cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Galectin-3 interacts with the CHI3L1 axis and contributes to Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Lung Disease

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) comprises a group of inherited disorders caused by mutations that alter the function of lysosome-related organelles. Pulmonary fibrosis is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in HPS-1 and HPS-4 patients. However, the mechanisms that underlie the exaggerated injury and fibroproliferative repair responses in HPS have not been adequately defined. In particular, although Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is dysregulated in HPS, its roles in the pathogenesis of HPS have not been adequately defined. In addition, although chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) and its receptors play major roles in the injury and repair responses in HPS, the ability of Gal-3 to interact with or alter the function of these moieties has not been evaluated. In this article, we demonstrate that Gal-3 accumulates in exaggerated quantities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, and traffics abnormally and accumulates intracellularly in lung fibroblasts and macrophages from bleomycin-treated pale ear, HPS-1-deficient mice. We also demonstrate that Gal-3 drives epithelial apoptosis when in the extracellular space, and stimulates cell proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation when accumulated in fibroblasts and M2-like differentiation when accumulated in macrophages. Biophysical and signaling evaluations also demonstrated that Gal-3 physically interacts with IL-13Rα2 and CHI3L1, and competes with TMEM219 for IL-13Rα2 binding. By doing so, Gal-3 diminishes the antiapoptotic effects of and the antiapoptotic signaling induced by CHI3L1 in epithelial cells while augmenting macrophage Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Thus, Gal-3 contributes to the exaggerated injury and fibroproliferative repair responses in HPS by altering the antiapoptotic and fibroproliferative effects of CHI3L1 and its receptor complex in a tissue compartment-specific manner.
Alpha-Adrenergic Receptors in PTSD - Failure or Time for Precision Medicine?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating, common, and sometimes deadly psychiatric condition that occurs in the aftermath of extremely distressing and life-threatening exposure to tr...
Elastostatic inverse formulation

In this paper an inverse method for solving elastostatic problems with incomplete boundary conditions is presented. In general, inverse problems are ill-posed boundary value problems whose stability and uniqueness of solution and sensitivity-based formulations require additional constraints. In the development we use the Betti-reciprocal theorem to represent the boundary traction field in terms of the boundary and field displacements in an integral form. Initially, we assume the unknown boundary conditions and deformations required to solve the problem. In this way we equate the work done by the exact solution (unknown) to the work done by an assumed solution. Discretizing the resulting equations and using an iterative procedure each step in the solution process becomes the solution to a well-posed problem. Thus, with sufficient perturbations the correct boundary conditions are reconstructed.
Eddy Current Evaluation of Porous Magnesium Alloy Casting

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have increasingly found a home in high technology industries. Even though much research and money have been invested in their conception, manufacturing and incorporation into load bearing structures, the development of suitable nondestructive evaluation technique to test their integrity has lagged behind. Eddy current testing may provide a suitable method of inspection the internal structure of MMCs through differences in electrical conductivity and/or magnetic permeability between fibers and matrix.
Nephrolithiasis and Nephrocalcinosis After Renal Transplantation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract Stone formation in renal allografts Is rare. Although infection or renal tubular acidosis can predispose to calcium deposition In a renal allograft, hyperparathyroidism Is usually an accompanying factor. Parathyroidectomy Is recommended as the treatment of choice when stone deposition or nephrocalcinosls occurs after transplantation. The reported case demonstrates that aggressive therapy Is also necessary to eliminate calculi from the urinary system toavoid mechanical obstruction, continued Infection or renal parenchymal damage.
Determining Reserve Requirements for Energy Storage to Manage Demand-Supply Imbalance in Power Grids

Existing or future power grids need energy storage systems to deal with volatility of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Since the energy storage systems (ESS) are expensive, methods are required to determine minimal sizing for meeting appropriate criteria. Currently available methods tend to focus on micro-grids or individual sites with renewable generators. This work proposes a probabilistic data-driven method to determine the minimum size ESS to satisfy a reliability requirement (loss of load probability, LOLP) for a power grid with a high penetration of renewable sources. The ESS size is specified in terms of both power and energy capacities. The method is related to existing methods on reserve requirements for transmission network planning; it differs from those in the way it estimates the component of demand-supply imbalance that the ESS must provide, and the probabilistic model fitting used to predict requirements to meet LOLP. Application of the method to data from BPA showed a smaller ESS capacity requirement (and thus lower cost) than deterministic methods.
Finding a Roommate on Craigslist: Racial Discrimination and Residential Segregation

This study uses experimental methods to investigate covert racial discrimination in “roommate wanted” ads on Craigslist. Roommate relationships include significant social dimensions, and are an important site through which segregation may be reproduced or broken down, but have received very little attention by researchers. We develop fictitious racially-coded female names and identities for white, black, Hispanic, Chinese, and Indian room-seekers, along with Hispanic, Chinese, and Indian room-seekers with “Americanized” first names. We implement a field experiment and respond to over 1,500 “roommate wanted” advertisements on Craigslist across three metropolitan areas. Our emails express interest in the roommate-wanted ad, and mention that the sender is college-educated and employed full-time. We monitor response rates in the aggregate and within Census tracts of varying racial and economic characteristics. We find severe discrimination against African Americans, Hispanics, and Chinese-origin individuals. Asians with Americanized first names are treated equally to whites, while traditional Indian names and Americanized Latina names face moderate levels of discrimination. Patterns of discrimination by neighborhood race and class characteristics yield better access to upward mobility for Asian Americans than for underrepresented minority group members. Our findings reveal an important social mechanism that constricts integration and opportunity, shed new light on Asians’ and Latinas’ place in the US race system, reveal important interactions of race and presumed nativity, and show the ongoing relevance of race.
The Advantages of Comparative LISA Techniques in Spatial Inequality Research: Evidence from Poverty Change in the United States

Although scholarship regarding spatial inequality has grown in recent years, past research has seen limited use of spatial statistics—let alone comparison between spatial statistical techniques. Comparing and contrasting the application and use of spatial statistics is valuable in research because it allows for more precise identification of spatial patterns, and highlights results that may be hidden when only using a single method. This study serves as a demonstration on how the use of multiple LISA statistics can benefit inequality related research. Analyzing changes in county level poverty in the rural United States from 1990 to 2015 serves as a tool to demonstrate these techniques and this study examined how the geographic distribution of poverty has changed, and well as if there is evidence of diffusion effects. The three featured techniques utilized Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) statistics. The techniques are Bivariate LISA, LISA Cluster Transitions, and LISA Diffusion Transitions, with the last technique specifically designed for this study. Each technique varies in how it reports the changes in the spatial structure of poverty. Bivariate LISA and LISA Cluster Transitions are complementary to each other—with the former technique providing a single global statistic while the latter is more easily interpretable. Diffusion Transitions show how the highest and lowest values of a variable may be spreading over time. The study also produces new findings regarding rural poverty, with poverty in Mountain-West and rural Sun Belt counties on the rise. Analysis shows a diffusion effect for poverty in Southeastern metropolitan fringe counties.
Steroid signaling mediates longevity responses to the eat-2 genetic model of dietary restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract Dietary restriction (DR) extends lifespan in a wide range of model organisms, including Caenorhabditis elegans. It is an interesting but yet to be addressed question whether hormones serve as a systemic mechanism that mediates this longevity response. We identified a requirement for steroid signaling in lifespan extension induced by DR, by studying two members of the conserved 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) family, HSD-2 and HSD-3. Specifically, we found that lifespan extension in the eat-2 genetic model of DR is completely suppressed by a deletion mutant of hsd-2. This suppression is independent of the decreased brood size and prolonged egglay timing of eat-2, as neither was affected by hsd-2, suggesting that the hsd-2-mediated steroid signal regulates longevity without influencing reproduction. Furthermore, hsd-2 suppressed the ability of eat-2 to resist acute heat shock; stress, as measured by survival after recovery, but only later in life (day 7 and day; 13 adults). This indicates a role for hsd-2 in age-dependent responses to DR, consistent with; hsd-2 expression, which is primarily in adults. Since hsd-2 did not affect DR-induced heat shock resistance in day 1 adults, we hypothesized that hsd-3, which is only expressed in larvae, might be functioning in that role. Indeed, we found that while a deletion mutant of hsd-3 does not appear to affect eat-2 overall lifespan, it completely suppressed its ability to resist heat shock stress as day 1 adults. Therefore, although both hsd-2 and hsd-3 contribute to stress resistance in eat-2 adults, only hsd-2 impacts lifespan, as though steroid signaling in older eat-2 adults is more important for lifespan extension than steroid signaling in larvae and young adults. Taken together, our results indicate that steroid signaling through these two steroidogenic enzymes, active at distinct times during the worm lifespan, is vital for the health and longevity conferred by DR.
To Sue or Not to Sue: How Afghan Merchants Strategically Choose to Use or Avoid Courts

This article explores how and why Afghan merchants choose to use courts or informal dispute resolution methods. It goes beyond the common corruption and inefficiency arguments, which maintain that Afghans do not use courts because they are corrupt and inefficient. It leverages rich, original data on variation of dispute resolution practices across provinces and types of disputes to gain insights into Afghan merchants’ dispute resolution decisions. In so doing, I reveal a more complex picture of commercial dispute resolution in Afghanistan. In this article, I demonstrate that Afghan merchants do choose courts when courts enforce the parties’ expectations and courts’ judgments are necessary and effective. Moreover, while Afghan merchants do prefer informal dispute resolution methods, they do so because informal methods hold important advantages over courts in the context of Afghanistan where the formal property rights system is a failure, and the business climate is highly volatile.
Performance Changes Following Heat Acclimation and the Factors That Influence These Changes: Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

Heat acclimation (HA) is the process of intentional and consistent exercise in the heat that results in positive physiological adaptations, which can improve exercise performance both in the heat and thermoneutral conditions. Previous research has indicated the many performance benefits of HA, however, a meta-analysis examining the magnitude of different types of performance improvement is absent. Additionally, there are several methodological discrepancies in the literature that could lead to increased variability in performance improvement following HA and no previous study has examined the impact of moderators on performance improvement following HA. Therefore, the aim of this study was two-fold; (1) to perform a meta-analysis to examine the magnitude of changes in performance following HA in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), time to exhaustion, time trial, mean power, and peak power tests; (2) to determine the impact of moderators on results of these performance tests. Thirty-five studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria with 23 studies that assessed VO2max (n = 204), 24 studies that assessed time to exhaustion (n = 232), 10 studies that performed time trials (n = 101), 7 studies that assessed mean power (n = 67), and 10 papers that assessed peak power (n = 88). Data are reported as Hedge's g effect size (ES), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Statistical significance was set to p < 0.05, a priori. The magnitude of change following HA was analyzed, with time to exhaustion demonstrating the largest performance enhancement (ES [95% CI], 0.86 [0.71, 1.01]), followed by time trial (0.49 [0.26, 0.71]), mean power (0.37 [0.05, 0.68]), VO2max (0.30 [0.07, 0.53]), and peak power (0.29 [0.09, 0.48]) (p < 0.05). When all of the covariates were analyzed as individual models, induction method, fitness level, heat index in time to exhaustion (coefficient [95% CI]; induction method, -0.69 [-1.01, -0.37], p < 0.001; fitness level, 0.04 [0.02, 0.06], p < 0.001; heat index, 0.04 [0.02, 0.07], p < 0.0001) and induction length in mean power (coefficient [95% CI]; induction length 0.15 [0.05, 0.25], p = 0.002) significantly impacted the magnitude of change. Sport scientists and researchers can use the findings from this meta-analysis to customize HA induction. For time to exhaustion improvements, HA implementation should focus on induction method and baseline fitness, while the training and recovery balance could lead to optimal time trial performance.
Spatial Terms: The Acquisition of Multiple Referential and Syntactic Mappings

The current study used a naturalistic, longitudinal design to investigate how children and parents use a set of early-acquired spatial terms (up, down, in, out, on, off). Measures included the frequency, referential contexts, syntactic frames, and referent-syntax pairings of these words from 14 to 30 months. Results showed that children’s earliest use of these terms related to parents’ referential use, but not to parent frequency of use. During the multi-word period, parent frequency of spatial term use was reflected in children’s frequency of use. Further, children’s most frequent referent-syntax pairings were predicted by these pairings in parents’ speech. The current results indicate that children may initially use referential cues in the acquisition of these terms, and later become sensitive to the relative frequencies of referent-syntax pairings for individual lexical items. This study demonstrates how children use regularities across multiple sources of information in the input during acquisition.
Human medial olivocochlear reflex: Contralateral activation effect on low and high frequency cochlear response.

Abstract The role of the medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex has been investigated by assessing changes of cochlear responses (CR) in humans. The CR consists of pre-neural and neural potentials originating from the inner ear, and at high signal levels is dominated by cochlear microphonic (CM). The CM originates from the outer hair cells, where the MOC fibers synapse, and there is little research about using it to investigate the MOC reflex in humans. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of contralateral activation of the MOC reflex on the CR in humans. The CR was recorded in female adults (n = 16) to 500 and 2000 Hz tone burst stimuli presented at 80 dB nHL with and without contralateral broadband noise (CBBN) at 40 dB SPL. Two different methods were utilized to quantify and analyze the CR data: peak amplitude and power spectrum. Results revealed enhancement of the CR amplitude with activation of the MOC reflex. Furthermore, on average, enhancement in the CR amplitude was observed to 500 Hz, but not 2000 Hz stimulus. The CR power spectrum findings revealed similar findings to the peak amplitude. These findings indicate the MOC effect is measurable when using a low frequency stimulus, but not high frequency. Moreover, the CR could be used as a potential tool to study the MOC reflex in humans.
Data Driven Decision Making in Teacher Education: Perceptions of Pre-Service Teachers and Faculty Who Teach Them

Integrating data driven decision making into teacher preparation programs has been called for by several researchers in order to help lessen the barriers teachers face in using data in their teachi...
Phase-coherent sensing of the center-of-mass motion of trapped-ion crystals

Trapped ions are sensitive detectors of weak forces and electric fields that excite ion motion. Here measurements of the center-of-mass motion of a trapped-ion crystal that are phase coherent with an applied weak external force are reported. These experiments are conducted far from the trap motional frequency on a two-dimensional trapped-ion crystal of approximately 100 ions, and determine the fundamental measurement imprecision of our protocol free from noise associated with the center-of-mass mode. The driven sinusoidal displacement of the crystal is detected by coupling the ion crystal motion to the internal spin degree of freedom of the ions using an oscillating spin-dependent optical dipole force. The resulting induced spin precession is proportional to the displacement amplitude of the crystal, and is measured with near-projection-noise-limited resolution. A $49\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{pm}$ displacement is detected with a signal-to-noise ratio of 1 in a single experimental determination, which is an order-of-magnitude improvement over prior phase-incoherent experiments. This displacement amplitude is 40 times smaller than the zero-point fluctuations. With our repetition rate, an $8.4\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{pm}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ displacement sensitivity is achieved, which implies $12\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}(\mathrm{yN}/\mathrm{ion})/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ and $77\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}(\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m})/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ sensitivities to forces and electric fields, respectively. This displacement sensitivity, when applied on-resonance with the center-of-mass mode, indicates the possibility of weak force and electric field detection below ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{yN}$/ion and $1\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{nV}$/m, respectively.
Laterality and Patient-Reported Outcomes following Autologous Breast Reconstruction with Free Abdominal Tissue: An 8-Year Examination of BREAST-Q Data.

Background Despite the rise in rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, few studies have used patient-reported outcomes to assess satisfaction between unilateral and bilateral breast reconstruction with autologous tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate patient satisfaction and quality of life following autologous reconstruction to determine whether differences exist between unilateral and bilateral reconstructions to better guide clinical decision-making. Methods The current study examined prospectively collected BREAST-Q results following abdominal free flap breast reconstruction procedures performed at a tertiary academic medical center from 2009 to 2017. The reconstruction module of the BREAST-Q was used to assess outcomes between laterality groups (unilateral versus bilateral) at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and more than 3 years. Results Overall, 405 patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction completed the BREAST-Q. Cross-sectional analysis at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years revealed similar satisfaction scores between groups; however, bilateral reconstruction patients demonstrated higher satisfaction scores at more than 3 years (p = 0.04). Bilateral reconstruction patients reported lower scores of abdominal well-being at 1 year, 2 years, and more than 3 years (p = 0.01, p = 0.03, and p = 0.01, respectively). Conclusions These results suggest that satisfaction with breasts does not differ with the laterality of the autologous reconstruction up to 3 years postoperatively but may diverge thereafter. Bilateral reconstruction patients, however, have lower satisfaction with the abdominal donor site. These data can be used in preoperative counseling, informed consent, and expectations management in patients considering contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.
Effects of Physical Activity on Health Status in Older Adults II: Intervention Studies

This review has focused on a specific part of the relationship of exercise to health. The overall evidence supporting the health benefits of exercise is substantial and has been critically reviewed recently (18, 94). Thus, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all adults exercise regularly (94). The conclusions summarized below regarding older adults do not affect this basic recommendation. There is solid evidence that exercise can improve measures of fitness in older adults, particularly strength and aerobic capacity. These exercise effects occur in chronically ill adults, as well as in healthy adults. Because physical fitness is a determinant of functional status, it is logical to ask whether exercise can prevent or improve impairments in functional status in older adults. The evidence that exercise improves functional status is promising, but inconclusive. Problems with existing studies include a lack of randomized controlled trials, a lack of evidence that effects of exercise can be sustained over long periods of time, inadequate statistical power, and failure to target physically unfit individuals. Existing studies suggest that exercise may produce improvements in gait and balance. Arthritis patients may experience long-term functional status benefits from exercise, including improved mobility and decreased pain symptoms. Nonrandomized trials suggest exercise promotes bone mineral density and thereby decreases fracture risk. Recent studies have generally concluded that short-term exercise does not improve cognitive function. Yet the limited statistical power of these studies does not preclude what may be a modest, but functionally meaningful, effect of exercise on cognition. Future research, beyond correcting methodologic deficiencies in existing studies, should systematically study how functional status effects of exercise vary with the type, intensity, and duration of exercise. It should address issues in recruiting functionally impaired older adults into exercise studies, issues in promoting long-term adherence to exercise, and whether the currently low rate of exercise-related injuries in supervised classes can be sustained in more cost-effective interventions that require less supervision.
A Pain in the Butt: A Case Series of Gluteal Compartment Syndrome.

Author(s): Jackson, Jessica Ray; Schreyer, Kraftin | Abstract: Introduction: Gluteal compartment syndrome is a rare and difficult-to-diagnose form of compartment syndrome.Case Series: We present three patients with gluteal compartment syndrome and review the clinical presentation, imaging, and laboratory findings that assist in diagnosis. Suggestions for more readily diagnosing gluteal compartment syndrome are provided.Conclusion: Emergency physicians must be familiar with the diagnosis and management of gluteal compartment syndrome to prevent the significant associated morbidity and mortality.
They Taught Us Silence

Much of the literature coming out of Zimbabwe concerns itself with silence: the silence about the rape of female soldiers and infighting during the liberation struggles, the silence of the Shona majority after the massacre of the Ndebele minority, the silence about the killing of white farmers during land redistribution. Since independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has been ruled by one political party, Zanu-PF. This project examines how the Zimbabwean government's nationalistic narrative has taught its people to be silent about the government's shortcomings and how writers in Zimbabwe have adopted the language of the oppressive government to subvert its narrative. It seeks to establish a connection between the strong-government controls of information in the media and the politicized nature of fiction The project is structured around three questions. 1. What is Zanu-P's narrative? Answering this question requires tracing Zanu-PF's rhetoric from the liberation struggle onwards to show what story it has created about itself and establish the buzzwords of Zanu-PF lexicon. How does the narrative inspire fear? How does it convince citizens to pick silence over questioning 2. How does Zanu-PF control this narrative? I will examine the strong controls the government put on the media to ensure that contrary views were minimized. What laws restricting press freedom has the government passed since 1980? What are the consequences for seemingly breaking these laws? 3. How does the fiction writer subvert this narrative? How are major events dramatized in fiction? How is the presentation different from the story presented by the government?
S&P 500 Stock Price Prediction Using Technical, Fundamental and Text Data

We summarized both common and novel predictive models used for stock price prediction and combined them with technical indices, fundamental characteristics and text-based sentiment data to predict SP fusing different models containing different combinations of variables and stocks to jointly make predictions; and overcoming the insufficient data problem for machine learning models in time series by using data across different stocks.
Group therapy for health care workers in a general hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction A considerable percentage of Health Care Workers (HCW) have experienced psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from previous pandemics suggest that HCW might develop psychiatric disorders. Psychosocial and workplace measures can improve mental wellbeing of the MHW. As part of the program of the Hospital to give support to the HCW, five support weekly open dynamic groups have been carried out with HCW from the COVID Areas of our Hospital including the ICU Objectives Identify recurrent contents in the group that express areas ofconcern Identify HCW in risk of develop a psuchiatric disorder and refer them to their apropiate level o Methods The sessions were carried out in a freely open group and the contents expressed in the sessions were recorded and analyzed ina narrative way. Special attention was given to the the more stresfull activities identified, to Signs of overload and to the ability to seek relief, as well as signs of disruption of personal life outside of work. Four sessions of 90 minutes, with staff of the same area were established and after these four sessions booster sessions was offered through continuity groups to members with need of more long term care as well as individual care. Results The recurrent areas identified were Concern about inadequite Personal Protective Equipment Concern about spreading the infection in their own families Need for relief and avoid double turn Uncertainty about the course of the illness Exposure to patients suffering and dying Conclusions HCW need nor only psychological support but also pragmatic measures Disclosure No significant relationships.
The interaction of alcohol and cocaine: A review

Alcohol and cocaine are often ingested simultaneously, as recreational drugs. What is their combined effect on humans? Because cocaine is a stimulant and alcohol a depressant, one might expect that concurrent use of cocaine and alcohol would attenuate certain attributes of both; however, each drug achieves its effects through an assortment of mechanisms. The effects of these combined mechanisms are routinely discounted by the user and often by professionals as well. Recent information on the mechanisms and psychopharmacology of their interaction is reviewed.
Ripened Cheddar Cheese Peptides Protect Human Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) Against Expression Of Risk Markers For CVD: Role Of Paroaxonase-2 (PON-2) As Peptide Molecular Target

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major cause of death around the world and dietary bioactive compounds can protect against the risk of CVD. Our objective was to investigate the effects of ripeni...
Application of PET and SPECT to the Study of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders involving deficits in social communication and stereotyped behaviors. It has been estimated that over 100 genes may be involved in the risk for autism, many of them involving brain synaptic transmission or brain development and growth. Neuroimaging studies with PET and SPECT have been used to assess metabolic and blood flow changes, as well as protein synthesis in the brain associated with ASD. In addition, PET and SPECT have been used to target a number of neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and acetylcholine. These studies have employed tracers that are neurotransmitter precursors and ligands for receptors and transporters. These studies have provided clues about how differences in development of these systems play a role in altered brain function in ASD and provide information leading to new intervention approaches.
Extrachromosomal DNA forms of copia-like transposable elements, F elements and middle repetitive DNA sequences in Drosophila melanogaster. Variation in cultured cells and embryos.

Abstract Drosophila melanogaster embryos and cells in culture were screened for the presence of unintegrated covalently closed circular DNA forms that hybridize to copia -like transposable elements, the F element and uncharacterized dispersed middle repetitive DNA elements. Our results indicate that the majority of copia -like elements (including copia , 297, 412, mdg1, mdg3 and gypsy ), the F elements, and 9 of 12 middle repetitive DNA elements are present as free DNA forms in cultured cells and embryos. An 18 base-pair inverted repeat has been reported to flank the long direct repeat of mdg3 , implying that mdg3 is not an orthodox copia -like element; however, we have sequenced two independently isolated mdg3 clones and shown that the inverted repeat is not part of the element. The relative abundance with which free DNA forms are found varies between the cultured cells used, and between cultured cells and embryos. This variation, which can be up to 20-fold for some elements, does not correlate well with either the amount of element-specific poly(A) + RNA present per cell or the number of element-specific sequences integrated in the genome.
Reading between the lines : blueprints for a worker support infrastructure in the peer economy

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Comparative Media Studies, 2014.
Peripheral Deletion After Bone Marrow Transplantation with Costimulatory Blockade Has Features of Both Activation-Induced Cell Death and Passive Cell Death

Two major pathways of death of previously activated T cells have been described: activation-induced cell death can be triggered by restimulating activated T cells with high concentrations of Ag, is Fas-dependent, is not influenced by proteins of the Bcl family, and is blocked by cyclosporin A; in contrast, passive cell death is induced by the withdrawal of growth factors and activation stimuli, is Fas-independent, and is blocked by Bcl family proteins. We examined the role of these two forms of cell death in the peripheral deletion of donor-reactive host T cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and costimulatory blockade with anti-CD154 plus CTLA4Ig in two murine models. The substantial decline in donor-reactive CD4 cells seen in wild-type recipients 1 wk after bone marrow transplantation with costimulatory blockade was largely inhibited in Fas-deficient recipients and in Bcl-xL-transgenic recipients. We observed these effects both in a model involving low-dose total body irradiation and a conventional dose of bone marrow, and in a radiation-free regimen using high-dose bone marrow transplantation. Furthermore, cyclosporin A did not completely block the deletion of donor-reactive CD4+ T cells in recipients of bone marrow transplantation with costimulatory blockade. Thus, the deletion of donor-reactive T cells occurring early after bone marrow transplantation with costimulatory blockade has features of both activation-induced cell death and passive cell death. Furthermore, these in vivo data demonstrate for the first time the significance of in vitro results indicating that proteins of the Bcl family can prevent Fas-mediated apoptosis under certain circumstances.
Unified analytical models for Location Management costs and optimum design of location areas

Within collaborative computing, computer mediated communications are evolving rapidly thanks to the development of new technologies. The facilitation of awareness and discovery of users in the communications networks is a key requirement for the success of these collaborative systems. Besides the need for location awareness, the emergence of heterogeneous wireless environments, where users can freely roam, is making Location Management (LM) an increasingly important topic for network operators. In this paper, we use a general model for LM signaling costs to obtain analytical expressions for their optimization. These expressions are applicable to different LM algorithms and scenarios, contributing towards the development of a standardized performance evaluation technique and to deliver guidelines for the optimum design of Location Areas (LAs). We also illustrate how modifications in the different parameters involved in the LM costs affect the optimum number of cells per LA and the value of the optimum LM costs.
In vitro chondrogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells

A culture system that facilitates the chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells has been developed. Cells obtained in bone marrow aspirates were first isolated by monolayer culture and then transferred into tubes and allowed to form three-dimensional aggregates in a chemically defined medium. The inclusion of 10(-7) M dexamethasone in the medium induced chondrogenic differentiation of cells within the aggregate as evidenced by the appearance of toluidine blue metachromasia and the immunohistochemical detection of type II collagen as early as 7 days after beginning three-dimensional culture. After 21 days, the matrix of the entire aggregate contained type II collagen. By 14 days of culture, there was also evidence for type X collagen present in the matrix and the cells morphologically resembled hypertrophic chondrocytes. However, chondrogenic differentiation was achieved in only approximately 25% of the marrow cell preparations used. In contrast, with the addition of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), chondrogenesis was induced in all marrow cell preparations, with or without the presence of 10(-7) M dexamethasone. The induction of chondrogenesis was accompanied by an increase in the alkaline phosphatase activity of the aggregated cells. The results of RT-PCR experiments indicated that both type IIA and IIB collagen mRNAs were detected by 7 days postaggregation as was mRNA for type X collagen. Conversely, the expression of the type I collagen mRNA was detected in the preaggregate cells but was no longer detectable at 7 days after aggregation. These results provide histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular evidence for the in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of adult mammalian progenitor cells derived from bone marrow.
Knowledge integration in software teams: an analysis of team, project, and it-related issues

Contemporary organizations are increasingly depending on team-based structures to strategically consolidate their dispersed knowledge resources. Team members possess diverse knowledge resources, and these have to be combined with knowledge from external sources to achieve project goals. Teams achieve this objective by integrating knowledge from external sources and blending it with the skills, know-how, and expertise of the team members. Software teams are an appropriate example of the importance of team-level knowledge integration. Multiple project stakeholders, within and outside the team, possess diverse portfolios of requisite know-how, skills, and abilities and teams must integrate them to develop a timely and workable solution. Prior research suggests that software teams carry out two types of knowledge integration - external integration and internal integration. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of various team, project, and IT-related antecedents on these two categories of knowledge integration in software teams. Team-related issues include teams' knowledge heterogeneity, relational capital, and boundary-buffering processes. Project-related issues include project uncertainty and project interdependence. IT-usage is examined in a moderating capacity. A research model connecting various categories of antecedents to the two types of knowledge integration was tested by collecting data on 300 projects in nine mid- to large-sized CMM Level 5 software firms. The respondents provided information in light of the most successful project and the least successful project they had experienced. PLS latent variable modeling was used to analyze the data. Two separate analyses were conducted: First, the combined sample of 300 projects was examined to test the research hypotheses; and second, separate analyses were conducted on 150 most successful projects and the same number of least successful ones. The findings of this study support the influence of a number of team-, project-, and IT-related issues on external as well as internal knowledge integration in software teams. Among team-related issues, knowledge heterogeneity, relational capital, and sentry processes significantly improved knowledge integration, while guard processes had a negative impact on external knowledge integration. Among project-related antecedents, project uncertainty had a significantly negative influence on both internal as well as external knowledge integration, while project interdependence significantly improved external knowledge integration. Interestingly, IT-usage did not moderate the influence of either team- or project-related issues on internal knowledge integration, but significantly improved the influence of these issues on external knowledge integration. These results provide scholars with a foundation for future research in developing a robust knowledge integration framework. Interesting implications are also in offering for practitioners.
Factors Affecting Topotecan-induced Programmed Cell Death: Adhesion Protects Cells from Apoptosis and Impairs Cleavage of Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase

We have evaluated the influence of anchorage status together with endogenous levels of bcl-2 family members on the ability of the topoisomerase I inhibitor, topotecan (TPT), to induce programmed cell death (PCD) in human colon, breast, lymphoid, and cervical cancer cell lines. As part of this study, we assessed the use of measuring poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage by Western blot, as an index of apoptosis, relative to measuring chromatin condensation by acridine orange analysis. Our results show a strong correlation between both assays, indicating that PARP cleavage is an accurate method to examine PCD. We have encountered a strong association between cell attachment and sensitivity to TPT-induced PCD. Cells growing attached to flasks appear to be relatively more resistant than suspension-growing cells in spite of endogenous bcl-2, bax, or bcl-x levels. Furthermore, we demonstrate that interference with attachment status alters the sensitivity of cells to TPT-induced PCD. Although cell attachment to ProNectin F confers protection against TPT-induced chromatin condensation and cleavage of PARP, cell detachment by poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) stimulates TPT-induced PCD and PARP cleavage.
Whose School Is It? Women, Children, Memory and Practice in the City – By Rhoda H. Halperin.

The article reviews the book "Whose School Is It? Women, Children, Memory and Practice in the City," by Rhoda H. Halperin.
Preconversion chemistry and liquefaction of coal in the presence of a molybdenum-containing catalyst

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the interactions of a catalyst and several different solvent media with a bituminous coal at various temperatures. Information on the influence of the catalyst during the early stages of conversion is also presented. The results presented show the importance of a solvent medium in enhancing the primary dissolution of coal at lower reaction temperatures. With a catalyst, the presence of coal-derived products provided the best results under these conditions. Softening and solubilization of the coal are likely the important factors in this regime. Analysis of short time products obtained at 375°C show that a major role of the catalyst in the beginning phases of coal dissolution is to facilitate the transfer of hydrogen to aromatic species in the coal. Catalyst is effective above 375°C when used alone.
Kinetics and Dosimetry of Thallium-201 in Human Testes

Thallous chloride ({sup 201}Tl) is a well-known imaging agent. It has been shown to accumulate in the testes. In view of this, the testicular kinetics of {sup 201}Tl is investigated in humans and the absorbed dose to the organ calculated. Thallous chloride {sup 201}Tl was injected intravenously into four patients for myocardial perfusion studies. After clinical evaluation, the testicular uptake and clearance of {sup 201}Tl were monitored for about 1 wk using a gamma camera. Testicular uptake of {sup 201}Tl was rapid with a mean biological uptake half-time of 0.67 hr and mean biological clearance half-time of 280 hr. The mean maximum testicular uptake of {sup 201}Tl was about 0.4% of the injected activity. These data were utilized to calculate the average absorbed dose to the testes. The absorbed dose to the testes was calculated to be 3.5 x 10{sup {minus}4} Gy/MBq (1.3 rad/mCi) of injected activity. When the relative biological effectiveness of the Auger emitter {sup 201}Tl is taken into account, the equivalent dose to the testes is 9.5 x 10{sup {minus}4} Sv/MBq (3.5 rem/mCi). 14 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.
A Cellular Automata based model for simulating Restitution property in a Single Heart Cell

Ventricular fibrillation is the cause of the most sudden deaths. The recent findings have clearly proved the correlation between the slope of restitution curve with ventricular fibrillation. Cellular automata is a powerful tool for simulating complex phenomena in a simple language. In this paper, a simple model is proposed for the simulation of the property of restitution in a single cardiac cell using cellular automata. At first, two state variables; action potential and recovery are introduced in the automata model. In second, automata rule is determined and then recovery variable is defined in such a way so that the restitution is developed. In order to evaluate the proposed model, the generated restitution curve in our study is compared with the restitution curves from the experimental findings of valid sources. Our findings indicate that the presented model is not only capable of simulating restitution in cardiac cell, but also possesses the capability of regulating the restitution curve
Comparison of the acidities of WO3/Al2O3 and ultrastable faujasite catalysts

Abstract The acidity of WO3 on γ-alumina is compared with that of ultrastable faujasite using both base adsorption techniques and model compound conversion studies. The addition of WO3 to γ-alumina introduces Bronsted acidity, and the density of Bronsted sites is increased by high-temperature calcination. The acid sites displayed by the supported tungsten oxide catalyst are considerably weaker than those found in ultrastable faujasite.
Regarding the “Idle Gleam” of W. S. Merwin's LOW FIELDS AND LIGHT

Tensions between the natural and the modern have made an enduring theme in American letters. As John Frow explained, the writer contending with modernity faces “a homogenous economic domain” define...
AuBe ohmic contacts to p-InGaAlAs formed by rapid thermal annealing

AuBe ohmic contacts to p-In0.33Ga0.35Al0.12As (Be: 5 × 1018cm-3) formed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) have been studied and compared with those formed by conventional alloying. Using thermally evaporated AuBe, specific contact resistances in the low μΩ. cm2 range have been achieved by both methods. However, contacts made by RTA demonstrated good thermal stability whereas the contacts by conventional alloying degraded more than one order of magnitude at 250°C for 100h.
Comparison of recombinant-interleukin-2-activated peripheral blood and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma: cytotoxicity, growth kinetics and phenotype.

We have compared the growth and tumordirected cytotoxic efficacy of recombinant-interleukin-2-(rIL-2)-activated peripheral blood (PBL) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. These studies demonstrated that TIL and PBL displayed similar levels of cytotoxicity and a broad range of target cell killing, as exemplified by their reactivity against autologous and allogeneic ovarian tumors as well as against tumor cell lines. No specificity of autologous tumor cell killing was manifested by TIL. Even though TIL of some patients showed higher proliferative activity (especially at the later times in rIL-2 culture) this was not a general phenomenon. In fact, in one case TIL did not proliferate at all, and in the other case the PBL proliferated more actively. While the cultures were composed primarily of CD3+ lymphocytes, the major cytotoxic cells displayed the CD56+ and CD16+ phenotype. Addition of OKT3 mAb to rIL-2 cultures resulted in an increased proliferative index, but showed only a minor effect on the cytotoxic potential of cultured lymphocytes. The therapeutic potential of rIL-2-activated TIL and PBL is discussed.
Modulation of heart fibroblast migration and collagen gel contraction by IGF-I.

Dynamic interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix are essential in the regulation of a number of cellular processes including migration, adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. A variety of factors have been identified which modulate these interactions including transforming growth factor+, platelet-derived growth factor and others. Insulin-like growth factors have been shown to regulate collagen production by heart fibroblasts; however, the effects of this growth factor on the interactions of heart fibroblasts with the extracellular matrix have not been examined. The present studies were carried out to determine the effects of IGF-I on the ability of fibroblasts to interact with the extracellular matrix and to begin to determine the mechanisms of this response. These experiments illustrate that IGF-I treatment results in increased migration, collagen reorganization and gel contraction by heart fibroblasts. IGF-I has been shown to activate both the mitogen-activated protein kinase and p...