cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Light in Students’ Lives: K-12 Teachers’ Experiences (Re)Building Caring Relationships During Remote Learning

This study illuminates the experiences of K-12 educators as they strove to (re)build caring relationships with students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted during a graduate course for experienced K-12 teachers in the spring of 2020 at a four-year comprehensive university in the United States. Data was collected from reflective learning journals and asynchronous peer discussions, which captured educators’ experiences as they transitioned to remote learning in real-time. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify pertinent themes. Findings suggest that remote learning revealed relationships in need of repair. Educators practiced authentic care and cultivated connectedness by 1) acting as warm demanders, 2) responding to students’ social-emotional needs, and 3) trying to bridge the digital divide. The article concludes with implications for practice and areas for future research as schools, districts, states, and countries consider the “new normal” in K-12 schooling.
Near-complete depolymerization of polyesters with nano-dispersed enzymes.

Successfully interfacing enzymes and biomachinery with polymers affords on-demand modification and/or programmable degradation during the manufacture, utilization and disposal of plastics, but requires controlled biocatalysis in solid matrices with macromolecular substrates1–7. Embedding enzyme microparticles speeds up polyester degradation, but compromises host properties and unintentionally accelerates the formation of microplastics with partial polymer degradation6,8,9. Here we show that by nanoscopically dispersing enzymes with deep active sites, semi-crystalline polyesters can be degraded primarily via chain-end-mediated processive depolymerization with programmable latency and material integrity, akin to polyadenylation-induced messenger RNA decay10. It is also feasible to achieve processivity with enzymes that have surface-exposed active sites by engineering enzyme–protectant–polymer complexes. Poly(caprolactone) and poly(lactic acid) containing less than 2 weight per cent enzymes are depolymerized in days, with up to 98 per cent polymer-to-small-molecule conversion in standard soil composts and household tap water, completely eliminating current needs to separate and landfill their products in compost facilities. Furthermore, oxidases embedded in polyolefins retain their activities. However, hydrocarbon polymers do not closely associate with enzymes, as their polyester counterparts do, and the reactive radicals that are generated cannot chemically modify the macromolecular host. This study provides molecular guidance towards enzyme–polymer pairing and the selection of enzyme protectants to modulate substrate selectivity and optimize biocatalytic pathways. The results also highlight the need for in-depth research in solid-state enzymology, especially in multi-step enzymatic cascades, to tackle chemically dormant substrates without creating secondary environmental contamination and/or biosafety concerns. Nanoscopic dispersion of enzymes with deep active sites enables chain-end-mediated processive biodegradation of semi-crystalline polyesters with programmable latency and material integrity.
Change in marijuana use and its associated factors among persons living with HIV (PLWH) during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a prospective cohort.

Abstract Background Emerging literature shows increased drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, limited research has examined the change in marijuana use among persons living with HIV (PLWH). This study aimed to investigate how marijuana use changed in a cohort of PLWH during the first year of the pandemic and identify factors associated with the change. Method 222 PLWH (mean age = 50.2 ± 11.2, 50.9 % female, 14.5 % Hispanic, 64.7 % Black, 15.8 % White, 5 % other, 80.2 % persons using marijuana [at least weekly use], 19.8 % persons not using marijuana) completed a baseline survey on demographics and behavioral/health characteristics between 2018 and 2020 and a brief phone survey between May and October 2020 that assessed changes in marijuana use and overall/mental health, and perceived risks/benefits of marijuana use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results During the pandemic, 64/222(28.8 %) of the whole sample reported increased marijuana use, 36(16.2 %) reported decreased use, and 122(55 %) reported no change. Multinomial logistic regression results indicated that: Compared to those reporting no change, increased marijuana use during the pandemic was associated with more frequent marijuana use and PTSD symptoms at baseline, worsened mental health during the pandemic, and not perceiving marijuana use as a risk factor for COVID-19 infection. More frequent marijuana use at baseline was the only factor significantly associated with decreased marijuana use during the pandemic. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in marijuana use among a considerable proportion (45 %) of PLWH. Future research is needed to understand the temporality of the increases in marijuana use with worsening mental health.
Hemoglobin substitutes

Orthopaedic patients frequently require blood transfusions to treat peri-operative anemia. Research in the area of hemoglobin substitutes has been of great interest since it holds the promise of reducing the reliance on allogeneic blood transfusions. The three categories of hemoglobin substitutes are (1) cell-free, extracellular hemoglobin preparations made from human or bovine hemoglobin (hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers or HBOCs); (2) fluorine-substituted linear or cyclic carbon chains with a high oxygen-carrying capacity (perfluorocarbons); and (3) liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin. Of the three, HBOCs have been the most extensively studied and tested in preclinical and clinical trials that have shown success in diminishing the number of blood transfusions as well as an overall favorable side-effect profile. This has been demonstrated in vascular, cardiothoracic, and orthopaedic patients. HBOC-201, which is a preparation of cell-free bovine hemoglobin, has been approved for clinical use in South Africa. These products may well become an important tool for physicians treating peri-operative anemia in orthopaedic patients.
Characterization of opposing responses to phenol by Bacillus subtilis chemoreceptors

Bacillus subtilis employs ten chemoreceptors to move in response to chemicals in its environment. While the sensing mechanisms have been determined for many attractants, little is known about the sensing mechanisms for repellents. In this work, we investigated phenol chemotaxis in B. subtilis. Phenol is an attractant at low, micromolar concentrations, and a repellent at high, millimolar concentrations. McpA was found to be the principal chemoreceptor governing the repellent response to phenol and other related aromatic compounds. In addition, the chemoreceptors McpC and HemAT were found to the govern the attractant response to phenol and related compounds. Using receptor chimeras, McpA was found to sense phenol using its signaling domain rather than its sensing domain. These observations were substantiated in vitro, where direct binding of phenol to the signaling domain of McpA was observed using saturation-transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance. These results further advance our understanding of B. subtilis chemotaxis and demonstrate that the signaling domain of B. subtilis chemoreceptors can directly sense chemoeffectors.
Defeasible Reasoning: A Philosophical Analysis in Prolog

We reason defeasibly when we reach conclusions that we might be forced to retract when faced with additional information. I contrast this with both invalid deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning. This reasoning is defeasible, but its defeasibility is not because of incorrectness. Nor is it ampliative as is inductive reasoning. It is the kind of “other things being equal” reasoning that proceeds from the assumption that we are dealing with the usual or normal case. Conclusions based on this kind of reasoning may be defeated if we find that the situation is not usual or normal.
Differential scanning calorimeter studies of the thermal transitions of collagen. Implications on structure and stability.

Thermal transition enthalpy changes (ΔHf) were investigated in intact and soluble collagen from a variety of sources and species utilizing differential scanning calorimetry. Results indicated that the ΔHf determinations were not dependent on sample size, method of preparation, or sample purity. The ΔHf values for intact collagen were virtually identical with those from tropocollagen preparations, confirming previous conclusions that the state of aggregation or extent of covalent cross-linking plays only a minor role in the thermal stability of collagen. The experimentally determined values for the enthalpy change per residue (ΔHr) were 1055 cal per mole and appeared to be invariant in all the collagens studied. The denaturation energy per triplet averaged 3000 cal per mole, suggesting that forces other than hydrogen bonding must be contributing to denaturation enthalpy. A correlation between thermal denaturation or shrinkage temperature and total pyrrolidine content was evident. The entropy change per residue also increased with decreasing imino acid content. These results tend to support the conclusion that the tertiary superhelix structure of the collagen molecule is stabilized primarily by the steric restrictions imposed by the pyrrolidine residues.
The interface properties of ITO/p-InP due to DC magnetron sputter disposition in hydrogen

The authors investigate the surface modification of InP by hydrogenation that occurs during fabrication of the indium tin oxide (ITO)/InP device. They attempt to establish relationships between hydrogen pressure in the sputtering environment and the change in the near-surface properties of p-type InP substrates. Specific near-surface properties will include the carrier concentration and junction depth. Because it has been previously observed that solar cell performance is affected by post-deposition heat treatment (PDHT), this will be systematically performed and studied. From this analysis, it is shown that effects due to hydrogenation can be relaxed by PDHT, resulting in a Schottky-like ITO/InP junction behavior. >
Patient and Program Effects on Retention in Methadone Treatment: A Preliminary Report

(1997). Patient and Program Effects on Retention in Methadone Treatment. Journal of Maintenance in the Addictions: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 63-74.
Towards true community networking: platforms and networking

Summary form only given. Much of the work available seems to take as a given that community networks will be based on set-top-box terminal equipment and the cable television network infrastructure. In contrast, we believe that true community networking will only be achieved when the terminal in the home (or school, library, etc.) has the full power and flexibility of a general purpose computer and the underlying network provides an open "common bearer" service.
Association of late‐night carbohydrate intake with glucose tolerance among pregnant African American women

Obesity and late-night food consumption are associated with impaired glucose tolerance. Late-night carbohydrate consumption may be particularly detrimental during late pregnancy because insulin sensitivity declines as pregnancy progresses. Further, women who were obese (Ob) prior to pregnancy have lower insulin sensitivity than do women of normal weight (NW). The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that night-time carbohydrate consumption is associated with poorer glucose tolerance in late pregnancy and that this association would be exacerbated among Ob women. Forty non-diabetic African American women were recruited based upon early pregnancy body mass index (NW, <25 kg m(-2) ; Ob, ≥30 kg m(-2) ). Third trimester free-living dietary intake was assessed by food diary, and indices of glucose tolerance and insulin action were assessed during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Women in the Ob group reported greater average 24-h energy intake (3055 kcal vs. 2415 kcal, P < 0.05). Across the whole cohort, night-time, but not day-time, carbohydrate intake was positively associated with glucose concentrations after the glucose load and inversely associated with early phase insulin secretion (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression modelling within each weight group showed that the associations among late-night carbohydrate intake, glucose concentrations and insulin secretion were present only in the Ob group. This is the first study to report an association of night-time carbohydrate intake specifically on glucose tolerance and insulin action during pregnancy. If replicated, these results suggest that late-night carbohydrate intake may be a potential target for intervention to improve metabolic health of Ob women in late pregnancy.
Fixing Cation Interaction with Blister-Like Osmotic Swelling on Vermiculite Cleavages

The shrinkage of osmotically swollen natural and artificial blisters on vermiculite cleavages by exchange saturation with fixing cations such as Cs+, Rb+, NH4+, and K+ was investigated by replica electron microscopy. Incomplete collapse of either the natural or artificially produced blisters occurred with Cs+, Rb+, and NH4+ saturation, while K+ saturation completely collapsed the artificially produced blisters but not the natural blisters. The reason for incomplete collapse with Cs+, Rb+ and NH4+ was the incomplete replacement (trapping in the flakes) of interlayer hydrated cations such as Na+ shown by electron probe microanalysis. Much less trapping occurred with K+ saturation. Na+ entrapment increased with increasing size and decreasing hydration of cations, i.e. Cs+ >Rb+ >NH4+ >K+.
EVALUATING A CORE CURRICULUM IN THE PEDIATRIC CLERKSHIP

For the year 1982-83, the cognitive portion of our required pediatric clerkship was defined as having only seven components: Nutrition, physical and behavioral development through adolescence; neonatology (excluding NICU); fluid and electrolytes; infectious diseases and immunization; accidents and poisonings; and selected genetic disorders. The evaluation instrument used was the subject test of the NBME part II (4 versions were used in 8 clerkships). Security of the examination was not breeched. Core questions, as defined by us, formed 45-48% of the examination. Our experimental design tested the hypothesis that the total mean score would rise over the eight successive clerkship modules, while the "core" score would be constant. The hypothesis was refuted; both scores were reasonably stable. The core questions however were answered correctly consistently better than the non-core; 66% vs. 56% p<.01 a reassurance that emphasis in teaching may influence cognitive outcome. The mean normative NBME score ranged from 449 to 519 (i.e., −0.61 to +0.19 S.D. of the national reference group when the test is taken for licensure). Given only an average pediatric clerkship in the U.S. of 7 weeks (ours, 6 weeks) we suggest that a consensus core be defined in U.S. schools and that the NBME part II committtee, mirroring the schools, tailor the evaluation instrument to reflect that core.
The automatic recording of aggression in pigeons: A comparison of two methods with live targets

Three pigeons were exposed to a fixed-time response independent food-delivery schedule and a live target pigeon restrained in a holder mounted on a spring and microswitch assembly. This common method of recording aggression was compared with a photocell system, and both were evaluated by observation of video-tape recordings. Dependent variables included the number of interfood intervals with an attack, attacks per minute, and attack duration. The photocell proved more reliable than the microswitch and correlated highly with observations of both the number of interfood intervals with an attack for three subjects and attack duration for two. Neither apparatus provided accurate information about the rate of attacks. The microswitch apparatus was not sensitive to changes in the subject’s attack topography, while both recording devices were susceptible to activation by responses in the attacking pigeon other than discrete pecks or physical blows. In view of these findings, attacks per minute may not be an appropriate measure of aggression in studies using such devices.
Vanishing fetal lung malformations: Prenatal sonographic characteristics and postnatal outcomes.

Abstract Background/purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the natural history and outcomes of prenatally diagnosed lung masses that appear to undergo complete regression before birth. Methods An IRB-approved retrospective review was performed on 100 consecutive fetuses with a congenital lung malformation at a single fetal center. Prenatal and postnatal imaging as well as outcomes of vanishing fetal masses was analyzed and compared to those with persistent fetal masses. Results Seventeen lesions (17%) became sonographically undetectable at 35.3±2.3weeks gestation. Vanishing fetal masses were associated with microcystic disease (100% vs. 69%, p=0.005) and a low initial congenital pulmonary airway malformation volume ratio (CVR; 0.31±0.35 vs. 0.70±0.66, p=0.002) when compared to those with persistent fetal lesions. Based on postnatal CT imaging and pathology data, 10.3% of all fetal masses completely regressed. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of prenatal ultrasound for detecting lung malformations in late gestation were 96% and 43%, respectively. All infants with vanishing fetal lesions were asymptomatic at birth and were more likely to be managed nonoperatively (75% vs. 22%, p Conclusions Vanishing lung lesions late in gestation are relatively common and are associated with a low CVR and microcystic disease.
Impact of Antimicrobial Control Programs on Patient Outcomes

Antimicrobial control programs are now commonplace in institutional settings, with pharmacists taking a central role in their inception and implementation. These programs often contain a variety of individual systems including formularies, restricted access, clinical pathways, antimicrobial management services, streamlining, intravenous to oral conversions and provider education. Economic concerns and the desire to limit antimicrobial resistance have driven a majority of these programs. Most antimicrobial controls have a potential to improve patient care through appropriate antimicrobial use and avoidance of adverse drug effects. However, there also exists a potential for impairing patient outcomes by dictating antimicrobial selection and use. The impact of these programs on patient clinical outcomes is not well documented. In studies where clinical outcomes were collected, most found no significant differences in resolution of infection, mortality, or the incidence of adverse drug reactions. However, no studies reported a significant negative impact on patient outcomes. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical impact of antimicrobial control programs. It is imperative to combine clinical outcomes with the economic and resistance outcomes generated. Pharmacists must continue to be involved in antimicrobial control programs and should strive to include patient outcomes in all evaluations.
Expression of morphine-conditioned hyperactivity is attenuated by naloxone and pimozide

The present experiments assessed whether morphine-conditioned hyperactivity could be attenuated by either the opiate antagonist naloxone or the dopamine antagonist pimozide. Both of these antagonists were shown to block the unconditioned hyperactivity induced by 2 mg/kg morphine (Experiment 1). Rats were then conditioned by pairing this dose of morphine repeatedly with a distinctive environment (Experiment 2). Following several drug-environment pairings, rats displayed a hyperactive conditioned response (CR) when exposed to the environment in the absence of the drug. CR expression was counteracted by 1 mg/kg naloxone and was attenuated by pimozide (0.25, 0.33, and 0.4 mg/kg) in a dose-related manner. These findings suggest that the unconditioned and conditioned hyperactive responses produced by morphine may involve similar neuropharmacologic substrates.
The Effect of Crystalline Fields on the Magnetic Susceptibilities of Sm +++ and Eu +++ , and the Heat Capacity of Sm +++

The temperature variation of the paramagnetic susceptibility of ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{+++}$ is calculated on the assumption that the ion is subject to a crystalline field which can be represented by the potential $V=\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{i}[D({{x}_{i}}^{4}+{{y}_{i}}^{4}+{{z}_{i}}^{4})+A{{x}_{i}}^{2}+B{{y}_{i}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}(A+B){{z}_{i}}^{2}],$ the cubic portion of this potential predominant. The susceptibility is decreased by about 25 percent with respect to that of the free ion at 74\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K when the cubic potential is so chosen as to give a separation of the $J=\frac{5}{2}$ levels of about 200 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ which is of the order indicated by Spedding's work on the absorption spectrum of samarium compounds. The theoretical values of the susceptibility are then in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data of Freed over a temperature range from 74\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to room temperature. The rhombic portion of the field separates the lowest excited level into two but the contribution to the susceptibility is negligible if the rhombic separation is small compared with the cubic separation. In striking contrast with ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{+++}$, Eu behaves like the free ion even in the presence of a crystalline field. The contribution to the heat capacity of ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{+++}$ at various temperatures due to the excited levels is computed. When the levels which give good agreement with susceptibility data are used, the general shape of the curve is the same as that obtained experimentally by Ahlberg and Freed but the theoretical values are consistently lower than the experimental values.
A Periciliary Brush Promotes the Lung Health by Separating the Mucus Layer from Airway Epithelia

Mucus clearance is the primary defense mechanism that protects airways from inhaled infectious and toxic agents. In the current gel-on-liquid mucus clearance model, a mucus gel is propelled on top of a "watery" periciliary layer surrounding the cilia. However, this model fails to explain the formation of a distinct mucus layer in health or why mucus clearance fails in disease. We propose a gel-on-brush model in which the periciliary layer is occupied by membrane-spanning mucins and mucopolysaccharides densely tethered to the airway surface. This brush prevents mucus penetration into the periciliary space and causes mucus to form a distinct layer. The relative osmotic moduli of the mucus and periciliary brush layers explain both the stability of mucus clearance in health and its failure in airway disease.
Combinatorial Coalition Formation for multi-item group-buying with heterogeneous customers

A group-buying market may offer multiple items with non-additive values (i.e., items may be complementary or substitutable), to buyers who are often heterogeneous in their item valuations. In such a situation, the formation of buying groups should concentrate buyers for common items while taking into consideration buyers' heterogeneous preferences over item bundles. Also, it should permit non-uniform cost sharing among buyers in the same group, which benefits all buyers by drawing more group-buying participants. We introduce the concept of Combinatorial Coalition Formation (CCF), which allows buyers to announce reserve prices for combinations of items. These reserve prices, along with the sellers' price-quantity curves for each item, are used to determine the formation of buying groups for each item. Moreover, buyers in the same group may not necessarily all pay the same price. The objective of CCF is to maximize buyers' total surplus. Determining the optimal coalition configuration in CCF is NP-hard, and the stability of such a configuration relies on the cost sharing rule within each group. We thus propose a heuristic algorithm for CCF based on augmented greedy selections, along with a cost sharing rule satisfying certain stability properties. Simulation results show that our approximate algorithm generates fairly good solutions compared to the optimal results, and is greatly superior to a simpler distributed approach. Furthermore, our algorithm's performance is enhanced when items are complementary or strongly substitutable, especially in settings when the prices decrease either rapidly or slowly with the quantities. Evaluations of the sellers' revenue under CCF demonstrate that sellers should offer a more gradually decreasing price-quantity curve for complementary or strongly substitutable items, and a more abruptly decreasing curve for weakly substitutable items. In addition, sellers may benefit from greater sales generated by simpler price-quantity curves with fewer steps.
Stereochemistry and mechanisms of thermal cycloaddition reactions of conjugated enynes. The stereospecific formation of six tetrahedral centers in a single reaction

Abstract Thermal condensations of penta-1,5-dien-3-ynes with two molecules of olefinic dienophiles proceed stereospecifically with retention of the configurations of the dienophiles, and with both molecules of the dienophile in each reaction adding to the same face of the dienyne.
Band-gap narrowing in heavily defect-doped ZnO

Band-gap narrowing has been measured optically for semiconducting zinc-oxide films. All films were $n$ type with carrier densities of 5 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{17}$ - 2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{20}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. The narrowing appeared suddenly at $n\ensuremath{\sim}2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{19}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, a carrier density consistent with that expected for the onset of a semiconductor-metal transition. However the gap-shrinkage dependence on carrier concentration was not ${n}^{\frac{1}{3}}$ as expected from predictions based on an electron-gas model, but could be described by the same empirical relation proposed for Si:As and Si:B.
The Safety of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Lithium in Combination: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Early reports cautioned against the combination of lithium and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), citing risk of excessive cognitive disturbance, prolonged apnea, and spontaneous seizures. However, recent case series with larger numbers of patients indicate that the combination may be used safely and with optimal efficacy in certain clinical circumstances. In this report, we describe 12 patients in whom the combination of lithium and ECT was deemed safe. We also provide a comprehensive review of published literature and provide detailed recommendations for clinical practice.
Relationship Enhancement Groups with State Hospital Patients and Staff.

Abstract The intense environment of inpatient psychiatric treatment offers unique opportunities for development of interpersonal skills. Both patients and staff are likely to benefit from use of high-level interpersonal skills to reduce stress and develop supportive relationships within the hospital. Patients who continue to use improved interpersonal skills after discharge may reduce the likelihood they will need to be re hospitalized. One form of group interpersonal skill training, relationship enhancement (RE) therapy, was offered to patients and staff as a pilot program in a rural state hospital. Patients and staff found learning RE behaviors and skills to be enjoyable, beneficial to their communication, and helpful in improving their relationships.
PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS FOR ELECTRIC-PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Electric spacecraft performance depends critically on the mass of the electric-propulsion system. The electric powerplant often is assumed to be the major component of such systems. It is shown, however, that when power conversion, power conditioning, and thrusters are included in mission analysis, the total effective specific mass aps*(kg/kwj) of the electric-propulsion system may be much higher than that of the electric powerplant alone, resulting in significant loss of payload or increase in trip time. A method of system analysis is presented which clearly evaluates the contribution of each subsystem to the total propulsion system mass.
Nature and effects of nonexponential correlation functions in probe diffusion experiments by quasielastic light scattering

Abstract The shape of intensity autocorrelation functions measured by dynamic light scattering in a ternary probe/matrix/solvent system is considered in detail. The probe is 907 A polystyrene latex, and the matrix is a high molecular weight hydroxypropylcellulose. Experiments were performed with and without adding surfactant to prevent surface interactions between the probe and matrix which lead to probe clustering. In either case, the correlation functions were dramatically more nonexponential than those we reported earlier for lower molecular weight hydroxypropylcellulose (J. Colloid Interface Sci.122, 120 (1988)). Two independent Laplace inversion algorithms and a discrete multiple exponential analysis find the correlation functions to be bimodal. The slower mode is definitely diffusive, and is closely associated with the self-diffusivity of the latex probe. It is not easy to identify the physical significance of the weaker, faster mode. The nonexponentiality is sufficient that, if it were not accounted for properly, serious misinterpretations of the data could result. For example, in the absence of surfactant, analysis by simple cumulants methods leads one to the conclusion that the Stokes-Einstein law fails dramatically. After detailed consideration of the nonexponentiality, the failure is much less, though still significant relative to experimental uncertainty.
Circulating Monocytes Are Not a Major Reservoir of HIV-1 in Elite Suppressors

Circulating HIV-1-infected monocytes have been identified in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy and may represent an important barrier to viral eradication. The nature of these cells in HIV-1-infected patients who maintain undetectable viral loads and preserved CD4(+) T cell counts without antiretroviral therapy (known as elite controllers or elite suppressors [ES]) is unknown. We describe here infrequent recovery of proviral HIV-1 DNA from circulating monocytes relative to CD4(+) T cells in ES, despite permissiveness of these cells to HIV-1 viral entry ex vivo. Thus, monocytes do not appear to be a major reservoir of HIV-1 in ES.
Sinus of valsalva aneurysm or fistula: management and outcome

Abstract Background . Few large or long-term series exist regarding the management of patients with sinus of Valsalva aneurysms or fistulas (SVAFs). Methods . Between 1956 and 1997, 129 patients presented with a ruptured (64 cases; 49.6%) or nonruptured (65 cases; 50.4%) SVAF. The patients included 88 men and 41 women, with a mean age of 39.1 years. Associated findings included a history of endocarditis (42 cases; 32.6%), a bicuspid aortic valve (21 cases; 16.3%), a ventricular septal defect (15 cases; 11.6%), and Marfan's syndrome (12 cases; 9.3%). Operative procedures included simple plication (61 cases; 47.3%), patch repair (52 cases; 40.3%), aortic root replacement (16 cases; 12.4%), and aortic valve replacement/repair (75 cases; 58.1%). Results . There were five in-hospital deaths (3.9%): four due to preexisting sepsis and endocarditis and one that followed dehiscence of the repair in a patient with Marfan's syndrome. Two patients (1.6%) had strokes during the early postoperative period. The survivors were followed up for 661.1 patient-years (5.3 years/patient). The following late complications occurred: prosthetic valve malfunction (5 cases; 3.9%), prosthetic valve endocarditis (3 cases; 2.3%), SVAF recurrence (2 cases; 1.6%), thrombosis (1 case; 0.8%), and anticoagulation-related bleeding (1 case; 0.8%). Conclusions . Resection and repair of SVAF entails an acceptably low operative risk and yields long-term freedom from symptoms. Early, aggressive treatment is recommended to prevent endocarditis or lesional enlargement, which causes worse symptoms and necessitates more extensive repair.
Magnetic properties of sputtered bilayer and laminated CoZrRe/SiO/sub 2/ thin films

Multilayered CoZrRe/SiO/sub 2/ films have been investigated in an effort to increase permeability of soft amorphous CoZrRe films at high frequencies. The effects of SiO/sub 2/ layering on coercivity, anisotropy and permeability are presented. The magnetic characteristics are dependent on the deposition parameters and thickness of both the CoZrRe and the SiO/sub 2/ layers. CoZrRe films with SiO/sub 2/ overlayers exhibit greater resistance to annealing with increasing SiO/sub 2/ input power. This is attributed to substrate heating with increasing input power that anneals the CoZrRe film during deposition. The coercivity of the multilayered films is less than that of a single CoZrRe layer. As the SiO/sub 2/ thickness increases, the coercivity of the multilayer film increases. These results are explained in terms of magnetostatic coupling between CoZrRe layers. Magnetooptic permeability measurements indicate good response at frequencies above 10 MHz for laminated films. >
Abstract 2952: Image-guided miRNA therapy for metastatic breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Metastases, and not the primary tumor from which they originate, are the main reason for mortality from breast carcinoma. New therapeutic approaches for metastatic breast cancer are urgently needed. The specific involvement of miRNAs in the development of metastases has been recently described and identified microRNA-10b (miR-10b) in initiation of breast cancer invasion and metastasis (Ma et al, Nature, 2007). Here, we describe a nanodrug for image-guided therapy of lymph node metastatic breast cancer. It consists of RGD-targeted ultrasmall magnetic nanoparticles that mediate their therapeutic effect by delivering locked nucleic acid to knockdown microRNA-10b (MN-anti-miR10b). Nanodrug bearing scrambled locked nucleic acid (MN-scr-miR) was also synthesized. The size and composition of the nanoparticles promote their extended persistence in the circulation (blood half-life >12 hrs) and transcytosis into the tumoral and lymph node interstitium. The nanodrug is detectable by magnetic resonance and optical imaging and is designed so that it targets both primary tumor cells and lymph node metastases. We show that treatment of invasive human breast tumor cells in vitro expressing luciferase (MDA-MB-231-luc) with the nanodrug results in an 88% downregulation of miRNA-10b with the application of just 1.5 nmoles/ml of LNA and abolishes the invasion and migration of the tumor cells. In vivo, we showed that the nanodrug could be delivered to primary tumors as well as to lymph nodes and lymph node and lung metastasis. Therapeutic treatment of animal bearing orthotopic MDA-MB-231-luc tumors was performed with tail vein injections (10mg/kg of iron) delivered once a week for four weeks. Two therapeutic scenarios were used: 1) preventing tumor cell dissemination from the primary tumor beginning prior to the formation of detectable lymph node metastases and 2) beginning the treatment after the formation of lymph node metastasis but prior to metastasis to the lungs. In scenario (1) we observed that by the end of the treatment course, bioluminsecence signal from the tumors in the experimental animals treated with MN-anti-miR10b was at pre-metastatic levels, indicating a prevention of tumor cell metastasis from the primary tumor to lymph nodes. In contrast, there was visible dissemination of tumor cells to the lymph nodes of control animals treated with the MN-scr-miR. This therapeutic effect was highly reproducible. In scenario (2) there was a 20-fold increase in lymph node metastatic burden in controls treated with MN-scr-miR. By contrast, in the experimental animals treated with MN-anti-miR10b, there was a dramatic reduction of metastatic progression (p < 0.001, n = 6) and a prevention of tumor cell dissemination to the lungs. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2952. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2952
ORFEUS Observations of Luminous Cool Stars

The ORFEUS telescope obtained far-ultraviolet spectra (λλ912-1218) of three luminous cool stars: β Draconis (HD 159181) and two hybrid stars, α Aquarii (HD 209750) and α Trianguli Australis (HD 150798). Most striking is the detection of blueshifted O VI λ1032, and C III λ977 emission relative to Si III λ1206, indicating outward motion, and the markedly narrow resonance line profiles of C III and Si III in the two hybrid objects as compared with the coronal star β Dra. The observed Doppler shifts suggest that a warm wind of at least 3×105 K occurs in the hybrid stars with outflows ~100-200 km s−1; narrow lines of C III and Si III are consistent with signatures of wind absorption. The asymmetric profile of C III in β Dra might also result from wind absorption, although the acceleration would have to begin at higher temperatures (T ~ 70,000 K) in this coronal star as compared with the hybrids, since its chromospheric Mg II profiles show no asymmetry due to wind absorption. Electron densities determined from C III multiplets in β Dra and α TrA indicate values between 8.3 and 8.6 dex (cm-3), giving a pressure of ~2×1013 cm-3 K, at T~7×104 K. Wind absorption and interstellar extinction must be considered when applying emission-line diagnostics in this wavelength region.
Radiosterilization vs. Chemosterilization in House Flies and Mosquitoes

Laboratory tests were conducted during 1961 and 1962 to compare the effectiveness of males of the house fly, Musca domestica L., and the common malaria mosquito. Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, sterilized by apholate or tepa and by gamma radiation. For radiosterilization, house fly pupae were treated 31-54 hr prior to eclosion with 2850 r and mosquito pupae at least 24 hr old with 10000 or 12000 r from a cobalt-60 source supplying 736 ± 33 r/min. For chemosterilization, house fly male adults 1 day old were fed 1% apholate in the diet for 3 days and mosquito male adults for 3-4 days after emergence. Mosquito male adults 0-24 hr old were also exposed to contact residues containing 7 mg/ft2 of tepa. The most important criterion of effectiveness was the reduction in number of viable egg batches from females confined with both treated and untreated males. Results from chemo-sterilization equaled or surpassed those from radiosterilization. With mosquitoes, highly competitive, yet per manently sterile, males were more attainable with chemo-than with radiosterilization. With house flies either method seemed adequate. but the slightly greater degree of recovery after irradiation than after chemosterilization must be considered.
Community-Based Caching for Enhanced Lookup Performance in P2P Systems

Large peer-to-peer systems exhibit the presence of communities based on user interests. Resources commonly shared within individual communities are in general relatively less popular and inconspicuous in the system-wide behavior. Hence, such communities are unable to benefit significantly from caching and replication that focus only on the most dominant queries. A community-based caching (CBC) solution that enhances both community-wide and system-wide lookup performance is proposed. CBC consists of a suboverlay formation scheme and a local-knowledge-based distributed caching (LKDC) algorithm. Suboverlays enable communities to forward queries through their members. While queries are forwarded, the LKDC algorithm causes members to identify and cache resources of interests to them, resulting in faster resolution of queries for popular resources within each community. Distributed local caching requires global information (e.g., hop count and popularity of contents) that is difficult and costly to obtain. However, by means of an analysis of globally optimal behavior and structural properties of the overlay, we developed the heuristic-based LKDC algorithm that not only relies on purely local information but also provides close-to-optimal caching performance. CBC is adaptive to changing popularity and user interests, works with any skewed distribution of queries, and introduces minimal modifications and overhead to the overlay network.
The KKK won't let me play: ostracism even by a despised outgroup hurts

Previous research has shown that ostracism even by outgroup members is aversive. In this study we examined whether ostracism by a particular type of outgroup, a despised outgroup, was sufficient to inflict emotional distress. We manipulated ostracism using Cyberball, an on-line ball toss game. Ostracized participants reported lower levels of belonging, self-esteem, control, and meaningful existence, and more negative mood, than included participants. Moreover, ostracism by despised outgroup members was no less aversive than ostracism by rival outgroup or ingroup members. Participants differentiated between the groups, however; ostracized individuals reported greater outgroup negativity than included participants only when their co-players were members of the despised outgroup. We interpret these results as evidence for the powerful impact of ostracism and the potential importance of distinguishing between qualitatively different outgroups. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simple Formation of an Abiotic Porphyrinogen in Aqueous Solution

Porphyrins have long been proposed as key ingredients in the emergence of life yet plausible routes for forming their essential pyrrole precursor have heretofore not been identified. Here we show that the anaerobic reaction of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA, 1–5 mM) with the β-ketoester methyl 4-methoxyacetoacetate (2–40 mM) in water (pH 5–7) at 70–100°C for >6 h affords the porphyrinogen, which upon chemical oxidation gives the corresponding porphyrin in overall yield of up to 10%. The key intermediate is the α-methoxymethyl-substituted pyrrole, which undergoes tetramerization and macrocycle formation under kinetic control. The resulting type-I porphyrin bears four propionic acid and four carbomethoxy groups, is distinct from porphyrins (e.g., uroporphyrin or coproporphyrin) derivable from ALA alone via the extant universal biosynthetic path to tetrapyrroles, and is photoactive upon assembly into cationic micelles in aqueous solution. The simple self-organization of eight acyclic molecules into a tetrapyrrole macrocycle, from which a porphyrin is derived that is photoactive in lipid assemblies, augurs well for the spontaneous origin of catalysts and pigments essential for prebiotic metabolism and proto-photosynthesis.
Late angiographic follow-up after successful coronary arterial thrombolysis and angioplasty during acute myocardial infarction

Emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is accepted as an important reperfusion intervention for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although its primary success rate is well documented, the frequency of restenosis after this procedure is unclear. The frequency of restenosis was determined in patients undergoing emergency PTCA at least 6 months after PTCA was performed during AMI. Of 66 consecutive patients undergoing emergency PTCA, 25 had a second, elective catheterization at an average of 22 months after AMI and 6 underwent repeat catheterization because of recurrent chest pain. Restenosis of the PTCA site was found in 10 of the 31 patients (32%) restudied. Also, 14 (45%) of these 31 patients showed progression of narrowing in the non-infarct-related coronary arteries. In summary, patients in whom AMI is treated by PTCA are at risk for restenosis and for progressive narrowing of the non-infarct artery.
On Best-Effort Real-Time Assurances for Recovering from Distributable Thread Failures in Distributed Real-Time Systems

We consider the problem of recovering from failures of distributable threads in distributed real-time systems that operate under run-time uncertainties including those on thread execution times, thread arrivals, and node failure occurrences. When a thread encounters a node failure, it causes orphans. Under a termination model, the orphans must be detected and aborted, and exceptions must be delivered to farthest, contiguous surviving thread segment for resuming thread execution. Our application/scheduling model includes distributable threads and their exception handlers that are subject to time/utility function (TUF) time constraints and a utility accrual (UA) optimality criterion. A key underpinning of the TUF/UA scheduling paradigm is the notion of "best-effort" where high importance threads are always favored over low importance ones, irrespective of thread urgency. We present a scheduling algorithm called HUA and a thread integrity protocol called TPR. We show that HUA and TPR bound the orphan cleanup and recovery time with bounded loss of the best-effort property. Our implementation experience of HUA/TPR within Sun's distributed real-time specification for Java demonstrates the algorithm/protocol's effectiveness
Effects of Haloperidol or SCH-23390 on Ethanol-Induced Conditioned Taste Aversion

Dopaminergic systems are thought to play an important role in the motivational effects of ethanol. The present experiments examined the effects of haloperidol (a D2 antagonist) and SCH-23390 (a D1 antagonist) on the acquisition of ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion. In four separate experiments, adult male Swiss-Webster mice were acclimated to a 2-h/day water restriction regimen. Subsequently they received four conditioning trials consisting of 1-h access to either 0.2 M NaCl (experiments 1-3) or 0.15 % w/v saccharin (experiment 4). After flavor access on trials 1-3, subjects received either haloperidol (0.1, 0.15, or 0.3 mg/kg), SCH-23390 (0.05 mg/kg), or saline followed 30 min later by 0, 2, or 4 g/kg ethanol. Ethanol-flavor pairings reduced subsequent flavor intakes, indicating the development of conditioned taste aversion. Neither haloperidol of SCH-23390 reduced flavor intakes in the absence of ethanol. However, both haloperidol and SCH-23390 reduced ethanol-conditioned aversion depending on ethanol dose and conditioned flavor. These results are consistent with the notion that dopaminergic processes are important for the development of ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion, and the notion that dopaminergic receptor systems influence both positive and negative motivational effects of ethanol.
Radiopotassium equilibrium in total body potassium: studies using 43K and 42K.

Abstract The mixing of the radiopotassium tracers 43 K and 42 K in total body potassium has been analyzed. Under conditions of a potassium free intake the system was studied as a closed multicompartment system. Tracer equilibrium was determined to have been reached by 40–50 hours, thus providing basis for the clinical isotope dilution method of estimating exchangeable potassium. The isotopic tracer 43 K proved to be more useful than 42 K in tracer dilution studies because of its longer half life (22.4 hours) which permits evaluation of equilibrium at 160 hours.