cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Two-hybrid Screen Identifies Cathepsins B and L as Uncoating Factors for Adeno-associated Virus 2 and 8

Vectors based on different serotypes of adeno-associated virus hold great promise for human gene therapy, based on their unique tissue tropisms and distinct immunological profiles. A particularly interesting candidate is AAV8, which can efficiently and rapidly transduce a wide range of tissues in vivo. To further unravel the mechanisms behind AAV8 transduction, we used yeast two-hybrid analyses to screen a mouse liver complementary DNA library for cellular proteins capable of interacting with the viral capsid proteins. In total, we recovered approximately 700 clones, comprising over 300 independent genes. Sequence analyses revealed multiple hits for over 100 genes, including two encoding the endosomal cysteine proteases cathepsins B and L. Notably, these two proteases also physically interacted with the corresponding portion of the AAV2 capsid in yeast, but not with AAV5. We demonstrate that cathepsins B and L are essential for efficient AAV2- and AAV8-mediated transduction of mammalian cells, and document the ability of purified cathepsin B and L proteins to bind and cleave intact AAV2 and AAV8 particles in vitro. These data suggest that cathepsin-mediated cleavage could prime AAV capsids for subsequent nuclear uncoating, and indicate that analysis of additional genes recovered in our screen may help to further elucidate the mechanisms behind transduction by AAV8 and related serotypes.
Hybrid endovascular repair of Kommerell diverticulum and aberrant right subclavian artery in a patient with repaired coarctation of the aorta

Source of Support Nil. Disclosures None declared. Cite as: Najjar M, Mohar M, Stewart A, George I. Hybrid endovascular repair of Kommerell diverticulum and aberrant right subclavian artery in a patient with repaired coarctation of the aorta. Heart, Lung and Vessels. 2015;7(1):83-85
Place Out of Place: a Pohnpeian Chiefdom in Kansas City

This article describes the formation of the Kansas City area as a section in the Pohnpeian sociopolitical system. Pohnpeian chiefdoms are traditionally marked out as ‘sections’ of land on the island of Pohnpei. Pohnpeians’ connection to their land is powerful and imbued with meaning but the Compact of Free Association propels Pohnpeian out-migration to the United States. As the immigrant population of Pohnpeians in Kansas City increased, a paramount (tribal district) chief organized the ‘Section Over Heaven of Kansas City’ at the urging of collaborating Pohnpeian Kansas City residents. As the only fully functioning section outside of Pohnpei, the Kansas City section chief assigns chiefly titles, conducts tribute feasts, and incorporates the location into the Pohnpeian sociopolitical system. By integrating people and environment in meaningful ways, the Kansas City section creates a Pohnpeian place, separated from Pohnpeian land, integrated into Pohnpeian chieftainship. Pohnpeians in the United States refer to Kansas City as a Pohnpeian place in part on the basis of the paramount chief's organization of the Kansas City section.
Geminivirus-Mediated Genome Editing in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Using Sequence-Specific Nucleases

Genome editing using sequence-specific nucleases (SSNs) is rapidly being developed for genetic engineering in crop species. The utilization of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated systems (Cas)) for inducing double-strand breaks facilitates targeting of virtually any sequence for modification. Targeted mutagenesis via nonhomologous end-joining has been demonstrated extensively as being the preferred DNA repair pathway in plants. However, gene targeting via homologous recombination remains more elusive but could be a powerful tool for directed DNA repair. To overcome barriers associated with gene targeting, a geminivirus replicon (GVR) was used to deliver SSNs targeting the potato ACETOLACTATE SYNTHASE1 (ALS1) gene and repair templates designed to incorporate herbicide-inhibiting point mutations within the ALS1 locus. Transformed events modified with GVRs held both point mutations that were capable of supporting a reduced herbicide susceptibility phenotype, while events transformed with conventional T-DNAs held no detectable mutations and were similar to wild-type. Regeneration of transformed events improved detection of point mutations that supported a stronger reduced herbicide susceptibility phenotype. These results demonstrate the use of geminiviruses for delivering genome editing reagents in plant species, and an approach to gene targeting in a vegetatively propagated species.
Can Anti-Scatter Grids Improve Image Quality in Breast CT

Dedicated CT imaging of the breast holds great promise for improving the detection and diagnosis of early stage breast cancer. However, before CT breast imaging (CTBI) can become a clinical reality, it is imperative that the issue of image degradation due to the rather large scattered radiation component be addressed. One approach to reducing scatter in CT breast imaging is with the use of anti-scatter grids. This paper describes a theoretical study analyzing the ideal linear observer signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) achieved with varying hypothetical grids. Results suggest that improvement in performance with anti-scatter grids can be attained if the primary x-ray transmission is high enough and if scatter transmission of the grid is low enough. It is shown that for detection of a 4 mm lesion in a dense breast (95% fibroglandular tissue), the AUC (area under the ROC curve) for a grid with primary transmission of 80%, and scatter-to-primary ratio of 5% would be 99%, whereas the AUC for the no grid case would be 88%. Thus, for this specific CTBI task, the ideal linear observer with a high performance grid would substantially outperform that with no grid. Similar improvement in performance with grids was observed for the detection of microcalcifications.
Responding to the Increased Needs of College Students: A Case Study of Case Management

ABSTRACTThe psychological needs of college students lead to overwhelming demand on college counseling centers’ resources. In this article, we review models of case management in Higher Education including the administrative, behavioral intervention, and counseling center models. We also present a case study of the 3-year development of a counseling center case management service. Initial data suggest that expanding the role of a counseling center case manager to allow for frequent appointments/follow-up and standardizing counseling center case management procedures led to improved appointment attendance and increased communication with students following referral. A vignette and suggestions for other centers are also presented.
Deuterium accelerator experiments for APT.

Sandia National Laboratories in California initiated an experimental program to determine whether tritium retention in the tube walls and permeation through the tubes into the surrounding coolant water would be a problem for the Accelerator Production of Tritium (APT), and to find ways to mitigate the problem, if it existed. Significant holdup in the tube walls would limit the ability of APT to meet its production goals, and high levels of permeation would require a costly cleanup system for the cooling water. To simulate tritium implantation, a 200 keV accelerator was used to implant deuterium into Al 6061-T and SS3 16L samples at temperatures and particle fluxes appropriate for APT, for times varying between one week and five months. The implanted samples were characterized to determine the deuterium retention and Permeation. During the implantation, the D(d,p)T nuclear reaction was used to monitor the build-up of deuterium in the implant region of the samples. These experiments increased in sophistication, from mono-energetic deuteron implants to multi-energetic deuteron and proton implants, to more accurately reproduce the conditions expected in APT. Micron-thick copper, nickel, and anodized aluminum coatings were applied to the front surface of the samples (inside of the APT walls) in anmore » attempt to lower retention and permeation. The reduction in both retention and permeation produced by the nickel coatings, and the ability to apply them to the inside of the APT tubes, indicate that both nickel-coated Al 6061-T6 and nickel-coated SS3 16L tubes would be effective for use in APT. The results of this work were submitted to the Accelerator Production of Tritium project in document number TPO-E29-Z-TNS-X-00050, APT-MP-01-17.« less
Testing for Noonan syndrome after increased nuchal translucency.

Objective The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of Noonan syndrome (NS) in a cohort of fetuses that presented with increased nuchal translucency (NT) thickness in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods This is a retrospective chart review. Inclusion criteria (1) first trimester NT measurement ≥3 mm, (2) normal karyotype by either a CVS or an amniocentesis procedure, and (3) prenatal molecular genetic testing for NS completed. Results with known pathogenic variants were considered positive, while those with variants of unknown clinical significance, or with no variants, were considered negative. Results A total of 804 fetuses had an NT measurement of ≥3 mm, with a median NT thickness of 3.6 mm. Of these, 302 had karyotyping by CVS or amniocentesis, 200 (66.23%) with normal results. Of fetuses with a normal karyotype, 39 with a median NT thickness of 4.0 mm had a NS gene sequencing panel done, and 161 fetuses with a mean NT thickness of 4.3 mm were not tested for NS (p = 0.05). Of the 39 fetuses who were tested for NS, four (10.3%) had variants consistent with this diagnosis. Conclusion In euploid fetuses, increased NT is associated with a 10% risk of NS. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Commonly Occurring Cell Subsets in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Tumors Identified by Single-Cell Mass Cytometry

We have performed an in-depth single-cell phenotypic characterization of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) by multiparametric mass cytometry (CyTOF). Using a CyTOF antibody panel to interrogate features of HGSOC biology, combined with unsupervised computational analysis, we identified noteworthy cell types co-occurring across the tumors. In addition to a dominant cell subset, each tumor harbored rarer cell phenotypes. One such group co-expressed E-cadherin and vimentin (EV), suggesting their potential role in epithelial mesenchymal transition, which was substantiated by pairwise correlation analyses. Furthermore, tumors from patients with poorer outcome had an increased frequency of another rare cell type that co-expressed vimentin, HE4, and cMyc. These poorer-outcome tumors also populated more cell phenotypes, as quantified by Simpson's diversity index. Thus, despite the recognized genomic complexity of the disease, the specific cell phenotypes uncovered here offer a focus for therapeutic intervention and disease monitoring.
Deriving Quantitative Cell Biological Information from Dye-Dilution Lymphocyte Proliferation Experiments

The dye-dilution assay is a powerful tool to study lymphocyte expansion dynamics. By combining time course dye-dilution experiments with computational analysis, quantitative information about cell biological parameters, such as percentage of cells dividing, time of division, and time of death, can be produced. Here, we describe the method to generate quantitative cell biological insights from dye-dilution experiments. We describe experimental methods for generating dye-dilution data with murine lymphocytes and then describe the computational data analysis workflow using a recently developed software package called FlowMax. The aim is to interpret the dye-dilution data quantitatively and objectively, such that cell biological parameters can be reported with an appropriate measure of confidence, which in turn depends on the quality and quantity of available data.
Identification of Merger and Acquisition Waves and Their Macroeconomic Determinants in the Hospitality Industry

This study investigated the occurrence of merger and acquisition (M&A) waves in restaurant and lodging industries. By comparing actual frequency of M&A deals with simulated randomly generated deal ...
It Consumes What It Forgets

This essay offers a reflection on what the wiindigoo is in Anishinaabe thought and experience, exploring it's cannibalistic impulses particularly as a presence in educational institutions and the contemporary fossil fuel economy. It explores this presence in the northwoods of the Anishinaabe homelands and as a presence in the experience of the author's family life. It explores the ramifications of forgetting one is a human and what sort of compassion it takes to face this destructive spirit without submitting to it.
Efficacy, Mechanisms of Change, and the Scientific Development of Sport Psychology

The development and acceptance of any scientific discipline requires an ever-expanding and maturing empirical base. Yet despite vast scientific progress in allied domains of professional psychology, the field of sport psychology has remained fairly stagnant in its research progress and has overlooked major advances that could aid in the advancement of the discipline. This article discusses important issues related to the lack of efficacy of the traditional and long assumed “gold-standard” interventions for the enhancement of athletic performance, and compares the field’s empirical base to sister disciplines in psychology. Further, the lack of empirical studies examining rate of change, moderators of change, and mediators (mechanisms) of change is discussed, and suggestions are provided for a new research agenda in sport psychology that could expand its professional credibility and enhance its overall scientific development.
Gallium-67 scanning and conservative treatment in acute inflammatory lesions of the renal cortex

Three cases of suspected acute suppurative lesions of the renal cortex treated successfully with antimicrobial agents are presented. In support of other reports it appears that selected cases, particularly when diagnosed early, may be managed conservatively without surgical drainage. In those cases of severe sepsis, large intrarenal or perinephric abscesses, resistant organisms or those that are refractory to treatment, surgical intervention may be unavoidable. Gallium-67 nuclear scanning is a safe, non-invasive method of locating rapidly these areas of inflammation and has proved to be a useful tool in earlier diagnosis.
Identification of diseases that may be targets for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Complementary and alternative medicine has an enormous challenge to determine how environmental factors such as infection and xenobiotics interact. Effective strategies for early detection, diagnosis, prevention and therapy should then emerge. Despite significant advancements in medicine and discovery of human genome, little attention has been paid to early diagnosis and prevention of complex diseases. Diseases such as Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, cardiovascular, autoimmune, cancer, diabetes and others are multifactorial, meaning that they cannot be ascribed to mutation in a single gene or to a single environmental factor. Rather they arise from the combined action of many genes, environmental factors such as infection, xenobiotics and risk-conferring behaviors (Kimberstis and Roberts, 2002). Com-plex diseases have reached epidemic proportions in the United States and in a particularly disturbing trend, striking at a young age. With this explosion, we should be committed to expanding the approach to healing. This opens classical approaches to complementary and alternative therapies.
Early results in the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head with electrical stimulation

Our goal in the treatment of avascular necrosis is to retard or reverse the progressive changes that normally take place and thus preserve rather than replace the femoral head. "Conservative" or nonoperative management has generally proved unsuccessful, and results with established surgical procedures have been inconsistent and frequently disappointing. A new approach has been described that uses direct-current stimulation in conjunction with bone grafting and decompression. Results were determined clinically and radiographically using a new method of staging and evaluation. The majority of patients who underwent surgery showed significant clinical improvement, especially in regard to pain relief. Some degree of radiologic progression, however, was detected in most cases, even in many with clinical improvement. Electrical stimulation, as used in this study, did not appear to alter the results obtained with decompression and grafting alone. It must be emphasized that this is a preliminary report. More data and longer follow-up will be required before definitive conclusions can be drawn, and we must continue our efforts to improve the management of avascular necrosis.
Cytotoxic T Cell and Antibody Recognition of HLA-A2,A28 Molecules Analyzed by Site Directed Mutagenesis

We have previously identified tryptophan at position 107 of HLA-A2 and Aw69 as a critical residue for recognition by allospecific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and monoclonal antibodies (MAb) (1). When tryptophan was substituted for glycine at position 107 of HLAAw68.1 by site-directed mutagenesis, the HLA-A2, AW69 specific MAb BB7.2 and two allospecific CTL clones were able to recognize the mutated molecule. Substituting the A2 residues valine and arginine at positions 95 and 97 respectively of HLA-Aw68.1 had no augmenting effect on BB7.2 binding, but was recognized by two HLA-A2 allospecific clones not reactive with wild type HLA-Aw68.1. We have now mutated HLA-Aw69 to the sequence found in HLA-Aw68 at these three positions and confirmed that tryptophan 107 is crucial for forming the BB7.2 determinant. In these experiments, no effect on CTL reactivity was seen after changing tryptophan to glycine at position 107. Mutations at positions 95 and 97 however did affect reactivity with several HLA-A2, Aw69 specific clones. We have also mutated a number of conserved residues of HLA-A2 and observed that substitutions at two of them, positions 5 and 93, have some effect on allospecific CTL recognition. In the three-dimensional structure of HLA-A2, three of these five critical residues are located in the putative peptide binding site (2,3).
Differential responses to forest edges among populations of Oophaga pumilio (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from Panama

Differential responses to forest edges among populations of Oophaga pumilio (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from Panama. As habitat fragmentation increasingly becomes a prevalent feature in tropical systems, investigating how such novel features affect the distribution of species is of vital importance for understanding species’ ecology and conservation concerns. Species that show interpopulation variation in features that may affect their ecology (i.e., coloration) should be of high priority for elucidating the effects fragmentation may have. It is possible that these features unique to certain populations could promote or constrain the population’s ability to adapt to change. I investigated nine populations of the Strawberry Poison Frog (Oophaga pumilio) throughout the Bocas del Toro archipelago in Panama. By running transects from forest edge into interior forest, I assessed both population density and individual distance from forest edge for each population. One population was signifcantly denser than six of the other eight populations. Three populations showed increased numbers farther from forest edges while six populations showed no variation. This research highlights how reactions to habitat fragmentation may be population specifc, possibly linked to physical traits of individuals within the population. This research suggests that high interpopulation variation should be taken into account when examining species’ reactions to environmental perturbations.
The Bonanza King: John Mackay and the Battle Over the Greatest Riches in the American West: by Gregory Crouch, New York, Scribner, 2018, ix + 466 pp, illus., $30.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-1 1-0819-8

History can be enjoyable to read, interesting to contemplate, and educational in the most general sense of that word. One of the functions of history is to help the reader get into the mind of the ...
Spectral Estimation Using Multitaper Whittle Methods With a Lasso Penalty

Spectral estimation provides key insights into the frequency domain characteristics of a time series. Naive nonparametric estimates of the spectral density, such as the periodogram, are inconsistent, and the more advanced lag window or multitaper estimators are often still too noisy. We propose an $L_1$ penalized quasi-likelihood Whittle framework based on multitaper spectral estimates which performs semiparametric spectral estimation for regularly sampled univariate stationary time series. Our new approach circumvents the problematic Gaussianity assumption required by least square approaches and achieves sparsity for a wide variety of basis functions. We present an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm to efficiently solve the optimization problem, and develop universal threshold and generalized information criterion (GIC) strategies for efficient tuning parameter selection that outperform cross-validation methods. Theoretically, a fast convergence rate for the proposed spectral estimator is established. We demonstrate the utility of our methodology on simulated series and to the spectral analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) data.
Product Development Competencies: Analysis of Employer Needs

As changes occur in the apparel industry, academicians of apparel and textile programs are challenged with the task of preparing students to perform in new, multifaceted, product development positions. To develop a list of the competencies necessary for contemporary careers in apparel product development and innovation, a job search was conducted on a sampling of websites. Qualitative content analysis was performed on the position descriptions yielded by this search. Position descriptions ranged from entry-level to those requiring ten or more years of experience in industry. Content analysis yielded 18 themes that contained data from more than one position description. As a gap in the literature exists related to the skills and competencies required for apparel product developers, this research project served as an initial step in addressing this deficiency. Findings of this study also serve as a potential guide for other programs offering an apparel product development degree or concentration.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE: GUN VIOLENCE-INDUCED STEMI

Penetrating thoracic trauma associated with myocardial ischemia without coronary artery disease (CAD) is a rarely reported and under-recognized phenomenon. A 29-year-old man presented with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen, and extremities. He had hemorrhagic shock necessitating
Isolated Jejunal Perforation and Mesentery Injury following a Kick on the Abdomen of a College Student: A Case Report from a District Hospital in Northern Ghana

Introduction. Isolated jejunal perforation from blunt abdominal trauma is an extremely rare intra-abdominal injury that poses a huge diagnostic challenge. Delay in diagnosis and initiation of treatment often leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis particularly in resource-poor settings may be extremely challenging and often relies on a high index of suspicion. This is due to lack of adequate diagnostic facilities and human resource to deal with the condition with resulting high occurrence of adverse outcomes. Case Presentation. We report a case of isolated jejunal perforation with associated mesentery injury in a young college student who sustained a kick to his abdomen while playing soccer. This is an unusual presentation since most reported cases often resulted from motor vehicular accidents, bicycle handlebar, and fall from a height. We emphasized the role of critical level of suspicion with a good history and physical examination as the major source of diagnosis since diagnostic procedures, such as abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography, are largely unavailable in most resource-constraint settings. Early surgical intervention following diagnosis leads to good recovery and reduced mortality. Conclusion. Sufficient vigilance and suspicions of small bowel perforation should always be considered after blunt trauma even when symptoms and physical findings are minimal and when diagnostic capacity is limited.
Integrating Global Health Within Dental Education: Inter-University Collaboration for Scaling Up a Pilot Curriculum.

Background: New education programs are developing to improve global health awareness. Dental students have demonstrated interest in international settings but are largely unaware of global health topics. The Timothy A. DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health of the University of Washington (UW) and Harvard School of Dental Medicine expanded a competency-based global health curriculum (Global Health Starter Kit) by integrating it within the UW School of Dentistry (UW SOD) existing elective course “Global Oral Health” to undergraduates, pre-, and doctorate students from the UW SOD and Public Health. The study objective was to evaluate the curriculum effectiveness by assessing 1) Knowledge and Attitudes (survey), and 2) Didactic coursework (global trends, global goals, primary care, social determinants and risks, and ethics and sustainability). Methods: Eligibility included enrolled students with both pre- and post-assessments. Descriptive statistics were conducted to present demographic data. Significant changes on survey and didactic evaluations were analyzed with paired t-tests (p Findings: The population (N = 15) represented 88% of the class. All Knowledge categories had a significant increase (p Conclusion: Competency-based global health learning can be implemented in the dental curriculum. While the study shows promising results, efforts to identify areas for improvement as well as considerations of the institution’s culture need to be assessed and addressed for each teaching cycle.
Telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C)

Abstract This chapter aims to provide the reader with an overview of the main aspects of designing a telecommunication system for a CubeSat or a SmallSat. The main factors to consider when designing such a system (data generation, electrical power system constraints, ground station availabilities, range, pointing, and spectrum regulations) are presented. Then an overview of the iterative design process is given, and key analysis (coverage and link analysis) is discussed in details. Finally the main telecommunication components required for the system such as antennas and transceivers are presented. The chapter concludes with some considerations for optical telecommunication systems.
Sociodemographic and health disparities among students screening positive for food insecurity: Findings from a large college health surveillance system

Food insecurity among college students has begun to be recognized as a pressing social issue. However, much of the research in this area to date is limited by factors like small sample sizes and convenience sampling. The objective of this study was to assess sociodemographic and health disparities among two- and four-year post-secondary students screening positive for food insecurity, using one of the largest relevant health surveillance databases available. This study included analyses of pooled annual data (2015-2018; n = 13,720) from students participating in state-based surveillance of 27 two- and four-year Minnesota post-secondary institutions. Food security was determined using a validated two-item screener. Disparities were examined across numerous factors including: sociodemographic, economic, academic, institutional, nutrition and weight-related health risk and resiliency. In total, 24% of students experienced food insecurity. Findings highlighted stark disparities, with notably high positive screening rates of food insecurity among non-Hispanic Black (43%), transgender/non-binary (42%) and first-generation (33%) students. Food insecurity was significantly associated with nearly every adverse health factor examined, despite controlling for demographics (p < 0.0001). Overall, these findings represent one of the largest peer-reviewed studies of college food insecurity to date and underscore robust differences between who experiences food insecurity and who does not. They also highlight troubling health risks that accompany food insecurity. Importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened these realities. To inform prevention efforts, additional research is urgently needed, including cohort studies, controlled trials, and quasi-experimental research based on rigorous evaluation of policy initiatives now being considered at institutional, state and federal levels.
Nursing Homes, COVID-19, and the Consequences of Regulatory Failure

This essay explores the COVID-19 crisis in America’s nursing homes and its lessons for the future of long-term care. It challenges narratives portraying nursing homes as the unfortunate victims of COVID-19 by showing how the crisis is the foreseeable result of regulatory gaps and failures that have long enabled nursing homes to engage in systemic neglect. It then shows how regulatory approaches employed in other parts of the U.S. healthcare system could be used to create a more humane and resilient long-term care system. It concludes by considering the implications of such reforms for enhancing equity and reducing structural ageism.
Production of the Same Antibiotics by Members of Different Genera of Microorganisms

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the production of antibiotics by organisms that are very different one from another. It presents a list of antibiotics whose producing organisms have a good chance, of having been properly identified as very different organisms. 3’-Amino-Y-deoxyadenosine is an antitumor agent with slight activity against a few yeasts, which has been found to be produced by a species of Helminthosporium, Cordyceps militaris, and Aspergillus nidulans. Prodigiosin is a tripyrrolic red antibiotic pigment characteristic of Serratia marcescens, which is active against bacteria, mainly gram-positive, and has a few antifungal and antiprotozoal activity. Iodinin was first reported as an antibiotic pigment from a bacterium isolated from milk. Questiomycin A was isolated from the culture filtrates of a species of Streptomyces. Fumigacin, first isolated in 1942, is an antibacterial substance which is produced by Aspergillus fumigatus, Cephalosporium mycophylum, and Streptomyces reticuli. The chapter concludes that the more closely related organisms are, the more likely they are to produce the same secondary metabolites.
An Automated Triaxial Testing System

This paper describes a recently developed automated triaxial testing system. Loading is controlled by a closed-loop feedback scheme capable of performing stress- or strain-controlled tests in the standard triaxial environment. The system has two control channels allowing separate control of both the axial load and the chamber pressure. Software written especially for this system can control back pressure saturation, consolidation, shear loading, cyclic loading, and a number of special loading programs. Each software package is well documented with complete notes for interactive dialogue with the computer. The data retrieving and plotting software is capable of processing data and converting it to 20 variables commonly used in geotechnical engineering. These variables can be plotted with different combinations for display and detailed study. Typical test results for a fine sand are included to demonstrate the abilities of the system. The system is well suited for research purposes, however it can also be used effectively in geotechnical material testing in consulting laboratories. The computer-based testing system is simple in operation, rapid in sampling, accurate in performance, and reasonable in cost.
Phenacomys intermedius (Heather vole)

Only two pairs of chromosomes can be identified unequivocally: the small submetacentric pair and the X chromosomes. Except the X chromosome, the karyotype bears striking resemblance to those of many species of genus Clethrionomys.
Does Leão’s Spreading Depression Cause Irreversible Brain Damage?

It has been repeatedly suggested that the cell damage in infarction of myocardium and of brain tissue is the result of intracellular accumulation of calcium. In agreement with this hypothesis we found earlier that recovery of synaptic transmission in hippocampal tissue slices following transient oxygen withdrawal is inversely related to the duration of hypoxic depolarization1. Calcium enters cells not only during hypoxic depolarization but also during Leao’s spreading depression (LD). We now asked whether LD in well oxygenated hippocampal slices has aftereffects similar to those of transient hypoxia. Slices were maintained in an interface chamber at about 36°C in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) that contained 1.2 mM Ca2+, 1.2 mM Mg2+, 3.5 mM K+ and was flowing at 2 ml/min. Interstitial potassium ([K+] 0 ) and extracellular potentials evoked by stimulation of the Schaffer collateral-commisural fibers were recorded in st. radiatum and st. pyramidale of CA1 with ion selective microelectrodes. LD was provoked by high-[K+] ACSF (133 mM K+, 0 mM Na+) flowing from tubing positioned over the slice, at 0.6 ml/min, for periods ranging from 10 sec to several min. High [K+] exposure in excess of 25 sec reliably provoked LD, recognized by a sudden negative shift of extracellular potential and elevation of [K+ 0 above 20 mM. Potential and [K+] 0 returned to control levels after a variable time following cessation of high [K+] application. Delayed recovery of [K+] 0 may be due to impaired active membrane transport. LD duration was defined as the time from onset of [K+] 0 elevation until 1/2 decay (return to 50% of maximal level).
Chapter 15. Antiparasitic Agents

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the philosophy of a pharmaceutical company towards involvement with tropical diseases. The discussion includes a review on the new experimental anti-malarial drugs and a volume on “new trends in malaria chemotherapy;” major forthcoming therapeutic advances for leishmaniasis disease entity; human and animal trypanosomiasis as world public health problems has appeared; trichomoniasis as the metronidazole drug, although having typoxic effect, continues to be used as very likely the best available agent for this infection. The discussion has been made enriched by the discussion on both protozoal diseases and helminth diseases that include filaria, other nematodes, and schistosomiasis. The first clinical reports, using praziquantel against schistosomiasis, appear promising. The pharmacokinetic behavior was dominated by rapid metabolism. No clinically relevant changes were found for any of the laboratory parameters measured in healthy volunteers given total doses as high as 7 5 mg/kg. Amoebiasis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, and few more coccidiosis have been discussed in the chapter. Ionophorous antibiotics recently have been found effective in poultry and mammals. Lasalocid added to feed in a dose to produce the equivalent of about 3.0 mg/kg has been found effective in controlling clinical coccidiosis in calves. This is supported by a review of a variety of drug types.
B7-H1 regulates autoimmunity in αCTLA-4, bm12 transfer and pristane-induced models through distinct sexually dimorphic and non-dimorphic effects (BA4P.128)

Females have more autoimmunity through poorly understood mechanisms. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) defend against autoimmunity. We show that B7-H1 signals dampen estrogen (E2)-driven Treg mTOR activation through estrogen receptor-β, maintaining Treg function in E2. B7-H1 -/- female mice (but not males or WT of either sex) developed αCTLA-4-induced autoimmunity, rescued by E2 removal or B7-H1 +/+ dendritic cell (DC) transfer. Monocytes or B or T cells also gave protective B7-H1 signals to restore Treg function in E2. B7-H1-mediated E2 protection was during Treg differentiation and was not via CD80, PD-1 or Treg B7-H1. E2 also reduced male B7-H1 -/- Treg function in vitro and in vivo . Sex-matched B7-H1 -/- bm12 splenocyte transfer (minor MHC mismatch) caused lupus symptoms (albuminuria, alopecia) earlier in B7-H1 -/- females than B7-H1 -/- males or WT. B7-H1 -/- males also sickened faster than WT males, showing sex-independent B7-H1 effects. Transfer of B7-H1 +/+ bm12 splenocytes into B7-H1 -/- mice did not induce rapid symptoms, suggesting rescue by B7-H1 signals in bm12 cells. In pristane-induced lupus, B7-H1 -/- females had earlier proteinuria than WT females. Plasmacytoid DC or granulocytes from female B7-H1 -/- produced more IFN-α in vitro with pristane+TLR7 agonist than WT females. Thus, B7-H1 regulates autoimmunity through diverse sexually-dimorphic and non-dimorphic mechanisms. Defining B7-H1 effects in autoimmunity will help understand female predilection and immunopathogenesis.
Implications of Agglomeration Economies and Market Access for Firm Growth in Food Manufacturing

Withthepersistentchangesintechnologyandincreasedcompetitioninfoodmanufacturing,itisimportant to reassess the effects of agglomeration economies and market access on the performance of firms. Using survey data from New York food processors, an ordered logit analysis reveals that firm growth is related to important upstream and downstream market condiations. The clustering of similar manufacturers was found to have important effects on firm revenue growth, with the benefits of firm clustering increasing significantly with the level of local urbanization. For these reasons, policies that promote intra-industry or cross-industry collaboration would likely benefit food manufacturers, but these benefits would not be limited to firms in close geographic proximity to one another. Moreover, in rural areas especially, manufacturingfirms and community planners need to be aware of possible negative effects of competition from growing concentrations of firms so that these issues can be addressed before local business growth is adversely affected. [JEL Classification: O13, Q13, R11] C
THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF β‐BUNGAROTOXIN

—β-Bungarotoxin, a presynaptically-acting polypeptide neurotoxin, caused an efflux from synaptosomes of previously accumulated γ-aminobutyric acid and 2-deoxy-d-glucose. The toxin-induced efflux of γ-aminobutyric acid occurred by a Na+ -dependent process while that of 2-deoxyglucose was Na+ -independent. These effects were also produced by treating synaptosomes with low molecular weight compounds, including fatty acids, that inhibit oxidative phosphorylation. After incubation with β-bungarotoxin, synaptosomes exhibited increased production of 14CO2 from [U-14C]glucose and decreased ATP levels. β-Bungarotoxin treatment of various subcellular membrane fractions caused the production of a factor that uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation when added to mitochondria. Mitochondria from toxin-treated brain tissue exhibited a limitation in the maximal rate of substrate utilization. We conclude that β-bungarotoxin acts by inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria of nerve terminals. This inhibition accounts for the observed β-bungarotoxin effects on synaptosomes and at neuromuscular junctions. We suggest that the effects on energy metabolism result from a phospholipase A activity found to be associated with the toxin.
Improving processing and toughness of a high performance composite matrix through an interpenetrating polymer network. VI

The use of a semiinterpenetrating polymer network (SIPN) of the high-performance polyimide NR-150B2 to reduce brittleness and improve processability in the highly crosslinked acetylene-terminated polyimides Thermid LR-600, AL-600, MC-600, and FA-700 is described. The theoretical basis of the SIPN process is reviewed; the preparation and characterization of the neat SIPN resins and unidirectional graphite-fiber composites are explained; and the results are presented in extensive tables, graphs, and micrographs and discussed in detail. Significant increases in fracture energy were observed with SIPN, from 93 J/sq m for unmodified LR-600 to 283-603 J/sq m for the SIPN materials; the room-temperature flexural strength of the unidirectional composites also increased, from 1344 MPa for an unmodified MC-600 composite to 2020-1751 MPa for the SIPN composites. The potential applicability of SIPN-based composites to aerospace structures and electronic components is indicated.
The viscosity of magmas: General considerations concerning the viscosity of liquids

This paper, given as an informal introduction to the symposium on the viscosity of magmas, contained a brief review of the study of the viscosity of liquids in general. Starting from the formal definition of the coefficient of viscosity the author outlined the various methods used in the measurement of this quantity, including the observation of uniform flow through capillary tubes, the rotating cylinder method, the terminal velocity of falling rigid spheres or rising bubbles in liquids, the rate of elongation of a rod, and the rate of sag of a rod supported horizontally at two points. In the last two methods coefficients of viscous traction are measured and the relation of this quantity to the coefficient of viscosity is well discussed by Trouton (Proc. Roy. Soc, v. 77, p. 926, 1906). These last two methods which are especially suitable for the measurement of the coefficients of viscosity of highly viscous liquids (for example, pitch at room-temperature) are of especial significance in geophysical problems. The well-known formulae connecting the rate of laminar flow of a liquid, the rate of sinking of a solid mass in a liquid medium, or the rate of rise of a gas-bubble in a liquid all involve powers greater than unity of the dimensions of the masses under consideration. Simple calculations show that in masses of dimensions of the order of those met in geological problems important movements of matter may occur in liquids whose viscosity is 109 c.g.s. units or even greater.
Efficient estimation of critical load levels using variable substitution method

Summary form only given. An accurate estimation of critical load levels (CLLs) is beneficial in evaluating the confidence level for the predicted locational marginal prices (LMPs) in power markets. This paper proposes an efficient algorithm to quickly identify CLLs under the with-loss-DCOPF framework. The proposed method approximates the trajectory of DCOPF solutions with respect to the system load variations. The quadratic coefficients of the trajectory can be efficiently obtained by solving a small-scale nonlinear system of equations formed by the variable substitution method, which does not require additional OPF runs and is thus more computationally efficient than existing methods such as binary search and interpolation. The obtained trajectory can be used for a quick calculation of OPF solutions without re-running OPF. Further, through trajectory extrapolation, new congestions and other binding constraints can be identified simultaneously with the CLL predictions. Particularly, the proposed method is not restricted to a specific DCOPF-based model and can be easily applied to other DCOPF-based variants. Numeric studies on a revised IEEE 30-bus system are presented to illustrate the high computational efficiency and accuracy of the approach. It is further tested on the IEEE 118-bus system using four different DCOPF-based models to illustrate its model adaptability.
The immobilization of l-asparaginase on porous hollow fiber plasma filters

Abstract The enzyme l -asparaginase has been used as a drug to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia. However, its effectiveness is limited as a free drug and it is more useful when immobilized. In this study, l -asparaginase has been immobilized onto the porous polypropylene (PP) hollow fibers of a plasma filter. The fibers were first radiation grafted with polymethacrylic acid (poly(MAAc)) which introduced carboxyl groups onto their surface, and within their pores. l -asparaginase was then covalently bound to the fibers using carbodiimide and N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS). In vitro tests were performed on the plasma filters to determine the immobilized enzyme's stability over time, Km, pH optimum and activity dependence on flow rate. In vivo tests have also been carried out using a sheep as an animal model. We concluded that plasmapheresis using an immobilized l -asparaginase plasma filter could become a useful clinical tool for the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Modelling of complex structures in the upper mantle by finite-element methods

Abstract Structural geometries for representative portions of the upper mantle are known generally in only broad outline. The literature contains little precise information on structural dimensions and elastic properties under continental boundaries, active arcs, mid-ocean ridges and mountain ranges. A move forward can now be taken using finite-element techniques to model such structures for the elastic wave, heat, electromagnetic and fluid-flow equations. The capacity of the largest computers, such as the CDC 7600, is now such that two-dimensional and axisymmetric problems can be efficiently solved without prohibitive cost. Rayleigh's quotient with finite elements is an important tool. As an illustration of the methods reviewed, theoretical spectral ratios are given for observations at surface stations of P and S waves transmitted through irregular deep structures such as slabs or magma chambers.
Daylighting performance evaluation of a bottom-up motorized roller shade

Abstract This paper presents an experimental and simulation study for quantifying the daylighting performance of bottom-up roller shades installed in office spaces. The bottom-up shade is a motorized roller shade that opens from top to bottom operating in the opposite direction of a conventional roller shade, so as to cover the bottom part of the window, while allowing daylight to enter from the top part of the window, reaching deeper into the room. A daylighting simulation model, validated with full-scale experiments, was developed in order to establish correlations between the shade position, outdoor illuminance and work plane illuminance for different outdoor conditions. Then, a shading control algorithm was developed for application in any location and orientation. The validated model was employed for a sensitivity analysis of the impact of shade optical properties and control on the potential energy savings due to the use of daylighting. The results showed that Daylight Autonomy for the bottom-up shade is 8–58% higher compared to a conventional roller shade, with a difference of 46% further away from the facade, where the use of electric lighting is needed most of the time. The potential reduction in energy consumption for lighting is 21–41%.
Stimulation of rat pancreatic exocrine secretion by urocortin and corticotropin releasing factor.

Abstract Neural and hormonal mechanisms control pancreatic secretion. The effects of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) related neuropeptide urocortin (UCN) on pancreatic exocrine secretion were examined. In anesthetized male rats, pancreatic secretion volume and total protein were assayed. UCN increased pancreatic secretory volume and protein secretion and potentiated cholecytokinin-stimulated protein secretion. Astressin, a non-specific CRF receptor antagonist, inhibited UCN-stimulated protein output while CRF 2 receptor antagonist, antisauvagine-30, was without effect. Atropine, but not subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, inhibited UCN-mediated secretion. In acinar cells, UCN did not stimulate release of amylase nor intracellular cAMP. UCN is a pancreatic exocrine secreatagogue with effects mediated through cholinergic intrapancreatic neurons.