cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Auditory Cortex in Spatial Processing

One of the primary functions of the sensory nervous system is to determine and represent where stimuli originate from. This is critical for identifying predators and prey, as well as mate selection and attending objects of interest. Audition is one of the three primary senses that can provide some information about extrapersonal space, together with vision and olfaction. The latter two sensory systems define the range of spatial localization abilities, with olfactory spatial perception being extremely poor under most naturalistic conditions (Doty, 2001; Kauer & White, 2001), and visual spatial perception being very accurate (Westheimer, 1984; Shapley & Lennie, 1985). Auditory spatial perception is somewhere in between (Blauert, 1997), but holds a significant advantage over vision in that it is sensitive to all regions of extrapersonal space, not just the visual field, which is restricted to frontal space in most primates.
Current Clinical Role of Genetic Profiling in Breast Cancer

Genetic profiling of breast cancer is emerging as an important prognostic and predictive tool, especially for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Several genetic profile assays are already commercially available, and others are being developed and tested. OncotypeDx, a 21-gene assay, and MammaPrint, a 70-gene assay are the most extensively evaluated tests. Currently, three prospective trials to assess the predictive value of gene signature assays in certain subgroups of breast cancer are ongoing. These are the Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (Rx) (TAILORx) trial, the endocrine-responsive breast cancer (RxPONDER) trial for 21-gene recurrence score and Microarray In Node-negative Disease may Avoid ChemoTherapy (MINDACT) trial using the 70-gene signature.
Potential winter niche partitioning between Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) and Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)

ABSTRACT The northward range expansion of Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) has increased their contact with Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Tufted Titmice and Black-capped Chickadees were observed foraging naturally in 3 Connecticut forests and at a residential bird feeder to assess the degree of foraging niche overlap and competition between the 2 species during winter 2015–2016. Chickadees spent significantly more time in the outer portion of the upper canopy than did titmice, which used different subsections of the canopy fairly evenly. Chickadees also foraged in shrubs significantly more than did titmice. Titmice spent much of their time foraging on the ground, which chickadees largely avoided. These differences may be explained by the ability of larger titmice to better forage on larger branches and to flip leaves to forage on the ground. The larger size of titmice may also explain their dominance to chickadees at the bird feeder. Given a choice between safflower seeds, black oil s...
The Dark Triad and framing effects predict selfish behavior in a one-shot Prisoner's Dilemma.

What causes us to display selfish behaviors? We explored the extent to which Dark Triad traits (sub-clinical psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) support a selfish behavioral strategy. We related performance on a hypothetical Prisoner’s Dilemma (an economic game that simulates a two-person social dilemma) to participants’ (N = 1400) Dark Triad scores. Because contextual factors also impact selfish behaviors, we tested how framing (gain vs. loss; and social vs. nonsocial) shaped performance in the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Participants with high Dark Triad scores were more likely to behave selfishly in the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Participants were also most likely to betray their partner in loss-framed and non-socially framed contexts. These effects did not interact with Dark Triad scores. Our data are consistent with the view that seemingly negative personality traits (like those associated with the Dark Triad traits) that persist in the population may serve as evolutionarily adaptive behavioral strategies.
Cyclooxygenase‐2 in gastrointestinal malignancies

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is an enzyme complex that plays an important role in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are essential modulators of signal transduction pathways, which contribute to the metastatic properties of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Although COX-1 is constitutively active, COX-2 is upregulated by cytokines, growth factors, and mitogen. COX-2 is involved in malignant cell proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and antiapoptotic activity. Thus, COX-2 inhibitors may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GI cancers. In this review, the role of COX-2 in GI cancers is explored, and its clinical applications as a therapeutic target are discussed.
Abstract TP140: Very Early Mobilization In Critically Ill Stroke Patients With Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with a disproportionately high mortality and disability when compared to ischemic stroke. Critically ill patients with ICH repre...
Oral Therapies for PAH: State-of-the-Art and Investigational Approaches

The development of intravenous epoprostenol was an exciting advance in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, offering patients improved functional capacity and prolonged survival. However, this...
Characterizing Sources of Resistance to Phytophthora Blight of Pepper Caused by Phytophthora capsici in North Carolina

Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is an important disease of peppers in the United States and worldwide. P. capsici causes crown, root, and fruit rot as well as foliar lesions in...
The Political Outcomes of Unfriending: Social Network Curation, Network Agreeability, and Political Participation

Research has noted a link between social media use and political participation. Scholars have also identified a need to explain this link. The present study is a theoretical and empirical probe into the political outcomes of unfriending people on social media. Drawing on privacy management theory and the social identity perspective, it explores the relationship between social network curation (blocking or unfriending others on social media for political reasons), perceived social network agreeability (how often people agree with the political opinions or political content of friends on social media), and forms of political participation. Using data from a survey of US adults (N=2,018) and a structural equation modelling approach, study results indicate a relational path from social network curation, through expressive participation (e.g. discussing politics and posting about politics on social media), to more demonstrative forms of participation (e.g. donating money and volunteering time). The study contributes to our understanding of the link between social media use and political outcomes by focusing on a unique explanatory mechanism. Policy implications pertain to the role that social media use plays in fostering political involvement. Specifically, if cutting disagreeable friends out of one’s social network is associated with political participation, this raises normative concerns regarding engagement which is underpinned by political polarization and intolerance.
The Environmental Policy Makers

Chapter 4 explains how environmental improvement programmes and environmental transition processes and programmes—locally, nationally and internationally—have often excluded working-class people and low income groups, sometimes compounding their disadvantage. This theme is explored in relation to some key environmental issues from street cleanliness to energy justice.
Traffic-related air pollutants (TRAP-PM) promote neuronal amyloidogenesis through oxidative damage to lipid rafts

Abstract Traffic-related air pollution particulate matter (TRAP-PM) is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer Disease (AD). Rodent models respond to nano-sized TRAP-PM (nPM) with increased production of amyloid Aβ peptides, concurrently with oxidative damage. Because pro-Aβ processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) occurs on subcellular lipid rafts, we hypothesized that oxidative stress from nPM exposure would alter lipid rafts to favor Aβ production. This hypothesis was tested with J20 mice and N2a cells transgenic for hAPPswe (familial AD). Exposure of J20-APPswe mice to nPM for 150 h caused increased lipid oxidation (4-HNE) and increased the pro-amyloidogenic processing of APP in lipid raft fractions in cerebral cortex; the absence of these changes in cerebellum parallels the AD brain region selectivity for Aβ deposits. In vitro, nPM induced similar oxidative responses in N2a-APPswe cells, with dose-dependent production of NO, oxidative damage (4-HNE, 3NT), and lipid raft alterations of APP with increased Aβ peptides. The antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) attenuated nPM-induced oxidative damage and lipid raft alterations of APP processing. These findings identify neuronal lipid rafts as novel targets of oxidative damage in the pro-amyloidogenic effects of air pollution.
Health Insurance for the Poor, Healthcare Use and Health Outcomes in Indonesia

This article evaluates the effects of the Health Insurance for the Poor program, Askeskin, using panel data from the 2000 and 2007 rounds of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS). Because Askesk...
Ab initio calculations of lepton-nucleus scattering

The advent of high precision measurements of neutrinos and their oscillations calls for accurate predictions of their interactions with nuclear targets utilized in the detectors. Over the past decade, ab initio approaches have reached the degree of maturity needed to describe lepton-nucleus scattering processes starting from a realistic model of the interactions among the nucleons and between them and the beam particle. Achieving a comprehensive description of the different reaction mechanisms active in the broad range of energy relevant for oscillation experiments required the introduction of controlled approximations of the nuclear many-body models. In this review, we give an overview of recent developments in the description of electroweak interactions within different approaches and discuss the future perspectives to support the experimental effort in this new precision era.
Impact of Retained Cystoscopy Fluid after Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT Study Objective To investigate the impact of retained cystoscopy fluid after laparoscopic hysterectomy on time to spontaneous void, time to discharge, urinary retention, bladder discomfort, and patient satisfaction. Design Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Setting An academic medical center. Patients One hundred and twenty patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy with universal cystoscopy for benign indications, excluding pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence indications. Interventions From October 10, 2018, to October 17, 2019, we compared 200 mL retained cystoscopy fluid and complete bladder emptying after laparoscopic hysterectomy with universal cystoscopy. Measurements and Main Results A total of 120 patients were enrolled and randomized (59 in the retained cystoscopy fluid group and 61 in the emptied fluid group). The primary outcome was time to first spontaneous void. The secondary outcomes were time to discharge, urinary retention rates, bladder discomfort, and patient satisfaction. A sample size of 120 was calculated to detect a 57-minute difference in time to spontaneous void. There were minimal differences in baseline demographics and surgical characteristics between the groups. There was an apparent, although not significant, difference in time to void of 25 minutes (143 minutes vs 168 minutes, p = .20). Time to discharge and urinary retention rates did not differ (199 minutes vs 214 minutes, p = .40, and 13.6% vs 8.2%, p = .51, respectively). There was no difference in postoperative bladder discomfort and patient satisfaction. Conclusion Retained cystoscopy fluid after laparoscopic hysterectomy did not significantly affect time to first spontaneous void, time to discharge, urinary retention, bladder discomfort, or patient satisfaction.
Heterologous expression of plant glycosyltransferases for biochemistry and structural biology

Much of the carbon captured by photosynthesis is converted into the polysaccharides that constitute plant cell walls. These complex macrostructures are composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectins, together with small amounts of structural proteins, minerals, and in many cases lignin. Wall components assemble and interact with one another to produce dynamic structures with many capabilities, including providing mechanical support to plant structures and determining plant cell shape and size. Despite their abundance, major gaps in our knowledge of the synthesis of the building blocks of these polymers remain, largely due to ineffective methods for expression and purification of active synthetic enzymes for in vitro biochemical analyses. The hemicellulosic polysaccharide, xyloglucan, comprises up to 25% of the dry weight of primary cell walls in plants. Most of the knowledge about the glycosyltransferases (GTs) involved in the xyloglucan biosynthetic pathway has been derived from the identification and carbohydrate analysis of knockout mutants, lending little information on how the catalytic biosynthesis of xyloglucan occurs in planta. In this chapter we describe methods for the heterologous expression of plant GTs using the HEK293 expression platform. As a demonstration of the utility of this platform, nine xyloglucan-relevant GTs from three different CAZy families were evaluated, and methods for expression, purification, and construct optimization are described for biochemical and structural characterization.
Chalcogenide Cylindrical Helix Nanocollumnar Thin Films for Switchable Polarization Effects

Phase change material Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 tilted and helical nanorods films featuring 25 nm diameters are grown using the oblique and glancing angle deposition techniques. We provide insights on the growth process, structural integrity and optical responses.
Mechanism of action, sources, and application of peroxidases.

Abstract Peroxidase is an enzyme in the group of oxidoreductases that is widely distributed in nature. It can catalyze the oxidation of various organic and inorganic substrates by reacting with hydrogen peroxide and similar molecules. Due to its wide catalytic activity, peroxidases can act in the removal of both phenolic compounds and peroxides, in chemical synthesis and, according to recent studies, in mycotoxin degradation. Therefore, this study aimed at introducing an overview of the mechanism of peroxidase action, extraction sources, mycotoxin degradation capacity and other potential applications in the food industry.
It is about beating the competitors - the usefulness of accounting information in reflecting competitive advantages

This paper examines how a firm's long-term earnings rankings within the industry convey valuable information about its competitive advantages. Earnings rankings are isolated from industry and market-wide factors, therefore, contain firm-specific information that reflects the rareness of the firm's resources and strategies. A higher ranking also indicates more effective value creation and difficulty in imitation, which translates into more sustainable future performance. Since a firm's competitive advantages are defined by rareness, imitability, value, and sustainability, earnings rankings provide a numeric summary of competitive advantages. We decile rank a firm's earnings within the industry and conduct a principal component analysis to measure competitive advantages. The findings confirm a significant positive association between earnings rankings and competitive advantages. In particular, long-term earnings rankings, measured by the 5-year moving averages, should be the most informative. Our results shed light on the usefulness of accounting numbers in implementing strategic management based on competitive advantages.
Creativity in Virtual Teams: A Review and agenda for Future Research

as communication technology capabilities have improved and the globalization of the workforce has resulted in distributed teams, organizations have been shifting towards virtual teams and virtual meetings over the last decade. This trend has been accelerated with current work-from-home orders due to COVID-19. Even though virtual collaboration has, in the past, been the focus of multiple studies, there are some surprising gaps in our knowledge. For instance, there are few empirical studies examining the impact of virtual devices and tools on creative problem-solving. While there is a substantial body of research on electronic brainstorming and the use of virtual tools for idea generation, less is known about earlier processes such as problem construction or later processes such as idea evaluation and idea selection. Furthermore, as a dynamic process, creativity and innovation is heavily influenced by the people engaged in the process and their collaborative environment, yet there is a gap in the literature regarding the type of virtual tools used in the process (i.e., audio + video vs. audio alone, or the use of file-sharing technologies). In this paper, we will review the current literature on virtual teams, virtual meetings, and creativity. We will then explore theoretical frameworks such as media richness theory that can help us understand how virtuality and virtual tools may influence team creativity across the dynamic range of the creative problem-solving process. Finally, given the limited research in the domain of virtual team creativity we provide questions to help guide future research. Research questions will help identify those areas where virtual teams may be beneficial for creativity and areas where virtual teams may be likely to perform less effectively on creative tasks. © 2021 Roni Reiter-Palmon et al., published by Sciendo 2021.
A Novel Hybrid Deep Learning Model For Stock Price Forecasting

Stock price prediction is a challenging task due to its complexity and the dynamics associated with stock prices. In this paper, we propose a deep-learning based end-to-end framework with a novel architecture, for multi-step ahead stock closing price forecasts. The architecture exploits an encoder-decoder framework with variants of convolutions and recurrent neurons, in order to perform representation learning for the past behavior of the stock as well as associated exogenous factors. We incorporate an attention mechanism to capture the long term dependencies between inputs and outputs, and deploy Monte Carlo dropout layers in the architecture design to provide a stochastic setting for uncertainty estimation. We validate our model on two real datasets for AMZN and AAPL stocks.
An overview of intra-articular therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis VI.

Dyane Auclaira,∗, David Ketteridgeb, Stephanie Oatesb, John J. Hopwooda and Sharon Byersc Lysosomal Diseases Research Unit, SA Pathology (at Women’s and Children’s Hospital), North Adelaide, SA, Australia Metabolic unit, SA Pathology (at Women’s and Children’s Hospital), North Adelaide, SA, Australia Matrix Biology Unit, SA Pathology (at Women’s and Children’s Hospital), North Adelaide, SA, Australia
Fighting Gender Discrimination in the Chinese Workplace

Follow this and additional works at: http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/twlj Part of the Asian Studies Commons, Chinese Studies Commons, Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Comparative and Foreign Law Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Labor and Employment Law Commons, Women Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons
Cotton in a warming climate

Summertime, and the cotton is…higher. That could be the future theme song for “King Cotton” in the southeastern United States, according to two climate change scenarios analyzed by researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. While elevated carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere could cause a number of significant concerns, it appears that increased cotton yields in the U.S. southeast could be a plus, if farmers can adapt to climate changes. The study was presented on December 10 at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco.
The structure of tobacco necrosis virus: I. The protein subunit and the nature of the nucleic acid☆

Abstract The Urbana isolate of the tobacco necrosis virus (TNV) has been grown in and purified from Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi n.c. without detectable contamination by its satellite (STNV). The isolate, however, was capable of supporting the multiplication of the STNV. The RNA content of TNV was 18.7%. The sedimentation coefficients of the TNV and its RNA were 120 S and 27 S, respectively. The molecular weight of the TNV RNA, calculated from its sedimentation coefficient, was 1.57 × 10 6 . The base composition of the TNV RNA was: 23.4% G, 28.8% A, 23.5% C, 24.3% U. The viral capsid has been shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to consist of one protein species. The minimum molecular weight of the protein subunit calculated from amino acid analyses assuming one residue of histidine per mole protein is 33,300. The molecular weight of the protein subunit as determined by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gels in the presence of markers of known molecular weight is in precise agreement with this value.
A Review of When Blood and Bones Cry Out: Journeys Through the Soundscape of Healing and Reconciliation

This is a thought-provoking and unusual book that could only be written by veterans with as much wisdom and experience as John Paul Lederach and his daughter, Angela Jill Lederach. It embodies both...
The emergence of vancomycin-intermediate and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is well-recognised as a major cause of infection in the healthcare setting but, even more worryingly, is now emerging in the community. The glycopeptides—notably vancomycin—have traditionally been the mainstay of treatment of MRSA but overuse has led to the emergence of vancomycin-intermediate and vancomycin-resistant MRSA (VISA and VRSA, respectively). Although the mechanisms underlying vancomycin resistance are not yet fully understood, changes to the bacterial cell wall—the site of action of the glycopeptides—are believed to be key. Recent evidence also supports the transfer of genetic material among bacteria as contributing to the development of VRSA. Based on the cases identified to date, risk factors for the development of VRSA may include older age, compromised blood flow to the lower limbs, and the presence of chronic ulcers. The true extent of the problem, however, remains to be determined—it is likely that many cases of VISA and VRSA infection go undetected because of suboptimal screening programmes and possible limitations of automated and non-automated detection methods. Effective screening directed at those patients considered to be most at risk should therefore be a priority. Not surprisingly, the spread of MRSA from the hospital to the community setting, coupled with the emergence of VISA and VRSA, has become a major cause of concern among clinicians and microbiologists. The treatment options available for these infections are now severely compromised and thus new classes of antimicrobial agents effective against MRSA, VISA and VRSA are urgently required.
Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Adenoma That Arises From Pancreatic Heterotopia Within a Meckel Diverticulum

Neoplasia is an unusual complication of Meckel diverticulum. Most tumors of Meckel diverticulum are neuroendocrine or mesenchymal in origin. Adenocarcinomas represent a minority of the tumors that arise in Meckel diverticulum and are generally thought to develop from either endogenous small intestinal epithelium or heterotopic gastric epithelium. Despite the presence of ectopic pancreas in a small fraction of Meckel diverticula, convincing evidence of tumors that arise from heterotopic pancreatic exocrine tissue has not been described in this setting. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms are relatively uncommon tumors of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells that line the main pancreatic duct or its major side branches. We present an unusual case of an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm that arose in a heterotopic pancreas within a Meckel diverticulum.
De-Biasing Scale Compatibility Effects When Investors Use Non-Financial Measures to Screen Potential Investments

Screening potential investments involves dividing a set of companies into those that are suitable to consider for investment and those that are less desirable (Kinder 2005). In this paper, I document that nonprofessional investors (represented by MBA students) are susceptible to scale compatibility effects when implementing an investment screen using non-financial measures. Such effects occur when investors rely more on a scale compatible non-financial measure whose values directly map into investors' judgments than on an equally relevant but scale incompatible measure whose values do not map into their judgments. Results from an experiment indicate that investors reduce their susceptibility to scale compatibility effects when they simultaneously screen several companies for potential investment. Because screening investments involves screening several companies, simultaneous screening represents an efficient mechanism to de-bias scale compatibility effects.
Threshold and action spectrum of the elasmobranch pupillary response.

In vivo experiments, using a photographic technique, were conducted to determine the threshold and action spectrum for the pupillary response ofMustelus mustelus andScyliorhinus canicula. Threshold was1 × 102ergs/cm2/sec forMustelus and4 × 101ergs/cm2/sec. forScyliorhinus. For monochromatic light, a response maximum was obtained for both animals at 500 nm, with secondary peaks at 550 nm and at or below 400 nm, the latter two decreasing or disappearing at lower test energy levels.
The chemical nature of osmium tetroxide fixation and staining of membranes by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Abstract X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the oxidation states of osmium compounds present in erythrocyte ghost preparations and related systems treated with osmium tetroxide. Osmium tetroxide and cholesterol, codeposited at −100 °C, began to react at −70 °C, and Os(VI) was formed. Similarly, Os(VI) was detected for the known cholesterol-osmate ester prepared and purified chemically. However, osmium tetroxide applied in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) gave rise to large proportions of Os(IV) and Os(III) species in addition to Os(VI) compounds. Egg phosphatidylcholine likewise produced a mixture of Os(VI), Os(IV), and Os(III), but dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine failed to give significant amounts of osmium containing products under identical conditions. Glutaraldehyde gave a mixture of compounds with the same osmium oxidation states when allowed to react with aqueous osmium tetroxide. Unfixed and glutaraldehyde-fixed erythrocyte ghosts also produced mixtures of Os(VI), Os(IV) and Os(III) under conditions identical to those of normal tissue processing. Additionally, the mixture of adducts initially formed by treatment with osmium tetroxide was further reduced by dehydration of the tissue with ethanol, resulting in a final mixture which was 50–60% Os(III). The results support a scheme for the reaction of osmium tetroxide with tissues in which the initial reaction site is the double bonds of unsaturated lipids to form Os(VI) derivatives. Subsequent hydrolysis and further reduction yield complexes of Os(IV) and Os(III). A mixture of these three states is present in membrane specimens during microscopic observation. Os(VI) and Os(IV) could be present as osmate esters and osmium dioxide, respectively; Os(III) could be present as an oxo- or amino complex(es). The photoelectron spectrum of intact erythrocyte ghosts can be synthesized from the spectra of phospholipid and cholesterol only, suggesting the predominance of the reaction with lipids in the fixation process.
Brittle fracture in iridium

Brittle fracture in fcc metals is uncommon. It is not common knowledge that single crystals of iridium, a high melting point fcc metal, fail by brittle cleavage at room temperature. Furthermore, polycrystalline iridium fails predominantly by brittle inter granular fracture at temperatures below 1000°C. With the aid of several models of brittle fracture we have demonstrated that cleavage in iridium is intrinsic, resulting from apparently very strong and directed atomic binding forces. Intergranular fracture in iridium has been generally assumed to arise from the segregation of harmful impurities to the grain boundaries. We were able to demonstrate using Auger electron spectroscopy that impurity segregation to grain boundaries in iridium was not necessary for grain boundary fracture to occur, thereby demonstrating that intergranular brittle fracture in polycrystalline iridium is also intrinsic and not impurity related.
T-bet-dependent regulation of CD8+ T-cell expansion during experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

The transcription factor T-bet (T-box, expressed in T cells), promotes type I immunity to pathogens through effects involving T cells and dendritic cells. In CD8+ T cells, many of the functions of T-bet are redundant with those of eomesodermin (Eomes), a paralogue of T-bet. We therefore investigated the role of T-bet in immunity to Trypanosoma cruzi, an intracellular pathogen that causes Chagas disease, and which requires CD8+ T cells for resistance. T-bet-deficient mice (tbx21−/−) were highly susceptible to T. cruzi infection, marked by severe liver pathology. CD8+ T cells from infected tbx21−/− mice expressed typical markers of activation, including CD44 and CD25. In striking contrast, there was a 10-fold reduction in the number of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in tbx21−/− mice. This reduction was not a consequence of increased apoptosis or altered tissue-specific migration. Further, antigen-presenting cell (APC) functions in tbx21−/− mice were normal as we observed comparable levels of B7-1, B7-2 and CD40 expression as well as normal antigen-driven proliferation of wild-type CD8+ T cells in infected tbx21−/− mice. However, adoptive transfer of naive T cells from tbx21−/− donors into infected Rag-2-deficient mice (tbx21+/+) demonstrated a similar quantitative defect in CD8+ T-cell expansion. These data demonstrate that T-bet facilitates immunity to T. cruzi by promoting the expansion of T. cruzi-specific CD8+ T cells in a T cell-intrinsic manner. They also serve to further illustrate the multifaceted functions of T-box proteins in regulating quantitative aspects of T-cell immunity, in addition to qualitative components such as cytokine production.
Natural variation of the Y chromosome suppresses sex ratio distortion and modulates testis-specific gene expression in Drosophila simulans

X-linked sex-ratio distorters that disrupt spermatogenesis can cause a deficiency in functional Y-bearing sperm and a female-biased sex ratio. Y-linked modifiers that restore a normal sex ratio might be abundant and favored when a X-linked distorter is present. Here we investigated natural variation of Y-linked suppressors of sex-ratio in the Winters systems and the ability of these chromosomes to modulate gene expression in Drosophila simulans. Seventy-eight Y chromosomes of worldwide origin were assayed for their resistance to the X-linked sex-ratio distorter gene Dox. Y chromosome diversity caused males to sire ∼63% to ∼98% female progeny. Genome-wide gene expression analysis revealed hundreds of genes differentially expressed between isogenic males with sensitive (high sex ratio) and resistant (low sex ratio) Y chromosomes from the same population. Although the expression of about 75% of all testis-specific genes remained unchanged across Y chromosomes, a subset of post-meiotic genes was upregulated by resistant Y chromosomes. Conversely, a set of accessory gland-specific genes and mitochondrial genes were downregulated in males with resistant Y chromosomes. The D. simulans Y chromosome also modulated gene expression in XXY females in which the Y-linked protein-coding genes are not transcribed. The data suggest that the Y chromosome might exert its regulatory functions through epigenetic mechanisms that do not require the expression of protein-coding genes. The gene network that modulates sex ratio distortion by the Y chromosome is poorly understood, other than that it might include interactions with mitochondria and enriched for genes expressed in post-meiotic stages of spermatogenesis.
The determination of association constants of aqueous cadmium complexes by a chelate solvent extraction method

Abstract The extraction of cadmium (II) from aqueous solution in the absence and presence of complexing agents into chloroform containing oxine has been carried out under suitable conditions such that identifications of the aqueous complex species and estimations of their association constants could be realized. The use of fifteen different aqueous complexing agents has lead to the estimation of over thirty association constants.
Label-Free Electrical Biosensing Using Functionalized Nanopipettes

Nanopipettes are recognized as a versatile tool for engineering and life science studies. Among a variety of applications of nanopipette technology, we are particularly interested in developing a fully electrical sensing platform using nanopipette probes. The dimensions of our nanopipette, comparable to the size of many proteins and macromolecules, make it suitable for sensing biomolecules in general. Molecular interaction on the nanopipette tip are transduced into electrical signals based on changes in size, electrical charges and structures of the nanoscopic pore region.Here we report the development of nanopipettes that specifically detect their non-labeled target molecules. To reliably identify the interacting molecules, the nanopipettes were individually functionalized by modifying the surface with antibodies. Then two different nanopipettes, one as a probe nanopipette with attached molecules specific to the target molecules (i.e. antigens) and the other as a control nanopipette, were immersed in the same bath solution to perform voltammetric measurement. The addition of target molecules tended to cause a lasting reduction in current flowing through the probe nanopipette, which was large enough to distinguish the probe nanopipette from the control. These results indicate that the target molecules were captured by antibodies specific to them, present only on the probe nanopipette surface, and that this process partially narrowed the pore. The tested target molecules included cancer biomarker proteins, therefore this system could be readily optimized for diagnostic use.
Intracoronary Administration of Cardiac Progenitor Cells Alleviates Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Rats With a 30-Day-Old Infarction

Background— Administration of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) 4 hours after reperfusion ameliorates left ventricular function in rats with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Clinically, however, this approach is not feasible, because expansion of autologous CPCs after acute MI requires several weeks. Therefore, we sought to determine whether CPCs are beneficial in the more clinically relevant setting of an old MI (scar). Methods and Results— One month after coronary occlusion/reperfusion, rats received an intracoronary infusion of vehicle or enhanced green fluorescent protein–labeled CPCs. Thirty-five days later, CPC-treated rats exhibited more viable myocardium in the risk region, less fibrosis in the noninfarcted region, and improved left ventricular function. Cells that stained positive for enhanced green fluorescent protein that expressed cardiomyocyte, endothelial, and vascular smooth muscle cell markers were observed only in 7 of 17 treated rats and occupied only 2.6% and 1.1% of the risk and noninfa...
Clockwise growth of neurites from retinal explants

When retinal explants from goldfish are grown on a polycation substratum, a marked tendency for directionality of neurite outgrowth is observed. While the direct relevance to nerve growth in vivo is not known, the phenomenon is interpreted as reflecting an inherent helicity of the neurites.
Conditioned Leadership in a Two-Person Interaction

This study investigated the effects of varying schedules of reinforcement on retention and generalization of a learned response over time. Ss were 40 pairs of college students who were divided into four groups of 10 pairs each. The conclusions were the following: a conditioned response will generalize in a verbal conditioning paradigm, utilizing a two-person problem machine; Ss will retain a significant amount of these learned responses over the period of 1 wk.; and, varying schedules of reinforcement do not seem to affect the first two variables appreciably.
Elevated blood pressure levels and community drinking water characteristics

Abstract A recent study1,2 reported statistically significant differences in blood pressure distribution patterns between high school sophomores (16 years old) from a community with elevated levels of sodium (100 mg/1) in drinking water as compared to sophomores from a similarly matched community with less than 10 mg sodium/1. A follow‐up study is presented in which the characteristics of drinking water from the distribution system and homes of representative participants in the original study were compared for 9 heavy metals which are known to affect the occurrence of cardiovascular function. This study was designed to determine the presence (if any) of confounding variables with respect to drinking water characteristics which may affect the interpretation of the original study.
The acid catalyzed rearrangement of ambreinolide

Die Struktur eines durch saurekatalytische Isomerisation von Ambreinolid entstehenden tricyclischen Ketons C17H26O wurde aufgeklart.
Unprecedented alkene stereocontrol in the Claisen rearrangement of cyclic bis-allylic esters.

The Ireland and ester enolate Claisen rearrangements of tertiary substituted bis-allylic esters derived from cyclohexenones afford pentenoic acids that possess tri- and tetrasubstituted alkylidenes with unprecedented levels of stereoselectivity. In some cases the higher energy exocyclic alkene is the major product.
A transcriptional signature for active TB: have we found the needle in the haystack?

Levin and colleagues have provided compelling proof of the concept that a blood transcriptional signature can distinguish between TB and clinical mimics in high-incidence settings. The field can now move on to asking more practical questions to determine the feasibility and optimal use for an RNA expression-based biomarker for TB in clinical settings. Finding the right signature—the proverbial “needle in the haystack”—may require additional discovery work involving smaller sets of RNA transcripts and will certainly require validation of candidate signatures in diverse settings. Further discovery and validation studies should adhere to fundamental principles of high quality diagnostic evaluations [12], including enrollment of consecutive patients presenting for TB evaluation in representative health facilities. Even if validated, significant technical hurdles remain to translate these important findings to rapid, inexpensive, and simple assays that can impact patient outcomes in countries where TB is most prevalent. The search continues.
The effect of serving as a model of self-control on subsequent resistance to deviation in children

Abstract The effect of having a child serve as a rule-following model for other children on the model's own subsequent rule-following was investigated in a resistance to deviation situation. First- and second-grade boys (age range 73 to 94 months) who were told they would serve as self-controlling models for others and who actually served in this capacity touched prohibited toys less than did boys who were not told they would serve as models. Boys told they were to serve as models but who were prevented from performing deviated at a level between the models and boys given no responsibility. Having children serve as rule-following models for others is suggested as an effective, non-punitive technique to increase their self-control.
Modification of the reactivity of a small molecule by reversible association with a synthetic polymer. Inhibition of the hydrolysis of cationic esters by polyanions

The base-catalyzed hydrolysis rate of the cationic esters obtained by quaternization of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine with phenylbromoacetate was studied in buffers and in solutions of partially neutralized polymeric acids. The polyanions were found to be powerful inhibitors of the reaction. This effect was interpreted as due to the association of the ester with the polyanion, from which the catalytically active hydroxyl groups are repelled. It is shown that kinetic data may be interpreted by a procedure similar to the Lineweaver-Burk plot to yield the reactivity of the bound ester and the dissociation constant of the polymer–ester complex.
Egocentric distance perception in real and HMD-based virtual environments: the effect of limited scanning method

We conducted four experiments on egocentric depth perception using blind walking with a restricted scanning method in both the real and a virtual environment. Our viewing condition in all experiments was monocular. We varied the field of view (real), scan direction (real), blind walking method (real and virtual), and self-representation (virtual) over distances of 4 meters to 7 meters. The field of view varied between 21.1° and 13.6°. The scan direction varied between near-to-far scanning and far-to-near scanning. The blind walking method varied between direct blind walking and an indirect method of blind walking that matched the geometry of our laboratory. We varied self-representation between having a self-avatar (a fully tracked, animated, and first-person perspective of the user), having a static avatar (a mannequin avatar that did not move), to having no avatar (a disembodied camera view of the virtual environment). In the real environment, we find an effect of field of view; participants performed more accurately with larger field of view. In both real and virtual environments, we find an effect of blind walking method; participants performed more accurately in direct blind walking. We do not find an effect of distance underestimation in any environment, nor do we find an effect of self-representation.
Social anxiety, depression, and PTSD in Vietnam veterans

Many Vietnam veterans with PTSD report a high level of social anxiety and avoidance. Many traumatized individuals also suffer from symptoms of depression, which is often associated with significant problems in social functioning. In order to explore the relationship between social anxiety, depression, and PTSD, we recruited a group of Vietnam veterans with PTSD (n = 27), veterans with other mental disorders (n = 20), and veterans with no mental disorders (n = 35). Participants were administered diagnostic interviews and some of the most commonly used social anxiety instruments. Although the groups did not differ in their rates of social phobia, veterans with PTSD scored highest in most social anxiety measures. Veterans with PTSD were also more likely to be clinically depressed than veterans without PTSD at the time of the assessment. When controlling for the level of depression, the three groups no longer differed in any of the social anxiety measures. Furthermore, level of depression was the best predictor for group membership. These findings suggest that social anxiety in Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD is closely associated with mood disturbance, social withdrawal, and isolation associated with depression.
Description of a new genus, Miniterpnosia n. gen., and a new species of cicada (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Cicadini, Leptopsaltriina) from Laos

ABSTRACT A new cicada genus and a new species, Miniterpnosia chorus n. gen., n. sp., is described from Laos. Miniterpnosia n. gen. is closely related to Yezoterpnosia Matsumura, 1917 and Euterpnosia Matsumura, 1917, and therefore it is placed in the subtribe Leptopsaltriina Moulton, 1923 of the tribe Cicadini Latreille, 1802. A species of Terpnosia Distant, 1892 is transferred to Miniterpnosia n. gen. to become Miniterpnosia mega (Chou & Lei, 1997) n. comb.
Analytical Model of Fragmentation in Creeping Flow Based on Bateman Equations

The quantification of fragmentation of particles advected by a fluid in a microchannel should be useful for the design and optimization of technology for drug delivery. In this work we use the Shannon entropy to evaluate the level of fragmentation in an analytical model of eroding particles advected by a creeping flow. We assume a particle to be made of primary fragments bound together. The erosion is the breakage of a primary fragment out of a given particle. Particles are advected by laminar flow and they disperse because of the shear stresses imparted by the fluid. The time evolution of the numbers of particles of different sizes is described by a set of coupled differential equations. Those equations are mathematically equivalent to the Bateman equations that govern nuclear radioactivity. We find, by solving these differential equations, the numbers of particles of each possible size as functions of time. Using the particle size distribution we compute the entropic fragmentation index which varies fro...
The solution conformations of ferrichrome and deferriferrichrome determined by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and computational modeling

We have applied computational procedures that utilize nmr data to model the solution conformation of ferrichrome, a rigid microbial iron transport cyclohexapeptide of known x-ray crystallographic structure [D. van der Helm et al. (1980) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102, 4224-4231]. The Al3+ and Ga3+ diamagnetic analogues, alumichrome and gallichrome, dissolved in d6-dimethylsulfoxide (d6-DMSO), were investigated via one- and two-dimensional 1H-nmr spectroscopy at 300, 600, and 620 MHz. Interproton distance constraints derived from proton Overhauser experiments were input to a distance geometry algorithm [T. F. Havel and K. Wuthrich (1984) Bull. Math. Biol. 46, 673-691] in order to generate a family of ferrichrome structures consistent with the experimental data. These models were subsequently optimized through restrained molecular dynamics/energy minimization [B. R. Brooks et al. (1983) J. Comp. Chem. 4, 187-217]. The resulting structures were characterized in terms of relative energies and conformational properties. Computations based on integration of the generalized Bloch equations for the complete molecule, which include the 14N-1H dipolar interaction, demonstrate that the x-ray coordinates reproduce the experimental nuclear Overhauser effect time courses very well, and indicate that there are no significant differences between the crystalline and solution conformations of ferrichrome. A similar study of the metal free peptide, deferriferrichrome, suggests that at least two conformers are present in d6-DMSO at 23 degrees C. Both are different from the ferrichrome structure and explain, through conformational averaging, the observed amide NH and CH alpha multiplet splittings. The occurrence of interconverting peptide backbone conformations yields an increased number of sequential NH-CH alpha and NH-NH Overhauser connectivities, which reflects the mean value of r-6 dependence of the dipolar interaction. Our results support the idea that, in the case of structurally rigid peptides, moderately accurate distance constraints define a conformational subspace encompassing the "true" structure, and that energy considerations reduce the size of this subspace. For flexible peptides, however, the straight-forward approach can be misleading since the nmr parameters are averaged over substantially different conformational states.