cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
N-Acetylgalactosamino Dendrons as Clearing Agents to Enhance Liver Targeting of Model Antibody-Fusion Protein

Dendrimer clearing agents represent a unique class of compounds for use in multistep targeting (MST) in radioimmunotherapy and imaging. These compounds were developed to facilitate the removal of excess tumor-targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb) prior to administration of the radionuclide to minimize exposure of normal tissue to radiation. Clearing agents are designed to capture the circulating mAb, and target it to the liver for metabolism. Glycodendrons are ideally suited for MST applications as these highly branched compounds are chemically well-defined, thus advantageous over heterogeneous macromolecules. Previous studies have described glycodendron 3 as a clearing agent for use in three-step MST protocols, and early in vivo assessment of 3 showed promise. However, synthetic challenges have hampered its availability for further development. In this report we describe a new sequence of chemical steps which enables the straightforward synthesis and analytical characterization of this class of dendrons. With accessibility and analytical identification solved, we sought to evaluate both lower and higher generation dendrons for hepatocyte targeting as well as clearance of a model protein. We prepared a series of clearing agents where a single biotin is connected to glycodendrons displaying four, eight, sixteen or thirty-two α-thio-N-acetylgalactosamine (α-SGalNAc) units, resulting in compounds with molecular weights ranging from 2 to 17 kDa, respectively. These compounds were fully characterized by LCMS and NMR. We then evaluated the capacity of these agents to clear a model (131)I-labeled single chain variable fragment antibody-streptavidin ((131)I-scFv-SAv) fusion protein from blood and tissue in mice, and compared their clearing efficiencies to that of a 500 kDa dextran-biotin conjugate. Glycodendrons and dextran-biotin exhibited enhanced blood clearance of the scFv-SAv construct. Biodistribution analysis showed liver targeting/uptake of the scFv-SAv construct to be 2-fold higher for compounds 1 to 4, as well as for the 500 kDa dextran, over saline. Additionally, the data suggest the glycodendrons clear through the liver, whereas the dextran through reticuloendothelial system (RES) metabolism.
Heavy-chain receptor editing unbound.

With all of the certainty of death and taxes, questions regarding the mechanisms of immunological tolerance remain fixtures across the landscape of immunology. From Paul Ehlirch’s “horror autotoxicus” (reviewed in ref. 1) to the current synthesis of tolerance by apoptosis, anergy, and receptor editing (2), the mechanisms of immunological tolerance remain, despite substantial research effort, enigmatic.
The Classic: The Metabolic Effects of Steroid Hormones in Osteoporosis

This Classic Article is a reprint of the original work by E.C. Reifenstein Jr. and F. Albright, The Metabolic Effects of Steroid Hormones in Osteoporosis. An accompanying biographical sketch of F. Albright is available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-011-1831-0. The Classic Article is ©1946 and is reprinted with permission from The American Society for Clinical Investigation from Reifenstein EC, Albright F. The metabolic effects of steroid hormones in osteoporosis. J Clin Invest. 1947;26:24–56.
A Maritime Regime for North-East Asia

Mark Valencia here provides a framework for developing multilateral regional maritime policy co-ordination in North-East Asia. The Maritime Region for North-East Asia is the first in-depth study applying international relations theory to maritime regime formation in North-East Asia, and the author is the first to propose detailed designs and characteristics for such regimes.
Sodium passivation dependence on phosphorus concentration in tetraethylorthosilicate plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposited phosphosilicate glasses

Mobile ions like sodium are known to cause instabilities in metal oxide semiconductor devices. Phosphosilicate glasses (P glasses) have been used as passivating layers to isolate the active devices from such contamination. In this study we have examined the effectiveness of tetraethylorthosilicate plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposited P glasses, as the barrier to sodium diffusion, as a function of the phosphorus concentration. High‐frequency capacitance versus voltage (C‐V) measurements, bias‐temperature measurements, C‐V measurements after etch back, and current versus voltage (I‐V) measurements were performed. The results of these C‐V and I‐V studies on P‐glass samples purposely contaminated with sodium and annealed indicate that 2–4 wt % of phosphorus is sufficient to passivate successfully against sodium.
Children with Cancer: The Pain Experience Away From the Health Care Setting:

Abstract Relatively little is known about the nature of pain in children with cancer away from the health care setting. Accordingly, this pilot study focused on the pain experience in this group. A purposive sample of 20 children, ages 4 through 16 years, with any type of cancer, was obtained. A semistructured interview including the Poker Chip Tool and Preschool Body Outline (ages 4 to 7 years) or the Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool (age 8 to 16 years) was administered to all the children once during a clinic appointment. Supplemental parental input was sought during the interview. Two of the children also were contacted every 2 weeks for 3 months. Content analysis indicated that the children experienced pain in a number of locations, most frequently the “stomach,” joints, legs, and back. Pain intensity varied widely. The source of pain identified most often was chemotherapy. The most common pain management strategies mentioned were rest/sleep, analgesics, rubbing, distraction, social support, and heat. Clearly, children with cancer away from the health care setting do have pain. Assessment of pain in children with cancer regardless of setting is a necessity.
Interview Language: A Proxy Measure for Acculturation Among Asian Americans in a Population-Based Survey

We examined health status and access to care among Asian Americans by the following acculturation indicators: nativity, percent lifetime in the US, self-rated English proficiency, and interview language, to assess whether any measure better distinguishes acculturation. Data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey were used to study the sample of 4,170 US-born and foreign-born Asians by acculturation indicators. We performed t-tests to compare differences in demographics, health status and behaviors, and access to care between the foreign-born and US-born Asians, and between various classifications within foreign-born and the US-born Asian group. Our results showed that foreign-born Asians who interviewed in English more closely resembled US-born Asians than foreign-born Asians who interviewed in languages other than English. Compared to interview language, dichotomizing the sample by other acculturation indicators showed smaller differences between the divided groups. Interview language may serve as a better measure for acculturation especially among foreign-born populations with a high proportion of limited English proficiency. In immigrant public health research studies, interview language may be used as an important covariate for health disparities.
Correlates of family contact with the mental health system: allocation of a scarce resource.

This study explored correlates of informal and formal contact between clinicians and families of individuals with schizophrenia. We reanalyzed data from 902 individuals with schizophrenia from the Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) client survey and a Veterans Affairs extension. Only 31% of families had any informal contact with a clinician and 7.8% attended a formal support program. Logistic regression showed that younger age, greater education, drug problems, receiving psychiatric inpatient and day treatment services, and participants’ satisfaction with their family were all positively and significantly associated with informal contact. Receipt of formal family services was associated with intensity of social contact between participants and families. These results suggest that formal services for families of individuals with schizophrenia are not commonly available, and that informal pathways are the most common, although still limited, mechanism through which families of those patients who are receiving intensive services communicate with clinicians.
RAGE overexpression confers a metastatic phenotype to the WM115 human primary melanoma cell line

The formation of melanoma metastases from primary tumor cells is a complex phenomenon that involves the regulation of multiple genes. We have previously shown that the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) was up-regulated in late metastatic stages of melanoma patient samples and we hypothesized that up-regulation of RAGE in cells forming a primary melanoma tumor could contribute to the metastatic switch of these cells. To test our hypothesis, we overexpressed RAGE in the WM115 human melanoma cell line that was established from a primary melanoma tumor of a patient. We show here that overexpression of RAGE in these cells is associated with mesenchymal-like morphologies of the cells. These cells demonstrate higher migration abilities and reduced proliferation properties, suggesting that the cells have switched to a metastatic phenotype. At the molecular level, we show that RAGE overexpression is associated with the up-regulation of the RAGE ligand S100B and the down-regulation of p53, ERK1/2, cyclin E and NF-kB. Our study supports a role of RAGE in the metastatic switch of melanoma cells.
Steel Factor and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Act Together to Enhance Choline-Lipid Turnover during Synergistically Stimulated Proliferation of the Human Factor-Dependent Cell Line, M07e

The hematopoietic growth factors granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and steel factor have been shown to synergize in the stimulation of proliferation of the human factor-dependent cell line M07e. We investigated the possible involvement of lpid-mediated signaling in granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and steel factor induced proliferative synergism. It was found that treatment of M07e cells with these factors alone stimulates choline lipid metabolism and that they cooperate to further enhance this effect. Therefore a choline lipid signal transduction pathway may operate as part of the series of events leading to synergistic growth induced by the combination of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and steel factor.
Evidence for intrachromosomal gene conversion in cultured mouse cells

Abstract In this report we present an experimental scheme that facilitates the study of homologous recombination between closely linked genes in cultured mammalian cells. Two different Xho I linker insertion mutants of the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HTK) gene were introduced into mouse LTK − cells as direct repeats on a plasmid carrying a dominant selectable marker. Following stabilization of these sequences in the recipient cell, selection for TK + was applied to detect recombinational events between different TK − genes. TK + segregants were observed at a frequency of 10 −4 –10 −5 in lines harboring both mutant genes. Control lines carrying only one type of mutant HTK gene yielded TK + cells at frequencies of 10 −7 or less. Physical analysis of the TK + segregants has revealed the presence of an apparently normal HTK gene that is resistant to Xho I endonuclease digestion in each TK + line examined. Analyses of the TK gene pairs before and after recombination suggest that at least 50% of the recombinants are the result of nonreciprocal exchanges of genetic information, or gene conversion events.
An interpretation of morphometric and gravimetric differences shown by adult Steganacarus magnus (Acari: Cryptostigmata)

The weights and lengths of about a thousand individuals of Steganacarus magnus (Nic.) have been analysed and found to have a bimodal distribution. It is suggested that this can be used as an aid to separating the sexes in this species. Summary: An analysis of the weight distributions of adult Steganacarus magnus (Nic.) showed them to be bimodal. Small individuals, without eggs and pre-larvae had a mean weight of 159 μg and large individuals with eggs and pre-larvae had a mean weight of 335 μg. It is suggested that these two weight classes represent male and female individuals.
Vibrational spectroscopic analysis of lithium hydrazinium sulfate

Abstract The low temperature polarized Raman spectra of lithium hydrazinium sulfate, LiN2H5SO4, have been measured in the range 5–3500 cm−1. The symmetry-based assignments for the observed modes are given. The room temperature polarized i.r. reflectivity spectra in the range 200–4000 cm−1 were also measured to verify the presence of extensive TO—LO splitting in the sulfate ion ν3 and ν4 internal optic modes. In the lattice mode region, the lithium ion external optic modes are identified, and the spectra of the deuterated analog allow the identification of several modes due primarily to the external motions of either the sulfate or hydrazinium ions. Other lattice modes are found to be a mixture of sulfate and hydrazinium ion external motions. Coupling of the sulfate ion ν3 modes and the hydrazinium ion group bending modes prevents an unambiguous assignment of the bands in the 1050–1200 cm−1 spectral region. The N—H stretching region spectra contain a larger number of modes than predicted by a factor group analysis. These extra modes are discussed in terms of resonance interactions of the N—H stretching fundamental modes with overtones and combination modes.
Investigating conscious experience through the beeper project

The Experience Sampling Method (ESM; Larson & Csikszentmihalyi, 1983) is a means to investigate the subjective experiences of individuals as they go about their daily lives. Students from 2 Adolesc...
Sources, sinks, and exposure pathways of lead in urban garden soil

The chemistry of Pb in urban soil must be understood in order to limit human exposure to Pb in soil and produce and to implement remediation schemes. In inner-city gardens where Pb contamination is prevalent and financial resources are limited, it is critical to identify the variables that control Pb bioavailability. Field-portable X-ray fluorescence was used to measure Pb in 103 urban gardens in Roxbury and Dorchester, MA, and 88% were found to contain Pb above the USEPA reportable limit of 400 mug g(-1). Phosphorus, iron, loss on ignition, and pH data were collected, Pb-bearing phases were identified by X-ray diffraction, and Pb isotopes were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Four test crops were grown both in situ and in Roxbury soil in a greenhouse, and plant tissue was analyzed for Pb uptake by polarized energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Variation at the neighborhood scale in soil mineralogical and chemical characteristics suggests that the bioavailable fraction of Pb in gardens is site specific. Based on Pb isotope analysis, two historical Pb sources appear to dominate the inventory of Pb in Roxbury gardens: leaded gasoline ((207) Pb/(206) Pb = 0.827) and Pb-based paint ((207)Pb/(206) Pb = 0.867). Nearly 70% of the samples analyzed can be isotopically described by mixing these two end members, with Pb-based paint contributing 40 to 80% of the mass balance. A simplified urban human exposure model suggests that the consumption of produce from urban gardens is equivalent to approximately 10 to 25% of children's daily exposure from tap water. Furthermore, analysis of over 60 samples of plant tissue from the four test species suggests that in these urban gardens unamended phytoremediation is an inadequate tool for decreasing soil Pb.
Appropriate Regulation of Human Renin Gene Expression and Secretion in 45-kb Human Renin Transgenic Mice

To create physiological models of the human renin-angiotensin system in transgenic animals, the component genes should be expressed in the correct tissues and cells and respond appropriately to physiological stimuli. We recently showed that mice carrying a 45-kb human renin genomic fragment, containing approximately 25 kb 5'-flanking DNA and 6 kb 3'-flanking DNA, express the transgene in a highly cell- and tissue-specific pattern. More importantly, in contrast to previous models, human renin in the circulating plasma of these mice is derived exclusively from the kidneys. In the present study, we tested the responses of both human and mouse renal renin expression and secretion of the 45-kb hREN transgenic mice to a variety of physiological and pharmacological stimuli. A sodium-deficient diet, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and beta1-adrenergic stimulation each increased both human and mouse plasma renin concentration significantly, whereas elevated blood pressure and/or increased plasma angiotensin II levels suppressed them. Human and mouse renal renin mRNA levels changed similarly but to a lesser degree. These studies demonstrate that human renin synthesis and secretion respond appropriately in 45-kb hREN mice to physiological stimuli. This most likely results from appropriate cell-specific expression of the transgene conferred by the extended transgene flanking sequences.
An Ace in the Hole...

In this issue of Structure , Tesmer and coworkers report the structure of a small RNA aptamer in an inhibitory complex with a G protein receptor kinase. The aptamer adopts a charming structure that inserts an adenosine residue into the ATP binding pocket of the kinase.
Ophthalmic Observations in Lecithin Cholesterol Acyltransferase Deficiency

• Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase is an enzyme that esterifies free cholesterol. A complete deficiency of this enzyme results in a diffusely cloudy cornea. This deficiency is thought to be transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. We studied a family in which four members were homozygote recessive. In the homozygote recessive condition, a central corneal haze caused by deposition of numerous minute gray dots was consistently present. In the heterozygote condition, arcuslike changes were present in some of the patients studied. We found the corneal change in the recessive state to be sensitive and specific as a marker of this condition. Heterozygotes appear to have a higher incidence of arcuslike corneal chanaes.
Who cares if it is a hate crime? Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender hate crimes-mental health implications and interventions

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-targeted hate crimes and their mental health consequences for the victim and community. CONCLUSIONS: Hate crimes are typically more violent than nonhate-motivated crimes and have more deleterious mental health consequences. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Thorough assessment coupled with an understanding of the social milieu and the meaning of the experience to the survivor can help the psychiatric nurse partner with the client to select the most appropriate treatment. Language: en
Could trapping tiny ions crack the toughest codes

Computers that harness the weirdness of quantum mechanics could smash conventional encryption systems by factoring gigantic numbers fast-and factoring the product of two large prime numbers is the only way standard codes can be broken. The job would take conventional computers decades, not minutes. Encrypted data is still safe for the moment, because a powerful enough quantum computer is still many years away. But physicists have now demonstrated that quantum calculations can be done in a version of a quantum computer that could, in theory at least, be scaled up sufficiently. Rainer Blatt and his colleagues at the University of Innsbruck (Austria), in collaboration with Isaac Chuang of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have run a simple quantum algorithm in a computer that consists of only a single, very cold calcium ion. They employed a standard ion-trapping technique and a series of carefully tuned laser pulses to turn the ion into a computer that calculates using qubits-bits that can exist, seemingly paradoxically, as both a 1 and a 0 simultaneously. The Innsbruck-M IT team put this property of qubits to work in the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm.
From Yukawa's Pion to Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

An overview is given of the development of particle physics since the 1930s to the 1960s when the concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) was established as an essential component of particle theory and eventually led to the Standard Model. A brief account of SSB as a general phenomenon in physics is also added.
Preeclampsia, delivery, and the hemostatic system

To determine the effects of preeclampsia and delivery, the hemostatic system was evaluated before and 24 to 48 hours after delivery in 59 nulliparous patients without clinical signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Fifteen patients with mild preeclampsia and 18 with severe preeclampsia were compared with 26 pregnant control patients. Preeclampsia was associated with high fibronectin (p 2 -antiplasmin (p 2 -antiplasmin increased in all groups (p
Global Climate Changes, Natural Disasters, and Travel Health Risks

Whether the result of cyclical atmospheric changes, anthropogenic activities, or combinations of both, authorities now agree that the earth is warming from a variety of climatic effects, including the cascading effects of greenhouse gas emissions to support human activities. To date, most reports of the public health outcomes of global warming have been anecdotal and retrospective in design and have focused on heat stroke deaths following heat waves, drowning deaths in floods and tsunamis, and mosquito-borne infectious disease outbreaks following tropical storms and cyclones. Accurate predictions of the true public health outcomes of global climate change are confounded by several effect modifiers including human acclimatization and adaptation, the contributions of natural climatic changes, and many conflicting atmospheric models of climate change. Nevertheless, temporal relationships between environmental factors and human health outcomes have been identified and may be used as criteria to judge the causality of associations between the human health outcomes of climate changes and climate-driven natural disasters. Travel medicine physicians are obligated to educate their patients about the known public health outcomes of climate changes, about the disease and injury risk factors their patients may face from climate-spawned natural disasters, and about the best preventive measures to reduce infectious diseases and injuries following natural disasters throughout the world.
Surface-chemical mechanism of heterogeneous polymerization and derivation of Tung's and Wesslau's molecular weight distribution

Abstract Because Ziegler and Phillips catalysts produce polymers with characteristic broad molecular weight distributions, some general mechanism of heterogeneous catalysis of polymerization may exist. Bresler has suggested independently that this mechanism results from control of the termination step by desorption of the growing chain end from the catalyst surface. In constructing a model mechanism, we assume a random coil configuration for the polymer on the surface (cf. Simha's treatment of sorption equilibria) rather than a linear configuration (cf. Longuet-Higgins's treatment). In order to calculate the termination rate, our model considers the reversible sorption of the growing chain end and of individual chain segments, and the rate of diffusion of the polymer chain as a whole from the surface. We find that the termination rate constant depends on the chain length x as follows: K t =B/[x 1 2 (x 1 2 +A)] Application of the Herrington-Robertson steady-state method leads to the molecular weight distribution function subject to the above equation Number fraction, p(x) ∝1 [ x 1 2 + A ) G +1 ] where the constant G = 2 B K p , and Kp is the propagation constant. This distribution is found to fit experimental data previously fitted by two different empirical distribution functions. The relationship between the adjustable parameters G and A, suggested by fitting the data in the literature, is explained in terms of the model.
Psychopathology, Iraq and Afghanistan service, and suicide among Veterans Health Administration patients.

Objective: Despite concerns regarding elevated psychiatric morbidity and suicide among veterans returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF), little is known about the impact of psychiatric conditions on the risk of suicide in these veterans. To inform tailored suicide prevention efforts, it is important to assess interrelationships between OEF/OIF status, psychiatric morbidity, and suicide mortality. This study sought to examine potential associations between OEF/OIF status and suicide mortality among individuals receiving care in the Department of Veterans Affairs health system, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyses assessed potential interactions between OEF/OIF status and psychiatric conditions as predictors of suicide. Method: Analyses included data for all individuals who received VHA services during fiscal year (FY) 2007 or FY08 and were alive at the start of FY08 (N = 5,772,282). Results: For this cohort, there were 1,920 suicide deaths in FY08, including 96 among OEF/OIF veterans. Controlling for demographic factors, psychiatric conditions, OEF/OIF status, and the interaction between psychiatric conditions and OEF/OIF status, no main effects of OEF/OIF status were observed. However, a significant interaction was found between psychiatric conditions and OEF/OIF status. Specifically, having a diagnosed mental health condition was associated with a greater risk of suicide among OEF/OIF veterans (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.57, 7.55; p Language: en
Biomarkers of Th2 polarity are predictive of staphylococcal colonization in subjects with atopic dermatitis.

Summary Background Staphylococcal colonization of the skin is commonly observed in subjects with atopic dermatitis (AD) and correlates with disease severity. Little is known about whether the degree of T-helper 2 (Th2) polarity in these subjects can also affect the frequency of bacterial colonization in this disease. Objectives To determine if there is a correlation between markers of Th2 polarity [serum total IgE, eosinophilia and presence of another atopic disease (allergic rhinitis)] and skin colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in subjects with AD. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of an academic dermatology clinic focused on the treatment of AD with a single provider. Results Staphylococcus aureus colonization was more commonly observed in subjects with AD who had peripheral eosinophilia, elevated serum IgE levels, and/or a history of or active allergic rhinitis. Conclusions Results suggest that Th2 polarity may enhance subjects’ risk for bacterial colonization.
Primitive quiescent CD34+ cells in chronic myeloid leukemia are targeted by in vitro expanded natural killer cells, which are functionally enhanced by bortezomib.

Primitive quiescent CD34+ chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells are more biologically resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors than their cycling counterparts; however, graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) probably eliminate even these quiescent cells in long-term surviving CML transplant recipients. We studied the progeny of CD34+ cells from CML patients before SCT, which were cultured 4 days in serum-free media with hematopoietic growth factors. BCR-ABL expression was similar in both cycling and quiescent noncycling CD34+ populations. Quiescent CD34+ cells from CML patients were less susceptible than their cycling CD34+ and CD34− counterparts to lysis by natural killer (NK) cells from their HLA-identical sibling donors. Compared with cycling populations, quiescent CD34+ CML cells had higher surface expression of tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors DR4 and DR5. Bortezomib up-regulated TRAIL receptor expression on quiescent CD34+ CML cells, and further enhanced their susceptibility to cytotoxicity by in vitro expanded donor NK cells. These results suggest that donor-derived NK cell–mediated GVL effects may be improved by sensitizing residual quiescent CML cells to NK-cell cytotoxicity after SCT. Such treatment, as an adjunct to donor lymphocyte infusions and pharmacologic therapy, may reduce the risk of relapse in CML patients who require treatment by SCT.
Biology and Ecology of Nitrogen Fixation by Symbiotic Associations of Non-Leguminous Plants

The agronomic importance of cultivated legumes has to a great extent directed the interest of microbiologists, plant physiologists, and soil scientists toward studies from diverse viewpoints of the symbiotic association of Rhizobium with its host plant. Initially, the goal was to identify the symbiont and establish stable, effective inocula for seed. Simultaneously, but to a lesser extent, the interaction of host plant and endophyte became the object of considerable biological and chemical investigation. During the period from 1888 to the mid 1930s there was only scant attention paid to non-leguminous, non-mycorrhizal associations. An increasing awareness of intriguing biological problems presented by these associations is due primarily to the pioneering efforts of G. Bond and his associates. The general topic has been the subject of many recent reviews and books (Schaede 1962; McKee 1962; Bond 1963, 1967 b ; Stewart 1966). It is my intention in this paper to review some of the biological and ecological aspects of the symbiotic associations in non-legumes as they relate to the process of biological nitrogen fixation. The scope of nodulation among non-leguminous plants Bond has prepared an excellent survey of the extent of nodule-bearing genera of angiosperms (Bond 1967 b ), listing over 300 species representing thirteen genera. Approximately one-third of the species examined bear nodules. Since many of the species are widely distributed and thrive in many adverse environments, they are undoubtedly of considerable ecological importance as pioneering plants. It is often difficult in the field to remove the plant root system without tearing off the fragile nodule clusters; therefore, any estimations of the ubiquity of nodulation within a given genus may be greatly underestimated. As will be discussed below, the role of the nodulated non-leguminous angiosperms in nitrogen fixation is better documented than that of the mycorrhizal associations of gymnosperms.
Variations in 30‐day hospital readmission rates across primary care clinics within a tertiary referral center

BACKGROUND Reducing hospital readmissions is a national healthcare priority. Little is known about how readmission rates vary across unique primary care practices. OBJECTIVE To calculate all-cause 30-day hospital readmission rates at the level of individual primary care practices and identify factors associated with variations in these rates. DESIGN Retrospective analysis SETTING Seven primary care clinics affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). PATIENTS Adults ≥18 years old with a primary care provider (PCP) at UCSF MEASUREMENTS All-cause 30-day readmission rates were calculated for primary care clinics for discharges between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2012. We built a model to identify demographic, clinical, and hospital factors associated with variation in rates. RESULTS There were 12,564 discharges for patients belonging to the 7 clinics, with 8685 index discharges and 1032 readmissions. Readmission rates varied across practices, from 14.9% in Human Immunodeficiency Virus primary care and 7.7% in women's health. In multivariable analyses, factors associated with variation in readmission rates included: male gender (odds ratio [OR]: 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.40), Medicare insurance (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.64; Ref = private), Medicare-Medicaid dual eligible (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01–1.56), multiple comorbidities, and admitting services. Patients with a departed PCP awaiting transfer assignment to a new PCP had an OR of 1.59 (95% CI: 1.16–2.17) compared with having a current faculty PCP. CONCLUSIONS Primary care practices are important partners in improving care transitions and reducing hospital readmissions, and this study introduces a new way to view readmission rates. PCP turnover may be an important risk factor for hospital readmissions. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:688–694. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
A Method for Assessing Emergency Department Performance Using Patient Outcomes

Objective To determine the rates of correct patient disposition after an ED evaluation. Methods In a university pediatric hospital, a 25% random sample of ED patients for 4 consecutive months was reviewed, after exclusion of minor injuries and patients triaged to the nonurgent clinic. Patients were categorized into one of 4 outcomes on the basis of inpatient resource use: appropriate admission, inappropriate admission, appropriate release, or inappropriate release. A 10% random sample of released patients was contacted by telephone to detect patients who sought care elsewhere after ED release. Results 642 of 2,682 ED patients (23.9%) were admitted; 159 (24.7%) were inappropriately admitted, and 26 (1.3%) were inappropriately released. The correct identification of the need for hospitalization (sensitivity) was 94.9%, and for release (specificity) 92.7%. Overall, the correct classification rate was 93.1%. Inappropriate admissions were associated with diagnoses of trauma, seizures, and burns. Conclusion Inappropriate admissions occur at a substantial rate and occur more commonly than inappropriate releases. The correct disposition of patients is a practical and meaningful outcome-based measure of the quality of ED care. This methodology is suitable for use in other EDs.
Review: Development of soft computing and applications in agricultural and biological engineering

Soft computing is a set of ''inexact'' computing techniques, which are able to model and analyze very complex problems. For these complex problems, more conventional methods have not been able to produce cost-effective, analytical, or complete solutions. Soft computing has been extensively studied and applied in the last three decades for scientific research and engineering computing. In agricultural and biological engineering, researchers and engineers have developed methods of fuzzy logic, artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, decision trees, and support vector machines to study soil and water regimes related to crop growth, analyze the operation of food processing, and support decision-making in precision farming. This paper reviews the development of soft computing techniques. With the concepts and methods, applications of soft computing in the field of agricultural and biological engineering are presented, especially in the soil and water context for crop management and decision support in precision agriculture. The future of development and application of soft computing in agricultural and biological engineering is discussed.
Cotton/Milkweed Blends: A Novel Textile Product:

Experimental fabrics have been knitted from high level blends of cotton and common milkweed fibers. The milkweed fiber (Asclepias syriaca), often called "vegetable silk," is a seed floss that is si...
STATE PRISON POPULATIONS AND THEIR GROWTH, 1971–1991*

We extend earlier analyses of the factors that explain differences among the U.S. states in imprisonment rates by demonstrating the importance of state culture and political arrangements to the explanation of imprisonment rates, and growth in those rates, for the years 1971–1991.
The diagnosis of knee motion limits, subluxations, and ligament injury

The clinical diagnosis of knee ligament injuries requires the clinician to: 1) estimate the abnormal motion limits that occur in one or more of the six degrees of freedom that comprise three-dimensional motion; 2) determine the abnormal position (subluxation) of the medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments; and 3) precisely define the anatomical structures injured and degree of that injury. To determine the clinician's ability to perform these tasks, we evaluated 11 knee surgeons' clinical examination for knee instability. The positions and motions included were measured in right-left cadaveric knees by a three-dimensional instrumented spacial linkage. We compared the clinicians' estimate of knee motion limits and subluxations with the actual measured values. Before and after the clinicians' examination, the three-dimensional limits of knee motion were measured in the knees in the laboratory under defined loading conditions. Also, in one knee, the ACL and superficial medial collateral ligament were cut and the examiners, none of whom were informed of the sectioning, were asked to arrive at a diagnosis. The results for all of the clinical instability tests were similar. There was wide variability between examiners in the starting position of knee flexion and tibial rotation and in the amount of tibial translation and rotation induced. Although some examiners displaced the knee to the maximal displacement limits obtained in the laboratory, others did not, by a substantial margin. This suggests a wide variation in the loads applied by examiners to the knee joint during the tests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Novel Therapeutic Targets at the Platelet Vascular Interface

Platelet activation in vivo can be part of the hemostatic response to injury or a pathological response to disease. In either setting, platelets adhere to the vessel wall and to each other, forming a closely packed mass interspersed with fibrin. Recent studies have identified new molecules on the platelet surface and within platelets that support and regulate thrombus growth and stability, ensuring that platelet accumulation after injury is sufficient to stop bleeding, but not so exuberant that vascular occlusion occurs. An understanding of how this balance is achieved helps to illuminate the events of platelet activation and, at the same time, provides potential targets for new classes of antiplatelet agents.
β‐(o‐Carboxyphenyl)Propionic Acid

β-(o-carboxyphenyl)propionic acid intermediate: o-carboxycinnamic acid product: β-(o-carboxyphenyl)propionic acid product: lactone of β-hydroxy-β-(o-carboxyphenyl)propionic acid (phthalideacetic acid) Keywords: oxidation, miscellaneous; reduction, CC HC–CH; anti-foaming agent; Raney nickel catalyst, disposal
Resolution of fluorescence signals from cells labeled with fluorochromes having different lifetimes by phase-sensitive flow cytometry.

A flow cytometric method has been developed that uses phase-sensitive detection to separate signals from simultaneous fluorescence emissions in cells labeled with fluorochromes having different fluorescence decay lifetimes. CHO cells were stained with propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). These dyes bind to DNA and protein and the fluorescence lifetimes of the bound dyes are 15.0 and 3.6 ns, respectively. Cells were analyzed as they passed through a modulated (sinusoidal) laser excitation beam. Fluorescence was measured using only a long-pass filter to block scattered laser excitation light and a single photomultiplier tube detector. The fluorescence detector output signals were processed by dual-channel phase-sensitive detection electronics and the phase-resolved PI and FITC signals were displayed as frequency distribution histograms and bivariate plots. By shifting the phase of one detector channel reference signal by [pi]/2 + [phi][sub 1] degrees and the phase of the other detector channel reference signal by -[pi]/2 + [phi][sub 2] degrees, where [phi][sub 1] and [phi][sub 2] are the phase shifts associated with the PI and FITC lifetimes, the PI and FITC signals were separately resolved at their respective phase-sensitive detector outputs. This technology is also applicable to suppressing by cellular autofluorescence, unbound/free dye, nonspecific dye binding,more » and Raman and Rayleigh scattering. 21 refs., 2 figs.« less
IMPACT OF EXOGENOUS GROWTH FACTORS ON PROLIFERATION AND CHEMOSENSITIVITY OF MINIMAL RESIDUAL ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

The biological heterogeneity of AML makes growth factor augmentation of cell cycle-dependent chemotherapy unlikely to be successful for all patients. Patients whose leukemic cells empirically demonstrate cytokine-induced chemosensitization in vitro might benefit from the concurrent administration of growth factors during consolidation chemotherapy. We have explored the growth factor-dependence and response of primary bone marrow samples from patients with AML at diagnosis, remission, and relapse to determine whether minimal residual leukemia remains growth factor-responsive. Most cases of AML studied at all phases of treatment were growth factor-responsive. Growth factor response of occult remission clonogenic leukemic precursors (CFU-L) was usually concordant with their response at diagnosis. Occult CFU-L were markedly resistant to cytosine arabinoside (median LD99% 20 μM); preincubation with IL-3 or GM-CSF did not significantly improve their ara-C sensitivity. While occult remission CFU-L appear to rema...
Metacognitive control of the spacing of study repetitions

Rememberers play an active role in learning, not only by committing material more or less faithfully to memory, but also by selecting judicious study strategies (or not). In three experiments, subjects chose whether to mass or space the second presentation of to-be-learned paired-associate terms that were either normatively difficult or easy to remember, under the constraint that subjects needed to space exactly half of the items (and mass the other half). In contrast with recent findings that implemented no such constraint (Son, 2004), subjects chose to space more of the difficult pairs (in Experiments 1 and 2). Reduction in exposure time eliminated but did not reverse this effect (Experiment 3). Subjects who spaced more of the difficult pairs were more likely to exhibit superior memory performance, but, because subjects who made spacing selections that had no effect on the actual scheduling of items also showed this effect (Experiment 2), that enhancement in performance is more likely to reflect subject selection than strategy efficacy. Overall, these results suggest that choice constraints strongly elicit a discrepancy-reduction approach (Dunlosky & Hertzog, 1998) to strategic decision-making, but that reduced study time can eliminate this effect.
Robust, non-linear impedance control for robot manipulators

The work presented here is a practical, non-linear controller design methodology for robot manipulators that guarantees: 1) the robot end-point follows an input command vector "closely" when the robot is not constrained by the environment, and 2) the contact force is a function of the same input command vector (used in the unconstrained environment) when the robot is constrained by the environment. The controller is capable of "handling" both types (constrained and unconstrained) of maneuverings, and is robust to bounded uncertainties in robot dynamics. The controller does not need any hardware or software switch for transition between unconstrained and constrained maneuvering. In this design method, the structural compliancy of the manipulator has also been considered. A set of experiments were carried out to describe how this unified approach can develop electronic compliancy in a robot manipulator. The control architecture has been described by two different methods; frequency domain, and input/output time domain properties.[25,26]
Characterization of 4H Silicon Carbide Films Grown by Solvent-Laser Heated Floating Zone

Commercially available bulk silicon carbide (SiC) has a high number (>2000/sq cm) of screw dislocations (SD) that have been linked to degradation of high-field power device electrical performance properties. Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center have proposed a method to mass-produce significantly higher quality bulk SiC. In order for this bulk growth method to become reality, growth of long single crystal SiC fibers must first be achieved. Therefore, a new growth method, Solvent-Laser Heated Floating Zone (Solvent-LHFZ), has been implemented. While some of the initial Solvent-LHFZ results have recently been reported, this paper focuses on further characterization of grown crystals and their growth fronts. To this end, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) depth profiles, cross section analysis by focused ion beam (FIB) milling and mechanical polishing, and orientation and structural characterization by x-ray transmission Laue diffraction patterns and x-ray topography were used. Results paint a picture of a chaotic growth front, with Fe incorporation dependant on C concentration.
Using a Function-Based Approach to Decrease Problem Behaviors and Increase Academic Engagement for Latino English Language Learners

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a function-based intervention to improve behavior and reading outcomes for Latino English language learners (ELLs). The participants, four Latino ELLs in an elementary school general education setting, were directly observed over a 14-week period. Functional behavioral assessment via teacher interviews and archival reviews were conducted to establish a hypothesis regarding the maintaining function of students' problem behavior. A functional analysis was conducted to verify the function of students' problem behavior, and a single-subject, multiple-baseline, across-subjects design was used to document the relationship between reduction in problem behavior and implementation of language-matched instructional priming. Results documented a functional relationship between intervention and reduction of problem behavior.
Dihomotopic Reduction Used in Deadlock Detection

Deadlock detection for concurrent programs has traditionally been accomplished by symbolic methods or by search of a state transition system. We examine an approach that uses geometric semantics involving the topological notion of dihomotopy to partition the state-space into components, after which the reduced state-space is exhaustively searched. Prior work partitioned the state-space inductively, but in this paper we show that a recursive technique provides greater reduction of the size of the state transition system. As a result, we expect to see more efficient deadlock detection and eventually more efficient verification of some temporal properties for large problems if the partitioning can be done efficiently.