cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Splenic macrophages and B cells mediate immunosuppression following abrupt withdrawal from morphine

We have previously shown that abrupt withdrawal (AW) from morphine induces greater than 80% immunosuppression in murine spleen cells, as assessed by the capacity to mount an in vitro plaque-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells. Present studies about the mechanisms of immunosuppression following AW showed that addition of highly enriched (CD11b) splenic mac- rophages (obtained by cell sorting or magnetic sep- aration) from AW mice to cultures of normal, un- fractionated spleen cells suppressed immune re- sponses. Further, addition of highly enriched (CD19) B cells (but not T cells) from AW mice to normal cells was also immunosuppressive. B cells from AW mice were also able to inhibit the prolif- erative response of normal spleen cells to con- canavalin A but not to lipopolysaccharide. Overall, the data suggest that immunosuppression by AW spleen cells is a result of active suppression by macrophages and B cells. J. Leukoc. Biol. 78: 000-000; 2005. first to study the effects of AW from morphine on splenic antibody responses in mice (10). We showed that AW, by removal of morphine pellets from dependent animals, resulted in profound immunosuppression, which is maximal at 24 - 48 h postpellet removal and is still present at 144 h. In human studies, Govitrapong et al. (12) showed that AW from heroin induced perturbations in the (peripheral blood) CD4/CD8 ratio and percentages of B cells and NK cells, with an inability to regain normal cellular levels until 3 years postwithdrawal. The above findings suggest that AW can lead to suppression of a number of parameters of the immune system with the possibil- ity of a protracted effect. Our previously published study documented the effects of withdrawal on the splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) response (10) but did not address the mechanisms mediating the immu- nosuppression. It is interesting that none of the other studies (mentioned above) has addressed the immune mechanisms, which may mediate the inhibition of normal responses follow- ing withdrawal or the potential factors that contribute to the sustained immunosuppressive effects of AW from morphine. In the present study, we used the PFC assay to determine whether cells from mice subjected to AW mediate immunosuppression by activation of a population of suppressor cells or production of a suppressor factor. It was observed that macrophages and B cells, taken from mice undergoing AW, inhibit immune re- sponses by normal spleen cells in vitro.
Odyssey of the Enhanced Boiling Surface

This paper traces the evolution of enhanced boiling surfaces. Early work was highly empirical and done in industrial research. The 1968 Milton patent described the first porous coated surface, and the 1971 Webb patent described a “structured” tube surface geometry. The first fundamental understanding of the “pore-and-tunnel” geometry was published by Nakayama in 1980. Webb and Chien’s flow visualization allowed observation of the evaporation in the sub-surface tunnels. They also performed an experimental parametric study that defines the effect of pore diameter and pitch on the boiling performance. The progression of work on analytical boiling models is also reviewed.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Optical Engineering At Los Alamos-A History

Optical engineering at Los Alamos, which began in 1943, has continued because scientific researchers usually want more resolving power than commercially available optical instruments provide. In addition, in-house engineering is often advantageous--when the technology for designing and making improved instrumentation is available locally--because of our remote location and the frequent need for accurate data. As a consequence, a number of improved research cameras and lens systems have been developed locally--especially for explosion and implosion photography, but even for oscilloscope photography. The development of high-speed cameras led to the ultimate in practical high-speed rotating mirrors and to the invention of a rapid, precise, and effective lens design procedure that has produced more than a hundred lens systems that give improved imaging in special conditions of use. Representative examples of this work will be described.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Direct-to-Consumer Genomics and Research Ethics: Should a More Robust Informed Consent Process Be Included?

An important issue raised in the article by Lee and Crawley (2009) is whether direct-to-consumer (DTC) genomics, specifically personal genome testing (PGT) should be considered research. The author...
Transformative Choices: Leaders and the Origins of Intervention Strategy

When and why do great powers seek to transform foreign institutions and societies through military interventions? What role does executive leadership play in influencing the choice of intervention strategy, especially the degree to which an intervention interferes in the domestic institutions of the target state? A typology of political leaders based on whether they believe that the internal characteristics of other states are the ultimate source of threats indicates that these threat perceptions shape the cost-benefit calculation leaders make when they confront intervention decisions; they also have important consequences for how states intervene. A comparison of the beliefs of President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as their decision-making during the Vietnam War, illustrates how the theory operates.
The Structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer in the Central Equatorial Pacific during January and February of FGGE

The structure of the atmospheric boundary layer for a region between Hawaii and the equator is studied using dropwindsonde data (about 900 soundings) collected in January and February 1979 as part of the First GARP Global Experiment. These data were used to establish the longitudinal and latitudinal variations in the thermodynamic and wind structure of the boundary layer and describe differences in the structure for convectively active and inactive conditions. Low-level inversions (at a pressure of approximately 850 mb) were found to be an important feature of the structure of the boundary layer for undisturbed conditions. Although the frequency of low-level inversions decreased equatorward from Hawaii, the average height of the inversions observed in these regions did not vary significantly in the north-south direction. For convectively undisturbed conditions, low-level inversions are on the average of sufficient strength to suppress deep convection. However, it is shown they could easily be modified by upward vertical motion to give a boundary layer structure similar to that observed in areas where deep convection was observed.
Muskingum-Like Approximations for Water Routing

An integral approximation is obtained for the continuity equation as applied to stream flow during storms. The resulting general algebraic equation is similar in form to Muskingum approximations, and it is of cubic order in distance. The approximation parameters can be calculated from the graph of the flow rate, Q, as a function of the cross-sectional flow area, A.
Genetic analysis of abnormal male sexual development in Aedes aegypti and Ae. mascarensis backcross progeny

When male hybrids of Aedes aegypti females and A. mascarensis males were backcrossed to A. aegypti females, 32.8 percent of the male progeny exhibited abnormal sexual development, including failure of the terminalia to rotate, a split sternite of the eighth abdominal segment with partially duplicated telomeres, or feminization that gives rise to sterile intersexes. Observations made on three morphological marker loci and five isozyme loci with characteristic electromorphs in the two parental species suggested that when the sex-determining M locus is derived from A. mascarensis and the chromosome regions including s, LDH, and lDH2 on chromosome 2 and blt and 6PGD on chromosome 3 are homozygous for genes from A. aegypti, the frequency of abnormal sexual development is increased. An even greater percentage of males suffer aberrant development if recombination also occurs between the M and re locus of chromosome 1. The data suggest that genes on chromosome 2 control normal development of the male terminalia, genes on chromosome 3 control sexual differentiation, and the entire process is controlled by genes on chromosome 1 that are linked to, but not identical with, the M locus.
New Frontiers in Quantitative Molecular Imaging using PET

Nuclear medicine has a long tradition of incorporating quantitative analysis in its diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Many of the clinical and research applications of molecular imaging rely on a solid quantitative foundation, which is highly dependent on the performance characteristics of nuclear medicine instrumentation and the accuracy of image correction and reconstruction algorithms. This paper reflects the tremendous increase in interest in standalone (PET) and dual-modality (PET/CT and PET/MR) molecular imaging as both clinical and research imaging modalities in the past decade. New algorithmic developments of image correction and reconstruction techniques are aiming at attaining better image quality and achieving more accurate and automated quantification of physiological parameters of interest in clinical and research settings. Impact of physical degrading factors including attenuation of photons and contribution from photons scattered in the patient and partial volume effect on diagnostic quality and quantitative accuracy of PET data will be discussed. The fundamental concepts of quantitative image analysis techniques as they are applied in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine using dedicated PET instrumentation and dual-modality imaging devices will be explored. Potential future applications of quantitative molecular imaging are also addressed especially its use prior to therapy for dose distribution modelling and patient-specific 3D dosimetry in treatment planning towards the concept of image-guided radiation therapy.
The Rolling Loss of Pneumatic Tires

Abstract Tire energy loss has long been neglected as an area of scientific concern, in favor of other performance characteristics such as traction and wear. With the advent of federally mandated fu...
Improving the performance of coded FDFR multi-antenna systems with turbo-decoding: Research Articles

A full-diversity full-rate (FDFR) multi-antenna system was developed recently, enabling uncoded layered space-time (LST) transmissions to achieve full-diversity (Nt) and full-rate (Nt symbols per channel use) simultaneously, for any number of transmit antennas Nt and receive antennas Nr. In this paper, we investigate the performance of a coded FDFR design obtained by concatenating an error control coding (ECC) module and FDFR module with a random interleaver in between. Turbo decoding is performed at the receiver. With Rc denoting the ECC rate, dmin the minimum Hamming distance of the ECC, and M the constellation size, an overall transfer rate of RcNtlog2M bits per channel use and a full diversity order dminNtNr are achieved. Different ECC choices are considered. Approximate analysis reveals that multi-stream ECC and single-stream ECC make no difference when convolutional codes with long frame length and near-optimal MIMO decoding schemes are adopted. Without sacrificing rate, the coded FDFR system improves error performance compared with coded V-BLAST, when relatively weak codes are used. As Nr increases, even strong codes such as rate 1/2 turbo codes can benefit from FDFR. Specifically, 1.5–2 dB gain over coded V-BLAST is obtained in a 2 × 2 antenna setup when convolutional codes or rate 3/4 turbo codes are used; 0.5 dB gain is offered in a 2 × 5 setup when rate 1/2 turbo codes are used. Coded FDFR also outperforms a 16-QAM Alamouti coded scheme by 1 dB when convolutional codes are used. The price paid is increased complexity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Part of the results in this paper was presented at IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology December 14–17, 2003, Darmstadt, Germany. Guest Editor: Dr. E.G. Larsson, email: eglcgwu.edu
Selective demonstration of elastin, reticulum and collagen by silver, orcein and aniline blue.

A modification of the method of Lewis and Jones clearly and selectively demonstrates elastin, reticulum, and collagen in the same section. The technique combines ammoniacal silver carbonate, orcein in acid alcohol, and aniline blue following phosphomolybdic acid. Vascular invasion and capsular infiltration caused by carcinoma and degenerative diseases of connective tissues and blood vessels are shown very clearly. Diagnosis is thus facilitated in both surgical and postmortem pathology.
Seismic Prospecting Evidence on Control of Thrust Nappe Structrues in Mid-southwestern Guizhou to Kalin Type Gold Deposit

Kalin type gold deposits concentrating area tectonically is charactierized by thrust-nappe tectonics in middle depression of the southwestern Guizhou.Thrust nappe structrues are essential ore-control structurals in spite of different styles in Au deposits.Bouguer gravity anomaly showed that, Au deposits were closely related with basement uplift.In this papper, takeing several typically gold deposits’ and mineralizing prospect areas’ thrust nappe structrues for example, analysis the features of the thrust nappe structures and their role in Au minerlization by study seismic interpretation of deep tectonics with ground outcrops tectonics. Thrust nappe structures with two strikes of reversed faults are spread over middle depression of the southwestern Guizhou were the chief reason of tectonic deformation. Thrust nappe structures have several combinations such as imbricate fan, back thrust, ramp thrust and tectonic triangle zone with palaeokarst interface on top of Maokou formation limestone as the detachment. In addition, they always lead folding.Provide reliable evidence for concealed ore orientation prognosis by studying deep and ground tectonics features by seismic interpretation and outcrops.
An Introduction to Ecotoxicology

Ecotoxicology is the study of contaminants in the natural environment and their effects on organisms. It has been variously defined as “toxicity testing on one or more components of the ecosystem” or “the science of predicting effects of potentially toxic agents on natural ecosystems and on nontarget species.” Contaminants may be taken up or assimilated by organisms through a number of ways, including consumption, dermal absorption, and inhalation. Once in an organism, the chemical can be rapidly depurated, usually through urination or defecation or stored in certain tissues. When chemicals are stored in an organism, they may accumulate at levels higher than found in the environment in a process called bioconcentration . They might even be transferred to higher trophic levels, with each level having greater concentrations than the preceding ones; this is called biomagnification. If an organism assimilates sufficient chemicals, harmful effects may occur, including sublethal effects or even death. The dose necessary to produce death in 50% of affected organisms is called the median lethal concentration.
Assessing the Extent of Human Exposure to Organics

Risk analysis consists of two basic components, exposure assessment and health effects assessment. Exposure assessment involves determining the pathways and extent of human exposure to toxic chemicals. Because of the complex processes involved, exposure as sessment is often the most resource demanding part of evaluating the risks of human exposure to environmental pollutants (Office of Science and Technology Policy, 1985). This chapter provides an overview of some of the important aspects of exposure assessment.
Music Experiences as Writing Solutions

Edgar Corral and I met during my first day on the job as a teacher educator. It was a Young Adult Literature course, and I found myself distracted by the hand-decorated notebook cover on Edgar’s notebook. It was striking. Edgar’s explanation was even more striking: “I create these frame sequences when I zone out listening to music,” he told me.
Schottky-Collector Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors: Device Scaling Laws for fmax beyond 500 GHz

Heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) have high transconductance and extremely reproducible DC parameters. These attributes make HBTs the device of choice for high-speed precision analog and mixed analog-digital circuits. HBT cutoff frequencies are however considerably below that of high-electron-mobility field-effect-transistors (HEMTs).
Electroacupuncture in conscious free-moving mice reduces pain by ameliorating peripheral and central nociceptive mechanisms

Integrative approaches such as electroacupuncture, devoid of drug effects are gaining prominence for treating pain. Understanding the mechanisms of electroacupuncture induced analgesia would benefit chronic pain conditions such as sickle cell disease (SCD), for which patients may require opioid analgesics throughout life. Mouse models are instructive in developing a mechanistic understanding of pain, but the anesthesia/restraint required to administer electroacupuncture may alter the underlying mechanisms. To overcome these limitations, we developed a method to perform electroacupuncture in conscious, freely moving, unrestrained mice. Using this technique we demonstrate a significant analgesic effect in transgenic mouse models of SCD and cancer as well as complete Freund's adjuvant-induced pain. We demonstrate a comprehensive antinociceptive effect on mechanical, cold and deep tissue hyperalagesia in both genders. Interestingly, individual mice showed a variable response to electroacupuncture, categorized into high-, moderate-, and non-responders. Mechanistically, electroacupuncture significantly ameliorated inflammatory and nociceptive mediators both peripherally and centrally in sickle mice correlative to the antinociceptive response. Application of sub-optimal doses of morphine in electroacupuncture-treated moderate-responders produced equivalent antinociception as obtained in high-responders. Electroacupuncture in conscious freely moving mice offers an effective approach to develop a mechanism-based understanding of analgesia devoid of the influence of anesthetics or restraints.
Differential Gene Expression Analysis Predicts For Response To Bortezomib In The Treatment Of Steroid Refractory Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease (cGVHD)

We conducted a trial of bortezomib in patients with steroid-refractory cGVHD. Patients received 1.6 mg/m2 q wk x 4 followed by one week of rest, for up to six cycles, with some going on to a maintenance phase of treatment every other week for an additional 6 months. Twenty-one patients were registered on trial two patients withdrew before beginning treatment. Nineteen patients received between two and twelve months of treatment. The treatment was well tolerated with no grade 3 or higher adverse events (AE). Six patients had either CR or near CR. Average Rodnan scores on the 8 patients with sclerosis completing 2 or more cycles of therapy decreased from 22.6 ± 12.8 to 5.9 ± 6.2, p<0.005. One patient with non-healing suppurating lesions of his lower extremities had marked healing, another had significant decrease in chronic diarrhea. Weekly bortezomib for cGVHD was well tolerated and resulted in early improvement in a subset of patients with long standing refractory disease. Differential gene expression analysis was performed on the blood of patients prior to starting therapy, after two cycles and after their final cycle of therapy. All samples were run simultaneously at the end of the trial. Patients were classified as High (CR or near CR), intermediate (PR or stable disease), or poor responders (progression or not evaluable) based on clinical response. At baseline cGVHD patients express an overall decrease in T cell markers such as lineage (CD4), chemokine receptors (CCR6, CXCR3 and CCR7), and co-stimulatory molecules (CD40L, ICOS, CD28, and CD27), as well as decreases in IL23 and Granzyme K message compared to healthy controls. Increases were seen in myeloid/macrophage markers (CD163 and OSCAR). Baseline profiles of good responders were closer to those of healthy controls as compared to poor responders ([figure][1] below). Inflammation, cell death and apoptosis modules are up regulated and immune response modules are down-regulated in low and medium responders ![Figure][2] HC – Healthy Control; DC – Disease Control (allogeneic BMT recipients without cGVHD) Weekly bortezomib for cGVHD appears to be well tolerated and results in early improvement in long standing refractory disease in a subset of patients. Gene expression profiles at the initiation of treatment correlated with response and may be useful in predicting which patients will respond to bortezomib. Disclosures: Miller: Millennium Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Bortezomib for chronic graft vs. host disease. [1]: #F1 [2]: pending:yes
A model of emerging intelligence in Universe

The paper proposes a scenario of origin and emerging of intelligent life in Universe based upon the mathematical discovery of a new class of dynamical systems described by ordinary differential equation (ODE) coupled with their Liouville equation. These systems called self-controlled since the role of actuators is played by the probability produced by the Liouville equation. Following the Madelung equation that belongs to this class, non-Newtonian and quantum-like properties such as randomness, entanglement and probability interference typical for quantum systems have been described. At the same time, these systems expose properties of livings: decomposition into motor and mental dynamics, the capability of self-identification and self-awareness, as well as self-supervision. But the most surprising discovery is the existence of a special sub-class, in which the dynamical systems can violate the second law of thermodynamics, and that makes them different from both Newtonian and quantum physics. This sub-class should be associated with intelligent livings due to capability to move from disorder to order without external help. Based upon the mathematical discovery described above, one can assume that there are good chances that similar dynamical systems representing intelligent livings exist in real physical world. This provides a reason for a ‘rehabilitation’ of the Maxwell demon and put it into physics of intelligent systems. Indeed, the Maxwell demon is implemented by the feedback from the Liouville equation to the original ODE, while this feedback is capable to rearrange the probability distribution against the second law of thermodynamics. In addition to that, the same feedback removes the entropy paradox by explaining high order in our surrounding by ‘intelligent life support’. Two-steps transition: from the Newtonian physics to the linear model of life, and from the latter to the model of intelligent life are analysed. The first transition is triggered by the Hadamard instability of the Newtonian physics with respect to small random disturbances in linear terms of the Liouville feedback. The second transition is triggered by instability of linear model of life with respect to small random disturbances of non-linear terms of Liouville feedback. This transition could be implemented by such physical phenomena as shock waves or negative diffusion in probability space. Both transitions can be associated with catastrophe theory, in which sudden shifts in behaviour arises from small changes in parameters of the model. In view of the proposed model, possible competition between artificial and human intelligence are discussed.
Instrumented Principal Component Analysis

We propose a new approach of latent factor analysis that, in addition to the main panel of interest, introduces other relevant data that serve as instruments for dynamic factor loadings. The method, called IPCA, provides a parsimonious means of incorporating vast conditioning information into factor model estimates. This improves the efficiency of estimates for the latent factors and their loadings, and helps to ascertain the economic relationships among factors and individuals via the observable instruments. The estimation is fast to calculate and accommodates unbalanced panels. We show consistency and asymptotic normality under general panel data generating processes. We demonstrate the advantages of IPCA in simulated data and in applications to equity asset pricing and international macroeconomics.
“We Are All Fighters”: The Transmedia Marketing of Difference in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

This article investigates the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC’s) increasing efforts to market difference (including race, gender, sexuality, and nationality) across its mixed martial arts transmedia empire. More specifically, I examine the UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter reality television show as an innovative transmedia marketing strategy to promote diverse fighters and attract fans from previously overlooked audience demographics. The UFC has used numerous methods of transmedia marketing to fold difference into various media ventures over the past several years. I highlight The Ultimate Fighter as an exemplary case study in the development of a “we are all different” discourse in UFC marketing. The UFC’s deployment of reality television to market fighters produces a discourse that ambivalently homogenizes and essentializes difference—a phenomenon that girds gender, race, sexuality, and nationality to affective economies of cultural production.
A Monte Carlo evaluation of masked visual analysis in response‐guided versus fixed‐criteria multiple‐baseline designs

We developed masked visual analysis (MVA) as a structured complement to traditional visual analysis. The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the effects of computer-simulated MVA of a four-case multiple-baseline (MB) design in which the phase lengths are determined by an ongoing visual analysis (i.e., response-guided) versus those in which the phase lengths are established a priori (i.e., fixed criteria). We observed an acceptably low probability (less than .05) of false detection of treatment effects. The probability of correctly detecting a true effect frequently exceeded .80 and was higher when: (a) the masked visual analyst extended phases based on an ongoing visual analysis, (b) the effects were larger, (c) the effects were more immediate and abrupt, and (d) the effects of random and extraneous error factors were simpler. Our findings indicate that MVA is a valuable combined methodological and data-analysis tool for single-case intervention researchers.
Thinking Across Generations: Unique Contributions of Maternal Early Life and Prenatal Stress to Infant Physiology.

Objective Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a parasympathetic-mediated biomarker of self-regulation linked to lifespan mental and physical health outcomes. Intergenerational impacts of mothers’ exposure to prenatal stress have been demonstrated, but evidence for biological embedding of maternal preconception stress, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), on infant RSA is lacking. We examine the independent effects of maternal ACEs and prenatal stress on infant RSA, seeking to broaden the understanding of the earliest origins of mental and physical health risk. Method Mothers reported on ACEs and prenatal stress. RSA was recorded in a sample of 167 4-month-old infants (49% female and 51% male) during a dyadic stressor, the Still Face Paradigm. Results Independent contributions of maternal ACEs and prenatal stress to infant RSA were observed. High maternal ACEs were associated with lower RSA, whereas prenatal stress was associated with failure to recover following the stressor. Sex but not race differences were observed. Prenatal stress was associated with higher RSA among boys but lower RSA among girls. Conclusion Infants’ RSA is affected by mothers’ life course experiences of stress, with ACEs predicting a lower set point and prenatal stress dampening recovery from stress. For prenatal stress but not ACEs, patterns vary across sex. Findings underscore that stress-reducing interventions for pregnant women or those considering pregnancy may lead to decreased physical and mental health risk across generations.
DNA methylation loss in late-replicating domains is linked to mitotic cell division.

DNA methylation loss occurs frequently in cancer genomes, primarily within lamina-associated, late-replicating regions termed partially methylated domains (PMDs). We profiled 39 diverse primary tumors and 8 matched adjacent tissues using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and analyzed them alongside 343 additional human and 206 mouse WGBS datasets. We identified a local CpG sequence context associated with preferential hypomethylation in PMDs. Analysis of CpGs in this context (‘solo-WCGWs’) identified previously undetected PMD hypomethylation in almost all healthy tissue types. PMD hypomethylation increased with age, beginning during fetal development, and appeared to track the accumulation of cell divisions. In cancer, PMD hypomethylation depth correlated with somatic mutation density and cell cycle gene expression, consistent with its reflection of mitotic history and suggesting its application as a mitotic clock. We propose that late replication leads to lifelong progressive methylation loss, which acts as a biomarker for cellular aging and which may contribute to oncogenesis. Whole-genome DNA methylation profiling and analysis of normal tissues from both human and mouse reveal that hypomethylation within partially methylated, late-replicating domains depends on sequence context, starts early in development, accumulates with cell divisions and progresses with organismal aging.
Differential glycosylation of MUC1 in tumors and transfected epithelial and lymphoblastoid cell lines.

The membrane-bound mucin-like protein MUC1 with a specified number of tandem repeats has been expressed by transfection of the cDNAs in both the epithelial cell lines MDCK and LLC-PK1, and human lymphoblastoid cell lines T2 and C1R. The structure and glycosylation states of the MUC1 in these four lines were compared with that of the endogenous MUC1 found in the human pancreatic (HPAF) and breast (BT-20) tumor cell lines using flow cytometry and Western blot analysis with anti-MUC1 antibodies, which are either sensitive or insensitive to the glycosylation state of the tandem repeat, and pretreatment of cells with phenyl-α-galactosaminide, an inhibitor of mucin sialylation. A similar analysis of MUC1 expression in transfected normal and O-glycosylation defective CHO cells reveals that the addition of galactose to the core oligosaccharide structure is apparently responsible for the anomalous difference in Mr between the mature and propeptide forms of the MUC1. Both the tumor cells and the transfected lymphoblastoid cells consistently express significant steady state levels of both the heavily glycosylated mature forms and the poorly glycosylated propeptide forms of the MUC1, whereas MUC1 is found predominantly as the mature extensively glycosylated species in the transfected epithelial cells. Immunofluoresence microscopy of cross sections of the polarized epithelial cells grown on culture filter inserts reveals that the MUC1 is clearly present at the apical surface of the cells, consistent with its expression in normal tissues. Thus, the successful expression of the MUC1 by transfection of either lymphoblastoid cells or epithelial cells yields model systems both for studying the natural structure/function relationships of the protein domains within the MUC1 molecule and for further elucidating the previously reported MHC-independent T-cell recognition of the MUC1.
The Risk of Malignancy in Patients with Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis

Dermatomyositis is associated with an underlying malignancy in approximately 25% of patients. A weaker association is evident for polymyositis. The underlying malignancy is usually an adenocarcinoma of the ovary, lung, or gastrointestinal tract. Patients with dermatomyositis or polymyositis need to be evaluated uniformly for an underlying malignancy at the time of initial diagnosis and, in some cases, in the event of a subsequent recurrence. This apparent paraneoplastic syndrome may stem from an immune reaction to antigens expressed in cancer cells that crosses over to the same antigens expressed by regenerating fibers in damaged or diseased muscle.
The Bacterial Bioassay and Laboratory Assessments of Waste Disposal Activities at DWD-106

Changes in the bacterial uptake of 14C labeled glucose in sea-water are used to quantify some sublethal consequences of Edgemoor and Grasselli waste disposal at Deep Water Dumpsite 106.
Advances in NF1 Animal Models and Lessons Learned

Over the past two decades, since the identification of the NF1 tumor suppressor gene, there has been an explosion in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of NF1-associated tumors. Many of these insights derive from studies performed using genetically engineered mouse models that faithfully recapitulate seminal features of the human condition. This chapter will review the history of mouse modeling in the NF1 field, will highlight unique insights gained from mouse modeling studies, and will provide a glimpse of how these models can be used to further elucidate disease pathogenesis and develop therapies. For the sake of simplicity, this chapter will primarily focus on efforts relating to benign and malignant peripheral nervous system tumors.
Estrogen Receptors as Nuclear Proteins

The estrogen receptor appears to be a nuclear protein regardless of whether or not it is occupied by an estrogenic ligand (1). As illustrated in Figure 1, the estrogen receptor is thought to be bound with low affinity to some nuclear component. Thus the unoccupied receptor is not in a soluble form in the intact nucleus but is readily extracted into dilute aqueous buffers upon homogenization. When receptor-containing cells or tissues are exposed to estrogens, the estrogen-receptor complex undergoes a conformational change resulting in an increased affinity for nuclear components. Therefore the estrogen-receptor complex can be extracted only with buffers containing high salt concentrations (0.4 M NaC1). We believe that the estrogen-induced conformational change is the critical event in estrogen action.
The effect of atmosphere on customer engagement in upscale hotels: An application of S-O-R paradigm

Abstract Research suggests that atmosphere plays an important role in creating emotional connections between a hotel customer and the hotel and that these connections lead to improved customer satisfaction and customer engagement. The purpose of this research is to identify some of the atmosphere elements within a hotel that might enable customers to better engage with the hotel. A structural equation model (SEM) was employed to test the relationships. Social and room design were found to be significant antecedents to customer satisfaction. The research also found that while satisfied customers were more likely to promote the hotel to others through WOM behavior, they had fewer suggestions for improvement. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed as well.
The Term Structure of Predictive Distributions is Solvable for Thinning-based Count Processes

This paper shows that the term structure of conditional, or predictive distributions allows for closed form expression in a large family of (possibly higher-order, or infinite order) thinning-based count processes such as INAR(p), INARCH(p), NBAR(p), and INGARCH(1,1). Very often, such predictive distributions are deemed intractable by the literature and the stateof-the-art approximation methods are either too time consuming, or not precise enough for estimation and forecasting purpose. In this paper, we propose a Taylor’s expansion algorithm for these predictive distributions, which is both exact and fast. We demonstrate its advantages with respect to existing methods in terms of the computational gain and/or precision, and illustrate the usefulness of the approach by a comparison between a variety of different model specifications using a polio count data.
Service-learning as a tool for increasing political efficacy and civic engagement at a Hispanic-serving institution:

Ample research has noted a positive sense of political efficacy associated with increased civic engagement. In turn, the role of service-learning in boosting students’ civic engagement has been wel...
Postnatal nutrient repartitioning due to adaptive developmental programming

Fetal stress induces developmental adaptations that result in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and low birthweight. These adaptations reappropriate nutrients to the most essential tissues, which benefits fetal survival. The same adaptations are detrimental to growth efficiency and carcass value in livestock, however, because muscle is disproportionally targeted. IUGR adipocytes, liver tissues, and pancreatic β-cells also exhibit functional adaptations. Identifying mechanisms underlying adaptive changes is fundamental to improving outcomes and value in low birthweight livestock. The article outlines studies that have begun to identify stress-induced fetal adaptations affecting growth, metabolism, and differential nutrient utilization in IUGR-born animals.
Prediction of Restrained Shrinkage Cracking of Shotcrete Rings Using Fracture Mechanics–Based Approach

AbstractA fracture mechanics–based approach is developed to predict the shrinkage cracking age of shotcrete ring specimens under various curing regimes. Prolonged water curing and curing compound a...
Combining Antidepressants with β-Blockers: Evidence of a Clinically Significant CYP2D6 Drug Interaction.

Background The β-blockers and antidepressants are two of the most commonly prescribed drug classes in the United States. Several antidepressants are potent inhibitors of cytochrome P450 2D6 liver enzymes (CYP2D6) and can increase the plasma concentrations of certain β-blockers when administered concomitantly, potentially leading to serious medical consequences such as hypotension, bradycardia, and falls. Objective The primary objective of this investigation was to determine whether initiating an antidepressant in patients receiving β-blockers increased the risk of hemodynamic adverse events. Our primary outcome was time to hospital admissions or emergency department (ED) visits for an International Classification of Diseases-9 diagnosis suggestive of excessive β-blockade. Methods We conducted a survival analysis for adults continuously enrolled in the California Medicaid system (Medi-Cal) between 2004 and 2012. Eligible patients were required to be receiving β-blocker medications that are primarily CYP2D6 substrates (e.g., metoprolol, propranolol, or carvedilol). Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed for patients who concurrently received antidepressants with β-blockers. An additional multivariable analysis analyzed the association of this combination upon hospitalizations or ED visits for all causes. Results A total of 21,292 beneficiaries met the inclusion criteria, and 4.3% of patients required hospitalization or ED visits within 30 days of co-medication. In multivariable analysis, patients receiving antidepressants with moderate to strong CYP2D6 inhibitory potential (fluoxetine, paroxetine, duloxetine, or bupropion) had a greater risk for hospitalization or ED visits for hemodynamic events than those initiated on antidepressants with weak CYP2D6 inhibition for 30 days or less when each was compared with patients receiving no antidepressants (hazard ratio [HR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-2.81; p=0.04 vs HR 1.24; 95% CI 0.82-1.88; p=0.30). Other demographic variables associated with increased morbidity included advanced age, male sex, higher β-blocker doses, and African American race or Hispanic ethnicity. Conclusions Results of this analysis suggest that initiation of certain antidepressants was associated with an increased risk for serious medical sequelae among patients concurrently receiving β-blockers. Greater risk was observed with antidepressants that potently inhibit the CYP2D6 enzyme, implying that increased morbidity may be mediated by a metabolic drug interaction.
The Effect of Education on Smoking Decisions in the United States

This paper explores the link between education and the decision to start smoking as well as the decision to quit smoking. Data is gathered from IPUMS CPS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Probit analysis (with the use of probability weight and robust standard error) indicates that every additional year of education will reduce the 2.3 percentage point of the smoking probability and will add 3.53 percentage point in quitting likelihood, holding home restriction, public restriction, cigarette price, family income, age, gender, race, and ethnicity constant. I believe that tobacco epidemic is a serious global issue that may be mitigated by using careful regulations on smoking restriction and education.
Qualitative Study on Participant Perceptions of a Supermarket Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program.

Abstract Background Complete Eats Rx is a fruit and vegetable prescription program designed to incentivize fruit and vegetable consumption among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants via $10 incentives distributed either weekly or per encounter to purchase fruits and vegetables at a mid-price supermarket chain in Washington State. Objective To better understand SNAP participants’ experience, and to determine perceived impacts and consequences of the program. Design Qualitative analysis of nine photovoice sessions. Participants chose the topics for discussion. Sessions were audiorecorded and transcribed. Thematic content analysis was performed to identify key emergent themes using Atlas.ti. Setting Spokane, Seattle, and Yakima, Washington. Participants Twenty-six individuals who received a fruit and vegetable prescription within the past 6 months, 23 of whom attended all three photovoice sessions offered at their site. Participants were recruited from three participating health care or public health organizations in Spokane, Seattle, and Yakima, Washington. Analysis Transcriptions were coded using inductive methods. Coded statements were organized into major themes. Coding structures and analysis were strengthened by iterative interactions between researchers. Results Participants reported Complete Eats Rx was an important resource for families and improved food security, diet quality, and the ability to purchase healthy foods, including a greater variety of fruits and vegetables. Primary barriers to food security and fruit and vegetable consumption included limited geographic accessibility and the high cost of fruits and vegetables, exacerbated by other financial constraints such as rising housing costs. Participants reported supermarket checkout difficulty because of embarrassment, stigmatization, and inability to redeem incentives. The most frequently mentioned barrier to perceived program acceptability was having only one supermarket chain as the acceptor of the incentive. Conclusion Partnering with supermarkets to accept fruit and vegetable incentives is a unique strategy to increase produce purchasing that can be adopted by other localities. Focus on geographic accessibility, appropriate price points, and positive shopping experiences via expansion to local grocers, improvements in staff interactions, and a transition to an electronic system may improve incentive redemption and usability.
A short form of the Maximization Scale: Factor structure, reliability and validity studies.

We conducted an analysis of the 13-item Maximization Scale (Schwartz et al., 2002) with the goal of establishing its factor structure, reliability and validity. We also investigated the psychometric properties of several proposed refined versions of the scale. Four sets of analyses are reported. The first analysis confirms the 3-part factor structure of the scale and assesses its reliability. The second analysis identifies those items that do not perform well on the basis of internal, external, and judgmental criteria, and develops three shorter versions of the scale. In the third analysis, the three refined versions of the scale are cross-validated to confirm dimensionality, reliability, and validity. The fourth analysis uses an experiment in an investment decision making context to assess the reliability and nomological validity of the refined scales. These analyses lead us to conclude that a shorter, 6-item Maximization Scale performs best and should be used by future researchers. It is hoped that clarification of the conceptual underpinnings of the maximization construct and development of a refined scale will enhance its use among researchers across several of the social science disciplines.
Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulation in late gestation does not mitigate asymmetric IUGR or cardiovascular risk induced by placental ischemia in the rat.

Stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) improves fetal growth at gestational day 20 in the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model of placental ischemia suggesting a role for sGC in the etiology of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This study tested the hypothesis that stimulation of sGC until birth attenuates asymmetric IUGR mitigating increased cardiovascular risk in offspring. Sham or RUPP surgery was performed at gestational day 14 (G14); vehicle or sGC stimulator, Riociguat (10mg/kg/day, s.c.) were administered G14 until birth. Birth weight was reduced in offspring from RUPP (intrauterine growth restricted or IUGR), sGC RUPP (sGC IUGR), and sGC Sham (sGC Control) compared to Sham (Control). Crown circumference was maintained but abdominal circumference was reduced in IUGR and sGC IUGR compared to Control indicative of asymmetrical growth. Gestational length was prolonged in sGC RUPP, and survival at birth was reduced in sGC IUGR. Probability of survival to postnatal day 2 was also significantly reduced in IUGR and sGC IUGR versus Control, and in sGC IUGR versus IUGR. At 4 months of age blood pressure was increased in male IUGR and sGC IUGR, but not male sGC Control born with symmetrical IUGR. Global longitudinal strain was increased and stroke volume was decreased in male IUGR and sGC IUGR compared to Control. Thus, late gestational stimulation of sGC does not mitigate asymmetric IUGR or increased cardiovascular risk in male sGC IUGR. Furthermore, late gestational stimulation of sGC is associated with symmetrical growth restriction in sGC Control implicating contraindications in normal pregnancy.