cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Biosynthesis of Chorionic Gonadotropin and Placental Lactogen in First- and Third-Trimester Human Placenta

One of the important functions of the human placenta is its role in the formation of peptide hormones during pregnancy. The major protein hormones elaborated by the trophoblast are human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL). The concentrations of these hormones in maternal serum during gestation are quite different. Whereas hCG peaks in the first trimester, hPL reaches maximal levels near term. Since it seems, then, that these two hormones differ in the way their synthesis is correlated with the course of pregnancy, it is apparent that the factors controlling their synthesis are also quite different. Thus, the placenta represents a convenient and unique tissue for studying control of human hormonal genes under the influence of a variety of physiological stimuli.
An exploration of research information security data affecting organizational compliance.

Abstract In this article, data collected from onsite assessments of federal healthcare research programs were reviewed and analyzed. 103 research programs were evaluated for adherence to federal and organizational information security requirements and the data clustered into three primary compliance groupings, technological, procedural, and behavioral. Frequency and cross-tabulation statistics were conducted and chi-square statistics used to test for associations.
Hacking a soil water content reflectometer to measure liquid level

Abstract A method for converting a soil water reflectometer to a water level sensor is presented. The sensor essentially records the time of travel of an electromagnetic pulse along two parallel rods, which is then used to infer the relative permittivity (dielectric constant) of the medium around these two rods. While the sensor is designed to capture the relative permittivity variation of soil with its moisture content, the immersion depth of the rods in water (or potentially other dielectric liquids) also influences the average dielectric constant of the air-water medium between the rods (consequently affecting its permittivity). Here we show how this change in permittivity can be calibrated to measure small liquid depths. An empirical calibration equation is developed; it accounts for the impact of water salinity, whereas the temperature effect on the measurements is shown to be negligible.
Abstract B77: Perillyl alcohol derivatives as anticancer agents

The use of the monoterpene perillyl alcohol (POH) for intranasal delivery to brain tumors was first popularized in Brazil. As monotherapy, POH has been found to be nontoxic, and to have anticancer activity in a subset of patients with malignant gliomas. The presumed route of delivery is presumed to be a cranial nerve (olfactory, trigeminal) to brain delivery, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. POH, itself, as a monoterpene is a clear liquid that we have found to be lipophilic in its consistency. We have explored the possibility of taking drugs that are out of patent, but with antibrain tumor activity, chemically conjugating them to POH, and creating a new drug. The process of drug discovery consisted of preclinical determination of: 1) feasibility of chemical conjugation, 2) determination of increased BBB penetrance using a BBB permeability program, 3) determination of functional activity via MTT and colony formation assays, 4) determination of mechanism of action, 5) determination of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics action, and 6) functional activity against intracranial tumors (gliomas, metastatic breast carcinoma, medulloblastomas) demonstrated using established in vivo syngeneic and immune-deficient rodent models. Once these six preclinical steps are validated, formal application for IND status can be prepared by: 1) GMP production of drug, 2) formal toxicity testing using large and small animal models under acute and chronic administration, and 3) clinical trial indication for Phase I/IIa. This method has been successfully employed using temozolomide (TMZ) to create TMZ-POH linked via a carbamate bond (TMZ-POH; NEO212). The same method has been performed for the phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitor rolipram (RP-POH, NEO214), valproic acid (VA-POH; NEO216), 3 bromopyruvate (3BP-POH; NEO218). In each case, we were surprised by the mechanistic differences observed from the native compound to the new drug after POH conjugation. For instance, NEO212 is a DNA-alkylating agent, but with 3x the BBB penetration, 10x the cytotoxic potency, and 3x the stability. This presentation will demonstrate our discovery process using our POH conjugates, and our current IND process for NEO212, which we hope to bring to the clinic in the next 6 months. Citation Format: Thomas C. Chen, Axel H. Schonthal, Florence H. Hofman. Perillyl alcohol derivatives as anticancer agents [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference held in cooperation with the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) on Translational Cancer Medicine; May 4-6, 2017; Sao Paulo, Brazil. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2018;24(1_Suppl):Abstract nr B77.
Medical impact analysis for the space station.

Since the Space Station Health Maintenance Facility can house only a relatively limited quantity of supplies and equipment, the decisions about what should be included must be based on documented research. In this study, Space Station medical care priorities were determined by a medical impact analysis of two analog populations, U.S. Army and U.S. Navy personnel. Diseases and injuries in the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) were ranked, using a Medical Impact Score (MIS) combining modified incidence rate and a function of disease outcome. The validity of the analysis method was tested by measuring rank order correlation between the two analog populations. Despite virtually identical age and sex distributions, Army and Navy incidence rates differed significantly for half of the ICD-9-CM categories, p less than 0.05. Disability rates differed for 76%, p less than 0.05. Nevertheless, Army and Navy MIS rank orders for categories and sections were not significantly different, p less than 0.001. In critical ways, the Space Station will be a safer environment than Earth. Cardiac events, musculoskeletal injuries, affective psychoses, and renal calculi were among the highest scoring categories.
The stability of learning disabilities among emergent bilingual children: A latent transition analysis

This study investigated the prevalence and stability of latent classes among elementary-aged English learning (EL) children whose first language is Spanish. To this end, EL children (N = 267) in Grades 1, 2, and 3 at Wave 1 (Year 1) were administered a battery of vocabulary, reading, math, and cognitive measures (short-term memory, working memory, rapid naming, inhibition) in both Spanish and English. These same measures were also administered one year later (Wave 2). Four important findings occurred. First, four latent classes (balanced bilinguals-average achievers, unbalanced bilinguals-average achievers, children at risk for learning disabilities, English dominant) at both testing waves emerged. Second, probability estimates indicated that 20% of the total sample was at risk for learning disabilities at Wave 1, with late-emerging academic difficulties increasing the learning disabilities latent class by 5% at Wave 2. Third, the incidence of late-emerging children at risk for learning disabilities was higher among balanced bilingual average achievers, especially for those children transitioning to or from Grade 3. Finally, the cognitive measures for predicting the odds of children being correctly classified in the final wave of testing included measures of naming speed and working memory. The results support the notion that statistically distinct latent classes emerge under the umbrella of language and academic performance and that children at risk for learning disabilities can be separated among a heterogeneous sample of children who are English language learners. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
A higher voltage Fe(II) bipyridine complex for non-aqueous redox flow batteries

Non-aqueous redox flow batteries (RFBs) offer the possibility of higher voltage and a wider working temperature range than their aqueous counterpart. Here, we optimize the established 2.26 V Fe(bpy)3(BF4)2/Ni(bpy)3(BF4)2 asymmetric RFB to lessen capacity fade and improve energy efficiency over 20 cycles. We also prepared a family of substituted Fe(bpyR)3(BF4)2 complexes (R = -CF3, -CO2Me, -Br, -H, -tBu, -Me, -OMe, -NH2) to potentially achieve a higher voltage RFB by systematically tuning the redox potential of Fe(bpyR)3(BF4)2, from 0.94 V vs. Ag/AgCl for R = OMe to 1.65 V vs. Ag/AgCl for R = CF3 (ΔV = 0.7 V). A series of electronically diverse symmetric and asymmetric RFBs were compared and contrasted to study electroactive species stability and efficiency, in which the unsubstituted Fe(bpy)3(BF4)2 exhibited the highest stability as a catholyte in both symmetric and asymmetric cells with voltage and coulombic efficiencies of 94.0% and 96.5%, and 90.7% and 80.7%, respectively.
Parametrization of Projectile Motion

Understanding the kinematics of multidimensional motion is central to understanding dynamics and energy. Projectile motion represents one of the most commonly taught two-dimensional motions. Research reports that students’ difficulties with understanding projectile motion account at large for their misconceptions. A handful of demonstrations are suggested to realize the parabolic path of a projectile; however, students still confuse vertical and horizontal components of the motion, which is essential to succeed in problem-solving. This study is posited to develop an understanding of projectile motion by zooming in on the underlying component parametric position functions and reconstructing their algebraic representations. Students will decompose a projected object’s motion path into its components during an inductively developed lab and exemplify the motion’s properties using mathematical reasoning. Parametric equations that are typically introduced in high school math courses will dominate the mathematical apparatus. This study was conducted with a group of twenty-two (N = 22) first-year university physics students. The posttest provided ample evidence that this didactical enterprise helped students realize the virtue of the motion’s algebraic strategy and its scientific underpinnings. This study offers pathways to extend the discourse to solidify covariation of the component functions and bridge this understanding with problem-solving.
Sterols are required for the coordinated assembly of lipid droplets in developing seeds

Lipid droplets (LDs) are intracellular organelles critical for energy storage and lipid metabolism. They are typically composed of an oil core coated by a monolayer of phospholipids and proteins such as oleosins. The mechanistic details of LD biogenesis remain poorly defined. However, emerging evidence suggest that their formation is a spatiotemporally regulated process, occurring at specific sites of the endoplasmic reticulum defined by a specific set of lipids and proteins. Here, we show that sterols are required for formation of oleosin-coated LDs in Arabidopsis. Analysis of sterol pathway mutants revealed that deficiency in several ∆5-sterols accounts for the phenotype. Importantly, mutants deficient in these sterols also display reduced LD number, increased LD size and reduced oil content in seeds. Collectively, our data reveal a role of sterols in coordinating the synthesis of oil and oleosins and their assembly into LDs, highlighting the importance of membrane lipids in regulating LD biogenesis.
Studies on the mitochondrial oligomycin-insensitive ATPase. II. The relationship of the specific protein inhibitor to the ATPase.

Abstract The specific mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor protein has been examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and the molecular weight was determined to be 10,500. This protein was present in some preparations of purified mitochondrial ATPase, but was completely absent from others. This difference was related to the technique of purification. The data suggest, therefore, that this protein is an easily dissociated subunit of mitochondrial ATPase. No difference was noted, however, in coupling efficiency between inhibitor-free and inhibitor-containing ATPase preparations in reconstitution experiments and the function of the inhibitor remains unclear.
Using a Cold Homicide Case to Teach Criminal Profiling

Criminal profiling of cold cases in a classroom setting can be an effective multifaceted teaching tool in the university setting. Critical thinking rooted in problems may evoke students’ natural curiosity and stimulates both learning and critical thoughts. Creating a university-level course that challenges students to question assumptions and explore logic and the scientific method may require creating a collaborative effort. Linking academic learning outcomes to a problem may create surprising erudition. The significance of this article shows presenting students with a challenging and complex problem that may tap into the innate desire for learning. Specific criminal profiling course objectives include identifying the relationship between physical evidence, behavioral evidence, and criminal profiling; inspecting crime scene photographs; recognizing offender behavior; performing wound pattern analysis; and matching behaviors of serial rape or homicide to a crime scene. Students perform a case assessment and write a threshold assessment of the cold homicide case.
File System Support for Digital Evidence Bags

Digital Evidence Bags (DEBs) are a mechanism for bundling digital evidence, associated metadata and audit logs into a single structure. DEB-compliant applications can update a DEB’s audit log as evidence is introduced into the bag and as data in the bag is processed. This paper investigates native file system support for DEBs, which has a number of benefits over ad hoc modification of digital evidence bags. The paper also describes an API for DEB-enabled applications and methods for providing DEB access to legacy applications through a DEB-aware file system. The paper addresses an urgent need for digital-forensics-aware operating system components that can enhance the consistency, security and performance of investigations.
Resistance of Spores of Bacillus subtilis var. niger on Kapton and Teflon Film to High Temperature and Dry Heat

To determine parameters that would assure sterility of a sealed seam of film for application in “split-seam entry,” spores of Bacillus subtilis var. niger were sprayed onto pieces of Kapton and Teflon film. Short-time, high-temperature (200 to 270 C) exposures were made with film pieces between aluminum blocks in a hot-air oven, and the D and z values were determined after subculture of surviving spores. The use of Kapton film allowed the study of high temperatures, since it is not heat sealable and could be used to make thin packages for heat treatment. Spores on Teflon were dry-heat treated in a package designed to simulate an actual seam to be sealed. The z values of 29.1 C (52.4 F) for spores on Kapton and 139 C (250.4 F) for spores on Teflon were calculated. Images
Green's functions in the theories of radiationless transitions, complex molecular spectra and resonant Raman cross sections: The solution for a generalized model, and its applications to the naphthalene second singlet

Abstract The Green function method developed for disordered solids is applied here to the theories of radiationless transitions, complex molecular spectra and resonant Raman cross sections. A generalized model in which all the molecular states of interest are embedded in both a radiative and a non-radiative continuum is used. A recipe is provided for the evaluation of Green's functions for such a generalized model. It is shown that, in general, for n discrete states (n-impurity problem), the present formulation calls for the inversion of 2n × 2n matrix. This is to be compared with the simple molecular problem (no radiative and non-radiative damping) where n interacting states would require the diagonalization of an n × n matrix. The green functions so evaluated can, then, be used to describe such diverse properties and phenomena as the radiationless transitions, resonant Raman cross sections, line shapes, lifetimes, quantum yields, etc. Specifically, the complex spectrum of the second singlet state of naphthalene is discussed within such a model as an example. A brief discussion on the inadequacies of traditional Raman intensity theories is also included.
Management of hypercalcemia. Diagnostic workup, therapeutic options for hyperparathyroidism and other common causes.

PREVIEWA previous article by Dr Inzucchi (April, page 69) reviewed normal and abnormal calcium metabolism and examined the pathophysiologic features of hypercalcemia. In this article, Dr Inzucchi discusses the diagnostic evaluation of the patient with an elevated serum calcium concentration and presents appropriate therapeutic strategies.
Moral Perception and Particularity: Moral development and conceptions of morality

Contemporary moral philosophy has been little concerned with developmental questions. The academic division of labor has consigned such matters to psychologists, who, in turn, have generally seen little need to address normative and philosophical issues. This separation has taken its toll on both disciplines. A responsible and comprehensive understanding of morality requires both disciplines and the few signs of cooperation and crossover are to be warmly welcomed. By and large, contemporary moral philosophy has not felt pressed to explore what it is like to be a person who lives according to its various normative theories, nor how one gets to be such a person. This neglect of the psychic substratum of morality can be given a philosophical rationale – that philosophy's role is simply to demonstrate the rational soundness of views of morality. On this view philosophical acceptability need have no connection to psychological reality. A further assumption in this direction – made, for example (though not consistently adhered to), by Kant–is that rational acceptability is by itself sufficient to motivate conformity to morality. This view at least has the virtue of recognizing the psychic underpinnings of morality as an issue, but it gives an entirely false picture of those psychic underpinnings. Happily, influential contemporary neo-Kantians such as Marcia Baron, Barbara Herman, Thomas Hill, Jr., Adrian Piper, and Stephen Darwall have shown a much greater interest in moral psychology, though less in moral development.
Complications of anesthesia for ocular surgery.

Ophthalmic anesthesia is unique because ophthalmic surgery itself rarely causes unanticipated hemodynamic instability. Unlike more invasive surgery, intravascular fluid shifts, blood loss, and changes in cardiac, respiratory, hepatic, and renal function are almost never caused by the surgical procedure. Complications of anesthetic management stand alone; patients are subject to every known complication of anesthesia, magnified at times by ophthalmologic or patient demographic factors, but not caused by those factors. Ocular anesthesia complications can be
Kernel techniques for generalized audio crossfades

This paper explores a variety of density and kernel-based techniques that can smoothly connect (crossfade or “morph” between) two functions. When the functions represent audio spectra, this provides a concrete way of adjusting the partials of a sound while smoothly interpolating between existing sounds. The approach can be applied to both interpolation crossfades (where the crossfade connects two different sounds over a specified duration) and to repetitive crossfades (where a series of sounds are generated, each containing progressively more features of one sound and fewer of the other). The interpolation surface can be thought of as the two dimensions (time and frequency) of a spectrogram, and the kernels can be chosen so as to constrain the surface in a number of desirable ways. When successful, the timbre of the sounds is changed dynamically in a plausible way. A series of sound examples demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of the approach.
Electron resonance spectra of gamma-irradiated polymers: Measurements at 77°K. on polymethacrylic acid and related compounds†

The electron spin resonance (e.s.r.) spectra of free radicals trapped in some addition polymers after gamma-irradiation at 77°K. are described and discussed. When polymethacrylic acid is gamma-irradiated at 77°K., the e.s.r. spectrum at this temperature consists of a symmetrical pattern of seven lines which may be due to dimethyl carboxy methyl radicals, (CH3)2C—CO2H. On warming to 300°K. this spectrum is replaced by the normal “five-plus-four line” spectrum, which has been attributed to trapped propagating radicals. When polymethacrylic acid freed from monomer is gamma-irradiated at 77°K. the e.s.r. spectrum is a single line, probably arising from trapped ·CO2H radicals. A reaction scheme is put forward to account for the production of these radicals. Some observations on polymethyl, polyethyl, poly n-butyl, and poly n-hexyl methacrylates and polydimethyl itaconate are also reported.
Laser annealing for high-Q MEMS resonators

High frequency and high quality factor, Q, (defined as a half-width of the resonant peak) are the key factors that determine applications of microelectromechanical (MEMS) oscillators for supersensitive force detection or as elements for radio frequency signal processing. By shrinking the dimensions of MEMS resonators to the sub-micron range one increases the resonant frequency of the devices. Shrinking the devices, however, also increases the surface-to-volume ratio leading to a significant degradation of the quality factor (to below 5,000) due to the increased contribution of surface-related losses. We demonstrate that local annealing performed by focused low-power laser beams can improve the quality factor of MEMS resonators by more than an order of magnitude, which we attribute to the alteration of the surface state. Quality factors over 150,000 were achieved after laser annealing 3.1 MHz disc-type oscillators (radius R=10 micrometers, thickness h=0.25 micrometer) compared with a Q=6,000 for the as-fabricated device. The mushroom-type design of our resonator (a single-crystal silicon disc supported by a thin silicon dioxide pillar at the center) provides low heat loss and also confines the electron-hole gas created by laser excitation, enhancing light absorption. The combined power of a red HeNe laser (Pred=4mW) and a blue Ar+ ion laser (Pblue=5mW) focused on the periphery of the mushroom provides enough energy for surface modification. The post-treatment quality factor, exceeding 100,000 for MHz-range resonators, boosts the performance of MEMS to be comparable to that of lower frequency single-crystal quartz devices. The local nature of laser annealing, safe for surrounding electronics, is a crucial element for integration of MEMS resonators into an integrated circuit environment.
Real-time monitoring of non-viable airborne particles correlates with airborne colonies and represents an acceptable surrogate for daily assessment of cell-processing cleanroom performance

AbstractBackground aims. Airborne particulate monitoring is mandated as a component of good manufacturing practice. We present a procedure developed to monitor and interpret airborne particulates in an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) class 7 cleanroom used for the cell processing of Section 351 and Section 361 products. Methods. We collected paired viable and non-viable airborne particle data over a period of 1 year in locations chosen to provide a range of air quality. We used receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis to determine empirically the relationship between non-viable and viable airborne particle counts. Results. Viable and non-viable particles were well-correlated (r2 = 0.78), with outlier observations at the low end of the scale (non-viable particles without detectable airborne colonies). ROC analysis predicted viable counts ≥ 0.5/feet3 (a limit set by the United States Pharmacopeia) at an action limit of ≥ 32 000 particles (≥ 0.5 µ)/feet3, with 95.6% sensitivity an...
Changes in epicuticular waxes on wildtype and eceriferum mutants in Arabidopsis during development

Abstract We analysed the leaf epicuticular wax chemical constituents on wildtype and eceriferum ( cer; cerl, cer3 and cer4 ) mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana at 7, 15, 25 and 40 days after germination. Changes during development are described for the partitioning of epicuticular waxes into the five major chemical classes; free carboxylic fatty acids, aldehydes, alkanes, primary alcohols and wax esters. Changes are described for cumulative total epicuticular wax loads per leaf area, percentages of total constituents in each of the five major chemical classes and chain length distributions for the two major chemical classes: alkanes and primary alcohols. Stem epicuticular waxes on wildtype and cer mutants were analysed at 25 and 40 days and found to be similar.
Competing probabilistic models for catch-effort relationships in wildlife censuses

Abstract Two probabilistic models are presented for describing the chance that an animal is captured during a wildlife census, as a function of trapping effort. The models in turn are used to propose relationships between sampling intensity and catch-per-unit-effort (C.P.U.E.) that were field tested on small mammal populations. Capture data suggests a model of diminishing C.P.U.E. with increasing levels of trapping intensity. The catch-effort model is used to illustrate optimization procedures in the design of mark-recapture experiments for censusing wild populations.
Nonparametric estimation in a cure model with random cure times

SUMMARY. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening acute condition that sometimes follows pneumonia or surgery. Patients who recover and leave the hospital are considered to have been cured at the time they leave the hospital. These data differ from typical data in which cure is a possibility: death times are not observed for patients who are cured and cure times are observed and vary among patients. Here we apply a competing risks model to these data and show it to be equivalent to a mixture model, the more common approach for cure data. Further, we derive an estimator for the variance of the cumulative incidence function from the competing risks model, and thus for the cure rate, based on elementary calculations. We compare our variance estimator to Gray's (1988, Annals of Statistics 16, 1140-1154) estimator, which is based on counting process theory. We find our estimator to be slightly more accurate in small samples. We apply these results to data from an ARDS clinical trial.
Antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity in human cancer: Characterization of patient leukocyte activity and treatment effects

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), medicated by peripheral blood Hypaque-Ficoll separated mononuclear cells, was studied in humans using chicken erythrocytes (CRBC) incubated in a 1:1200 dilution of rabbit anti-CRBC and human B erythrocytes (HRBC) incubation in a 1:20 dilution of isoantibody. At the optimal target effector ratio of 3:1, ADCC to both CRBC and HRBC was significantly higher than normal in 27 lung cancer, 18 malignant melanoma, and seven colon cancer patients, but not in 20 breast cancer patients. Chemotherapy (single-agent or combination) in 12 patients did not effect ADCC in vitro but significantly suppressed ADCC to both targets after only four or five days of therapy in vivo (ADCC to CRBC, 47.4 to 24.1% lysis: ADCC to HRBC, 48.1 to 16.3% lysis). Immunotherapy with intravenous (IV) corynebacterium parvum or IV methanol extraction residue of BCG (MER) boosted ADCC to both targets within four to seven days of the first dose. It was found that ADCC to HRBC but not to CRBC was completely absent in three cases of active hairy cell leukemia but was present in two cases in remission. The ADCC to HRBC showed an age-dependent increase in both the 51 normal subject and the cancer patients. This was not observed for ADCC to CRBC. The ADCC to CRBC was mediated mainly by an Fc-receptor-positive, nonadherent, small lymphocyte, and ADCC to HRBC was mediated entirely by an adherent monocyte. The ADCC did not correlate significantly with the H3 thymidine incorporation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cultured without stimulation for either one or seven days. It also did not correlate with the number of residual granulocytes in the mononuclear cell suspensions. Measurement of ADCC is a useful method of characterizing host defense in malignant disease and its modification by therapy.
The relationship between EEG amplitude and the rate of classical conditioning

Six cats were used as Ss in a classical conditioning study to determine the rate of conditioning when the conditioned stimulus was presented during bursts of EEG activity which exceeded 80 microvolts (experimental group) and 20 microvolts (control group). It was observed that the animals conditioned significantly faster under the high-amplitude conditions than under the low-amplitude conditions. These results were related to differences in cortical excitability during high- and low-amplitude EEG activity.
Comparison of Sample Fixation and the use of LDS-751 or anti-CD45 for Leukocyte Identification in Mouse Whole Blood for Flow Cytometry.

Flow cytometry methods used to measure leukocyte function often entail sample preparation procedures that cause artifactual cell activation. To avoid leukocyte activation by isolation techniques, some preparation methods use fluorescent markers to discriminate leukocytes from erythrocytes in whole blood. One of these markers, laser dye styryl-751(LDS-751), has been used to distinguish leukocytes by staining nucleic acid, but has been found to stain other blood cells and dead cells indiscriminately. Thus, LDS-751 may not be an appropriate reagent for leukocyte identification in whole blood. Fixing samples with formaldehydes increases cell permeability and causes surface protein cross-linking that may alter staining of both intra- and extracellular markers. The degree of this sample alteration by formaldehyde fixation, however, remains in question. In addition, little is known about flow cytometry and sample preparation methods in mouse whole blood. The purpose of this study was to determine if labeling leukocytes with a monoclonal antibody specific to leukocyte common antigen (CD45) was superior to labeling with LDS-751 and to determine the effect of sample fixation on a mouse whole blood preparation for flow cytometry. Samples were incubated with CD16/CD32 Fc receptor blocker, and either 10 microg/ml LDS-751 or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The samples were then fixed with paraformaldehyde or diluted with PBS followed by incubation with 5 microg/ml PerCP-conjugated anti-CD45, 5 microg/ml FITC-conjugated anti-CD11b, or 80 microM dichlorofluorescein diacetate. We found that samples labeled with LDS-751 demonstrated decreased fluorescence intensity for granulocyte CD11b expression and ROS production compared to samples labeled with anti-CD45. In addition, sample fixation decreased mean fluorescence intensity in samples labeled with either LDS-751 or anti-CD45. We conclude that labeling leukocytes with monoclonal antibody CD45 in a mouse whole blood preparation is preferable, as it provides improved measurement of leukocyte indices compared to LDS-751. Also, while sample fixation prior to antibody staining caused a decrease in overall fluorescence; it can be used to successfully identify extra-cellular markers.
Multiplex Single Molecule Detection Module for Stroke Diagnosis

A polymer-based, multiplex single molecule detection module (SMD) was developed with a fluidic substrate and a cover plate. The fluidic substrate was fabricated using a single-step, double-sided hot embossing in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with sampling zone microchannels on the bottom side and microlenses on the top. Shallow sampling zone microchannels (5 μm deep and 100 μm wide) were made to improve sampling efficiency and microlenses were adopted to collect the fluorescent radiation from the sampling zone microchannels. A cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) embedded waveguide in PMMA along with an integrated coupling prism was fabricated using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stencils and melted COC (40% w/v in toluene) on the cover plate. The COC waveguide with a COC integrated coupling prism will be used for evanescent excitation of fluorescent samples in the sampling zone microchannels. The fluidic substrate was bonded with the cover plate using thermal fusion bonding based on a pressure-assisted boiling point control system. This approach allowed for sealing of shallow microchannels without observable sagging of the cover plate, which was confirmed by leakage testing with fluorescent dyes. The completed SMD module will be tested for characterization of the optical performances such as signal-to-noise ratio and sampling efficiency and it will provide the capability for rapid screening of stroke at low cost.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Construction and properties of new Lyt-congenic strains and anti-Lyt-2.2 and anti-Lyt-3.1 monoclonal antibodies.

Hybridomas producing mouse monoclonal IgM antibodies specific for Lyt-2.2 and Lyt-3.1 T-cell surface alloantigens have been constructed. Cytotoxic titers of ascites fluids were found to be 10−6 or greater and no lysis of thymocytes of congenic strains bearing the alternative allele was observed at the lowest dilutions tested (1∶2). The anti-Lyt-2.2 monoclonal antibody (HO-2.2) specifically precipiated from extracts of Lyt-2.2-positive thymocytes molecular species indistinguishable from those precipitated by conventional anti-Lyt-2.2 sera. However, by immunoprecipitation criteria (though not by cytotoxicity), the anti-Lyt-3.1 antibody (HO-3.1) demonstrated some cross-reactivity with similar molecular species from Lyt-3.1-negative thymocytes. In addition, three new strains of mice differing from existing strains in the region of theLyt-2 and4Lyt-3 loci have been constructed. They are: C.C58-Lyt-2a, Lyt-3a and C.AKR-Lyt-2a, Lyt-3a, congenic with Balb/cAn and bearingLyt-2 a andLyt-3 a alleles of C58/J and AKR/J, respectively; and AKR.C-Lyt-2b, Lyt-3b, congenic with AKR/J and bearing theLyt-2 b andLyt-3 b alleles of Balb/cJ.
Strontium-90 and Skeletal Formation

The potential radiostrontium level to be expected in the skeletons of growing children as a result of environmental contamination was computed. Results are based on available data on the rate of bone remodeling and exchange, the rate of skeletal growth, and the level of /sup 90/Sr in the biosphere.
The antiviral prophylaxis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a complication of transplant immunosuppression often seen within the first year following solid organ and bone marrow transplantation [1-13]. The incidence of PTLD in allograft recipients according to the type of transplant received is as follows: kidney 0.2-3.9% [4, 6, 11, 14-16]; l iver 1 -3% [3, 6, 11], pancreas 0 1 2 % [17-20] , heart 1 .2-11.9% [6, 7, 11, 14-16, 21], lung 4 .5 -10% [8, 11, 14, 15, 22, 23], small bowel 20% [24], mult ivisceral 23% [25] and bone marrow 2% [26-28] . The mortal i ty f rom P T L D is 0 8 0 % depending upon the location, his tology and t iming of the diagnosis but is very difficult to predict us ing standard criteria for the staging of lymphomas [1, 3, 4, 9, 11, 29-34] . Therefore, avoiding the deve lopment of P T L D by modi fy ing the risk factors associated with the disease, while main ta in ing allograft funct ion, has been a major goal of t ransplant programs. The deve lopment of PTLD is inf luenced by the type of t ransplant received [6], the Epste in Barr virus (EBV) serostatus of the recipient (Table 1), [4, 35-37] , the presence
Five Letters of Henry James

Kirk transcribes five letters by Henry James contained in the Symington Collection to Joseph Edgar Boehm (1834-1890); William Barclay Squire ( 1855-1927); Edmund Gosse (1849-1928); and Matilda Barbara Betham-Edwards (1836-1919).
Abstract 4994: An integrated stress response activator causes cellular senescence and inhibits growth in multiple tumor cell types

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The Integrated Stress Response (ISR) is a program elicited by mammalian cells to attenuate global translation in response to a variety of stressors. There are four branches of the ISR, including those mediated by PERK, which responds to endoplasmic reticulum stress, and GCN2, which is activated by amino acid deprivation. Activation of these kinases ultimately leads to translational upregulation of the transcription factor ATF4, which modulates the expression of genes involved in amino acid transport and synthesis, oxidative stress, and differentiation. Complete abrogation of the ISR or its overactivation by pharmacological agents in the presence of hypoxic or nutrient stress has been shown to lead to cell death. Here, we employed a small molecule screen to identify modulators of ATF4 expression via a reporter construct with the 5′-UTR of ATF4 fused to the luciferase gene. From this screen, a compound with ATF4-activating properties was identified. Multiple assays have been used to characterize the effects of this drug, referred to as E235, on both transformed and normal cells. Specifically, we have shown that E235 induces the ISR in a dose-dependent manner in tumor cell lines (HT1080 fibrosarcoma, B16F10 melanoma) but not in normal human diploid cells. The drug also reduces cell viability and proliferation at low μM concentrations, which does not appear to be dependent on apoptosis. By performing live cell microscopy, we observed that after prolonged (>24h) treatment with 1μM E235, the majority of cells displayed senescence-like morphology. This was confirmed by additional experiments, such as staining for senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and immunoblotting for the upregulation of the cdk inhibitor p21. Future experiments will focus on establishing the roles of ATF4, p21 and p53 in E235-mediated senescence. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4994. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4994
Intermediate $\beta$-R.E. Degrees and the Half-Jump

In his thesis [2] Sy Friedman showed that for any inadmissible ordinal β there is an easily definable β -r.e. degree, 0 1/2 , with β -degree strictly between 0 and 0′. In this paper we define, for some weakly admissible β , a β -r.e. degree 0 3/4 intermediate between 0 1/2 and 0′. This definition is given using the machinery developed by Maass [6], [7] to study the β -r.e. degrees. A weak jump for β -recursion theory, the ½-jump, was first defined by Friedman [4] and has been studied by Sacks and Homer [5]. The degree 0 3/4 is of interest because of the way it interacts with the half-jump. In particular 0 3/4 forms the boundary between the half-jump of “hyperregular” and “nonhyperregular” β -r.e. degrees less than 0 1/2 . One consequence of these results is that there are weakly inadmissible β for which either the jump theorem or the density theorem fails. Much of this paper is based on earlier work in this area by Sy Friedman and Wolfgang Maass. I would like to thank Gerald Sacks for many helpful conversations and comments concerning this work.
Differential mRNA transcription during salinity stress in barley.

Abstract The molecular and genetic bases of salinity tolerance in plants are not understood. Gene expression at the mRNA level was investigated in a salt-tolerant and a salt-sensitive genotype of barley. Seedlings were exposed to NaCl stress and translatable mRNAs were isolated from root and shoot tissues. A reticulocyte cell-free system was programed with barley mRNAs and the in vitro products were resolved on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels following isoelectric focusing or nonequilibrium pH gradient gel electrophoresis in the first dimension. The functional mRNAs in unstressed seedlings were qualitatively almost indistinguishable in the two genotypes. However, salinity stress triggered differential transcription of specific mRNAs depending upon genotype and tissue. In roots, 12 new mRNAs were induced that encoded proteins of 21-34 kDa, with a pI range of 6.1-7.7. In shoots, the 9 new mRNAs coded for proteins of 18-50.5 kDa, with a pI range of 5.4-7.8. These new stress mRNAs represented one of two main classes. Class I consisted of mRNAs shared by both genotypes. Class II represented mRNAs specific to each genotype; unique mRNAs of roots accumulated preferentially in the salt-tolerant genotype, whereas those of shoots accumulated in the salt-sensitive genotype. The findings suggest that transcriptional as well as posttranscriptional mechanisms regulate gene expression in barley during salinity stress.
Electroshock Seizures in Mice: Effect on Brain Adenosine and Its Metabolites

Adenosine and its immediate metabolites, inosine and hypoxanthine, were measured in mouse brain following the induction of electroshock seizures and after a subconvulsive series of electric shocks. Electroshock seizures resulted in a marked and prolonged rise in inosine, with maximal values at 5 min. Hypoxanthine increased more slowly but reached high levels by 10 min. Adenosine was unchanged. Phenytoin and to a lesser extent phenobarbital reduced these effects. Following the subconvulsive stimulus, 15 single shocks over an interval of 5 sec, inosine increased rapidly, adenosine rose slightly, and hypoxanthine did not change. Both phenytoin and phenobarbital blocked these increases in adenosine and inosine. Early elevations in inosine may play some role in seizure generation and propagation. The high levels of inosine and hypoxanthine found after recovery may be involved in the termination of epileptic activity, possibly by interacting with the benzodiazepine receptor for which they are ligands.
Micro-Level Studies of Violence in Civil War: Refining and Extending the Control-Collaboration Model

The article reviews recent advances in the study of violence in civil wars. It provides a brief description of the baseline “control-collaboration” model, discusses alternatives to it, and reviews recent empirical studies that supply additions, corrections, extensions, and refinements to the baseline model. It highlights some of the assumptions that can be relaxed based on this new research, including the following ones: that in civil war context information is produced exclusively or even primarily by civilian denunciations at the local level; that violence is only used to deter civilian defection; that conflict is always locally dyadic; and that rival factions are organizationally indistinct from each other and resort to similar repertoires of violence. These refinements and extensions have the potential to produce a novel set of predictions that can be tested against both existing and new data. The essay notes the dynamism of this research program and recommends two steps for future research. First, it...
Is provider training effective? Changes in attitudes towards smoking cessation counseling and counseling behaviors of home health care nurses

Abstract Objective. We prospectively examined whether training home health care nurses is associated with changes in attitudes towards smoking cessation counseling and counseling behaviors. Methods. We trained 98 home health care nurses to deliver cessation counseling to their patients. Measures were administered at pre-training, post-training, and 6 months later. This was part of a larger study conducted in Providence, RI, USA (1998–2002). Results. Compared with pre-training, at post-training, nurses reported significantly higher levels of self-efficacy to counsel, positive outcome expectations, optimism that patients would follow their advice, perceived worth of smoking counseling, perceived importance of quitting smoking, and perceived organizational support. These training effects were maintained 6 months later. Between the end of training and the 6-month follow-up, nurses reported significant increases in their perceived effectiveness to counsel smokers and confidence to encourage behavior change. Compared with pre-training, at 6 months of follow-up, nurses were significantly more likely to ask about smoking status, assess readiness to quit, advise to quit, assist with quitting, and arrange follow-up. Nurses spent significantly more time counseling smokers at 6 months than at pre-training, and were less likely to selectively counsel. Conclusions. Brief training facilitates both short- and long-term changes in nurse attitudes and behaviors regarding smoking cessation counseling.
A SiGe-based Ku-band digital beamforming array for high speed on-the-move comm/radar system

A digital beamforming (DBF) prototype that uses compact and low cost Balanced Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna (BAVA) array and SiGe based-receiver is presented. An example is given for a Ku-band DBF system that demonstrates simultaneous reception of two or more full motion videos in a portable device.
Voltage-gated sodium channels: the search for subtype-selective analgesics

Background: Primary afferent or sensory neurons innervate almost all the tissues of the body. They are vital in receiving sensory information and conveying this to the spinal cord and subsequently to the brain, where the higher centres convert this afferent input into an ‘understanding’ of its nature. The nociceptors are a subset of sensory neurons responsible for the transmission of ‘painful’ stimuli into the CNS. Objective/methods: Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are pivotal in the transduction of noxious signals at the terminals of the nociceptors and the transmission of the signal along the axon and into the spinal cord and brain. There are nine functional members of the VGSC family. This review aims to briefly summarise the biology of the family, discuss those VGSCs involved in the transduction and transmission of nociceptive signals and to highlight the potential and also the challenges in seeking subtype-selective VGSC modulators for the effective treatment of pain. Results/conclusion: Robust...
Nitric oxide and carbon monoxide produce activity-dependent long-term synaptic enhancement in hippocampus

Nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) may act as retrograde messages for long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. Zinc protoporphyrin IX, an inhibitor of the enzyme that produces CO, blocked induction of LTP in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices. Application of either NO or CO to slices produced a rapid and long-lasting increase in the size of evoked synaptic potentials if, and only if, the application occurred at the same time as weak tetanic stimulation. This long-term enhancement was spatially restricted to synapses from active presynaptic fibers and appeared to involve mechanisms utilized by LTP, occluding the subsequent induction of LTP by strong tetanic stimulation. The enhancement by NO and CO was not blocked by an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker, suggesting that NO and CO act downstream from the NMDA receptor. Also, CO produced long-term enhancement when paired with low-frequency stimulation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that NO and CO, either alone or in combination, serve as retrograde messages that produce activity-dependent presynaptic enhancement during LTP.