cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bone Marrow-Derived Very Small Embryonic-Like Cells: β-Cell Regeneration in Pancreatic Tissue

The population of pluripotent Oct-4+ SSEA-1+Sca-1+Lin–CD45– very small embryonic/epiblast-like stem cells (VSELs) resides in murine adult bone marrow (BM) and in other tissues, including pancreas. It has been proposed that VSELs play an important role in tissue/organ rejuvenation, which is supported by the fact that the number of these cells increases in peripheral blood in mice during organ/tissue damage (e.g., experimental heart infarct, stroke, or streptozocin-induced diabetes). Thus, VSELs seem to be a mobile pool of pluripotent stem cells that shuttles between BM and peripheral tissues, including pancreas, to supply stem cells for steady-state tissue turn-over or to replace damaged cells after organ injury. Our data strongly suggest that VSELs will provide a therapeutic alternative to stem cells isolated from embryos and could be employed, for example, in the regeneration of damaged insulin-producing cells.
The Resurgence of Software Performance Engineering

Today, most application developers write code without much regard for how quickly it will run. Moreover, once the code is written, it is rare for it to be reengineered to run faster. But two technology trends of historic proportions are instigating a resurgence in software performance engineering, the art of making code run fast. The first is the emergence of cloud computing, where the economics of renting computation, as opposed to buying it, heightens the utility of application speed. The second is the end of Moore's Law, the 50-year technology trend which has, until recently, relentlessly doubled the number of transistors on a semiconductor chip every two years. The end of Moore's Law will cause industry to look beyond semiconductor manufacturers for computing performance. As a result of these two trends, application programmers will increasingly find themselves turning to software performance engineering in order to develop innovative products and applications.
Oncogenes in Human Cancer

A variety of tumors, including mammary carcinomas, have been found to contain active oncogenes which have been detected by the ability of tumor DNAs to induce transformation upon transfection of NIH 3T3 cells. I will review here the basic observations leading to the identification of these oncogenes and discuss recent work involving the characterization of four examples of the genes detected by this approach.
Abstract 44: Plasma MicroRNA Markers of Upper Limb Recovery Following Human Stroke Associated With Neural Repair Mechanisms

Introduction: MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that control gene expression by inhibiting protein translation. Preclinical studies in rodent stroke models suggest that changes in microRNA expre...
Cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with elevated troponin and normal coronary angiography

Background Invasive angiography in the setting of cardiac troponin elevation may reveal non-obstructive coronary arteries leading to uncertainty in diagnosis. Cardiac MR (CMR) may aid in diagnosis, however, the spectrum of diagnostic findings in the patient presenting with symptoms of cardiac ischaemia, elevated cardiac biomarkers and a negative invasive coronary angiogram is yet to be completely described. Methods We queried the Mayo Clinic, Rochester inpatient record from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2016 to identify patients who: (1) had an elevated troponin T during admission, (2) underwent coronary angiography within 30 days of troponin T elevation which was considered negative for obstructive coronary arterial disease and (3) underwent CMR within 30 days of troponin T elevation. CMR diagnoses were classified as either (1) myocarditis, (2) small area myocardial infarction, (3) stress cardiomyopathy, (4) non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy or (5) normal. Results Of 215 patients, the spectrum of disease seen on CMR was myocarditis (32%), small area infarction (22%), non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (20%) and stress cardiomyopathy (9.3%). Conclusion In the largest single-centre study assessing the role of CMR in patients admitted with elevated troponin T with a non-obstructive coronary disease on an angiogram, small area infarction was seen in 22% of patients.
Contribution of the transcriptional factor GATA-6 overexpression to the 15-lipoxygenase-1 transcriptional silencing maintenance in cancer cells

2918 Transcriptional suppression of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1) helps enable human colorectal cancer cells escape apoptosis, a critical mechanism for colonic tumorigenesis. GATA-6 is strongly expressed in vitro in cancer cells; its downregulation by pharmaceuticals is associated with reversal of 15-LOX-1 transcriptional suppression. The mechanistic contribution of GATA-6 overexpression to colonic tumorigenesis, especially concerning 15-LOX-1 transcriptional suppression, remains unknown. We tested whether GATA-6 is differentially overexpressed in human colorectal cancers and whether reversing GATA-6 overexpression in colon cancer cells is sufficient to restore 15-LOX-1 expression and influence cell proliferation or apoptosis. The expression of GATA-6 RNA and protein was measured in paired human colorectal cancer and normal tissues from two separate patient groups. We used GATA-6 small interfering RNA transfection to downregulate GATA-6 expression and examine the effects of this downregulation on 15-LOX-1 expression, cell proliferation and apoptosis in Caco-2 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells with and without the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug NS-398 or the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate. GATA-6 expression was higher in the cancer than in the normal epithelia at the mRNA and protein levels; GATA-6 knockdown was insufficient by itself but contributed significantly to restoring 15-LOX-1 expression and inducing apoptosis by NS-398 or sodium butyrate. Maintaining 15-LOX-1 transcriptional silencing in cancer cells is multifactorial and requires other regulatory suppressive events besides GATA-6.
Advances in the Molecular and Cellular Biology of Strongyloides spp

This paper constitutes an update of recent studies on the general biology, molecular genetics, and cellular biology of Strongyloides spp. and related parasitic nematodes. Increasingly, human strongyloidiasis is considered the most neglected of neglected tropical diseases. Despite this, the last 5 years has seen remarkable advances in the molecular biology of Strongyloides spp. Genome sequences for S. stercoralis, S. ratti, S. venezuelensis, S. papillosus, and the related parasite Parastrongyloides trichosuri were created, annotated, and analyzed. These genomic resources, along with a practical transgenesis platform for Strongyloides spp., aided a major achievement, the advent of targeted mutagenesis via CRISPR/Cas9 in S. stercoralis and S. ratti. The genome sequences have also enabled significant molecular epidemiologic and phylogenetic findings on human strongyloidiasis, including the first genetic evidence of zoonotic transmission of S. stercoralis between dogs and humans. Studies of molecular signaling pathways identified the nuclear receptor Ss-DAF-12 as one that can be manipulated in the parasite by exogenous application of its steroid ligands. The chemotherapeutic implications of this were unscored by a study in which a Ss-DAF-12 ligand suppressed autoinfection by S. stercoralis in a new murine model of human strongyloidiasis. Seminal advances in genomics of Strongyloides spp. have transformed research into strongyloidiasis, facilitating fundamental phylogenetic and epidemiologic studies and aiding the deployment of CRISPR/Cas9 gene disruption and editing as functional genomic tools in Strongyloides spp. Studies of Ss-DAF-12 signaling in S. stercoralis demonstrated the potential of this pathway as a novel chemotherapeutic target in parasitic nematodes.
Four Biomarkers Linked to Activation of Cluster of Differentiation 8–Positive Lymphocytes Predict Clinical Outcomes in Pediatric Acute Liver Failure

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Immune dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of pediatric acute liver failure (PALF). Our aim was to identify immune activation markers (IAMs) in PALF that are associated with a distinct clinical phenotype and outcome. APPROACH AND RESULTS Among 47 PALF study participants, 12 IAMs collected ≤6 days after enrollment were measured by flow cytometry and IMMULITE assay on blood natural killer and cluster of differentiation 8-positive (CD8+ ) lymphocytes and subjected to unsupervised hierarchical analyses. A derivation cohort using 4 of 12 IAMs which were available in all participants (percent perforin-positive and percent granzyme-positive CD8 cells, absolute number of CD8 cells, soluble interleukin-2 receptor level) were sufficient to define high (n = 10), medium (n = 15), and low IAM (n = 22) cohorts. High IAM was more frequent among those with indeterminate etiology than those with defined diagnoses (80% versus 20%, P < 0.001). High IAM was associated with higher peak serum total bilirubin levels than low IAM (median peak 21.7 versus 4.8 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and peak coma grades. The 21-day outcomes differed between groups, with liver transplantation more frequent in high IAM participants (62.5%) than those with medium (28.2%) or low IAM (4.8%) (P = 0.002); no deaths were reported. In an independent validation cohort (n = 71) enrolled in a prior study, segregation of IAM groups by etiology, initial biochemistries, and short-term outcomes was similar, although not statistically significant. High serum aminotransferases, total bilirubin levels, and leukopenia at study entry predicted a high immune activation profile. CONCLUSION Four circulating T-lymphocyte activation markers identify a subgroup of PALF participants with evidence of immune activation associated with a distinct clinical phenotype and liver transplantation; these biomarkers may identify PALF participants eligible for future clinical trials of early targeted immunosuppression.
Low-Cost Test And Characterization Platform For Memristors

Characterization of Memristor devices is an expensive and difficult task due to the large variety of their types. The problem is compounded by the incompatibility of electrical characterization tools with different types of memristors, which in turn increases the cost associated with the overall integration process. This paper reports a novel, low-cost, portable test and characterization platform for memristors with a voltage range from -10V to +10V. To demonstrate its performance, columnar cationic memristors were characterized in this setup to study resistance behavior. The platform has the potential to be a lowcost alternative to the traditional bulky characterization equipment and could be used to characterize a variety of devices (e.g. Anion, phase-change,…etc).
Inverted multi-material laser sintering

Abstract We present an additive manufacturing process that uses an upward-directed laser to fuse a monolayer of powder onto a substrate through a clear surface. The process is then repeated to build a hanging part layer by layer, by replenishing powder on the glass, or moving to a second plate with a different powder. Our process eliminates the need for a large powder bed as well as allows the sintering of different powders in a single layer. We demonstrate this method by using a 445 nm laser to fabricate a multi-material pattern of Nylon-12 and TPU. We characterize the mechanical properties of the fabricated composite and discuss advantages and disadvantages of this approach.
Transitional justice and authoritarian backsliding

Can a lack of transitional justice contribute to democratic backsliding? This paper uses the case of Poland to argue that selective enforcement of transitional justice can be linked to democratic erosion. In doing so, the paper adjudicates between two theories of democratic backsliding. The first, advanced by Milan Svolik, argues that elite polarization drives erosion: when political candidates are ideologically far apart, citizens who strongly prefer one over the other may turn a blind eye to antidemocratic transgressions by their preferred candidate to prevent the competing candidate from winning. The second theory, presented by Nalepa, Vanberg, and Ciopris (NVC), describes an equilibrium where voters are uncertain whether the candidate they are dealing with is a closet autocrat or an ideological incumbent, but reelect him into office regardless. This theory posits that a closet autocrat is reelected into office because his first period actions are identical to those of an ideological incumbent. I argue that judiciary reforms in Poland reflect exactly the kind of incumbent actions that are consistent both with the actions of an ideological incumbent and with the actions of a closet autocrat. Using survey data from Poland, I find evidence of elite polarization, offering support for the first theory, but also find ample evidence of polarization in the electorate and of a belief structure supportive of the equilibrium from NVC. I present Hungary’s experience with transitional justice and the rule of law as a shadow case to illustrate similar dynamics to those taking place in Poland.
Target Prices Influence Hospital Participation And Shared Savings In Medicare Bundled Payment Program

To reduce episode spending for twenty-nine predefined clinical conditions, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the voluntary Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI...
Changes in treatment trends in the early glottic cancer population after the Affordable Care Act

Background The clinical impact of Medicaid expansion in otolaryngology is uncertain. Herein, we evaluate the impact of Medicaid expansion on treatment patterns (primary radiotherapy vs surgery) in the early glottic cancer population. Methods Data regarding adults with Tis-T2N0M0 glottic cancer that were treated with either surgery or radiotherapy between January 2010 and December 2016 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer database. Changes in treatment trends and survival in the Medicaid expansion setting were discerned. Results The proportion of patients undergoing radiotherapy decreased from 64.8% to 59% after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was implemented. State Medicaid expansion status was associated with reduced odds of radiation therapy (odds ratio [OR] = 0.66). Patients were diagnosed more often with earlier stage disease (20.6% vs 17.0% T2 diagnoses) in the Medicaid expansion cohort. Conclusion The implementation of the PPACA was associated with a significant increase in surgical therapy for and earlier diagnosis of glottic cancer.
AasaNatak - Assisting Amateur theatre groups through live performance tracking and group management: A study on amateur theatre groups using user centric research methodologies to provide possible solutions for streamlining play practice and performance

Theatre play creation is a long process which may take anywhere from a few weeks to a year. Creating a theatre production requires persistence from a theatre group and its members. In amateur theatre groups, this can be difficult, since coordinating a group of people for a certain amount of time becomes a challenge when most members juggle between their day job and practice sessions. This often results in lower turnout of members during practice sessions which impacts the production's creative vision. Second, through this study, it was identified that error rates were significantly high in sound and light management in productions with less practice time. The study included several methods such as contextual inquiry, competitive analysis, Hierarchical Task Analysis, SHERPA and a questionnaire. Based on insights gained, the proposed intervention is a HCI based solution consisting of a mobile application paired with a wearable computing device and optional sensors for voice within the performing space. This concept will make communication faster and enhance coordination among group members. It will also reduce the impact of absence of a theatre member on play quality and will help in error-reduction in light and sound management.
Serum neutralizing antibody concentrations against viral bovine respiratory pathogens in nursing beef calves

Nursing calf bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a problem for some herds, and the timing of maternal antibody decline may be related to risk for calves to develop BRD. Limited information is available on the distribution of serum maternal antibody titers among calves within and between cow-calf herds. Understanding how maternal antibody concentrations vary within and between herds may help us understand what puts nursing (preweaned) calves at risk for BRD. The objective of this study was to test the effect of calf age and farm on the magnitude of serum neutralizing antibody (SNA) titers against viral causes of BRD in nursing calves among herds in a similar geographic location.
INTERDISCIPLINARITY AND UBIQUITOUS INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES IN SUPPORT OF AUTOMATION

The Telecommunications and Internet Technologies have evolved dramatically during the last decade, laying solid foundation for the future generation of the Ubiquitous Internet access, omnipresent web technologies and ultimate automated information cyberspace. Recent technological advancements in the areas of global mobility, wireless technologies and miniaturization are driven by the economic and social prosperity. The current state of the art in Differentiated Networks, Health Informatics, Advanced Television, Sensor Networks, MIMO Systems, and recent experiments conducted in the Quantum and Bio Computing open a new horizon for the Future Technologies. As a result, the current efforts in the research and development in the areas of Next Generation of Internet and Telecommunications Technologies promotes formation of inter-disciplinary international teams of experts, scientists, researchers and engineers to create a new generation of applications and technologies that will facilitate the fully-automated information cyberspace systems, such as Future House 2015. The speed and omnipresent accessibility to Internet providing any information at any time from anywhere will create global very complex communications infrastructures. The increased number of Internet sites worldwide will ultimately generate large number of performance bottlenecks and technical faults that may put in danger essential resources for societies world-wide such as energy supplies, national security, financial integrity, transportation logistics and ultimately human safety. The author discusses the current state of the art in the world of Telecommunications and Internet Technologies, new technological trends directions in the Internet and Automation Industries, as well as the concept of the Fully-automated Future House 2015. The paper presents a survey of current developments and future directions in Telecommunications Industry and Automation while promoting research and development in the inter-disciplinary projects conducting by multinational teams world-wide.
Imaging-Based Risk Stratification for Recurrence Risk in Women with a History of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) affects 1:1,000 U.S. pregnancies, and while many recover from the disease, the risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancy (SSP) is high. This study aims to evaluate the utility of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) to predict the risk of recurrence of PPCM in SSP. STUDY DESIGN We retrospectively evaluated outcomes in women with a history of PPCM and SSP at a large-volume cardioobstetrics program (2008-2019). RESULTS There were 18 women who had incident PPCM and pursued SSP. Of 24 pregnancies in these women, 8 (33%) were complicated by the development of recurrent PPCM. LVEF ≥ 52% or GLS ≤ -16 was associated with a low risk of recurrent PPCM. CONCLUSION Approximately one-third of women with PPCM developed recurrent PPCM in SSP. LVEF and GLS on prepregnancy echocardiography may predict the risk of recurrence. Additional studies evaluating risk for recurrence are required to better understand which women are the safest to consider SSP. KEY POINTS · Peripartum cardiomyopathy affects 1:1000 US pregnancies.. · Approximately one third of women with a history of peripartum cardiomyopathy developed recurrent disease in a subsequent pregnancy. · A left ventricular ejection fraction ≥52% or global longitudinal strain ≤-16 on echocardiogram is associated with a low risk of recurrence.
Racism in the Nation's Service : Government Workers and the Color Line in Woodrow Wilson's America

Between the 1880s and 1910s, thousands of African Americans passed civil service exams and became employed in the executive offices of the federal government. However, by 1920, promotions to well-paying federal jobs had nearly vanished for black workers. Eric S. Yellin argues that the Wilson administration's successful 1913 drive to segregate the federal government was a pivotal episode in the age of progressive politics. Yellin investigates how the enactment of this policy, based on Progressives' demands for whiteness in government, imposed a color line on American opportunity and implicated Washington in the economic limitation of African Americans for decades to come.Using vivid accounts of the struggles and protests of African American government employees, Yellin reveals the racism at the heart of the era's reform politics. He illuminates the nineteenth-century world of black professional labor and social mobility in Washington, D.C., and uncovers the Wilson administration's progressive justifications for unraveling that world. From the hopeful days following emancipation to the white-supremacist "normalcy" of the 1920s, Yellin traces the competing political ideas, politicians, and ordinary government workers who created "federal segregation."
The Histone Modification Circus

The histone proteins that constitute the nucleosomes of chromatin around which yards of DNA are wrapped undergo a series of chemical modifications during gene activation and gene silencing. In a Perspective, Berger discusses new results ( Nakayama et al .) that elucidate the sequence of reactions that modify histone H3 and how these modifications translate into gene silencing in fission yeast.
Level IB nodal involvement in oropharyngeal carcinoma: Implications for submandibular gland‐sparing intensity‐modulated radiotherapy

Objectives/Hypothesis Submandibular gland-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SMG-sparing IMRT) has been proposed to reduce xerostomia following head and neck irradiation. However, the safety of this practice has been questioned. Data from a large surgical series of oropharyngeal carcinoma patients were extracted to identify clinicopathological correlates for submandibular involvement and to create a risk stratification scheme to guide decision making to refine selection guidelines for SMG-sparing IMRT. Study Design Clinicopathologic analysis. Methods The medical records of 153 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx treated by primary surgery and neck dissection were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed with logistic regression to identify factors predictive of submandibular involvement. Recursive partitioning was used to develop risk stratification schemas based on preoperative data alone and in combination with pathologic data to guide treatment decisions in the definitive and postoperative settings, respectively. Results Submandibular (level IB) nodal dissection was performed in 119 heminecks (85 ipsilateral and 17 contralateral). The incidence of submandibular involvement was 18%. Young age, T3-4 disease, N2b-3 disease, and perineural invasion were identified as risk factors for submandibular nodal involvement on multivariate analysis (P 60 years and N0–2a disease (low risk, 2%), age ≤60 years and T1-2N2b-3 (intermediate risk, 16%), age ≤60 years and T3-4N2b-3 disease (high risk, 57%). Conclusions These data provide assurances that SMG-sparing IMRT can reasonably be offered to appropriately selected patients. Risk stratification schemas were successfully developed for SMG-sparing IMRT in both the definitive and adjuvant settings. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 125:608–614, 2015
Macroeconomic Announcements and Volatility of Treasury Futures

Utilizing open-close returns, close-close returns and volume data, we examine the reaction of the Treasury futures market to the periodically scheduled announcements of prominent U.S. macroeconomic data. Heterogeneous persistence from scheduled news vs. non-scheduled news is revealed. Strong asymmetric effects of scheduled announcements are presented: positive shocks depress volatility on consecutive days, while negative shocks increase volatility. Announcement-day shocks have small persistence, but great impacts on volatility in the short run. Investigation into volume data shows that announcement-day volume has lower persistence than non-announcement-day volume. No statistically significant risk premium manifests on the release dates. Compared with the implied volatility and realized volatility data, we find our model successful in forming both in-sample and out-of-sample multi-step forecasts. Distinctions are made and tested among microstructure theories that differ in predictions of the impact of scheduled macroeconomic news on volatility and volatility persistence. Asymmetric effects between positive and negative shocks from scheduled news call for further exploration of microstructure theory.
Indian Policy and Legislation: Aboriginal Identity Survival in Canada

This article examines the socio-historical construction of Indian policy and legislation as the processes set out to making the ‘Indian’ population legible to its rulers during the pre- and post-confederation periods in Upper Canada. I aim to demonstrate how Indian policy and legislation materialised into concrete actions that attempted to assimilate, civilise, and protect the ‘Indians’ by deploying different instruments of control or governmentalities, such as the residential school and reserve system. Nonetheless, resistance and political positioning of Indigenous people is present, and post-confederation Indian policymaking in Canada is a much more negotiated process.
Matrix GLA Protein Modulates Differentiation Induced by Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 in C3H10T1/2 Cells

Matrix GLA protein (MGP) is ubiquitously expressed with high accumulation in bone and cartilage, where it was found to associate with bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) during protein purification. To test whether MGP affects BMP-induced differentiation, three sets of experiments were performed. First, pluripotent C3H10T1/2 cells transfected with human MPG (hMGP) or antisense to hMGP (AS-hMGP) were treated with BMP-2. In cells overexpressing hMGP, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation was inhibited indicating decreased BMP-2 activity. Conversely, in cells overexpressing AS-hMGP, BMP-2 activity was enhanced. Second, cells were prepared from homozygous and heterozygous MPG-deficient mice aortas. When treated with BMP-2, these cells underwent chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation, respectively, whereas controls did not. Third, FLAG-tagged hMGP with the same biological effect as native hMGP inhibited BMP-induced differentiation, when exogenously added to culture media. Together, these results suggest that MGP modulates BMP activity. To test whether hMGP fragments would retain the effect of full-length hMGP, three subdomains were overexpressed in C3H10T1/2 cells. In cells expressing the mid-region, alone (amino acids (aa) 35-54) or in combination with the N terminus (aa 1-54) but not the C terminus (aa 35-84), osteogenic differentiation was enhanced and occurred even without added BMP-2. Thus, two subdomains had the opposite effect of full-length hMGP, possibly due to different expression levels or domain characteristics.
Food Reinforcement Partially Mediates the Effect of Socioeconomic Status on Body Mass Index

Objective Low socioeconomic status (low SES), as defined by income or educational attainment, has been associated with obesity in industrialized nations. Low SES persons have limited resources and may experience food insecurity that increases food reinforcement. Food reinforcement has been positively related to energy intake and weight status, and increased food reinforcement may explain the higher prevalence of obesity among low SES individuals who have restricted access to low-energy-dense foods and nonfood reinforcers. Design and Methods Annual household income, highest education level completed and food reinforcement in 166 adults of varying body mass index (BMI, kg m−2) was measured. Results Multivariate linear regression analyses controlling for age, sex, minority status, session hunger, and the reinforcing value of nonfood alternatives showed that household income was related to food reinforcement (P = 0.048) and BMI (P = 0.019), and that food reinforcement was related to BMI (P = 0.0017). Path analyses revealed a significant indirect effect of household income on BMI through food reinforcement, suggesting that the relationship between lower household income and greater BMI was mediated in part by increased food reinforcement. A similar pattern of results was observed when education level was used as the proxy for SES. Conclusions These findings support the hypothesis that deprivation and restricted food choice associated with low SES enhance food reinforcement, increasing the risk for obesity.
Function of h(2)o(2), myeloperoxidase, and hexose monophosphate shunt enzymes in phagocytizing cells from different species.

The effect of phagocytosis on the H2O2 production and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities of leukocytes from various species was investigated. The intracellular distribution of MPO, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) of resting and phagocytizing guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes has also been studied. Phagocytizing cells produce more H2O2 than the corresponding resting cells. This has been found to be true for human peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes, mouse peritoneal macrophage, and guinea pig and rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes. All of these cells, except rabbit alveolar macrophages, have significant MPO activity. Generally an increased activity is noted with phagocytizing cells. Homogenization and differential centrifugation of guinea pig peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes indicate that the whole homogenate and its fractions from phagocytizing cells have significantly higher MPO and NADPH oxidase activities, when compared to the corresponding fractions from the resting cells. The 27,000 × g supernatant fluid from phagocytizing cells has 6-fold more MPO and 2.5-fold more NADPH oxidase activity than similar supernatant fractions from resting cells. The enzyme 6PGDH was unaffected by phagocytosis. The relationship of these stimulated activities to the intracellular bactericidal function of the phagocytes has been discussed.
ReCAP: Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Pilot Program to Facilitate Quality Improvement Learning in Oncology: Experience of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Training Program

CONTEXT AND QUESTION ASKED:Improving quality of oncology delivery is an important responsibility for busy oncology practices. Is it feasible to construct a training program for oncology professionals to teach quality improvement that is applicable to practice?SUMMARY ANSWER:Using a longitudinal, project-based program with a mix of in-person and distance-learning components, the ASCO Quality Training Program is a highly feasible method to facilitate quality improvement learning in oncology.METHODS:The ASCO Quality Training Program (QTP) consisted of three in-person Learning Sessions and four phases: pre-work, planning, implementation, and sustain and spread. We measured two primary outcomes: program feasibility and effectiveness.BIAS, CONFOUNDING FACTOR(S), DRAWBACKS:Although we observed high participation, satisfaction, and applicability of content to the needs of the oncology learners, it should be noted that this represents a small, pilot project.REAL-LIFE IMPLICATIONS:Even busy oncology clinicians find...
Consequences for the bovine embryo of being derived from a spermatozoon subjected to oxidative stress.

Objective To determine whether oxidative damage of ejaculated frozen–thawed sperm prior to oocyte insemination in vitro affects the competence of the resultant embryo to develop to the blastocyst stage. Method Extended frozen semen from bulls was thawed, subjected to Percoll gradient purification to obtain motile spermatozoa and mixed with medium containing the pro-oxidants menadione or tert-butyl hydroperoxide. After 3 h at 38.5°C, the sperm were washed and used to inseminate oocytes in vitro. Embryo development proceeded until 8 days after insemination. Results Treatment of sperm with 15 or 30 µmol/L menadione reduced the proportions of oocytes that cleaved and those that developed to the blastocyst stage; 30 µmol/L menadione reduced the proportion of cleaved embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage at day 8 after insemination. Oocytes inseminated with sperm treated with 150 or 300 µmol/L tert-butyl hydroperoxide had lower proportions of cleavage and blastocyst development, and the proportion of cleaved embryos becoming blastocysts was also reduced. Conclusion Oxidative damage to ejaculated sperm can compromise the ability of the sperm to cause oocyte cleavage and leads to formation of embryos with reduced competence for development.
Characterization of new PCR based markers for mapping and diagnosis: AC dinucleotide repeat markers at the DXS237 (GMGX9) and DXS102 (cX38.1) loci.

Genomic insert DNAs from 45 probes representing 113.4 kb of the X chromosome were screened for AC dinucleotide repeat sequence. Two new AC repeat sequences were identified with length polymorphism based on variation in repeat copy number. One at DXS237 exhibits 44% heterozygosity and is potentially useful for rapid diagnosis and mapping of X-linked disorders in Xp22.3. The other, at DXS102 in Xq26, has 71% heterozygosity. This marker will improve accuracy of diagnoses by linkage for families with Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome. Review of the literature has identified 31 PCR based markers on the X chromosome, with minimum heterozygosity of 50%, applicable to the mapping and diagnosis of X-linked disorders.
Wireless homecare system with remote monitor database

In this paper, we design a wireless home care system with remote monitor database, the system compose by three parts: variety of physiological measuring devices, the embedded smart devices and remote monitor database. The user can use the difference physiological measuring devices obtain their information and store them in the embedded smart devices which could be a smartphone or e-PAD. The doctor can monitor their patient information through the remote monitor database. Also the user can use smartphone to access advice from doctor or physiological information.
Assimilation, accommodation, and the dynamics of personality development.

BLOCK, JACK. Assimilation, Accommodation, and the Dynamics of Personality Development. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1982, 53, 281-295. The present essay specifies some problems in the Piagetian characterizations of assimilation and accommodation and offers an alternative formulation intended to resolve some conceptual anomalies. The dynamics underlying the orthogenetic principle of Werner are derived from this revised and restricted conceptualization of assimilation and accommodation as separable adaptive strategies. Piaget's views on the development of thought are then related to the domain of personality. Equilibration, according to Piaget the "motive" for cognitive growth, is argued to be a manifestation of the individual's orientation to limit anxiety by maintaining or constructing an understanding of the world that is not disconfirmed. This view of equilibrium permits the encompassment of a variety of observations that otherwise seem disparate (e.g., regarding the dynamics of anxiety, the concepts of resiliency or competence, and sex differences).
Concentration efficiency of doping in phosphors: Investigation of the copper- and aluminum-doped zinc sulfide

We studied the effect of dopant concentration in ZnS:Cu, Al phosphor. Photoluminescent (PL) intensity of the chemically etched phosphor particles increased up to 140%, which proved the existence of a dopant concentration gradient. Calculation revealed the quantitative relationship between the dopant concentration and the luminescent intensity by relating the concentration gradient to the PL intensity. The result showed that the most efficient concentration is 100 ppm copper and the concentration quenching starts at 152 ppm.
Microsurgical fenestration of the lamina terminalis reduces the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVEHydrocephalus requiring shunt placement is a common complication after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Previous investigations suggest that fenestration of the lamina terminalis during microsurgery for aSAH may be associated with a reduced rate of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. W
Near native structure in an RNA collapsed state.

Many large RNAs form conformationally collapsed, but non-native, states prior to folding to the native state or assembling with protein cofactors. Although RNA collapsed states play fundamental roles in RNA folding and ribonucleoprotein assembly processes, their structures have been poorly understood. We obtained 12 high-quality structural constraints for the collapsed state formed by the catalytic core of the bI5 intron RNA using site-specific cross-linking mediated by a short-lived reactant. RNA tertiary structures in the collapsed and native states are indistinguishable, even though only the native state forms a solvent-inaccessible core. Thus, structural neighbors in the collapsed state, including several long-range tertiary interactions, are approximately as close in space as in the native state, but RNA packing is sufficiently loose or dynamic to allow access by solvent. Binding by the obligate CBP2 protein cofactor has almost no effect on structural neighbors reported by cross-linking, even though ...
Slip propagation along frictional discontinuities

Abstract Slip initiation and propagation along non-homogeneous frictional surfaces are investigated by loading specimens of gypsum in biaxial compression. The specimens used in the tests are composed of two individual blocks with perfectly mated contact surfaces. The contact surfaces have on their upper half a frictional strength smaller than on their lower half. This creates a “weak” surface on the upper half and a “strong” surface on the lower half. Four test series are performed using specimens with different surface characteristics along the contact surface. The experiments are conducted by applying first a normal stress across the frictional surface and then increasing the shear stress until final debonding and slip along the strong surface occur. The magnitude of the normal stress used in the experiments ranges from 0.7 to 15 MPa (about 50% of the unconfined compression strength of the material). Slip starts on the weak area and, as the shear stress is increased, propagates towards the strong area. Full slip along the weak area introduces a sharp transition between the area of the discontinuity that has slipped and the area that has not. This transition creates a large concentration of stresses which can be treated within the framework of fracture mechanics as a mode II frictional crack. With further loading, rupture occurs through the strong area as an unstable process that coincides with failure. The results show that the critical energy release rate G IIC is a good indicator of the rupture. However, G IIC is not a material property. It depends on the normal stress applied, on the frictional characteristics of the interface, and on the critical slip required for the transition from peak to residual. A slip initiation model is proposed based on experimental observations and on fracture mechanics theory and is incorporated into a finite element method code. Predictions with the model compare very well with experiments.
Prenatal cocaine alters dopamine and sigma receptor binding in nucleus accumbens and striatum in dams and adolescent offspring.

Abstract Maternal cocaine abuse is a societal problem with serious impact on both mother and child. Few studies exist that study the mother/offspring dyad of neurological effects of maternal cocaine abuse. The present study was designed to study alterations in D 2 , D 3 and sigma receptor density in nucleus accumbens and striatum of dams and male and female offspring following gestational cocaine. Long-Evans female rats were implanted with an intravenous (i.v.) access port prior to breeding and were administered saline or 3.0 mg/kg of cocaine from gestational day (GD) GD8–20 (1 injection/day-GD8–14, 2 injections/day-GD15–20). Offspring were raised by maternal dams and allowed to mature until postnatal days 31–35, at which time dams and offspring were sacrificed for assay of radioligand binding. In dams, decreased D 2 (24.6%) and D 3 (36.9%) binding was observed in striatum. Female offspring displayed no differences in receptor binding in either region. Male offspring displayed decreased D 2 receptor binding (27.1%) in nucleus accumbens and increased D 3 (75.2% and 33.5%) and sigma receptor binding (73.4% and 53.1%) in accumbens and striatum, respectively. Collectively, these data clearly demonstrate that male offspring exhibit significant alterations in D 2 , D 3 and sigma receptor binding. These results suggest that dams and offspring display long-lasting alterations (5 weeks) in dopamine receptor binding. These alterations in dopamine and sigma receptor binding in offspring following prenatal cocaine and rearing by maternal dams are sex specific and could have profound effects on the development of behavior.
Does further clean-up reduce the matrix enhancement effect in gas chromatographic analysis of pesticide residues in food?

Sample extracts of apples, peas, green beans, oranges, raspberries, clementines, carrots, and wheat obtained using the Food and Drug Administration (acetone extraction) and Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (acetonitrile extraction) multiresidue methods for pesticides were subjected to clean-up using different solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges in an attempt to reduce or eliminate the matrix enhancement effect. The matrix enhancement effect is related to the blocking of active sites on the injector liner by matrix components, thereby increasing signal in the presence of matrix versus standards in solvent in which the pesticides themselves interact with the active sites. Graphitized carbon black (GCB) was often used in combination with various anion-exchange SPE cartridges. The extracts were then spiked with organophosphorus insecticides. These process standards were then compared to standards in acetone of the same concentration using gas chromatography with flame photometric detection or ion trap mass spectrometric detection. Sample matrix enhancement varied from little to no effect for some pesticides (e.g. chlorpyrifos, malathion) to >200% in the case of certain susceptible pesticides. The GCB removed color components but showed little effect in reducing matrix enhancement by itself. The anion-exchange cartridges in combination with GCB or not, substantially reduced the matrix enhancement effect but did not eliminate it.
Measurement of the chemical and morphological changes that occur on gold surfaces following thermal desorption and acid dissolution of adsorbed mercury

Abstract We have studied the chemical and morphological changes that occur in mercury-covered polycrystalline gold films after thermal annealing and acid dissolution. Atomic force microscopy images show that acid etching causes significant morphological changes in the gold films. The morphological changes following acid dissolution can be explained by the preferential dissolution of Hg at grain boundaries in polycrystalline films, which causes the nucleation of larger gold islands and creation of voids. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that not all of the Hg can be dissolved from the polycrystalline gold films with concentrated nitric acid, but heating above 500 K is sufficient to remove the Hg. Thermal desorption of Hg from a Au(1 1 1) single crystal was also studied under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Desorption peaks were observed at ∼240 and ∼380 K and were assigned to the multilayer and monolayer, respectively. These findings are important since they suggest mercury cannot be completely removed from polycrystalline gold surfaces (i.e. electrodes) by acid dissolution. The implications of cleaning gold-based mercury sensors are discussed.
Autobiographical Writing in the Technical Writing Course

Professionals in the workplace are rarely asked to write autobiographical essays. Such essays, however, are an excellent tool for helping students explore their growth as professionals. This article explores the use of such essays in a technical writing class.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Potentiates Intraneuronal Ca2+ Signaling via Regulation of the Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor

Inflammatory events have long been implicated in initiating and/or propagating the pathophysiology associated with a number of neurological diseases. In addition, defects in Ca2+-handling processes, which shape membrane potential, influence gene transcription, and affect neuronal spiking patterns, have also been implicated in disease progression and cognitive decline. The mechanisms underlying the purported interplay that exists between neuroinflammation and Ca2+ homeostasis have yet to be defined. Herein, we describe a novel neuron-intrinsic pathway in which the expression of the type-1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor is regulated by the potent pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α. Exposure of primary murine neurons to tumor necrosis factor-α resulted in significant enhancement of Ca2+ signals downstream of muscarinic and purinergic stimulation. An increase in type-1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor mRNA and protein steady-state levels following cytokine exposure positively correlated with this alteration in Ca2+ homeostasis. Modulation of Ca2+ responses arising from this receptor subtype and its downstream effectors may exact significant consequences on neuronal function and could underlie the compromise in neuronal activity observed in the setting of chronic neuroinflammation, such as that associated with Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease.
Investigation of Cr defect in high Cr load logic mask

In this study, Cr defects resulted from high voltage E-beam writing in high Cr load Logic Mask were investigated. The Cr defect, which is a damage of anti-reflection layer on Cr, is mainly found in isolated Cr patterns of high Cr load Logic Mask. This defect appears under high voltage E-beam writing with high dose and dry etch process. High accelerating voltage and dose of E-beam writing decrease the thickness of remaining E-beam resist after developing. These phenomena are more significant in high Cr load Logic Mask consisted of isolated Cr patterns. Because the resist thickness of isolated Cr pattern is not enough for enduring dry etch process-induced damage, Cr surface is damaged during etching. Consequently, the Cr surface damage of high Cr load Logic Mask is related with voltage and dose of E-beam and dry etch process time. To prevent these defects, low accelerating voltage and dose of E-beam and low thickness of Cr layer to increase dry etch process margin are necessary.