cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polyamine Accumulation and Vasogenic Oedema in the Genesis of Late Delayed Radiation Injury of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

Polyamine (PA) accumulation has been associated with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and vasogenic oedema after cold injury. PAs and water content were measured in a rat spinal cord model of late-delayed radiation injury and were found to be elevated at paralysis. The elevated PA levels could be significantly reduced by treatment with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). In unirradiated rats DFMO reduced putrescine to undetectable levels after 10–12 weeks. These data suggest that blockade of PA synthesis may be useful in treating the vasogenic oedema of radiation injury and may improve CNS radiation tolerance.
CT and MR imaging of the upper extremity vasculature: pearls, pitfalls, and challenges

Imaging is needed for diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up of patients with pathologies affecting upper extremity vasculature. With growth and evolution of imaging modalities [especially CT angiography (CTA) and MR angiography (MRA)], there is need to recognize the advantages and disadvantages of various modalities and obtain the best possible imaging diagnostic test. Understanding various limitations and pitfalls as well as the best practices to minimize and manage these pitfalls is very important for the diagnosis. This article reviews the upper extremity arterial vascular anatomy, discusses the CTA and MRA imaging, various pitfalls, and challenges and discuss imaging manifestations of upper extremity arterial pathologies.
Somatic SMARCB1 Mutation in Sporadic Multiple Meningiomas: Case Report

Background: Multiple intracranial meningiomas account for <10% of all meningiomas. Familial multiple meningiomas have been linked to germline mutations in two genes: neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and SWIch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF)-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily B member 1 (SMARCB1). Sporadic multiple meningiomas have been associated with somatic NF2 mutations and, to date, there has been no case related to somatic SMARCB1 mutations. Here, we describe the first case. Case Report: A 45-year-old female suffered a head trauma while snowboarding. Subsequent to her injury, she experienced persistent headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and flashing lights in the right eye. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of her brain revealed multiple intracranial meningiomas. She underwent a two-staged craniotomy to remove frontal/parietal/temporal and occipital extra-axial tumors. Pathology confirmed the masses as meningiomas, WHO Grade I. Tumor genetic testing was positive for SMARCB1 mutation but blood genetic testing was negative for SMARCB1 mutation. Conclusion: In sporadic multiple meningiomas, somatic NF2 mutations are usually the suspected genetic alternations. Our case illustrates that somatic SMARCB1 mutation is another genetic risk factor for sporadic multiple meningiomas, albeit rare.
Applying the Community Ice Sheet Model to evaluate PMIP3 LGM climatologies over the North American ice sheets

We apply the Community Ice Sheet Model (CISM2) to determine the extent to which the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) temperature and precipitation climatologies from the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project 3 (PMIP3) simulations support the large North American ice sheets that were prescribed as a boundary condition. We force CISM2 with eight PMIP3 general circulation models (GCMs), and an additional model, GENMOM. Seven GCMs simulate LGM climatologies that support positive surface mass balances of the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets (LIS, CIS) consistent with where ice was prescribed in the GCMs. Two GCMs simulate July temperatures that are too warm to support the ice sheets. Four of the nine CISM2 simulations support ice sheets in Beringia, in absence of prescribed ice in the driving GCMs and in disagreement with geologic evidence that indicates the area remained ice-free during the LGM. We test the sensitivity of our results to a range of snow and ice positive degree-day factors, daily, monthly, and climatological temperature and precipitation inputs, and we evaluate the role of albedo and snow in the simulations. Areas with perennial snow in the GCM simulations correspond well to the presence of ice in the CISM2 simulation. GCMs with unrealistically low surface albedos over the LIS yield simulations that fail to simulate realistic ice sheets.
An Exceptional E 8 Gauge Theory of Gravity in D = 8, Clifford Spaces and Grand Unification

A candidate action for an Exceptional E8 gauge theory of gravity in 8D is constructed. It is obtained by recasting the E8 group as the semi-direct product of GL(8,R) with a deformed Weyl-Heisenberg group associated with canonical-conjugate pairs of vectorial and antisymmetric tensorial generators of rank two and three. Other actions are proposed, like the quartic E8 group-invariant action in 8D associated with the Chern-Simons E8 gauge theory defined on the 7-dim boundary of a 8D bulk. To finalize, it is shown how the E8 gauge theory of gravity can be embedded into a more general extended gravitational theory in Clifford spaces associated with the Cl(16) algebra and providing a solid geometrical program of a grand-unification of gravity with Yang-Mills theories. The key question remains if this novel gravitational model based on gauging the E8 group may still be renormalizable without spoiling unitarity at the quantum level.
Abstract 2537: Targeting chromosomal passenger complex by disruption of INCENP function inhibits tumor progression in neuroblastoma

Chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), which is composed of Aurora B and Survivin, INCENP and Borealin, regulates crucial mitotic events including chromosome alignment, segregation and cytokinesis during the mitosis. Disruption of CPC function by Aurora B and Survivin inhibition has been demonstrated to be effective at killing tumor cells and show promising results in many different cancer types including neuroblastoma (NB). However, chemical inhibition of either Aurora B or Survivin is unable to target CPC specifically due to off-target effects of Aurora B inhibitors on the other kinases and antiapoptotic activities of Survivin independent of this complex. In a chromatin-focused siRNA screen, we found that NB cells were particularly vulnerable to the silencing of INCENP, a gene encoding a key scaffolding and regulatory component of the CPC. In this study, we found that INCENP was highly expressed in NB cells and its expression levels were decreased upon Retinoic Acid (RA)-induced NB cell differentiation. Genetic silencing of INCENP reduced the growth of both MYCN single copy and MYCN amplified NB cell lines in vitro and led to significant decreases in NB xenograft growth and increases in murine survival in vivo. Elevated levels of INCENP were significantly associated with poor prognosis in primary NB tumors whereas low INCENP expression levels were predictive of better outcomes. Mechanistically, we found that INCENP depletion suppressed NB cell growth by inducing massive polyploidization, mitotic arrest, senescence and cell death (apoptosis). We also observed that in the majority of NB cell lines tested in vitro, cell death represented the primary cell fate after INCENP silencing due to a strong induction of DNA damage response and activation of the p53-p21 axis. Therefore, targeting INCENP phenocopies treatment with Aurora B inhibitor, providing a novel strategy to disrupt the activity of CPC and inhibit tumor progression in NB. Citation Format: Ming Sun, Veronica Veschi, Norris Lam, Sukriti Bagchi, Man Xu, Arnulfo Mendoza, Zhihui Liu, Carol J. Thiele. Targeting chromosomal passenger complex by disruption of INCENP function inhibits tumor progression in neuroblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2537.
Abstract 121: Metabolic Regulation of Ischemia/Reperfusion: Role of the Unfolded Protein Response

Myocardial infarction is a leading cause of death worldwide. The most effective approach to mitigate cardiac damage is timely and efficient restoration of occlusion in coronary artery. This process...
The Changing View of Ethanol’s Actions: From Generalities to Specifics

The development of an addiction on ethanol involves a number of phenomena arising from the actions of ethanol on the central nervous system (CNS). These phenomena include ethanol-induced intoxication, reinforcement, the development of functional tolerance and physical dependence and ethanol-induced brain damage. One of the more popular hypotheses regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which ethanol produces its effect on the CNS proposes that ethanol acts by disordering (fluidizing) the lipids of neuronal membranes (Meyer and Gottlieb, 1926; Chin and Goldstein, 1977). The disorder of the structural matrix of the neuronal membrane is thought to secondarily affect the activity of the functional proteins (receptors, ionophores, enzymes) residing in this (lipid) matrix. The “lipid hypothesis” of ethanol’s actions has recently been challenged, however, because relatively high concentrations of ethanol are necessary to produce lipid perturbations of the magnitude produced by even normal variations in body temperature (Tabakoff, Hoffman, and MacLaughlin, 1988). In addition, recent research has provided evidence of a selectivity of ethanol’s effects on various neuronal membrane proteins which cannot be explained simply by invoking an ethanol-induced perturbation of membrane lipid structure. Some of the most ethanol sensitive membrane proteins are the receptor-gated ion channels. The burgeoning knowledge of the physiologic roles of these channels and the responses of these proteins to the acute and chronic effects of ethanol suggests that particular systems may play a major role in the expression of the various physiologic and behavioral effects of ethanol. This overview will attempt to summarize the evidence that certain receptor-gated ion channels may be considered as specific “receptive systems” for ethanol in the CNS. We will also provide evidence on how certain neurohormones can modify the actions of ethanol within the CNS.
Consumers’ Willingness to Pay and Market Shares for Drinking Milk Profiles with the Region of Origin: Case of Iğdır Province

The aim of the study was to design the drinking milk profiles according to the factors and their levels effecting on the consumers’ purchase decisions towards drinking milk with the region of origin at the retailer level, and then to determine the market shares (MS) and the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). Research data were obtained from 160 households consuming drinking milk in Igdir province. Conjoint Analysis were used to design drinking milk profiles with the region of origin, and to determine their market shares (MS) and consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). The result of the study highlighted that the marketing shares of the first three drinking milk profiles maximizing the consumers’ total utilities were calculated as %34, %12 and %10 (card number 7, 6 and 1), respectively. On the other hand, the consumers’ willingness to pay under the origins and price levels of drinking milk were analyzed as %26 for Aegean/Marmara Region, %16 for Northeast Anatolia Region and %12 for Eastern Black Sea Region at the lowest price levels. By having designed drinking milk profiles maximizing the consumers’ total utilities, the marketing share and penetration rates of the products could increase, and the product profiles responded to the consumers’ willingness to pay could also satisfy considerably on their purchase decisions.
Analytical Optogalvanic Spectroscopy in Flames

Optogalvanic spectroscopy is restricted by its nature to free atoms or molecules in weakly ionized plasmas, such as flames and low pressure glow discharges. In such environments, a low degree of ionization is maintained by collisions between atoms, molecules, ions, and/or electrons. The use of a laser to produce significant perturbations in the steady state energy level population distribution of a neutral species in a weakly ionized plasma will result in a corresponding change in the volume ionization rate of the plasma. Such a change in plasma impedance in response to discrete optical electronic excitation of atomic or molecular species is called the optogalvanic effect[1,2], and forms the basis of optogalvanic spectroscopy [3–5].
Cone Beam CT Evaluation of Bilateral Maxillary Sinus Hypoplasia with Unilateral Mandibular Hypertrophy

Maxillary sinus hypoplasia (MSH) is a rare condition characterized by underdevelopment or decrease in the volume of the maxillary sinus. It is thought that MSH may be embryological in origin but acquired etiologies have also been discussed in the literature. MSH is usually detected upon radiographic examination of the maxillofacial area. Three types have been described based on variations in sinus anatomy. A case of bilateral maxillary sinus hypoplasia with concurrent hemimandibular hypertrophy is presented, and pertinent clinical and cone beam computed tomography findings are reported.
Low Rates of Chest Wall Toxicity When Individualizing the Planning Target Volume Margin in Patients With Early Stage Lung Cancer Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

Abstract Purpose Chest wall (CW) toxicity is a potentially debilitating complication of stereotactic body radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer, occurring in 10% to 40% of patients. Smaller tumor-to-CW distance has been identified as a risk factor for CW toxicity. We report our experience with individualizing the planning target volume (PTV) along the CW in an effort to reduce the volume of this organ at risk receiving 30 Gy to 50 Gy. Methods and materials We performed an institutional review board–approved retrospective analysis of patients with stage I (T1-2aN0M0) non-small cell lung cancer who received stereotactic body radiation therapy between June 2009 and July 2016. Four-dimensional computed tomography was used for treatment planning. A uniform 5-mm expansion of the internal target volume was generated for the PTV. Areas of overlap with the CW were removed from the PTV. Treatment was delivered with cone beam computed tomography guidance. CW toxicity was assessed per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze outcomes. Results The median follow-up time was 36.8 months. A total of 260 tumors were treated in 225 patients. 225 tumors in 203 patients were peripheral. The internal target volumes for 143 tumors (63.6%) were located within 5 mm of the CW. The median total dose was 48 Gy (range, 42-60 Gy) in 4 fractions (range, 3-5 fractions). The overall rate of grade 1 to 2 CW toxicity was 2.2%, and 2.8% for tumors located within 5 mm of the CW. There were no grade 3/4 cases and no increase in local recurrences with the use of a truncated PTV with a 3-year local control of 92.1% (95% confidence interval, 87.4%-96.8%). Conclusions Truncation of the PTV margin along the CW resulted in a marked reduction of CW toxicity for tumors in close proximity to the CW, with only a 2.8% rate of grade 1 to 2 CW toxicity. Despite PTV reduction, there was no appreciable increase in local failures. A multi-institutional validation of this technique is needed before general incorporation into clinical practice.
Overcoming Underrepresentation in Clinical Datasets for Accurate Subpopulation-specific Prognosis

Abstract Clinical datasets are intrinsically imbalanced, dominated by overwhelming majority groups. Off-the-shelf machine learning models optimize the prognosis of majority patient types (e.g., healthy class), causing substantial errors on the minority prediction class (e.g., disease class) and minority subpopulations (e.g., Black or young patients). For example, missed death prediction is 36.6 times higher than non-death cases in a mortality benchmark. Our study also shows that racial and age disparity exists in prediction accuracy. These accuracy disparities have not been systematically reported and common whole-population metrics such as AUC-ROC fail to reflect these serious deficiencies. To correct these biases and improve prediction accuracy for underrepresented subpopulations, we design a double prioritized (DP) technique. Our method trains customized models for specific race or age groups, a substantial departure from the one-model-predicts-all paradigm. We report our findings on four prognosis tasks over two clinical datasets. Our cross-race-group and cross-age-group experiments confirm the need for training specialized prediction models for subpopulations. DP also gives 1.2–58.8 times more balanced recalls and precisions than existing sampling solutions. As underrepresented groups in clinical medicine are a daily occurrence, our contributions likely have broad implications.
The Pill at Fifty: How the New York Times Covered the Birth Control Pill, 1960–2010

Abstract The birth control pill is a scientific innovation turned cultural phenomenon whose use has been entangled with health concerns, ethical choices, religious opposition, and political and legal controversies. Although two generations of Americans have learned most of what they know about the pill from the news media, media coverage of the pill has received limited attention. The fiftieth anniversary of the pill provides a vantage point to examine journalism history, and especially, how news of scientific and medical developments accompanied by challenging issues has been reported. This qualitative and quantitative content analysis of five decades of coverage in the New York Times finds that journalists have been impacted by enduring news values that influenced their choice of sources, their use of frames, and how they constructed their stories. Types and gender of sources and the prevalence and dominance of media frames changed dramatically over a half century, reflecting changes in both journalism ...
Introduction to Part 3

I am very pleased to welcome you to this special section highlighting the embedded-systems oriented papers from Computing Frontiers 2006. The papers in this section of the volume demonstrate current topics in embedded computing, attempting to strike a balance between design and use. The authors are from both industry and academia. We strove to provide a panorama of some of the most interesting, novel systems in recent study or development. I hope you find these papers interesting in their insights, and informative in the details provided.
The catalytic domains of thiamine triphosphatase and CyaB-like adenylyl cyclase define a novel superfamily of domains that bind organic phosphates

Background The CyaB protein from Aeromonas hydrophila has been shown to possess adenylyl cyclase activity. While orthologs of this enzyme have been found in some bacteria and archaea, it shows no detectable relationship to the classical nucleotide cyclases. Furthermore, the actual biological functions of these proteins are not clearly understood because they are also present in organisms in which there is no evidence for cyclic nucleotide signaling.
Single local interneurons in the locust make central synapses with different properties of transmitter release on distinct postsynaptic neurons

Quantal analysis has been applied to the inhibitory synapses made by single spiking local interneurons onto several nonspiking local interneurons (and motorneurons) in the locust CNS. Transmission at these synapses appears to be mediated by GABA. The apparent reversal potential of the IPSP and inhibitory postsynaptic current were -80 to -85 mV, a value similar to that of the potential evoked by pressure-applied GABA. This reversal potential was 25-30 mV more negative than the resting potential of the nonspiking interneurons in the experimental conditions. The statistical properties of release at these synapses were studied by recording simultaneously from pre- and postsynaptic interneurons with intracellular electrodes. The distribution of postsynaptic potential amplitudes could be described by a simple binomial model, implying uniformity of binomial p (probability of release at a single release site) for each synapse. The mean quantal amplitude was 290 +/- 110 microV, and the mean quantal content m of the IPSPs was 6.25 +/- 2.83. The mean values of binomial n (average size of the releasable pool) and p were 13.11 +/- 2.8 and 0.45 +/- 0.16, respectively. Numerical simulations of statistical experiments were performed to test whether the IPSP amplitude distribution histograms might be misleadingly indicative of quantal release. These simulations showed that such a hypothesis was very unlikely. When a spiking local interneuron was impaled, several of its target interneurons could sometimes be successively sampled. Quantal analysis was then performed with the different IPSPs evoked, in identical conditions, by a same presynaptic interneuron, and the quantal parameters were compared between the synapses. It was found that binomials n and p and their product m generally differed between the synapses made by a given spiking interneuron onto different target neurons. These results show that quantal contents can vary for the many synapses made centrally by one interneuron, and suggest that this variability may arise from differences in release probabilities between the sites associated with different synapses.
Treatment of Refractory Pain with Botulinum Toxins—An Evidence‐Based Review

Objectives. To provide updated information on the role of botulinum toxins in the treatment of refractory pain based on prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Design of the Review. Class I and class II articles were searched online through PubMed (1966 to the end of January 2011) and OvidSP including ahead-of-print manuscripts. Results. Level A evidence (two or more class I studies—established efficacy): pain of cervical dystonia, chronic migraine, and chronic lateral epicondylitis. Level B evidence (one class I or two class II studies—probably effective and recommended): post-herpetic neuralgia, post-traumatic neuralgia, pain of plantar fasciitis, piriformis syndrome, and pain in total knee arthroplasty. Level C evidence (one class II study—possibly effective, may be used at discretion of clinician): allodynia of diabetic neuropathy, chronic low back pain, painful knee osteoarthritis, anterior knee pain with vastus lateralis imbalance, pelvic pain, post-operative pain in children with cerebral palsy after adductor hip release surgery, post-operative pain after mastectomy, and sphincter spasms and pain after hemorrhoidectomy. Level U evidence (efficacy not proven due to diverse class I and II results): myofascial pain syndrome and chronic daily headaches. Studies in episodic migraine and tension headaches have shown treatment failure (level A—negative). Conclusion. Evidence-based data indicate that administration of botulinum toxin in several human conditions can alleviate refractory pain. The problems with some study designs and toxin dosage are critically reviewed.
Contemporary outcomes of open and endovascular popliteal artery aneurysm repair.

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate contemporary practice and outcomes of open repair (OR) or endovascular repair (ER) for popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs). Methods Consecutive patients with PAA treated at one institution from January 2006 to March 2014 were reviewed under an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Demographics, indications, anatomic characteristics, and outcomes were collected. Standard statistical methods were used. Results A total of 186 PAAs were repaired in 156 patients (110 ORs, 76 ERs) with a mean age of 71 ± 11 years, and most were male (96%). Mean follow-up was 34.9 ± 28.6 months for OR and 28.3 ± 25.8 months for ER ( P = .12). Comorbidities were similar between groups. OR was used in more patients with PAA thrombosis (41.8% vs 5.3%; P P = .010), and ischemic rest pain (34.5% vs 6.6%; P P = .006). OR was associated with increased 30-day complications (22% vs 2.6%; P P P = .56) or major amputation rate (OR, 3.7%; ER, 1.3%; P = .65). Primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency rates were similar at 3 years (OR, 79.5%, 83.7%, and 85%; ER, 73.2%, 76.3%, and 83%; P = NS). Among 130 patients presenting electively without acute ischemia or thrombosed PAA (63 ORs and 67 ERs), OR had better 3-year primary patency (88.3% vs 69.8%; P = .030) and primary assisted patency (90.2% vs 73.5%; P = .051) but similar secondary patency (90.2% vs 82%; P = .260). ER thrombosis was noted in 8 of 24 patients treated in 2006-2008 (33%; mean time to failure, 49 months) but in only 4 of 51 patients treated in 2009-2013 (7.8%; mean time to failure, 30 months), suggesting a steep learning curve. Conclusions ER is a safe and durable option for PAA, with lower complication rates and a shorter length of stay. OR has superior primary patency in patients treated electively but no difference in midterm secondary patency and amputations.
Vitamins A and D have antagonistic effects on expression of effector cytokines and gut‐homing integrin in human innate lymphoid cells

SummaryBackground Retinoic acid (RA), the main biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, is known to promote gut homing of lymphocytes, as well as various regulatory and effector immune responses. In contrast, the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3), is predominantly immunosuppressive. Little is known about the direct effects of these vitamins on the recently identified innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). Objective We sought to characterize the effects of RA and 1,25D3 on human ILCs. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 27 non-selected blood donor buffy coats, and ILCs were sorted by FACS. ILC1, ILC2, and ILC3 cells were cultured for 5 days with RA, 1,25D3, and various cytokines known to activate ILCs (IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), IL-25, and IL-33). Cytokines produced by ILCs were measured in culture supernatants, and surface receptor expression was analysed by flow cytometry. Results Retinoic acid acted synergistically with IL-2 and other activating cytokines to induce expression of the gut-homing integrin α4β7 in ILCs, as well as production of IL-5 and IL-13 in ILC2 cells, and IFN-γ in ILC1 and ILC3 cells. Expression of integrin α4β7 and cytokine production in ILCs stimulated with RA + IL-2 was increased at least fourfold as compared to ILCs cultured with RA or IL-2 alone. In contrast, RA completely inhibited the IL-2-induced expression of cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA) in ILCs. Moreover, addition of 1,25D3 to ILCs cultured with RA + IL-2 inhibited cytokine production and expression of integrin α4β7 by at least 30%. Conclusions Retinoic acid and 1,25D3 have antagonistic effects on the expression of effector cytokines and gut-homing integrin by human ILCs. The balance between these vitamins may be an important factor in the functioning of ILCs and the diseases in which ILCs are implicated, such as allergic inflammation.
“The Pleasures of Merely Circulating”: Sappho and Early American Newspaper Poetry

Caroline Gelmi, “‘The Pleasures of Merely Circulating’: Sappho and Early American Newspaper Poetry” (pp. 151–174) This essay examines how early national verse cultures Americanized the popular figure of Sappho. Newspaper parodies of fragment 31, which circulated widely in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, mocked English poet Ambrose Philips’s well-known translation of Sappho’s “Phainetai moi” ode in order to address concerns over the role of Englishness in the United States. The parodies achieved these political effects by allegorizing their own conditions of print circulation and deflating the cultural associations of fragment 31 and Philips’s translation with the lyric. In this way, these poems were able to address a number of political issues, from English imperialism in Ireland to the specter of English aristocracy in the U.S. federal government. This study of Sappho’s role as a figure for American print circulation in the early nineteenth century also offers a pre-history of the more familiar midcentury association of Sappho with the Poetess. As a figure for the Poetess, Sappho came to embody anxieties over female authors in the marketplace, representing concerns that the public circulation of the Poetess’ work and the promiscuous circulation of her body were one and the same. This essay tells the rich backstory to these more familiar concepts, tracing Sappho’s earlier entanglements with print circulation and the political and cultural functions she served.
Production of the g(1640) meson in πp interactions at 6 GeV/c

Abstract We present the results of a spin determination of the g1−(1640) meson from an analysis of its dipion decay mode (π−π0), and find that spin three (or maybe greater) is favored [1,2]. We also report on the observation of an isospin one KK enhancement at 1640 MeV which is consistent with a new decay mode of the g meson. A relative branching ratio of (K K /ππ) = 8 ± 3 8 % is obtain from our analysis.
Perceiving race relevance in everyday events: Target race matters, perceiver race does not:

Perceptions of the relevance of race in everyday situations may matter for intergroup relations. Extending previous research, this work examines Blacks’ and Whites’ perceptions of race relevance in...
Plasmodium vivax interaction with the human Duffy blood group glycoprotein: Identification of a parasite receptor-like protein

The interaction between merozoites of the human pathogen, Plasmodium vivax, and the Duffy blood group glycoprotein on the surface of human erythrocytes is essential for the invasion of erythrocytes and the survival of the parasite. We have identified a P. vivax protein of 135 to 140 kDa which binds with receptor-like specificity to the human Duffy blood group glycoprotein. This interaction can be specifically inhibited by purified Duffy glycoprotein and by pretreating erythrocytes with a monoclonal antibody directed against a novel Duffy determinant. A protein with similar specificity for the Duffy glycoprotein from the phylogenetically related simian malaria, P. knowlesi, is shown to be immunologically related by the generation of cross-reactive antibodies. Despite their shared properties, these two Duffy associating proteins from P. vivax and P. knowlesi differ in some aspects of their interaction with the Duffy glycoprotein. The identification of these proteins will help elucidate the molecular mechanisms of erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium.
Construct Validity of Fear of Commitment as an Indicator of Career Indecisiveness

This study investigated the validity of the Fear of Commitment Scale as an indicator of vocational indecisiveness in three samples (a total of 593 college students). Results indicated that fear of commitment was strongly correlated both with other indices of career decisional problems and progress and with measures of psychological maladjustment. Mean FOCS scores increased monotonically with number of college major changes. The construct validity and potential utility of the Fear of Commitment Scale are discussed.
Short-time kinetic equations for hard spheres: Comparison with other theories

The short-time kinetic equation for hard spheres derived by Lebowitz, Percus, and Sykes is compared with the Enskog equation. It is shown that, to leading order in the density, the short-time equation and the Enskog equation are identical and equivalent to the memory function equation used by Mazenko, Wei, and Yip. By using simple properties of the collision integrals, the scattering function calculated from the short-time equation can be related to the scattering function obtained from the Enskog equation: This relationship is exact for all values of the density. We examine the relationship in the short-time limit and in the hydrodynamic limit and argue that the short-time kinetic equation gives a better description of the scattering function than does the Enskog equation.
Infrared/Charge-Coupled Device (IR/CCD) Focal Planes: Principles And Practice

It is now widely accepted that the next generation of infrared focal planes will be two-dimensional mosaics of infrared sensing detectors interfaced with charge transfer cells. One form in which these devices is presently being implemented is with hybrid structures using silicon CCDs for charge transfer, and infrared detectors for photon sensing, both being optimized for the desired application. The basic design of the IR/CCD is controlled by the interface requirements, both mechanical and electrical, wherein the response to photon flux is transferred, physically and electrically, from the detector through the input network to end up as charge in a CCD well. The charge is then laterally transferred off the focal plane in multiplex form. Proper design results in negligible loss in signal-to-noise ratio compared to discrete devices. This paper discusses the architecture and the design of the hybrid IR/CCD from the interface point of view, including planar and bump mechanical configurations, and electrical coupling networks. A summary of state of the art will be presented for detectors, CCDs, and IR/CCD focal planes.
Negotiating Gender Role Expectations: Rhetorical Leadership and Women in the US Senate

The historical paucity of US women senators has provided little opportunity to study women at one of the highest and most prestigious leadership levels. Through a content analysis of 12 months of public discourse in a variety of media, we explore the rhetorical leadership of women senators as they carry out their elected roles. Results indicate that women senators use significantly less aggressive and more ambivalent speech when compared to political norms, and are less likely to use terms denoting accomplishment, praise and human interest. Overall, our results suggest that women continue to feel the effects of gender stereotypes and expectations in higher levels of political office, and these effects may have important negative implications for perceptions of their leadership and effectiveness.
Ethics at the workplace

Are facts the only criteria that should determine an arbitrator's decision but are there other ethical criteria that ought to be used? Arbitrators are often faced with deciding issues like whether a person discharged already by a company for arson, should be reinstated or not to his old job. The problem, however, may not be the facts but that the company has discharged him to get rid of him so that it no longer has a problem while society does with the arsonist at work elsewhere. Another problem involves the teaching of human resources management. Most of the current literature dealing with modern management reflects the belief that participatory management is good for management. Most of the evidence supporting such a claim is weak; there surely is very little evidence that such participation should include nonsupervisory employees. The discussion concerning the issue of participatory management could be raised if the participants stopped talking about the increased productivity that is supposed to result, but rather deal instead with the issue that such participation is a form of industrial democracy and therefore is good or bad depending upon a person's ethical judgments concerning such an issue.
In situ activity gel for DNA repair 3′-phosphodiesterase

An enzyme that plays an important role in the repair of oxidative DNA damage is the 3'-phosphodiesterase. This activity, which repairs damaged DNA 3'-termini,can be detected using several available biochemical assays. We present a method to detect 3'-phosphodiesterase activity of renatured proteins immobilized in polyacrylamide gels. The model substrate, labeled with [alpha-32P]dCTP, contains 3'-phosphoglycolate termini produced by bleomycin-catalyzed cleavage of the self-complementary alternating copolymer poly(dGdC). The DNA substrate is incorporated into the gel matrix during standard SDS-PAGE. Active 3'-phosphodiesterase enzymes are detected visibly by the loss of radioactivity at a position corresponding to the mobility of the enzyme during SDS-PAGE. Using this procedure, two Escherichia coli 3'-phosphodiesterases, exonuclease III and endonuclease IV, are readily detected in crude cell extracts or as homogeneous purified proteins. Extracts of mutant cells lack activity at the positions of exonuclease III and endonuclease IV but retain activity in the position of a much larger protein (Mr approximately 100 kDa). The identification of this novel 100 kDa E.coli 3'-phosphodiesterase demonstrates the potential value of the activity gel method described here.
Long-term results of trabeculectomy in eyes that were initially successful

A number of published case series provide short-term and intermediate success rates for the surgical treatment of glaucoma with trabeculectomy. There is little information, however, regarding long-term outcomes that extend beyond 10 years. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to determine the long-term outcome of eyes that had successful trabeculectomy surgery at 1 year (IOP < 21 mmHg, or lowering by 33% if preoperative IOP was < 21 mm Hg) and had been followed up for at least 10 years. We found 40 such eyes. With respect to IOP control, 83% were still considered to be successful at 5 years, 73% at 10 years, but only 42% at 15 years. Ten percent required additional glaucoma surgery by 5 years, 25% by 10 years, and 58% by 15 years. Forty percent of the eyes had cataract surgery by the time of the last follow-up examination. It appears that there is a significant late failure rate of trabeculectomy in eyes that were initially successful.
Effects of Different Population Levels of the European Pine Sawfly on Young Scotch Pine Trees

The larvae of the European pine sawfly, Neodiprion surtifer (Geoffroy), injure their hosts by old-growth defoliation, debarking, and current-shoot girdling. Defoliation is undoubtedly responsible for nearly all the growth loss. Both height growth and radial growth are inversely related to sawfly population levels, but radial growth is affected most, especially at higher population levels. The extent of growth loss is a function of the amount and the rate of foliage removed. Damage after 2 seasons depends upon the quantity of foliage available and removed in both seasons. Trees are seldom without foliage because some new-growth needles appear before all the old-growth needles can be consumed. Even at very heavy population levels defoliation seldom exceeds 90% when old and new foliage are considered together. Since new foliage continues to grow after the sawflies leave the host, the trees “recover” later in the season. Host mortality was not observed even after 3 years of severe defoliation.
Airway obstruction in childhood thyroid carcinoma.

Summary Thyroid carcinoma is an uncommon but well described childhood malignancy. Obstructive airway symptoms represent an unusual mode of presentation of this disease in childhood. A 5-year-old child with locally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma had symptomatic wheezing for one year, thought to be asthma. Extrinsic compressive tumor or transtracheal, intraluminal tumor, while rare, should always be a consideration in atypical or medically refractory ‘asthma’ during childhood.
The role of the interstimulus interval in heterosynaptic facilitation in Aplysia Californica

Summary o (1) From a great number of recordings, 16 cases were selected in which heterosynaptic facilitation (HSF) or inhibition (HSI) could be repeated without fatigue of the test or priming responses for a period up to 2 h. (2) Eight of these recordings represented unitary, the rest compound EPSPs. The unitary responses could be divided into those which changed their amplitude during HSF or HSI and those which were facilitated or inhibited in an all or nothing fashion by heterosynaptic interference. (3) Various interstimulus intervals (ISIs) for the test and the priming stimulation ranging from 250 to 2,000 msec were tested. The interval which produced the highest amplitude of HSF was between 250 and 450 msec (approximately 350 msec) in 15 out of 16 cases. Shorter or longer intervals showed less heterosynaptic facilitation. No differences of the optimal ISI were found in unitary as compared to compound synaptic potentials. (4) The interval which was correlated to the longest total duration of HSF was also 350 msec. (5) In 2 cells, HSI was found to be strongest and longest when ISIs of 350 msec were used. (6) Since in psychological conditioning experiments ISIs of the same magnitude have been found to be optimal, this paper further allows indicating another similarity between HSF and behavioral conditioning.
Isolation of human splenic macrophages and lymphocytes by countercurrent centrifugal elutriation

Certain tissues, such as the spleen, are rich sources of mononuclear phagocytes (MP); however, separating the phagocytes from tissues and removing the contaminating cells have been difficult. We report here a method for the extraction and purification of human splenic MP that employs gentle homogenization of splenic fragments with a Tenbroeck tissue homogenizer, controlled digestion with purified collagenase to free MP from splenic stroma, incubation with DNase to dissociate cell clumps and purification by countercurrent centrifugal elutriation (CCE). With homogenization and enzymatic digestion most of the splenic nonspecific-esterase-positive cells are freed into suspension as determined by morphometric analysis of 2 micron sections from plastic embedded spleen stained for alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase (ANB). Overall cell recovery after homogenization and enzyme treatment is 56 +/- 7%; no selective cell loss occurs as determined by differential cell counts at each purification step. CCE of up to 3 X 10(9) treated spleen cells results in recovery of 63 +/- 6% of the elutriated cells and separates nearly 50% of the recovered MP into enriched fractions. These MP are morphologically intact as determined by light and electron microscopy and are actively phagocytic. Highly purified (96%) autologous splenic lymphocytes are a useful by-product of this separation technique.
The Lack of Estrogen Binding by Human α-Fetoprotein1

ABSTRACT We have shown previously that α-fetoprotein (AFP) in rat amniotic fluid binds [3H]estradiol but not [3H]testosterone. In the present study, estradiol-17β was not bound by α1-globulins in human amniotic fluid fractions separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Indeed, estradiol binding by α1-globulins could not be shown in any human samples found to contain AFP by immunoelectrophoresis. These samples included cord serum and amniotic fluid taken during the second trimester of pregnancy and at term, and the sera from patients with hepatoma and embryonal carcinoma. The only estradiol binding demonstrable with human samples by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was that of sex-steroidbinding β-globulin and albumin. The binding of [3H]testosterone by these samples also was determined.
Mechanism for Inhibition of Vibrio cholerae ToxT Activity by the Unsaturated Fatty Acid Components of Bile

The Gram-negative curved bacillus Vibrio cholerae causes the severe diarrheal illness cholera. During host infection, a complex regulatory cascade results in production of ToxT, a DNA-binding protein that activates the transcription of major virulence genes that encode cholera toxin (CT) and toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP). Previous studies have shown that bile and its unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) components reduce virulence gene expression and therefore are likely important signals upon entering the host. However, the mechanism for the bile-mediated reduction of TCP and CT expression has not been clearly defined. There are two likely hypotheses to explain this reduction: (i) UFAs decrease DNA binding by ToxT, or (ii) UFAs decrease dimerization of ToxT. The work presented here elucidates that bile or UFAs directly affect DNA binding by ToxT. UFAs, specifically linoleic acid, can enter V. cholerae when added exogenously and are present in the cytoplasm, where they can then interact with ToxT. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) with ToxT and various virulence promoters in the presence or absence of UFAs showed a direct reduction in ToxT binding to DNA, even in promoters with only one ToxT binding site. Virstatin, a synthetic ToxT inhibitor, was previously shown to reduce ToxT dimerization. Here we show that virstatin affects DNA binding only at ToxT promoters with two binding sites, unlike linoleic acid, which affects ToxT binding promoters having either one or two ToxT binding sites. This suggests a mechanism in which UFAs, unlike virstatin, do not affect dimerization but affect monomeric ToxT binding to DNA. IMPORTANCE Vibrio cholerae must produce the major virulence factors cholera toxin (CT) and toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) to cause cholera. CT and TCP production depends on ToxT, the major virulence transcription activator. ToxT activity is negatively regulated by unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) present in the lumen of the upper small intestine. This study investigated the mechanism for inhibition of ToxT activity by UFAs and found that UFAs directly reduce specific ToxT binding to DNA at virulence promoters and subsequently reduce virulence gene expression. UFAs inhibit ToxT monomers from binding DNA. This differs from the inhibitory mechanism of a synthetic ToxT inhibitor, virstatin, which inhibits ToxT dimerization. Understanding the mechanisms for inhibition of virulence could lead to better cholera therapeutics.
A low molecular weight protein ( 2 -microglobulin) and renal disease in spinal cord injury patients.

A low molecular weight protein (β 2 -microglobulin) and renal disease in spinal cord injury patients
INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR BINDING PROTEIN-3 MEDIATES 1α,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D3 GROWTH INHIBITION IN THE LNCaP PROSTATE CANCER CELL LINE THROUGH P21/WAF1

Purpose: We determined that insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) induction by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) is a necessary component of 1,25-(OH)2D3 mediated growth inhibition of the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line. In addition, induction of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitory protein p21/WAF/CIP1 by 1,25-(OH)2D3 is mediated by IGFBP-3.Materials and Methods: Induction of IGFBP-3 by 1,25-(OH)2D3 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IGFBP-3 protein and by Northern blot analysis for IGFBP-3 messenger (m) RNA. Growth assays for LNCaP cells were determined by measuring DNA content. The contribution of IGFBP-3 toward 1,25-(OH)2D3 mediated growth inhibition was determined by adding either antisense oligonucleotides or immuno-neutralizing antibodies to culture media of growth assays. Regulation of p21/WAF/CIP1 was determined by Western blot analysis.Results: Adding 1,25-(OH)2D3 to LNCaP prostate cancer cells demonstrated that 1,25-(OH)2D3 significantly up-re...