cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Game Outcome on Affect of Military Wheelchair Basketball Players.

Participation in physical activity has been shown to improve components of psychological well-being (i.e., affect). Programs such as the Warrior Games have been designed to promote physical activity in wounded military personnel. However, sport competition typically yields a winner and a loser (i.e., game outcome). The experience of a win or a loss may affect how wounded athletes respond to game outcome. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the affective changes (positive affect, negative affect, tranquility, and fatigue) according to game outcome in a sample of wounded military wheelchair basketball players participating in a weekend tournament. The results indicated that the participants who experienced a win reported significantly higher positive affect and tranquility and significantly lower negative affect than those experiencing a loss. These findings have important implications for wounded veteran athletes, as well as coaches and administrative personnel
Association Between Anesthesia Exposure and Neurocognitive and Neuroimaging Outcomes in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Importance Limited studies have reported associations between anesthesia and neurocognitive and neuroimaging outcomes, particularly in pediatric patients who undergo multiple exposures to anesthesia as part of chronic disease management. Objective To investigate whether general anesthesia is associated with neurocognitive impairment and neuroimaging abnormalities in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Design, Setting, and Participants A cohort study of 212 survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia who received treatment between July 7, 2000, and November 3, 2010, and follow-up at a mean (SD) of 7.7 (1.7) years post diagnosis, was conducted at an academic medical center. Of 301 survivors who were alive and eligible for participation, 217 individuals (72.1%) agreed to participate in long-term follow-up. Data analysis was performed from August 23, 2017, to May 3, 2018. Exposures For 5699 anesthesia procedures, data on duration and cumulative doses of all anesthetics, sedatives, analgesics, anxiolytics, and neuromuscular blockers were abstracted, along with cumulative doses of high-dose intravenous methotrexate and number of triple intrathecal chemotherapy treatments. Main Outcomes and Measures Neurocognitive measures of attention, processing speed, executive function, and intelligence were examined. Brain volumes, cortical thickness, and diffusion tensor imaging of the whole brain, corpus callosum, frontal lobes, and parietal lobes were evaluated. Results Of the 217 study participants, 212 were included in both neurocognitive and brain imaging analysis. Of these, 105 were female (49.5%); mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 14.36 (4.79) years; time since diagnosis was 7.7 (1.7) years. Adjusting for chemotherapy doses and age at diagnosis, neurocognitive impairment was associated with higher propofol cumulative dose (relative risk [RR], 1.40 per 100 mg/kg; 95% CI, 1.11-1.75), flurane exposure (RR, 1.10 per exposure; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21), and longer anesthesia duration (RR, 1.03 per cumulative hour; 95% CI, 1.00-1.06). Slower processing speed was associated with higher propofol dose (estimate [est], −0.30;P = .04), greater number of exposures to fluranes (est, −0.14;P = .01), and longer anesthesia duration (est, −0.04;P = .003). Higher corpus callosum white matter diffusivity was associated with dose of propofol (est, 2.55;P = .01) and duration of anesthesia (est, 2.40;P = .02). Processing speed was significantly correlated with corpus callosum diffusivity (r = −0.26,P Conclusions and Relevance Higher cumulative anesthesia exposure and duration may be associated with neurocognitive impairment and neuroimaging abnormalities in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, beyond the known outcomes associated with neurotoxic chemotherapies. Anesthesia exposures should be limited in pediatric populations with chronic health conditions who undergo multiple medical procedures.
Electrode pooling: How to boost the yield of switchable silicon probes for neuronal recordings

State-of-the-art silicon probes for electrical recording from neurons have thousands of recording sites, but only a fraction of them can be used simultaneously due to the forbiddingly large volume of the associated wires. To overcome this fundamental constraint, we propose a novel method called "electrode pooling" that uses a single wire to serve multiple recording sites. Multiple electrodes are connected to a single wire through a set of controllable switches. Here we present the framework behind this method and an experimental strategy to support it. We show that under suitable conditions electrode pooling can save wires without compromising the content of the recordings. We make recommendations for the design of future devices to take advantage of this strategy.
Prevalence of carotid artery calcification detected by digital panoramic radiographs in a sample of yemeni dental patients

Background: Carotid artery calcification (CAC) is one of risk factors of cardiovascular disorders (CVDs). Digital panoramic radiographs can detect it. Aim of the study: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CAC detected by digital panoramic radiographs in a sample of Yemeni dental patients. Materials and Methods: An observational and analytical cross-sectional study was used to investigate a convenience sample of 443 patients. These patients were interviewed face-to-face for their socio-demographic information and their medical background regarding CVDs and associated risk factors. The researchers for detection of CAC assessed the digital panoramic radiographs. Results: High income and middle-aged patients were risk factors of CVDs significantly associated with increased incidence of CAC (42 patients (9.5%) and 32 patients (7.2%), respectively). Patients with a previous medical consultation, previous medications and family history of CVDs revealed a significant higher prevalence of CAC (p=0.001). Conclusion: There was an increased prevalence of CAC detected on digital panoramic radiographs, as a risk factor of CVDs. CAC was more common in females than males.
Neural correlates of cognitive motor signals in primary somatosensory cortex

Classical systems neuroscience positions primary sensory areas as early feed-forward processing stations for refining incoming sensory information. This view may oversimplify their role given extensive bi-directional connectivity with multimodal cortical and subcortical regions. Here we show that single units in human primary somatosensory cortex encode imagined reaches centered on imagined limb positions in a cognitive motor task. This result suggests a broader role of primary somatosensory cortex in cortical function than previously demonstrated.
Corrigendum: Exploring the Feasibility and Effects of a Ketogenic Diet in Patients With CNS Malignancies: A Retrospective Case Series.

Background: Recently, the ketogenic diet has been proposed as an adjunct treatment for a range of medical conditions including weight loss, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Because malignant CNS tumors are highly dependent on glucose, the use of a ketogenic diet as an adjunct therapy is currently being explored. This case series summarizes our experience implementing a ketogenic diet for patients with CNS malignancies. Methods: Patients diagnosed with CNS malignancies following a ketogenic diet were identified between 2015 and 2017. Malignancies included confirmed diagnoses of glioblastoma (GBM), astrocytoma, or oligodendroglioma. With guidance from a registered dietitian, ketone levels, glucose levels, and weight were regularly collected for several patients along with patient-reported symptoms and adverse effects. Interested patients were asked to follow a 3:1 ketogenic diet for 120 days. The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate protein, and very low carbohydrate diet, where patients limited carbohydrate intake to ≤20 g per day. Brain imaging was reviewed. A series of descriptive analyses were conducted. Results: The ketogenic diet was initiated in 12 patients of which 8 patients contributed data on their blood glucose and ketone levels. The majority of patients were male (n = 10) with a median age of 45 (range 32-62). Diagnoses included GBM (n = 6), grade 2/3 astrocytomas (n = 5) and one patient with a grade 2 spinal cord astrocytoma. Ten of the 12 patients were receiving concurrent treatment; two received supportive care only. The majority of patients with evaluable data (n = 8) maintained ketone levels above 0.5 mM for the duration of 120-day period. Ketone levels generally increased from baseline while glucose levels and BMI decreased. Overall, patients reported improved symptoms over the course of the diet. Imaging also suggested improved disease control and reduction in vasogenic edema. Conclusion: Taking advantage of a tumor's metabolic inflexibility can have a positive impact on patients, particularly those with CNS malignancies. More structured and statistically planned clinical trials are needed to determine the margin of impact of a ketogenic diet.
Tornadoes in the USA are concentrating on fewer days, but their power dissipation is not

The Gini coefficient, Palma ratio, and the ratio of the percentage of tornadoes occurring on days with 20+ tornadoes to the percentage of tornadoes occurring on days with 1–9 tornadoes were used to measure the concentration of tornadoes in the USA for each year over the period 1954–2017. The Gini coefficient and Palma ratio were also used to measure the concentration of tornado power. All three metrics illustrate that most tornadoes are concentrated on relatively few days and that power is even more concentrated. Trend tests illustrate that tornadoes are becoming more concentrated over time, but the power dissipated by tornadoes is becoming less concentrated. Despite the declining trend, most of the power dissipated by tornadoes remains highly concentrated on relatively few days.
A Survey of Computer Systems Utilized by Business Schools

(1986). A Survey of Computer Systems Utilized by Business Schools. Journal of Computer Information Systems: Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 11-13.
A Theoretical Analysis of Mid-Mass Neutron Halos

The present contribution summarizes the content and slightly updates the discussion of a recently proposed theoretical analysis of the halo phenomenon in many-fermion systems. We focus here on applications to potential neutron halos in mid-mass nuclei.
New and Evolving Frontiers in Resuscitation: Ethical and Legal Concerns

Clinical research must be conducted while maintaining the welfare and rights of the research subjects. The standard informed consent process provides the potential subject with sufficient information regarding the risks and benefits of a particular intervention before deciding whether or not to participate. For research related to resuscitation, the patient is unable to provide consent, legally authorized representatives are not available, and the intervention needs to be initiated in a time-sensitive manner. In these situations, a process of an exception from informed consent has evolved to facilitate new advances in resuscitation. Once novel interventions for critical care or resuscitation become established, there may still be ongoing ethical issues related to when these interventions are deployed and when they should be discontinued.
The Vocations of Nikolai Grot and the Tasks of Russian Philosophy

This chapter surveys the short and remarkable philosophical career of Nikolai Grot (1852–1899), best known as Professor of Philosophy at Moscow University since 1886 and Chairman of the Moscow Psychological Society since 1888 to the final year of his life, and, most importantly, the founder in 1889 and editor for many years of Russia’s first professional philosophical journal, Voprosy Filosofii i Psikhologii. The entry engages with Grot’s entire oeuvre, published and archival, focusing on his most important and original work on logic, ethics, idealism, and history of philosophy. Grot cannot rival major philosophers of his time, but he is a major figure in the history of the beginning of professional Russian philosophy and its pedagogy. Based where necessary on the study of previously unexamined archival writings, the essay explains Grot’s role in the making of the discipline, its curricula, and the functioning of its venues and institutions in Russia. The discussion of Grot’s life and career would be incomplete without an examination of his most momentous friendships and feuds in this connection, with Tolstoy, Solovyov, Tsertelev, the Trubetskoi brothers, Strakhov, Vladislavlev, Archbishop Nikanor, Konstantin Pobedonostsev, Kozlov, et al. The essay further establishes bridges and cross-referencing opportunities with many prominent intellectuals and cultural and political figures and trends in Russia and the West that Grot was preoccupied with for the duration of his meteoric life. The essay also touches upon the career of Grot the educator, an innovator and pioneer in matters of the theory and practice of philosophical pedagogy, and it includes a summary of memoirs about Grot by his students, colleagues, and those who have known and appreciated his dedication to philosophy and its vocations.
Probing the electrolyte/electrode interface with vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy: A review

Abstract Over the past decades, Lithium-ion batteries have seen extensive improvements, and as a result are now the primary choice in many applications for their power, energy, and durability. In recent years, battery cost has reduced by orders of magnitude through adoption of new materials and processes. Despite these advances, interfaces in these battery systems are yet to be fully understood. This is seen as a major limitation to further increase cycle life, calendar life, abuse tolerance, and performances. A major obstacle is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamic chemical processes occurring at the electrolyte/electrode interface. In this context, vibrational sum frequency generation (vSFG) spectroscopy possesses the unique capability of probing a molecularly thin interfacial layer to obtain molecular-level information through nonlinear optical interaction. Probing the molecular level processes at the interfaces using such a versatile technique would be a game changer in the advancement of current battery research knowledge. This review article summarizes recent vSFG studies on the electrolyte/electrode interface of various electrode materials and nonaqueous electrolytes for LIBs and discusses future research perspectives. Overall, this focused review highlights the advantages and versatility of vSFG that can be used to further advance present-day battery research.
Adherence to oral therapies among patients with renal cell carcinoma: Post hoc analysis of the ECOG-ACRIN E2805 trial.

BACKGROUND As use of oral cancer therapies increases, patient adherence has become critical when evaluating the effectiveness of therapy. In a phase III trial for renal cell carcinoma, we: (a) characterized adherence to sorafenib, sunitinib, and/or placebo and (b) identified factors associated with non-adherence. METHODS ECOG-ACRIN E2805 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial comparing adjuvant sorafenib or sunitinib in patients with resected primary renal cell carcinoma at high risk for recurrence. We used patient-completed pill diaries to measure adherence as the number of pills taken divided by the number of pills prescribed. Log-binomial regression was used to identify correlates of non-adherence (<80% of prescribed pills reported as taken). RESULTS Mean adherence was 90.7% among those assigned to sunitinib (n = 613) and 84.8% among those assigned to sorafenib (n = 616). Among those assigned to placebo, mean adherence was 94.9% and 92.4% to sunitinib and sorafenib placebo, respectively. Non-adherence was associated with race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic Black: prevalence ratio [PR] 2.22, 95% CI 1.63, 3.01; Hispanic: PR 1.54, 95% CI 1.05, 2.26), high volume enrollment (≥10 patients: PR 1.30, 95% CI 1.03, 1.64), treatment group (sunitinib: PR 2.24, 95% CI 1.66, 3.02; sorafenib: PR 2.37, 95% CI 1.74, 3.22), and skin rash (PR 1.36, 95% CI 1.03, 1.80). CONCLUSION Among patients participating in a randomized clinical trial, adherence to oral cancer therapies was lower compared to placebo. Adherence was also worse in racial/ethnic minorities, those experiencing toxicities, and high volume enrolling sites. Our findings highlight several challenges to address in clinical practice as use of oral therapies continues to increase. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00326898.
Pediatric psychology and the 21st century

Abstract The children of the 21st century may benefit greatly from advances in both biomedical and psychological research. If our children are to have a good future, however, pediatric psychologists must join with others in the attempt to resolve a key bioethical issue relating to world population growth and the quality of life. As one example of the many biomedical research possibilities, the continued mapping of human chromosomes will forseeably disclose hundreds of new genetic diseases affecting children, many of which will be preventable or treatable. Psychological research with promise includes new developments in intellectual evaluation, advice to parents, screening and early intervention, and behavior modification. The problem is that medical advances inadvertently contribute to the world population explosion and often convert diseases from fatal ones into conditions involving long‐term disability. The strain on the psychological resources of society thus threatens to increase beyond tolerable limi...
Case Reports: Nonvisualization of the Liver with Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid

Two cases with no accumulation of Tc-99m sulfur colloid in the liver are presented. Our first case describes a patient with a history of cirrhosis and a porto-caval shunt. The second case is a woman with acute alcoholic hepatitis. In both cases, however, the liver was visualized with I-131 rose bengal. A brief review of the reported cases of localized hepatic reticuloendothelial failure is included.
Building an Employment Bridge: Making Ex-Offenders Marketable, Getting Employers to the Table, and Increasing the Likelihood of an Employment Connection

If an ex-offender lies about their criminal record on a job application, there is a risk of being fired if their criminal record is later discovered. If an ex-offender is honest and discloses their criminal record, there is a risk of not getting the job in the first place. Various strategies - financial incentives, erasing of criminal records after demonstrated rehabilitation, certificates of rehabilitation issued by the state, and third-party intermediaries - can make ex-offenders more marketable and employers more willing to hire ex-offenders.
Acclimation of Chlamydomonas to changing carbon availability

Aquatic organisms, including Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, are faced with a variable supply of dissolved inorganic carbon (Ci). Accordingly, C. reinhardtii has the ability to acclimate to the changing Ci supply through a variety of responses, including induction of a CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM) when Ci is limiting. The CCM uses active Ci uptake to accumulate a high internal concentration of bicarbonate, which is dehydrated by a specific thylakoid carbonic anhydrase to supply CO2, the substrate used in photosynthesis. In addition to the changes demonstrably related to the function of the CCM, C. reinhardtii exhibits several other acclimation responses to limiting Ci, such as changes in cellular organization and induction or upregulation of several genes. A key area currently under investigation is how C. reinhardtii cells recognize the change in Ci or CO2 concentration, and transduce that signal into needed gene expression changes. Mutational analyses are proving very useful for learning more about the CCM and about the acclimation response to changes in Ci availability. Cloning of the gene disrupted in cia5, a mutant apparently unable to acclimate to limiting Ci, has opened opportunities for more rapid progress in understanding the signal transduction pathway. The Cia5 gene appears to encode a transcription factor that may control, either directly or indirectly, much of the gene expression responses to limiting Ci in C. reinhardtii. Several additional new mutants with potential defects in the signal transduction pathway have been isolated, including three new alleles of cia5.
Imaging Enterobacteriaceae infection in vivo with 18F-fluorodeoxysorbitol positron emission tomography.

The Enterobacteriaceae are a family of rod-shaped Gram-negative bacteria that normally inhabit the gastrointestinal tract and are the most common cause of Gram-negative bacterial infections in humans. In addition to causing serious multidrug-resistant, hospital-acquired infections, a number of Enterobacteriaceae species are also recognized as biothreat pathogens. As a consequence, new tools are urgently needed to specifically identify and localize infections due to Enterobacteriaceae and to monitor antimicrobial efficacy. In this report, we used commercially available 2-[18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) to produce 2-[18F]-fluorodeoxysorbitol (18F-FDS), a radioactive probe for Enterobacteriaceae, in 30 min. 18F-FDS selectively accumulated in Enterobacteriaceae, but not in Gram-positive bacteria or healthy mammalian or cancer cells in vitro. In a murine myositis model, 18F-FDS positron emission tomography (PET) rapidly differentiated true infection from sterile inflammation with a limit of detection of 6.2 ± 0.2 log10 colony-forming units (CFU) for Escherichia coli. Our findings were extended to models of mixed Gram-positive and Gram-negative thigh co-infections, brain infection, Klebsiella pneumonia, and mice undergoing immunosuppressive chemotherapy. This technique rapidly and specifically localized infections due to Enterobacteriaceae, providing a three-dimensional holistic view within the animal. Last, 18F-FDS PET monitored the efficacy of antimicrobial treatment, demonstrating a PET signal proportionate to the bacterial burden. Therapeutic failures associated with multidrug-resistant, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing E. coli infections were detected in real time. Together, these data show that 18F-FDS is a candidate imaging probe for translation to human clinical cases of known or suspected infections owing to Enterobacteriaceae.
Reissert Compound Studies. LXI. Preparation and Reactions of Quinazoline Di-Reissert Compounds†

Various di-Reissert compounds and analogs were prepared from quinazoline by use of trimethylsilyl cyanide together with a catalytic amount of anhydrous aluminum chloride. Reactions of these quinazoline di-Reissert compounds are reported.
Discriminative stimulus properties of the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-β-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether rats could be trained to discriminate the stimulus properties of the benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor inverse agonist DMCM from saline in a conditioned taste aversion paradigm. On a drug trial, water-deprived rats were injected with DMCM (0.55–0.6 mg/kg IP), allowed access to a 0.25% saccharin solution for 30 min, and then injected with LiCl. On non-drug trials, saline injections bracketed the drinking period. Conditioned controls were treated similarly with DMCM and saline on drug and non-drug trials, but received injections of saline instead of LiCl. At the completion of training, DMCM produced a 69% reduction of saccharin consumption on drug trials, compared with 23% for conditioned controls. The stimulus properties of DMCM were then measured by its ability to reduce the preference for saccharin over water in a two-bottle choice test. DMCM reduced saccharin preference in rats that received discrimination training from 68% to 19%, but did not alter saccharin preference in conditioned controls. Other compounds with varying activity at BZ receptors were evaluated for their ability to substitute for the discriminative stimulus effects of DMCM. Two BZ receptor inverse agonists, β-CCE (10–18 mg/kg) and FG 7142 (3.2–18 mg/kg), substituted completely for DMCM. Partial substitution for DMCM was shown by the BZ receptor antagonist CGS 8216 (3.2–10 mg/kg) and the non-BZ convulsant pentylenetetrazol (10–20 mg/kg). The BZ receptor agonists chlordiazepoxide (0.32–5.0 mg/kg), diazepam (0.32–10 mg/kg), and alprazolam (0.1–3.2 mg/kg) and the BZ receptor antagonist flumazenil (1.0–32 mg/kg) failed to substitute for the DMCM stimulus. Pretreatment with flumazenil (1.0 mg/kg) blocked the stimulus effects of the training dose of DMCM and produced a shift to the right of the DMCM generalization curve. The pattern of compounds that substituted for the DMCM stimulus and the blockade of that stimulus by flumazenil indicate that the stimulus properties of DMCM are associated with its effects as a BZ receptor inverse agonist.
The viscoelastic properties of actin solutions.

Abstract The viscoelastic properties in actin solutions were investigated by measuring their elastic modulus and viscous modulus using a rheometer. The polymerization/gelation process of actin solutions was accompanied by an increase of both parameters, indicating the formation of a protein network. High shear rotational motion destroyed this network which, however, would reanneal if left undisturbed. At 25 °C under low ionic strength conditions, the viscoelastic moduli of a Spudich-Watt globular (G) actin preparation increased with time, while G-actin, purified by gel filtration maintained low viscoelastic moduli. The rigidity of the filamentous (F) actin network in a solution of Spudich-Watt actin, measured by the elastic modulus, was somewhat lower than that of gel-filtration-purified actin at the same protein concentration. The crosslink density of these F-actin networks was estimated, using models from rubber elasticity theory. The calculated density was 1 crosslink/50 actin monomers for the purified actin and 1 crosslink/120 actin monomers for Spudich-Watt actin. The results are consistent with the idea that a small amount of regulatory factor(s), which could be removed by the gel filtration step, modulates the structure of an actin network.
Cross-Neutralization Tests with Coxsackie Viruses

SummaryA serological comparison of 2 virus strains recently isolated from human paralytic infections and other viruses of the Coxsackie family is presented. The results indicate that at least 5 serological types of Coxsackie virus have been encountered. To our knowledge human infection with the type isolated in this laboratory has not been previously reported.
Management of optical projects

AbstractThis paper discusses the management of optical projects from the concept stage, beginning with system specifications, through design, optical fabrication and test tasks. Specialemphasis is placed on effective coupling of design engineering with fabrication developmentand utilization of available technology. Contrasts are drawn between accepted formalizedmanagement techniques, the realities of dealing with fragile components and the necessity of an effective project team which integrates the special characteristics of highly skilled optical specialists including lens designers, optical engineers, opticians, and metrol- ogists. Examples are drawn from the HEAO -2 X -Ray Telescope and Space Telescope projects.IntroductionThe task of the optical project manager frequently begins with the receipt, in proposalform, (or its advanced warning counterparts such as the request for information, the letterof inquiry, the strawman RFP or other means of communicating the customers requirements) of a
Separation of malignant and benign masses using image and segmentation features

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of image features versus likelihood features of tumor boundaries for differentiating benign and malignant tumors and to compare the effectiveness of two neural networks in the classification study: (1) circular processing-based neural network and (2) conventional Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). The segmentation method used is an adaptive region growing technique coupled with a fuzzy shadow approach and maximum likelihood analyzer. Intensity, shape, texture, and likelihood features were calculated for the extracted Region of Interest (ROI). We performed these studies: experiment number 1 utilized image features used as inputs and the MLP for classification, experiment number 2 utilized image features used as inputs and the neural net with circular processing for classification, and experiment number 3 used likelihood values as inputs and the MLP for classification. The experiments were validated using an ROC methodology. We have tested these methods on 51 mammograms using a leave-one-case-out experiment (i.e., Jackknife procedure). The A z values for the four experiments were as follows: 0.66 in experiment number 1, 0.71 in experiment number 2, and 0.84 in experiment number 3.
Transcription of Bcl-x In erythroid progenitor cells

Abstract Bcl-x has been shown to be essential for survival and maturation of late erythroid progenitors and for survival of cells in the developing brain. During the late phases of erythroid differentiation there is a large increase in the Bcl-x protein and its mRNA in mouse and human erythroblasts. In mouse erythroblasts and other hematopoietic cells, the main transcription initiation sites form a cluster at positions −662, −653 and −643 relative to the ATG initiation codon. This cluster of sites accounts for about 70% of all transcripts in these cells and another 15 to 20% appear to be initiated at position −112. Human erythroblasts exhibit a doublet of transcription start sites at −660 and −654 relative to the initiation codon that is homologous to the main cluster in the mouse. In contrast to hematopoietic tissues, a large fraction of bcl-x transcripts isolated from mouse brain originates from start sites far upstream of those used in erythroblasts. To determine which sequences upstream of the coding region of the gene are important for regulation of transcription, plasmid constructs were made that contain various portions of this region of bcl-x (from −1 to −1211) placed just upstream of the firefly luciferase gene. These plasmids were used in transient transfection assays of bcl-x promoter function in the mouse erythroid cell line HCD57, a line that is dependent on erythropoietin, EPO, for viability. A DNA sequence between positions −196 and −96 was found to be essential for transcription, and this sequence was sufficient for transcription at nearly the maximum rate observed for any of the plasmids. Additional bcl-x sequence between −196 and −998 had little effect on the rate of transcription. However, plasmids containing the sequence between −998 and −1211 exhibited a significant reduction of transcription rate, indicating that there is a negative regulatory element in that region. Transient transfection experiments did not show evidence for localized regulatory sequences within the −1 to −1211 region that modulate transcription specifically in response to EPO.
Frequency dependent transport in heavy fermion systems

Abstract Frequency dependent conductivity measurements, performed in the millimeter wave spectral range on several heavy fermion materials, are analyzed in terms of a renormalized Drude theory. The experiments indicate an enhanced relaxation time with an enhancement factor approximately the same as that for the thermodynamic quantities. The crossover from the renormalized to unrenormalized response with increasing frequency is discussed, and a comparison is made with the various models of transport in highly correlated Fermi liquids.
Characterization of Sac10a, a Hyperthermophile DNA-Binding Protein from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius†

Sac10a is a member of a group of basic DNA-binding proteins thought to be important in chromatin structure and regulation in the archaeon Sulfolobus. We describe here the isolation, gene identification, and biophysical characterization of native Sac10a. The protein exists as a 23.8 kDa homodimer at pH 7 and unfolds with a T° of 122 °C. Dissociation of the dimer into folded globular subunits is promoted by decreased pH and salt concentration. Thermal unfolding of the monomeric subunits occurred with two transitions, indicating two independent domains. The dimer demonstrated a high affinity for duplex poly(dAdT) with a KD of 5 × 10-10 M and a site size of 17 bp (in 0.15 M KCl, pH 7), with only weak binding (KD > 5 × 10-6 M) to poly(dA)-poly(dT), poly(dGdC), poly(dG)-poly(dC), and Escherichia coli DNA under similar conditions. Binding to poly(dAdT) resulted in distortions in the DNA duplex that were consistent with overwinding as indicated by inversion of the CD spectrum of the DNA. The monomeric subunits ar...
Poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene/clay nanocomposites prepared by in-situ polymerization

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS)/clay nanocomposites were prepared via in-situ bulk polymerization. The compatibility of the initiator and monomer with the clay surface was found to profoundly affect the clay dispersion. By using a surfactant containing a polymerizable group to modify the clay surface, exfoliated PMMA and PS/clay nanocomposites were synthesized. The clay dispersion was quantified by both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The dimension stability of nanocomposites was studied and related to both nanoscale (layer separation) and mesoscale (long-range distribution) clay dispersion.
Stereotactic interstitial brachytherapy of malignant astrocytomas with remarks on postimplantation computed tomographic appearance.

Seventeen patients were treated with stereotactically implanted high activity iodine-125 seeds, 12 patients for recurrent malignant astrocytomas (Protocol I) and 5 patients for newly diagnosed glioblastomas (Protocol II). Total radiation dosage to the recurrent tumors in Protocol I, including prior external beam irradiation, averaged 13,500 cGy. In the follow-up period of 6 to 50 months, the survival rate was 93% at 6 months, 60% at 12 months, 50% at 18 months, and 38% at 24 months after implantation. In Protocol II, brachytherapy was used as an interstitial radiation boost to the conventional treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastomas. External beam therapy and interstitial brachytherapy provided 11,000 cGy to these tumors. In the follow-up period of 15 to 27 months, there was a 100% survival at 12 months, 75% at 18 months, and 25% at 24 months after implantation. Eight of our 17 patients required reoperation for persistent or recurrent mass lesions at 6 to 15 months postimplantation; 7 were found to harbor masses of radionecrosis containing nests of anaplastic astrocytes; 1 had frank tumor recurrence. Median survival in this group of patients requiring reoperation was 18.7 months postimplantation. In a review of postimplantation computed tomographic scans, significant mass effect and crossovermore » of hypodensity or enhancement into the corpus callosum or opposite hemisphere were found to have prognostic significance; persistent areas of contrast enhancement and excessive peritumoral hypodensity did not.« less
A Biometric Latent Curve Analysis of Memory Decline in Older Men of the NAS-NRC Twin Registry

Previous research has shown cognitive abilities to have different biometric patterns of age-changes. We examined the variation in episodic memory (word recall task) for over 6,000 twin pairs who were initially aged 59-75, and were subsequently re-assessed up to three more times over 12 years. In cross-sectional analyses, variation in the number of words recalled independent of age was explained largely by non-shared influences (65-72%), with clear additive genetic influences (12-32%), and marginal shared family influences (1-18%). The longitudinal phenotypic analysis of the word recall task showed systematic linear declines over age, but several nonlinear models with more dramatic changes at later ages, improved the overall fit. A two-part spline model for the longitudinal twin data with an optimal turning point at age 74 led to: (a) a separation of non-shared environmental influences and transient measurement error (~50%); (b) strong additive genetic components of this latent curve (~44% at age 60) with increases (over 50%) up to age 74, but with no additional genetic variation after age 74; (c) the smaller influences of shared family environment (~15% at age 74) were constant over all ages; (d) non-shared effects play an important role over most of the life-span but diminish after age 74.
The core Legion object model

The Legion project at the University of Virginia is an architecture for designing and building system services that provide the illusion of a single virtual machine to users, a virtual machine that provides secure shared object and shared name spaces, application adjustable fault tolerance, improved response time, and greater throughput. Legion targets wide area assemblies of workstations, supercomputers, and parallel supercomputers. Legion tackles problems not solved by existing workstation based parallel processing tools; the system will enable fault tolerance, wide area parallel processing, interoperability, heterogeneity, a single global name space, protection, security, efficient scheduling, and comprehensive resource management. The paper describes the core Legion object model, which specifies the composition and functionality of Legion's core objects-those objects that cooperate to create, locate, manage, and remove objects in the Legion system. The object model facilitates a flexible extensible implementation, provides a single global name space, grants site autonomy to participating organizations, and scales to millions of sites and trillions of objects.
Local Diffusion and Concentration of IgG near Planar Membranes: Measurement by Total Internal Reflection with Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

The local diffusion coefficients and concentrations of a fluorescently labeled, monoclonal IgG in the solution adjacent to substrate-supported phospholipid bilayers have been measured by using total internal reflection with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (TIR−FCS). In these measurements, the evanescent depth was ≈1000 A. TIR−FCS data were obtained as a function of membrane composition, pH, and ionic strength. Best-fits to previously determined theoretical forms provided measures of the average local IgG concentrations and diffusion coefficients. These values were compared to the bulk concentrations and diffusion coefficients, measured far from the membrane, by using FCS with a focused beam. The bulk diffusion coefficient was also measured with dynamic light scattering. The IgG concentrations close to the membrane surface were not significantly different from those in the bulk. However, the local diffusion coefficients, as measured by TIR−FCS, were faster at low ionic strength and slower at high ion...
246 EVIDENCE FOR A CRITICAL ROLE OF IRON CHELATES IN OXIDATIVE HEPATIC INJURY IN RATS

Diquat (Dq) causes generation of reactive oxygen species in Fisher-344 and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, evoking marked liver necrosis in the former, but almost none in the latter strain. To test the hypothesis that iron homeostasis is pivotal in the resistance to injury by reactive oxygen species, we pretreated adult SD rats with FeSO4 ip and gave Dq ip at 30 min. Controls were given normal saline and/or PBS. Blood was drawn 1-24 hr after Dq and ALT measured in plasma. Data from treated rats were compared to controls by two-tailed Fisher exact test No rats killed at 2 hours had abnormal ALTs. We conclude that excess free iron is critical to induce liver injury in Dq-treated rats, but the distribution of the iron needs to be determined Supported by NIH Grant GM44263 and the International Pediatric Research Foundation.
In noncardiac surgery, perioperative aspirin did not reduce death or MI at 30 d but increased major bleeding

Source Citation Devereaux PJ, Mrkobrada M, Sessler DI, et al; POISE-2 Investigators. Aspirin in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:1494-503. 24679062
Multifunctional Nanoscale Platforms for Targeting of the Cancer Cell Immortality Spectrum

In the post-genomic era, "omics" platforms and cancer systems biology are greatly advancing our knowledge of the molecular and cellular underpinnings of cancer. In this article, we begin by outlining the factors governing the development of cancer (tumorigenesis) and use this framework to motivate the need for systems-approaches to cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. We review recent efforts to tap into the remarkable potential of nanotechnology for (i) systems-surveillance (or "sensing") of the molecular signatures of tumorigenesis, and (ii) spatiotemporally-regulated delivery (or "targeting") of combination therapeutics to cancer cells. Specifically, we highlight the salient role of polymeric biomaterials and describe the physicochemical characteristics that render them attractive for the design of such nanoscale platforms. We conclude with discussions on the emerging role of macromolecular biophysics and computational nanotechnology in engineering spatiotemporally-regulated anti-cancer systems.
Occurrence of consistent nM levels of phosphate in doubly demineralized and demineralized-distilled water

A double demineralization system and a demineralization-distillation system operated over several months consistently delivered water that was approximately 30 nM in phosphate, as determined by a molybdenum blue spectrophotometric method. Silicate and hydrolysed polyphosphate in the water, and contaminants in the analytical reagents, were eliminated as sources of error in the determination. Caution is suggested in preparing blanks and dilutions in analyses of samples of natural waters or plant nutrient solutions, when either of these types of purification system is used.
A Party of a Different Color? Race, Campaign Communication, and Party Politics

Although studies have examined the contents of party images and the impact of those images on candidate evaluations, we do not have an understanding of the conditions that lead to party image change. In this article, I examine the impact of racialized campaigns on perceptions of individuals' party images. Moreover, I explore the factors that mediate the campaigns' effects. I argue that the success of a strategy's ability to alter party images depends on the strength of the individuals' extant party images. Using the 2000 Republican National Convention as a case study, I find that party images are indeed malleable. Further, I find that race, party identification, and education mediate party image change.
PRENATAL STRESS AND RISK FOR AUTISM

This paper reviews several converging lines of research that suggest that prenatal exposure to environmental stress may increase risk for Autistic Disorder (AD). We first discuss studies finding that prenatal exposure to stressful life events is associated with significantly increased risk of AD, as well as other disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. We then review evidence from animal and human studies that prenatal stress can produce both (a) abnormal postnatal behaviors that resemble the defining symptoms of AD, and (b) other abnormalities that have elevated rates in AD, such as learning deficits, seizure disorders, perinatal complications, immunologic and neuroinflammatory anomalies, and low postnatal tolerance for stress. We explain why an etiologic role for prenatal stress is compatible with genetic factors in AD, and describe how stress can disrupt fetal brain development. Finally, we discuss implications for understanding underlying processes in AD, including potential gene-environment interactions, and developing new therapies and early prevention programs.
Effects of amphetamine on delay discounting in rats depend upon the manner in which delay is varied.

Abstract Whether stimulant drugs like amphetamine increase or decrease choice of larger delayed reinforcers over smaller immediately available reinforcers under delay discounting procedures can depend on several factors, including the order in which delay is presented. This study examined whether the order of delay presentation impacts drug effects on discounting in rats (n = 8) trained and tested under an ascending order, a descending order, as well as under a fixed delay condition. Responses on one lever delivered 1 food pellet immediately and responses on the other lever delivered 3 food pellets immediately or after a delay (4–32 s). In Experiment 1, the delay to the larger reinforcer varied within session and the order of delay presentation (ascending or descending) varied across conditions. In Experiment 2, the same delay value was presented in all blocks of the session (i.e., delay was fixed), and delay varied across conditions. Under the ascending order of delay, amphetamine (0.32–1.78 mg/kg) increased choice of the larger reinforcer in some rats and decreased choice in others. In the same rats responding under the descending and fixed delay conditions, amphetamine markedly decreased choice of the larger reinforcer even in the component associated with no delay. In some subjects, the effects of amphetamine differed depending on the manner in which delay was presented, indicating that drug-induced changes in performance were due, in part, to mechanisms other than altered sensitivity to reinforcer delay. These results also suggest that a history of responding under both orders of delay presentation can modulate drug effects. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘CNS Stimulants’.
RETINAL MORPHOGENESIS IN DROSOPHILA : HINTS FROM AN EYE-SPECIFIC DECAPENTAPLEGIC ALLELE

Decapentaplegic (dpp) regulates many aspects of imaginal disc growth and patterning in Drosophila. We have analyzed the phenotype of an eye-specific dpp allele, dppblk, which causes a reduction in the size of the retina due to a loss of ventral ommatidia. Prior to the onset of differentiation, dppblk eye discs are normal regarding size, shape, and ability to express dorsal and ventral markers. However, expression of a dpp-lacZ reporter is reduced at the ventral margin. Additional dorsoventral asymmetry appears during retinal differentiation: the morphogenetic furrow (MF) initiates normally at the posterior tip of the disc, but fails to propagate into the ventral epithelium. This defect can be rescued by increasing dpp expression along the ventral margin by local removal of patched function. We propose that the primary defect in dppblk is an inability to activate dpp expression properly at the ventral margin. This has two consequences: it prevents initiation from the ventral margin, and it renders the ventral epithelium unresponsive to differentiation signals emanating from the MF.