cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RADIOSENSITIVITY IN HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE: IMPLICATIONS FOR PATHOGENESIS AND PRESYMPTOMATIC DIAGNOSIS

Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited fatal disorder characterised by premature death of nerve cells. Cultured lymphocyte lines from four patients with HD were abnormally sensitive to the lethal effects of X rays, as were lines from two of five subjects at risk for HD. The hypersensitivity is specific for ionising radiation, since HD lines had normal survival after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The hypersensitivity, which may reflect an inherited defect in DNA repair, provides the basis for a presymptomatic diagnostic test for the disease.
Effects of feeding oleic acid or hydrogenated vegetable oils to lactating cows.

Abstract In feeding trials to clarify the mechanism by which unsaturated oils depress milk fat percentage, oleic acid at 250 or 500ml per cow per day did not reduce milk fat percentage significantly. At 500ml these changes were significant (control, oleic): rumen acetate 61.6, 603%; rumen propionate 19.4, 21.0%; milk fat content of 18:1 trans fatty acid 3.0, 8.0%; and of 18:2 cis fatty acid 2.2, 1.4%. Feeding hydrogenated vegetable oil containing 13% trans acid at 454g per cow per day decreased slightly milk fat percentage and elevated plasma cholesterol 190 to 245 mg/100ml and 18:1 trans fatty acid in milk fat 4.2 to 6.2%. Hydrogenated vegetable oil containing 49% 18:1 trans acid at 454g daily decreased milk fat 3.9 to 3.1%. Milk fat triglycerides decreased in short chain fatty acids and increased in 18:1 trans 2.6 to 11.2%, 18:1 cis 22.9 to 29.0%, and 18:2 trans .2 to 1.8%. Milk phospholipids decreased 14.1 to 9.6% in 14:0 fatty acid and increased .3 to 3.1% in 18:1 trans and 20.5 to 31.4% in 18:1 cis . Blood cholesterol esters were increased 152 to 195 mg/100ml. The data lend support to the concept that trans acids or compounds produced in the rumen during their formation from polyunsaturated fatty acids are responsible for the milk fat depression from unsaturated oils.
Effect of C-terminal mutations of alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein on dimer formation and assembly in vitro.

Abstract The coat protein (CP) of alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) strain 425 assembles to bacilliform or rod-shaped particles in the presence of nucleic acids or to T = 1 empty icosahedral particles in the absence of nucleic acids. To study the determinants of CP assembly, recombinant CPs (rCPs) that contained a (His) 6 region were expressed in Escherichia coli. Wt rCP and a mutant rCP, which lacked the last nine amino acids of the C terminus (amino acids 213–221), assembled to particles that were identical in electron micrographs. However, a mutant rCP, which lacked the last 18 amino acids of the C terminus (amino acids 204–221), did not assemble. Likewise, a mutant with alanine substitutions at W 191 , F 197 , and P 198 did not assemble. Furthermore rCP with a single alanine substitution at W 191 did not assemble, whereas the rCP, which had an arginine and an alanine substitution at A 196 and F 197 , respectively, formed rod-shaped particles. The mutations that prevented assembly prevented dimer formation, which indicates that dimers are the minimal building blocks of particles. Our results indicate that two separate regions in the C terminus of AMV CP are critical for dimer formation and assembly and that changes in key amino acids in one of the regions affect both assembly and particle morphology.
Intrusion Detection on Hybrid Gene Expression Programming

This paper present intrusion detection on hybrid gene expression programming (ID-HGEP), which combined theory of attribution reduction in rough set to improve precision and efficiency on intrusion detection. Through extensive experiments on high dimension data sets, it is shown that ID-HGEP is apparently more advantageous in terms of convergence speed, intrusion detection efficiency and average consumptive time in contrast with traditional intrusion detection algorithm on GEP.
White Racial Identity Dyadic Interactions in Supervision: Implications for Supervisees' Multicultural Counseling Competence.

Examining supervisory dyads consisting of a White supervisor and a White supervisee, the authors sought to determine the effects of similarities and differences in levels of supervisor and supervisee racial identity schemas or attitudes on White supervisees' self-reported multicultural counseling competence and multicultural case conceptualization ability. White supervisees in supervision dyads characterized by more advanced White racial identity schemas reported higher self-perceived multicultural counseling competence and obtained higher multicultural case conceptualization ratings than did their counterparts in supervision dyads characterized by lower White racial identity schemas. Implications of the findings are discussed.
New binucleating ligand with two [P,S] chelation pockets on a single phenyl ring: Syntheses and X-ray structures of 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,5-difluoro-3,6-bis(methylthio)benzene and of bimetallic complex (CO)3Fe(μ-[(PPh2)(SMe)C6F2(SMe)(PPh2)])Fe(CO)3

Double deprotonations of l,4-dibromo-2,5-difluorobenzene with LDA (2 equiv., T < -90 °C) generate a reasonably stable organodilithium intermediate. Quenching this reaction mixture with chlorophosphines CIPR2 produce p-bis(phosphino)benzenes R 2 P-C 6 Br 2 F 2 -PR2 (R = Ph, 4a; R = ι Pr, 4b). Facile lithium-bromine exchange occurs upon exposure of 4a to BuLi (2 equiv., -80 °C), leading to the generation of another organodilithium intermediate. Addition of MeS-SMe (2 equiv.) to such reaction mixtures gives 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,5-difluoro-3,6-bis(methylthio)benzene (2). Compound 2 is the first example of a neutral binucleating ligand featuring the [P,S] chelating sites on the opposite sides of a single phenyl ring. Compound 4b does not undergo the analogous transformation when subjected to the same conditions (2BuLi/2MeS-SMe). Addition of 2 to Fe(CO) 5 /2(Me 3 NO ·2H 2 O) reaction mixtures led to the isolation of the bimetallic complex {(CO)3Fe[P,S]-C 6 F 2 -[P,S]Fe(CO) 3 } (3), ([P,S] represents the chelating pockets formed by adjacent -PPh 2 and -SMe groups). All of the new compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques (multinuclear NMR, mass-spectrometry, and/or elemental analysis). In addition, compounds 2 and 3 were characterized via single crystal X-ray diffraction methods.
Gompertz-Laird model prediction of optimum utilization of crude protein and metabolizable energy by French guinea fowl broilers

This study was conducted to assess the influence of dietary CP and ME on growth parameters of the French guinea fowl, a meat-type variety. In a 2 x 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 297 one-day-old French guinea keets (162 females and 135 males) were randomly assigned to experimental diets comprising 3,050, 3,100, and 3,150 kcal of ME/kg, each containing 21, 23, and 25% CP from hatch to 4 wk of age (WOA), and 3,100, 3150, and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg, each containing 19, 21, and 23% CP at 5 to 8 WOA. Using BW and G:F data from hatch to 8 WOA, the Gompertz-Laird growth model was employed to estimate growth patterns of the French guinea fowl. Mean differences in exponential growth rate, age of maximum growth, and asymptotic BW among dietary CP and ME levels were not significant. However, instantaneous growth rate and weight at inflection point were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in birds on the 25% CP diet than those on the 21% CP diet at hatch to 4 WOA (1.12 kg/wk and 0.79 kg vs. 1.04 kg/wk and 0.74 kg, respectively). The exponential growth rate was also higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed the 3,050 kcal of ME/kg diet with either 23 or 25% CP than those fed diets containing 3,050 kcal of ME/kg and 21% CP. Mean G:F was higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed diets containing 3,050 kcal of ME/kg and either 21 or 23% CP than those in other dietary treatments. Therefore, based on the Gompertz-Laird growth model estimates, feeding 21 and 23% CP and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg at hatch to 4 WOA and 19 and 21% CP with 3,150 kcal of ME/kg at 5 to 8 WOA can be recommended as adequate for growth for the French guinea fowl broilers.
The behavior of market interest rates when information is incomplete

This paper has attempted to show how participants in financial markets, in the face of incomplete information about the supply of and demand for money, might go about formulating expectations of future interest rates in making market-clearing decisions. In particular, it was seen that information about the current excess demand for money, extracted from the current interest rate, could be used in formulating these expectations.
A Field Theoretic Formalism for Electron-Phonon Interactions in Disordered Materials

On introduit une representation classique de theorie du champ dans laquelle le desordre et l'interaction electron phonon sont traites de facon comparable, sur un pied d'egalite
Trauma-Cueing and Short-Term Memory in College Students with PTSD.

ABSTRACT A number of studies have revealed short-term memory deficits in individuals with PTSD. The current study sought to extend these findings to a college PTSD population. Additionally, a cueing manipulation was used to examine the effects of trauma-memory cueing on memory in PTSD and control groups. The study utilized a 2 × 2 (PTSD, No PTSD; Trauma-cue, Neutral-cue) design. Following the cueing procedure, 83 students completed various indices of memory and attention. No differences were found on any memory measure as a function of PTSD status, but trauma-cued individuals performed more poorly on the memory task immediately following the cueing procedure.
Measurement of the electron-spin susceptibility of Li, Cu, and Ag via transmission conduction-electron-spin resonance in metallic bilayers

A new technique is discussed which utilizes conduction-electron-spin resonance (CESR) in metal bilayers to determine the electron-spin susceptibility of metals. Transmission electron-spin resonance measurements are performed on bilayers made from various pairs of the metals lithium, sodium, potassium, copper, and silver. These measurements allow a determination of the ratio of the electron-spin susceptibilities of the two metals constituting the bilayer. Combining previously measured values of the electron-spin susceptibility of Na and K with our bilayer data, and performing a least-squares analysis, yields values of the electron-spin susceptibility of Li, Cu, and Ag. The resulting values are (2.29\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.13)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ cgs volume units for lithium, (1.35\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ cgs volume units for copper, and (0.86\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ cgs volume units for silver. These values agree with theoretical estimates and other experimental determinations. The self-consistency of our results also supports the reliability of our technique. This technique is potentially applicable to all metals for which CESR can be observed, and we discuss some possible candidates for future bilayer CESR susceptibility measurements.
Serving Unaffiliated Distance Learners: Strategies that Work

Dealing with unaffiliated distance learning students can be a daunting task for many public as well as academic librarians. This article will discuss strategies for providing reference to these students by gathering information on what services they are offered via their home institutions, and helping them navigate the often confusing landscape of library resources and services. Authors will outline the challenges and opportunities for public libraries presented by distance learners and suggest some services that might be provided for them. Finally, we will discuss the opportunities for outreach to distance learning students from both public and academic libraries.
Hemodynamic function after the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries.

Abstract Pre- and postoperative cardiac catheterization data and cinenangiocardiograms of 82 patients who survived the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) were reviewed. The postoperative catheterizations were performed 20 days to 10 years after operation (mean 2.5 years). Forty-six patients (56%) had no or insignificant associated cardiac lesions, whereas 36 (44%) had ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, or both, and required surgical intervention at the time of the Mustard operation. Postoperatively, 11 patients (13%) had significant systemic venous obstruction. Of the 11 patients, 6 required reoperation, and 2 patients had evidence of restenosis or complete obstruction in the superior vena cava after reoperation. In most patients, superior vena caval obstruction was well tolerated even in the presence of high pressure in the superior vena cava. Pulmonary venous obstruction occurred in 5 patients (6 % ), 3 of whom had no clinical symptoms despite severe pulmonary venous obstruction, although all had radiographic evidence of pulmonary venous congestion. The incidence of obstruction was drastically reduced after the Mustard operation was modified to include routine enlargement of the pulmonary venous atrium. Tricuspid regurgitation was uncommon (10%), but did occur in patients who had transatrial closure of a ventricular septal defect. Preoperatively, left ventricular outflow obstruction occurred in 38%. In 12 patients an attempt was made to relieve the obstruction at surgery. The 6 patients who had localized obstruction had a good result, but patients with more diffuse narrowing of left ventricular outflow had little or no relief of obstruction. Mild to moderate left ventricular outflow gradients regressed spontaneously in most patients after the Mustard operation.
The utilization of circulating cell-free fetal DNA testing and decrease in invasive diagnostic procedures: an institutional experience.

The utilization of circulating cell-free fetal DNA testing and decrease in invasive diagnostic procedures: an institutional experience
Protein Energy Malnutrition Decreases Immunity and Increases Susceptibility to Influenza Infection in Mice

Background Protein energy malnutrition (PEM), a common cause of secondary immune deficiency in children, is associated with an increased risk of infections. Very few studies have addressed the relevance of PEM as a risk factor for influenza. Methods We investigated the influence of PEM on susceptibility to, and immune responses following, influenza virus infection using isocaloric diets providing either adequate protein (AP; 18%) or very low protein (VLP; 2%) in a mouse model. Results We found that mice maintained on the VLP diet, when compared to mice fed with the AP diet, exhibited more severe disease following influenza infection based on virus persistence, trafficking of inflammatory cell types to the lung tissue, and virus-induced mortality. Furthermore, groups of mice maintained on the VLP diet showed significantly lower virus-specific antibody response and a reduction in influenza nuclear protein-specific CD8(+) T cells compared with mice fed on the AP diet. Importantly, switching diets for the group maintained on the VLP diet to the AP diet improved virus clearance, as well as protective immunity to viral challenge. Conclusions Our results highlight the impact of protein energy on immunity to influenza infection and suggest that balanced protein energy replenishment may be one strategy to boost immunity against influenza viral infections.
The direct response of Drosophila melanogaster to selection on knockdown temperature

We selected on knockdown temperature, the upper temperature at which insects lose the ability to cling to an inclined surface, in replicate populations of Drosophila melanogaster for 32 generations (46 generations of rearing). Knockdown temperature (Tkd) was initially bimodally distributed in both control and selected lines, and a similar pattern was found in several populations surveyed from two other continents. Within 20 generations of selection, the Up-selected lines (top 25% each generation) had lost the lower mode and the Low-selected lines (selected to fall out at ≈37°C) had largely lost the upper mode. The realized heritability of Tkd computed over the first 10 selection episodes was ≈0.12 in the Up-selected and ≈0.19 in the Low-selected lines. Realized heritability rose dramatically in the Low-selected lines over the first 20 generations of selection. The two modes, plus this rise in heritability, suggest that knockdown temperature is the product of one or two genes of large effect. The global polymorphism for knockdown temperature, coupled with the ease of selective removal of either mode, suggests that genetic variation for knockdown temperature may be maintained by natural selection.
Automate the Internet With “If This Then That” (IFTTT)

It is difficult to explain If This Then That (IFTTT), a Web service that helps connect other Web services to each other. On its own, IFTTT (https://ifttt.com) does not do anything. Instead, it serv...
Semantic decoupling: reducing the impact of requirement changes

The continuous stream of requirements changes that often takes place during software development and can create major problems in the development process. This paper defines a concept we call semantic coupling that can be used during all the phases of a system specification and design to reduce the impact of changing requirements. Within the general framework of the intent specifications, traceability matrices representing the mappings between different abstraction levels are used to evaluate the sensitivity of a given design to requirement changes. The practicality of using the approach on real software is demonstrated using the specification of the control software for a NASA robot designed to service the heat-resistant tiles on the Space Shuttle.
HIV peripheral neuropathy progression: protection with glucose-lowering drugs?

The purpose of this study is to evaluate risk factors for progression from asymptomatic peripheral neuropathy (APN) to symptomatic peripheral neuropathy (SPN). Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive patients initiating combination ART were followed longitudinally and screened for signs/symptoms of PN. Having APN was associated with higher odds of future SPN (odds ratio (OR) = 1.58, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = (1.08, 2.29), p = 0.027). Neurotoxic ART use was associated with increased odds of progression to SPN (OR = 2.16, 95 % CI = (1.21, 3.85), p = 0.009) while use of glucose-lowering drugs (non-insulin) was protective (OR = 0.12, 95 % CI = (0.02, 0.83), p = 0.031). Use of glucose-lowering drugs (non-insulin) may prevent progression from APN to SPN.
A liquid-medium-based protocol for rapid regeneration from embryogenic soybean cultures

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] somatic embryos of the cultivar Jack underwent histodifferentiation in liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 3% maltose, or according to the standard published procedure employing solidified MS media, permitting the recovery of an average of 8.1 and 3.9 embryos/mg of embryogenic tissue, respectively. Cotyledon-stage embryos that developed in liquid medium were ready for desiccation within 4 weeks, while the embryos from the standard procedure required a maturation step for an additional 4 weeks. Comparison of embryo development in MS medium with maltose or FN Lite-based medium without growth regulators and supplemented with maltose or an equimolar amount of sucrose revealed that sucrose promotes faster embryo histodifferentiation and maturation, and allows the recovery of up to 50% more mature, cotyledon-stage embryos within 3 weeks. The use of this liquid-medium-based protocol relative to the standard procedure led to a fourfold increase in the number of cotyledon-stage embryos recovered from other genotypes tested. In many cases, however, the percent germination was lower. Application of this new procedure also made it possible to harvest transgenic seed 9 months following biolistic bombardment, as compared to the 13 months required when the standard solid-medium-based protocol was used.
Understanding sleep disturbances in African-American breast cancer survivors: a pilot study

Objectives The goals of this study were (i) to report the prevalence and nature of sleep disturbances, as determined by clinically significant insomnia symptoms, in a sample of African-American breast cancer survivors; (ii) to assess the extent to which intrusive thoughts about breast cancer and fear of recurrence contributes to insomnia symptoms; and (iii) to assess the extent to which insomnia symptoms contribute to fatigue. Methods African-American breast cancer survivors completed surveys pertaining to demographics, medical history, insomnia symptoms, and intrusive thoughts about breast cancer, fear of cancer recurrence, and fatigue. Hierarchical regression models were performed to investigate the degree to which intrusive thoughts and concerns of cancer recurrence accounted for the severity of insomnia symptoms and insomnia symptom severity's association with fatigue. Results Forty-three percent of the sample was classified as having clinically significant sleep disturbances. The most commonly identified sleep complaints among participants were sleep maintenance, dissatisfaction with sleep, difficulty falling asleep, and early morning awakenings. Intrusive thoughts about breast cancer were a significant predictor of insomnia symptoms accounting for 12% of the variance in insomnia symptom severity. After adjusting for covariates, it was found that insomnia symptom severity was independently associated with fatigue accounting for 8% of variance. Conclusions A moderate proportion of African-American breast cancer survivors reported significant problems with sleep. Sleep disturbance was influenced by intrusive thoughts about breast cancer, and fatigue was associated with the severity of participants' insomnia symptoms. This study provides new information about sleep-related issues in African-American breast cancer survivors. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the sum product estimates and two variables expanders

Let Fp be the finite field of a prime order p. Let F: Fp x Fp --> Fp be a function defined by F(x, y) = x(f(x) + by), where b ∈ F*/p and f: Fp → Fp is any function. We prove that if A ⊂ Fp and │A│ < p1/2 then │A + A│+│F(A,A) │⪆│A│13/12. Taking f = 0 and b = 1, we get the well-known sum-product theorem by Bourgain, Katz and Tao, and Bourgain, Glibichuk and Konyagin, and also improve the previous known exponent from 14/13 to 13/12.
Transient behavior of the minimum mean-squared error receiver for direct-sequence code-division multiple-access systems

This paper studies the transient behavior of an adaptive near-far resistant receiver for direct-sequence (DS) code-division multiple-access (CDMA) known as the minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) receiver. This receiver structure is known to be near-far resistant and yet does not require the large amounts of side information that are typically required for other near-far resistant receivers. In fact this receiver only requires code timing on the one desired signal. The MMSE receiver uses an adaptive filter which is operated in a manner similar to adaptive equalizers. Initially there is a training period where the filter locks onto the signal that is sending a known training sequence. After training the system can then switch to a decision directed mode and send actual data. This work examines the length of the training period needed as a function of the number of interfering users and the severity of the near far problem. A standard LMS algorithm is used to adapt the filter and so the trade off between convergence and excess mean squared error is studied. It is found that in almost all cases a step size near 1.0/(total input power) gives the best compromise between speed of convergence and excess mean squared error. Also, it is shown that the MMSE receiver can tolerate about 30-40 dB worth of near-far problem before the convergence time becomes unacceptable. >
Dose-volume histogram analysis of techniques for irradiating pituitary adenomas

PURPOSE Three-dimensional treatment planning was performed to evaluate three standard coplanar irradiation techniques (two-field parallel-opposed, three-field, and 110 degrees bilateral arcs), the 330 degrees single rotational arc, and a four noncoplanar arc technique for the treatment of pituitary adenomas. We sought to identify the optimal technique for minimizing the dose delivered to the normal tissues around the pituitary gland. METHODS AND MATERIALS Contours of the pituitary tumor and normal tissues were traced onto computed axial tomography (CT) scans and reconstructed in three dimensions using a three-dimensional planning system. A total dose of 45 Gy was delivered to the pituitary lesion with the five techniques using 6 MV and 18 MV photons, and dose-volume histograms were generated. RESULTS The 18 MV photons delivered a lower dose to the temporal lobe than did the 6 MV photons in the two-field technique, but this advantage was not evident for the other techniques. The three-field technique improved dose distribution throughout the temporal lobes with low doses being delivered to the frontal lobe. The bilateral arc and the 330 degrees arc techniques were superior to stationary two- and three-fields techniques for sparing the temporal lobes. The four noncoplanar arc technique delivered less doses to the temporal and frontal lobes than did the other techniques. However, the lens dose (3.6 Gy/25 fractions) was higher compared to the other techniques. CONCLUSION Analysis of the dose-volume histograms shows the various dosimetric advantages and disadvantages of the five techniques. Based upon individual considerations, including the patient's age and medical history, one can decide the optimal technique for treatment.
Discrete-time wavelet extrema representation: design and consistent reconstruction

The paper studies wavelet transform extrema and zero-crossings representations within the framework of convex representations in /spl Lscr/(Z). Wavelet zero-crossings representation of two-dimensional signals is introduced as a convex multiscale edge representation as well. One appealing property of convex representations is that the reconstruction problem can be solved, at least theoretically, using the method of alternating projections onto convex sets. It turns out that in the case of the wavelet extrema and wavelet zero-crossings representations this method yields simple and practical reconstruction algorithms. Nonsubsampled filter banks that implement the wavelet transform for the two representations are also studied in the paper. Relevant classes of nonsubsampled perfect reconstruction FIR filter banks are characterized. This characterization gives a broad class of wavelets for the representations which are derived from those of the filter banks which satisfy a regularity condition. >
The Chicken or the Egg? Checkpoint Markers Identify Tumor-Specific T Cells in Melanoma

Unlike most cancer treatments, blockade of immune checkpoints such as PD-1 and CTLA-4 is a therapy in which the primary mechanism of action of the drug is not the primary mechanism of efficacy; tumor regression is mediated by the endogenous T cell response against the tumor. But up until now, we have not been able to definitively connect the dots—that is, to identify which T cells kill the tumor and, as a corollary, what antigens in the tumor the T cells actually recognize. Now, Gros and colleagues have shown that expression of PD-1 on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in melanoma identifies the T cells that specifically recognize tumor proteins, that this system can be used find the antigens, and that often, these antigens are mutated proteins specific to the patient’s tumor. First, the authors found that compared with peripheral blood T cells, tumor-infiltrating T cells isolated from 24 melanoma samples express more PD-1, TIM-3, and LAG-3 (all inhibitory receptors). Then, the investigators sorted freshly isolated TILs according to expression of PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM-3; activated and cultured these TILs; and then tested their reactivity against autologous tumor cells. They found that nearly all the tumor-reactive cells were derived from the PD-1+, LAG-3+, and/or TIM-3+ TILs. On the basis of deep sequencing of the T cell receptor chains, the authors showed that the PD-1+ TILs had undergone clonal expansion and that these T cells were the ones that responded to patient-specific mutations. The findings of Gros and coauthors suggest that sorting TILs based on PD-1 expression could serve as a platform for identifying tumor-specific antigens. Because the PD-1+ TILs included the greatest population of tumor-specific T cells, PD-1 blockade would likely unleash the widest immune repertoire; however, some of the tumor-specific T cells were TIM-3+, LAG-3+, or 4-1BB+, implying that targeting these receptors is likely to stimulate nonredundant tumor-specific T cells and may be synergistic with PD-1 blockade. The question is whether these strategies will apply to other tumors, because melanoma seems to recruit more TILs than other cancers and is especially sensitive to checkpoint blockade. When it comes to understanding the mechanism of immunotherapy, however, the answer is not the chicken or the egg, but the chicken and the egg: The clinical results of immunotherapy for cancer have directly enabled scientists to determine its mechanism, and understanding the mechanism should help to refine the clinical therapy. A. Gros et al ., PD-1 identifies the patient-specific CD8+ tumor-reactive repertoire infiltrating human tumors. J. Clin. Invest. 10.1172/JCI73639 (2014). [[Full Text]][1] [1]: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/73639
Elevated FGF23 levels are associated with impaired calcium-mediated suppression of PTH in ESRD.

Context: The positive association of elevated fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) with PTH levels in the setting of secondary hyperparathyroidism is paradoxical to the purported effects of FGF23 to suppress PTH secretion. Objective: We used dynamic calcium-mediated suppression of PTH levels in hemodialysis (HD) patients to determine the relationship between FGF23 levels and parathyroid gland function. Design: HD patients with elevated PTH were washed out of vitamin D analogs and/or calcimimetics and then exposed them to a high-calcium dialysate bath designed to suppress PTH. Setting: The study was conducted at an outpatient HD unit of an academic medical center. Participants: Eighteen maintenance HD patients with elevated PTH levels participated in the study. Main Outcome Measures: Ionized calcium (iCa), PTH, and FGF23 levels were measured during HD. The slope of the relationship between iCa and PTH (a marker of parathyroid gland mass) and the iCa level required for a 50% reduction in PTH were determined, and the association of these with FGF23 levels was determined. Results: Increased baseline log FGF23 levels were associated with putative alterations in gland mass as estimated by significantly shallower slopes of the iCa/PTH suppression curves (P = 0.0004), but there was no association between FGF23 and calcium sensing as measured by ionized Ca associated with a 50% suppression of PTH (P = 0.38). FGF23 levels decreased significantly during HD, but this change was not correlated with decrements in either renal phosphate or PTH. Conclusions: High FGF23 levels may be a marker for parathyroid gland hyperplasia in HD patients. Acute reductions in neither PTH nor renal phosphate during dialysis correlated with PTH suppression.
Mobile Assisted Key Distribution in Wireless Sensor Networks

Many applications in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) demand security. The standart low-power wireless sensors (TmoteSky, MICA2) have severe resource constraints. Despite some work on the adaptation of public-key cryptography to the resource constrained sensors, it is still not obvious whether the resources on the sensors are sufficient for the current asymmetric algorithms run in decent time and space. Therefore, Symmetric cryptography is preferred in most wireless sensor network applications since its resource requirements are lower than the resource requirements of the public-key cryptography. Key management is challenging since sensors can land anywhere after deployment. Earlier approaches on key management mostly focus on key predistribution where a small number of keys are placed in sensors before deployment. In this paper, we propose key distribution schemes using a mobile element. In proposed schemes, mobile robot handles all the overload of key distribution requiring minimal resources at the sensors for key management. Mobile robot broadcasts key messages within a radius, and all the nodes within the area can receive and process the message. We investigate the proposed schemes in detail and show that they are feasible using simulations. Mobile based key distribution can provide a comprehensive key management framework since it can also aid in detection of compromised nodes and do key revocation.
Teen birth rates in sexually abused and neglected females

OBJECTIVE:Prospectively track teen childbirths in maltreated and nonmaltreated females and test the hypothesis that child maltreatment is an independent predictor of subsequent teen childbirth over and above demographic characteristics and other risk factors. METHODS:Nulliparous adolescent females (N = 435) aged 14 to 17 years were assessed annually through age 19 years. Maltreated females were referred by Child Protective Services agencies for having experienced substantiated sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect within the preceding 12 months. Comparison females were matched on race, family income, age and family constellation. Teen childbirth was assessed via self-report during annual interviews. Births were confirmed using hospital delivery records. RESULTS:Seventy participants gave birth during the study, 54 in the maltreated group and 16 in the comparison group. Maltreated females were twice as likely to experience teen childbirth after controlling for demographic confounds and known risk factors (odds ratio = 2.17, P = 0.01). Birth rates were highest for sexually abused and neglected females. Sexual abuse and neglect were both independent predictors of teen childbirth after controlling for demographic confounds, other risk factors and alternative forms of maltreatment occurring earlier in development. CONCLUSIONS:Results provide evidence that sexual abuse and neglect are unique predictors of subsequent teen childbirth. Partnerships between protective service providers and teen childbirth prevention strategists hold the best promise for further reducing the US teen birth rate. Additional research illuminating the pathways to teen childbirth for differing forms of maltreatment is needed so that tailored interventions can be realized. Language: en
Influence of habitat factors on the distribution and abundance of a marsupial seed disperser

Abstract Understanding factors that influence the distribution and abundance of seed dispersers is important because of the role these species play in maintaining plant communities. The temperate forest of Patagonia has an unusually high frequency of mutualisms, including obligate seed dispersal of a keystone mistletoe (Tristerix corymbosus) by the marsupial Dromiciops gliroides. We examined whether the distribution and abundance of D. gliroides was related to the distribution and abundance of this mistletoe, which is a principal food source, or alternatively, whether other habitat features constrain the distribution and abundance of this marsupial. We conducted field surveys for D. gliroides, mistletoe, and other habitat variables and developed a set of habitat models in which model variables were defined a priori. We found that the distribution of D. gliroides was related to bamboo cover. Bamboo is an important source of nest material and nest sites. However, when the minimum requirement for bamboo cove...
Vibrational deactivation in planar ion-neutral collisions. A classical trajectory study of the fixed orientation angle approximation

Abstract Vibrational deactivation of O+2 (v=1) in low-energy collisions with Kr is studied within the framework of planar classical mechanics. An approximation in which the relative orientation of the diatom is fixed fails to describe the extent of vibrational deactivation found in exact planar dynamics. We also consider planar Li+/N2 (v=1) collisions. For this system, in contrast to Kr/O+2, the vibrational energy transfer is described quite accurately in the fixed-angle approximation.
A fast exhaustive search algorithm for rate-constrained motion estimation

A fast exhaustive search algorithm for rate-constrained motion estimation is presented. The motion vectors are selected from a search window based on a rate-distortion criterion by successively eliminating the search positions depending on the rate constraint. The estimation performance of the proposed algorithm is identical to the performance of the rate-constrained full search algorithm, with considerable reduction in computation. Simulation results indicate that the number of matching calculations decreases as the constraint on the rate increases.
Signal detection in a hybrid system

A binary detection problem in which the observation noise is modeled as a hybrid system, i.e., a system characterized by abruptly changing parameters, is formulated. The optimal receiver for such a system, though conceptually straightforward, is too computationally complex to be practical. A suboptimal but practical receiver is presented and applied to the specific problem of direct sequence spread spectrum (DS/SS) communications in the presence of pulsed narrowband interference.
Minimal within-host dengue models highlight the specific roles of the immune response in primary and secondary dengue infections

In recent years, the within-host viral dynamics of dengue infections have been increasingly characterized, and the relationship between aspects of these dynamics and the manifestation of severe disease has been increasingly probed. Despite this progress, there are few mathematical models of within-host dengue dynamics, and the ones that exist focus primarily on the general role of immune cells in the clearance of infected cells, while neglecting other components of the immune response in limiting viraemia. Here, by considering a suite of mathematical within-host dengue models of increasing complexity, we aim to isolate the critical components of the innate and the adaptive immune response that suffice in the reproduction of several well-characterized features of primary and secondary dengue infections. By building up from a simple target cell limited model, we show that only the innate immune response is needed to recover the characteristic features of a primary symptomatic dengue infection, while a higher rate of viral infectivity (indicative of antibody-dependent enhancement) and infected cell clearance by T cells are further needed to recover the characteristic features of a secondary dengue infection. We show that these minimal models can reproduce the increased risk of disease associated with secondary heterologous infections that arises as a result of a cytokine storm, and, further, that they are consistent with virological indicators that predict the onset of severe disease, such as the magnitude of peak viraemia, time to peak viral load, and viral clearance rate. Finally, we show that the effectiveness of these virological indicators to predict the onset of severe disease depends on the contribution of T cells in fuelling the cytokine storm.
Comparative hemodynamic effects of periodic obstructive and simulated central apneas in sedated pigs

Chen, Ling, and Steven M. Scharf. Comparative hemodynamic effects of periodic obstructive and simulated central apneas in sedated pigs. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(2): 485–494, 1997.—It has been speculate...
Predicting Dental Caries Outcomes in Children: A “Risky” Concept

In recent years, unprecedented gains in the understanding of the biology and mechanisms underlying human health and disease have been made. In the domain of oral health, although much remains to be learned, the complex interactions between different systems in play have begun to unravel: host genome, oral microbiome with its transcriptome, proteome and metabolome, and more distal influences, including relevant behaviors and environmental exposures. A reasonable expectation is that this emerging body of knowledge can help improve the oral health and optimize care for individuals and populations. These goals are articulated by the National Institutes of Health as "precision medicine" and the elimination of health disparities. Key processes in these efforts are the discovery of causal factors or mechanistic pathways and the identification of individuals or population segments that are most likely to develop (any or severe forms of) oral disease. This article critically reviews the fundamental concepts of risk assessment and outcome prediction, as they relate to early childhood caries (ECC)-a common complex disease with significant negative impacts on children, their families, and the health system. The article highlights recent work and advances in methods available to estimate caries risk and derive person-level caries propensities. It further discusses the reasons for their limited utility in predicting individual ECC outcomes and informing clinical decision making. Critical issues identified include the misconception of defining dental caries as a tooth or surface-level condition versus a person-level disease; the fallacy of applying population-level parameters to individuals, termed privatization of risk; and the inadequacy of using frequentist versus Bayesian modeling approaches to derive individual disease propensity estimates. The article concludes with the notion that accurate caries risk assessment at the population level and "precision dentistry" at the person level are both desirable and achievable but must be based on high-quality longitudinal data and rigorous methodology.
Presumed consent and reciprocity as means to increase organ availability for transplantation

Chile became the third country in the world (after Israel and Singapore) to introduce the rule of reciprocity to receive an allograft. This means that if an individual opts for not being an organ donor, loses priority to receive a transplant. Despite the difficulties associated with its implementation, the recent Chilean reform that also incorporated the presumed consent, should be studied by those countries that are trying to overcome the severe lack of organ availability for transplantation.
Preface – Elbert Parr Tuttle: Chief Jurist of the Civil Rights Revolution

The preface to the first full biography of Elbert Tuttle, the judge who led the historic Fifth Circuit – the federal court with jurisdiction over most of the deep south – through the most tumultuous years of the Civil Rights Revolution. Tuttle had co-founded a prestigious law firm; litigated two major constitutional cases, Herndon v. Lowry (1937) and Johnson v. Zerbst (1938); earned a Purple Heart in the battle for Okinawa; and led the effort to build a viable Republican Party in Georgia – all before he joined the Fifth Circuit in 1954. When he became Chief Judge in 1960, six years had passed since Brown v. Board of Education had been decided and almost nothing had changed. Jim Crow segregation, our American apartheid, remained firmly in place. His swift, decisive rulings and his unprecedented use of the All Writs Act effectively neutralized the delaying tactics of diehard segregationalists, from school board members and voter registrars to obstructionist judges and governors, across the south.
High-Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy to Study Transendothelial Migration

Immune system functions rely heavily on the ability of immune cells (i.e., blood leukocyte) to traffic throughout the body as they conduct immune surveillance and respond to pathogens. A monolayer of vascular endothelial cells (i.e., the "endothelium") provides a critical, selectively permeable barrier between two principal compartments of the body: the blood circulation and the tissue. Thus, knowledge of the basic mechanisms by which leukocytes migrate across the endothelium (i.e., undergo "transendothelial migration"; TEM) is critical for understanding immune system function. Cultured endothelial cell monolayers, used in combination with isolated blood leukocytes, provide a basis for highly useful in vitro models for study of TEM. When used in conjunction with high spatial and temporal resolution imaging approaches, such models have begun to reveal complex and dynamic cell behaviors in leukocytes and endothelial cells that ultimately determine TEM efficiency. In this chapter, we provide protocols for setting up a basic in vitro TEM system and for conducting high-resolution dynamic live-cell and three-dimensional fixed-cell imaging of TEM.
Abstract 280: Delta-24-RGDOX: making cancer more “visible” to the immune system

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Emerging evidence indicates that host immunity is critical for successful cancer virotherapy. We found that oncolytic adenovirus Delta-24-RGD elicited antiglioma immunity in an immunocompetent murine model. Recent studies suggested that the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in cancer patients could be enhanced by strategies inducing tumor inflammation. We hypothesized that highly immunogenic adenovirus combined with targeting immune co-stimulator would result in better anti-tumor efficiency. Thus, we used the backbone of Delta-24-RGD to express the mouse OX40 ligand to increase the recognition of tumor-associated antigens by immune cells. The resulting Delta-24-RGDOX adenovirus maintained the oncolytic potency of Delta-24-RGD and efficiently expressed OX40 ligand on infected cells. More importantly, compared to Delta-24-RGD, Delta-24-RGDOX induced higher antiglioma activity in immunocompetent glioma models but not in an immunodeficient model, and accordingly mediated greater lymphocyte infiltration at tumor sites and stronger lymphocyte antitumor activity. While blocking or stimulating immune checkpoints with antibodies currently dominates the clinical applications, our data demonstrate that intratumoral injection of oncolyticviruses carrying immune co-stimulatory ligands may constitute a powerful alternative to the use of antibodies and other strategies targeting immune checkpoints in cancer therapy. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Hong Jiang, Xuejun Fan, Karen Clise-Dwyer, Laura Bover, Joy Gumin, Kathryn E. Ruisaard, Farah J. Mukheef, Frederick F. Lang, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, Juan Fueyo. Delta-24-RGDOX: making cancer more “visible” to the immune system. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 280. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-280
Interference of O.C.T. embedding compound with hormone receptor assays.

The interference of O.C.T.® (Optimum Cutting Temperature) embedding compound with the determination of estrogen and progesterone receptor analysis in rabbit uterus cytosol and human breast cancer tissue was investigated. It was determined that O.C.T. Compound reduces binding in rabbit uterus cytosol at concentrations greater than 1%. Hormone receptor binding greatly was reduced in human breast cancer tissues from O.C.T. embedded tissues when compared with the untreated tissue of the same patients. Progesterone receptor binding was affected more strongly than estrogen binding.
Fluorine in dental caries control.

(1949). Fluorine in Dental Caries Control. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 361-367.