cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of human thymic epithelial cell surface antigens : phenotypic similarity of thymic epithelial cells to epidermal keratinocytes

Cellular interactions between developing thymocytes and cells of the thymic microenvironment are necessary for maturation of thymocytes into mature T cells. While much is known about the molecules on developing T cells that mediate these interactions, little is known about the surface molecules of human thymic epithelial (TE) cells. In this study, using a panel of 276 MAb including 255 MAb from the 5th International Workshop on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens (HLDA-V), we have determined the expression of CD1 through CDw130 and other surface molecules on resting and IFN-γ-activated cultured human TE cells and on resting epidermal keratinocytes (EK). We demonstrate the surface expression of 50 of the 161 molecules assayed for on TE cells, including a number of adhesion molecules, cytokine receptors,Apo-1, and MHC-encoded molecules. While activation of TE cells with IFN-γ for 48 hr induced a greater than fivefold increase in the expression of four surface molecules (CD38, CD54, MHC class I, and MHC class II), it also induced a greater than 50% increase in the expression of 14 other surface molecules (CD12, CD29, CD40, CD44, CD47, CD49b, CD49c, CD49e, CD55, CD66, CD87, CD104, TE4, and STE3) and a decrease in the expression of three molecules (CDw65, CDw109, and STE2). In comparing the phenotype of TE cells to 83 other cell lines studied in HLDA-V, we found that TE cells were strikingly more similar to EK than to any of the other cell types tested.
Designer Xylanosomes: Protein Nanostructures for Enhanced Xylan Hydrolysis

This work reports the successful design, construction, and application of multi-functional, self-assembling protein complex, termed xylanosomes. Using the architecture of cellulosomes as template, these structures were designed specifically for hemicellulose hydrolysis. Four different xylanosomes were developed, with up to three different hemicellulase activities combined into a single structure. Each xylanosome was composed of two native or chimeric hemicellulases and tested on wheat arabinoxylan or destarched corn bran for enzymatic hydrolysis. After 24-h incubation, soluble sugars released from arabinoxylan increased up to 30 % with xylanosomes containing a xylanase and bi-functional arabinofuranosidase/xylosidase over the corresponding free, unstructured enzymes. Additionally, xylanosomes with a xylanase and a ferulic acid esterase removed between 15 and 20 % more ferulic acid from wheat arabinoxylan than free enzymes. Furthermore, xylanosomes exhibited synergy with cellulases on destarched corn bran, suggesting a possible use of these nanostructures in cellulose hydrolysis.
Three Objections to Constitutional Patriotism

As is well known, constitutional patriotism designates the idea that political attachment ought to centre on the norms, the values, and, more indirectly, the procedures of a liberal-democratic constitution. Put differently, allegiance and attachment are not owed primarily to a national culture, as liberal nationalists have claimed, or to “to the worldwide community of human beings,” as for instance Martha Nussbaum’s conception of cosmopolitanism has it.1 As is less well known, the concept of constitutional patriotism has enjoyed very varying fortunes. It was born in postwar divided Germany and has often been seen as a poor substitute for a ‘proper’ national identity – a substitute that was to become redundant after the country’s unification. Yet the concept experienced a major renaissance in the 1990s when observers both inside and outside Germany began to view it as a normatively attractive form of civic attachment for increasingly multicultural societies; in recent years, it has also been advanced as a way of conceptualizing “civic identification” at the supranational level, with some scholars explicitly calling for a “European constitutional patriotism.”2 Finally, constitutional patriotism has even been advocated as a form of belonging in deeply divided, postwar societies; for instance, the head of Bosnian Muslims has explicitly called for a pan-Bosnian constitutional patriotism.3 I will not address in this essay the political prospects of constitutional patriotism; and in fact I will also not address what I take it to be the most common objection to the concept of constitutional patriotism: that it is somehow too “abstract” or, as a particularly inappropriate metaphor has it, too “bloodless.” Others (and I, for that matter) have addressed this essentially moral-psychological objection to the very idea of an attachment to universalist, democratic principles elsewhere.4 Rather, I seek to deal with three less common objections that do not in principle doubt the motivational power of patriotism, but rather converge on the claim that constitutional patriotism necessarily tends to become illiberal, irrespective of the universalist, democratic norms and values that are generally said to constitute its core. Put differently: constitutional patriotism might not be able to avoid the normative and practical pitfalls that tend to be associated with nationalism and that in fact animate the criticisms of nationalism advanced by advocates of constitutional patriotism themselves.
An Electrochemical Method for the Formation of Magnetite Particles

ABSTRACT Magnetite has been widely used in numerous industrial processes and environmental applications. The conventional method for the production of magnetite particles, based on the mixing of ferrous and ferric ions at a 1 : 2 molar ratio, produces high-pH secondary wastewater that requires further treatment. This study investigates an alternative approach based on electrochemical reactions for the production of magnetite particles, a process in which ions of iron are produced by carbon steel electrodes and pure magnetite particles are formed through electrochemical reactions under favorable conditions. To better understand the mechanisms involved, experiments were conducted to examine the effects of various electrolytes—such as those of NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, and CuCl2 —and various operating conditions—including temperature and applied voltage—on the formation of magnetite particles. It was observed that magnetite could form in NaCl solutions in the presence or absence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions, while only i...
On the Analytical Approach to Galin’s Stick-Slip Problem. A Survey

Galin’s classical work (PMM J Appl Math Mech 9:413–424, 1945) on the contact of a rigid flat-ended indenter with an elastic half-plane with partial slip was the first successful attempt to take into account friction in the problem of normal contact. As Galin was unable to find an exact solution of the formulated problem, the problem of contact with partial slip of a rigid punch with an elastic half-plane was challenged by many researchers. At the same time Galin’s seminal work stimulated development of solutions for other contact problems with friction that feature different punch geometries and different material responses. This paper presents an overview of the developments in the area of elastic contact with partial slip. In the spirit of Galin’s work the focus is placed on contributions with substantial analytical merit.
Lichen planus in two immunodeficient hosts

The exact pathogenic mechanism involved in lichen planus (LP) remains obscure. Two patients who have severe immunodeficiency diseases and who developed LP during the course of their illness are reported here. Both patients had hypogammaglobulinemia and disturbed immune function prior to the development of LP. Although such an association could be coincidental, the development of LP may be related to the underlying immune disturbances. Association of LP with several other disorders of the immune system has been previously observed. Other evidence for the possible involvement of an immunopathogenic mechanism in LP includes (1) deposition of immunoglobulin within the colloid bodies and at the dermoepidermal junction, (2) predominantly T cell dermal infiltrate in LP lesions, and (3) existence of clinical and histologic similarities between graft-versus-host disease and LP.
Along the road to Asilomar

Genetic Alchemy: The Social History of the Recombinant DNA Controversy. By Sheldon Krimsky. Pp.445. ISBN 0-262-11083-0. (MIT Press: 1982.) $24.95, £19.95.
Ubiquitous nucleosome crowding in the yeast genome.

Nucleosomes may undergo a conformational change in which a stretch of DNA peels off the histone octamer surface as a result of thermal fluctuations or interactions with chromatin remodelers. Thus, neighboring nucleosomes may invade each other’s territories by DNA unwrapping and translocation, or through initial assembly in partially wrapped states. A recent high-resolution map of distances between dyads of neighboring nucleosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals that nucleosomes frequently overlap DNA territories of their neighbors. This conclusion is supported by lower-resolution maps of S. cerevisiae nucleosome lengths based on micrococcal nuclease digestion and paired-end sequencing. The average length of wrapped DNA follows a stereotypical pattern in genes and promoters, correlated with the well-known distribution of nucleosome occupancy: nucleosomal DNA tends to be shorter in promoters and longer in coding regions. To explain these observations, we have developed a biophysical model that uses a 10–11-bp periodic histone–DNA binding energy profile. The profile is based on the pattern of histone–DNA contacts in nucleosome crystal structures, as well as the idea of linker length discretization caused by higher-order chromatin structure. Our model is in agreement with the observed genome-wide distributions of interdyad distances, wrapped DNA lengths, and nucleosome occupancies. Furthermore, our approach explains in vitro measurements of the accessibility of nucleosome-covered target sites and nucleosome-induced cooperativity between DNA-binding factors. We rule out several alternative scenarios of histone–DNA interactions as inconsistent with the genomic data.
Influence of chemopreventive agents on estradiol metabolism and mammary preneoplasia in the C3H mouse

Abstract The C3H strain of mouse has a high incidence of murine mammary tumor virus-induced mammary tumors, and tumorigenesis progresses via the intermediate formation of the preneoplastic, hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HANs). The C3H mouse also exhibits an elevation in 16α-hydroxylation of estradiol which remains unaltered in relation to the age or presence of tumor, but which is detectable well before the emergence of overt mammary cancer. This metabolic pathway leads to the formation of 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1), a putative promoter of mammary cancer. The present study examines the effect of two prototype chemopreventive agents, tamoxifen (TAM) and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (HPR), on 16α-hydroxylation of estradiol and on the growth of HANs. Treatment with TAM, HPR, or a combination of TAM and HPR for 4 weeks in 6- to 8-week-old C3H mice resulted in a consistent elevation in the 16α-hydroxylotion pathway of estradiol metabolism relative to the placebo control group (20.50% ± 2.35%, 21.46% ± 1.49%, 18.00% ± 7.75%, and 12.64% ± 1].45% SD, respectively) and in a significant decrease in the mean frequency of HANs per mammary gland (1.4, 2.1, 0.0, and 5.8, respectively). Mice without any experimental manipulation exhibited an age-dependent progressive increase in HAN frequency from 1.5 per gland at 4 weeks of age to 12.1 per gland at 24 weeks of age. Administration of TAM, HPR, or a combination of TAM and HPR up to 22 weeks of age resulted in a continued suppression of HAN frequency, and the two agents in combination exerted an additive effect on the suppression of HAN development. These results indicate that the promoting effect of 16α-OHE1 on mammary preneoplasia can be overridden by TAM and HPR, possibly due to the greater affinity of TAM relative to 16α-OHE1 for the cellular estrogen receptor, or to HPR-induced reduction in 16α-OHE1 susceptible target tissue (i.e., suppression of HANs).
Strategic Bankruptcies and Price Reactions to Bankruptcy Filings

This study investigates whether the stock market differentiates between firms that file bankruptcy petitions for strategic reasons and firms that file bankruptcy petitions for financial reasons. We perform both univariate and regression tests on a sample of 245 firms that filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions between 1981 and 1996. After controlling for bankruptcy outcome, probability of bankruptcy, firm financial condition, and firm size, we find that, in the period around bankruptcy filing, firms that file bankruptcy petitions for financial reasons have significantly larger stock price declines than firms that file bankruptcy petitions for strategic reasons.
Characterization of transients

We define local space and wave number quantities and apply them to wave propagation in dispersive media. An exact expression is obtained for the spreading of a propagating pulse. We show that while the pulse must eventually spread to infinity, it can contract for certain times. An exact criteria is given in terms of the covariance of the pulse. An exactly calculable example is presented and used to verify and illustrate the results. Also, we discuss the behavior of a transient at a given position. We propose that the local quantities, instantaneous frequency, group delay, and their respective local standard deviations are good characterizers and classifiers. We present some recent preliminary experimental results of Loughlin, Groutage, and Rohrbaugh showing the importance of instantaneous frequency and bandwidth for the characterization of transients.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Heterogeneity in Chinese Hamster Ribosomal DNA

A discrete heterogeneity has been detected in Chinese hamster ribosomal DNA after Eco R1 digestion of total DNA followed by a Southern transfer and hybridization with [125I]18S or [125I]28S ribosomal RNA. Digestion with Eco R1 produces three fragments, 4.3, 6.0 and 9.5 x 10(6) daltons respectively, which hybridize with 18S RNA. The smallest fragment also hybridizes with 28S RNA. Either length heterogeneity or sequence heterogeneity (i.e. presence of an additional Eco R1 site in some of the rDNA molecules) must be invoked to account for the two larger Eco R1 fragments that contain 18S but not 28S sequences. Eco R1 and Hind III maps, consistent with either length or sequence heterogeneity, are presented. The data at this time, however, do not distinguish between the two alternatives.
Syncroscan: A high-speed control system for railway signaling

The Syncroscan∗ system, a new approach to the problem of centralized traffic control, retains relay coding equipment, with its inherent reliability, for transmitting control information to the field. In addition, it uses an electronic scanning system to provide the speed and capacity necessary to report up-to-the-moment information from hundreds of miles of railroad.
Service excellence in the banking industry

Uses personal telephone interviews, and researches the literature to show how banks change themselves to cope with changes in the marketplace. Focuses especially on high‐performing institutions and on what makes them different. Finds all three banks chosen for study share the same common elements of service excellence.
Properties of phthalonitrile monomer blends and thermosetting phthalonitrile copolymers

Abstract Binary blends of biphenyl phthalonitrile and the n = 4 oligomeric phthalonitrile were prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and rheology studies. The blended phthalonitriles also were polymerized from the melt in the presence of bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone and the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting copolymers were investigated. The properties of the phthalonitrile blends and copolymers were compared with those of the neat polymers. The phthalonitrile blends were found to have larger processing windows relative to that observed for the biphenyl phthalonitrile. The size of the processing window depended on the n = 4 phthalonitrile content in the blend. Dynamic mechanical measurements and thermogravimetric analysis showed that temperatures up to 425 °C were necessary to completely cure the phthalonitrile copolymers. The dynamic mechanical measurements also revealed that the fully-cured phthalonitrile copolymers did not soften or exhibit a glass transition temperature upon heating to 450 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the phthalonitrile copolymers exhibited excellent thermal stability along with long-term thermo-oxidative stability.
A simple method for the determination of enantiomeric excess and identity of chiral carboxylic acids

The association between an achiral copper(II) host (1) and chiral carboxylate guests was studied using exciton-coupled circular dichroism (ECCD). Enantiomeric complexes were created upon binding of the enantiomers of the carboxylate guests to the host, and the sign of the resultant CD signal allowed for determination of the configuration of the studied guest. The difference in magnitudes and shapes of the CD signals, in conjunction with linear discriminant analysis (LDA), allowed for the identity of the guest to be determined successfully. A model was created for the host-guest complexes which successfully predicts the sign of the observed CD signal. Further, Taft parameters were used in the model, leading to rationalization of the observed magnitudes of the CD signals. Finally, the enantiomeric excess (ee) of unknown samples of three chiral carboxylic acid guests was determined with an average absolute error of ±3.0%.
Hedgehog signaling in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cancer-related cause of death in men in the USA. Despite enormous efforts in understanding the molecular basis of prostate cancer, very little progress has been made in prevention and treatment of this often lethal cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated that hedgehog signaling is frequently activated in advanced or metastatic prostate cancers. With small molecule inhibitors available to analyze the hedgehog signaling pathway, a novel rationale for prostate cancer therapy can be devised.
Enhancement of Intact Bean Leaf Senescence by NaCl Salinity

Red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants were grown in nutrient solution and in nutrient solution plus four bars of added NaCl. Chlorophyll and protein decay occurred much more rapidly in intact leaves from plants subjected to four bars of added NaCl in the growth medium than in intact leaves from plants without added NaCl. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) content in intact leaves of salt treated plants was higher than in intact leaves from plants grown in nutrient solution alone. However, the tendency for RNA content variation in leaves during the experimental period was the same for both control and salt treated plants. The results support the idea that salinity enhances senescence and suggests that hormone imbalance plays an important role in this process.
The impact of a chief planning officer on the administrative environment for planning

Institution-wide planning, to be effective, must have the support of key administrators. Presidents, vice-presidents, deans, and directors must feel that sufficient consensus can be reached on explicit goals to make comprehensive planning possible and worthwhile. While much has been written about the importance of CEO leadership in gaining broad support for planning, little has been said about the role of the chief planning officer in this regard. This paper, based on a national survey of administrators' views of planning, studies the relationship between having a chief planning officer and administrators' perceptions of campus planning. Its intended audience includes all those interested in institutional planning.
Regulation of cutaneous gas exchange by environmental O2 and CO2 in the frog

The effects of environmental PO2 and PCO2 on cutaneous blood flow and gas exchange were investigated in the frog, Rana pipiens. Halothane (Ha) anesthetized frogs were equilibrated with 9.5% Freon-22 (Fr), 1.1% Ha and air while placed in a box. A gas mixture, initially free of Ha and Fr, was drawn through a small test chamber placed on the abdomen. The excretion of Fr, Ha and CO2 into the sample chamber was analyzed by a mass spectrometer. Under these conditions, changes in Fr or Ha excretion into the sample chamber reflected local changes in skin perfusion. Raising sample chamber [O2] produced concentration-dependent increases in the excretion of all gases measured. Lowering chamber [O2] reduced gas excretion. Increasing chamber [CO2] to 5% decreased the excretion of Fr and Ha. Increasing box [O2] to 86.5% while keeping sample chamber [O2] constant at 21% decreased gas excretion into the chamber. Selectively raising box [CO2] to 4.3% increased gas excretion into the chamber. The results indicate that regional cutaneous blood flow and gas exchange is a direct function of the [O2] directly above that portion of skin, and inversely related to the [O2] over adjacent skin. This regional perfusion-O2 matching may act to optimize total cutaneous gas exchange in the frog. In addition, CO2 may be an important regulator of cutaneous blood flow distribution.
Grooves on asteroids: A prediction

The characteristics of the grooves on Phobos indicate that these features were formed by a large impact, an observation which implies that grooves may occur on other small bodies. Published data on fragmentation experiments suggest that the energy of the impact which produced the grooves on Phobos was in a critical range, strong enough to produce fracturing at large distances from the crater, but too weak to fragment the object. Other small bodies, such as asteroids, which have experienced an impact flux sufficient to include one such critical cratering event should show grooves, unless they have been fragmented subsequently by a more severe impact. It is estimated that between 1/12th and 1/4th of asteroids smaller than 100 km in diameter may have surface features resembling grooves associated with large impact craters. Several morphologically distinct types of grooves can be expected, depending on the thickness and composition of the regolith of the parent body.
Effects of visual attention on tone burst evoked auditory potentials

Abstract Tone burst evoked potentials were recorded from unanesthetized cats with electrodes chronically implanted in the auditory cortex, cochlear nucleus, and round window. The tone bursts (irrelevant stimuli) were presented continuously (85 db SPL, 1 s ) as background before, during, and after the presentation of a visual discrimination task (relevant stimuli) which was used as a means of altering the attentive state of the animals. At the auditory cortex and cochlear nucleus, the mean peak-to-peak amplitudes of tone burst evoked potentials were significantly reduced during attention to the visual discrimination stimuli compared to the pretest and post-test control periods. However, at the round window (cochlear microphonic) no significant differences in amplitude were observed. Although the amplitudes of the tone burst evoked potentials were reduced at all frequencies during visual attention, much greater suppression occurred at the middle frequencies (700 to 5000 Hz) than at higher or lower frequencies. The results support the hypothesis that during visual attention a central inhibitory mechanism suppresses irrelevant tone burst evoked potentials, presumably via the olivocochlear bundle.
Targeting bacterial topoisomerase I to meet the challenge of finding new antibiotics

Resistance of bacterial pathogens to current antibiotics has grown to be an urgent crisis. Approaches to overcome this challenge include identification of novel targets for discovery of new antibiotics. Bacterial topoisomerase I is present in all bacterial pathogens as a potential target for bactericidal topoisomerase poison inhibitors. Recent efforts have identified inhibitors of bacterial topoisomerase I with antibacterial activity. Additional research on the mode of action and binding site of these inhibitors would provide further validation of the target and establish that bacterial topoisomerase I is druggable. Bacterial topoisomerase I is a potentially high value target for discovery of new antibiotics. Demonstration of topoisomerase I as the cellular target of an antibacterial compound would provide proof-of-concept validation.
An Unfulfilled Promise of Enlightenment: Kemalism and its Liberal Critics

Abstract A defining feature of Turkish politics during the 2000s has been the alliance between liberals and Islamic conservatives. While legitimizing Islamic conservatism, the liberals have concomitantly de‐legitimized Kemalism. Ultimately, the liberal disavowal is a call for a reexamination of the Turkish secularist experience, and in particular of how it relates to Western, emancipating traditions. The potential of freedom has remained unfulfilled because Turkish secularism has never really broken with the orthodox mentality of the past. Mirroring the failure of the secular‐minded Ottoman reformers of the nineteenth century, who had initially held out an unfulfilled promise of universalism, enshrined in the concept of liberal citizenship, the Kemalists have gotten stuck in parochial nationalism. The promise of universalism was distorted by the allure of the parochial, as the rational succumbed to the mystique of the primordial. The story of Turkish secularism is ultimately one about the promise of an en...
Adiabatic-isothermal mixed boundary conditions in heat transfer

Abstract Mixed boundary conditions of the adiabatic-isothermal type often arise in the mathematical modeling of heat transfer phenomena. Under certain circumstances, the mixed condition gives rise to singular behavior which cannot be adequately treated by numerical means alone. The numerical procedure must be supplemented by an asymptotic analysis for the local behavior near the singularity. In the special case of a mixed boundary condition on a straight boundary, the strength of the singularity is given in terms of a path-independent integral, the value of which can be determined from the numerical solution for the far-field behavior. Implications of overlooking the singular behavior due to the mixed boundary condition are discussed.
Controlling the size of Cu2O nanocubes from 200 to 25 nm

Highly uniform Cu2O nanocubes can be prepared by using a simple solution approach. Copper(II) salts in water are reduced with ascorbic acid in air in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium hydroxide. The average edge length of the cubes can be controlled from 25 to 200 nm by changing the order of addition of reagents, and the PEG concentration.
Calculation and stability of multiple equilibrium points for nonideal mixtures

Abstract Liquid-vapor phase-equilibrium calculations are formulated as a gradient system of ordinary differential equations. The trajectories in the phase plane are special projections of the total Gibbs free-energy surface for the mixture with a one-to-one correspondence between extrema in the G surface and singular points in the phase plane. For nonideal mixtures, multiple equilibrium solutions (i.e. multiple steady states in the phase plane) have been found. The conditions for the existence of these multiple equilibria are explained in terms of the nonideality of the liquid.
Comparison of the effects of the GABAB receptor positive modulator BHF177 and the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen on anxiety-like behavior, learning, and memory in mice

γ-Aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptor activation is a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of drug addiction, pain, anxiety, and depression. However, full agonists of this receptor induce side-effects, such as sedation, muscle relaxation, tolerance, and cognitive disruption. Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor may have similar therapeutic effects as agonists with superior side-effect profiles. The present study behaviorally characterized N-([1R,2R,4S]-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-2-methyl-5-(4-[trifluoromethyl]phenyl)-4-pyrimidinamine (BHF177), a GABAB receptor PAM, in mouse models of anxiety-like behavior, learning and memory. In addition, the effects of BHF177 were compared with the agonist baclofen. Unlike the anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide, baclofen (0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and BHF177 (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, orally) had no effect on anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze, light/dark box, or Vogel conflict test. Baclofen increased punished drinking in the Vogel conflict test, but this effect may be attributable to the analgesic actions of baclofen. At the highest dose tested (2.5 mg/kg), baclofen-treated mice exhibited sedation-like effects (i.e., reduced locomotor activity) across many of the tests, whereas BHF177-treated mice exhibited no sedation-like effects. BHF177 exhibited pro-convulsion properties only in mice, but not in rats, indicating that this effect may be species-specific. At doses that were not sedative or pro-convulsant, baclofen and BHF177 had no selective effects on fear memory retrieval in contextual and cued fear conditioning or spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze. These data suggest that BHF177 has little sedative activity, no anxiolytic-like profile, and minimal impairment of learning and memory in mice.
Evaluating task-technology fit and user performance for an electronic health record system

Assessing user satisfaction, acceptance and performance impacts of information systems have long traditions in information systems research. With an increasing focus on broader international adoption and implementation of electronic health records, research examining performance impact resulting from system use will play an essential role in the successful design, implementation, and efficient use of these systems. In this study, we analyse user evaluations of an electronic health record system and assess the impact on self-reported, perceived individual performance using the task-technology fit theory. Overall, user evaluations for the eight dimensions of task-technology fit considered in this study are positive.
High-throughput genomic analysis of small-cell lung cancer: allelotyping using Affymetrix HuSNP arrays

High-throughput genomic analysis of small-cell lung cancer: allelotyping using Affymetrix HuSNP arrays
Butting In vs. Being a Friend: Cultural Differences and Similarities in the Evaluation of Imposed Social Support

Imposed social support can be more harmful than helpful due to its potential to threaten the recipient's autonomy. These findings may reflect cultural contexts that foster autonomy (e.g., European American [EA]). Imposed social support may be interpreted more positively in cultural contexts that place emphasis on mutual responsibility for solving problems (e.g., Russian [RU]). We compared EA (n = 128) and RU (n = 125) young adults' reports of recent episodes of support. EAs were more likely than RUs to be satisfied with these interactions, a difference mediated by levels of nondirective support. Cultural differences emerged in interpretations of support. Unsolicited support from family was interpreted more positively by RUs than by EAs. Thus, although nondirective support contributed to support satisfaction across cultural groups, cultural context influenced young adults' interpretations of imposed support.
Presence of the N-methyl-D-aspartate-associated glycine receptor agonist, D-serine, in human temporal cortex : comparison of normal, Parkinson, and Alzheimer tissues

The amino acid D-serine (D-Ser), previously recognized as a pharmacological tool for potentiating neuronal activity mediated by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, in vitro and in vivo, has been observed in several brain regions of the rat and mouse, most prominently in cortex. In addition to reconfirming the presence and distribution of D-Ser in rat brain, we have observed, for the first time, endogenous, free D-Ser in temporal cortex of normal human brains at a level of 2.18 +/- 0.12 nmol/mg of protein, representing 15 +/- 2% of the free L-Ser pool. The D- and L-Ser specific content and the D/L-Ser ratio obtained from temporal cortex of Parkinson and Alzheimer brains did not differ significantly from those of controls. However, at the levels observed here, and considering its specificity and affinity for the NMDA-associated glycine receptor, endogenous D-Ser is a plausible NMDA receptor glycine site agonist.
Effects of Jasplakinolide on the Kinetics of Actin Polymerization AN EXPLANATION FOR CERTAIN IN VIVO OBSERVATIONS

Jasplakinolide paradoxically stabilizes actin filaments in vitro, but in vivo it can disrupt actin filaments and induce polymerization of monomeric actin into amorphous masses. A detailed analysis of the effects of jasplakinolide on the kinetics of actin polymerization suggests a resolution to this paradox. Jasplakinolide markedly enhances the rate of actin filament nucleation. This increase corresponds to a change in the size of actin oligomer capable of nucleating filament growth from four to approximately three subunits, which is mechanistically consistent with the localization of the jasplakinolide-binding site at an interface of three actin subunits. Because jasplakinolide both decreases the amount of sequestered actin (by lowering the critical concentration of actin) and augments nucleation, the enhancement of polymerization by jasplakinolide is amplified in the presence of actin-monomer sequestering proteins such as thymosin β4. Overall, the kinetic parameters in vitro define the mechanism by which jasplakinolide induces polymerization of monomeric actin in vivo. Expected consequences of jasplakinolide function are consistent with the experimental observations and include de novo nucleation resulting in disordered polymeric actin and in insufficient monomeric actin to allow for remodeling of stress fibers.
Effect of Initial Postoperative Visit Radiographs on Treatment Plans

Background: It is a common practice among orthopaedic surgeons to make radiographs at the first outpatient postoperative visit after surgical repair of acute fractures. There is not much literature that investigates the benefits and necessity of such a practice. We hypothesized that the practice of routine postoperative radiographs is unnecessary and increases cost to the patients and the health-care system, increases radiation exposure, and provides no change in patient management. Methods: A retrospective review of patients sustaining acute fractures requiring operative fixation was done with the goal of determining how often a radiograph made at the first postoperative visit in the surgeon’s office resulted in a change in patient management. Results: Fifteen (7.5%) of 200 fractures in 171 patients had a clinical indication for a radiograph because of an abnormal physical examination finding or history of additional trauma. Three (1.5%) of these fractures had a deviation from standard postoperative care; this deviation was a change in postoperative care on the basis of the patient history and physical examination rather than radiographs. One fracture (0.5%) had a radiographic change from the immediate postoperative radiograph to the clinic radiograph, yet did not have a change in treatment. The estimated average radiation exposure per radiograph was 0.164 mSv, and the average charge to the patient per radiograph was $335.13. Conclusions: The majority of radiographs made at the first postoperative visit in the surgeon’s office after acute fracture fixation did not result in a change in patient management and added substantial cost to the health-care system. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Design of a dam sediment management system to aid water quality restoration of the Chesapeake Bay

The water quality of the Susquehanna River, a major freshwater tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, significantly affects the aquatic health of the Bay. Following major storms in which the river flow rate exceeds 300,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), nutrients and sediment stored in the Lower Susquehanna Reservoir are deposited into the Chesapeake Bay. These excess nutrients facilitate algae blooms that hinder the growth of sub-aquatic vegetation (SAV) and harm the Bay's aquatic species. The Conowingo Dam, on the Lower Susquehanna River, is estimated to be at 85% of its sediment capacity. To reduce the sediment backlog, three dam sediment management alternatives have been identified: (i) No Mitigation, (ii) removal of sediment by Hydraulic Dredging and (iii) removal of sediment by Hydraulic Dredging and increasing the bottom shear velocity to avoid sediment build-up. A utility analysis conducted using a fluid mechanics, ecological impact and business model indicates annual removal of sediment at 5,000,000 cubic yards to produce slag product, with the instantiation of a flow diverter to increase bottom shear stress to be the best alternative.
Molecular regulation of interleukin‐2 expression by CD28 co‐stimulation and anergy

Summary: The consequences of T-cell receptor engagement (signal I) are profoundly affected by the presence or absence of co-stimulation (signal 2). T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation in the absence of CD 28-mediated co-stimulation not only results in little interleukin (IL)-2 production, but induces a long lasting hyporesponsive state known as T-cell clonal anergy The addition of CD 28 ligation to signal 1, on the other hand, results in the production of copious amounts of IL-2. Our laboratory has utilized CD4+ Th1 clones in an effort to understand the molecular events resulting in enhanced IL-2 production by co-stimulation and the inhibition of IL- 2 production in anergy Our current studies have focused on defining the post-transcriptional effects of CD28-enhanced IL-2 production The data suggest that a major component of CD28′s ability to regulate IL-2 production occurs at the level of message stability and involves the 3′-untranslated region of the message. In terms of anergy, our recent studies support the notion that it is not the result of TCR engagement in the absence of co-stimulation. but rather signal 1 in the absence of IL-2 receptor signaling and proliferation. Furthermore, T-cell anergy appears to be an active negative state in which IL-2 production is inhibited both at the level of signal transduction and by cis-dominant repression at the level of the IL-2 promoter.
In situ column generation for a cutting-stock problem

Working with an integer bilinear programming formulation of a one-dimensional cutting-stock problem, we develop an ILP-based local-search heuristic. The ILPs holistically integrate the master and subproblem of the usual price driven pattern-generation paradigm, resulting in a unified model that generates new patterns in situ. We work harder to generate new columns, but we are guaranteed that new columns give us an integer linear-programming improvement (rather then the continuous linear-programming improvement sought by the usual price driven column generation). The method is well suited to practical restrictions such as when a limited number of cutting patterns should be employed, and our goal is to generate a profile of solutions trading off trim loss against the number of patterns utilized. We describe our implementation and results of computational experiments on instances from a chemical-fiber company.
Selective Acquisition and Retention of Genomic Sequences by Pack-Mutator-Like Elements Based on Guanine-Cytosine Content and the Breadth of Expression

The process of gene duplication followed by sequence and functional divergence is important for the generation of new genes. Pack-MULEs, nonautonomous Mutator-like elements (MULEs) that carry genic sequence(s), are potentially involved in generating new open reading frames and regulating parental gene expression. These elements are identified in many plant genomes and are most abundant in rice (Oryza sativa). Despite the abundance of Pack-MULEs, the mechanism by which parental genes are captured by Pack-MULEs remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified all MULEs in rice and examined factors likely important for sequence acquisition. Terminal inverted repeat MULEs are the predominant MULE type and account for the majority of the Pack-MULEs. In addition to genic sequences, rice MULEs capture guanine-cytosine (GC)-rich intergenic sequences, albeit at a much lower frequency. MULEs carrying nontransposon sequences have longer terminal inverted repeats and higher GC content in terminal and subterminal regions. An overrepresentation of genes with known functions and genes with orthologs among parental genes of Pack-MULEs is observed in rice, maize (Zea mays), and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), suggesting preferential acquisition for bona fide genes by these elements. Pack-MULEs selectively acquire/retain parental sequences through a combined effect of GC content and breadth of expression, with GC content playing a stronger role. Increased GC content and number of tissues with detectable expression result in higher chances of a gene being acquired by Pack-MULEs. Such selective acquisition/retention provides these elements greater chances of carrying functional sequences that may provide new genetic resources for the evolution of new genes or the modification of existing genes.
Localization of morphologically distinct microglial populations in the developing human fetal brain: implications for ontogeny.

Abstract Although 70 years have elapsed since del Rio Hortega's initial description of microglia, the ontogeny of these cells remains enigmatic. In addition to the general scientific importance of clarifying this issue, a more complete characterization of microglia is dictated by their apparent pivotal role in the pathophysiology of central nervous system (CNS) disease associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in adults and, especially, in children. To accomplish this goal, fetal central nervous system tissue was collected at the time of elective pregnancy terminations. Coronal vibratome sections of Bouin's-fixed cerebrum were either stained with Ricinus communis agglutinin-1 (RCA-1) or analyzed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies that recognize human tissue macrophages and microglia. By at least 13 weeks of gestation, microglia were detected in fetal brain. In the 13–18 week gestational age cerebrum, there was variability in the morphology of microglia within the developing white matter and cortex. However, there was less variability within these areas in the 19–24 week gestational age group. At all ages the greatest number of labeled cells per field was in the germinal matrix with decreasing numbers in the developing white matter and cortex. Cells in the germinal matrix were round with short processes (‘ameboid microglia’) while cortical cells were more ramified (‘resting microglia’). These results suggest that microglia may originate in the germinal matrix rather than in the pial mesenchyme as originally hypothesized by del Rio Hortega. Furthermore, because microglia may be the major cellular target for HIV-1 infection in the fetus, if they are not present in human fetal CNS prior to 13 weeks gestation then HIV-1 CNS infection would seem less likely prior to this age. Elucidation of these points might lead to improved preventative or therapeutic strategies in the treatment of perinatal and pediatric AIDS.
Cavernous malformations of the brainstem presenting in childhood: surgical experience in 40 patients.

BACKGROUND: Brainstem cavernous malformations (BSCMs) are believed to compose 9% to 35% of all cerebral cavernous malformations, but these lesions have been reported in children in very limited numbers. OBJECTIVE: To review surgical outcomes of pediatric patients with BSCMs treated at 1 institution. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the course of 40 pediatric patients (19 males; 21 females; age range, 10 months to 18.9 years; mean, 12.3 years) who underwent surgery between 1984 and 2009. Age, sex, presenting symptoms, location of lesion, surgical approach, new postoperative deficits, Glasgow Outcome Scale score, recurrences, and resolution of baseline symptoms were recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients experienced hemorrhage before surgery. Lesion locations included the pons (n = 22), midbrain (n = 4), midbrain and thalamus (n = 4), pontomesencephalic junction (n = 3), medulla (n = 3), pontomedullary junction (n = 3), and cervicomedullary junction (n = 1). Mean lesion size was 2.3 cm. Mean length of hospital stay was 10.7 days. The average clinical follow-up was 31.9 months in 36 patients with follow-up after discharge. At last follow-up, 5 patients had experienced symptoms and/ or imaging consistent with rehemorrhage, either from a residual that enlarged or true recurrence (5.25% annual rebleed risk per patient after surgery); 2 required reoperation for further resection of cavernoma. Mean Glasgow Outcome Scale score was 4.2 on admission, 4.05 at discharge, and 4.5 at latest follow-up. Preoperative symptoms and deficits improved in 16 patients (40%). New neurological deficits developed in 19 patients (48%) and resolved in 9, leaving 10 patients (25%) with new permanent deficit. CONCLUSION: Compared with adults, pediatric patients with BCSMs tend to have larger lesions and higher rates of recurrence (regrowth of residual lesion). Given the greater life expectancy of children, surgical treatment seems warranted in those with surgically accessible lesions that have bled. Outcomes were similar to those in our adult series of patients with BSCMs.
Foreperiod and stuttering severity effects on acoustic laryngeal reaction time

Abstract An earlier paper presented a model of the laryngeal reaction time (LRT) paradigm that included several factors that appeared to affect LRT values. The present study assesses the effects of two of these factors: foreperiod and stuttering severity. The former was assessed by the use of 13 foreperiod durations. The latter was assessed by classifying experimental subjects as either mild or severe stutterers. Both factors significantly affected LRT values. More importantly, these factors demonstrated a composite effect on group LRT differences. Specifically, mild stutterers' LRT values approached normal values as foreperiod increased, whereas severe stutterers' LRT values remained significantly greater than normal values at all foreperiods. Results are discussed in terms of differential posturing and/or vibration initiation deficits underlying stutterers' delayed LRT values. We caution that acoustic measurements alone are insufficient to specify fully the nature of the underlying deficits.
On the approximate solvability of a strongly nonlinear transmission problem from macrobiology

Constructive existence results for the variational solution of a strongly nonlinear transmission problem are extended to unbounded regions by employing an exhausting sequence of approximating domains. In particular, a nonlocal formulation is obtained on bounded domains through a linearization of the far field exterior to an auxilliary boundary. Using the theory of monotone operators, we demonstrate existence and uniqueness of the weak solution to an electrostatic problem from macrobiology as well as the strong convergence of the Galerkin approximation.