cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of isoflurane or propofol on postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis in young and aged rats

An increasing number of in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that anesthesia and surgery could be risk factors for later cognitive impairment in the young and aged brain. General anesthesia has been shown to impair spatial memory in rats and this performance is dependent on hippocampal function and postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis. Anesthetic induced alteration of one or more stages of postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis may in part explain this cognitive impairment following anesthesia. Three different populations of proliferating cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) were labeled with different thymidine analogs (EdU, IdU, and CldU) at 4, 8, and 21 days, respectively, in young (3-month-old) and aged (20-month-old) rats prior to a 3h exposure to isoflurane, control, propofol, or 10% intralipid. 24h following general anesthesia, brains were collected for analysis. The number of cells co-localized with neuronal differentiation and maturation labels with each of the thymidine analogs was quantified. In addition, new cell proliferation 24hr following anesthesia was assessed with anti-Ki67. The effect of anesthesia on astrocytes was also assessed with anti-S100β. Isoflurane or propofol did not affect new cell proliferation, as assessed by Ki67, in the DG of young or aged rats. However, propofol significantly decreased the number of differentiating neurons and increased the number of astrocytes in the DG of young, but not aged, rats. Isoflurane significantly decreased the number of maturing neurons and increased the number of astrocytes in the DG of aged, but not young, rats. Isoflurane and propofol anesthesia altered postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis in an age and agent dependent matter.
Comparison of In Vitro Virulence Factors of Campylobacter jejuni to In Vivo Lesion Production

Abstract Campylobacter jejuni is recognized as one of the most common agents of food-borne bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. Previous work has shown that C. jejuni isolates vary in their ability to invade and survive in laboratory grown cells. The correlation of these assays to actual lesion development in the hosts has not been determined. Therefore, this study aims to define the relationship between in vitro and in vivo assays for determining the virulence of C. jejuni isolates. Fifty-nine C. jejuni poultry isolates were analyzed in invasion and macrophage assays, and five isolates showing different invasion and survival abilities were examined for pathogenicity in the piglet model. All five isolates examined in the piglet model induced diarrhea without the presence of blood. Four of the five isolates produced microscopic lesions in piglets consisting of mucosal congestion, villous degeneration, and epithelial cell erosion. These studies imply that invasion or macrophage survival had little effect on...
A time-lapse capillary assay to study aerotaxis in the archaeon Halobacterium salinarum

We have developed a method for time-lapse video photography and line scanning of optical densities for analysis of aerotactic responses of Halobacterium salinarum. This automated digital technique, along with line scan analysis of selected frames, gives a unique profile of the aerotactic migration of halobacterial cells.
Food and Feeding Behavior of Steller and California Sea Lions

Sea lions taken on land usually have empty stomachs. To obtain sea lions with food in their stomachs, 34 Steiler sea lions and 7 California sea lions were taken at sea. Stomachs of California sea lions contained squids, hake and anchovies. Stomachs of Steiler sea lions taken off California and Oregon contained flatfishes and rockfishes; those taken in Alaskan waters contained capelin, sand lance, rockfishes, sculpins, and flatfishes; one had fed on salmon. California sea lions were observed 39 miles and Steller sea lions 85 miles offshore. Large groups feed within 15 miles of land. Farther offshore, sea lions usually occur singly or in small groups of 2 to 12 animals. In summer and early fall, at least, the majority of animals may leave hauling grounds early in the morning and return in late afternoon. No extensive predation on commercial fishes was found. One sea lion contained food amounting to 9.4% of its body weight.
MR cholangiopancreatography techniques.

Abstract The tissue contrast principles and the technical aspects involved in the design of the imaging protocols currently used for clinical MR cholangiopancreatography are reviewed using a neutral terminology that is applicable to most of the high-field MRI equipment available from the major manufacturers. Furthermore, the technical discussions that follow are accompanied by a comprehensive set of tables (Appendix 1 through 6) listing the pulse sequence parameters used by the authors of the other articles in this issue. The tables are organized according to groups of parameters that determine the fundamental features of the protocols and of the generated images, specifically motion artifact reduction technique, scan geometry, image contrast, and recommended image post processing algorithm.
Rate of change of concomitantly variable codons.

It was previously shown that about 10% of the codons in cytochromec are variable in any one mammalian species and any one point in time and that the positions of theseconcomitantlyvariable codons (covarions) must change as mutations are fixed. Variability implies the existence of an alternative, non-deleterious amino acid that differs by only one nucleotide replacement from the one presently encoded. This work, in addition to obtaining an independent estimate of the number of covarions, investigates the question: What is the likelihood that a cytochromec covarion will lose its variable status as a result of the fixation of a mutation in another covarion? The results show: 1, the number of covarions is in the range of 4 to 10 in agreement with the earlier result of 10 but suggesting the variability may be even more circumscribed than originally thought; and 2, the likelihood of a covarion loosing its variable status as a result of fixations elsewhere in the gene may be greater than 0.75, suggesting a high turnover rate among the covarions.
Hypoxia limits antioxidant capacity in red blood cells by altering glycolytic pathway dominance

The erythrocyte membrane is a newly appreciated platform for thiol-based circulatory signaling, and it requires robust free thiol maintenance. We sought to define physiological constraints on erythrocyte antioxidant defense. Hemoglobin (Hb) conformation gates glycolytic flux through the hexose monophosphate pathway (HMP), the sole source of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) in erythrocytes. We hypothesized elevated intraerythrocytic deoxyHb would limit resilience to oxidative stress. Human erythrocytes were subjected to controlled oxidant (superoxide) loading following independent manipulation of oxygen tension, Hb conformation, and glycolytic pathway dominance. Sufficiency of antioxidant defense was determined by serial quantification of GSH, NADPH, NADH redox couples. Hypoxic erythrocytes demonstrated greater loss of reduction potential [Delta GSH E(hc) (mV): 123.4+/-9.7 vs. 57.2+/-11.1] and reduced membrane thiol (47.7+/-5.7 vs. 20.1+/-4.3%) (hypoxia vs. normoxia, respectively; P<0.01), a finding mimicked in normoxic erythrocytes after HMP blockade. Rebalancing HMP flux during hypoxia restored resilience to oxidative stress at all stages of the system. Cell-free studies assured oxidative loading was not altered by oxygen tension, heme ligation, or the inhibitors employed. These data indicate that Hb conformation controls coupled glucose and thiol metabolism in erythrocytes, and implicate hypoxemia in the pathobiology of erythrocyte-based vascular signaling.
Society of Scholarly Publishing (SSP) Annual Meeting

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight sessions and themes of the annual Society of Scholarly Publishing conference.Design/methodology/approach – Conference report Building on Technology 2.0 and Library 2.0, this theme was on Scholarly Communication 2.0 and even though there was some obvious overlap well known by librarians, there was plenty of creative and new ideas that were shared.Findings – The role of the reader and library user are of more importance than in the past and new products and services now cater to that increasingly emphasized role.Originality value – Change in readership, product development, marketing, branding, and nearly everything in the scholarly publishing marketplace has determined that new partnerships and interests are evolving.
Acoustic metamaterial beams based on multi-frequency vibration absorbers

Abstract Presented here is a new metamaterial beam based on multi-frequency vibration absorbers for broadband vibration absorption. The proposed metamaterial beam consists of a uniform isotropic beam and small two-mass spring-mass-damper subsystems at many locations along the beam to act as multi-frequency vibration absorbers. For an infinite metamaterial beam, governing equations of a unit cell are derived using the extended Hamilton principle. The existence of two stopbands is demonstrated using a model based on averaging material properties over a cell length and a model based on finite element modeling and the Bloch–Floquet theory for periodic structures. For a finite metamaterial beam, because these two idealized models cannot be used for finite beams and/or elastic waves having short wavelengths, a finite-element method is used for detailed modeling and analysis. The concepts of negative effective mass and effective stiffness and how the spring-mass-damper subsystem creates two stopbands are explained in detail. Numerical simulations reveal that the actual working mechanism of the proposed metamaterial beam is based on the concept of conventional mechanical vibration absorbers. For an incoming wave with a frequency in one of the two stopbands, the absorbers are excited to vibrate in their optical modes to create shear forces to straighten the beam and stop the wave propagation. For an incoming wave with a frequency outside of but between the two stopbands, it can be efficiently damped out by the damper with the second mass of each absorber. Hence, the two stopbands are connected into a wide stopband. Numerical examples validate the concept and show that the structure's boundary conditions do not have significant influence on the absorption of high-frequency waves. However, for absorption of low-frequency waves, the structure's boundary conditions and resonance frequencies and the location and spatial distribution of absorbers need to be considered in design, and it is better to use heavier masses for absorbers.
Isolation and Identification of New Polymethoxyflavonoids from Dancy Tangerine Leaves

Ten highly oxygenated flavonoids, including four new compounds, were isolated from the leaves of Dancy tangerine. Six were identified as 5,6,7,3‘,4‘-pentamethoxyflavone (sinensetin) (1), 5,6,7,8,4‘-pentamethoxyflavone (tangeretin) (2), 5,6,7,8,3‘,4‘-hexamethoxyflavone (nobiletin) (3), 5-hydroxy-6,7,3‘,4‘-tetramethoxyflavone (4), 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8,3‘,4‘-tetramethoxyflavone (5), and 5-hydroxy-6,7,8,3‘,4‘-pentamethoxyflavone (5-O-desmethylnobiletin) (6) by direct comparison with authentic samples, comparing their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature or by simply interpreting their spectral data. The new compounds were elucidated as 5,7,8,3‘,4‘- pentamethoxyflavanone (7), 5,6,7,8,3‘,4‘-hexamethoxyflavanone (8), 7-chloro-3,5,6,8,3‘,4‘-hexamethoxyflavone (9), and 7-chloro-3,5,6,8,4‘-pentamethoxyflavone (10) on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic studies. Keywords: Citrus; Dancy tangerine leaves; polymethoxyflavone; chloride polymethoxyflavone; polymethoxyflavanone
Fatigue Mechanisms in High-Strength Silica-Glass Fibers

We use experimentally determined crack growth data for silica glass and a fracture mechanics model for delayed failure to predict the fatigue behavior for high-strength silica-glass fibers. The results of this model indicate that fracture mechanics methods can be used to adequately describe the fatigue behavior observed for high-strength silica-glass fibers at room temperature in humid conditions. The key feature to properly interpreting the fatigue of high-strength fibers is the use of a fracture-rate law in which the crack extension rate increases exponentially with applied stress. We show that a fracture mechanics approach to highstrength fiber fatigue can provide the basis for identifying additional fatigue mechanisms that may control failure in more aggressive fatigue environments.
Management of portal hypertension and its complications

Any chronic disease of the liver may result in cirrhosis(Table 1), in which diffuse destruction and regeneration of hepatic parenchymal cells lead to deposition of connective tissue with resulting disorganization of the lobular and vascular architecture. Despite the remarkable regenerative capacity of the liver, once hepatic parenchymal reserve is exceeded, clinically overt or decompensated cirrhosis ensues. Portal hypertension develops when resistance to blood flow through the liver and resulting increases in portal venous pressure lead to diversion of blood flow through low-resistance portosystemic collaterals, thereby bypassing the liver. Several of the most life-threatening complications of chronic liver disease result from the development of portal hypertension. These include gastroesophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, and bacterial peritonitis. Signs of advanced liver disease that should raise the suspicion of cirrhosis and portal hypertension include jaundice, spider telangiectases, palmar erythema, parotid and lacrimal gland hypertrophy, nail changes, Dupuytren's contractures, gynecomastia, ascites, and testicular atrophy as well as confusion and asterixis, which suggest hepatic encephalopathy. Hyperdynamic circulation, caput medusae, and splenomegaly more directly suggest the presence of portal hypertension. The predominant clinical manifestations of portal hypertension, including ascites, variceal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy, may precede evidence of hepatic synthetic dysfunction, particularly in diseases associated with abundant fibrosis of portal triads, such as biliary cirrhosis and schistosomiasis. Hematologic manifestations of cirrhosis include anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, which may result from splenomegaly (hypersplenism). Although individual complications of cirrhosis do not reliably predict patient survival, a classification scheme based on a combination of several factors, the Child-Turcotte classification(Table 2), 9 has been useful in estimating long-term outcome. The Pugh classification, 49 a modification of the Child classification, uses a point system to grade the severity of each variable. This article discusses the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of the major complications of portal hypertension. Management of gastroesophageal varices is considered only briefly and is discussed in more detail in the article by Jutabha and Jensen elsewhere in this issue. A brief discussion of the role of orthotopic liver transplantation in the management of refractory or repeated complications of portal hypertension in the setting of advanced liver disease is also included and is discussed in more detail in the article by Rosen and colleagues.
History, Biology, and Health Inequities: Emergent Embodied Phenotypes and the Illustrative Case of the Breast Cancer Estrogen Receptor

How we think about biology—in historical, ecological, and societal context—matters for framing causes of and solutions to health inequities. Drawing on new insights from ecological evolutionary developmental biology and ecosocial theory, I question dominant gene-centric and ultimately static approaches to conceptualizing biology, using the example of the breast cancer estrogen receptor (ER).Analyzed in terms of its 4 histories—societal, individual (life course), tumor (cellular pathology), and evolutionary—the ER is revealed as a flexible characteristic of cells, tumors, individuals, and populations, with magnitudes of health inequities tellingly changing over time.This example suggests our science will likely be better served by conceptualizing disease and its biomarkers, along with changing magnitudes of health inequities, as embodied history—that is, emergent embodied phenotype, not innate biology.
Communication over fractal channels

The problem of data transmission over additive Gaussian fractal noise channels is considered. Exploiting an efficient, wavelet-based representation for fractal processes, the problem of coherent detection in Gaussian fractal noise is addressed, from which the optimum receiver for bit-by-bit signaling is obtained. This leads to a multirate modulation strategy that is inherently well-suited for use with the fractal noise channel. Computationally efficient implementations of the transmitter and receiver structures for this system are also developed. >
Robotics-based location sensing using wireless Ethernet

A key subproblem in the construction of location-aware systems is the determination of the position of a mobile device. This article describes the design, implementation and analysis of a system for determining position inside a building from measured RF signal strengths of packets on an IEEE 802.11b wireless Ethernet network. Previous approaches to location-awareness with RF signals have been severely hampered by non-Gaussian signals, noise, and complex correlations due to multi-path effects, interference and absorption. The design of our system begins with the observation that determining position from complex, noisy and non-Gaussian signals is a well-studied problem in the field of robotics. Using only off-the-shelf hardware, we achieve robust position estimation to within a meter in our experimental context and after adequate training of our system. We can also coarsely determine our orientation and can track our position as we move. Our results show that we can localize a stationary device to within 1.5 meters over 80% of the time and track a moving device to within 1 meter over 50% of the time. Both localization and tracking run in real-time. By applying recent advances in probabilistic inference of position and sensor fusion from noisy signals, we show that the RF emissions from base stations as measured by off-the-shelf wireless Ethernet cards are sufficiently rich in information to permit a mobile device to reliably track its location.
Stromal cell–derived factor 2 is critical for Hsp90-dependent eNOS activation

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) catalyzes the conversion of l-arginine and molecular oxygen into l-citrulline and nitric oxide (NO), a gaseous second messenger that influences cardiovascular physiology and disease. Several mechanisms regulate eNOS activity and function, including phosphorylation at Ser and Thr residues and protein-protein interactions. Combining a tandem affinity purification approach and mass spectrometry, we identified stromal cell–derived factor 2 (SDF2) as a component of the eNOS macromolecular complex in endothelial cells. SDF2 knockdown impaired agonist-stimulated NO synthesis and decreased the phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser1177, a key event required for maximal activation of eNOS. Conversely, SDF2 overexpression dose-dependently increased NO synthesis through a mechanism involving Akt and calcium (induced with ionomycin), which increased the phosphorylation of Ser1177 in eNOS. NO synthesis by iNOS (inducible NOS) and nNOS (neuronal NOS) was also enhanced upon SDF2 overexpression. We found that SDF2 was a client protein of the chaperone protein Hsp90, interacting preferentially with the M domain of Hsp90, which is the same domain that binds to eNOS. In endothelial cells exposed to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), SDF2 was required for the binding of Hsp90 and calmodulin to eNOS, resulting in eNOS phosphorylation and activation. Thus, our data describe a function for SDF2 as a component of the Hsp90-eNOS complex that is critical for signal transduction in endothelial cells.
Pitch-Pattern Accuracy, Tonality, and Vocal Range in Preschool Children's Singing

The purpose of this study was to assess young children's abilities to echo short pitch patterns in relation to maintenance of a tonal center in self-chosen and taught songs. Additional consideratio...
Stimulation of Guanosine-5′-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate Binding in Digitonin-Permeabilized C6 Rat Glioma Cells: Evidence for an Organized Association of μ-Opioid Receptors and G Protein

The guanosine-5'-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate ([35S]GTPgammaS) binding assay for the determination of relative opioid efficacy has been adapted to measure G protein activation in digitonin-permeabilized C6 rat glioma cells expressing a cloned mu-opioid receptor. The mu-agonist [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) caused a 3-fold increase in [35S]GTPgammaS binding over basal in a naloxone-sensitive manner. Relative mu-agonist efficacy was DAMGO > fentanyl > or = morphine > buprenorphine. Nalbuphine showed no efficacy. G protein activation by receptors has been predicted to occur by random encounter. In this model a reduction in the number of receptors will decrease the rate of G protein activation but not the maximum number of G proteins activated. To test this model C6 mu cells were treated with the irreversible mu-antagonist beta-funaltrexamine (10 nM) prior to permeabilization. This reduced the number of mu-opioid receptors determined with [3H]diprenorphine to 23 +/- 3% of control with no change in affinity. A commensurate reduction (to 29 +/- 10% of control) in the level of [35S]GTPgammaS binding stimulated by DAMGO was observed, but the t(1/2) for [35S]GTPgammaS binding remained unchanged. Thus, random encounters of receptor and G protein failed to occur in this permeabilized cell preparation. A model that assumes an organized association of G proteins with receptors better describes the activation of G proteins by opioid mu-receptors.
Race, Class, and Emerging Sexuality: Teacher Perceptions and Sexual Harassment in Schools.

Sexual harassment is a highly troubling gendered phenomenon that plagues young women on a daily basis. The way in which sexual harassment is perceived and treated is varied and is largely based on racial and class stereotypes. This paper highlights the findings from a study in which a group of middle and high school teachers were interviewed and their perceptions of sexual harassment on their campuses were discussed. What was revealed throughout this study was the way in which many teachers’ notions of sexuality are conceptualised through their notions of class and race. This paper addresses how such racial and class stereotypes veil the sexual victimisation of many young women.
Positional Effects of Transforaminal Interbody Spacer Placement at the L5/S1 Intervertebral Disc Space: A Biomechanical Study

Abstract Background context Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is an increasingly used alternative fusion method over anterior and posterior lumbar interbody fusions. There are conflicting results on the optimal positioning of interbody devices. No study has addressed the lumbosacral segment, L5–S1, where the lordotic configuration presents unique challenges. Purpose To determine if there are biomechanical and/or anatomical advantages related to the positioning of an interbody device at L5–S1, either anterior or posterior to the neutral axis. Study design An in vitro biomechanical study using human cadaveric lumbar specimens. Methods Lumbar specimens were biomechanically tested using pure moments with and without compressive axial loading. Testing was performed in intact and after TLIF with the implant posterior (TLIF-post) and anterior (TLIF-ant) to neutral axis. Segmental range of motion (ROM) and stiffness were analyzed at the L5–S1 surgical level and the adjacent L4–L5 level. Neuroforaminal height measurements of L5–S1 were analyzed in neutral and end range positions. Results Compared with the intact condition, ROM decreased more than 75% at L5–S1 and stiffness increased up to 270% with TLIF. There was no significant difference between anterior or posterior placement for ROM and stiffness. There was a change in L5–S1 neuroforaminal height based on the placement, with posterior placement showing a significant increase compared with anterior placement. There were no relative changes in neuroforaminal height under loading after TLIF. Compressive load did not affect the magnitudes or resulting significance of outcome measures at L5–S1 after either TLIFs. Conclusions An interbody spacer with the addition of posterior instrumentation significantly enhances the mechanical stability of L5–S1 regardless of interbody position. There were noticeable increases in terms of construct stability and stiffness after both TLIF-ant and TLIF-post in comparison with the intact condition. A posteriorly placed interbody implant did result in the distraction of the neuroforamin. Positioning an interbody implant at L5–S1 for TLIF with posterior instrumentation should be at the discretion of the surgeon without consequence to biomechanical stability.
LacZ expression in Fut2-LacZ reporter mice reveals estrogen-regulated endocervical glandular expression during estrous cycle, hormone replacement, and pregnancy

The secretor gene (FUT2) encodes an alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase (E.C. 2.4.1.69) that elaborates alpha(1,2)fucose residues on mucosal epithelium and secreted mucins. Though uterine alpha(1,2)fucosylated glycans have been proposed to be involved in embryo adhesion, mice with a homozygous null mutation of Fut2 displayed normal fertility. To help develop alternative hypotheses for function, the cell type and regulation of Fut2 expression during the estrous cycle, hormone replacement, and pregnancy was examined in Fut2-LacZ reporter mice containing targeted replacement of Fut2 with bacterial lacZ. LacZ expression in the reproductive tract of Fut2-LacZ mice is most prominent in the glandular epithelium of the endocervix during estrus and pregnancy. Nuclear LacZ expression identifies cell-specific expression of Fut2 in mucus-secreting cells of the endocervix, uterine glands, foveolar pit and chief cells of the stomach, and goblet cells of the colon. In ovariectomized Fut2-LacZ mice, estradiol treatment stimulates X-gal staining in endocervix and uterus but does not affect expression in stomach and colon. Northern blot analysis in wild-type mice shows 15-fold elevations of Fut2 steady-state mRNA with estradiol treatment, whereas Fut1 varies little. Fut2 levels in the glandular stomach and distal colon remain constant, and uterine Fut2 levels vary eightfold during the estrous cycle. These data represent the first demonstration of a glycosyltransferase gene under tissue-specific hormonal regulation in a LacZ reporter mouse model. Endocervical expression of Fut2 in estrus and pregnancy may modify cervical mucus barrier properties from microbial infection analogous to the potential role of mucosal glycans in humans.
Renal tumors in the second decade of life: results from the California Cancer Registry.

Abstract Background Renal tumors are rare in adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to characterize the histologic condition, epidemiology, and survival of renal tumors in patients aged 11 to 20 years old using a large, population-based database. Methods The California Cancer Registry was reviewed from the years 1988 to 2004. All renal tumors in patients aged 11 to 20 years old were identified. The data were analyzed with relation to patient age, sex and ethnicity, tumor histologic examination, and actuarial mortality rates. Results Seventy-seven primary renal malignancies were identified. Thirty-nine (51%) were renal cell carcinoma, 23 (30%) were Wilms' tumor, and 15 (20%) were other tumor types. The mean age of the patients with renal cell carcinoma was 16.7 years old, which was significantly older than the Wilms' tumor patients (13.9 years; P Conclusion Primary renal malignancies are uncommon in the second decade of life. The most common tumor type in this age-group is renal cell carcinoma followed by Wilms' tumor. Patients with renal cell carcinoma tend to be older and have a lower survival than patients with other kidney tumors.
Long-term remission of diabetes in NOD mice is induced by nondepleting anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies.

Residual β-cells found at the time of clinical onset of type 1 diabetes are sufficient to control hyperglycemia if rescued from ongoing autoimmune destruction. The challenge, however, is to develop an immunotherapy that not only selectively suppresses the diabetogenic response and efficiently reverses diabetes, but also establishes long-term β-cell–specific tolerance to maintain remission. In the current study, we show that a short course of nondepleting antibodies (Abs) specific for the CD4 and CD8 coreceptors rapidly reversed clinical disease in recent-onset diabetic NOD mice. Once established, remission was maintained indefinitely and immunity to foreign antigens unimpaired. Induction of remission involved selective T-cell purging of the pancreas and draining pancreatic lymph nodes and upregulation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 by pancreas-resident antigen-presenting cells. Neutralization of TGF-β blocked the induction of remission. In contrast, maintenance of remission was associated with tissue-specific immunoregulatory T cells. These findings demonstrate that the use of nondepleting Ab specific for CD4 and CD8 is a robust approach to establish long-term β-cell–specific T-cell tolerance at the onset of clinical diabetes.
Malignant Glioma: Isocitrate Dehydrogenases 1 and 2 Mutations

Mutations in the cytoplasmic NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, IDH1, frequently occur in gliomas. The mutations are somatic, almost always heterozygous, and occur at R132, an active site residue of IDH1 that is important for its catalytic function. IDH1 mutations occur in >70% of WHO grades II and III astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, as well as WHO grade IV secondary glioblastomas, and more rarely in other glioma subtypes. IDH2 is the mitochondrial homolog of IDH1, and mutations in IDH2 R172, the analogous residue to IDH1 R132, also occur in these subtypes of gliomas, albeit at a much lower frequency. R132H and R172K are the most common IDH1 and IDH2 mutations observed in gliomas, respectively, though alterations to other amino acids at these hotspots have also been observed. IDH1 mutations frequently co-occur with loss of chromosomes 1p and 19q or point mutations of TP53, and they appear to occur before other genetic alterations during glioma pathogenesis. Furthermore, IDH1 mutations are associated with a younger age at diagnosis and a better prognosis for many glioma subtypes. The frequency of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in specific glioma subtypes suggests that testing for these mutations may help to guide clinical decision-making for glioma patients, and PCR- and antibody-based tests have been developed to determine tumor mutation status. The IDH1 and IDH2 mutations abolish the normal function of the encoded enzymes to oxidize isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate and confer a neomorphic gain of enzymatic activity to reduce α-ketoglutarate to 2-hydroxyglutarate. This gain of function suggests that IDH1 and IDH2 mutations are oncogenic, but the mechanism by which this promotes glioma pathogenesis remains unknown.
Compensatory Tracking and Reading Scores in Dyslexia

The atypical, paradoxical, and contradictory data introduced by the blind study forced the recognition that the blurring-speed methodology was unstable, and that the existing blurring-speed-dyslexic conceptualizations were incomplete and thus dependent upon unknown variables. In an attempt to integrate and harmonize the blind blurring-speed correlations with the Staten Island and Queens findings, the author assumed that all of the data was of equal validity, and that all “paradoxical” data must be due to unique and distinct combinations of overlapping variables and determinants stemming from a common, but hidden, nuclear source.
Activation of the maternal immune system alters cerebellar development in the offspring

A common pathological finding in autism is a localized deficit in Purkinje cells (PCs). Cerebellar abnormalities have also been reported in schizophrenia. Using a mouse model that exploits a known risk factor for these disorders, maternal infection, we asked if the offspring of pregnant mice given a mid-gestation respiratory infection have cerebellar pathology resembling that seen in these disorders. We also tested the effects of maternal immune activation in the absence of virus by injection of the synthetic dsRNA, poly(I:C). We infected pregnant mice with influenza on embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5), or injected poly(I:C) i.p. on E12.5, and assessed the linear density of PCs in the cerebellum of adult or postnatal day 11 (P11) offspring. To study granule cell migration, we also injected BrdU on P11. Adult offspring of influenza- or poly(I:C)-exposed mice display a localized deficit in PCs in lobule VII of the cerebellum, as do P11 offspring. Coincident with this are heterotopic PCs, as well as delayed migration of granule cells in lobules VI and VII. The cerebellar pathology observed in the offspring of influenza- or poly(I:C)-exposed mice is strikingly similar to that observed in autism. The poly(I:C) findings indicate that deficits are likely caused by the activation of the maternal immune system. Finally, our data suggest that cerebellar abnormalities occur during embryonic development, and may be an early deficit in autism and schizophrenia.
Downregulation of Gabra4 expression during alcohol withdrawal is mediated by specific microRNAs in cultured mouse cortical neurons.

Background Alcohol abuse and dependence are a serious public health problem. A large number of alcohol-regulated genes, (ARGs) are known to be influenced by alcohol use and withdrawal (AW), and recent evidence suggests that neuroadaptation to alcohol may be due in part to epigenetic changes in the expression of ARGs. Gabra4, which encodes the α4 subunit of GABAA receptors (GABAARs), is one of a number of ARGs that show remarkable plasticity in response to alcohol, being rapidly upregulated by acute alcohol exposure. This study addressed the effects of AW on changes in the expression of Gabra4 and related genes that encode other subunits of GABAARs, and the potential regulation of Gabra4 by microRNAs. Methods We studied gene and microRNAs expression, using RT-PCR and microRNA microarray in cultured cortical neurons treated with alcohol, which was then removed in order to simulate AW in vitro. We also used microRNA mimics or inhibitors, and a promoter-reporter construct carrying the 3′UTR of Gabra4. Results Eleven hours after removal of alcohol, Gabra4 was downregulated, with a modest increase in the expression of Gabrg2, but no change in the expression of Gabra1, Gabrd, or Gabrb2. microRNA profiling in neurons undergoing AW revealed upregulation in the expression of miR-155, miR-186, miR-24, and miR-375 after 8 h of AW. Transfection with molecular mimics of miR-186, miR-24, or miR-375 also downregulated Gabra4 expression, whereas transfection with the corresponding inhibitors of these microRNAs normalized Gabra4 expression in AW neurons to the level measured in control neurons. Promoter-reporter experiments supported the idea that miR-155, miR-186, miR-24, miR-27b, or miR-375 bind to the 3′UTR of Gabra4 and thereby inhibit protein production. Conclusions Our data suggest that AW decreases Gabra4 expression, and that this may be mediated in part by the induction of specific microRNAs in cortical neurons during AW.
Ammonia flux and dry deposition velocity from near-surface concentration gradient measurements over a grass surface in North Carolina

Atmospheric ammonia concentrations were measured during fall 2001, winter, spring, and summer 2002 over natural surfaces in North Carolina where animal farms and waste storage and treatment lagoons (which are known to emit ammonia) at two heights (2 and 6 m) above the surface employing an arrangement of two Thermo Environmental Instruments, Inc. Model 17C chemiluminescent nitrogen oxides (NOX)–ammonia (NH3) analyzers along with a solenoid for each analyzer to alternate measurements between the two elevations. Simultaneously, mean winds and temperatures are also measured at the same two heights. The micrometeorological gradient method is used in conjunction with the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, to estimate the vertical flux and dry deposition velocity of ammonia under different meteorological conditions. Diurnal and seasonal variations of ammonia flux and dry deposition velocity were investigated under a wide range ofwind and atmospheric stability conditions yielding hourly variation ofNH 3 fluxes and deposition during each seasonal campaign. Fall average NH3 concentrations were generally the highest with daytime concentrations of7.60 76.54m gm � 3 at 2 m, while nighttime NH3 concentrations were 7.2576.14m gm � 3 at 2 m. The winter season had the lowest overall concentrations collected during each seasonal campaign with averages of1.73 72.00m gm � 3 (2 m) during daytime and 1.3771.50m gm � 3 (2 m) during nighttime. Deposition and emission occur, both on daily and seasonal scales. Summer measurements yielded the largest average daytime deposition velocity of3.94 72.79 cm s � 1 , whereas winter measurements gave the lowest daytime velocities with an average of2.41 71.92 cm s � 1 . The largest nighttime deposition velocities were estimated during the summer season with an average of0.76 71.69 cm s � 1 , whereas fall nighttime deposition velocities were considerably lower at 0.0770.17 cm s � 1 . Regression relationships between the ammonia deposition velocity and the friction velocity are
Meditation in Higher Education: The Question of Change, a Current Problem, and Evidence Toward a Solution

This article examines the process of systemic change in the higher education system. An overview of meditation research in the fields of medicine and psychology is presented, and the emerging field of contemplative education is described. New developments in mindfulness research in higher education are also introduced. The author suggests a reframing of meditation in the classroom as a solution to a current societal problem and advocates for the ability of meditation to address some of the practical concerns of education today.
Influence of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on the evolution of central California's shoreline

Significant sea-cliff erosion and storm damage occurred along the central coast of California during the 1982‐1983 and 1997‐1998 El Nino winters. This generated interest among scientists and land-use planners in how historic El Nino‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) winters have affected the coastal climate of central California. A relative ENSO intensity index based on oceanographic and meteorologic data defines the timing and magnitude of ENSO events over the past century. The index suggests that five higher intensity (relative values 4‐6) and 17 lower intensity (relative values 1‐3) ENSO events took place between 1910 and 1995. The ENSO intensity index correlates with fluctuations in the time series of cyclone activity, precipitation, detrended sea level, wave height, sea-surface temperature, and sea-level barometric pressure. Wave height, sea level, and precipitation, which are the primary external forcing parameters in sea-cliff erosion, increase nonlinearly with increasing relative ENSO event intensity. The number of storms that caused coastal erosion or storm damage and the historic occurrence of largescale sea-cliff erosion along the central coast also increase nonlinearly with increasing relative event intensity. These correlations and the frequency distribution of relative ENSO event intensities indicate that moderate- to high-intensity ENSO events cause the most sea-cliff erosion and shoreline recession over the course of a century.
Candida-specific cell-mediated immunity is demonstrable in mice with experimental vaginal candidiasis.

Women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis often demonstrate a down-regulation of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to Candida albicans detected by a lack of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to Candida antigens. However, the role of systemic CMI as a host defense mechanism against recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is not well understood, in part because of the lack of a well-defined murine model of vaginal candidiasis. The present study was undertaken to determine: (i) whether soluble Candida culture filtrate antigens (CaCF) could be used to induce and detect Candida-specific CMI in mice and (ii) whether these antigens would be useful in detecting systemic CMI in mice given an experimental Candida vaginal infection. To this end, mice were immunized subcutaneously with CaCF in complete Freund9s adjuvant, and within 7 days they developed Candida-specific DTH reactivity detected by footpad swelling (increase in footpad thickness, 0.36 mm) 24 h after footpad challenge with CaCF. Adoptive transfer studies showed that the DTH responsiveness was elicited by CD4+ DTH T cells. In mice given a vaginal inoculum of C. albicans blastoconidia (5 x 10(5)), footpad challenge with CaCF resulted in positive DTH responses (0.24 mm) as early as 1 week, responses similar to immunization in 2 to 3 weeks (0.33 mm), and sustained low levels of DTH reactivity (0.15 mm) through 10 weeks of vaginal infection. Vaginal lavage cultures revealed that peak vaginal Candida burden occurred 1 week post-vaginal inoculation (10(5) CFU) and declined 16-fold by week 10. These results provide evidence that Candida-specific systemic CMI is generated and can be detected longitudinally in mice with Candida vaginitis by a multiantigen preparation of Candida organisms which both initiates and detects Candida-specific CMI.
Teresa's experiences

ABSTRACTIn this article, I examine the notion of personal experience in relation to mysticism. I observe that St. Teresa of Jesus includes both her ordinary and extraordinary experiences in her writings on prayer, and I argue that these experiences are essential to her theology.
Abstract 19160: Insulin Resistance over a 10-Year Period is Associated with Coronary Atherosclerosis in HIV-Infected and Uninfected Men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

Aims: HIV infection and its treatments are associated with insulin resistance and diabetes, which may influence the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the degree of insulin resistance in HIV-infected and uninfected men and its association with coronary atherosclerosis. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional study which included 448 HIV-infected and 306 uninfected men, ages 40 to 70 years old, without a history of prior coronary revascularization from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed to identify the presence of coronary artery plaque, to characterize plaque composition (calcified, non-calcified, and mixed), and to identify coronary artery stenoses > 50%. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) measured at each semi-annual visit between 2003 and 2014. The mean HOMA-IR was calculated from all visits before participants underwent CTA. Associations between HOMA-IR and the prevalence of plaque or of stenosis > 50% were assessed with logistic regression by adjusting for age, race, HIV serostatus, and CAD risk factors. Results: Mean HOMA-IR compiled over a median of 8.4 years was higher in HIV-infected than uninfected men (3.2 vs. 2.7, p = 0.002), but the prevalence of stenosis > 50% was similar (17% vs. 15%, p = 0.41). In fully adjusted models comparing men in the highest and lowest tertiles of mean HOMA-IR, mean HOMA-IR was associated with the presence of stenosis > 50% (OR = 2.81 [95% CI, 1.51-5.22]), but not with any particular plaque type. There was no significant interaction between HIV serostatus and associations between mean HOMA-IR and coronary stenosis. Among HIV-infected men, further adjustment for HIV disease control and severity (suppressed HIV-1 RNA, CD4 T-cell count) did not alter the association between mean HOMA-IR and the presence of stenosis > 50% (OR = 2.67 [95% CI, 1.26-5.89]). Conclusions: Insulin resistance over a 10 year period was greater among HIV-infected than uninfected men and was associated with coronary artery stenosis, but not with any specific plaque type. Our findings suggest that insulin resistance is a potential mechanism mediating the increased risk of CAD among HIV-infected men.
Leaders Who Make a Difference: Critical Skills for Leading a Diverse Workforce

This note identifies a set of core competencies for managing a diverse workforce effectively. It can be used as a supplemental reading for any case discussion that explores the ways managers handle diversity dilemmas, and it is useful for both individual and interpersonal levels of analysis.
The Unintended Consequences of Anti-Drug Programs in Producing Countries

This paper investigates the possible negative local economic effects and crime spillovers of the biggest anti-drug program ever applied within a producing country: aerial spraying with herbicides. It also investigates the correlation between local economic development and illegal drug production in drug-producing-areas, which was previously restricted by the unavailability of good quality micro data. To do this, I put together unique and rich georeferenced panel data from satellite images with information at the 1-square-kilometer cell level on coca cultivation, night light density, and deforestation in Colombia. By employing state-of-the-art spatial econometrics, I find no evidence of negative effects of aerial spraying on deforestation nor spillover effects on crime. However, I find sizable negative effects of aerial spraying on local economic activity (measured through night light density). I also find no evidence of a significant correlation between night light density and coca cultivation. However, there are strong negative effects of coca cultivation on deforestation. JEL Classification: K42, O12, O54.
The Effect of Rapid Thermal Annealing on the Electrical and Material Characteristics of Planar Doped and Uniformly Doped GaAs/AiGaAs/InGaAs Pseudomorphic HEMT Structures

MBE grown GaAs/Al0.25Ga0.75As/In0.85Ga0.85 As structures were subjected to SiNx capped rapid thermal annealing and their electrical and material properties were characterized by Hall measurements and photoluminescence (PL). Low temperature (5°K) PL spectra from undoped structures annealed up to 900°C indicated negligible intermixing at the AlGaAs/InGaAs interface. For planar doped structures (Nd≈5x1012/cm2) the Hall mobility began to decrease at anneal temperatures as low as 800°C with significant degradation observed for annealing temperatures ≥850°C. This data is supported by PL spectra which indicate no significant change for samples annealed at 800°C. For the samples annealed ≥850°C a large increase in the full width at half maximum of the transitions from the electron sub-bands of the InGaAs quantum well were observed, suggesting that the change in electrical characteristics is primarily due to diffusion of the Si doping pulse. In contrast. Hall measurement of uniformly doped structures reveal only small decreases in mobility and no significant change in sheet concentration for anneal temperatures up to 900°C and doping levels up to 2.5x1018/cm3. PL spectra reveal no structural changes.
Effect on prothrombin of acute massive plasmapheresis with simultaneous chloroform intoxication.

SummaryDogs subjected to both chloroform intoxication and acute massive plasmapheresis reveal changes in prothrombin concentration which rather conclusively indicate that no significant reserve stores of prothrombin exist. The stabilization of prothrombin at subnormal levels, as well as the rate of recovery of prothrombin, represents, instead, a balanced equilibrium between production and utilization. The data also substantiate the impression that hepatotoxic injury, with a concomitant decrease in prothrombin concentration, is a gradual progressive phenomenon.