=3-2/2-1 line ratios are larger in the redshifted (eastern) source, which suggests that the two sources may have different physical conditions. This result might be explained by the presence of an intense starburst that has begun to deplete or disperse the densest gas in the western source, while the eastern source harbors undispersed high density gas.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 4 Tables. accepted by Ap

Analysis of Cost Estimation Disclosure in Environmental Impact Statements for Surface Transportation Projects

Cost estimates are a vital component of any transportation project, but they are particularly significant at the environmental review stage. The accuracy of these estimates in publicly-accessible environmental documents is important for decision making and public trust and is necessary for transportation agencies to make the best available decision to help an area address its transportation needs. However, national trends show that early cost estimates are systematically underestimated and rarely align with the actual future construction. This thesis contains five overlying objectives. Determine how costs are presented in environmental impact statements Find if costs are updated during the different review stages of the environmental impact statement Identify projects with little differences in their estimate over the life of environmental impact statements Provide a framework for selecting which cost estimation technique to use Identify various estimating techniques used nationally for transportation projects These objectives were met by utilizing a sample of one hundred transportation projects to discover the extent and accuracy of cost estimation disclosure in draft environmental impact statements (DEIS) and final environmental impact statements (FEIS). Each of the projects\u27 environmental impact statements (EIS) was examined to see what type of early estimation occurred and how it was disclosed. The author also conducted interviews with personnel from a small sample of the selected projects to gain further insight into the project\u27s cost estimate and the state\u27s cost estimation strategies. In a number of the projects reviewed for this study, the costs were underestimated and barely mentioned during the project development stage. These understated estimates can trigger serious cost overruns resulting in a lack of public trust and confidence in the transportation agencies generating the estimates. Future projects may be substantially delayed or trimmed because of the unavailability of funds from these cost overruns. Better financial stewardship is desired by the public and improved cost estimating methods appear to be needed. From analysis of these transportation projects and interviews with various people who worked on them, it was found that improvements in disclosing project costs in environmental documents are needed. These changes will ultimately help to build public trust and confidence in the cost estimates of transportation projects

Effects of Spinal Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis on Lower Body Kinematics During Gait

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare gait among patients with scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSFI) to typically developing subjects and determine if the location of the lowest instrumented vertebra impacted results. Summary of Background Data PSFI is the standard of care for correcting spine deformities, allowing the preservation of body equilibrium while maintaining as many mobile spinal segments as possible. The effect of surgery on joint motion distal to the spine must also be considered. Very few studies have addressed the effect of PSFI on activities such as walking and even fewer address how surgical choice of the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) influences possible motion reduction. Methods Individuals with scoliosis undergoing PSFI (n = 38) completed gait analysis preoperatively and at postoperative years 1 and 2 along with a control group (n = 24). Comparisons were made with the control group at each time point and between patients fused at L2 and above (L2+) versus L3 and below (L3–). Results The kinematic results of the AIS group showed some differences when compared to the Control Group, most notably decreased range of motion (ROM) in pelvic tilt and trunk lateral bending. When comparing the LIV groups, only minor differences were observed, and the results showed decreased coronal trunk and pelvis ROM at the one-year visit and decreased hip rotation ROM at the two-year visit in the L3– group. Conclusions Patients with AIS showed decreased ROM preoperatively with further decreases postoperatively. These changes remained relatively consistent following the two-year visit, indicating that most kinematic changes occurred in the first year following surgery. Limited functional differences between the two LIV groups may be due to the lack of full ROM used during normal gait, and future work could address tasks that use greater ROM

Spitzer Quasar and ULIRG Evolution Study (QUEST). II. The Spectral Energy Distributions of Palomar-Green Quasars

This is the second paper studying the QSOs in the Spitzer QUEST sample. Previously we presented new PAH measurements and argued that most of the observed far-infrared (FIR) radiation is due to star-forming activity. Here we present spectral energy distributions (SEDs) by supplementing our data with optical, NIR, and FIR observations. We define two subgroups, of "weak FIR" and "strong FIR" QSOs, and a third group of FIR nondetections. Assuming a starburst origin for the FIR, we obtain "intrinsic" active galactic nucleus (AGN) SEDs by subtracting a starburst template from the mean SEDs. The resulting SEDs are remarkably similar for all groups. They show three distinct peaks corresponding to two silicate emission features and a 3 μm bump, which we interpret as the signature of the hottest AGN dust. They also display drops beyond ~20 μm that we interpret as the signature of the minimum temperature (~200 K) dust. This component must be optically thin to explain the silicate emission and the slope of the long-wavelength continuum. We discuss the merits of an alternative model in which most of the FIR emission is due to AGN heating. Such models are unlikely to explain the properties of our QSOs, but they cannot be ruled out for more luminous objects. We also find correlations between the luminosity at 5100 Å and two infrared starburst indicators: L(60 μm) and L(PAH 7.7 μm). The correlation of L(5100 Å) with L(60 μm) can be used to measure the relative growth rates and lifetimes of the black hole and the new stars