cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE ROLE OF SUPPRESSOR T CELLS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-DOSE PARALYSIS TO TYPE III PNEUMOCOCCAL POLYSACCARIDE

Publisher Summary As suppressor T cells act primarily by limiting the extent to which clones of antibody (Ab)-forming B cells proliferate in response to antigen, this chapter presents a study that determines whether they play a role in the development of low-dose paralysis to SSS-III. Suppressor T cells, activated during the course of an Ab response to SSS-III, first begin to express their inhibitory effects three days after immunization; such an interval closely approximates the time required for the induction of low-dose paralysis, a phenomenon that appears to be antigen-specific and T cell dependent. Furthermore, T cells seem to be much more efficient than B cells in their ability to respond to antigen, and suppressor T cells act primarily by limiting the extent to which Ab-forming B cells proliferate following immunization. Suppressor T cells can be activated by low doses of antigen; the presence of such cells at the time of subsequent immunization imposes additional restraints upon the capacity of B cells to proliferate. Thus, fewer numbers of plaque-forming cells are produced in response to an optimally immunogenic dose of antigen.
Morphologic, immunologic and cytogenetic studies in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at diagnosis and relapse : a pediatric oncology group study

The morphologic, immunologic and cytogenetic features of leukemic cells obtained at the time of first bone marrow relapse were compared with those obtained at initial diagnosis in 287 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were entered consecutively in a laboratory classification study of the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG). L1 to L2 shifts in French-American-British morphologic subtype were more common than the reverse (81/178 versus 15/61, p less than 0.001). A small but marginally significant number of cases acquired cytoplasmic granules at relapse, and 50 cases underwent a shift in periodic acid-Schiff reactivity that slightly favoured positive to negative. Shifts in immunophenotype were relatively rare, although shifts in cases with a pre-B phenotype to early pre-B ALL or vice versa occurred in about a third of pre-B cases. Loss of HLA-DR or the common ALL antigen occurred in 20 and 11% of cases, respectively. Of the 116 cases with analyzable karyotypes at diagnosis and relapse, 36 (31%) showed a change in karyotypes at relapse, usually from normal to pseudodiploid or hyperdiploid. Cytogenetic evidence for the emergence of a new clone after initial diagnosis was found in only one case. Analysis of the correlation of clinical and lymphoblast biologic features with event-free survival after an initial marrow relapse failed to demonstrate any prognostic significance for the changes identified in this study. T-cell immunophenotype proved to be the only factor significantly related to the outcome of retrieval therapy.
Massive vulvar edema in 2 prepartum dairy cows

Two late gestation Holstein cows about to begin the third lactation developed massive vulvar edema. These were the only affected animals in the herd of 500 milking cows. The vulvar edema spontaneously regressed postpartum for both cows. Massive vulvar swelling is seldom observed in dairy cows in advanced pregnancy and is not described in the literature.
Reforming local public finance to reduce resource consumption: the sustainability case for graduated property taxation

The customary mode of flat rate-property taxation used in the United States and many other Anglospheric countries encourages the consumption of ever greater volumes of energy and materials by relatively affluent households and exacerbates social inequalities. Transition from an invariable tax rate on residential real estate to a graduated schedule could enhance local sustainability by ameliorating the trend toward larger houses and associated increases in resource appropriation. This form of progressive property taxation was most notably implemented in New Zealand during the latter years of the nineteenth century, and has periodically attracted attention as a way to discourage the amassing of large landholdings in rural areas and to maintain housing affordability in cities. This paper considers the design and implementation challenges of a graduated property tax which, by dampening demand for outsized dwellings, could be a useful part of a comprehensive package of climate-change policies for local governments.
Universal Model for Multi-Mode NOON State Generation Using Fock State Filters

We present a universal model for generating multi-mode NOON states using Fock state filters. The generation efficiencies for different input scenarios such as coherent states and squeezed vacuum states are calculated for comparisons.
Somatic PRKAR1A Gene Mutation in a Nonsyndromic Metastatic Large Cell Calcifying Sertoli Cell Tumor

Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors (LCCSCTs) are rare testicular tumors, representing <1% of all testicular neoplasms. Almost 40% of patients with LCCSCTs will present in the context of an inherited tumor predisposition condition, such as Carney complex (CNC) or Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. We report the case of a 42-year-old man who had presented with a right testicular mass, and was diagnosed with metastatic LCCSCT. The patient underwent radical orchiectomy, achieving initial remission of his disease. However, lymph node and hepatic metastases were identified. He received chemotherapy without response, and he died of complications of his disease 4 years after the initial diagnosis. Genetic analysis of the tumor and a lymph node metastasis identified a somatic frameshift mutation in the PRKAR1A gene (c.319delG, p.E107fs*22). The mutation was predicted to result in premature termination of the PRKAR1A protein and, thus, not be expressed at the protein level, consistent with other PRKAR1A nonsense mutations. The patient was extensively screened for signs of CNC, but he had no stigmata of the complex. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the first of a somatic mutation in the PRKAR1A gene shown to be associated with a seemingly sporadic case of LCCSCT. Somatic PRKAR1A mutations are rare in sporadic tumors, and it is unknown whether this mutation was causative of LCCSCT in our patient who did not have CNC, or contributed to the malignancy of the tumor, which might have been caused by additional mutations.
Artifacts and the Academic Motivation of African American Male Athletes

This study sought to examine to examine the academic motivations of African American male college athletes at a historically Black college and university (HBCU). Self-determination theory (SDT) was incorporated as the theoretical framework. Data were collected via artifacts from seven African American male college athletes at a HBCU in the mid-southern region of the United States. Explanation of the artifacts by the participants revealed that they were motivated by their family, their faith, and their resiliency. Findings, and their implications for research and practice, are discussed and presented.
A robust adjustment to McNemar test when the data are clustered

Eliasziw and Donner (1991) proposed an adjusted McNemar test that can be used to compare two proportions estimated from paired clustered binary data. The adjustment factor they proposed is formulat...
Survey on the quadrivalent influenza vaccine intention and related factors of health care workers in the Pearl River Delta region from 2015 to 2017

Objective To analyze the quadrivalent influenza vaccine intention of 718 health care workers (HCWs) in the Pearl River Delta region from 2015 to 2017. Method In May 2018, 718 HCWs from the department related to the diagnosis and treatment of influenza in 17 hospitals (6 tertiary hospitals, 5 secondary hospitals and 6 primary hospitals) from Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Zhuhai and Dongguan were selected by using stratified sampling method. Questionnaire survey and face-to-face interview were used to collect the information of influenza vaccination, the intention of the quadrivalent influenza vaccine, the acceptance of free and required vaccination policies, and recommendations for increasing influenza vaccination intentions from 2015 to 2017. The multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with the vaccination intention. Results A total of 718 HCWs were surveyed and 147 of them were interviewed face to face. Among them, the vaccination rate of primary hospitals [17.39%(40/230)] was higher than that of other hospitals (χ2=15.80, P<0.05). If the vaccine could be free, 84.82% (609/718) of HCWs would like to be vaccinated. The multivariate logistic regression showed that the factors, HCWs who were aged ≥50 years (OR=3.44, 95%CI:1.43-8.28), worked in department of prevention and health care (OR=2.35, 95%CI:1.16-4.75), learned about the quadrivalent influenza vaccine (OR=2.94, 95%CI:2.08-4.18), knowed that HCWs are priority (OR=2.33, 95%CI:1.56-3.48), and had a history of trivalent influenza vaccination from 2015 to 2017 (OR=4.70, 95%CI:3.08-7.15), were associated with the vaccination intention. Conclusion HCWs in the Pearl River Delta region had weak inclination of getting quadrivalent influenza vaccine. HCWs who were age (≥50 years old), worked in department of prevention and health care, learned about the quadrivalent influenza vaccine, knowed that HCWs are priority, and had a history of trivalent influenza vaccination from 2015 to 2017 were factors positively associated with the vaccination intention. Key words: Medical staff; Influenza vaccines; Vaccination intention
A Preliminary Study on the Need for Structured Vocal Seminars for Fitness Instructors to Prevent Voice Disorders and Improve Overall Voice Use During Instruction

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine and demonstrate the need for structured vocal training/seminars for fitness professionals to prevent voice disorders and improve overall voice use...
Chemically Induced Water Repellency and the Freeze–Thaw Durability of Soils

Abstract Organosilane (OS) is a silicon-based coupling agent capable of producing hydrophobicity in soils. This study evaluated the applicability of OS in reducing the freeze–thaw impacts on subgra...
Acute Arterial Thromboembolism in Patients with COVID-19 in the New York City Area.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) predisposes to arterial and venous thromboembolic complications. We describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of acute arterial ischemia and concomitant infection at the epicenter of cases in the United States. Methods Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection between March 1, 2020 and May 15, 2020 with an acute arterial thromboembolic event were reviewed. Data collected included demographics, anatomical location of the thromboembolism, treatments, and outcomes. Results Over the 11-week period, the Northwell Health System cared for 12,630 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. A total of 49 patients with arterial thromboembolism and confirmed COVID-19 were identified. The median age was 67 years (58–75) and 37 (76%) were men. The most common preexisting conditions were hypertension (53%) and diabetes (35%). The median D-dimer level was 2,673 ng/mL (723–7,139). The distribution of thromboembolic events included upper 7 (14%) and lower 35 (71%) extremity ischemia, bowel ischemia 2 (4%), and cerebral ischemia 5 (10%). Six patients (12%) had thrombus in multiple locations. Concomitant deep vein thrombosis was found in 8 patients (16%). Twenty-two (45%) patients presented with signs of acute arterial ischemia and were subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19. The remaining 27 (55%) developed ischemia during hospitalization. Revascularization was performed in 13 (27%) patients, primary amputation in 5 (10%), administration of systemic tissue‐ plasminogen activator in 3 (6%), and 28 (57%) were treated with systemic anticoagulation only. The rate of limb loss was 18%. Twenty-one patients (46%) died in the hospital. Twenty-five (51%) were successfully discharged, and 3 patients are still in the hospital. Conclusions While the mechanism of thromboembolic events in patients with COVID-19 remains unclear, the occurrence of such complication is associated with acute arterial ischemia which results in a high limb loss and mortality.
Magnetic resonance imaging criteria of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced hypophysitis.

Abstract Autoimmune hypophysitis is a rare complication of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been used for advanced stages of melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and lung cancer. Multiple endocrinopathies, among them hypophysitis, could result as a reverse event from this therapy. MRI is the imaging modality of choice and usually demonstrates pituitary gland hypertrophy, irregular thickening of the pituitary infundibulum, and diffuse enhancement. We present a case of stage IV metastatic renal cell carcinoma complicated with hypophysitis secondary to combined nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy.
Characterizing standardized patients and genetic counseling graduate education

Standardized patients (SPs) are laypersons trained to portray patients, family members, and others in a consistent, measurable manner to teach and assess healthcare students, and to provide practice for emotionally and medically challenging cases. SP methodology has been studied with practicing genetic counselors; however, there is minimal empirical evidence characterizing its use in genetic counseling (GC) education. The Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) Standards of Accreditation for Graduate Programs in Genetic Counseling include SP sessions as one way to achieve up to 20% of the 50 participatory cases required for graduation. The purpose of the current project was to determine the scope, frequency, and timing of SP methodology in ACGC-accredited programs to establish baseline usage, which happened prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A 40-item investigator-created survey was developed to document the scope and frequency of SP use among programs. The survey was distributed through the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors' (AGCPD) listserv to 43 accredited and 6 programs under development. Surveys were analyzed from 25 accredited programs (response rate = 58%). Seventeen of these programs report inclusion of SP methodology in the curricula (68%), of which 13 report working with an established SP program. SPs are used predominantly for role-plays (70.6%), individualized instruction and remediation (29.4%), and for other reasons such as lecture demonstration, final examinations, practicing skills, and assessing students' goals. Sixteen of the participating programs use SPs to give GC students experience disclosing positive test results. Other details vary among the GC programs including the use of trained SPs, volunteer or paid SPs, actors with and without SP training, or GC students acting as patients. This study demonstrates that GC program SP experiences differ, but are largely viewed as valuable by the programs. Many GC programs report using SP encounters to create multiple opportunities for students to practice and refine clinical skills similar to SPs in medical school.
Interaction Between Maternal Immune Activation and Antibiotic Use during Pregnancy and Child Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Prenatal exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) has been implicated as a risk factor for the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), though the conditions under which this elevated risk occurs are unclear. Animal literature demonstrates that antibiotic use, which affects the composition of the maternal gut microbiota, modifies the effect of MIA on neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring. The aim of this study was to assess whether antibiotic use during pregnancy modifies the association between MIA and subsequent risk of ASD, in a prospective birth cohort with 116 ASD cases and 860 typically developing (TD) child controls. There was no evidence of interaction between fever or genitourinary infection and antibiotic use on the odds of ASD in unadjusted or adjusted analyzes. However, we found evidence of an interaction between flu, specifically in second trimester, and antibiotic use at any point during pregnancy on the odds of ASD in the child. Among women who received an antibiotic during pregnancy, flu in trimester two was not associated with ASD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.99 [0.43-2.28]). Among women who were not exposed to an antibiotic at any point during pregnancy, flu in second trimester was significantly associated with increased odds of ASD (aOR = 4.05 [1.14-14.38], P = .03), after adjustment for child sex, child birth year, maternal age, gestational age, C-section delivery, and low birthweight. These findings should be treated as hypothesis-generating and suggest that antibiotic use may modify the influence that MIA has on autism risk in the child. LAY SUMMARY: We looked at whether the association between activation of the immune system during pregnancy and risk of the child developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) differed among women who did or did not take an antibiotic at any point during pregnancy. We examined 116 children with ASD and 860 without ASD and found that flu in second trimester was associated with increased ASD, but only among women who did not take an antibiotic during pregnancy. No other immune activation exposures seemed to interact with antibiotic use.
Two Stellar Mass Functions Combined into One by the Random Sampling Model of the IMF

The turnover in the stellar initial mass function (IMF) at low mass suggests the presence of two independent mass functions that combine in different ways above and below a characteristic mass given by the thermal Jeans mass in the cloud. In the random sampling model introduced earlier, the Salpeter IMF at intermediate to high mass follows primarily from the hierarchical structure of interstellar clouds, which is sampled by various star formation processes and converted into stars at the local dynamical rate. This power law part is independent of the details of star formation inside each clump and therefore has a universal character. The flat part of the IMF at low mass is proposed here to result from a second, unrelated, physical process that determines only the probability distribution function for final star mass inside a clump of a given mass, and is independent of both this clump mass and the overall cloud structure. Both processes operate for all potentially unstable clumps in a cloud, regardless of mass, but only the first shows up above the thermal Jeans mass, and only the second shows up below this mass. Analytical and stochastic models of the IMF that are based on the uniform application of these two functions for all masses reproduce the observations well.
Comparing the outcomes of external oblique and transversus abdominus release using the AHSQC database

Myofascial release techniques at the time of complex hernia repair allow for tension-free closure of the midline fascia. Two common techniques are the open external oblique release (EOR) and the transversus abdominis release (TAR). Each technique has its reported advantages and disadvantages, but there have been few comparative studies. The purpose of this project was to compare the outcomes of these two myofascial release techniques. The Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative (AHSQC) database was queried and produced a data set on 24 May 2018. All patients undergoing open incision hernia repair with an open EOR or TAR were evaluated, and outcomes were compared including hernia recurrence, quality of life, and 30-day wound-related complications. 3610 patients met the inclusion criteria of undergoing open incisional hernia repair (501 undergoing EOR and 3109 undergoing TAR). Seventy surgeons from 50 institutions contributed EOR patients, and 124 surgeons from 89 institutions contributed TAR patients with no differences between the two groups in surgeons’ affiliation. Comparing open EOR and TAR showed no significant differences in hernia recurrence, quality of life, or 30-day surgical site infection rate. EOR had a significantly higher rate of surgical site occurrences compared with TAR (p < 0.05); however, this did not result in an increase in surgical site occurrences requiring procedural interventions. Equivalent outcomes were achieved using the EOR or TAR techniques in the open repair of incisional hernias. Both techniques offer consistently good outcomes and are important adjuncts in the repair of complex incisional hernias.
The international linkage of real interest rates: The European-US connection

Abstract In this paper we present evidence on several questions regarding the movement in short term real interest rates in eight countries: Have ex ante real estates in the United States and Europe been high during recent years? Has there been a link between US real rates and those in other countries? Can this link be quantified? The basic finding in this paper is that real rates have climbed dramatically from the 1970s to the 1980s in both the European countries and the United States. There is also strong evidence that there is a positive association between movements in US real rates and those in Europe. However, European real rates typically do not move one-for-one with US real rates, still leaving open the possibility that European monetary policy can influence domestic economic activity.
Brief communication: A roadmap towards credible projections of ice sheet contribution to sea-level

Abstract. Accurately projecting mass loss from ice sheets is of critical societal importance. However, despite recent improvements in ice sheet models, our analysis of a recent effort to project Greenland's contribution to future sea-level suggests that few models reproduce historical mass loss accurately, and that they appear much too confident in the spread of predicted outcomes. The inability of models to reproduce historical observations raises concerns about the models' skill at projecting mass loss. Here we suggest that the future sea level contribution from Greenland may well be significantly higher than reported in that study. We propose a roadmap to enable a more realistic accounting of uncertainties associated with such forecasts, and a formal process by which observations of mass change be used to refine projections of mass change. Finally, we note that tremendous government investment and planning affecting 10s to 100s of millions of people is founded on the work of several tens of scientists involved in a significantly volunteer effort. To achieve the goal of credible projections of ice sheet contribution to sea-level, we strongly believe that investment in research must be commensurate with the scale of the challenge.
Predicting residential energy and water demand using publicly available data

Abstract The overarching objective behind this work is to merge publicly available data with utility consumption histories and extract statistically significant insight on utility usage for a group of houses ( n = 7022) in Gainesville, USA. This study investigates the statistical descriptive power of publicly available information for modeling utility usage. We first examine the deviations that arise from monthly utility usage reading dates as reading dates tend to shift and reading periods tend to vary across different months. Then we run regression models for individual months which in turn we compare to a yearly regression model which accounts for months as a dummy variable to understand whether a monthly model or a yearly model has a larger statistical power. It is shown that publicly available data can be used to model residential utility usage in the absence of highly private utility data. The obtained results are helpful for utilities for two reasons: (1) using the models to predict the monthly changes in demand; and (2) predicting utility usage can be translated into energy-use intensity as a first-cut metric for energy efficiency targeting in their service territory to meet their state demand reduction targets.
Bis(dimethyl­malonato-κ2O,O′)bis­[4-(4-pyridylamino-κN4)pyridinium]nickel(II) hexa­hydrate

In the title compound, [Ni(C5H6O4)2(C10H10N3)2]·6H2O, divalent nickel ions situated on the crystallographic twofold axis are octa­hedrally coordinated by four O atoms from two dimethyl­malonate ligands in a 1,3-chelating mode and two N atoms from two protonated monodentate 4,4′-dipyridylamine mol­ecules. The mol­ecules link into chains via N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding mediated by protonated pyridyl groups. The chains form layer patterns via π–π stacking [centroid–centroid distance = 3.777 (2) A] . Water mol­ecule hexa­mers are generated from the unligated water mol­ecules (three per asymmetric unit) by inversion centers at Wyckoff position d. These clusters are situated between the pseudolayers, providing hydrogen-bonding pathways that build up the three-dimensional structure.
Histologic changes in dental pulps of dogs and monkeys following application of pressure, drugs, and microorganisms on prepared cavities. II. Changes observable more than one month after application of traumatic agents.

Abstract A progression of histologic changes was observed in the dental pulps of dogs and monkeys after various irritants had been applied to prepared cavities in the teeth. The changes occurring up to one month after treatment have been reported previously.1 Three months after operation, the pulps had recovered from the trauma of simple cavity preparation. However, as judged by the quantity and structure of reparative dentine and by the presence of cells indicative of inflammation, pulps had not yet completely recovered from the additional trauma caused by the exertion of pressure or the application of silver nitrate or phenol to the cavities. Damage was particularly severe if the cavity was deep or if a combination of irritants had been applied. Damage was less severe if the cavity had been prepared with a drill rotating at a higher speed (50,000 r.p.m.). Six months after operation, pulps had largely recovered from the effects of pressure or of silver nitrate on shallow cavities. If phenol or a combination of irritants had been used, or if the cavities were deep, inflammation persisted. Test bacteria applied to the base of a cavity could penetrate the tubules and reach the deep pulp. Six months later, however, presumably because of the body's natural defenses, no bacteria were present in the pulp. The bacteria caused little or no damage; they were not nearly so harmful as the drugs commonly used for sterilization of the dentine.
On a crossed product of a division ring

1. Let R and C be a ring and its center, and G an automorphism group of R of order n . By a factor set {c α , τ } , we mean a system of regular elements c α , τ (α,τ ∈ G) in C such that (1)
Polyphenols Extracted From Grape Powder Induce Lipogenesis and Glucose Uptake During Differentiation of Murine 3T3-F442A Preadipocytes

Assessing the effect of dietary ingredients on lipogenesis and glucose uptake in adipocytes may clarify the risk/benefit of recommending to individuals with obesity and insulin resistance. Grape powder extracted polyphenols (GPEP) modulate inflammation in human adipocytes. We hypothesized that GPEP increase intracellular fat accumulation and glucose uptake during differentiation of 3T3-F442A preadipocytes. Total polyphenols were extracted and measured based on gallic acid equivalents (GAE). There were 2167 mg of GAE of polyphenols in 100 g of grape powder (GP). 3T3-F442A cells were incubated with GPEP from 125 – 500 µg GP/mL of media until day 8 of differentiation when the cells were collected for different assays. Adipo-Red assay and Oil Red O staining showed that GPEP induced, in a dose-dependent manner, an increase in intracellular triglyceride content of adipocytes. Concomitantly, GPEP increased, in a dose-dependent manner, glucose uptake by 3T3-F442A cells. No changes in cell viability were measured ...
A data model for music information retrieval

This paper describes a data model for the representation of tonal music. In this model, music is conceived as an equally-spaced time series of 12-dimensional vectors. The model has been successfully applied to the task of discovering frequently recurring patterns, and to the related task of retrieving user-defined musical patterns. This was accomplished by converting midi sequences of music by W.A. Mozart into the time series representation and analyzing these with data mining tools and SQL queries. The novelty of the pattern extraction capability supported by the model is in the potentially complex description of the sequences, which may contain both melodic and harmonic features, may be embedded within each other, or interspersed with other patterns or occurrences. A unique feature of the model is the use of time intervals as the basic representational unit, which fosters possibilities for future application to audio data.
WinRDBI: a nifty tool for understanding relational database query languages

The WinRDBI tool is a Windows-based Relational DataBase Interpreter, providing a tool for understanding relational database query languages [1], including relational algebra, domain relational calculus, tuple relational calculus, and SQL. Understanding the formal relational query languages for retrieving information from a relational database is critical to comprehending the SQL industry-standard query language. WinRDBI provides students with an interactive environment to learn the formal query languages as well as the industry standard SQL.
Gifted Programs: Equal Access in Rural Areas.

This paper considers the issue of equal access to gifted programs as it pertains to rural students, schools, districts, and states. It defines equal access and describes impediments to it. By focus...
Tyrosine 706 and 807 phosphorylation site mutants in the murine colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor are unaffected in their ability to bind or phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase but show differential defects in their ability to induce early response gene transcription.

Abstract The receptor for colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) is a receptor protein-tyrosine kinase. To study the possible function of CSF-1 receptor autophosphorylation, two autophosphorylation sites, Tyr-706, located in the kinase insert, and Tyr-807, a residue conserved in all protein-tyrosine kinases, were changed independently to either phenylalanine or glycine. Wild-type and mutant receptors were stably expressed in Rat-2 cells. In response to CSF-1, cells expressing Phe- or Gly-706 mutant receptors showed increased growth rate and altered cell morphology. Both the Phe- and Gly-706 mutant receptors associated with and phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase at levels comparable with those of wild-type receptors. However, these mutant receptors differed subtly from each other and from the wild-type receptor in their ability to induce different aspects of the response to CSF-1. The Phe-706 mutant receptor was most strongly affected in its ability to increase growth rate or elevate the levels of c-fos and NGF1A mRNAs, whereas the Gly-706 mutant receptor was most markedly affected in its ability to induce a change in cell morphology or increase the levels of c-jun and NGF1A mRNAs. These findings indicate that Tyr-706 itself, or this region of the receptor, may be important for interaction of the CSF-1 receptor with different signalling pathways. Gly-807 mutant receptors lacked protein-tyrosine kinase activity, failed to respond to CSF-1, and were defective in biosynthetic processing. Phe-807 mutant receptors had 40 to 60% reduced protein-tyrosine kinase activity in vitro. Although cells expressing Phe-807 receptors were able to respond to CSF-1, the changes in growth rate and cell morphology were significantly less than seen with wild-type receptors, and the induction of early response genes was also slightly lower than for the wild-type receptor. In contrast, Phe-807 receptors were equivalent to wild-type receptors when tested for their ability to interact with phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of Tyr-807 may be important for full activation of the receptor.
Mutuality and the Underwriting Cycle: Theory with Evidence from the Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Market, 1873-1909

This paper studies the connection between risk-sharing and organizational form. It models the organizational form decision as a trade-off between the superior capital market access of the stock form and a regulatory or agency advantage held by the mutual form. When capital is expensive, consumers will substitute away from paying investors to supply risk-bearing capital and toward bearing more risk through mutual companies. The theory is supported with evidence from the Pennsylvania fire insurance market in 1874-1909. During this period, use of the mutual form moved in tandem with the insurance underwriting cycle.
Gate sizing and V/sub t/ assignment for active-mode leakage power reduction

Leakage current is a key factor in IC power consumption even in the active operating mode. We investigate the simultaneous optimization of gate size and threshold voltage to reduce leakage power. We assume a standard-cell-based design flow where the available cell sizes and threshold voltages (V/sub t/'s) are given, and model the optimization as a mixed-integer linear programming (MLP) problem. In addition to the exact model, two faster approximate MLP models are proposed, along with CAD tools that generate the models automatically. We present experimental results which show that optimal designs derived from the exact MLP model can achieve the same performance as all-low-V/sub t/ unit-size designs, but with only one third the leakage power. The approximate MLP models can be solved about 25 times faster than the optimal model with negligible errors. All the proposed models can be extended to take dynamic power and multiple supply voltages into consideration.
Three dimensional morphologic analysis of the lateral surface of the canine femur.

Objectives Analyze the lateral plating surface of the femur to obtain bend and twist angles in dogs with non-chondrodystrophic phenotype. Study Design Retrospective computed tomography (CT) morphologic analysis. Sample Population Historical cohort, hindlimb CT scans (n = 30). Materials and Methods The CT images of 30 normal femurs were uploaded to surgical planning software and 13 points of interest and their respective bend/twist angles were identified on the lateral surfaces. Mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation (CV), and range were calculated for each bend/twist angle. Hierarchal clustering and fast Fourier Analyses were used to segment the cohort. Distribution of age, breed, sex, and weight was evaluated between clusters with an exact Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test. Results The CV of bending ranged from 17% to 46% and for twisting ranged from 21% to 58%. The greater trochanter was the most pronounced bend on the lateral surface of the femur (mean ± SD 8.11 ± 1.35°, CV 17%), and the supracondylar region of the distal femur was the most marked twist (mean ± SD 48.98 ± 10.06°, CV 21%). Although there were no differences between dogs in proximal femur anatomy, 2 clusters of 9 and 21 dogs each were identified due to differences in bend/twist angles in the distal femur. There was no difference between clusters for age (P = .85), breed (P = .62), and sex (P = .15); however, weight differed (P = .03) but was not predictive. Conclusion Although distal femoral lateral surfaces varied sufficiently to result in 2 population clusters, further analysis is needed to determine if the differences prevent using the mean bending and twisting parameters as a template for clinical applications.
Anti-human heat shock protein 60 antibodies and longitudinal change in percent emphysema and lung function: The MESA lung study

Rationale Heat shock proteins (HSP) are chaperone molecules that stabilize cell proteins and increase in cell stress. The role of HSP60 antibodies (ab) in the progression of emphysema and airflow obstruction is unclear. We hypothesized that HSP60-ab levels would be associated with longitudinal increase in percent emphysema and decline in lung function. Methods The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) enrolled participants 45-84 yrs old without clinical cardiovascular disease. Baseline serum HSP60-abs were measured by ELISA, %emphysema was measured on lung fields of cardiac CTs 2-3 times over a median of 4 yrs and spirometry was performed twice over 5 yrs. Mixed effect models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, height, weight, education, packyrs and cigarettes/day plus, for %emphysema models, CT scanner model and mAs. Results In 998 participants with HSP60-abs (age 59.4±9.8 yrs, 43% male, 54% ever smokers) the mean log-HSP60-ab was 9.6±0.9 ng/ml and the mean increase in %emphysema was 0.27%/yr (P Conclusions In preliminary analyses, higher levels of HSP60-abs were associated with accelerated increase in percent emphysema among smokers and a faster decline in FVC in all participants in a population-based study. Funding NIH R01 HL77612, RC1 HL100543, R01-HL093081, N01-HC-95159 to N01-HC-95169, UL1-TR000040.
No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II, by Kenneth K. Koskodan

Polish soldiers fought on many fronts in World War II: in Poland, France, in the Battle of Britain, North Africa, Italy, Belgium, Holland, and Germany as well as alongside the Red Army on the Easte...
Analysis of the kinetics of band 3 diffusion in human erythroblasts during assembly of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton

During definitive erythropoiesis, erythroid precursors undergo differentiation through multiple nucleated states to an enucleated reticulocyte, which loses its residual RNA/organelles to become a mature erythrocyte. Over the course of these transformations, continuous changes in membrane proteins occur, including shifts in protein abundance, rates of expression, isoform prominence, states of phosphorylation, and stability. In an effort to understand when assembly of membrane proteins into an architecture characteristic of the mature erythrocyte occurs, we quantitated the lateral diffusion of the most abundant membrane protein, band 3 (AE1), during each stage of erythropoiesis using single particle tracking. Analysis of the lateral trajectories of individual band 3 molecules revealed a gradual reduction in mobility of the anion transporter as erythroblasts differentiated. Evidence for this progressive immobilization included a gradual decline in diffusion coefficients as determined at a video acquisition rate of 120 frames/s and a decrease in the percentage of compartment sizes >100 nm. Because complete acquisition of the properties of band 3 seen in mature erythrocytes is not observed until circulating erythrocytes are formed, we suggest that membrane maturation involves a gradual and cooperative assembly process that is not triggered by the synthesis of any single protein.
EFFECTS OF THREE EMULSION COMPOSITIONS ON TASTE THRESHOLDS AND INTENSITY RATINGS OF FIVE TASTE COMPOUNDS

This study assessed the effects of three emulsified systems on taste thresholds and the near-threshold taste intensities of the five tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami). Emulsions were formulated with different lipid chemical compositions. Lipid addition in an emulsified form significantly increased thresholds for sour and bitter tastes produced by citric acid and quinine hydrochloride, respectively. No significant differences were found in the threshold levels in emulsions formulated with different lipids for the five tastes evaluated. In general, for the same tastant concentration, taste intensities for sour and bitter tastes were lower in emulsions compared with the aqueous solutions, which is related to the higher threshold observed in the emulsions. On the other hand, the presence of a lipid phase increased the perception of umami and saltiness, with higher intensity values observed in the emulsions. Finally, lipid addition did not affect sweet intensities. These results suggest that, depending on the type of tastant used, the presence of a lipid phase in an emulsified form may alter the sensory perception of foods. Further research needs to be made for specific products to evaluate the effects of specific ingredients on the sensory properties of foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Consumers are aware of the health consequences associated with their diets. Current tendencies of incorporating a healthy diet in consumers' everyday lives have challenged food manufacturers to produce foods with improved nutritional qualities while maintaining their sensory characteristics. Some of these improvements include the formulation of low-sodium, low-carbohydrate and/or low-fat products. Understanding the mechanisms associated with taste perception will help formulate new food products with improved sensory and health characteristics.
The burden of allergic rhinitis: beyond dollars and cents.

Objective This article presents information about the economic burden of allergic rhinitis and its effect on quality of life. After reading this article, readers should have a greater awareness of the economic impact of this disease and how important it is for both patient and society to diagnose and treat it properly. Data Sources Relevant and appropriately controlled clinical studies, data compiled from surveys and patient questionnaires, and studies of direct and indirect costs associated with allergic rhinitis were used. Only literature in the English language was reviewed. Study Selection Material was taken from academic/scholarly journals and appropriate reviews. Results Allergic rhinitis occurs in approximately 20% of the general population in the United States. In recent years, its economic impact has increased, with spending for direct and indirect medical costs estimated between 1.5 and $2 billion a year. In addition to its financial burden, however, allergic rhinitis exacts a considerable toll on patients' quality of life, cognitive and learning functions, decision-making, and self-perception. Low energy levels associated with allergic rhinitis can lead to impairments of both memory and decision-making abilities. Conclusions Effective treatment and greater understanding on the part of both physicians and patients can help to reduce direct and indirect costs as well as to lessen the impact of allergic rhinitis on quality of life for both patient and society.
Selective Effects of Pentobarbital and Halothane on c-fos and jun-B Gene Expression in Rat Brain

The effects of pentobarbital and halothane anesthesia on the expression in brain of the immediate-early genes c-fos and jun-B were investigated. Pentobarbital-anesthetized rats (n = 10) received a single intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital 65 mg/kg in a vehicle of 40% propylene glycol and 10% ethanol and then were placed in a plexiglass box flushed continously with 100% oxygen at 5 l/min. Halothane-anesthetized rats (n = 10) received an intraperitoneal injection of vehicle only and were transferred to a box flushed continuously with oxygen plus 1.5% halothane. Unanesthetized control rats (n = 10) received an intraperitoneal injection of vehicle and were placed in a box flushed continuously with 100% oxygen. Four additional rats received no intraperitoneal injection but were handled and otherwise treated identically to the control group, and six others had a femoral arterial catheter inserted for blood pressure and blood gas measurements. Five animals from the control and both anesthetized groups were killed at 30 and 120 min postinjection and their brains rapidly removed and frozen. The messenger ribonucleic acid transcription products of the genes c-fos, jun-B, and beta-actin from whole cerebral hemispheres were analyzed autoradiographically after Northern blot hybridization with 32P-labeled deoxyribonucleic acid probes. Relative levels of c-fos and jun-B messenger ribonucleic acid were determined from optical density measurements of the autoradiographic bands, with beta-actin measurements being used to correct for sample-to-sample variation. Rats became immobile within minutes of drug administration and remained anesthetized until they were killed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Interaction of sodium dodecyl sulphate and polyethylene oxide

AN increase in the concentration of K2CO3 in Polyox WSR 205 causes a decrease in the drag reduction1; this has been successfully correlated with lowered values of the intrinsic viscosity1. Nonionic, water-soluble polypeptides can interact with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) to form complexes2, and above a certain concentration the reduced viscosity of some of these polymers is increased. The immediate implication is that if such interactions also take place with polyethylene oxides of high molecular weight then changes in the observed drag reduction may occur.
Nonelectrolyte substitution for water in phosphatidylcholine bilayers

Abstract Glycerol substitutes for water in multilamellar phosphatidylcholine liposomes in that the fluid spaces between bilayers, as well as their main transition temperatures, heat capacities, and ethalpies are very similar in water and in pure glycerol. One major difference is that the gel state phase of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in glycerol consists of bilayers with fully interdigitated hydrocarbon chains. Interdigitated DPPC phases are also formed in ethylene glycol or in methanol (at low methanol content). In solutions of glycerol and water, the fluid spacing between bilayers is a function of mole fraction of glycerol Xg, reaching maximum values at X g ≌ 0.1 for lipid in the liquid crystalline phase and at X g ≌ 0.3 for the gel phase. These changes are explained in terms of a modification of the long-range Van der Waals attractive forces by glycerol.
The effects of reduced perfusion and reperfusion on C-fos and HSP-72 protein immunohistochemistry in gestational day 21 rat brains

Abstract Metabolic stressors such as hyperthermia, seizures and ischemic hypoxia result in the induction of C-fos and heat-shock proteins (HSP) in affected brain cells of the adult rodent, especially within the hippocampal region, which normally has high metabolic demands. Here we ligated the uterine vessels of gestational day (GD) 21 rat pups to produce ischemic hypoxia. We confirmed that HSP-72 protein, as previously reported, was activated in the perinatal rat pup, especially in the hippocampal CA3 region. However, the capability of hippocampal cells to produce C-fos protein following drug-induced seizures has been reported to develop only after postnatal day 13. Here, ischemic hypoxia caused CA1 hippocampal cells to produce immunohistochemically detectable C-fos protein in GD-21 rats. These results seem to contradict the previous reports of no C-fos induction in rats this young by demonstrating a functional C-fos translational mechanism by GD-21. However, seizure vs ischemic hypoxia-induced C-fos expression may involve several different pre-translational pathways. A delayed development of a receptor, second messenger, or genomic element for regulating C-fos transcription remain as possible explanations for the late maturity of responsivity to seizures.
Effects of ingested phytoecdysteroids on the growth and development of two Lepidopterous larvae

Abstract The effects of ingested or injected 20-hydroxyecdysone on silkworm larvae ( Bombyx mori ) including death without moulting, death following completion of promoted moulting, death during promoted moulting (ecdysis inhibition) and inhibition in growth with and without effects on moulting, are dependent upon the concentration of exogenous hormone, the precise developmental stage of the treated larvae, and the duration of exposure to the exogenous ecdysteroid. Comparisons of 20-hydroxyecdysone with other phytoecdysteroids in the silkworm and pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella , show a similar but more potent effect induced by ponasterone A, while cyasterone causes an ‘antiecdysone’ effect.