cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age-related changes in the gene expression profile of antigen-specific mouse CD8+ T cells can be partially reversed by blockade of the BTLA/CD160 pathways during vaccination

We analyzed gene expression profiles of young and aged mouse CD8+ T cells specific for the nucleoprotein (NP) of influenza A/PR8/34 virus. CD8+ T cells were stimulated either by the NP antigen expressed in its native form or fused into the herpes virus (HSV)-1 glycoprotein D (gD) protein, which blocks signaling through the immunoinhibitory B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) and CD160 pathways. We show that NP-specific CD8+ T cells from aged mice exhibit numerous differences in gene expression compared to NP-specific CD8+ T cells from young mice, including a significant reduction of expression in genes involved in T cell receptor (TcR) and CD28 signaling. We also show that these changes can be reversed in a sub-population (~50%) of the aged mice by a BTLA/CD160 checkpoint blockade. These results suggest that BTLA/CD160 checkpoint blockade has potential value as a vaccine additive to induce better CD8+ T cell responses in the aged.
HLA Mismatching Strategies for Solid Organ Transplantation - A Balancing Act.

HLA matching provides numerous benefits in organ transplantation including better graft function, fewer rejection episodes, longer graft survival, and the possibility of reduced immunosuppression. Mismatches are attended by more frequent rejection episodes that require increased immunosuppression that, in turn, can increase the risk of infection and malignancy. HLA mismatches also incur the risk of sensitization, which can reduce the opportunity and increase waiting time for a subsequent transplant. However, other factors such as donor age, donor type, and immunosuppression protocol, can affect the benefit derived from matching. Further, finding a well matched donor may not be possible for all patients and usually prolongs waiting time. Strategies to optimize transplantation for patients without a well matched donor should take into account the immunologic barrier represented by different mismatches: what are the least immunogenic mismatches considering the patient’s HLA phenotype; should repeated mismatches be avoided; is the patient sensitized to HLA and, if so, what are the strengths of the patient’s antibodies? This information can then be used to define the HLA type of an immunologically optimal donor and the probability of such a donor occurring. A probability that is considered to be too low, may require expanding the donor population through paired donation or modifying what is acceptable which may require employing treatment to overcome immunologic barriers such as increased immunosuppression or desensitization. Thus, transplantation must strike a balance between the risk associated with waiting for the optimal donor and the risk associated with a less than optimal donor.
An H ∞ loop-shaping design procedure for attitude control of an AUV

This work provides a process to design stabilizing robust H ∞ attitude controllers for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) using classical loop-shaping techniques. We adopt the loop-shaping design ideas introduced by McFarlane and Glover [1]. In this paper, we present two control topologies and procedures for designing robust attitude controllers for streamlined AUVs. We describe how to achieve a desired controller bandwidth during the design process using open-loop shaping guidelines. Our results are verified by evaluating performance in the field of several attitude controllers that are designed for a streamlined tail-controlled AUV. The experimental results also show the trade-off between reference tracking performance and control effort.
Congenital Pediatric Dementia: a Case Study of Mitochondrial Myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like Episodes (MELAS) Syndrome

Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a mitochondrial genetic condition affecting the capacity of the cells to create energy. Tissues with high-energy demands, such as the brain tissue, are disproportionately affected by this disease and result in significant neurological sequela including seizures and stroke-like episodes. The cognitive and behavioral impact of these neurological insults is evident in neuropsychological impairments that are initially transient but eventually become permanent and ultimately lead to dementia and death. The age of onset for MELAS is between 5 and 15 years old and is preceded by a period of typical development. The disease course of MELAS in combination with its onset in childhood and adolescence poses a number of challenges to pediatric neuropsychologists, who are often charged with quantifying impairment over time and communicating to a broad audience the appropriate services and supports that the individual needs. This case study aims to provide pediatric neuropsychologists with an overview of MELAS and offers an approach to neuropsychological assessments among children and adolescents with disorders with a dementing disease course. The affected individual, a 19-year-old woman, presented for an initial neuropsychological evaluation following a protracted period of seizures; the etiology of which had only recently been identified as a symptom of MELAS. Considerations for tracking progress and decline longitudinally and recommendations addressing the mental health and educational needs of these individuals are addressed.
Coordination of the Hippo and TOR pathways by Rheb via RASSF1A.

e22197 Background: Tuberous sclerosis disease is caused by inherited mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 proteins, which function as a complex. Somatic mutations in TSC proteins also occur in spontaneous...
Abnormalities of Dopamine D3 Receptor Signaling in the Diseased Brain.

Dopamine D3 receptors (D3R) modulate neuronal activity in several brain regions including cortex, striatum, cerebellum, and hippocampus. A growing body of evidence suggests that aberrant D3R signaling contributes to multiple brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, schizophrenia, and addiction. In line with these findings, D3R has emerged as a potential target in the treatment of neurological disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying neuronal D3R signaling are poorly understood, either in healthy or diseased brain. Here, I review the molecular mechanisms involved in D3R signaling via monomeric D3R and heteromeric receptor complexes (e.g., D3R-D1R, D3R-D2R, D3R-A2aR, and D3R-D3nf). I focus on D3R signaling pathways that, according to recent reports, contribute to pathological brain states. In particular, I describe evidence on both quantitative (e.g., increased number or affinity) and qualitative (e.g., switched signaling) changes in D3R that has been associated with brain dysfunction. I conclude with a description of basic mechanisms that modulate D3R signaling such as desensitization, as disruption of these mechanisms may underlie pathological changes in D3R signaling. Because several lines of evidence support the idea that imbalances in D3R signaling alter neural function, a better understanding of downstream D3R pathways is likely to reveal novel therapeutic strategies toward dopamine-related brain disorders.
Centrifuge tests on comixing of mine tailings and waste rock

AbstractA series of centrifuge tests were conducted to examine self-weight consolidation, dynamic response, liquefaction potential, and slope stability of mine tailings alone and in mixtures with w...
Fourier phase based depth-resolved nanoscale nuclear architecture mapping for cancer detection

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) modality has been widely adopted in a variety of applications ranging from identifying photomask defects in lithography to characterizing cell structure and tissue morphology in cancer. Traditional QPI utilizes the electromagnetic phase of transmitted light to measure, with nanometer scale sensitivity, alterations in the optical thickness of a sample of interest. In our work, the QPI paradigm is generalized to study depth-resolved properties of phase objects with slowly varying refractive index without a strong interface by utilizing the Fourier phase associated with Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). Specifically, based on computing the Fourier phase of light back-scattered by cell nuclei, we have developed nanoscale nuclear architecture mapping (nanoNAM) method that quantifies, with nanoscale sensitivity, (a) the depth-resolved alterations in mean nuclear optical density, and (b) depth-resolved localized heterogeneity in optical density of the cell nuclei. We have used nanoNAM to detect malignant transformation in colon carcinogenesis, even in tissue that appears histologically normal according to pathologists, thereby showing its potential as a pathology aid in cases where pathology examination remains inconclusive, and for screening patient populations at risk of developing cancer. In this paper, we integrate all aspects of nanoNAM, from principle through instrumentation and analysis, to show that nanoNAM is a promising, low-cost, and label-free method for identifying pathologically indeterminate pre-cancerous and cancerous cells. Importantly, it can seamlessly integrate into the clinical pipeline by utilizing clinically prepared formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections.
Adolescent daughters’ perceptions of their fathers’ levels of communication and care: How these variables influence female adolescent sexual behaviors

This study examines the relationship between female adolescents’ perceptions of their fathers’ level of communication and care, and the influence of these variables on their adolescent daughters’ s...
Chaos in Babel: Reconfiguring Biblical Archetypes in Monique Bosco’s Babel-Opéra

"Monique Bosco was a prolific author of numerous novels, short stories, and poems, and was recognized as one of the key Jewish writers in Montreal, a small minority group of immigrant intellectuals who wrote in French.... In many of Bosco’s works, readers can observe a particular fascination with the ancient past, especially a preoccupation with the Old Testament and such biblical archetypes as Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Moses, Miriam, Job, and Lot’s wife. However, Bosco deviates from the traditional representation of these biblical figures, as she revises them to reflect the contemporary crisis of exile and geographical displacement—seminal elements associated with the Jewish Diaspora."
Modern NMR Methods in Phytochemical Studies

The last two decades have seen major new developments in the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques applied toward structural organic chemistry and biochemistry problems in general, and structural as well as biosynthetic studies of natural products, in particular. The development of superconducting magnets together with the application of pulse techniques and Fourier transformations by faster and more powerful computers have dramatically increased the versatility of NMR analysis.1–7
Rituximab as therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

DT Frontline treatment approaches for newly diagnosed ALL have evolved from “one size fits all” chemotherapy regimens to subtype-oriented chemotherapy programs. The traditional risk factors that influence selection of therapy primarily include characteristics of the host, such as age, and features of the disease, such as lineage (T-lymphoblastic, B-lymphoblastic, or Burkitt-type [mature B-cell] ALL) and karyotype (eg, Philadelphia chromosome [Ph]). For example, treatment of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with newly diagnosed ALL has been impacted dramatically by several retrospective analyses which show superior outcomes for pediatric ALL regimens as opposed to conventional adult ALL regimens (Table 1).1-7 This may in part be related to higher dose intensity of the nonmyelosuppressive components of pediatric programs, such as vincristine, corticosteroids, and asparaginase. However, these findings may also be simply accounted for by age differences in the comparative cohorts; in some cases the median age was as much as 3 years apart. The optimal age cut off point which distinguishes the “younger” adult benefiting from a pediatric-like approach from an “older” adult likely to be intolerant of such therapy remains in flux, but appears to be around age 40–45 years, beyond which higher treatment-related mortality negates benefits of intensification.8 Enrollment of younger adults with ALL into prospective clinical trials using pediatric regimens is therefore paramount in order to determine the best agebased chemotherapy approach. With respect to targeted therapy, frontline chemotherapy regimens for Ph-positive ALL should now include a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).9 The role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in first complete remission (CR) has to be redefined in the context of pediatric-based regimens for younger adults and second generation TKIs in Ph-positive ALL. Newer lineage-specific frontline therapy approaches include incorporation of novel chemotherapeutics (such as nelarabine [Arranon, GlaxoSmithKline] for T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma) or monoclonal anti bodies (such as rituximab [Rituxan, Genentech] for Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma or CD20-positive precursor B-lineage ALL). Table 2 provides an overview of the subtype-oriented regimens as applied to adolescents and adults with de novo ALL at our institution.
Cytosolic Sodium Ion Activity in Heart Cells

Animal cells have high intracellular levels of K+ and low intracellular levels of Na+ relative to their bathing medium. The cellular mechanism for maintaining this partitioning of cations is the Na-K pump, a membrane-bound transport system that moves Na+ out of and K+ into the cell (1,2). The concentration gradient for K+ plays a major role in establishing the cell’s resting potential, especially in cardiac and skeletal muscle and nerve cells (3–5).
Sustained-Release Systems for Livestock Pest Control

Insects, ticks, and mites cost the livestock industry an estimated $3 billion annually.1 Two-thirds of this loss is suffered by the beef cattle industry. Despite continued interest in alternate methods of control, insecticide treatments are currently the most widely used and most effective means of control of these pests. It appears that pesticides will continue to be a vital part of the producers’ defense despite the inherent problems of chemical control. Although pesticides may not be the sole control method, they are likely to be a major tool in pest-management systems.
Polyethylene glycol in spinal cord injury repair: a critical review.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a synthetic biocompatible polymer with many useful properties for developing therapeutics to treat spinal cord injury. Direct application of PEG as a fusogen to the injury site can repair cell membranes, mitigate oxidative stress, and promote axonal regeneration to restore motor function. PEG can be covalently or noncovalently conjugated to proteins, peptides, and nanoparticles to limit their clearance by the reticuloendothelial system, reduce their immunogenicity, and facilitate crossing the blood–brain barrier. Cross-linking PEG produces hydrogels that can act as delivery vehicles for bioactive molecules including growth factors and cells such as bone marrow stromal cells, which can modulate the inflammatory response and support neural tissue regeneration. PEG hydrogels can be cross-linked in vitro or delivered as an injectable formulation that can gel in situ at the site of injury. Chemical and mechanical properties of PEG hydrogels are tunable and must be optimized for creating the most favorable delivery environment. Peptides mimicking extracellular matrix protein such as laminin and n-cadherin can be incorporated into PEG hydrogels to promote neural differentiation and axonal extensions. Different hydrogel cross-linking densities and stiffness will also affect the differentiation process. PEG hydrogels with a gradient of peptide concentrations or Young’s modulus have been developed to systematically study these factors. This review will describe these and other recent advancements of PEG in the field of spinal cord injury in greater detail.
Enoxaparin use during chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenic phase in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism.

e18852Background: Enoxaparin is the recommended treatment in patients with active cancer who develop venous thromboembolism (VTE). With active cancer treatment, patients might develop thrombocytope...
Musculoskeletal Basics: The Shoulder and the Knee Workshop for Primary Care Residents

Introduction Although musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints are very common in ambulatory clinics, internal medicine residents report low confidence in performing MSK examinations and intra-articular st...
Closed loop bioreactor system for the ex vivo expansion of human T cells.

Abstract Background aim Translation of therapeutic cell therapies to clinical-scale products is critical to realizing widespread success. Currently, however, there are limited tools that are accessible at the research level and readily scalable to clinical-scale needs. Methods We herein developed and assessed a closed loop bioreactor system in which (i) a highly gas-permeable silicone material was used to fabricate cell culture bags and (ii) dynamic flow was introduced to allow for dissociation of activated T-cell aggregates. Results Using this system, we find superior T-cell proliferation compared with conventional bag materials and flasks, especially at later time points. Furthermore, intermittent dynamic flow could easily break apart T-cell clusters. Conclusions Our novel closed loop bioreactor system is amenable to enhanced T-cell proliferation and has broader implications for being easily scaled for use in larger need settings.
A communication-avoiding 3D algorithm for sparse LU factorization on heterogeneous systems

Abstract We propose a new algorithm to improve the strong scalability of right-looking sparse LU factorization on distributed memory systems. Our 3D algorithm for sparse LU uses a three-dimensional MPI process grid, exploits elimination tree parallelism, and trades off increased memory for reduced per-process communication. We also analyze the asymptotic improvements for planar graphs (e.g., those arising from 2D grid or mesh discretizations) and certain non-planar graphs (specifically for 3D grids and meshes). For a planar graph with n vertices, our algorithm reduces communication volume asymptotically in n by a factor of O log n and latency by a factor of O log n . For non-planar cases, our algorithm can reduce the per-process communication volume by 3 × and latency by O n 1 3 times. In all cases, the memory needed to achieve these gains is a constant factor. We implemented our algorithm by extending the 2D data structure used in SuperLU_DIST . Our new 3D code achieves empirical speedups up to 27 × for planar graphs and up to 3.3 × for non-planar graphs over the baseline 2D SuperLU_DIST when run on 24,000 cores of a Cray XC30. We extend the 3D algorithm for heterogeneous architectures by adding the Highly Asynchronous Lazy Offload ( Halo ) algorithm for co-processor offload [44] . On 4096 nodes of a Cray XK7 with 32,768 CPU cores and 4096 Nvidia K20x GPUs, the 3D algorithm achieves empirical speedups up to 24 × for planar graphs and 3.5 × for non-planar graphs over the baseline 2D SuperLU_DIST with co-processor acceleration.
Classification of the Dystonias

Dystonias are a group of disorders characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that lead to twisting or repetitive movements. Many subtypes have been recognized, and new syndromes are described every year. To keep pace with the rapidly growing knowledge of this group of disorders, an international consensus panel has proposed a revised classification system that is divided into two main axes, one addressing clinical manifestations and the other addressing etiologies. This chapter provides practical examples of how this classification system can be used to aid clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Modelled and Perceived Noise Exposure and Psychotropic Medication Use

BackgroundRoad-traffic noise can induce stress which may eventually lead to mental health disorders. Mental health problems of noise have not are scant in research. People perceive noise differentl...
Deposition-on-contact regime and the effect of donor-acceptor distance during laser-induced forward transfer of viscoelastic liquids

Optimizing the direct-writing of viscoelastic liquids requires an understanding of the governing physics during jet and droplet formation. In this article, we study the effect of the distance between the donor and acceptor surfaces and identify a unique deposition-on-contact regime associated with viscoelasticity. For a given laser pulse energy, depending on the liquid film thickness, rheological properties, and the distance between the liquid film and the acceptor surface, the resulting jet can result in either a rapid deposition of a small volume or the formation of a liquid bridge that delays the breakup of the liquid filament and can result in deposition of multiple droplets. By adjusting the gap distance between the donor and acceptor surfaces, we show that it is possible to obtain single drop depositions via deposition-on-contact from viscoelastic liquids. Using dimensionless parameters, we present criteria that can be used to predict the different regimes observed in the experiments.
Woolly Apple Aphid Generalist Predator Feeding Behavior Assessed through Video Observation in an Apple Orchard

Generalist predators are considered effective biological control agents in many agroecosystems. However, characterizing the behavior of different generalist predator species in realistic field settings is difficult due to challenges associated with directly observing predation events in the field. Here we video recorded woolly apple aphid (Erisoma lanigerum) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) colonies to directly observe the feeding behavior of their generalist predators during the day and night. To observe European earwigs (Forficula auricularia) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), which are thought to be key woolly apple aphid predators but were not present at our study location, we released earwigs into the study area. Across 1413 h of video recorded over 4 weeks, earwigs made the most attacks on woolly apple aphid colonies, but coccinellid larvae spent more total time attacking because their individual attacks were longer. Antagonistic interactions between predators were rare, and earwigs never antagonized other predators. However, ants commonly antagonized earwigs, and incidence of ant-earwig antagonistic interactions was negatively correlated with earwig-aphid attack rates. Overall, these results suggest that coccinellid larvae and earwigs differ in their feeding behavior in the field, and provide new evidence that ants may hinder aphid biological control by antagonizing earwigs.
The worlds of the Indian Ocean: a global history

The Worlds of the Indian Ocean: A Global History, hereafter The Worlds, is an ambitious and thoroughly comprehensive book that exudes Philippe Beaujard’s passion for uncovering the deep history of ...
Severe Behavioral Health Manifestations in Nursing Homes: Associations with Service Availability?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Despite high prevalence of behavioral health (BH) manifestations among nursing home (NH) residents, availability of BH services in this care setting is often inadequate. Our objective was to examine associations between availability of BH services and the presence of severe depression, suicidal ideation (SI), and severe aggressive behaviors (ABs) among NH residents. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS This study used 2017 survey data about BH service availability obtained from 1,051 NHs. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) was used to identify long-stay residents in these facilities (N = 101,238) and the prevalence of BH manifestations. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regressions were used. MEASUREMENTS We constructed measures of three severe BH manifestations based on the MDS: presence of depression, SI, and ABs. Three independent measures of service availability based on survey items asked about degrees of inadequate (1) staff BH education, (2) coordination/collaboration between facility/community providers, and (3) facility infrastructure (ie, ability to make referrals/transport residents to services). RESULTS Odds of severe depression were 21% higher (odds ratio [OR] = 1.21; P < .001) when NHs reported inadequate BH staff education. Residents with SI had 13% higher odds (OR = 1.13; P = .027) of living in NHs that reported inadequate coordination between facility and community providers. Severe ABs were 10% more likely among residents in NHs reporting inadequate facility infrastructure (OR = 1.10; P = .002) and 7% more likely in facilities with self-reported inadequate coordination between facility/community providers (OR = 1.07; P = .019). Several facility-level factors (eg, staffing, training, turnover) were also statistically significantly associated with these severe BH manifestations. CONCLUSION Residents in NHs reporting inadequate BH services were more likely to experience adverse severe BH manifestations even after controlling for individual and facility-level risk factors. Higher nurse staffing and more staff psychiatric training were associated with lower prevalence of severe BH manifestations. Policy changes and modifications to Medicaid NH reimbursements may be warranted to better incentivize NHs to improve provision of BH services.
Preconditioning and Integrating Pre-Purchase Information

Practitioners, producers, and researchers have tried to evaluate the merits of bovine health management programs such as preconditioning for many years. Researchers have demonstrated varied results on the benefits of preconditioning. Most research has pointed out program deficiencies (1-6). The definition of a preconditioned calf is frequently left to the principal investigator. A nutritionist may consider preconditioning as a vaccination program and a veterinarian may consider it as a total management program. This makes comparisons of studies difficult. A decision making process in herd health and management programs can be implemented by defining the situation, considering the options, studying present knowledge of the options, selecting a strategy, and evaluating the outcome (7). Since the problem with many studies is defining the situation, maybe one should define a non-preconditioned calf.
The Interface of Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Suicide, and Surrender: Implications for Treatment and Approaches

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of addiction, suicide, and surrender. Explored through a narrative inquiry lens, findings confirmed that the process of surrender is a cruc...
Contingency planning for health care worker masks in case of medical supply chain failure: Lessons learned in novel mask manufacturing from COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented strain on the medical supply chain. Early in the pandemic, uncertainty regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) was high. Protecting health care workers from contracting illness is critical to preserve trust and workforce capacity. Methods We describe an initiative to design and manufacture a novel, re-usable, half-face respirator in case conventional medical supply chain failed to meet demand. It required new collaboration between the hospital, physicians, the medical school, and the school of engineering. We describe organizational priorities, constraints, and process of design, testing and approval as the health system engaged for the first time directly with the design and manufacturing process for PPE. Results An original mask design was developed, and the University Hospital had an initial batch of this novel mask manufactured during the first wave of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. These masks, and the die necessary to produce more, are in reserve in case of depletion of stores of conventionally sourced PPE. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated fragility of medical supply chain. Organizations considering similar efforts should anticipate constraints on raw material supply chain and be flexible, adaptive, and fast. The incident command structure was vital to identifying priority areas needing alternative approaches, creating connections, and providing rapid approvals. We found organizational value in demonstrating commitment to assuring PPE supplies for health care worker safety.
Evaluation of Safety of Overhead Upper Extremity Positioning During Fenestrated-Branched Endovascular Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

PURPOSE Peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injury can occur from compression or stretching during positioning for operative procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of overhead upper extremity positioning to optimize imaging during fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) of pararenal (PRA) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). METHODS Forty-four consecutive patients enrolled in a prospective non-randomized study underwent FB-EVAR with overhead upper extremity positioning. Patients underwent intra-operative neuromonitoring of upper and lower extremities and neurological examination prior to discharge and at 2 months following the procedure. End points were peripheral or brachial plexus nerve injury, quality of lateral projection and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and major adverse event (MAEs). RESULTS There were 28 (64%) male patients with mean age of 74 ± 8 years treated for 10 PRAs (23%) and 34 (78%) TAAAs. Mean body mass index was 29 ± 7 kg/m2, with 17 obese patients (39%). Open surgical upper extremity access was used in 19 patients (43%). Three patients (16%) had access-related complications, all focal brachial artery dissections treated by patch angioplasty. Two patients (5%) developed upper extremity changes in neuromonitoring, which immediately resolved with repositioning of the upper extremity. Technical success was 95%. Lateral projection and rotational CBCT were feasible in all patients with satisfactory imaging quality for catheterization and stenting of the celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery. There was one mortality (2%) at 30 days, and six patients (14%) had MAEs. There were no upper extremity neurological injuries. CONCLUSION Overhead upper extremity position allows optimal imaging on lateral projections and rotational CBCT during FB-EVAR. There were no upper extremity neurological injuries in this study.
The Shape of the Future: World Politics in a New Century

The Shape of the Past - How We Got Here Facing the Future - the Political Dimension Facing the Future - the Economic Dimension Facing the Future - the Military Dimension Getting to the Future - the Polico-Economic Process Getting to the Future - the Security Process Future Shapes.
Studies on the role of actin's aspartic acid 3 and aspartic acid 11 using oligodeoxynucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis

One or more of the five acidic amino-terminal residues of skeletal muscle actin have been implicated as being important in a number of actin-related processes. We have constructed a series of actins containing mutations at Asp3 and Asp11 and tested these mutant proteins for their ability to bind to DNase I-agarose, polymerize with rabbit skeletal muscle actin, undergo amino-terminal processing, and bind to the myosin-S1 subfragment. The mutant actins were expressed in vitro using a coupled transcription/translation system which involves the synthesis of mutant RNAs with SP6 RNA polymerase followed by their translation in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. When Asp3 was changed to Ala, His, or Asn there was no difference in the tested properties as compared to wild type actin. These results suggest that an acidic residue at position 3 is not critical for the actin functions measured. When Asp11 was changed to Glu, Asn, or His or if the conserved Asp-Asn sequence at positions 11 and 12 was reversed, the mutants were able to copolymerize with rabbit skeletal muscle actin and be cross-linked to myosin-S1 to nearly the same extent as wild type actin. However, the amount of in vitro-synthesized actin capable of binding to DNase I-agarose with high affinity or undergoing amino-terminal processing was reduced significantly relative to the wild type actin synthesized in vitro. The Asp11 mutants ran anomalously on native polyacrylamide gels suggestive of a conformational change induced in the actin. Together, these results suggest that Asp11 may be important in proper actin folding and function.
Eigenvalues associated with Borel sets.

Every Borel subset K of an interval [c, d] induces a sequence of eigenvalues. If K is closed, the asymptotic behavior of the eigenvalues is related to the positions and lengths of its complementary intervals. The rate of growth becomes “lowest possible” if K has self-similarity properties. Eigenvalues of a vibrating string with singular mass distribution are eigenvalues associated with a set K.
SU-E-J-228: MRI-Based Planning: Dosimetric Feasibility of Dose Painting for ADCDefined Intra-Prostatic Tumor

Purpose: Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map may help to delineate the gross tumor volume (GTV) in prostate gland. Dose painting with external beam radiotherapy for GTV might increase the local tumor control. The purpose of this study is to explore the maximum boosting dose on GTV using VMAT without sacrificing sparing of organs at risk (OARs) in MRI based planning. Methods: VMAT plans for 5 prostate patients were generated following the commonly used dose volume (DV) criteria based on structures contoured on T2 weighted MRI with bulk electron density assignment using electron densities derived from ICRU46. GTV for each patient was manually delineated based on ADC maps and fused to T2-weighted image set for planning study. A research planning system with Monte Carlo dose engine (Monaco, Elekta) was used to generate the VMAT plans with boosting dose on GTV gradually increased from 85Gy to 100Gy. DV parameters, including V(boosting-dose) (volume covered by boosting dose) for GTV, V75.6Gy for PTV, V45Gy, V70Gy, V72Gy and D1cc (Maximum dose to 1cc volume) for rectum and bladder, were used to measure plan quality. Results: All cases achieve at least 99.0% coverage of V(boosting-dose) on GTV and 95% coverage of V75.6Gy to the PTV. All the DV criteria, V45Gy≤50% and V70Gy≤15% for bladder and rectum, D1cc ≤77Gy (Rectum) and ≤80Gy (Bladder), V72Gy≤5% (rectum and bladder) were maintained when boosting GTV to 95Gy for all cases studied. Except for two patients, all the criteria were also met when the boosting dose goes to 100Gy. Conclusion: It is dosimetrically feasible safe to boost the dose to at least 95Gy to ADC defined GTV in prostate cancer using MRI guided VMAT delivery. Conclusion: It is dosimetrically feasible safe to boost the dose to at least 95Gy to ADC defined GTV in prostate cancer using MRI guided VMAT delivery. This research is partially supported by Elekta Inc.
Electrophysiological analysis of transporter function.

Publisher Summary Advances in the molecular biology of neurotransmitter transporters, and the heterologous expression of these trans- porters in transient and stable expression systems, provide a new route to study the mechanisms underlying catecholamine transport and the role of voltage in regulating transport. The human norepinephrine (NE) transporter (hNET) was the first catecholamine transporter to be cloned and expressed in nonneuronal cells. The sequence predicted from this clone encodes a 617 amino acid peptide bearing 12 hydrophobic regions of sufficient length to consider them transmembrane domains. Although it is evident that many neurotransmitter transporters do not maintain a strict ratio of transmitter flux to ionic current, the mechanistic relationship between transmitter transport and the transmitter-induced currents is unknown. This chapter focuses on a comparison of NE uptake, NE-induced macroscopic currents, current fluctuations, single-channel events, and transient pre-steady-state currents in a heterologous expression system. A model of hNET, which is compatible with these data and suggest a role for the NE-induced current in synapses, is proposed in this chapter. In solutions containing Na and NE, the pre-steady-state charge resulting from steps to negative voltages represents the movement of Na ions into the closed transporter. Once Na and NE bind to the transporter, they enable it to translocate substrate and Na. Saturation kinetics of uptake and of induced current indicates that only one Na and one NE are required to open the transporter.
An Integrated Architecture for Enterprise Relationship Management

Value creation in the new economy powered by the Internet and globalization is characterized by relationship management, knowledge exchange and real-time connectivity. Enterprise relationship management is a business strategy that optimizes the relationships between a firm and its customers, channel partners, suppliers and other alliance partners, to maximize opportunities. This paper examines the characteristics of enterprise relationship management and its ecosystems in operations, analytics and collaboration enabled by technologies in ebusiness and knowledge management. An integrated architecture for enterprise relationship management is developed using the enterprise model framework.
An Island Effect in Japanese

In this paper I develop an argument for a pied-piping approach to the apparent absence of island effects in Japanese, along the lines of Nishigauchi (1986, 1990). The argument (first mentioned in Watanabe (1992b), crediting Mamoru Saito) has to do with the behavior of multiple wh-phrases in situ which are in an island; such wh-phrases must all take the same scope. On a covert pied-piping approach to island effects, the ban on distinct scopes follows straightforwardly; the island must be pied-piped to a scope position by the wh-phrases inside it, establishing the scope position for all of them. I show that the ban on distinct-scope readings does exhibit several properties of islands, including additional-wh effects. I then go on to investigate briefly the nature of pied-piping, developing a theory which accounts for the fact that wh-islands cannot be pied-piped.
The heme degradation pathway is a promising serum biomarker source for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease

One of the remaining challenges in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research is the establishment of biomarkers for early disease detection. As part of a prospective study spanning a period of five years, we have collected serial serum samples from cognitively normal, mild cognitively impaired (MCI), and mild AD participants, including same patient samples before and after cognitive decline. Using mass spectrometry we identified several promising leads for biomarker development, such as prosaposin, phospholipase D1, biliverdin reductase B, and S100 calcium binding protein A7. Selected candidate markers were verified using reverse phase protein microarray assays. Of 15 protein/protein abundance ratios that were significantly altered in sera from subjects with mild AD compared to Normal or MCI subjects, 14 were composed of ratios containing heme oxygenase-1, biliverdin reductase A, or biliverdin reductase B. Moreover, an increase in the protein abundance ratio of matrix metallopeptidase 9/biliverdin reductase differentiated stable MCI subjects from MCI subjects progressing into mild AD before the onset of cognitive decline. These findings strongly implicate the heme degradation pathway as a promising source of protein biomarkers for the early detection of AD.
Analysis of B cell tolerance in vitro

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on B cell tolerance through in vitro systems. It examines the studies in terms of evolving knowledge from transgenic models defining B cell tolerance in vivo and signal transduction in vitro. B cell tolerance is a specific hyporesponsive or unresponsive state induced by prior exposure to a given antigen (epitope). Analysis of B cell tolerance in vitro has permitted an understanding of the molecular pathways in this process. Differences have been noted in the signal transduction events of immature, tolerance susceptible, and more mature B cells. There is no doubt that the presence of T cell help is the single overriding feature preventing tolerogenesis. Tolerance is an active process in which initial tyrosine phosphorylation events are coupled to downstream signaling leading to (abortive) cell cycle progression. Active transcriptional events involving c- myc can lead to the lack of pRB phosphorylation, growth arrest, and apoptosis in immature cells or blockade of immunoglobulin (IgM) transcription in mature B cells. Apoptosis in lymphomas is considered to be a model for deletional B cell tolerance in the neonatal period of development. The deletion of B cells during development can be achieved by anti-IgM treatment initiated at the neonatal period.
Inspiratory Muscle Weakness in Diastolic Dysfunction

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that patients with well-documented diastolic dysfunction (DD) in the setting of normal systolic function will have inspiratory muscle weakness when compared to normal control subjects, and will experience dyspnea and tachypnea during exercise. Background: Respiratory muscle weakness has been described in patients with (systolic) congestive heart failure; however, whether or not patients with DD may present with the findings of congestive heart failure is not known. Methods: We selected for study 14 patients with DD previously referred for cardiopulmonary evaluation whose diagnosis had been confirmed by data obtained at cardiac catheterization. Seven control subjects matched for age, sex, and weight were recruited from the hospital community. Subjects performed both basic pulmonary function tests and tests of muscle strength: handgrip strength (Hgr), and maximal subatmospheric static inspiratory muscle pressure (P i max). Subjects then performed a graded exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. Minute ventilation, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and heart rate were monitored continuously. Echocardiography was performed three times: before exercise, at a selected submaximal exercise level (20% of a predicted maximal workload), and at maximal exercise. Subjects rated their degree of dyspnea using the Borg scale at the same three time intervals. Results: P i max was − 102 ± 17 cm H 2 O in control subjects, and − 77 ± 19 cm H 2 O in patients with DD (p = 0.013) [mean ± SD]. Hgr was similar between the groups. At the selected submaximal exercise level, patients with DD rated dyspnea to be 2.6 ± 2.2 Borg scale units (control subjects, 0.5 ± 0.8 Borg scale units). Hey plots described a rapid, shallow breathing pattern in patients with DD during exercise. Patients with DD and control subjects achieved similar maximal work loads. Conclusion: Patients with DD have diminished P i max, adopt a rapid, shallow breathing pattern during exercise, and experience dyspnea at low work loads when compared to matched control subjects.
Evaluation of Compensation Filters in Pedal Radiographs

Compensation filters allow increased visibility of detail in chest, shoulder, spine, hip, knee, and foot radiographs. This study examines use of an anatomic compensation filter to improve imaging in pedal radiographs. Anteroposterior radiographs were obtained of 25 cadaveric feet at two settings with and without the compensation filter. Densitometer readings were taken at ten forefoot anatomic sites. The compensation filter produced statistically significant reductions in densitometer readings at all anatomic sites and at both radiographic settings. Filtration improved imagery of bony structures, provided excellent soft-tissue visualization, and lowered patient exposure.
The face selectivity directed by an allylic group of a diene in the diels-alder reaction is reversed from that of a dienophile

Abstract The Diels-Alder reaction of 2-alkoxy hepta-3,5-dienes with N-phenyl-maleimide gives good diastereofacelectivity; and a face selectivity rule is formulated.
DNA-DNA gyrase complex: the wrapping of the DNA duplex outside the enzyme.

Abstract Digestion of the complex between double-stranded DNA and M. luteus or E. coli DNA gyrase with staphylococcal nuclease gives a 143 ± 3 base pair DNA fragment containing no single-chain scissions. Digestion of the same complex with bovine pancreatic DNAase I gives six discernible single-stranded DNA bands upon electrophoresis of the product in a denaturing gel. The lengths of these fragments, in number of nucleotides, are measured to be 47 ± 1, 57 ± 1, 67 ± 1, 77 ± 1, 86 ± 1 and 96 ± 1, respectively. These results support the notion that in the DNA-gyrase complex, a segment(s) of the DNA helix is wrapped around the enzyme. The wrapping of the DNA around the enzyme has been proposed previously based on the observation that in the absence of ATP, the linking number of a duplex DNA ring covalently closed by ligase in the presence of bound gyrase is higher than in the absence of gyrase (Liu and Wang, 1978). The coiling of DNA around the enzyme in the complex is believed to be intimately related to the ATP-dependent negative supercoiling of covalently closed duplex DNA ring by DNA gyrase. It has also been observed that digestion of pure double-stranded DNA by pancreatic DNAase I in the presence of calcium phosphate precipitate or solid hydroxylapatite gives a ladder of single-stranded DNA fragments of integral multiples of 10 nucleotides. This finding suggests that such a pancreatic DNAase I cleavage pattern is indicative of a DNA duplex lying on the outside of a surface.
Seasonal fluctuations in the steady-state mRNA levels of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) in the mammary gland of lactating and non-lactating ewes

Abstract Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone that plays a crucial role during pregnancy and lactation. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, which is an important pathway in signal transduction from PRL to target cells, can be modulated by various factors, including suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3). PRL may increase and decrease SOCS-3 expression, and its actions are mostly dependent on additional factors such as the photoperiod. There is also evidence for a relationship between suckling and SOCS-3 expression in the mammary gland. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of seasonality and physiological status on SOCS-3 expression levels in ovine mammary glands. Mammary gland fragments were obtained from 18 Polish Longwool ewes, and the fine-needle aspiration biopsy technique was used on 4 groups of animals under specific physiological and photoperiodic conditions: non-lactating ewes during long days (LD; n = 6), ewes on day 30 (n = 6) or day 56 of lactation (n = 6) and non-lactating ewes during short days (SD; n = 6). SOCS-3 mRNA levels were measured by real-time PCR. The results of this study confirmed that SOCS-3 mRNA expression in sheep is dependent on the season and stage of lactation. The highest expression of the examined factors was noted in the mammary glands of non-lactating sheep during SD, and the lowest levels were observed in ewes on day 30 of lactation. The transcript levels observed in the tissues collected from non-lactating sheep during SD and LD were higher (74% and 41%, respectively) compared with the expression observed on day 30 of lactation. On day 56 of lactation, the SOCS-3 mRNA level was similar to that observed in the udders of non-lactating sheep during LD. These results indicate that SOCS-3 could play an integrating role between hormones and other factors that are involved in the physiological functions of the mammary gland.