cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of the neurocognitive effects of cannabis use in older adults

Older adults currently represent the fastest growing demographic of cannabis users, yet few studies have investigated the effects of cannabis use on cognitive functioning in aging. We conducted a systematic review of the recent literature examining cognitive outcomes associated with cannabis use in older adults, with and without neurocognitive disorders, to clarify the potential neuroprotective benefits or risks of cognitive decline in this population. We identified 26 studies examining cognitive outcomes associated with medical and recreational use of cannabis in healthy aging, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV, and pain populations. Although variability in the cannabis products used, outcomes assessed, and study quality limits the conclusions that can be made, modest reductions in cognitive performance were generally detected with higher doses and heavier lifetime use. This review highlights the need for additional high-quality research using standardized, validated assessments of cannabis exposure and cognitive outcomes. Reliable measures and longitudinal data are necessary to better characterize the effects of cannabis use on cognitive aging, as well as differential effects of recreational and medical cannabis.
7 – The Effects of Immune Cell Products (Cytokines and Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors) on Bone Cells

Publisher Summary The characterization of the functions of RANKL and its receptors (RANK and OPG) has contributed significantly to the development of the field of osteoimmunology. RANKL is a TNF superfamily ligand (TNFSF11) and together with its receptors RANK and OPG (TNFRSF11A and TNFRSF11B, respectively) forms the critical paracrine system, which regulates osteoclast formation. While osteoclast-like cells can form in vitro in the absence of RANK or TRAF6 signaling when exposed to a cocktail of cytokines and growth factors, the significance of this in vitro finding is questionable since osteoclasts are not detected in RANK-deficient animals. In most instances, cytokines and growth factors other than RANKL, which are produced at sites of inflammation or physiologically during bone turnover, act as co-factors that enhance or modulate the response of osteoclasts and their precursors to RANKL-RANK stimulation. However, it was recently demonstrated that the p100 precursor of NF-kB inhibits the ability of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) to stimulate osteoclastogenesis. It was found that in the absence of p100, TNFa stimulated osteoclastogenesis both in vitro and in vivo by a mechanism that was dependent on TRAF3.
Introduction: The Purpose of Studying Purpose and the Need for an Ecological Perspective

The empirical study of purpose in life has been a booming industry over recent decades. As such, the current volume provides a reflection on this past work with an eye toward future endeavors across academic disciplines. To start, this introductory chapter provides a brief overview of central topics in the field of purpose. First, we discuss what it means to have a purpose in life, providing different academic lenses through which to consider the construct. Second, we describe the value of purpose in life, as a construct that appears to be associated with wide ranging benefits for individuals across the lifespan. Third, we conclude by setting the stage for the upcoming chapters, providing an organizational scheme that builds from ecological perspectives on human development.
1H, 13C, 15 N backbone resonance assignment of the recognition lobe subdomain 3 (Rec3) from Streptococcus pyogenes CRISPR-Cas9.

Rec3 is a subdomain of the recognition (Rec) lobe within CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-associated protein Cas9 that is involved in nucleic acid binding and is critical to HNH endonuclease activation. Here, we report the backbone resonance assignments of an engineered construct of the Rec3 subdomain from Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9. We also analyze backbone chemical shift data to predict secondary structure and an overall fold that is consistent with that of Rec3 from the full-length S. pyogenes Cas9 protein.
Frontline Therapy of Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive malignancy of lymphoid cells that has historically been difficult to treat, particularly in adult patients, who have poor long-term survival rates with standard intensive chemotherapy. Advances in understanding the underlying biology and molecular mechanisms have resulted in the development of new therapeutic agents. Novel treatment modalities with tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase, monoclonal antibodies targeting cell surface antigens (e.g., rituximab, ofatumumab, inotuzumab), and bispecific T-cell antibodies (e.g., blinatumomab) has changed the landscape of ALL therapy. Addition of these agents to standard, and attenuated, doses of chemotherapy provides significant improvements in survival in the frontline setting. Ongoing studies are evaluating safety and efficacy of chemotherapy-free regimens, especially in older newly diagnosed ALL patients.
Optimal Self-Scheduling of Battery Energy Storage Systems for Energy and Power Balance Provision Services: A Robust Framework

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are among interesting devices for providing frequency regulation services due to their fast response to frequency variations. Considering the uncertain nature of frequency regulation signals (FRS), dedicating the proper amount of capacity for providing frequency regulation becomes a challenging task for BESS owners. In this research, a robust framework is presented for optimal bidding of a BESS regarding uncertainties caused by prices and FRSs which are sent by the system operator. The robust approach assures that enough capacity will be provided for responding to the FRS in the worst case. In addition to the frequency regulation market, the BESS fulfills the routine arbitrage for energy markets. The study is conducted on a 2MWh/1MW BESS and the results show the main profit is obtained by the dedication of the BESS capacity to the frequency regulation service. In addition, compared to the deterministic approach, the self-scheduling is protected against uncertainty realization in the cost of a lower profit.
The regulatory network for petal anthocyanin pigmentation is shaped by the MYB5a/NEGAN transcription factor in Mimulus

Much of the visual diversity of angiosperms is due to the frequent evolution of novel pigmentation patterns in flowers. The gene network responsible for anthocyanin pigmentation, in particular, has become a model for investigating how genetic changes give rise to phenotypic innovation. In the monkeyflower genus Mimulus, an evolutionarily recent gain of petal lobe anthocyanin pigmentation in M. luteus var. variegatus was previously mapped to genomic region pla2. Here, we use sequence and expression analysis, followed by transgenic manipulation of gene expression, to identify MYB5a-orthologous to the NEGAN transcriptional activator from M. lewisii-as the gene responsible for the transition to anthocyanin-pigmented petals in M. l. variegatus. In other monkeyflower taxa, MYB5a/NEGAN is part of a reaction-diffusion network that produces semi-repeating spotting patterns, such as the array of spots in the nectar guides of both M. lewisii and M. guttatus. Its co-option for the evolution of an apparently non-patterned trait-the solid petal lobe pigmentation of M. l. variegatus-illustrates how reaction-diffusion can contribute to evolutionary novelty in non-obvious ways. Transcriptome sequencing of a MYB5a RNAi line of M. l. variegatus reveals that this genetically simple change, which we hypothesize to be a regulatory mutation in cis to MYB5a, has cascading effects on gene expression, not only on the enzyme-encoding genes traditionally thought of as the targets of MYB5a but also on all of its known partners in the anthocyanin regulatory network.
Structure and dynamics of photoreceptor sensory cilia

The rod and cone photoreceptor cells of the vertebrate retina have highly specialized structures that enable them to carry out their function of light detection over a broad range of illumination intensities with optimized spatial and temporal resolution. Most prominent are their unusually large sensory cilia, consisting of outer segments packed with photosensitive disc membranes, a connecting cilium with many features reminiscent of the primary cilium transition zone, and a pair of centrioles forming a basal body which serves as the platform upon which the ciliary axoneme is assembled. These structures form a highway through which an enormous flux of material moves on a daily basis to sustain the continual turnover of outer segment discs and the energetic demands of phototransduction. After decades of study, the details of the fine structure and distribution of molecular components of these structures are still incompletely understood, but recent advances in cellular imaging techniques and animal models of inherited ciliary defects are yielding important new insights. This knowledge informs our understanding both of the mechanisms of trafficking and assembly and of the pathophysiological mechanisms of human blinding ciliopathies.
Replication Part I

There has been considerable debate and analysis about the nature and extent of what many believe to be a replication crisis in psychology and other social sci­ences. And perhaps to a lesser degree in the medical sciences. Our approach to the nature and value of replication has been based on the idea that the overriding purpose of replication is to ferret out and identify confounding causes. In other words, to reduce systematic uncertainty. This has led us to understand replication in a broader sense than ordinarily understood. We have developed this approach in considerable detail in three recent books which include both abstract analysis and many case studies drawn primarily, but not exclusively, from physics. We have, for example, considered the difficulty of deciding whether a replication has been successful or has failed, the roles of null experiments, and episodes in which a single experiment has been sufficient to decide, or to further investigate, an issue. In this two-part essay we will review and summarize our approach and results.
Hostile Media Perception on Twitter: The Effect of Mediated Social Identity Cues on Biased Perception

Partisans tend to view the news as biased against them, an effect believed to be driven in part by social identity. As Twitter comments contain cues that signal group identity, this preregistered s...
Analysis of metal-matrix composite structures. I - Micromechanics constitutive theory. II - Laminate analyses

The micromechanical constitutive theory is used to examine the nonlinear behavior of continuous-fiber-reinforced metal-matrix composite structures. Effective lamina constitutive relations based on the Abouli micromechanics theory are presented. The inelastic matrix behavior is modeled by the unified viscoplasticity theory of Bodner and Partom. The laminate constitutive relations are incorporated into a first-order deformation plate theory. The resulting boundary value problem is solved by utilizing the finite element method. Attention is also given to computational aspects of the numerical solution, including the temporal integration of the inelastic strains and the spatial integration of bending moments. Numerical results the nonlinear response of metal matrix composites subjected to extensional and bending loads are presented.
RE-EVOLUTION OF LOST MANDIBULAR TEETH IN FROGS AFTER MORE THAN 200 MILLION YEARS, AND RE-EVALUATING DOLLO'S LAW

Dollo's law states that structures that are evolutionarily lost will not be regained. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed several potential examples in which Dollo's law seems to be violated, where lost structures appear to have been regained over evolutionary time. However, these examples have recently been questioned and suggested to be methodological artifacts. In this article, I document a striking and incontrovertible phylogenetic example of the re-evolution of a lost, complex structure: mandibular teeth in the frog genus Gastrotheca. I use a time-calibrated phylogeny for 170 amphibian species to show that mandibular teeth were lost in the ancestor of modern frogs at least 230 million years ago (Mya) and have been regained in the last ∼ 5-17 My. I review recent studies on trait re-evolution and show that this long period of trait absence prior to re-acquisition is largely unprecedented. I also argue that there are several methodological issues that may cause trait re-evolution to be hardest to detect under those conditions when it is most likely to occur, leading to erroneous failures to reject Dollo's law. Finally, I discuss a mechanism that may facilitate trait re-evolution, and the evolution of mandibular teeth in frogs as an example of developmental constraint.
Value cost impact analysis: Estimating the IT cost impact of business developments

Predicting the cost of IT infrastructure for a dynamically developing organization is difficult due to the complexity of understanding which IT infrastructure costs are driven by what kind of organizational developments. This is relevant in particular for organizations that spend a high proportion of their revenue on IT as well as for outsourcers who commit to providing IT infrastructure in innovative business models such as billing a percentage of a client's revenue. However, the creation of a detailed model of business developments driving IT costs for a particular organization is cost prohibitive in most cases due to extensive data gathering efforts. This paper proposes an approach based on the customization of default cost models assigning IT infrastructure cost categories to major business functions dependent on specific business metrics. This approach enables a cost effective way of estimating IT delivery costs dependent on a business's development.
Searching for the Spirit: A Content Analysis of the Black Church in Mainstream Social Work Journals

Content on religion and spirituality among African Americans is largely absent from the curricula of social work programs. African Americans' unique relationship with faith makes knowledge of religion and spirituality critical for social workers attempting to establish an effective professional relationship with clients for whom these are important areas of their lives. Because content on understanding, assessing and incorporating spirituality into the helping process is not readily available to social workers as students, the professional literature should certainly be a ready source for the provision of useful and relevant information. This article reports the results of a content analysis of 6 mainstream social work journals related to material on religion, spirituality, and the Black Church in the lives of African Americans. The findings indicate a poverty of content on these topics which could hinder practitioners' opportunities for success with African American Christian clients. Opportunities to ex...
A Review of: “Suzannah Clark and Elizabeth Eva Leach, editors, Citation and Authority in Medieval and Renaissance Musical Culture: Learning from the Learned”

To the medieval and Renaissance mind, whatever was edifying or served a moral purpose was “grist for the mill.” The Bible and its scholarship, sermons, mythology, Classical literature, proverbs, ve...
Pulsed operation of spherical inertial-electrostatic confinement device

Inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion confines high energy ions in potential wells, where their increased energy and density yields a high fusion rate. Studies of the IEC at the University of Illinois (UI) initially concentrated on steady-state operation where neutron yields of approx.10{sup 6} D-D n/s are routinely obtained. However, the development of a pulsed configuration has been undertaken to provide higher neutron yields. Preliminary experiments have demonstrated I{sup 2} scaling during pulsed operation when the perveance threshold of 2.2 mA/kV{sup 3/2} is exceeded. Based on these results, it appears that the present IEC could be operated with 3-A, 100-kV repetitive pulses with a 10% duty factor to produce neutron yields of approx.10{sup 10} neutrons/second. 6 refs., 7 figs.
Present status of the generalized Marchenko method for the solution of the inverse scattering problem in three dimensions

The present status of the generalized Marchenko method for the solution of the inverse scattering problem of the Schrodinger equation in three dimensions is summarized. Gaps and errors in previous publications are filled and corrected, and a new connection between the scattering amplitude and the number of bound-state eigenvalues is pointed out.
ANALOGS OF THE EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM

Within the last few decades, the existence of protoplanetary disks has been inferred on the basis of emission from T Tauri stars that does not arise from a stellar photosphere. More recently, high-resolution interferometric techniques have resolved the dust continuum emission, and millimeter arrays have imaged circumstellar molecular gas. These measurements corroborate the disk interpretation; many T Tauri stars are surrounded by centrifugally supported circumstellar disks with radial sizes of order 100 AU. Further proof issues from Hubble Space Telescope images of disks that are illuminated externally. The morphology of circumstellar dust is revealed in striking detail and affirms the prevalence and dimensions of disks imaged at longer wavelengths. The fate of circumstellar material around young stars must be understood in order to discern the degree to which these disks are proto-planetary. Observational studies of circumstellar disks which are in the beginning of a dispersal phase are challenging and place great demands on astronomical techniques. Nevertheless, the connection between disks and the formation of extra-solar planets is supported by increasing circumstantial evidence. Optically thin dust continuum emission persists in T Tauri stars and is detected around some young main sequence stars. Since the dust is subject to rapid dispersal by radiation pressure and Poynting-Robertson drag, some mechanism of replenishment is required. Disks around nearby young main sequence stars show evidence for inner voids and disk asymmetries that should also disappear on short timescales. The presence of large orbiting bodies which collide and interact with the resulting debris can explain both the persistence of optically thin dust and the maintenance of otherwise-ephemeral dynamical features. Together with recent detections of extra-solar planets, these observations lend some support to the hypothesis that circumstellar disks commonly give birth to planetary systems.
The Cdk9 and cyclin T subunits of TAK/P-TEFb localize to splicing factor-rich nuclear speckle regions.

TAK/P-TEFb is an elongation factor for RNA polymerase II-directed transcription that is thought to function by phosphorylating the C-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. TAK/P-TEFb is composed of Cdk9 and cyclin T and serves as the cellular cofactor for the human immunodeficiency virus transactivator Tat protein. In this study, we examined the subcellular distribution of Cdk9 and cyclin T1 using high resolution immunofluorescence microscopy and found that Cdk9 and cyclin T1 localized throughout the non-nucleolar nucleoplasm, with increased signal present at numerous foci. Both Cdk9 and cyclin T1 showed only limited colocalization with different phosphorylated forms of RNA polymerase II. However, significant colocalization with antibodies to several splicing factors that identify nuclear ‘speckles’ was observed for Cdk9 and especially for cyclin T1. The pattern of Cdk9 and cyclin T1 distribution was altered in cells treated with transcription inhibitors. Transient expression of cyclin T1 deletion mutants indicated that a region in the central portion of cyclin T1 is important for accumulation at speckles. Furthermore, cyclin T1 proteins that accumulated at speckles were capable of recruiting Cdk9 and the HIV Tat protein to this compartment in overexpression experiments. These results suggest that cyclin T1 functions to recruit its binding partners to nuclear speckles and raises the possibility that nuclear speckles are a site of TAK/P-TEFb function.
Amblyomma helvolum (Acarina:Ixodidae) as a parasite of varanid and scincid reptiles in the Philippines

Abstract Infestation levels and attachment sites of male and female Amblyomma helvolum on hosts Varanus salvator and V. grayi and on 14 other lizard species, representing the families Scincidae and Agamidae, were recorded for 19 months in the Philippines. The frequency of A. helvolum varies with season of the year, and the highest tick levels occur during the first monsoon in June and July following 4 months with little rain. Both varanids are more frequently infested with A. helvolum than other lizard species. Female ticks attach anteriorly on all hosts, and on both varanid hosts their attachment sites are similar, most commonly between the toes of the front feet and in the axillary area. Male ticks, however, attach to different sites on each varanid host. On V. sulvator male ticks primarily attach on the ventral surface, while on V. grayi they are largely restricted to the base of the claws.
Hazardous crossing: immunosuppression and nosocomial infections in solid organ transplant recipients.

Background: During the past decade, ever-increasing numbers of patients have undergone renal, pancreatic, small bowel, hepatic, cardiac, or lung transplantation as therapy for various types of rena...
Longer Length of Stay Is Not Associated with Better Outcomes in VHA’s Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs

Are longer stays in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) substance abuse residential rehabilitation treatment programs (SARRTPs) associated with better substance-related outcomes? To investigate, up to 50 new patients were randomly selected from each of 28 randomly selected programs (1,307 patients). The goal was to examine if patient and program average length of stay (ALOS) were associated with improvement on Addiction Severity Index (ASI) Alcohol and Drug composite scores in covariate-adjusted, multi-level regression models. Patients in programs with ALOS greater than 90 days tended to have more mental health treatment prior to the index episode and less severe substance-related symptoms, but more homelessness. At follow-up, programs longer than 90 days had the least improvement in the ASI Alcohol composite and significantly less improvement than programs with ALOSs of 15 to 30 and 31 to 45 days (both p < 0.05). Therefore, in VHA SARRTPs, ALOS greater than 90 days cannot be justified by the substance use disorder severity of the patients served or the magnitude of the clinical improvement observed.
Rough seas for ocean drilling

Federal funding for the Ocean Margin Drilling Program (OMD) may be in jeopardy in Congress. The original budget request by the Carter administration for fiscal year 1982 was $16 million (Eos, Mar. 24, 1981). The Reagan administration Office of Management and Budget recommended reduction to a level of $12 million, but now the program could be scrubbed altogether. Recent action taken by the House Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Technology has included cutting the OMD program from the National Science Foundation FY 1982 budget. This action is sponsored by a Democratic House majority.
Alcohol prevention on college campuses: the moderating effect of the alcohol environment on the effectiveness of social norms marketing campaigns.

Objective:Evaluations of social norms marketing campaigns to reduce college student drinking have produced conflicting results. This study examines whether the effectiveness of such campaigns may be moderated by on-premise alcohol outlet density in the surrounding community.Method:Multilevel analyses were conducted of student survey responses (N = 19,838) from 32 U.S. colleges that took part in one of two 4-year randomized, controlled trials completed for the Social Norms Marketing Research Project (SNMRP). In the models, students by year were nested within treatment (n = 16) and control group (n = 16) campuses, which were characterized by the on-premise outlet density in their surrounding community. The moderating effect of outlet density was introduced into the models as an interaction between the treatment effect (i.e., the effect of the social norms marketing campaigns over time) and outlet density. The models were also stratified by campus alcohol outlet density (high vs. low) to examine the effect o...
BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENTIATION OF ADJACENT MARINE AND FLUVIAL POPULATIONS OF THREESPINE STICKLEBACK IN CALIFORNIA: A LABORATORY STUDY

Threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from marine, estuarine and upstream fresh water were collected from two coastal watersheds in northern California. Laboratory tests of response to behavioral stimuli associated with aggression, courtship and feeding show interpopulation variation. Behavioral responses of populations from the same habitat type were similar, and individuals from up-stream habitats were generally more responsive to stimuli than individuals from the estuarine environments, which in turn were more responsive than marine fish. Different predators and predation pressures are discussed as one possible factor in the evolution of these behavioral variations.
Neogene basins of the northern Rio Grande rift: partitioning and asymmetry inherited from Laramide and older uplifts

Abstract Three asymmetric Neogene basins in the northern Rio Grande rift of New Mexico and Colorado — the San Luis basin, the upper Arkansas River graben, and the Blue River graben — are tilted toward large flanking normal faults and lie astride the similarly asymmetric Late Cretaceous–early Tertiary (Laramide) San Juan–San Luis, Sawatch, and Front Range–Gore Range uplifts, respectively. The steep, thrust-faulted side of each uplift is on the same side as the down-rotated side of each of the Neogene basins. In addition, the direction of stratal tilt changes northward across the Villa Grove accommodation zone from east in the San Luis basin to west in the upper Arkansas River graben. This accommodation zone coincides approximately with the northward change from the east-directed San Juan–San Luis uplift to the west-directed Sawatch uplift. These observations, supported by seismic-reflection studies across the San Luis basin and studies of several other superimposed pairs of rift basins and Laramide uplifts, suggest that the basin-bounding normal faults are listric and merge at depth with the older thrusts, which are also listric and root into the crust at about 15–16 km. The Blue River graben is complicated by lack of basin fill and a thrust history along the west side of the Gore Range that is at least as old as late Paleozoic. Nonetheless, the Neogene valley is demonstrably tilted west and lies astride an overall west-directed thrust system, similar to other thrust-and-basin relationships in the northern Rio Grande rift.
Uterine, Ovarian, and Production Responses of Lactating Dairy Cows to Increasing Dietary Concentrations of Menhaden Fish Meal

The primary objective was to determine whether the dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic (EPA, C20:5, n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, C22:6, n-3), present in fish meal (FM) can attenuate uterine secretion of PGF2alpha in response to a challenge with estradiol and oxytocin in lactating dairy cows. Cycling multiparous cows (n = 32) were fed diets containing 0 (OFM), 2.6 (2.6FM), 5.2 (5.2FM), or 7.8% menhaden FM (7.8FM). The diet consisting of 7.8FM also contained fish oil (0.28% of dietary dry matter) to increase intake of EPA and DHA. Average dry matter intake was 24.9 kg/d and unaffected by diet. Combined intakes of EPA and DHA averaged 0, 12.8, 24.1, and 54.0 g/d from the OFM, 2.6FM, 5.2FM, and 7.8FM diets, respectively. At 30 to 34 d after initiation of dietary treatments, cows received an i.m. injection of 100 microg of GnRH followed by i.m. administration of 25 and 15 mg of PGF2alpha after 7 and 8 d, respectively. Synchronous ovulation was induced by an injection of 3000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) given 24 h later on d 9. Subsequent luteal phase increases in plasma progesterone concentrations did not differ (0.88 ng/ml per day). At 15 d after hCG injection, cows were injected with estradiol-17beta (3 mg, i.v.) at 0900 h and oxytocin (100 IU, i.v.) at 1300 h. Plasma PGF2alpha metabolite concentrations after oxytocin injection were reduced in cows fed diets containing FM compared with those fed OFM. Milk production (39.1 kg/d) and concentrations of fat, protein, or urea nitrogen in milk were not affected by diet. Feeding fish meal and fish oil containing eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid reduced the proportion of n-6 fatty acids and increased that of n-3 fatty acids in milk in a dose-responsive manner.
Biodegradable Particles as Vaccine Delivery Systems: Size Matters

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) particles have strong potential as antigen delivery systems. The size of PLGA particles used to vaccinate mice can affect the magnitude of the antigen-specific immune response stimulated. In this study, we fabricated and characterized 17 μm, 7 μm, 1 μm, and 300 nm PLGA particles coloaded with a model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN). PLGA particles demonstrated a size-dependent burst release followed by a more sustained release of encapsulated molecules. PLGA particles that were 300 nm in size showed the highest internalization by, and maximum activation of, dendritic cells. The systemic antigen-specific immune response to vaccination was measured after administration of two intraperitoneal injections, 7 days apart, of 100 μg OVA and 50 μg CpG ODN in C57BL/6 mice. In vivo studies showed that 300 nm sized PLGA particles generated the highest antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell responses by days 14 and 21. These mice also showed the highest IgG2a:IgG1 ratio of OVA-specific antibodies on day 28. This study suggests that the smaller the PLGA particle used to deliver antigen and adjuvants the stronger the antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell response generated.
Atypical immature metaplastic-like proliferations of the cervix: Diagnostic reproducibility and viral (HPV) correlates

Although some immature squamous lesions (papillary immature metaplasias) of the cervix have been described and associated with human papillomaviruses (HPV), nonpapillary atypical immature squamous proliferations (AISPs) are a poorly defined entity and range from atypical reactive metaplasias to squamous intraepithelial lesions resembling immature metaplasia. This study examined the diagnostic reproducibility of AISPs and their relationship to HPV nucleic acids. Forty-four diagnostically problematic AISPs were studied. Based on nuclear density (crowding), chromasia, variation (anisokaryosis) in nuclear size, and surface cytoplasmic maturation, cases were independently scored by 2 observers as (1) probably reactive (Rx), (2) not otherwise specified (NOS), and (3) squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). Extracted archival DNA was scored for HPV by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Interobserver reproducibility (kappa statistic) and HPV correlates (chi square) were computed. Approximately one third of cases were classified in each category by the observers. Interobserver reproducibility was excellent (0.80), poor (0.23), and fair to good (0.41) for a diagnosis of Rx, NOS, and SIL, respectively. Differences in HPV DNA positivity between Rx and SIL were significant for both observers (5.8% to 6.7% v 38.4% to 50.0%, respectively); however, differences between NOS and SIL (30.7% to 42.8% v 38.4% to 50.0%) were not, even when cases were limited to those in which both observers agreed (28.6% v 37.5%). By light microscopy, AISPs exceeding the threshold for presumed reactive changes (NOS or SIL) are a morphologically heterogeneous group that defy precise classification. Furthermore, their histopathologic appearance, even when there is diagnostic agreement, does not consistently correlate with their HPV status. The laboratory management of AISPs should take into account the uncertainty of this diagnosis.
Responses to selection for plus and minus modifiers of some effects of Strong's luxoid gene on the mouse skeleton.

Selection increased the heterozygous expression of Strong's luxoid gene (hindfoot polydactyly) in a high line (SH) and lowered it in a low line (SL). The realized heritability in the SH line was 0.142 ± 0.029; in the SL line, 0.159 ± 0.010. SH homozygotes showed as indirect responses increased hindfoot polydactyly, reduction of tibia and pubis, while SL homozygotes showed opposite responses for tibia and pubis. Selection in a PF subline for forefoot polydactyly in heterozygotes induced severe radial reduction as an indirect response in homozygotes. Selection increased the expression of radial duplication in a high line (SHH) and lowered it in a low line (SHL). The realized heritability in the SHH line was 0.110 ± 0.061; in the SHL line, 0.326 ± 0.180. In both lines heterozygous sibs of homozygotes with high or low radial expression were chosen for breeding since homozygotes rarely reproduce. In the SHH line heterozygotes with high expression and in the SHL line heterozygotes with low expression of polydactyly were preferred for mating. SHL homozygotes showed indirect responses in their hindlimbs similar to those observed in SL homozygotes while SHH homozygotes showed a less marked tendency to follow the SH pattern. These results suggest that the effects of Strong's luxoid gene on distal and proximal parts of the limb have a reciprocal inverse relation.
Electrically neutral quarks: Production of fractionally charged hadrons

We explore some observational consequences of the existence of electroweak neutral, color-triplet fermions, which combine with ordinary quarks to form fractionally charged hadrons (FCH) within QCD. Within the standard big-bang model, it is found that at least \ensuremath{\sim}4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}20}$ FCH per photon survive from the early universe. Calculations of their production in hadron-hadron and ${e}^{+}\ensuremath{-}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ colliders set a lower limit of \ensuremath{\sim} 10 GeV to their mass. The cosmic-ray-produced abundance of FCH at the surface of the Earth and Moon is also calculated. Within a more general framework, we show that a (nonzero) cosmic abundance of fractionally charged particles per nucleon smaller than \ensuremath{\sim} 7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ (outside stars) would be incompatible with the validity of standard (confining) QCD and the standard big-bang model.
Evaporation from a two-dimensional extended meniscus

Abstract The transport processes occurring in an evaporating two-dimensional meniscus and adsorbed thin film formed on a superheated flat glass plate (0.272°C superheat) immersed in a pool of saturated carbon tetrachloride are modeled and analyzed. Fluid flow results from a change in the external meniscus profile. The pressure gradient for fluid flow includes the effect of disjoining pressure. The resulting extended meniscus profile, heat flux profile, and pressure derivative profile are calculated. The presence of an adsorbed superheated film results in a smooth transition between the evaporating and nonevaporating portions of the extended meniscus.
Optically multiplexed two-dimensional imaging arrays

In an effort to overcome the small size of optical and IR imaging arrays a wide range of techniques for building mosaics of small arrays has been attempted. These methodologies are typically handicapped by one or more shortcomings, including a severe limit on the number of detectors which can be built into the mosaic, physical (non-imaging) gaps in the array, or difficulty of fabrication of imaging optics. We have developed an optical technique which has the capacity to enable extremely large mosaics of 2D arrays, while at the same time exhibiting absolutely no gaps between the elements of the mosaic. Further, through parallel processing of the detectors in the mosaic very high speed readouts of the image data are possible relative to than achievable with comparable large monolithic arrays (if they could even be fabricated). Several laboratory bench prototypes of this imaging system have been built and tested with outstanding results. We discuss the possible optical configurations of the system, techniques for aligning the arrays, and possible configurations for use at the telescope. Examples of test imagery obtained with the prototypes are shown.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
From Disorder to Order August 2000

Recently the “turbulent sublayer” was explored using a shear flow idealization akin to L. N. Howard's study of turbulent thermal convection [2]. There, the growing diffusive layers were studied to determine when they became unstable. Here, that work is extended to the first transitions of Couette and Poiseuille parallel flow. The merging boundary layers of the presumed flows pose a linear nonautonomous problem of following the time dependent first Lyapunov vector. As in Blasius flow, the first results emerge from perturbation theory, with corrections for streamwise evolution of the velocity profiles. The estimated critical Reynolds numbers for [back] transition from disorder to the laminar state are within 15% of the observations.
A Dual Platform for Selective Analyte Enrichment and Ionization in Mass Spectrometry Using Aptamer-Conjugated Graphene Oxide

This study demonstrates the use of aptamer-conjugated graphene oxide as an affinity extraction and detection platform for analytes from complex biological media. We have shown that cocaine and adenosine can be selectively enriched from plasma samples and that direct mass spectrometric readouts can be obtained without a matrix and with greatly improved signal-to-noise ratios. Aptamer-conjugated graphene oxide has clear advantages in target enrichment and in generating highly efficient ionization of target molecules for mass spectrometry. These results demonstrate the utility of the approach for analysis of small molecules in real biological samples.
Purification and Characterization of Cynomolgus Monkey Tryptase

Abstract Cynomolgus monkey tryptase was purified to homogeneity from lung tissue. Reducing SDS-PAGE analysis of the monkey enzyme produced a doublet at 30–32 kDa, which reacted with antibodies against human lung tryptase on a Western blot. N-terminal sequence analysis of the monkey enzyme yielded a sequence that was identical to human tryptase out to 15 residues. Gel filtration chromatography either in the presence or absence of heparin indicated that the monkey enzyme had a molecular mass of approximately 250 kDa and 140 kDa, respectively, consistent with the formation of a tetramer that can bind heparin. Other similarities between human and monkey tryptase included the ability to degrade vasoactive intestinal peptide and a resistance to inhibition by biological serine protease inhibitors. However, the two enzymes displayed markedly different pH stability profiles. Monkey tryptase was unstable at pH values over 7.0, even in the presence of heparin, displaying a half-life of 10.9 min at pH 8.0. In addition, the stabilizing effect of heparin was pH dependent, being most prevalent at lower pH values. Therefore, the biological activity of monkey tryptase may be controlled by both pH and the availability of heparin.
The interaction of HCl with the (0 0 0 1) face of hexagonal ice studied theoretically via Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics

Abstract The depletion of stratospheric ozone at high latitudes is caused by gas-phase catalytic cycles involving active chlorine compounds produced through heterogeneous chemical reactions involving HCl. In this Letter, results aimed at understanding the activation of chlorine on ice cloud particle surfaces are presented. We focus specifically on HCl interacting with the ice surface prior to reaction. We conclude that, in regions with a low surface density of dangling OH groups, HCl may be either ionically or molecularly adsorbed, but in regions with a high surface density of dangling OH groups, HCl is ionically adsorbed.
Facile Identification and Quantitation of Protein Phosphorylation via β-Elimination and Michael Addition with Natural Abundance and Stable Isotope Labeled Thiocholine

Herein, we employ the unique chemical properties of the quaternary amine present in thiocholine (2-mercapto-N,N,N-trimethyl-ethanaminium) in conjunction with alkaline β-elimination and Michael addition (BEMA) reactions for the specific detection, identification, and quantitation of phosphorylated serine/threonine containing peptides. Through replacement of the phosphate with thiocholine, the negative charge on the phosphopeptide is switched to a quaternary amine containing a permanent positive charge. This strategy resulted in a 100-fold increase in ionization sensitivity during ESI (sub-500 amol/μL detection limit) accompanied by a markedly enhanced production of informative peptidic fragment ions during CID that dramatically increase sequence coverage. Moreover, the definitive localization of phosphorylated residues is greatly facilitated through the generation of diagnostic triads of fragmentation ions resulting from peptide bond cleavage and further neutral loss of either trimethylamine (− 59 Da) or t...
PARALLEL IMPLEMENTATIONS OF NEURAL NETWORKS

Neural network models have attracted much attention recently by demonstrating their potential at being an effective paradigm for implementing human-like intelligent processing. Neural network models, applied to “real-world” problems, demand high processing rates. Fortunately, neural network models contain several inherently parallel computing structures which can be utilized for high throughput implementations on parallel processing architectures. In this paper we describe the basic computational requirements and the various interconnection structures that are used by neural network models. A number of inherently parallel aspects of neural computing are described in detail along with a description of their specific demands on the supporting parallel processing architecture. The main obstacle in achieving efficient parallel implementations of neural networks is shown to be associated with the difficulty in efficiently supporting the complex and widely differing interconnection structures used by various neural network models. In this paper we survey several proposed implementation techniques organized based on a taxonomy of neural network interconnection structures.
Endocrine failure after traumatic brain injury in adults

To review histopathological and clinical data linking endocrine failure to traumatic brain injury (TBI) during acute neurosurgical treatment and rehabilitation. A focused search of the Medline (PubMed) medical literature database and the author's files were used to identify selected publications. Endocrine failure may produce clinically important consequences during acute and convalescent care after TBI, and may be caused by direct injury to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), neuroendocrinological effects from catecholamines and cytokines, or from systemic infection/inflammation that produces primary gland failure. Autopsy evidence of hemorrhage or ischemia in the HPA is common soon after TBI. The estimated incidence of acute hormone reduction is adrenal 15%, thyroid 5–15%, growth hormone 18%, vasopressin 3–37%, and gonadal (25–80%). Hyperprolactinemia occurs in more than 50% of patients. Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and the euthyroid sick syndrome are common. Acute adrenal failure, central hypothyroidism, SIADH, and diabetes insipidus (DI) may cause poor neurological out-comes including death, hypo/hypernatremia, hypotension, and increased vasoactive drug requirements. Treatment of those conditions is warranted. Delayed diagnosis of hypopituitarism is often mistaken for symptoms of residual head injury. Some chronic hromone deficiency occurs in 30–40% of selected patients after TBI, more than one deficiency in 10–15%, growth hormone in 15–20%, gonadal hormones in 15%, and hypothyroidism in 10–30%. Chronic adrenal failure and DI are reported over a wide incidence. Prolactin is elevated in 30%. All clinical symptoms respond favorably to replacement therapy. Severe TBI associated with basilar skull fracture, hypothalamic edema, prolonged unresponsiveness, hyponatremia, and/or hypotension is associated with a higher occurrence of endocrinopathy. Greater awareness of this possible complication of TBI and appropriate testing are encouraged.
Instabilities and large structures in reattaching boundary layers

The underlying premise in this work is that large structures in turbulent shear flows are not universal and similar large structures in different flows owe their origins to basically similar instabilities. The turbulent boundary-layer flow over a backward-facing step and also the reattaching transitional boundary layer behind a large spanwise rod have been studied experimentally in parallel primarily to understand the origin of the curious large structures observed in the far downstream region (after 39 step heights) of the former flowfield. Simultaneous flow visualization and hot-wire anemometry and also plain-flow visualization have been carried out. In the backward-facing step, the three-dimensional mixing layer developing after detachment persists even after reattachment. The flow does not recover fully back to a regular turbulent boundary layer even far downstream of reattachment. The turbulence-producing instability of a turbulent boundary layer continues to compete with the wall-bounded mixing layer instability, giving rise to the curious schismatic arrays of large structures.
Multiphase Flows Through Poro-Elastic Media: A Continuum Model

Based on the basic balance laws and the second law of thermodynamics, a model for multiphase fluid flows through poro-elastic media is presented. The basic conservation laws. Including the balance of phasic equilibrated forces are are described. Based on the thermodynamics of the multiphase mixture, appropriate constitutive equations are formulated. It is shown that the present theory leads to the extension of Darcy’s law and contains, as its special case, Biot’s (1957) theory of saturated poro-elastic media. The special case of gas-liquid flows in porous media is discussed.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Pelvic embolization for treatment of hemorrhage related to spontaneous and induced abortion

Abstract Objective: Presentation of outcomes of pelvic arterial embolization for hemorrhage after spontaneous or induced abortion. Study Design: We collected case reports of embolization after spontaneous or induced abortion from oral presentations and from members of the National Abortion Federation. Results: Pelvic arterial embolization was performed for 11 women who had hemorrhage after spontaneous or induced abortion, and it was initially successful for all women. One woman ultimately required a hysterectomy after unsuccessful repeated embolization. Prophylactic embolization was done for 8 women who were at risk for hemorrhage from placenta accreta; 4 of these women had subsequent hysterectomies. Conclusions: Selective pelvic arterial embolization may be a successful treatment for hemorrhage associated with spontaneous and induced abortion. Embolization can be considered before hysterectomy is undertaken for control of hemorrhage. There may be a role for prophylactic catheterization or embolization when there is a risk of severe hemorrhage. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:530-6.)