cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immune suppression in gliomas

The overall survival in patients with gliomas has not significantly increased in the modern era, despite advances such as immunotherapy. This is in part due to their notorious ability to suppress local and systemic immune responses, severely restricting treatment efficacy. We have reviewed the preclinical and clinical evidence for immunosuppression seen throughout the disease process in gliomas. This review aims to discuss the various ways that brain tumors, and gliomas in particular, co-opt the body’s immune system to evade detection and ensure tumor survival and proliferation. A multitude of mechanisms are discussed by which neoplastic cells evade detection and destruction by the immune system. These include tumor-induced T-cell and NK cell dysfunction, regulatory T-cell and myeloid-derived suppressor cell expansion, M2 phenotypic transformation in glioma-associated macrophages/microglia, upregulation of immunosuppressive glioma cell surface factors and cytokines, tumor microenvironment hypoxia, and iatrogenic sequelae of immunosuppressive treatments. Gliomas create a profoundly immunosuppressive environment, both locally within the tumor and systemically. Future research should aim to address these immunosuppressive mechanisms in the effort to generate treatment options with meaningful survival benefits for this patient population.
Toward a Framework for Reporting and Differentiating Key Features of Meditation- and Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Meditation practices and the therapeutic interventions that involve them are numerous, heterogeneous, and multidimensional. Despite this, many researchers have noted a tendency for studies of meditation- and mindfulness-based interventions to inadequately describe the interventions themselves, limiting valid comparisons, generalizations, and identification of mediators and moderators of therapeutic change. To address this, we identified and organized features of meditation-based interventions reported in study publications as an initial step toward systematically developing a reporting guideline. A content analysis of 118 meditation-based intervention studies, informed by existing theoretical proposals of key features of meditation practices and interventions. Significant variability and inconsistency were found in the reporting of structural features of meditation-based programs as well as descriptions of the practices and activities within them. Based on features’ prevalence, co-occurrences, and defining themes, a preliminary Meditation-based Intervention Design (MInD) framework and reporting checklist were developed. Findings can inform further development of a reporting guideline and aid in identifying variables of meditation practices and their contexts that are responsible for or influence their effects. This can enhance the quality of research in the field and contribute to improving the effectiveness of meditation- and mindfulness-based interventions.
Normal alkaline phosphatase levels are dependent on race/ethnicity: NationalGEP Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

Objective The range of normal serum alkaline phosphatase is not well defined. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2016 to generate normal ranges for a racially diverse sample of healthy adults. Methods Respondents 18 years or older were included. Conditions known to elevate alkaline phosphatase were cause for exclusion. Alkaline phosphatase was measured using a colorimetric method based on standardised National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey protocols. Because alkaline phosphatase values were not normally distributed, log transformation was used. We calculated upper limits of normal (97.5 percentile), stratified by sex and race/ethnicity, and 90% CIs for the upper limits of normal. Results 1199 respondents (673 female, 526 male) had body mass index from 18.5 to less than 25. Upper limits of normal were highest among Hispanics (123.2 IU/L (90% CI 110.2 to 136.7) for females; 123.8 IU/L (90% CI 112.0 to 135.1) for males), followed by African Americans (109.9 IU/L (90% CI 97.3 to 122.4) for females; 116.3 IU/L (90% CI 105.0 to 126.1) for males) and whites (97.1 IU/L (90% CI 91.0 to 103.4) for females; 109.6 IU/L (90% CI 102.1 to 116.3) for males). Asian American/Pacific Islander respondents had the lowest results: 93.8 IU/L (90% CI 88.2 to 99.5) for females and 95.3 IU/L (90% CI 88.1 to 102.1) for males. Conclusions The upper limit of normal alkaline phosphatase varies by race/ethnicity in a large US sample with body mass index of 18.5
Zero-range effective field theory for resonant wino dark matter. Part II. Coulomb resummation

Near a critical value of the wino mass where there is a zero-energy S-wave resonance at the neutral-wino-pair threshold, low-energy winos can be described by a zero-range effective field theory (ZREFT) in which the winos interact nonperturbatively through a contact interaction and charged winos also have electromagnetic interactions. At energies near the wino-pair thresholds, the Coulomb interaction from photon exchange between charged winos must also be treated nonperturbatively. The parameters of ZREFT can be determined by matching wino-wino scattering amplitudes calculated by solving the Schrodinger equation for winos interacting through a potential due to the exchange of electroweak gauge bosons. With Coulomb resummation, ZREFT at leading order gives a good description of the low-energy two-body observables for winos.
An asynchronous Mesozoic marine revolution: the Cenozoic intensification of predation on echinoids.

Predation traces found on fossilized prey remains can be used to quantify the evolutionary history of biotic interactions. Fossil mollusc shells bearing these types of traces provided key evidence ...
Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Quality Improvement Principles: A New York City Pediatric Primary Care Experience

In the setting of COVID-19, pediatric primary care in New York City faced multiple challenges, requiring large-scale practice reorganization. We used quality improvement principles to implement changes to care delivery rapidly. Methods Plan-do-study-act cycles were used, based on primary drivers of consolidation, reorganization of in-person and urgent care, telehealth expansion, patient outreach, mental health linkages, team communication, and safety. Results The average visit volume in pediatrics decreased from 662 per week to 370. Telehealth visits increased from 2 to 140 per week, whereas urgent in-person visits decreased from 350 to 8 per week. Adolescent visits decreased from 57 to 46 per week. Newborn Clinic visits increased from 37 per week to 54. Show rates increased significantly for pediatrics and adolescent (P = 0.003 and P = 0.038, respectively). Conclusions Quality improvement methodology allowed for the consolidation of pediatric primary care practices during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring care for patients while prioritizing safety, evidence-based practices, and available resources.
Relational Responsibility: Poetry of Withness

Scholar Bracha Ettinger uses the term wit(h)ness to denote a collapsing of boundaries between the “I” and the Other. This chapter shifts that terms to withness—that is, a state or fact or quality of being close or connected to someone or something, or the act of producing such connectedness—to describe this human, relational aspect of poetic inquiry and to enrich and extend the work of witnessing. Laura Apol discusses at length the sense of interpersonal responsibility that accompanies a commitment to poetic withness, using a number of examples from her poems of Rwanda to demonstrate in increasingly complex ways the relational qualities of poetic inquiry that attends to withness.
The Aerodynamic Development of the Probe IV Advanced Concept Vehicle

The aerodynamic development and characteristics of a four-passenger advanced concept automobile are described. An overview of the areas of the vehicle design which were dealt with to obtain a drag coefficient value of 0.153 is provided. The interior packaging philosophy is outlined which led to the potential for packaging four to six passengers within an extremely low drag automobile. Parametric shape studies of the major surface design elements are documented from the contributing development testing. The particular design treatments adopted and the rationale behind the choice of design are examined for each of the aerodynamically-sensitive areas of the vehicle. Examinations of the unique solutions to vehicle cooling, ramp and curb clearance, front wheel skirting and vehicle attitude are presented. Full scale wind tunnel data is shown for the configurations examined and vehicle stability parameters compared with conventional vehicles.
Understanding Volunteer Markets: The Case of Senior Volunteers

SUMMARY The research objective was to investigate if seniors could be meaningfully differentiated from other volunteers using selected determinant variables. Another purpose of this study was to determine if higher performing senior volunteers could be differentiated from lower performing senior volunteers. Lifestyle, demographic, personality, social, and core value measures were obtained from a sample of 114 non-volunteers, 387 senior volunteers, and 605 non-senior volunteers. The results indicate that (1) seniors can be treated as a homogenous group for target marketing; (2) males are more likely to volunteer when they are seniors; (3) senior volunteers are differentiated by higher rates of church membership, church attendance, and by their religious values; and (4) senior volunteers are more altruistic (less egoistic) than younger volunteers, but they still desire a sense of accomplishment from their service. Other findings and managerial implications are discussed.
Partial Deletion of the Long Arm of Chromosome 16 and Bone Marrow Eosinophilia in Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia: A New Association

Recently, several specific chromosomal abnormalities have been associated with distinctive clinical and/or morphological subtypes of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). To further investigate the clinical utility of karyotype analysis in ANLL, we have examined G-banded metaphase chromosomes at diagnosis in 61 consecutive patients. Of the 60 patients who had adequate mitoses, 47 (78%) had a clonal chromosome abnormality. The sole karyotypic abnormality found in 5 patients was a del(16)(q22). The unique pretreatment characteristic of these 5 patients was marrow eosinophilia ranging from 8% to 54%. No other patient had more than 4% marrow eosinophils. Among the patients with eosinophilia, all had Auer rods, serum muramidase was elevated in the 4 tested, and 4 had hepatomegaly at presentation. Both patients who survived initial treatment remain in complete remission at 23+ and 33+ mo. The data suggest that we have identified a new cytogenetic-clinical subtype of ANLL defined by the del(16)(q22).
Fulvic Acid-Sulfide Ion Competition for Mercury Ion Binding in the Florida Everglades

Negatively charged functional groups of fulvic acid compete with inorganic sulfide ion for mercury ion binding. This competition is evaluated here by using a discrete site-electrostatic model to calculate mercury solution speciation in the presence of fulvic acid. Model calculatedspecies distributions are used to estimate a mercury-fulvicacid apparent binding constant to quantify fulvic acid and sulfide ion competition for dissolved inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) ion binding. Speciation calculations done with PHREEQC,modified to use the estimated mercury-fulvic acid apparent binding constant, suggest that mercury-fulvic acid and mercury-sulfide complex concentrations are equivalent for very low sulfide ion concentrations (about 10-11 M) in Everglades' surface water. Where measurable total sulfide concentration (about 10-7 M or greater) is present inEverglades' surface water, mercury-sulfide complexes shoulddominate dissolved inorganic mercury solution speciation. Inthe absence of sulfide ion (for example, in oxygenated Everglades' surface water), fulvic acid binding should dominateEverglades' dissolved inorganic mercury speciation.
Bulk Acoustic Wave-Mediated Multiferroic Antennas: Architecture and Performance Bound

Time-varying magnetic flux can be induced from the dynamic mechanical strain of acoustic waves in multiferroic devices that are comprised of piezoelectric and magnetostrictive material. Such devices can be used to create electromagnetic radiation and to alleviate the platform effect associated with low-profile conformal antennas. In this paper, a bulk acoustic wave (BAW)-mediated multiferroic antenna structure is proposed. Its potential for efficient radiation of electromagnetic waves is evaluated by analytically deriving the lower bound of its radiation quality factor ( $Q$ factor). A one-dimensional (1-D) multiscale finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique is developed to predict the bilateral, dynamic coupling between the acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves. The simulation shows a decaying stress profile in the BAW resonator structure, which implies that the radiation of the electromagnetic waves acts as a damping load to the acoustic resonance. The simulated radiation $Q$ factor matches well with the analytical derivations and the agreement validates both the operating principle of the proposed antenna and the FDTD algorithm developed. The study concludes that efficient antennas may be realized at GHz frequencies with thin film multiferroic material that has thicknesses of the order of $10^{-5}$ wavelength.
Logistik der Menschentwicklung, ein satirischer Kurzeinstieg

Die normalen Menschen sind diejenigen, die sich wahrhaft um die Entwicklung des Menschen kummern. Denn die anderen Menschen sind ja nicht normal und konnen es deshalb nicht selbst tun. Es ist eine harte, undankbare Aufgabe, nicht so normale Menschen auf die rechte Bahn zu bringen.
Walking the Walk

Abstract Challenges related to managing multiple life roles, particularly work and family roles, often bring individuals or couples to psychotherapy. While a vast empirical literature exists on issues in managing work and family roles, there is little integration of this research into family therapy practice. The purpose of this article is to offer an initial attempt at such integration by considering the implication of work-family research for clinical interventions. The first section of this article identifies three themes from research on work-family relationships that seem to offer good possibilities for the development of therapeutic interventions. The second section offers suggestions about ways that these themes might fruitfully be used in the therapy room.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS

This chapter is concerned with a technique, electron microscopy, with a very wide range of applications in polymer science. Introductory sections describe the major problems encountered, the methods normally applied to deal with them, and the limitations imposed by radiation damage. Moving on to describe recent developments, some are due to new instruments, particularly the scanning transmission electron microscope, others to methods of increasing contrast-defocus phase contrast and improved staining and etching techniques. The controversy over the presence of ordered domains in amorphous materials is then discussed.
Non-nulling seven-hole probes for high angle flow measurement

This paper illustrates a method for calibrating seven-hole probes to measure local total and static pressures and relative flow angles of up to 70 degrees in subsonic compressible flows. The method of Latin Squares was used to statistically sample a large and otherwise unmanageable data set, thereby reducing to a minimum the number of data points required to construct a polynomial curve fit to the data. Calibration produces three-variable third order polynomials which permit all of the desired flow properties to be found explicitly from probe measured pressures. This method determines the flow angles to within 2 degrees and Mach number to within 0.04 with 95 percent certainty.
Biomimetic engineering of a fully bio-based system in nanomedicine

Design of materials and devices by mimicking the fascinating systems found in nature, have enabled scientists to discover new techniques to treat diseases from diagnosis to therapeutic care. With the recent advances in nanomedicine, the length-scale of this design has further extended down into a nano-sized array. Inspired by the two natural assemblies found in nature; cellulose and collagen; we have designed a new class of green functional material with nano-sized arrangement. The fabricated material composed of collagen hydrogel reinforced by cellulose nanowhiskers in order to effectively enhance the rigidity of collagen and to better mimic the morphology and profile features existed in biological tissues. The biocompatibility of the hydrogel nanocomposite was also investigated by the invasion and proliferation of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells around the materials at 8 day of culture. We believe that our biomimetically-engineered platform in this study could increase the biomedical applications of fully bio-based systems such as scaffolding in tissue engineering.
Change in attractiveness of forbidden toys as a function of severity of threat

Boys were threatened with loss of a valuable (Severe threat) or less valuable (Mild threat) gift if they played with the second-ranked of five attractive toys. No boy was observed to play with the toy during the experimenter's absence. Rankings of the toys before and after the temptation period show that Mild subjects lower the forbidden toy's attractiveness (in line with the dissonance prediction) and Severe subjects raise its attractiveness (not predicted by dissonance). Latency and duration of play with the critical toy after removal of the prohibition support the interpretation that internalization of the prohibition was greater for subjects mildly threatened. An alternative to dissonance theory is proposed which can explain both the increase and the decrease of the forbidden toy's attractiveness.
Renormalization of the self-consistent summation of exchange diagrams in a relativistic quantum field theory

Abstract The self-consistent summation of exchange diagrams is renormalized in a relativistic fermionscalar field theory using spectral function methods. This is a non-perturbative approach in which all uncrossed exchange diagrams are summed to all orders in the coupling constant. A detailed exposition of the renormalization technique is presented along with numerical results. Anomalous analytic structure (ghost poles and ghost branch cuts) that arises naturally from the approximation is briefly discussed. We discuss the generalization to a finite density of fermions that may have application in nucleon-meson field theories which are currently in vogue.
Role of core polarization in two-body interaction

The correction to the interaction of two valence particles in 1sO and 4sSc, due to pertur- bations of the closed shell wave functions, is calculated and found to be as large as 30 % of the first-order interaction. The qualitative behaviour of this interaction is: attractive for T = 1, low J states; repulsive for T = 1, high J states; and small for T = 0 states. The interaction between two particles in a nucleus is modified by the presence of the other panicles in several ways. Recent reaction-matrix calculations take account of the other particles with the Pauli operator and a modified nucleon propagator. This provides a static treatment of the closed shells, since they only participate by providing an effective potential well, and by their presence restricting the intermediate states in the two-particle wave function. It might be expected that polarization of the closed shells would be appreciable in the two-body effective interaction, as it is known to be important in one-body operators x-3). We here calculate some dynamical effects of the closed-shell core on the particle- particle interaction tit. In lowest order, this comes about when one particle excites the core through a potential interaction, which is then de-excited by the other particle. For valence particles within a given shell, parity conservation requires the intermediate core particle wave functions to have the same parity as the hole, thus there has to be a jump of two shells for the intermediate state.
Sight at the end of the tunnel

A chaperone molecule called trigger factor binds new polypeptide chains as they emerge from the protein-synthesis machinery. Crystal structures suggest that this molecule forms a hydrophobic ‘cradle’.
The Social Adjustment of Three, Young, High-Achieving Korean-English Bilingual Students in Kindergarten

This research article describes the English acquisition of three, young, high-achieving, Korean, bilingual students, their academic development and their social/psychological adjustment in school. All observations and interviews were conducted in the natural classroom setting. The Korean children underwent different school experiences, partially contingent upon their English proficiency, but they generally demonstrated rapid English acquisition and healthy adjustment to school. The study findings suggest that teachers and parents play an important role in supporting their bilingual children's adjustments to new environments while preserving fundamental aspects of their original culture. Recommendations for both mainstream and␣bilingual teachers are suggested to further an understanding of Korean children, as English language learners and enable these children to become bilingual in Korean and English.
A comparison of three passive personal sampling methods for NO2

Three personal passive sampling methods for NO2 were compared in a laboratory study. The methods include the Palmes tube, the Pro-Tek Colorimetric Air Monitoring System, and the Chronotox System. Samples were taken at 0.1, 1 and 2 times the 5 ppm OSHA standard for varying time spans of 0.25, 4 and 8 hours. The temperature, relative humidity and face velocity were held constant. The generation and exposure systems are presented along with the analytical results and a discussion of error. The Palmes tube successfully sampled at all levels except 0.5 ppm for 15 minutes. It had, however, an increasing standard deviation with increased loading. The Pro-Tek sampler successfully monitored all exposures falling within its linear working range. The Chronotox System sees 0.1×OSHA PEL the same as it sees zero concentration, but sampled accurately at loadings higher than 20.9 ppm hours.
The relationship between density and mortality of flour beetles exposed to insecticide-treated surfaces.

When high densities (three or more individuals per sq. cm.) of flour beetles, Tribolium confusum Duv. and Tl castaneum (Hbst.) were exposed to DDT or pyrethrins-treated surfaces in closed petri dishes the resulting mortality was much higher than with low densities (one individual or less per sq. cm.) of beetles. The mortality increase was progressive and did not show an abrupt change over the range of densities studied. The results were obtained from surfaces containing an excess of the insecticide in relation to the amount picked up. The differences in mortality did not occur in uncovered dishes or when the beetles were exposed to a thiocyanate insecticide, Lethane 384® (2-(2-butoxycthoxy)ethyl thiocyanate). The causes producing such differences in mortality would appear to be associated with some volatile material. Tests of the effects of the secreted quinone compounds and of accumulated carbon dioxide were negative. A critical level of oxygen need is probably reached. This probability is indicated based upon previous experiments in other laboratories that have shown a large increase in oxygen consumption following DDT or pyrethrins exposure. Conversely, a thiocyanate that depresses oxygen consumption did not produce greater mortality with a greater density of beetles. Open dishes would also permit an exchange of air and the differences in mortality did not occur under these conditions. Other possible influencing factors were studied but did not produce a positive correlation with the differences in mortality. These factors included the possible effect of rate of movement and pickup of the insecticide. Rate of movement was greater with a greater density of beetles, which occurred whether the dishes were covered or uncovered. No marked difference occurred in pickup.
Chatter vibration of flexible multibody machine tool mechanisms

Abstract This investigation is concerned with the nonlinear vibration analysis of machine tool mechanisms using the finite-element method. The dynamic response of the machine tool mechanism has been analyzed during the application of a constant cutting force that depends on the chip cross-sectional area and shear strength of the workpiece materials, as well as during the application of the chattering force which depends on the relative displacement of the tip point of the tool as well as its first-time derivative. The cutting tool and elastic components in the system are discretized using the finite-element method and both bending and axial deformation are considered. A case study of a crank shaper (quick-return) mechanism is presented in order to examplify the formulation developed.
Sedimentation of fibers from laminar flows in a horizontal circular duct

An analysis is presented to describe the motion of a fiber under gravity in laminar flows within a horizontal circular duct. The trajectory and orientation of the fiber were determined by simultaneously solving three equations for translations and two equations for rotation. Neglecting fiber inertia and the effect of Brownian diffusion, the limiting trajectories of the fiber for which the fiber just penetrates the duct without being collected were obtained for a variety of conditions of fiber size, flow pattern and velocity, and duct dimension. The limiting trajectories were then used to calculate the deposition efficiency of a fibrous aerosol passing through the duct. Assuming a uniform fiber concentration and a random fiber orientation at the duct entrance, numerical results and empirical expressions were obtained for deposition efficiency in terms of the fiber aspect ratio, the aspect ratio of the duct, and a sedimentation aprameter which represents the ratio of the mean residence time of the fiber in ...
Electron Beam Diagnostics For Free-Electron Lasers

Free-Electron Laser (FEL) experiments place extreme demands upon the accelerator that provides the electron beam that drives the wiggler. A wide range of diagnostic devices is needed to determine the properties of the accelerated beam, to assist in adjusting the accelerator and the associated beamline, and to monitor the changes to the beam that occur after it interacts with the laser beam in the wiggler. We explain the FEL physics issues that set such severe requirements and describe a representative selection of diagnostic devices that are currently in use to provide the measurements.
The effect of grain-boundary devitrification on the wear of glass-bonded alumina ceramics

The steady-state wear behaviour of a 94 wt% alumina was investigated in the as-fired condition and after a post-sintering heat treatment. The post-sintering heat treatment yielded devitrification of the 6 wt% calcia-magnesia-alumino-silicate (CaO · MgO · Al2O3 · SiO2) glass grain-boundary phase. In addition, the effect of surface finishing on the wear behaviour of as-fired and heat-treated samples was studied. Steady-state wear rates were determined using a single-pin-on-disc tribometer. The results indicated that heat treated, unfinished samples exhibit a higher steady-state wear rate than as-fired, unfinished samples. The differences observed may arise in response to one or more of the following mechanisms: (i) creation of intergranular thermoelastic stresses due to thermal-expansion mismatch among intergranular species, (ii) elimination of the lubricative glass phase in devitrified specimens, and (iii) elimination of the advantageous effects of viscoplastic deformation of the intergranular glassy phase on stress relaxation. Surface finishing further increased the steady-state wear rate of the heat-treated samples only, and it correlated with an increase in subsurface microcracking and grain pull-out. A lubricative glass film was found to persist on all sample wear tracks, suggesting that the differences in wear behaviour are dominated by intergranular fracture and grain pull-out.
Modeling oil price fluctuations and international stockpile coordination

Abstract Major interruptions in the supply of crude oil in the Middlle East have caused significant economic damage in terms of lost output and incresed inflation in the industrial countries. To the extent that the macroeconomic costs of shocks are a function of the magnitude of the oil price increases, domestic or internationally coordinated policies to restrain oil price increases during disruptions can be beneficial. One such policy initiative is the release of oil held in public stockpiles. We address the motivations for private and public stockpilling in an intertemporal optimizing model. As a special case of our general model, we develop and simulate a model of the world oil market to examine the benefits (in terms of lower world oil prices) of releasing oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Forex-foreteller: currency trend modeling using news articles

Financial markets are quite sensitive to unanticipated news and events. Identifying the effect of news on the market is a challenging task. In this demo, we present Forex-foreteller (FF) which mines news articles and makes forecasts about the movement of foreign currency markets. The system uses a combination of language models, topic clustering, and sentiment analysis to identify relevant news articles. These articles along with the historical stock index and currency exchange values are used in a linear regression model to make forecasts. The system has an interactive visualizer designed specifically for touch-sensitive devices which depicts forecasts along with the chronological news events and financial data used for making the forecasts.
Congenital and experiential factors in the development of human flavor preferences

Experimental modifications of congenitally based human responses to taste stimuli are being evaluated during the first few years of life. Sweet-and salty-tasting substances form the focus of our research. Prior studies indicate that human preference for sweet substances is innate whereas need-free acceptance of salty-tasting substances has been thought to be learned. Our recent studies indicate that ingestive expression of the innate preference for sweet tasting substances may be subject to modification quite early in life, although the effects of experiences are specific to the particular food context in which sweet is experienced. A sense of what should and should not be sweet, rather than a generalized hedonic responsiveness to sweetness itself, appears to be shaped through dietary experience. In studies with salt (NaCl), our data reveal two distinct changes in the acceptance of near-isotonic salt solutions during early development. The first is a shift from indifference to relative (to water) preference which appears around 4 months of age. We hypothesize this is due to maturation rather than learning. The second shift is one from relative acceptance to relative rejection which is variable in its time of appearance (although it occurs by 2 to 3 years of age in populations we have studied) and is probably due in part to the development of neophobia in conjunction with a lack of experience with salty water. We suggest that in the absence of need, the appeal of both sweet-and salty-tasting substances, in large part at least, is innately determined. Dietary experience during development determines the appropriate food-related contexts for these appealing tastes.
Cholesterol Metabolism in Cultured Fibroblasts in Adrenoleukodystrophy

Extract: The basic biochemical defect of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (sudanophilic leukodystrophy, Schilder's disease) is unknown. To investigate reported abnormalities in cholesterol metabolism in vitro, we examined cultured skin fibroblasts of four patients and four normal control subjects. The kinetics of retention and accumulation of [14C]cholesterol by these cells was studied. After 3 days of exposure to tracer amounts of [14C]cholesterol, an apparent steady state between the medium and cellular cholesterol was established. The specific radioactivity expressed per mg of protein was similar for both Schilder and control fibroblasts. After labeling the pre-existing cellular cholesterol pool, the rate of loss of label was followed up for a 6-day period. About 23% and 14%, respectively, of the cellular radioactivity in both Schilder's disease and control cells were released into the medium after the consecutive change with fresh nonlabeled medium. No significant differences in [14C] cholesterol rates of uptake or release were observed between control and Schilder's disease fibroblasts. About 44% of the labeled cholesterol was present in an esterfied form after incubation in the presence of unheated serum in both Schilder's and control cultures. Speculation: These results do not confirm previously reported abnormalities in cholesterol metabolism in cultured fibroblasts. Nevertheless, accumulating evidence from studies of fatty acid composition of brain and adrenal tissues in Schilder's disease indicates the presence of an abnormal series of long chain fatty acids. Studies are now in progress to determine whether these possibly unique long chain fatty acids are evident in fibroblasts from patients with Schilder's disease.
Biobased Products and the LEED® Rating System

Abstract At the beginning of the 20th century, over 40% by weight of all the materials consumed through the production of goods within the United States were comprised of renewable resources (Matos...
Nonlinear pressure vessel stress analysis using the optimum programming approach

T optimum programming technique was first developed by Bliss. Typical uses of the technique are found in Refs. 2 and 3. In the optimum programming technique, systems behavior is defined through a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations of the first order. The independent variable may be either time or a characteristic dimensional quantity. In the system of equations, there may be one or more parameters that are controllable and are thus subject to adjustment. In other cases, the parameters are of unknown magnitudes because of ignorance. The guidance and control problem of a missile belongs to the former category, whereas the shell stress problem belongs to the latter category. The purpose of optimum programming is to find a best set of values of the parameters or control variables, so as to optimize the terminal value of a given function, fco be called the optimized function. At the same time, the control variables should be adjusted in such a manner that certain boundary conditions are satisfied. In the optimum programming technique, a set of nominal or most reasonable values of the control variables is first assumed. Based on the nominal values of the control variables, the systems equations are solved numerically. A set of "adjoint functions is established which measures the influence of the change of a control variable at a specific station to the corresponding changes of the optimized function and the unsettled boundary conditions at the terminal point. It is possible to adjust the control variables in small steps so as to reduce the optimized function gradually to its optimum value and to make the state variables satisfy certain boundary conditions at the terminal point.
Surface plasmon resonance imaging of cells and surface-associated fibronectin

A critical challenge in cell biology is quantifying the interactions of cells with their extracellular matrix (ECM) environment and the active remodeling by cells of their ECM. Fluorescence microscopy is a commonly employed technique for examining cell-matrix interactions. A label-free imaging method would provide an alternative that would eliminate the requirement of transfected cells and modified biological molecules, and if collected nondestructively, would allow long term observation and analysis of live cells. Using surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI), the deposition of protein by vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) cultured on fibronectin was quantified as a function of cell density and distance from the cell periphery. We observed that as much as 120 ng/cm2 of protein was deposited by cells in 24 h. SPRI is a real-time, low-light-level, label-free imaging technique that allows the simultaneous observation and quantification of protein layers and cellular features. This technique is compatible with live cells such that it is possible to monitor cellular modifications to the extracellular matrix in real-time.
Consistent selection of mutations in the 5'-untranslated region of oral poliovirus vaccine upon passaging in vitro.

We have previously found that upon passaging type 3 oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in cell cultures the proportion of revertants at nucleotide 472 rapidly increases [Chumakov et al.: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 88:199–203 1991]. Systematic study on the accumulation of these revertants showed that it was dependent on the multiplicity of infection and the temperature at which virus was grown. Revertants at position 472 of type 3 OPV accumulated faster in vaccines derived from Sabin Original (SO) substrain than from RNA-plaque purified (RSO) substrain. The rate of accumulation of 472-C revertants differed among cell lines and was higher in overgrown cell cultures suggesting that host factors are involved in the selection of mutants. We also found that accumulation of mutants occurred in vitro at position 480 in type 1 and position 481 in type 2 OPV, making the selection for revertants in domain F of the 5′-noncoding region a general phenomenon for all three Sabin strains. Assessment of the abundance of these mutants may be used for evaluation of the quality of OPV lots. © 1994 Wiiey-Liss, Inc.
Soil-based cycling and differential uptake of amino acids by three species of strawberry (Fragaria spp.) plants

Evidence is growing that amino acids can be an important source of plant N in nutrient limited natural ecosystems, but relatively little is known about the effect of agricultural management on soil amino acid pools and turnover. Organic management in particular relies on slow-release organic inputs as fertilizer, which could result in greater pools of soil amino acids available for plant uptake. Moreover, we know little about potential differences in amino acid uptake ability within plant families and whether this ability may have been lost during domestication. In order to determine the relative effects of soil type and management on amino acid turnover, we measured the effect of fine- versus coarse-textured soil and organic versus conventional management on free amino acids and proteolytic activity in the field. Secondly, we conducted greenhouse experiments to determine the ability of domestic and wild strawberry to utilize amino acid-N. Fine-textured and organically managed soils contained significantly higher total C and N than coarse-textured and conventionally managed soils. There were no significant differences in free amino acids or protease activity in relation to texture or management. Amino acid turnover was calculated at 0.7-1.5 h. Turnover time was significantly greater in fine-textured soils. Turnover time as a result of substrate additions was significantly shorter in coarse-textured soils; in fine-texturedsoils turnover time was shorter under conventional management. This suggests less competition for amino acids in soils with greater C, N and/or cation exchange capacity (CEC), such as fine-textured and organically managed soils. Two wild species of strawberry, Fragaria virginiana and Fragaria chiloensis, took up significantly more 14C labeled glycine than the domesticated species, Fragaria fragaria. More research is needed to determine whether strawberry cultivars could be selected or bred for their ability to capture amino acid-N, thus improving N-use efficiency in farming systems relying on the breakdown of organic matter as a N source.
Influence of halothane and methoxyflurane on regional brain and spinal cord concentrations of methionine-enkephalin in the rat

Rats were exposed to either oxygen (controls), 1.5% halothane in oxygen, or methoxyflurane (0.5%) in oxygen over a period of 2 h, then sacrificed at the end of exposure (2-h group), 4 h after removal from environmental chamber (4-h group), or at 24 h following anesthetic exposure (24-h group). Pituitary (excluding the neural lobe, Pit), brain, and spinal cord areas were isolated and processed with Met-enkephalin tissue concentrations determined. In halothane-exposed animals, Met-enkephalin concentrations in pit and across CNS areas studied were significantly lower at 2 h following anesthetic exposure than in control animals. Concentrations of Met-enkephalin in many areas of CNS and Pit of 4-h group approached control levels. Concentrations of Met-enkephalin in all areas studied except spinal cord returned to basal levels by 24 h following halothane exposure. Exposure to methoxyflurane resulted in less dramatic changes in Met-enkephalin concentrations across CNS regions examined. Exposure to methoxyflurane resulted in significant decreases in Met-enkephalin levels in olfactory bulb, thalamus, and hippocampus only. Met-Enkephalin levels did not change significantly in other areas of the central nervous system following methoxyflurane exposure. These results indicate that halothane and methoxyflurane may have differential effects on the endogenous opioid system.
Biochemical Studies on Irradiated Protozoa. I. Effect of Metabolites on the Respiration of X‐Irradiated Tetrahymena pyriformis*

When Tetrahymena suspended in water were given increasing doses of radiation, oxygen consumption decreased with increasing dose, reaching 60 to 90% at 600,000 r. Cells irradiated in 0.07 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, showed no significant decrease in oxygen consumption even at 600,000 r. The decrease in respiration observed on irradiation of Tetrahymena pyriformis W in water with 300,000 r of x radiation was prevented by addition of pyruvate or acetate during or immediately after irradiation. Pyruvate stimulated the respiration of the xirradiated cells, particularly at 10 and 60 min postirradiation. Lactate markedly stimulated the respiration of control suspensions of Tetrahymena cells and oxidation of lactate by cells irradiated with 300,000 r was increased by 20 to 100%, depending on the concentration of lactate and the time after irradiation. Pyruvate was considerably more effective than lactate in increasing O/sub 2/ uptake of xirradiated cells, particularly at 10 min post-irradiation. Thioctic acid affected neither the respiration of control nor x-irradiated Tetrahymena nor the oxidation of pyruvate. The growth lag of Tetrahymena increased proportionately with increasing radiation dose; no cells survived 600,000 r. The presence of metabolites during irradiation did not affect the lag period or subsequent growth rates. The effects observedmore » were discussed in terms of an alteration of the permeability of Tetrahymena after irradiation. (auth)« less
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION AND COR PULMONALE IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS OF THE PANCREAS.

The present study was concerned with the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterialhypertension in 21 patients with the pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis. Respiratory function tests failed to distinguish between patients with normal pulmonary arterial pressure and those with pulmonary hypertension. On the other hand, the pulmonary arterial pressure was directly related to the degree of hypoxia. Relief of hypoxia, either acutely by breathing high-oxygen mixtures, or chronically by the treatment of respiratory infection and bronchial drainage, returned pulmonary arterial pressure toward, or to, normal. These physiologic observations imply a predominant role for hypoxia in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension in cystic fibrosis, and indicate its potential reversibility in this disease.
The utility of EUS and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration in detecting celiac lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer: a single-center experience.

Abstract Background: The aims of this study were to determine the utility of EUS and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the detection and confirmation of celiac lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer and to define EUS features predictive of celiac lymph node metastasis in these patients. Methods: The records of 211 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent EUS staging were reviewed. The operating characteristics of EUS were determined in patients where either surgery, EUS-FNA of a celiac lymph node, or both were performed (n = 102). The association between selected variables and the presence of celiac lymph node metastasis was evaluated by univariate and multivariable analyses. Results: EUS in 48 patients provided a true-positive diagnosis of celiac lymph node involvement, a false-positive and false-negative result, respectively, in 6 and 14 patients, and a true-negative diagnosis in 34 patients. The sensitivity of EUS in detecting celiac lymph node was 77% (95% CI [67, 88]), specificity 85% (95% CI [74, 96]), negative predictive value 71% (95% CI [58, 84]), and the positive predictive value 89% (95% CI [81, 97]). EUS-FNA was performed in 94% (51/54) of patients with celiac lymph nodes. The accuracy of EUS-FNA in detecting malignant celiac lymph nodes was 98% (95% CI [90, 100]). Advanced T-stage, the need for dilation, detection of peritumoral lymph nodes, and black race were associated with celiac lymph node involvement. In multivariable analysis, advanced T-stage was the strongest predictor of celiac lymph node involvement. Conclusion: EUS and EUS-FNA are highly accurate in detecting and confirming celiac lymph nodes metastasis. Depth of tumor invasion as assessed by EUS is a strong predictor of celiac lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;54:714-9.)
Rescue of adeno-associated virus from recombinant plasmids: Gene correction within the terminal repeats of AAV

We have isolated three types of pBR322-AAV recombinant plasmids that contain deletions within the 145 bp AAV terminal repeats. When the plasmids were transfected into human cells, mutants that contained deletions within the left (type I) or right (type II) terminal repeat were viable. Of four mutants examined that contained deletions in both termini (type III), only one was viable. All of the viable mutants produced AAV virions that contained wild-type AAV DNA. Furthermore, the viable type III deletion could be converted to a nonviable mutant by deleting all copies of an 11 bp sequence from its termini. We conclude that there is an efficient mechanism for correcting deletions within the AAV termini. A model that could account for these observations is also discussed.