cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Media, who Cares? A Dialogue between a Millennial and a Curmudgeon:

This is a dialogue between a curmudgeon and a millennial regarding the import of social media for education and for educational research. The dialogue emerged out of conversations the authors have ...
Intracoronary Lithotripsy: A New Solution for Undilatable In-Stent Chronic Total Occlusions

Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in a flush in-stent right coronary artery chronic total occlusion. Successful retrograde recanalization was performed but the lesion was balloon undilatable as confirmed by intravascular ultrasound. High-pressure post-dilation with noncompliant and plaque modification balloons failed, but intravascular lithotripsy successfully expanded the lesion. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).
Case report: Novel PIK3CA and AXIN1 mutations in acinar cell carcinoma of the stomach arising from pancreatic heterotopia

Abstract Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare form of pancreatic cancer that has been reported to occur in pancreatic heterotopia of the gastrointestinal tract. Molecular profiling studies of primary pancreatic ACC describe genetic alterations distinct from pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, molecular testing in ACC arising from pancreatic heterotopia has not been described. We report a case of ACC of the stomach associated with pancreatic heterotopia in a 76-year-old man. The clinical, microscopic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features are described, including analysis via a targeted 225-gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel. Two novel mutations involving PIK3CA and AXIN1 are described, with implications for therapeutic options. This study is the first to characterize the molecular profile of ACC arising in pancreatic heterotopia and broadens the molecular landscape of these rare tumors.
Helping high school teachers to effectively engage students: exploring the potential of a professional development series

This article reports on a quasi-experimental pilot study of the impacts of a high school teacher professional development (PD) series. The 10-session series, “Engaging High School Students in Acade...
Effects of virtual reality v. biophilic environments on pain and distress in oncology patients: a case-crossover pilot study.

This pilot study aimed to determine if a biophilic Green Therapy or Virtual Reality environment can decrease an oncology patient’s pain and distress while receiving chemotherapy. A case-crossover pilot study was conducted in a comprehensive cancer infusion center. 33 participants with breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, pancreatic and prostate cancers were all included in three rooms in a random order at different cycles: control room, Green Therapy room, and Virtual Reality room to receive chemotherapy, respectively. Participants’ pain, distress, heart rate, blood pressure, and saliva cortisol were measured before and after infusion in each room. No statistical significance differences were shown in the changes of heart rate, systolic, or diastolic blood pressure, saliva cortisol, pain, or distress before and after infusion between the control, Green Therapy, and Virtual Reality rooms. However, more patients reported the experience as “fun” and “enjoyable” when they were in Green Therapy or Virtual reality room as compared to in the control room. Additionally, since participating in the study, 14 patients reported spending at least 30 min or more outside in nature. In this study, we found that patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, and self-reported distress levels were reduced after each biophilic intervention although results are not statistically significant. The study also suggested that biophilic interventions are safe and feasible and may complement the standard of care for oncology patients.
The Relationship Between Perspective‐Taking and Nonaggressive Responding in the Face of an Attack

Perspective-taking functions as an inhibitor of interpersonal aggression and as a facilitator of prosocial behavior. The present study examined the extent to which perspective-taking enhances nonaggressive responses in a situation in which people typically make aggressive responses. It also examined the relationship between perspective-taking and response to interpersonal con- text. Subjects participated in a reaction-time task in which they could respond either aggressively or nonaggressively in two different interpersonal contexts (i.e., the target either increased or decreased provocation during the interaction). As predicted, perspective-taking was related to the inhibition of aggressive responding and the facilitation of nonaggressive responding. In general, perspective-taking was associated with less aggression, including relatively more positive and fewer negative responses. This was especially the case in the interpersonal context in which the target had increased provocation across the trials of the task.
Convoy driving through ad-hoc coalition formation

Convoy driving on public highways is a useful phenomena which increases the safety and the throughput of the highway. We present an approach through which a wireless Convoy Driving Device assists the driver in the task of deciding to join or leave a convoy, influencing the speed and formation of the convoy. Our approach handles complex situations like the merging and splitting of convoys, and it offers valuable lessons with applications for other cases of teamwork of mobile entities.
Discontinuous Electrophoresis on Polyacrylamide Gel Slab

An apparatus for discontinuous electrophoresis on a slab of polyacrylamide gel is described. It affords resolution of serum protein as distinct as that with electrophoresis on a column of gel, but with considerable simplification in technic.
Repeated Mu-Opioid Exposure Induces a Novel Form of the Hyperalgesic Priming Model for Transition to Chronic Pain

The primary afferent nociceptor was used as a model system to study mechanisms of pain induced by chronic opioid administration. Repeated intradermal injection of the selective mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist DAMGO induced mechanical hyperalgesia and marked prolongation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) hyperalgesia, a key feature of hyperalgesic priming. However, in contrast to prior studies of priming induced by receptor-mediated (i.e., TNFα, NGF, or IL-6 receptor) or direct activation of protein kinase Ce (PKCe), the pronociceptive effects of PGE2 in DAMGO-treated rats demonstrated the following: (1) rapid induction (4 h compared with 3 d); (2) protein kinase A (PKA), rather than PKCe, dependence; (3) prolongation of hyperalgesia induced by an activator of PKA, 8-bromo cAMP; (4) failure to be reversed by a protein translation inhibitor; (5) priming in females as well as in males; and (6) lack of dependence on the isolectin B4-positive nociceptor. These studies demonstrate a novel form of hyperalgesic priming induced by repeated administration of an agonist at the Gi-protein-coupled MOR to the peripheral terminal of the nociceptor. Significance statement: The current study demonstrates the molecular mechanisms involved in the sensitization of nociceptors produced by repeated activation of mu-opioid receptors and contributes to our understanding of the painful condition observed in patients submitted to chronic use of opioids.
Energetic Services of Nature that Increase Agricultural Sustainability

A research agenda for sustainable agriculture would mean looking at how natural systems have evolved to maintain productivity and sustainability, and applying that understanding to managing agricultural ecosystems . It means utilizing the services of nature to achieve long term sustainability goals. Services of nature can increase agricultural sustainability by decreasing the energy subsidies needed to drive agricultural production. Assigning services of nature a value in terms of energy or dollars helps the economic system recognize the benefit of conserving these services.
Northward displacement of optimal climate conditions for ecotypes of Eriophorum vaginatum L. across a latitudinal gradient in Alaska.

Plants are often genetically specialized as ecotypes attuned to local environmental conditions. When conditions change, the optimal environment may be physically displaced from the local population, unless dispersal or in situ evolution keep pace, resulting in a phenomenon called adaptational lag. Using a 30-year-old reciprocal transplant study across a 475 km latitudinal gradient, we tested the adaptational lag hypothesis by measuring both short-term (tiller population growth rates) and long-term (17-year survival) fitness components of Eriophorum vaginatum ecotypes in Alaska, where climate change may have already displaced the optimum. Analyzing the transplant study as a climate transfer experiment, we showed that the climate optimum for plant performance was displaced ca. 140 km north of home sites, although plants were not generally declining in size at home sites. Adaptational lag is expected to be widespread globally for long-lived, ecotypically specialized plants, with disruptive consequences for communities and ecosystems.
Effect of brain lesions on conditioned cortical electropotentials.

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of various central nervous system lesions on the development of conditioned cortical electropotentials was investigated in 38 adult cats. 2. 2. Conditioned repetitive responses were abolished in cats with neocortical lesions in auditory cortex or between auditory and visual cortex. Knife-cuts separating visual and auditory cortex also abolished conditioned repetitive responses. All other conditioned electropotentials were seen in cats with these cortical lesions. 3. 3. Conditioned local activation was abolished in cats with lesions of the rostral thalamus. All other conditioned eletropotentials were seen in these cats with lesions in the rostral thalamus. 4. 4. All conditioned cortical electropotentials developed normally in cats with lesions in the septal region, midline dorsal thalamus, midbrain reticular formation, and frontal neocortex. 5. 5. The importance of cortico-cortical connections for the appearance of conditioned repetitive responses and the importance of the rostral thalamus for the appearance of conditioned local activation was emphasized and discussed.
Sleep disorders in adult sickle cell patients.

Study Objectives:While sleep apnea has been studied in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), little is known about sleep disorders in adult sickle cell patients. The objective of this study was ...
“Less is More: ” Information Systems Planning in an Uncertain Environment

An unpredictable environment, having complex markets, rapid change, and threatening competitors, can impede IS planning. A survey of 131 Chief Information Officers and 103 senior non-IS managers of U.S. manufacturing firms found that more situation analysis, less strategy conception, and less strategy implementation planning predicted greater IS contribution to the organization. These findings suggest that planners consider conducting situational analysis with greater meticulousness, and strategy conception and strategy implementation planning with greater agility than they currently do.
DIETARY HEMICELLULOSE INTERACTIONS INFLUENCING SERUM LIPID PATTERNS AND PROTEIN NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF ADULT MEN

The objective of the present project was to determine the effect of graded levels of hemicellulose added to a constant, plant-based diet on serum lipid patterns and protein nutritional status of adult men. The 50-day study was divided into a 2-day depletion period, a 3-day pre-adjustment period, three 14-day experimental periods (randomly arranged) and a 3-day post-adjustment period. During all adjustment and experimental periods, ground peanuts provided 6.0g N/subject/day as the near sole source of dietary protein. In addition to the oil supplied by the ground peanuts, six of the twelve subjects received butter oil while the other six received corn oil on a daily basis. During the three experimental periods, supplements of 4.2, 14.2 and 24.2g of hemicellulose were added daily to the diet. All subjects received all experimental treatments. Graded increases in hemicellulose had no demonstrative effect on nitrogen balances of subjects in strong apparent positive nitrogen balance; however, those individuals in marginal or negative nitrogen balance tended to show poorer nitrogen balances as level of dietary hemicellulose was increased. Mean blood serum cholesterol levels of subjects were slightly lowered as level of dietary hemicellulose was increased regardless of source of dietary fat. While mean serum triglyceride levels of subjects receiving the corn oil and peanut oil combination were quite constant with increases in dietary hemicellulose, the triglyceride levels of all subjects receiving the butter oil and peanut oil combination were increased as levels of dietary hemicellulose were increased.
Finding solutions through pattern languages

Considers how interest in patterns and pattern languages has been on the upswing, fueled by the realization among software developers that they must simplify the process of building increasingly large and complex systems. Patterns are forms for describing architectural constructs in a manner that emphasizes these constructs' potential for reuse. They provide a way to document and share design expertise in an application-independent fashion. As evidence of this growing interest, early in August more than 70 software practitioners gathered to discuss patterns and pattern languages at the first annual conference on Pattern Languages of Programs. >
Magnesium Sulfate for the Treatment of Eclampsia: A Brief Review

Background and Purpose— Magnesium sulfate is used extensively for prevention of eclamptic seizures. Empirical and clinical evidence supports the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate; however, questions remain as to its safety and mechanism. This review summarizes current evidence supporting the possible mechanisms of action and several controversies for magnesium sulfate treatment. Summary of Review— Several mechanisms are presented, including the effects of magnesium sulfate on peripheral and cerebral vasodilation, blood-brain barrier protection, and as an anticonvulsant. Conclusions— Though the specific mechanisms of action remain unclear, the effect of magnesium sulfate in the prevention of eclampsia is likely multi-factorial. Magnesium sulfate may act as a vasodilator, with actions in the peripheral vasculature or the cerebrovasculature, to decrease peripheral vascular resistance or relieve vasoconstriction. Additionally, magnesium sulfate may also protect the blood-brain barrier and limit cerebral edem...
Reduction of E. coli O157:H7 populations in sheep by supplementation of an experimental sodium chlorate product

Ruminant animals are naturally infected with the pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7, annually responsible for numerous meat recalls, foodborne illnesses and deaths. E. coli are equipped with the enzyme nitrate reductase, which not only enables this bacteria to respire anaerobically, but also converts chlorate to the toxic metabolite chlorite. This enzyme system is particular to only a few intestinal bacteria, therefore the vast majority are not affected by chlorate. Sodium chlorate has been shown to effectively decrease foodborne pathogens in several livestock species, including ruminants. However, because infection and proliferation of E. coli occurs primarily in the lower intestine, there is interest in “by-passing” the rumen, thereby, delivering chlorate directly to the largest population of pathogens. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the ability of an experimental sodium chlorate product (ECP II), designed to by-pass the rumen, in reducing fecal shedding and gut concentrations of E. coli O157:H7. Twenty crossbred mature ewes were adapted to a high grain ration and experimentally inoculated with E. coli O157:H7. Thirty-six hours following inoculation, sheep received in their feed one of the following ECP treatments: (1) control (CON), no chlorate; (2) 1X (LOW); (3) 2X (MED); and (4) 4X (HIGH) where X=1.1 g chlorate ion equivalents/kg BW (five sheep per treatment). Fecal samples were collected every 12 h following inoculation and 24 h following the feeding of chlorate, all animals were euthanized and tissue samples and their respective contents collected from the rumen, cecum and rectum. The MED and HIGH chlorate treatments significantly reduced fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 compared to the CON treatment [1.53, 1.11, and 3.89 CFU/g feces (log10), respectively]. Ruminal contents were similar among treatments, while chlorate tended to decrease (P=0.08) and reduced (P<0.05) E. coli O157:H7 populations in the cecum and rectum, respectively. Populations of generic E. coli in the cecal contents were numerically lower (P=0.11) in the LOW treatment and tended to decrease (P=0.06) in the MED and HIGH chlorate treatments, respectively. Fermentation profiles through the gastrointestinal tract were unaffected as indicated by slight, but not significant, changes in volatile fatty acids (VFA) profiles in sheep fed chlorate. Results from this study indicate that this experimental chlorate product, administered in the feed, was effective in reducing E. coli O157:H7 from the lower gut of sheep as evidenced by the lower cecal and rectal but not ruminal concentrations. Feeding chlorate may be an effective method to decrease E. coli O157:H7 populations in ruminant animals prior to slaughter.
Regulation of the growth of multinucleated muscle cells by an NFATC2-dependent pathway.

The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors regulates the development and differentiation of several tissue types. Here, we examine the role of NFATC2 in skeletal muscle by analyzing adult NFATC2−/− mice. These mice exhibit reduced muscle size due to a decrease in myofiber cross-sectional area, suggesting that growth is blunted. Muscle growth was examined during regeneration after injury, wherein NFATC2-null myofibers form normally but display impaired growth. The growth defect is intrinsic to muscle cells, since the lack of NFATC2 in primary muscle cultures results in reduced cell size and myonuclear number in myotubes. Retroviral-mediated expression of NFATC2 in the mutant cells rescues this cellular phenotype. Myonuclear number is similarly decreased in NFATC2−/− mice. Taken together, these results implicate a novel role for NFATC2 in skeletal muscle growth. We demonstrate that during growth of multinucleated muscle cells, myoblasts initially fuse to form myotubes with a limited number of nuclei and that subsequent nuclear addition and increases in myotube size are controlled by a molecular pathway regulated by NFATC2.
Influence of hydrocortisone on cardiovascular responses to epinephrine

Abstract The effect of hydrocortisone on the response of resistance and capacitance vessels to epinephrine and norepinephrine was studied under conditions of controlled flow in the denervated perfused hindquarters preparation of the cat and the perfused cephalic and saphenous vein preparation of the dog. Although hydrocortisone did not change the vascular resistance in the hindquarters nor the tone in the cephalic and saphenous veins, it significantly increased the constrictor effect of epinephrine in these preparations. The vascular effects of norepinephrine were not altered. Hydrocortisone influenced neither ventricular contractility nor the response of the myocardium to epinephrine. These results suggest that in the anesthetized animal hydrocortisone potentiates the pressor response to epinephrine by enhancing its vascular effects.
Artificial Cochlear Hair Cells Using Active Piezoelectric Materials

The inner hair cells (IHC’s) and outer hair cells (OHC’s) in the cochlea are vital components in the process of hearing. The IHC’s are responsible for converting sound-induced vibration into electrical signals. The OHC’s produce forces that amplify these vibrations and therefore enhance the electrical signals produced by the IHC’s. The resulting “cochlear amplifier” produces a nonlinear amplification which gives the ear its ability to detect sound pressure levels ranging from 20 μPa to 20 Pa (0 to 120 dB).This paper presents the modeling and testing of an artificial hair cell (AHC) piezoelectric sensor inspired by the hair cells found in the mammalian ear. The sensor is a bimorph cantilever beam consisting of a sensing piezoceramic element and an actuating piezoceramic element bonded to a brass substrate. The sensing element is used to detect the mechanical motion of the beam. Output feedback control can be used to send a voltage signal to the actuating element and alter the frequency response of the beam. A control law, which modifies the linear damping term of the first mode and introduces cubic damping, is used to create a closed-loop system perched at a Hopf bifurcation. The result is a system that produces a nonlinear amplification of the beam’s mechanical response in a manner which mimics the nonlinear behavior of the mammalian cochlea. This active sensor is studied under base acceleration and the initial test results are compared to a finite element model. Simulations of the closed-loop system are examined for the system with a single mode and for the system with multiple modes.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The electric-potential profile in ion-exchange membrane pores

Abstract To design intelligently such membrane devices as fuel cells, batteries, and sensors, an understanding of the membrane's ion-transport characteristics is necessary. In ion-exchange membranes, these characteristics are dependent on the electric-potential profile generated in the membrane pore primarily by electrostatic interactions between fixed-charge species of the membrane and mobile ions within the membrane pores. In this work, molecular-level models for the solvation of ions, alignment of solvent dipoles, and adsorption of ions onto the pore surfaces of the membrane are combined with Poisson's equation for simulation of the electric potential within a membrane pore. The incorporation of ion solvation with a variable solvent dielectric constant is shown to increase significantly the value of the electric potential in the vicinity of the pore wall. The dielectric constant near the pore wall decreases by over an order of magnitude. Unlike previous analyses, the model contains ion-specific parameters, and the computed potentials are dependent on the electrolyte cation and anion species.
Effect of Morbid Obesity on In-Hospital Mortality and Coronary Revascularization Outcomes After Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of morbid obesity (body mass index ≥40 kg/m 2 ) on in-hospital mortality and coronary revascularization outcomes in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarctions (AMI). The Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project was used, and 413,673 patients hospitalized with AMIs in 2009 were reviewed. Morbidly obese patients constituted 3.7% of all patients with AMIs. Analysis of the unadjusted data revealed that morbidly obese patients compared with those not morbidly obese were more likely to undergo any invasive cardiac procedures when presenting with either ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (97.4% vs 93.8%, p
Strong maximum principles for parabolic nonlinear problems with nonlocal inequalities together with arbitrary functionals

Abstract In [L. Byszewski, Z. Angew. Math. Mech. 70 (1990) 3, 202–206; L. Byszewski, J. Appl. Math. Stochastic Ann. 3 (1990) 5, 65–79], the author studied strong maximum principles for nonlinear parabolic problems with nonlocal inequalities together with particular functionals. Our purpose here is to extend results in [L. Byszewski, Z. Angew. Math. Mech. 70 (1990) 3, 202–206; L. Byszewski, J. Appl. Math. Stochastic Ann. 3 (1990) 5, 65–79] to strong maximum principles for nonlinear parabolic problems with nonlocal inequalities together with arbitrary functionals. The results obtained in this paper can be applied in the theories of diffusion and heat conduction.
Does Effective Management of Sleep Disorders Reduce Cancer-Related Fatigue?

Cancer and cancer therapy are often associated with symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disturbances, before, during and after therapy. These symptoms of fatigue and poor sleep often occur in parallel having a significant impact on the physical functioning of patients with cancer. A strong correlation between cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and sleep has been observed in several studies, suggesting that they may be reciprocally related. The co-clustering of these symptoms suggests that they may have similar underlying aetiology and that treatments targeting either symptom may positively affect the other. Studies examining these clusters have shown that these symptoms often co-vary together. The potential mechanisms that link the relationship between insomnia and CRF are intriguing but require further investigation. Despite the high prevalence of insomnia and the often bidirectional relationship between poor sleep and fatigue, there are limited data to support the use of sleep management interventions as a means to reduce fatigue in patients with cancer. Assessment of the available evidence across trials is complicated by different study designs, patient selection criteria, stage of cancer treatment and by the nature of the interventions studied. Improvements from baseline in both sleep parameters and CRF have been documented in a limited number of studies, including two randomized-controlled trials using cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). In contrast, the efficacy of pharmacological therapies in reducing both insomnia and CRF is largely lacking. Clearly, treating clinically significant insomnia is likely to have benefits for the patient with cancer and for those who are recovering from cancer. In particular, pharmacotherapies for insomnia, singly or in combination with CBT-I, should be evaluated in multicentre randomized clinical trials to examine their efficacy in improving sleep quality and reducing associated CRF.
Formation of serine from glycerol-1, 3-C14.

Abstract The pattern of labeling in glycogen, serine, alanine, and aspartic acid has been determined in rats given an intraperitoneal injection of glycerol-1,3-C14. Only slight randomization was observed between carbons 2 and 3 of serine and alanine, and carbons 1 and 2 of glycogen. These results indicate that rat serine is formed rather directly from a 3-carbon intermediate of glycolysis, other than pyruvate.
Estimation of DNA fork displacement rates from isolated mammalian chromosomes

Chromosomes were isolated from Chinese hamster ovary cells that had been pulse-labeled with 3H-thymidine and bromodeoxyuridine and allowed to proceed to metaphase in the presence of colcemid. The chromosomes were then irradiated with 313 nm light and the length of the pulse-labeled DNA segments was estimated by the distribution of 3H-DNA in alkaline sucrose gradients. The average rate of fork displacement, calculated from this measurement, was 0.9 μm/min, which was in excellent agreement with measurements from interphase cells. By the same method, hydroxyurea was shown to retard DNA chain growth by 50–60% in both isolated chromosomes and interphase cells.
Survivin is released from cancer cells via exosomes

Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) and Heat shock proteins (HSPs) provide assistance in protecting cells from stresses of hypoxia, imbalanced pH, and altered metabolic and redox states commonly found in the microenvironmental mixture of tumor and nontumor cells. HSPs are upregulated, cell-surface displayed and released extracellularly in some types of tumors, a finding that until now was not shared by members of the IAP family. The IAP Survivin has been implicated in apoptosis inhibition and the regulation of mitosis in cancer cells. Survivin exists in a number of subcellular locations such as the mitochondria, cytoplasm, nucleus, and most recently, the extracellular space. Our previous work showing that extracellular survivin was able to enhance cellular proliferation, survival and tumor cell invasion provides evidence that Survivin might be secreted via an unidentified exocytotic pathway. In the present study, we describe for the first time the exosome-release of Survivin to the extracellular space both basally and after proton irradiation-induced stress. To examine whether exosomes contributed to Survivin release from cancer cells, exosomes were purified from HeLa cervical carcinoma cells and exosome quantity and Survivin content were determined. We demonstrate that although proton irradiation does not influence the exosomal secretory rate, the Survivin content of exosomes isolated from HeLa cells treated with a sublethal dose of proton irradiation (3 Gy) is significantly higher than control. These data identify a novel secretory pathway by which Survivin can be actively released from cells in both the basal and stress-induced state.
The American College and University, A History by Frederick Rudolph. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1962. 516 pp. $6.75

(1962). The American College and University, A History by Frederick Rudolph. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1962. 516 pp. $6.75. The Educational Forum: Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 120-121.
Helicoidal instability of a scroll vortex in three-dimensional reaction-diffusion systems

We study the dynamics of scroll vortices in excitable reaction-diffusion systems analytically and numerically. We demonstrate that intrinsic three-dimensional instability of a straight scroll leads to the formation of helicoidal structures. This behavior originates from the competition between the scroll curvature and unstable core dynamics. We show that the obtained instability persists even beyond the meander core instability of the two-dimensional spiral wave.
Carbon Isotope Separation by Multiphoton Dissociation of CF3I

A selective multiphoton dissociation process has been used to enrich carbon-13 in CF3I. A separation factor of nearly 600 has been achieved for irradiation of 0.10 torr of CF3I at -80°C with the R(14) line of the 9.6 μ. CO2laser transition. An investigation of the dependence of the enrichment factor on pressure indicates that collisions during the dissociation are effective in destroying the selectivity. The multiphoton dissociation is quite efficient. At laser intensities of 10 MW/cm2, one in every 11 absorbed photons contributes its energy to the breaking of the C-I bond.
The ETS gene ETV4 is required for anchorage-independent growth and a cell proliferation gene expression program in PC3 prostate cells

Chromosomal abnormalities that give rise to elevated expression levels of the ETS genes ETV1, ETV4, ETV5, or ERG are prevalent in prostate cancer, but the function of these transcription factors in carcinogenesis is not clear. Previous work in cell lines implicates ERG, ETV1, and ETV5 as regulators of invasive growth but not transformation. Here, we show that the PC3 prostate cancer cell line provides a model system to study the overexpression of ETV4. Migration assays, anchorage-independent growth assays, and microarray analysis indicate that high ETV4 expression contributes to both transformation and cellular motility in PC3 cells. ETV4 directly bound the 5′ and 3′ MYC enhancers and modulated expression of both MYC and other cell proliferation genes, demonstrating a potential role in cell growth control. Despite this novel role for ETV4 in anchorage-independent growth, ETV4 overexpression in normal prostate-derived RWPE-1 cells showed effects similar to ETV1 overexpression: increased cellular motility and an upregulation of genes encoding extracellular proteins as well as ones important for development, inflammation, and wound healing. Because ETV1 and ETV4 have similar roles when introduced to the same cellular background, we suggest that the requirement of high ETV4 expression for maintenance of the anchorage-independent growth in PC3 cells is due to a specific characteristic of this cell line rather than a function of ETV4 that is distinct from the other oncogenic ETS genes. Thus, the function of ETS genes in prostate cancer may differ based on other genetic alterations in a tumor.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in the elderly: early and long-term results.

The immediate and long-term efficacy of coronary angioplasty in the elderly was determined by studying 752 patients ≥65 years old and comparing patients ≥75 years old with those 65 to 74 years old. The oldest patients were more highly symptomatic, were more likely to be in heart failure, had more multivessel disease and were more likely to undergo multivessel dilation. The immediate success rate of angioplasty was higher in the oldest patients (92.8% versus 82%) (p = 0.0003). The hospital mortality rate was also higher (6.2% versus 1.6%) (p Long-term overall survival was high. However, long-term event-free survival was lowest in the oldest patients, and recurrent severe angina was particularly common. Thus, in very elderly patients, coronary angioplasty is usually successful, but extra caution is warranted; also, long-term relief from angina is less common than in younger patients.
SIRT1 Modulation of the Acetylation Status, Cytosolic Localization, and Activity of LKB1 POSSIBLE ROLE IN AMP-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE ACTIVATION

SIRT1, a histone/protein deacetylase, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are key enzymes responsible for longevity and energy homeostasis. We examined whether a mechanistic connection exists between these molecules that involves the major AMPK kinase LKB1. Initial studies demonstrated that LKB1 is acetylated in cultured (HEK293T) cells, mouse white adipose tissue, and rat liver. In the 293T cells, SIRT1 overexpression diminished lysine acetylation of LKB1 and concurrently increased its activity, cytoplasmic/nuclear ratio, and association with the LKB1 activator STRAD. In contrast, short hairpin RNA for SIRT1, where studied, had opposite effects on these parameters. Mass spectrometric analysis established that acetylation of LKB1 occurs on multiple, but specific, lysine residues; however, only mutation of lysine 48 to arginine, which mimics deacetylation, reproduced all of the effects of activated SIRT1. SIRT1 also affected downstream targets of LKB1. Thus its overexpression increased AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation, and conversely, RNA interference-mediated SIRT1 knockdown reduced AMPK phosphorylation and that of another LKB1 target MARK1. Consistent with the results in cultured cells, total LKB1 lysine acetylation was decreased by 60% in the liver of 48-h starved rats compared with starved-refed rats, and this was associated with modest but significant increases in both LKB1 and AMPK activities. These results suggest that LKB1 deacetylation is regulated by SIRT1 and that this in turn influences its intracellular localization, association with STRAD, kinase activity, and ability to activate AMPK.
Characterization and biological properties of a hepatitis B virus isolated from a patient without hepatitis B virus serologic markers

We have developed a rapid method to characterize genomic diversity of low-level hepatitis B and related viral agents after their identification in serum by high-affinity HBsAg-antibody monoclonal antibody capture and subsequent polymerase chain reaction amplification. Serum from an individual with chronic liver disease and without hepatitis B virus serological markers but reactive by monoclonal antibody capture/polymerase chain reaction amplification was inoculated into a chimpanzee. After inoculation, an acute hepatitis B virus-like hepatitis developed in the chimpanzee. Analysis of serial liver biopsy samples showed the persistence of hepatitis B virus DNA for more than 17 mo after resolution of acute hepatitis and seroconversion. Applying the technique of restriction enzyme fragment analysis to serial chimpanzee liver biopsy samples and acute-phase sera, along with the serum inoculum, we established that all hepatitis B virus DNA sequences are derived from the same viral agent. We present evidence that the viral DNA persisted as a nonreplicating episomal form in the nucleus of hepatocytes. This study demonstrates that after clinical and serological recovery from an acute hepatitis, there may be persistence of low-level hepatitis B virus-related genome in the liver despite the presence of antibodies to HBsAg. Such persistence of viral genome may be a natural sequela of infection and may serve as a source of viral latency and possible reactivation. Finally, cloning and complete nucleic-acid sequencing of this virus have demonstrated multiple nucleotide and amino acid changes compared with all known hepatitis B virus subtypes. These changes may have contributed in part to a different antigenic composition or immunological reactivity of the host to this hepatitis B virus isolate.
Immunobiology of childhood tuberculosis: a window on the ontogeny of cellular immunity.

Worldwide, Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes more deaths than any other organism. It is estmated that 1.7 billion people are infected with M. tuberculosis; the majority of those infected reside in developing countries. It is also estimated that 60 million people worldwide have active tuberculous disease and 2.6 to 2.9 million people die annually of tuberculosis. 1 The emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic has contributed to the resurgence of tuberculosis worldwide, 2 and HIV infection is currently one of the most important risk factors for progression from tuberculous infection to clinical disease. In 1990 it was estimated that 4.6% of all tuberculosis deaths were related to HIV. 3 As the global burden of tuberculosis increases, the number of infected children will continue to rise, with 1.3 million new cases estimated in the < 15-year-old age group in the years 1994 and 1995.1 Although the majority of tuberculosis cases (defined as disease caused byM.. tuberculosis) occur in the developing world, the number of reported cases of tuberculosis in the United States increased in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During 1995 there were 22,813 new cases reported in the United States, occurring in both foreign-born persons and persons born in the United States. 4 This figure may not fully reflect the overall burden of infected individuals, because tuberculous infection without disease is reportable in only four states. Although recent data indicate a decrease in the total number of cases in the United States, it is only in the lastyear that the number of cases also decreased in those younger than 15 years of age. 4
Removal of nonhomologous DNA ends in double-strand break recombination: the role of the yeast ultraviolet repair gene RAD1.

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be repaired by gene conversions or by deletions resulting from single-strand annealing between direct repeats of homologous sequences. Although rad1 mutants are resistant to x-rays and can complete DSB-mediated mating-type switching, they could not complete recombination when the ends of the break contained approximately 60 base pairs of nonhomology. Recombination was restored when the ends of the break were made homologous to donor sequences. Additionally, the absence of RAD1 led to the frequent appearance of a previously unobserved type of recombination product. These data suggest RAD1 is required to remove nonhomologous DNA from the 39 ends of recombining DNA, a process analogous to the excision of photodimers during repair of ultraviolet-damaged DNA.
Applying feature bagging for more accurate and robust automated speaking assessment

The scoring model used in automated speaking assessment systems is critical for achieving accurate and robust scoring of speaking skills automatically. In the automated speaking assessment research field, using a single classifier model is still a dominant approach. However, ensemble learning, which relies on a committee of classifiers to predict jointly (to overcome each individual classifier's weakness) has been actively advocated by the machine learning researchers and widely used in many machine learning tasks. In this paper, we investigated applying a special ensemble learning method, feature-bagging, on the task of automatically scoring non-native spontaneous speech. Our experiments show that this method is superior to the method of using a single classifier in terms of scoring accuracy and the robustness to cope with possible feature variations.
Effects of a Devaluation on a Trade Balance

T HE CONVENTIONAL ANSWER to the question, what is the effect of a devaluation on the trade balance of the devaluing country, runs in terms of the supply and demand conditions in the devaluing country and in the rest of the world. It is presumed that the devaluation initially tends to reduce the foreign prices of the country's exports in proportion to the devaluation. At these reduced prices, foreign demand for the country's exports will be increased, thus tending to bid up the foreign prices of these exports part-way back toward their predevaluation levels. How much the foreign currency proceeds of the country's exports will change then depends upon the elasticity of foreign demand for the country's exports and the elasticity of domestic supply of export goods. Similarly, on the import side, the initial effect of the devaluation is to raise the domestic price of imports, presumably leading to some reduction in the country's demand for imports, which in turn may tend to reduce the world price of the imported goods. The size of these reactions on imports depends upon the elasticity of domestic demand for imports and the elasticity of foreign supply of imports. The effect of the devaluation on the foreign trade balance can accordingly be expressed in a formula which involves principally the four elasticities mentioned above.' In the present paper, it is suggested that a more fruitful line of approach can be based on a concentration on the relationships of real expenditure to real income and on the relationships of both of these to the price levels, rather than on the more traditional supply and demand analysis.
A quality-of-service specification for multimedia presentations

The bandwidth limitations of multimedia systems force trade-offs between presentation-data fidelity and real-time performance. For example, digital video is commonly encoded with lossy compression to reduce bandwidth, and frames may be skipped during playback to maintain synchronization. These trade-offs depend on device performance and physical data representations that are hidden by a database system. If a multimedia database is to support digital video and other continuous media data types, we argue that the database should provide a quality-of-service (QOS) interface to allow application control of presentation timing and information-loss trade-offs. This paper proposes a data model for continuous media that preserves device and physical data independence. We show how to define formal QOS constraints from a specification of ideal presentation outputs. Our definition enables meaningful requests for endto-end service guarantees, while leaving the database system free to optimize resource management. We propose one set of QOS parameters that constitute a complete model for presentation error, and we show how this error model extends the opportunities for resource optimization.
The closed subgroup problem for lattice-ordered groups

1. Introduction. Our standard reference for the theory of lattice-ordered groups (henceforth abbreviated: f-groups) will be [4]. We begin by reviewing some basic terminology from this theory, and then proceed to give the main tools we shall require in this article. Cg(G) will stand for the lattice of all convex Y-subgroups of an f-group G. (A ~ Cg(G) if and only if A is order convex and a subgroup of G which is also a sublattice.) For each 0 < x e G, G (x) denotes the convex f-subgroup generated by x; Nx the intersection of all the maximal convex E-subgroups of G (x). It is clear that Nx is normal in G (x); we call the factor G (x)/N~ the local residue of x. In [10] the concept of local residues was used for the first time to describe a class of E-groups. The main theorem there affirms that for a nitpotent E-group G every E-subgroup which is finitely generated as an E-subgroup has the ACC on subgroups if and only if each local residue G (x)/N~ is representable as an g-group of real-valued functions having finite range. Note also that G (x)/N~ is archimedean exactly when each maximal convex E-subgroup of G (x) is normal in G (x). This happens for every x, in particular, when G is normal-valued (see 4.3.4 in [4]); that is, when for every value M, M is normal in its cover M*. (Note: the values in Cg(G) are the meet irreducible elements of that algebraic lattice. Putting it differently, M e Cg(G) is a value if there is an element g e G so that M is maximal w.r.t. omitting g. Then M* = c~ {C ~ Cg(G) [ C ~ M} contains g; i.e., g E M*\M and M* covers M. Recall (2.5.6 in [4]) that every value M of G is a prime subgroup; that is, a ^ b = 0 ~ a e M or b e M. For several alternate characterizations of prime subgroups, see Theorem 2.4.1 in [4]. All we wish to feature at this juncture is that in cg(G) the primes are the finitely meet irreducible elements. Visibly then, values and primes are examples of objects which can be distinguished in cg (G).). Now C e cg (G) is (order) closed if C is closed under forming all existing suprema and infima. Kenoyer demonstrated in [11] with two examples, one of which was not normalvalued, that the closed subgroups of G could not be distinguished in (g(G). His two examples had lattice-isomorphic lattices of convex E-subgroups; but in one there were no non-trivial proper closed subgroups, whereas the other had a separating family of them.
Isolating Toxic Insulin Amyloid Reactive Species that Lack β-Sheets and Have Wide pH Stability

Amyloid diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, are characterized by aggregation of normally functioning proteins or peptides into ordered, β-sheet rich fibrils. Most of the theories on amyloid toxicity focus on the nuclei or oligomers in the fibril formation process. The nuclei and oligomers are transient species, making their full characterization difficult. We have isolated toxic protein species that act like an oligomer and may provide the first evidence of a stable reactive species created by disaggregation of amyloid fibrils. This reactive species was isolated by dissolving amyloid fibrils at high pH and it has a mass >100 kDa and a diameter of 48 ± 15 nm. It seeds the formation of fibrils in a dose dependent manner, but using circular dichroism and deep ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy, the reactive species was found to not have a β-sheet rich structure. We hypothesize that the reactive species does not decompose at high pH and maintains its structure in solution. The remaining disaggregated insulin, excluding the toxic reactive species that elongated the fibrils, returned to native structured insulin. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that a stable reactive species of an amyloid reaction has been separated and characterized by disaggregation of amyloid fibrils.