cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification and optimization of functional reconstitution on the surface of leukemic cell lines of GPI-anchored Fcγ receptor III☆

Purified glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface proteins can be reincorporated spontaneously into the cell membrane by incubating the cells with these proteins. This unique property provides a novel way of introducing cell surface receptors on live cell membranes without the use of gene transfection. Since any classical transmembrane cell surface protein can be converted to a GPI anchored protein by recombinant techniques, this method provides a means of studying ectodomain associated receptor functions on various cell types. Moreover, in some circumstances, it can be used to correct deficient cellular functions resulting from lack of cell surface protein expression. Using GPI-anchored Fcγ receptor III (CD16B), a low affinity Fcγ receptor, we have systematically studied the optimal conditions for reconstitution of a functional receptor on nucleated cells. CD16B is purified to homogeneity from neutrophil lysates by single step immunoaffinity chromatography. The purified CD16B is functionally active as evidenced by its ability to bind IgG opsonized erythrocytes. CD16B incorporation on nucleated cells is temperature dependent with an optimum of 37°C. The level of expression of incorporated CD16B is also depend on the concentration of CD16B available and the duration of incubation. The incorporated CD16B retains its ability to bind ligand and also mediates endocytosis of the bound ligand. In summary, our results demonstrate that purified, functionally active GPI-anchored receptors can be expressed on desired cells in a controlled manner and retain some functional properties.
The mouse mutants recoil wobbler and nmf373 represent a series of Grm1 mutations

The identification of novel mutant alleles is important for understanding critical functional domains of a protein and establishing genotype:phenotype correlations. The recoil wobbler (rcw) allelic series of spontaneous ataxic mutants and the ENU-induced mutant nmf373 genetically mapped to a shared region of chromosome 10. Their mutant phenotypes are strikingly similar; all have an ataxic phenotype that is recessive, early-onset, and is not associated with neurodegeneration. In this study we used complementation tests to show that these series of mutants are allelic to a knockout mutant of Grm1. Subsequently, a duplication of exon 4 and three missense mutations were identified in Grm1: I160T, E292D, and G337E. All mutations occurred within the ligand-binding region and changed conserved amino acids. In the rcw mutant, the Grm1 gene is expressed and the protein product is properly localized to the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex. Grm1 is responsible for the generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). The inositol second messenger system is the central mechanism for calcium release from intracellular stores in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Several of the genes involved in this pathway are mutated in mouse ataxic disorders. The novel rcw mutants represent a resource that will have utility for further studies of inositol second-messenger-system defects in neurogenetic disorders.
Avena sativa L. contains three phytochromes, only one of which is abundant in etiolated tissue

Phytochrome from leaves of light-grown oat (Avena sativa L. cv. Garry) plants is characterized with newly generated monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed to it. The results indicate that there are at least two phytochromes in green oat leaves, each of which differs from the phytochrome that is most abundant in etiolated oat tissue. When analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with reference to 124-kilodalton (kDa) phytochrome from etiolated oats, the two phytochromes from green oats have monomer sizes of 123 of 125 kDa. Immunoblot analysis of SDS, sample buffer extracts of lyophilized, green oat leaves indicates that neither the 125-kDa nor the 123-kDa polypeptide is a degradation product arising after tissue homogenization. Of the two, the 123-kDa phytochrome appears to be the predominant species in light-grown oat leaves. During SDS-PAGE in the presence of 1 mM Zn2+, 123-kDa phytochrome undergoes a mobility shift corresponding to an apparent mass increase of 2 kDa. In contrast, the electrophoretic mobility of 125-kDa phytochrome is unaffected by added Zn2+. Some MAbs that recognize 123-kDa phytochrome fail to recognize 125-kDa phytochrome and vice versa, indicating that these two phytochromes are not only immunochemically distinct from 124-kDa phytochrome, but also from each other. It is evident, therefore, that there are at least three phytochromes in an oat plant: 124-kDa phytochrome, which is most abundant in etiolated tissue, plus 123-and 125-kDa phytochromes, which predominate in light-grown tissue.
Learning control of robotic manipulators

In this paper, we propose a learning control scheme for direct trajectory control of robotic manipulators. The main features are that we use a priori structure knowledge of robot dynamics in the design and the neural networks are not used to learn inverse dynamic models. The neural network controller is utilized to compensate the deviation due to the approximate models of robotic manipulators. In addition, true teaching signals of the neural network compensators are employed in the learning phase. Simulations are conducted to show the feasibility of the proposed method.
The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not sequester chloride but can express a functional mammalian chloride channel.

Chloride uptake into yeast was measured as a function of pH. A small amount of uptake was seen at pH values of 3.0 and 4.0; at pH 6.0 chloride uptake was substantially less than the uptake of phosphate and rubidium. Because chloride uptake is inefficient, we expressed the putative mammalian chloride channel, pICln, in yeast and observed a chloride-selective current when total membrane protein was reconstituted into lipid bilayers. The current was inhibited by a specific chloride channel blocker, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid. These results suggest that yeast may serve as a means to characterize chloride channels from other organisms.
Neurochemical and neuropharmacological aspects of histamine receptors.

Abstract Histamine H 1 and H 2 receptors have been identified in the mammalian central nervous system. Both receptor subtypes have been indirectly characterized by a variety of receptor-mediated biological assays and directly through the utilization of radioligand binding techniques. Two types of psychotherapeutic agents, the antidepressants and neuroleptics, are potent inhibitors of H 1 and H 2 receptors. However, most compounds tested have a higher affinity for H 1 receptors. Like many other neurotransmitter receptors, H 1 receptor function can be regulated by guanine nucleotides, various ions, and by the degree of agonist stimulation.
A placebo-controlled trial of buspirone for the treatment of marijuana dependence

The present study investigated the potential efficacy of buspirone for treating marijuana dependence. Participants received either buspirone (maximum 60mg/day) (n=23) or matching placebo (n=27) for 12 weeks, each in conjunction with motivational interviewing. In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, the percentage of negative UDS results in the buspirone-treatment group was 18 percentage points higher than the placebo-treatment group (95% CI: -2% to 37%, p=0.071). On self-report, participants receiving buspirone reported not using marijuana 45.2% of days and participants receiving placebo reported not using 51.4% of days (p=0.55). An analysis of participants that completed the 12-week trial showed a significant difference in the percentage negative UDS (95% CI: 7-63%, p=0.014) and a trend for participants randomized to the buspirone-treatment group who completed treatment to achieve the first negative UDS result sooner than those participants treated with placebo (p=0.054). Further study with buspirone in this population may be warranted; however, strategies to enhance study retention and improve outcome measurement should be considered in future trials.
Process challenges in advanced photomask etch processes

Plasma etch challenges such as resolution enhancement, etch error reduction, and process reliability improvement are investigated in next generation phase shift photomask processes for ≤14nm technology node. Etch resolution predominantly depends on etch bias and linearity while overall process resolution is also determined by resist thickness. Several resolution enhancement techniques including thin hardmasks and new absorber materials are tested in terms of etch profile, linearity, and minimum feature printability. New approaches provide improvement on etch bias as well as good pattern fidelity for sub-resolution patterns. Reduction of etch profile errors is also critical to maintain high pattern resolution. It is found that some of etch profile distortion can be minimized by changing plasma conditions. To meet tighter process reliability requirement, we investigated a couple of advanced process control techniques in alternating phase shift mask manufacturing. Integration of real-time monitor is essential to obtain good process reliability with no degradation on defects or throughput.
Simulating the classroom with media and computers

Twenty-five years of research and development in media/computer-based classroom simulations are reviewed. Studies are organized into the categories of feasibility/reliability, presentation modes, and benefits. Tentative conclusions indicate media/computer-based simulations help students develop specific responses, identify problems, and attain higher levels of self-confidence. Additionally, users report enjoyment of simulation exercises. Two specific areas for further study include transfer of training to actual classrooms and the degree of fidelity that a simulation should bear, either in process or in physical appearance, to actual situations. A program of systematic research correlated with instructional theories is advocated for further development. Specific variables for additional study are also suggested.
Proceedings of the ninth annual UT-ORNL-KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit 2010

The University of Tennessee (UT), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (KBRIN), have collaborated over the past eleven years to share research and educational expertise in bioinformatics. One result of this collaboration is the joint sponsorship of an annual regional summit to bring together researchers, educators and students who are interested in bioinformatics from a variety of research and educational institutions. This summit provides unique opportunities for collaboration and forging links between members of the various institutions. This year, the Eleventh Annual UT-ORNL-KBRIN Bioinformatics Summit was held at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky from March 30-April 1, 2012. A total of 232 participants pre-registered for the summit, with 126 from various Kentucky institutions and 80 from various Tennessee institutions. A number of additional participants came from universities and research institutions from other states and countries, e.g. University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Michigan State University, University of Cincinnati, Iowa State University, etc. Eighty-four registrants were faculty, with an additional 68 students, 37 staff, and 32 postdoctoral participants (with 12 undeclared). The conference program consisted of three days of presentations. The first day included a pre-summit of talks by Kentucky researchers and a workshop on Next-Generation Sequencing technologies. The next two days were dedicated to scientific presentations divided into four plenary sessions on Next-Generation Sequencing, Medical Informatics, Metagenomics, and Behavioral and Comparative Genomics. The Medical Informatics session was followed by four short talks, selected from 47 submitted poster abstracts.
Intestinal ganglioneuroblastoma in a 22-week fetus.

The clinical history and autopsy findings of a 22-week fetus with intestinal ganglioneuroblastoma, cardiac anomalies, omphalocele, and ileal atresia are presented. Ganglioneuroblastoma was confined to the large intestine and was not suspected prenatally despite ultrasonographic examination. Although enteric ganglia share neural crest lineage with other sites of congenital neuroblastoma, this is the first report of a primary intestinal ganglioneuroblastoma in a fetus or child. Various hypotheses are discussed to explain the coexistence of cardiac malformation and congenital neuroblastoma in this fetus and other cases in the literature. It is hypothesized that other malformations evident in this fetus were caused by the tumor, possibly as teratogenic effects of neuroblastoma-durived catecholamines during embryogenesis.
EFFECT of PHYSICAL STRUCTURE of STARCH MATERIALS ON WATER DIFFUSIVITY

The physical structure, developed during drying, affects the transport of water and the quality of processed solid foods. the effective diffusivity of water in starch-based systems was estimated from drying data at moisture 3–50% and temperatures 40-100°C. Hydrated granular or gelatinized starches and their mixtures with sugars or inert particles were used to produce different structures during air drying. the physical structure was characterized by the bulk porosity, estimated from the bulk and solid densities of the samples. the water diffusivity was influenced strongly by the porosity, developed during drying. Mechanical compression, starch gelatinization or addition of water-soluble sugars reduced the water diffusivity in granular starches. Incorporation of inert particles or extrusion cooking resulted in higher water diffusivities, due to higher porosities of the starch/inert mixtures or the expanded extrudates.
Older patients in the emergency department: a review

Older patients account for up to a quarter of all emergency department (ED) visits. Atypical clinical presentation of illness, a high prevalence of cognitive disorders, and the presence of multiple comorbidities complicate their evaluation and management. Increased frailty, delayed diagnosis, and greater illness severity contribute to a higher risk of adverse outcomes. This article will review the most common conditions encountered in older patients, including delirium, dementia, falls, and polypharmacy, and suggest simple and efficient strategies for their evaluation and management. It will discuss age-related changes in the signs and symptoms of acute coronary events, abdominal pain, and infection, examine the yield of different diagnostic approaches in this population, and list the underlying medical problems present in half of all "social" admission cases. Complete geriatric assessments are time consuming and beyond the scope of most EDs. We propose a strategy based on the targeting of high-risk patients and provide examples of simple and efficient tools that are appropriate for ED use.
GIS Tool for Rural Electrification with Renewable Energies in Latin America

Renewable energy sources are increasingly being considered as feasible and competitive alternatives in the provision of electricity to isolated rural communities. Electrification planning process must consider the geographical characteristics of the renewable energy sources as well as the social and economical particularities of the target communities, contributing to the long and stable operation of the chosen technologies. GIS are able to manage all the data needed in the decision making process, providing means to compare costs of alternative technologies, based on renewable and non-renewable energy sources. This paper discusses the methodology used by the GIS group for regional integration of Renewable Energies and rural electrification (gTIGER). This method, named IntiGIS, aims to provide the analysis tools we use with more flexibility and dynamism, broadening its application possibilities based on the huge chances given by Geographical Information Technologies. In this paper, an example of GIS to rural electrification carried out in Latin American countries is presented.
Web services for accuracy-based spatial query rewriting in a wrapper-mediator system

Web-based federated spatial databases usually do not support accuracy-aware query processing despite growing availability of individual data quality descriptions. This paper introduces a mechanism for making data quality information operational through the process of accuracy-based query rewriting. A number of keywords are added to SQL to express accuracy constraints in a spatial query. Depending on the specification of error in underlying data sets, a query containing accuracy constraints is rewritten as a single or a set of crisp spatial queries, i.e. those that do not require further accuracy-based disambiguation. The rewriting uses binding of GIS spatial operations to error models via a collection of error propagation templates. This mechanism is implemented as a Web service that works in conjunction with a spatial mediator to aid in rewriting spatial queries in the presence of accuracy metadata.
Second-order phase transitions, inflationary universe, and formation of galaxies

At the critical point of a second-order phase transition, statistical fluctuations are correlated and enhanced in amplitude. We explore this phenomenon in the early universe as a possible mechanism for the formation of galaxies. In an inflationary universe, such dynamical effects on galactic scales are consistent with the constraints imposed by the horizon. Spontaneous breakdown of lepton number provides a model where these ideas are realized. The two-point correlation function for density fluctuations is calculated and agrees with the observed correlation for galaxies. An estimate of the density contrast is shown to be of the required magnitude.
Generating mid-IR source using As 2 S 3 -based chalcogenide photonic crystal fibers

We found that 25% of the input power of a 2 µm wavelength 1 kW peak-power source can be shifted into the region between 3–5 µm using an As 2 S 3 -based chalcogenide PCF. Tapering increases the output at wavelengths above 4 µm.
John Dos Passos and Elsie de Wolfe

In the U.S.A. trilogy (The 42nd Parallel, 1919, and The Big Money), John Dos Passos often combines “fictional” narratives with documentary material. Consequently, many of his characters are based o...
The Enduring Impact of Perceptual Memories

unts ow the perceptual/sensory memories of infants and young children endure long into adulthood has been the subject of much clinical speculation and artistic expresion from Proust’s evocative madeleine to Truman Capote’s hristmas memories of making and delivering fruitcakes with his eloved Sook. What makes each of these literary accounts otable is the relation between early stress and loss in the hildren’s/authors’ lives and their enduring memories strongly ooted in olfactory and other sensory cues. In this issue, evelinges et al. (pages 1070–1079) bring basic science to these escriptions. Their report on the long-term effects of infant emories on adult learning and stress response adds an imporant new line of work to a growing literature on the enduring ffect of early stressors on adult functioning. This report also has mportant implications for clinicians and clinical investigators. Sevelinges et al. present a series of experiments based on onditioning neonatal rats 8 to 12 days old with a paired odor peppermint) and shock, an unpaired odor only, or no condiioning. In adulthood, these three infant training groups were ivided into three adult groups, a paired, unpaired, or odor-only roup, using the same conditioning odor used in infancy or a ovel odor with or without the conditioning odor from infancy as contextual cue. Their central findings are exposure to predictble stress (paired odor-shock) in infancy is associated with ttenuated fear conditioning in the same animals grown to dulthood and exposed to the same odor stimulant when ompared with the nonexposed infant/adult paired conditioning roup. When adult animals exposed to predictable stress (paired onditioning) as infants were conditioned to a different odor ith the original odor from infancy used as a contextual cue, heir fear-conditioned learning to a novel stimulus was impaired. vidence for learning from infancy was supported by the obseration that adult conditioning to a novel odor without the riginal odor as a contextual cue was not impaired at the ehavioral or functional level. These behavioral differences in adults exposed to the original dor were also associated with attenuated amygdala and enanced olfactory activity as adults assessed with 2-deoxyglucose 2-DG) autoradiography techniques. Because 2-DG autoradiogaphy does not indicate whether the attenuation in amygdala ctivity is in inhibitory or excitatory pathways, the authors use aired-pulse stimulation of the olfactory bulb to assess the unctional link between olfactory and amygdala activity. Norally, enhanced olfactory bulb activity is associated with an ncreased inhibitory signal to the amygdala as was seen in the ulse-pairing assessments in adults not exposed to shock as nfants. But in adults exposed as infants to paired odor-shock or redictable stress, olfactory inhibitory input to the amygdala was ttenuated and became facilitative at a longer interpulse. These hanges were not dependent on the presence of the odor xperienced in infancy and suggest that basolateral amygdalar
Central Planning, Internal Security, and the Environment

This article examines the economic and political factors that have led to low levels of environmental quality in centrally planned economies. A mathematical model is presented that juxtaposes several of the most plausible explanations: (a) low income levels, (b) highly polluted resource bases, (c) systemic inefficiency in production, (d) the difficulty of incorporating complex environmental considerations into the planning process, (e) the insensitivity of leaders to the welfare of their citizens, (f) high expenditures on internal security as a fraction of gross national product, and (g) the ability of leaders to supress environmental awareness through the control of environmental information. The resulting framework clarifies the distinctions among these explanations, offering insight into this extreme case of government failure.
The Value of Laparoscopic Staging in Upper Gastrointestinal Malignancy

The goal of the clinical staging of malignant disease is to accurately define the extent of disease, direct appropriate therapy and avoid unnecessary intervention. Recent reports have suggested that laparoscopy can play a useful and complementary role in the staging of abdominal malignancy. This paper reviews the recent experience with laparoscopy in the staging of patients with upper gastrointestinal malignancy. The Oncologist 1997;2:10-17
Cell-based Therapies for Equine Joint Disease

Joint disease is a major cause of wastage in performance horses. Arthritis can be challenging to treat because articular cartilage has little or no capacity for repair, therapeutic options are limited and are largely targeted at ameliorating clinical signs of joint disease. Cell-based therapies have potential to overcome the intrinsic constraints to articular cartilage repair. This article focuses on cell-based therapies for treatment of equine joint disease. Results from experimental model and human clinical studies are presented along with available data from equine studies.
Direct measurement of ultrasonic dispersion using a broadband transmission technique

A broadband, through-transmission technique is described that measures directly the change in phase velocity with frequency without first measuring the absolute phase velocity at different frequencies. The method only requires the measurement of the specimen's thickness and recording of two pulses: one without and one with the specimen inserted between the transmitting and receiving transducers. From the two pulses, the dispersion as well as the attenuation can be determined using Fourier analysis without phase unwrapping. Experimental results of two specimens show an excellent agreement between the measured dispersion and the dispersion determined from the measured attenuation using a time causal model. This agreement verifies the model as well as demonstrates the accuracy and precision of the proposed method.
Genetic testing after breast cancer diagnosis: implications for physician-patient communications.

In November 2003, researchers at Cambridge University announced they had identified a gene associated with an elevated risk of breast and related ovarian cancers. The gene—christened EMSY in honor of a breast-cancer nurse who is the sister of the study's lead author—is particularly significant because it is linked to so-called sporadic cancers. Such cancers do not arise from hereditary mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, in which genes that ordinarily prevent breast and ovarian cancers are altered, often giving rise to multiple cases of cancer within a family as the mutation is passed along. The Cambridge researchers determined that the presence of extra copies of EMSY in an individual may instead switch off a healthy BRCA2 gene.
Patch Dynamics and Metapopulation Theory: The Case of Successional Species

We present a mathematical framework that combines extinction–colonization dynamics with the dynamics of patch succession. We draw an analogy between the epidemiological categorization of individuals (infected, susceptible, latent and resistant) and the patch structure of a spatially heterogeneous landscape (occupied–suitable, empty–suitable, occupied–unsuitable and empty–unsuitable). This approach allows one to consider life-history attributes that influence persistence in patchy environments (e.g., longevity, colonization ability) in concert with extrinsic processes (e.g., disturbances, succession) that lead to spatial heterogeneity in patch suitability. It also allows the incorporation of seed banks and other dormant life forms, thus broadening patch occupancy dynamics to include sink habitats. We use the model to investigate how equilibrium patch occupancy is influenced by four critical parameters: colonization rate, extinction rate, disturbance frequency and the rate of habitat succession. This analysis leads to general predictions about how the temporal scaling of patch succession and extinction–colonization dynamics influences long-term persistence. We apply the model to herbaceous, early-successional species that inhabit open patches created by periodic disturbances. We predict the minimum disturbance frequency required for viable management of such species in the Florida scrub ecosystem.
Three algorithms for routing and flow control in virtual circuit networks

The problem of choosing a path and adjusting the input rate for each origin-destination pair in the network is solved. In the first model, the average number of packets in the network plus a throughput limitation cost are minimized. In the second model, the allocation to the most poorly treated user(s) subject to link utilization constraints is maximized. The third model, which is a variation of the second model, has an additional constraint which limits the average number of packets in the network. These joint routing and flow control problems are formulated as mixed integer programming problems. The emphasis of this work is to develop near-optimal algorithms to solve these three optimization problems. The basic approach is Lagrangian relaxation. In computational experiments, the algorithms determine solutions that are within a few percent of an optimal solution in minutes of CPU time for networks with 26 to 61 nodes. >
ECG changes on continuous telemetry preceding in-hospital cardiac arrests

Abstract Background About 200,000 patients suffer from in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) annually. Identification of at-risk patients is key to improving outcomes. The use of continuous ECG monitoring in identifying patients at risk for developing IHCA has not been studied. Objective To describe the profile and timing of ECG changes prior to IHCA. Design Retrospective, observational. Setting Single 520-bed tertiary care hospital. Patients IHCA in adults between April 2010 and March 2012 with at least 3 hours of continuous telemetry data immediately prior to IHCA. Measurements We evaluated up to 24 hours of telemetry data preceding IHCA for changes in PR, QRS, ST segment, arrhythmias, and QTc in ventricular tachycardia cases. We determined mechanism and likely clinical cause of the arrest by chart and telemetry review. Results We studied 81 IHCA patients, in whom the mechanism was ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation in 14 (18%), bradyasystolic in 21 (26%), and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) in 46 (56%). Preceding ECG changes were ST segment changes (31% of cases), atrial tachyarrhythmias (21%), bradyarrhythmias (28%), P wave axis change (21%),QRS prolongation (19%), PR prolongation (17%), isorhythmic dissociation (14%), nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (6%), and PR shortening (5%). At least one of these was present in 77% of all cases, and in 89% of IHCA caused by respiratory or multiorgan failure. Bradyarrhythmias were primarily seen with IHCA in the setting of respiratory or multiorgan failure, and PR and QRS prolongation with IHCA and concomitant multiorgan failure. Limitations This is a retrospective study with a limited number of cases; each patient serves as their own control, and a separate control population has not yet been studied. Conclusions ECG changes are commonly seen preceding IHCA, and have a pathophysiologic basis. Automated detection methods for ECG changes could potentially be used to better identify patients at risk for IHCA.
Monoclonal Antibodies Generated to a Synthetic Peptide Define Ras Gene Expression at the Single Cell Level in Human Colon and Mammary Carcinomas

Ras oncogenes were first recognized as the transforming genes of two rat-derived viruses, the Harvey (Ha) and Kirsten (Ki) strains of murine sarcoma virus (MuSV) (1). Molecular cloning studies have identified Ha-ras, Ki-ras, and subsequently, N-ras, as members of a gene family present in a wide range of species including humans (2). At least two mechanisms have been identified by which ras activation can mediate transformation of NIH 3T3 cells: (a) a point mutation in the ras gene resulting in an alteration of a single amino acid in the 21,000 dalton (p21) ras gene product (3), or (b) increased expression of the normal cellular p21 ras gene product (1,4,5).
“They Need to Be Solid in Standard Skills First”: How Standards Can Become the Upper Bound

Scaling Up SimCalc researchers and curriculum developers intended SimCalc to satisfy Texas teaching goals for seventh grade mathematics and beyond. The study findings showed that students with SimCalc gained significantly more than their peers on the elements that went beyond the standard curriculum. However, student scores also showed that students with SimCalc gained just as much as (or more than) their peers in the curricular areas tested on the yearly statewide high-stakes assessment exam. There was no detectible loss due to the SimCalc intervention. However, teacher post-unit phone interviews reveal that teachers were uncomfortable. Teachers described the SimCalc unit as being more conceptually difficult than their usual curriculum. Despite the fact that students were not suffering in any detectible way, several teachers commented that their students needed to be “solid in all their standard skills” before tackling the conceptually more difficult content of the SimCalc unit. Two obvious explanations for this are that there were hidden pedagogical costs to using SimCalc, and that SimCalc-related learning was insufficiently visible to the teachers. However, more illuminating are the indications that these teachers had adopted the standards as an upper bound on what they could and ought to teach. We investigate the intersection of teacher discussion of mathematics, certain U.S. state standards, and teachers’ perceptions of the SimCalc project.
Affirmative Action after Grutter: Reflections on a Tortured Death, Imagining a Humanity-Affirming Reincarnation

This article argues that the standard "diversity" rationale for affirmative action is not a remedial or corrective justice-based rationale. Thus, it fails to address the concerns of traditionally disadvantaged groups. The most compelling justifications for affirmative action, including remedying the effects of segregation, discrimination, and related past and present forms of systemic subordination, have received little judicial support. If employed, these justifications would strengthen the claims to legitimacy of a justice system with a history of supporting racial oppression. The final portion of this article calls upon advocates of reform and Reconstruction to work toward forging a deeper commitment to the remedial goals of affirmative action as a preliminary step toward embracing "humanity consciousness" and articulating reformist policies and programs consistent with this legal philosophy.
Loss of Fancc Impairs Antibody-Secreting Cell Differentiation in Mice through Deregulating the Wnt Signaling Pathway

Fanconi anemia (FA) is characterized by a progressive bone marrow failure and an increased incidence of cancer. FA patients have high susceptibility to immune-related complications such as infection and posttransplant graft-versus-host disease. In this study, we investigated the effect of FA deficiency in B cell function using the Fancc mouse model. Fancc(-/-) B cells show a specific defect in IgG2a switch and impaired Ab-secreting cell (ASC) differentiation. Global transcriptome analysis of naive B cells by mRNA sequencing demonstrates that FA deficiency deregulates a network of genes involved in immune function. Significantly, many genes implicated in Wnt signaling were aberrantly expressed in Fancc(-/-) B cells. Consistently, Fancc(-/-) B cells accumulate high levels of β-catenin under both resting and stimulated conditions, suggesting hyperactive Wnt signaling. Using an in vivo Wnt GFP reporter assay, we verified the upregulation of Wnt signaling as a potential mechanism responsible for the impaired Fancc(-/-) B cell differentiation. Furthermore, we showed that Wnt signaling inhibits ASC differentiation possibly through repression of Blimp1 and that Fancc(-/-) B cells are hypersensitive to Wnt activation during ASC differentiation. Our findings identify Wnt signaling as a physiological regulator of ASC differentiation and establish a role for the Wnt pathway in normal B cell function and FA immune deficiency.
Toward a Buddhist Feminism: Mahayana Sutras, Feminist Theory, and the Transformation of Sex

This study establishes an enlightening dialogue between Buddhism and feminism with the goal of creating a Buddhist feminist discourse. Specifically it aims to provide a new feminist perspective on identity sex gender and liberation through the feminist appropriation and critique of Mahayana sex-change sutras. Mahayana sex-change sutras in which a female bodhisattva engages (or refuses to engage) in sexual transformation in order to attain Buddhahood are analyzed within their original androcentric context and underlying Buddhist doctrines are highlighted. The sex-change sutras are then juxtaposed with contemporary poststructuralist feminist theory and evaluated as models for a new Buddhist feminism. In the course of this analysis basic Buddhist concepts are introduced the problem of androcentrism with respect to Buddhisms institutionalization and textual preservation is discussed and points of conjunction between Buddhism and feminism are emphasized. The creation of a Buddhist feminist discourse breaks its long chain of androcentrism; challenges foundationalist and essentialist thinking; and presents feminists with new avenues for theorizing identity women sex gender and liberation. (authors)
Effect of aminopterin and certain purine antagonists on adenine nucleotide levels in tissues of tumor-bearing mice.

Summary1. Tumor-bearing mice were subjected to short-term treatment with various purine and folic acid antagonists, then sacrificed for quantitative assay of tissue adenine nucleotides. 6-Mercaptopurine somewhat lowered the levels of ATP, total nucleotide, and the sum of known nucleotides in liver and muscle, and to a lesser extent in spleen and tumor tissues. 8-Azaguanine raised total nucleotide levels in liver and tumor tissue, but not in muscle or spleen. 2, 6-Diaminopurine was essentially without effect on nucleotide levels in these tissues. 2. Aminopterin elevated slightly the ATP level in liver but was without effect on ATP in spleen or muscle. In tumor tissue, aminopterin reduced the ATP level by nearly 50% and, when used concurrently with adenylic acid, by nearly 70%.
17β-estradiol inhibits the survival of cortical hippocampal neuron by promoting the coupling of nNOS and PSD95

Objective:To detect the effects of 17β-estradiol on the survival of cortical hippocampal neurons and determine whether it is associated with nNOS/PSD95 complexes.Methods:ICR mice was adopted to culture cortical hippocampal neurons.Eight days later,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release rate were examined in cultured cortical hippocampal neurons exposed to DMSO or 10 μmol/L 17β-estradiol for 30 min.The neurons were photographed through a light microscope.Meanwhile,nNOS/PSD95 complexes of neurons treated with DMSO,10 nmol/L 17β-estradiol and 10 μmol/L 17β-estradiol were measured by co-immunoprecipitation.Results:At 30 minutes after administration,10 μmol/L 17β-estradiol treatment increased LDH release rate and nNOS/PSD95 conjugating in cortical hippocampal neurons,and 10 nmol/L 17β-estradiol treatment had no influence on nNOS/PSD95 conjugating.Conclusion:17β-estradiol of 10 μmol/L could injure cortical hippocampal neurons by promoting the conjugating of nNOS and PSD95.
What constitutes a neurosurgical emergency

Because of the large numbers of head injuries, physicians are frequently called upon to evaluate and initiate treatment in these acute emergencies. Deterioration of such patients results from direct injury to the brain tissue and a subsequent increase in the intracranial pressure. The pathophysiology of brain injury is manifested in a cycle of detrimental events with increased tissue damage and progressive neurological deficit. Current concepts in management of head injuries aimed at interrupting this cycle of events are discussed in detail.
Creation of a decision-support methodology for selecting more-electric aircraft subsystem technologies

Ambitious aircraft emission goals combined with airline fuel costs are driving an increasing focus on energy efficiency for the aircraft industry. Aircraft Equipment Systems (AES) perform key aircraft functions, such as pressurization or control surface actuation, but they are also energy consumers. Selecting the AES technologies of the future is inherently a multi-criteria problem if all stakeholders are to be satisfied. The problem is further complicated because technologies cannot be considered to be completely independent and must be considered from a subsystem architecture perspective. This paper proposes an evolution of the Strategic Prioritization and Planning (SP2) method including a two-level approach that considers both independent technologies and integrated architectures. These are then linked to technology attributes and high-level objectives through qualitative subject matter expert driven relationships. The information is finally displayed in an interactive environment that ranks technologies and architectures, while also allowing the decision maker to define and explore the scenarios driving the rankings.
Neutron-induced fission: properties of prompt neutron and γ rays as a function of incident energy

We have applied the Hauser-Feshbach statistical theory, in a Monte-Carlo im- plementation, to the de-excitation of fission fragments, obtaining a reasonable descrip- tion of the characteristics of neutrons and gamma rays emitted before beta decays toward stability. Originally implemented for the spontaneous fission of 252 Cf and the neutron- induced fission of 235 U and 239 Pu at thermal neutron energy, in this contribution we dis- cuss the extension of the formalism to incident neutron energies up to 20 MeV. For the emission of pre-fission neutrons, at incident energies beyond second-chance fission, we take into account both the pre-equilibrium and statistical pre-fission components. Phe- nomenological parameterizations of mass, charge and TKE yields are used to obtain the initial conditions for the fission fragments that subsequently decay via neutron and γ emissions. We illustrate this approach for 239 Pu(n,f).
Argument and Agreement

In describing life among the Houyhnhnms, Swift’s Gulliver says this: Neither is reason among them a point problematical as with us, where men can argue with plausibility on both sides of a question; but strikes you with immediate conviction; as it must needs do where it is not mingled, obscured, or discoloured, by passion and interest.1
Intersection of the Roles of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes with Xenobiotic and Endogenous Substrates: Relevance to Toxicity and Drug Interactions

Today much is known about cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes and their catalytic specificity, but the range of reactions catalyzed by each still continues to surprise. Historically, P450s had been considered to be involved in either the metabolism of xenobiotics or endogenous chemicals, in the former case playing a generally protective role and in the latter case a defined physiological role. However, the line of demarcation is sometimes blurred. It is difficult to be completely specific in drug design, and some P450s involved in the metabolism of steroids and vitamins can be off-targets. In a number of cases, drugs have been developed that act on some of those P450s as primary targets, e.g., steroid aromatase inhibitors. Several of the P450s involved in the metabolism of endogenous substrates are less specific than once thought and oxidize several related structures. Some of the P450s that primarily oxidize endogenous chemicals have been shown to oxidize xenobiotic chemicals, even in a bioactivation mode.
The Multiple Landscapes of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest

The ongoing archaeological research into the historic landscapes of Poplar Forest strives to develop a comprehensive understanding of the human interactions that shaped the ornamental grounds, plantation, and natural environment in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This article will explore the results of three projects that have offered valuable perspectives on how these related landscapes intersect at Thomas Jefferson’s retreat and plantation in Bedford County, Virginia. The environmental and material culture analyses associated with the retreat’s ornamental plant nursery, double row of paper mulberry trees, and north tree clumps and oval flowerbeds demonstrate ties to the environmental transformations brought about by Jefferson’s vision for the property.
Crowdsourcing of network data

A key requirement for supervised learning is the availability of sufficient amount of labeled data to build an accurate prediction model. However, obtaining labeled data can be manually tedious and expensive. This paper examines the use of crowdsourcing technology to acquire labeled examples for classifying network data. Unfortunately, creating human intelligence tasks (HITs) to enable crowdsourcing is cumbersome for network data and may even be prohibitive for privacy reasons. To overcome this limitation, we present a novel framework called surrogate learning to transform the network data into a new representation (i.e., images) so that the labeling task can be completed even by non-domain experts. We analyze the reconstruction error of the transformation and use the theoretical insights to provide guidance on how to develop an effective surrogate learning approach for any given network and source image corpus. We also performed extensive experiments using Amazon Mechanical Turk to demonstrate the efficacy of our approach on node classification problems.
Solution-processed Bii 3 solar cells

We present a proof-of-concept solid state solar cell with an efficiency of 1.0 % using solution-processed BII3 absorber layer. Spin-coated BiI3 thin films show stability in air for over one month. The films were integrated into an all-inorganic photovoltaic device with a transition-metal oxide hole transport layer. Thermal annealing BiL· films at 100 °C in a solvent vapor led to the highest short circuit current value of 6.9 ± 0.5 mA/cm2. In general, these devices have a large open circuit voltage deficit. EQE measurements show low collection efficiency at the BiI 3 -TiO 2 interface, indicating a potential pathway toward improved power conversion efficiencies.
A sensitivity analysis of key natural factors in the modeled global acetone budget

Acetone is one of the most abundant carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere, and it serves as an important source of HOx (OH + HO2) radicals in the upper troposphere and a precursor for peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). We present a global sensitivity analysis targeted at several major natural source and sink terms in the global acetone budget to find the input factor or factors to which the simulated acetone mixing ratio was most sensitive. The ranges of input factors were taken from literature. We calculated the influence of these factors in terms of their Elementary Effects on model output. Of the six factors tested here, the four factors with the highest contribution to total global annual model sensitivity are direct emissions of acetone from the terrestrial biosphere, acetone loss to photolysis, the concentration of acetone in the ocean mixed layer, and the dry deposition of acetone to ice-free land. The direct emissions of acetone from the terrestrial biosphere are globally important in determining acetone mixing ratios but their importance varies seasonally outside the tropics. Photolysis is most influential in the upper troposphere. Additionally, the influence of the oceanic mixed layer concentrations are relatively invariant between seasons, compared to the other factors tested. Monoterpene oxidation in the troposphere, despite the significant uncertainties in acetone yield in this process, is responsible for only a small amount of model uncertainty in the budget analysis.
Abstract B02: Immune events in the sentinel lymph node in melanoma predict local and systemic response to disease

Background: The sentinel node (SN) has become the standard diagnostic tool for staging cutaneous melanoma. With the recent development of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies as immunotherapies we hypothesized that the early immune events in melanoma maybe first observed in the SN and be related to the response to disease. Methods: 81 SN from 79 patients were evaluated with microarray technology, qPCR, routine HE the higher the T-stage the greater percentage of SN positivity: 2% T1, 19% T2, 20% T3 and 60% T4 melanoma. 33% of ulcerated primaries and 30% with increased mitotic rate had a tumor-positive SN. The microarray did not identify specifc immune related genes when comparing tumor-positive to tumor-negative SN. We then evaluated the gene expression of CD80, CD86, CD28, CD40, IDO, Arginase, IL-2, IL-10, PD-1 and CTLA-4 by qPCR. By univariate analyses: patient age (p Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the significance of CTLA-4, PD-1 and IL-10 gene expression in the SN of melanoma patients. The expression of these genes may be early events in the immune dysfunction that occurs with melanoma metastases. Citation Format: Richard Essner, Ke-Wei Gong, David Z. Kaufman, Alexandra Gangi, Myung Shin Sim. Immune events in the sentinel lymph node in melanoma predict local and systemic response to disease. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2016 Oct 20-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2017;5(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B02.