cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Immunohistology of the Persistent Generalized Lymphadenopathy Syndrome (PGL)

The authors employed a large panel of monoclonal antibodies to characterize and quantitate lymphoid subpopulations within the paracortex, mantle, and germinal centers of frozen sections of lymph nodes from 18 patients with the persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) syndrome and five heterosexual controls. The authors' data indicate that Leu-3+ phenotypic T-helper cells (TH) are reduced within all three compartments, while T-cytotoxic-suppressor cells (Tcs) are increased. Using the antibody 9.3, which allows dissection of the Leu-2+ Tcs subset into 9.3+ cytotoxic cells (Tc) and 9.3- suppressor cells (Ts), the authors found that the Ts subset is increased in the lymph nodes of these patients. In contrast to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, paracortical total T-cells and Leu-8+ cells appear to be preserved in patients with PGL. Study of TH and Tcs subpopulations in peripheral blood in 12 of these patients revealed inverted ratios (mean, 0.59), which did not correlate with those seen in the lymph nodes. Although the paracortical TH/Tcs ratios were significantly reduced (mean, 1.44) they were not inverted, in contrast to some other reported series. In aggregate, these data suggest that, relative to AIDS, there is preservation of the paracortical T-cell microenvironment in PGL. Clinically, this correlates with more intact cell-mediated immunity and the absence of opportunistic infections and Kaposi's sarcoma in this patient group. Follicle lysis was present in 11 patients. Increased HLA-DR+ paracortical cells, aggregates of Leu-6+ dendritic cells, decreased TAC+ cells, increased OKT-10+ plasma cells, and increased interstitial immunoglobulin were among the other features observed in these patients.
A Short Survey at the Intersection of Reliability and Security in Processor Architecture Designs

Over the next decade, processor design will encounter a number of challenges. The ongoing miniaturization of semiconductor manufacturing technologies that has enabled the integration of hundreds to thousands of processing cores on a single chip is pushing the limits of physical laws. The fabrication process has also grown more complex and globalized with widespread use of third-party IPs (intellectual properties). This development ecosystem has complicated the security and trust view of processors. Some of the pressing processor architecture design questions are: (1) how to use reconfiguration and redundancy to improve reliability without introducing additional and potentially insecure system states, (2) what analytical models lend themselves best to the joint implementation of reliability and security in these systems, and (3) how to optimally and securely share resources and data among processing elements with high degree of reliability. In this work, we present and discuss (1) principal reliability approaches - error correction code, modular redundancy, (2) processor architecture specific reliability, (3) major secure processor architectures. We also highlight key features of a small representative class of the secure and reliable architectures.
Relationship between genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and fish community structure in a contaminated stream

Genotoxic responses (chromosomal damage, DNA strandbreakage) of redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritis)populations exposed to industrial effluent andmutagenicity of the associated sediments weredetermined in order to compare them to changes incommunity structure. Data were collected from areference stream and East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC), afirst-order stream which originates on the grounds ofthe Department of Energy Y-12 Plant at Oak Ridge, TN. This stream is contaminated with mercury, PCBs, andnumerous other compounds. Previous studies have shownthat sediment contaminant concentrations, as well asphysiological biomarker responses of the local fishpopulations, are highest at the headwaters of EFPC anddecrease with increasing distance from the DOEfacility as contaminant loading decreases. Chromosomal damage was measured by flow cytometry – asreflected by variation in cellular DNA content – andstrand breakage was determined by agarose gelelectrophoresis using blood as the source of DNA. Mutagenicity was determined by theSalmonella/microsome assay using organic solventextracts of sediment surface samples. Community levelresponses included community diversity and percentpollution-tolerant species. Biomarker responses andmutagenicity were found to be highest at theheadwaters of EFPC, and tended to decrease withincreasing distance from the effluent. In general,biomarker responses appeared to be correlated withmutagenicity of the sediment, and both of theserelated to fish community disturbance and level ofstream contamination. Because responses at severallevels of biological organization show similarpatterns of downstream effects, this suggests thatthere may be a causal relationship betweencontamination and biological effects.
Quantifying the lower limit of antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity using a TCRm against a WT1 peptide/MHC epitope (VAC3P.1058)

The WT1 protein is an ideal cancer antigen, but therapeutically targeting this transcription factor has proven difficult. We have discovered a therapeutic TCR mimic antibody that specifically binds to a WT1-derived peptide (RMFPNAPYL) in the context of the MHC class I haplotype HLA-A2. This high affinity mAb, called ESK, has demonstrated significant anti-cancer activity in animal models of human cancers and leukemias. Studies in vitro and in vivo have shown the dominant role of ADCC in ESK activity. While commercially available mAbs target tens to hundreds of thousands of sites on a cell, ESK binds as few as ~500 epitopes and still promotes cancer cell clearance in vivo . Therefore, we believe ADCC can be a more sensitive mode of killing than currently estimated. To probe this question, we developed a biotinylated RMF peptide that can be pulsed onto HLA-A2 on T2 cells at various concentrations and detected using labeled streptavidin probes. By using 3D confocal microscopy photon scanning, we can detect single molecules of the streptavidin probe on a cell surface. Therefore, using a CFP-DEVD-YFP FRET reporter expressed in the pulsed T2 cells, we can measure the number of peptides bound by ESK in the immunological synapse between a target T2 cell and a human NK cell required to induce T2 cell death. Identifying this number will impact patient selection for ESK clinical trials and will influence the development of therapeutic mAbs against other low-density epitopes.
Synchronous Cooperative Relaying Technique for Three-Dimensional Diffusion-Based Molecular Nano Communication Networks

Although the cooperative transmission techniques have been developed for wireless sensor networks in recent years to improve the network transmission rate, delay and the bit error rate (BER) performance, the unique characteristics of the molecular communication (MC), such as implementing in nano-to-micro scale, the dynamic environmental conditions and the three-dimensional network topology, make it extremely necessary to reconsider the implementation and analysis of the cooperative relay transmission. In this paper, we analyze and investigate the molecular communication network consisting of single transmitter and receiver biological nanomachines with the same type of carrier molecule. This communication takes place over a single-relay link that is used the sense-and-release technique assisting our communication channel, in which intermediate relay do not attempt to decode the information. This paper considers that the cooperative relay technology, which fits to peer-to-peer transmission, can significantly benefit the combination between the cooperative diversity and the controlled-release-time in such a network. Furthermore, the inter-symbol interference (ISI) problem and reception noise are considered. The results illustrate that the sense-and-controlled-release-time (SCRT) scheme is the powerful technique in improving the BER performance up to 5dB SNR gain compared to the State-of-the-Art relaying schemes. As a result, this scheme can be substantially reduced the complexity of the receiver’s threshold-based detection strategy. Finally, experimental results show that the MC throughput of the entire network is greatly increased by exploiting the benefit of the cooperative relay with SCRT scheme.
An LCL-N Compensated Strongly-Coupled Wireless Power Transfer System for High-Power Applications

An LCL-none (LCL-N) topology is proposed in this paper for high-power strongly-coupled wireless charging systems. The receiver-side compensation is eliminated to achieve a compact and lightweight receiver. The efficiency is still high due to the strongly-coupled characteristic. The phase difference between the transmitter and receiver currents is larger than 90°, leading to the magnetic flux cancelation in the ferrites. Thus, the required ferrite thickness of the LCL-N topology is smaller than the fully-compensated topologies. Therefore, a compact, lightweight, and low-cost receiver is achieved. The model of the LCL-N topology is built and the output power and the efficiency are analyzed. A full-scaled system of 100 kW is designed and simulated. A downscaled 1 kW system is implemented. The simulations and experiments have verified the effectiveness of the analysis.
Skin Temperatures in Females Wearing a 2 mm Wetsuit during Surfing.

The aim of this investigation was to examine regional skin temperatures in recreational female surfers’ wearing a 2 mm thick neoprene wetsuit while surfing and to compare these results to previously published data collected in males participating in an identical study. Female surfers (n = 27) engaged in surfing for at least 40 min while wearing a commercially available 2 mm full wetsuit. Skin temperature of eight different anatomical locations were measured with wireless iButton thermal sensors. Regional skin temperatures significantly differed (p < 0.001) across almost all anatomical regions. Furthermore, regional skin temperatures significantly decreased across time at all skin regions throughout an average surfing session (p < 0.001). The greatest reduction in skin temperature was observed in the lower leg (−5.4 °C). Females in the current study exhibited a significantly greater skin temperature decrease in the lower back (−15.2% vs. −10.8%, p = 0.022) and lower arm (−13.6% vs. −10.8%, p < 0.001) when compared to previous data published in males. Overall, results of the current study are consistent with data previously published on male recreational surfers. However, the current study provides preliminary evidence that the magnitude of change in skin temperature may differ between male and female recreational surfers at some anatomical locations.
The redox budget of the Mariana subduction zone

Abstract Assessing the efficiency of material recycling at convergent margins is critical to constraining the impact of plate tectonic processes on the composition of surface and deep mantle reservoirs on geologic timescales. In particular, oceanic lithosphere bearing oxidized phases such as Fe-oxy-hydroxides, Fe-oxides, serpentine, carbonate, and sulfate minerals, subduct at convergent margins and the infiltration of aqueous fluids and sediment melts from the subducting slab into the mantle beneath arc volcanoes may thus carry oxidized forms of multi-valent elements (e.g., S, Fe, C) and lead to the generation of primitive arc melts that record elevated oxygen fugacities relative to mid-ocean ridge primitive melts. It is unclear, however, how efficiently aqueous fluids and silicate melts transport the oxidized signatures of any given subducting slab into the mantle wedge in a single subduction zone, and how much, if any, of these oxidized phases may be recycled into the deeper mantle. We present a mass balance of Fe 3 + , S 2 − , S 6 + , and C 4 + , as well as the O 2 associated with these species, through the Mariana subduction zone to assess the efficiency of recycling oxidized materials in an end-member type subduction zone, where old oceanic lithosphere and a thick sediment package is subducted. To do this, we report Fe 3 + / Σ Fe ratios of bulk sediments and altered oceanic crust recovered from ODP Site 801 in the western Pacific in order to constrain the bulk Fe 3 + / Σ Fe ratio of the Pacific plate prior to subduction in the Mariana convergent margin. Site 801 sediments have Fe 3 + / Σ Fe ratios >0.69 and the altered oceanic crust (801 Super Composite) has Fe 3 + / Σ Fe of 0.51. Bulk Fe 3 + / Σ Fe ratios of altered oceanic crust at Site 801 increase from 0.14 (pristine Jurassic-aged MORB glass) to 0.78 with increasing extent of alteration. We find that 68–95% of the O 2 added to the subducting crust by sedimentation, in situ alteration of basaltic crust on the seafloor, and serpentinization of the mantle lithosphere is not output by Mariana arc or back-arc magmas. This result demonstrates that significant amounts of oxidized materials from Earth's surface are transported into the deeper mantle beyond subduction zones, despite the production of oxidized arc and back-arc basalts, and may contribute to elevated oxygen fugacities recorded by ocean island lavas such as Iceland and Hawaii. This oxygen cycle is likely to have been operating at least for the past 400–800 million years, and potentially for the duration of plate tectonics.
Primarily resident grizzly bears respond to late-season elk harvest

Autumn ungulate hunting in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem carries the risk of hunter–grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) conflict and creates a substantial challenge for managers. For Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, a key information need is whether increased availability of elk (Cervus canadensis) carcasses during a late autumn (Nov–Dec) harvest within the national park attracts grizzly bears and increases the potential for conflict with hunters. Using a robust design analysis with 6 primary sampling periods during 2014–2015, we tested the hypothesis that the elk harvest resulted in temporary movements of grizzly bears into the hunt areas, thus increasing bear numbers. We detected 31 unique individuals (6 F, 25 M) through genetic sampling and retained 26 encounter histories for analysis. Markovian movement models had more support than a null model of no temporary movement. Contrary to our research hypothesis, temporary movements into the study area occurred between the July–August (no hunt; N2014–2015 = 5) and September–October (no hunt; N2014–2015 = 24) primary periods each year, rather than during the transition from September–October (no hunt) to November–December (hunt; N2014–2015 = 15). A post hoc analysis indicated that September–October population estimates were biased high by detections of transient bears. Grizzly bear presence during the elk hunt was limited to approximately 15 resident bears that specialized in accessing elk carcasses. The late timing of the elk hunt likely moderated the effect of carcasses as a food attractant because it coincides with the onset of hibernation. From a population response perspective, the current timing of the elk harvest likely represents a scenario of low relative risk of hunter–bear conflicts. The risk of hunter–grizzly bear encounters remains, but may be more a function of factors that operate at the level of individual bears and hunters, such as hunter movements and bear responses to olfactory cues.
Ventilation defects on hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI in asthma are predictive of 2-year exacerbation frequency

Background There is an unmet need for an objective biomarker to predict asthma exacerbations. Objective Our aim was to assess the ventilation defect percent (VDP) on hyperpolarized helium-3 magnetic resonance imaging as a predictor of exacerbation frequency following imaging. Methods Subjects underwent hyperpolarized helium-3 and conventional clinical measurements, including pulmonary function tests, during a period of disease stability, and exacerbations were recorded prospectively over the following 2 years. We used a Poisson regression tree model to estimate an optimal VDP threshold for classifying subjects into high- versus low-exacerbation groups and then used statistical regression to compare this VDP threshold against conventional clinical measures as predictors of exacerbations. Results A total of 67 individuals with asthma (27 males and 40 females, 28 with mild-to-moderate asthma and 39 with severe asthma) had a median VDP of 3.75% (1.2% [first quartile]-7.9% [third quartile]). An optimal VDP threshold of 4.28% was selected on the basis of the maximum likelihood estimation of the regression tree model. Subjects with a VDP greater than 4.28% (n = 32) had a median of 1.5 exacerbations versus 0.0 for subjects with a VDP less than 4.28% (n = 35). In a stepwise multivariate regression model, a VDP greater than 4.28% was associated with an exacerbation incidence rate ratio of 2.5 (95% CI = 1.3-4.7) versus a VDP less than or equal to 4.28%. However, once individual medical history was included in the model, VDP was no longer significant. Nonetheless, VDP may provide an objective and complementary quantitative marker of individual exacerbation risk that is useful for monitoring individual change in disease status, selecting patients for therapy, and assessing treatment response. Conclusion VDP measured with magnetic resonance imaging shows promise as a biomarker of prospective asthma exacerbations.
Can EOS Imaging Substitute for Conventional Radiography in Measurement of Acetabular Morphology in the Young Dysplastic Hip

Background EOS imaging offers a low-radiation alternative to conventional radiography (CR) and has little to no magnification effects. However, it is unclear how radiographic measures may be affected using EOS. The present study aims to determine the reproducibility of measures of acetabular morphology on EOS images as compared with CR, and to directly compare the 2 imaging modalities. Methods A total of 21 consecutive patients (66.7% female; 14.4±4.7 y) indicated for an open hip preservation procedure with both an anterior-posterior pelvis radiograph and EOS image performed preoperatively were included. Three orthopaedic surgeons measured Tonnis angle, lateral center edge angle (LCEA), acetabular depth-width ratio (ADR), and extrusion index (EI). Measurements were performed twice, 2 weeks apart. Reliability between observers and time points was measured using intraclass correlation coefficients, and agreement between time points and modalities was measured using Bland-Altman analysis. Results On EOS images, inter-rater reliability was 0.86 for Tonnis angle, 0.86 for LCEA, 0.74 for ADR, and 0.93 for EI. On CR, inter-rater reliability was 0.86 for Tonnis anlge, 0.90 for LCEA, 0.82 for ADR, and 0.84 for EI. In the agreement analysis, biases between imaging modalities were observed. On average, raters measured Tonnis angle and EI higher on EOS images than CR (2.22 degrees, 1.09%, respectively); and LCEA and ADR lower on EOS images than CR (1.54 degrees, 1.14% respectively). Limits of agreement (LOA) between modalities were similar to that of LOA observed in intra-rater analysis. Conclusions Measures of acetabular morphology performed on EOS images have similarly high intra-rater and inter-rater reliability compared with CR. Measures performed on EOS also have similar intra-rater agreement as compared with CR. Intermodality agreement had similar LOA as intra-rater agreement on either individual imaging modality. Small biases between imaging modalities were detected. Levels of evidence Level I-diagnostic study: investigating a diagnostic test.
Field attenuation measurements at 0.89 mm

Field measurements of clear atmosphere attenuation have been made at a wavelenght of 0.89 mm, using an optically pumped far infrared laser as a source. Absolute measurements of attenuation idicated 4 to ]4 8B/km above values calculated by absorption line compilations. Attenuation sensitivity measurements yielded values 1.5 to 2.0 times greater that the slopes predicted by monomer theory. Reasonable agreement is obtained with previously measured data by Tanton and by Ryadov and Furashov.
Dietary Exposure to Excess Saturated Fat During Early Life Alters Hippocampal Gene Expression and Increases Risk for Behavioral Disorders in Adulthood

Purpose Maternal and postnatal diets result in long-term changes in offspring brain and behavior; however, the key mediators of these developmental changes are not well-defined. In this study, we investigated the impact of maternal and post-weaning high-fat diets on gene expression of key components mediating hippocampal synaptic efficacy. In addition, we evaluated the risk for impaired stress-coping and anxiety-like behaviors in adult offspring exposed to obesogenic diets during early life. Methods Dams were fed a control (C) or high-fat (HF) diet prior to mating, pregnancy, and lactation. Male offspring from control chow and high-fat fed dams were weaned to control chow or HF diets. The forced swim test (FST) and the elevated-plus maze (EPM) were used to detect stress-coping and anxiety-like behavior, respectively. Real-time RT-PCR and ELISA were used to analyze hippocampal expression of genes mediating synaptic function. Results Animals fed a HF diet post-weaning spent more time immobile in the FST. Swimming time was reduced in response to both maternal and post-weaning HF diets. Both maternal and post-weaning HF diets contributed to anxiety-like behavior in animals exposed to the EPM. Maternal and post-weaning HF diets were associated with a significant decrease in mRNA and protein expression for hippocampal GDNF, MAP2, SNAP25, and synaptophysin. Hippocampal mRNA expression of key serotonergic and glutamatergic receptors also exhibited differential responses to maternal and post-weaning HF diets. Hippocampal serotonergic receptor 5HT1A mRNA was reduced in response to both the maternal and post-weaning diet, whereas, 5HT2A receptor mRNA expression was increased in response to the maternal HF diet. The glutamate AMPA receptor subunit, GluA1, mRNA expression was significantly reduced in response to both diets, whereas no change was detected in GluA2 subunit mRNA expression. Conclusion These data demonstrate that the expression of genes mediating synaptic function are differentially affected by maternal and post-weaning high-fat diets. The post-weaning high-fat diet clearly disturbs both behavior and gene expression. In addition, although the transition to control diet at weaning partially compensates for the adverse effects of the maternal HF diet, the negative consequence of the maternal HF diet is exacerbated by continuing the high-fat diet post-weaning. We present evidence to support the claim that these dietary influences increase the risk for anxiety and impaired stress-coping abilities in adulthood.
The versatile "lip switch" or transitional flap vestibuloplasty combined with alveoloplasty and implant placement to treat atrophic mandibles with inadequate vestibules and attached tissue: A case series and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS The edentulous mandibular ridge and associated shallow vestibule are often seen as a challenge in the oral rehabilitation of patients. Dental implants can provide an improvement in mastication and patient satisfaction. The aim of this study is to utilize a preprosthetic mucosal flap combined with a repositional periosteal flap concomitant with an alveoloplasty and placement of endosteal implants as a single-stage procedure in the anterior mandible. This approach provides a valued alternative for dental rehabilitation in patients with poor masticatory efficiency using a conventional denture. METHODS Eight patients underwent the preprosthetic surgical plan in the oral surgery clinic of the dental school during a 1-year period. Age, sex, preoperative, and postoperative vestibular depth, as well as hard and soft tissue elements were measured (P < .05) at 4-6 months. RESULTS Mean age was 53 years ± 14.62 (N = 8). Anterior mandible height was 19 ± 4.8 mm. A significant difference was measured using a two-tailed Student's t-test between pre- and postoperative vestibular depths, respectively (3.9 mm vs 10.5 ± 0.96 mm; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS A lip switch vestibuloplasty combined with placement of two implants provide a one-stage procedure that is convenient, provides a shorter postoperative period, and can be financially affordable. Future research requires larger sampling to support this treatment as a standard of care.
The Weaponized Web: How Internet Technologies Fuel Intimate Partner Violence

Technology has fundamentally shaped the way we communicate with acquaintances, family members, and romantic partners. Digital technologies permit us to be accessed (and access others) at any time, ...
Younger Nursing Home Residents: A Scoping Review of Their Lived Experiences, Needs, and Quality of Life.

Abstract Objectives The percentage of younger nursing home (NH) residents (ages 18–64 years) in some countries such as the United States and Canada has been increasing over the years. In fact, it is generally held that younger NH residents are considerably different from the older residents (age ≥65 years). There is a need to understand who they are, why they resided in NHs, and their quality of life (QoL). The aims of the study were to describe the experiences, needs, and QoL among younger residents living in NHs. Design Scoping review. Settings and Participants (Younger) Residents of NHs. Methods Five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus) and Google Scholar were used to search for relevant studies. PRISMA diagram was used to guide this scoping review. Results The key findings of the study cover 5 themes: (1) Confinement, (2) Lack of socialization, (3) Lack of privacy, (4) Lack of appropriate settings, and (5) Loss of identity, as well as results of QoL were generated. Conclusions and Implications This scoping review provides a deeper understanding of the lived experiences, needs, and QoL among younger NH residents. The results provide suggestions for future studies regarding new interventions to optimize the QoL of NH residents.
Banking Sector Performance During the COVID-19 Crisis

This paper analyzes bank stock prices around the world to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the banking sector. Using a global database of policy responses during the crisis, the paper also examines the role of financial sector policy announcements on the performance of bank stocks. Overall, the results suggest that the crisis and the countercyclical lending role that banks are expected to play have put banking systems under significant stress, with bank stocks underperforming their domestic markets and other non-bank financial firms. The effectiveness of policy interventions has been mixed. Measures of liquidity support, borrower assistance, and monetary easing moderated the adverse impact of the crisis, but this is not true for all banks or in all circumstances. For example, borrower assistance and prudential measures exacerbated the stress for banks that are already undercapitalized and/or operate in countries with little fiscal space. These vulnerabilities will need to be carefully monitored as the pandemic continues to take a toll on the world’s economies.
What Does It Mean to Be White? Developing White Racial Literacy, by Robin DiAngelo

In the opening pages of What Does It Mean to Be White? Developing White Racial Literacy, Robin DiAngelo writes, “The vast majority of whites are racially illiterate. … Most white people have never ...
InGaAs-InP metamorphic DHBTs grown on GaAs with lattice-matched device performance and f/sub /spl tau//, f/sub max/>268 GHz

InP-In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As-InP double heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) were grown on a GaAs substrate using a metamorphic buffer layer and then fabricated. The metamorphic buffer layer is InP - employed because of its high thermal conductivity to minimize device heating. An f/sub /spl tau// and f/sub max/ of 268 and 339 GHz were measured, respectively - both records for metamorphic DHBTs. A 70-nm SiO/sub 2/ dielectric sidewall was deposited on the emitter contact to permit a longer InP emitter wet etch for increased device yield and reduced base leakage current. The dc current gain /spl beta/ is /spl ap/35 and V/sub BR,CEO/=5.7 V. The collector leakage current I/sub cbo/ is 90 pA at V/sub cb/=0.3 V. These values of f/sub /spl tau//, f/sub max/, I/sub cbo/, and /spl beta/ are consistent with InP based DHBTs of the same layer structure grown on a lattice-matched InP substrate.
Development of normal and genetically dystrophic mouse muscle in tissue culture. I. Prefusion and fusion activities of muscle cells: phase contrast and time lapse study.

Abstract Dispersed cell cultures, derived from the forelimbs and hindlimbs of genetically dystrophic ( dy dy ) and normal (+/+) 17 1 2 day mouse embryos were studied with phase contrast microscopy and time lapse cinematography. The composition of the cell populations, and the prefusion and fusion activities of the cells were analysed. Forelimbs of both normal and dystrophic embryos consistently yielded fewer mononucleated cells, more fat cells and fewer myoblasts than hindlimbs, but there was no difference in the population of cells from normal and dystrophic limbs. During prefusion, myoblasts (both normal and dystrophic) exhibited (1) an apparent lack of contact inhibition of locomotion, which was in actuality an extensive movement of one myoblast under another; (2) formation of prefusion aggregates that broke up and realigned into new aggregates before fusion; (3) a special type of post-mitotic association and reassociation, not found among fibroblasts. Onset of rapid cell fusion of myoblasts occurred in a 4 to 8 h period, and was directly dependent upon initial cell concentration. No differences were found between cultures of normal and dystrophic cells in their prefusion activities or in time of onset of rapid cell fusion, when initial concentrations of cells were kept constant. The results of the present study are compared with those of other in vitro studies of dystrophic muscle.
How Does It Look? Level 2 Perspective-Taking at 36 Months of Age

Previous research has found that children engage in Level 2 visual perspective-taking, that is, the understanding that others may see things in a different way, between 4 and 5 years of age (e.g., J. H. Flavell, B. A. Everett, K. Croft, & E. R. Flavell, 1981). This ability was reexamined in 36-month-olds using color filters. In Experiment 1 (N = 24), children had to recognize how an object looked to an adult when she saw it through a color filter. In Experiment 2 (N = 24), a novel production test was applied. Results of both studies show that 36-month-olds know how an object looks to another person. The discussion focuses on the psychological requirements of visual perspective-taking and its relation to other “theory of mind” abilities, such as the distinction between appearance and reality and understanding false belief.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for nonremitted patients with bipolar disorder.

SUMMARY Introduction: Bipolar disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression and/or mania along with interepisodic mood symptoms that interfere with psychosocial functioning. Despite periods of symptomatic recovery, many individuals with bipolar disorder continue to experience substantial residual mood symptoms that often lead to the recurrence of mood episodes. Aims: This study explored whether a new mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for bipolar disorder would increase mindfulness, reduce residual mood symptoms, and increase emotion-regulation abilities, psychological well-being, positive affect, and psychosocial functioning. Following a baseline clinical assessment, 12 individuals with DSM-IV bipolar disorder were treated with 12 group sessions of MBCT. Results: At the end of treatment, as well as at the 3 months follow-up, participants showed increased mindfulness, lower residual depressive mood symptoms, less attentional difficulties, and increased emotion-regulation abilities, psychological well-being, positive affect, and psychosocial functioning. Conclusions: These findings suggest that treating residual mood symptoms with MBCT may be another avenue to improving mood, emotion regulation, well-being, and functioning in individuals with bipolar disorder.
Temporal Reasoning from Lexical Semantics

In this paper we discuss the problem of extracting, ordering, and verifying events in the semantic interpretation of text. In particular, we propose a structurally-oriented temporal reasoning mechanism that draws on the linguistic and discourse structure of a text, yet behaves according to fairly simple, independent structural principles of composition.
Information technology, GIS and democraticvalues: Ethical implications for ITprofessionals in public service

Information technologies (IT) play a critical role in transforming public administration and redefining the role of bureaucracy in a democratic society. New applications of IT bring great promises for government, but at the same time raise concerns about administrative power and its abuse. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as the central example, this paper provides the philosophical underpinnings of the role of technology and discusses the importance of an ethical discourse in IT for public service professionals. Such ethical discourse must be based on upholding the democratic values and preserving the institutional integrity of IT professionals in public office.
Incremental Generation of Index Sets for Array Statement Execution on Distributed-Memory Machines

In compiling array statements for distributed-memory machines, efficient generation of local index sets and communication sets is important. Several techniques for enumerating these sets for block-cyclically distributed arrays have been presented in the literature. When sufficient compile-time information is not available, generation of the structures which facilitate efficient enumeration of these sets, is performed at run-time. In this paper, we address the incremental generation of local index sets and communication sets to reduce the runtime cost of array statement execution. We develop techniques for performing the incremental generation using the virtual processor approach for execution of array statements involving block-cyclically distributed arrays.
Meteoritic oxide grain from supernova found

Meteorites contain tiny (0.002-10 μm) mineral grains which formed around stars or in stellar explosions1,2. These grains have unusual isotope compositions that reflect those of the stars in which they formed. Stardust composed of nanodiamonds, silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si3N4) or graphite are believed to derive from a range of stellar types1,2, whereas the oxygen-rich grains found to date are thought to originate only in red giants and asymptotic giant branch stars3. We report here an oxide grain that is extremely rich in the isotope oxygen-16 (16O), in an acid-resistant residue of the Tieschitz meteorite. This grain, T84, probably derives from the ejecta of a type II supernova and is the first reported oxide grain derived from such a source, despite 16O being the third most abundant isotope ejected by supernovae (after hydrogen and helium)4.
Sperm washing to prevent HIV transmission from HIV-infected men but allowing conception in sero-discordant couples.

Background Sperm washing is a term used to describe the process in which individual spermatozoa are separated from the seminal fluid. Sperm washing is used to prevent HIV transmission but allow conception in sero-discordant couples, where the male is HIV positive, but the female is HIV negative. This procedure is based on the observation that HIV cannot attach itself to spermatozoa, but it can be found in the fluid and cells surrounding spermatozoa. Objectives To determine the benefits and harms of sperm washing of HIV-infected males when used to prevent the transmission of HIV but allowing conception in the HIV-negative female. Search strategy We searched the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCORPUS, AIDsearch, AJOL, LILACS and INDEX MEDICUS. We also searched the following conference proceedings for relevant abstracts:The International AIDS Conference; The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI); The British HIV Association (BHIVA) Conference; The International Conference of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FIGO); The American Academy of HIV Medicine Conference; The Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference; The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) conferences and website; The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) conferences and websites, and the British Fertility Society (BFS) conferences and website. We also conducted a search of the website: www.ClinicalTrials.gov. The date of the most recent Cochrane HIV/AIDS Group Controlled Trials Register search was on the 10th of November, 2010. Selection criteria We preferentially looked for randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials on sperm washing, aimed at preventing HIV transmission from HIV infected men but allowing conception in sero-discordant couples, irrespective of publication status, year of publication, or language in the review. Data collection and analysis No relevant trials were identified for inclusion in this review. Main results Forty four studies were identified, but none of them were suitable for inclusion in this review. Authors' conclusions Reports on the use of sperm washing to prevent HIV transmission from HIV infected men but allowing conception in sero-discordant couples is currently limited to observational studies. No randomised controlled trial has assessed the benefit or risk of sperm washing to prevent HIV transmission from HIV infected men but allow conception in sero-discordant couples. Thus, this systematic review identifies the need for a multicentre randomised controlled trial assessing the benefits and possible risks of sperm washing in preventing HIV transmission from HIV infected men but allow conception in sero-discordant couples.
UMBILICAL VESSEL ANGIOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE NEWBORN INFANT

Angiocardiography from an umbilical vessel approach was performed in 10 critically sick newborn infants. The umbilical vein route was successfully employed up to the eighth day of life, while the umbilical artery was safely used as late as age 5 days. This approach has advantages over other methods of catheterization and angiocardiography. Angiocardiographic quality was satisfactory for accurate interpretation.
Effects of multifunctional antioxidants on mitochondrial dysfunction and amyloid-β metal dyshomeostasis.

Background Redox-active metal dyshomeostasis and oxidative stress are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and amyloid-β (Aβ) neurotoxicity that are linked to both the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). As potential therapeutic agents, orally active multifunctional antioxidants (MFAOs) possessing two independent functional groups capable of binding redox-active metals and scavenging free radicals have been synthesized. Objective To determine whether MFAOs affect mitochondrial function and reduce the presence of Aβ plaque formation. Methods The MFAOs were evaluated in cultured SH-SY5Y cells and ARPE-19 cells. MFAO effects on mitochondrial function were investigated using rhodamine 123 staining after 2 hour exposure to MnCl2. MFAO effects on Aβ:Zn complex formation were evaluated with Zinquin staining and the ability of the Aβ:Zn complex to be degraded by matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). The ability of MFAOs to reduce Aβ plaque in the brain was determined by orally feeding MFAO for one year to B6;129-Psen1tm1Mpm Tg(AβPPSwe,tauP301L) 1Lfa/Mmjax transgenic mice. Aβ levels were determined by ELISA. Results MFAOs neither adversely affected mitochondrial signaling nor labile cytoplasmic zinc levels. MFAOs protected cells against Mn2+-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. MFAOs also removed zinc from the Aβ:Zn complex so that Aβ plaque could be degraded by MMP-2. Zinquin staining indicated that the removed zinc was present in the cytoplasm as labile zinc. Orally administered MFAOs reduced the brain levels of both Aβ40 and Aβ42 isoforms of Aβ. Conclusion These studies demonstrate that these MFAOs have metal attenuating properties with therapeutic potential in the treatment of both AMD and AD.
Consumption of atmospheric hydrogen during the life cycle of soil-dwelling actinobacteria

Summary Microbe-mediated soil uptake is the largest and most uncertain variable in the budget of atmospheric hydrogen (H2). The diversity and ecophysiological role of soil microorganisms that can consume low atmospheric abundances of H2 with high-affinity [NiFe]-hydrogenases is unknown. We expanded the library of atmospheric H2-consuming strains to include four soil Harvard Forest Isolate (HFI) Streptomyces spp., Streptomyces cattleya and Rhodococcus equi by assaying for high-affinity hydrogenase (hhyL) genes and quantifying H2 uptake rates. We find that aerial structures (hyphae and spores) are important for Streptomyces H2 consumption; uptake was not observed in S. griseoflavus Tu4000 (deficient in aerial structures) and was reduced by physical disruption of Streptomyces sp. HFI8 aerial structures. H2 consumption depended on the life cycle stage in developmentally distinct actinobacteria: Streptomyces sp. HFI8 (sporulating) and R. equi (non-sporulating, non-filamentous). Strain HFI8 took up H2 only after forming aerial hyphae and sporulating, while R. equi only consumed H2 in the late exponential and stationary phase. These observations suggest that conditions favouring H2 uptake by actinobacteria are associated with energy and nutrient limitation. Thus, H2 may be an important energy source for soil microorganisms inhabiting systems in which nutrients are frequently limited.
Selective transduction of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions by subsets of receptors for leukotriene B4

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes express two classes of receptors specific for leukotriene B4 (LTB4). The binding of LTB4 to the high-affinity, low-capacity receptors is critical in eliciting a chemotactic response, as assessed by the stereospecificity of binding and the loss of expression of high-affinity receptors after chemotactic deactivation. The stereospecificity and concentration dependence of LTB4 stimulation of granular enzyme release suggest that the low-affinity, high-capacity receptors mediate this response. Although the LTB4 receptors exhibit properties similar to those of the receptors for peptide chemotactic stimuli, the expression of both classes of receptors on intact polymorphonuclear leukocytes will permit a more complete assessment of the coupling of receptor occupancy to functional activation and the delineation of LTB4 receptor-level defects in human disease states.
Towards public server MMOs

While massively multiplayer on-line games (MMOs) are enormously popular, their use of the client-server architecture causes them to suffer from scalability issues and high maintenance costs. In contrast, the public server architecture employed by most first-person shooter (FPS) games scales more easily by relying on user-supplied hosting and user-generated content, but lacks persistence between servers that is required in the MMO genre. This paper examines an architecture that leverages the resources of the public server approach to support a scalable, persistent MMO.
High-sensitivity cloud-offloaded instant GPS for indoor environments

Due to poor signal-strength, multi-path effects, and a lack of adequate visible satellite vehicles (SV), GPS receivers do not work indoors. This work addresses these challenges by using a mechanically steerable, high-gain directional antenna as the front-end of the GPS receiver along with a robust signal processing technique to acquire satellites in indoor environments. Our experiment on a local warehouse shows that, the system is capable of acquiring 5 or more SVs (which is a requirement for instant GPS technique [4]), whereas a Garmin device barely sees 3, and the system is capable of estimating indoor locations with 3--18 m errors when compared to the ground truth.
A Circle of Willis Simulation Using Distensible Vessels and Pulsatile Flow

The development of a one-dimensional numerical (finite-difference) model of the arterial network surrounding the circle of Willis is described based on the full Navier-Stokes and conservation of mass equations generalized for distensible vessels. The present model assumes an elastic wall defined by a logarithmic pressure-area relation obtained from the literature. The viscous term in the momentum equation is evaluated using the slope of a Karman-Pohlhausen velocity profile at the vessel boundary. The afferent vessels (two carotids and two vertebrals) are forced with a canine physiologic pressure signature corresponding to an aortic site. The network associated with each main efferent artery of the circle is represented by a single vessel containing an appropriate amount of resistance so that the mean flow through the system is distributed in accordance with the weight of brain irrigated by each vessel as determined from a steady flow model of the same network. This resistance is placed a quarter wave-length downstream from the heart to insure proper reflection from the terminations, where the quarter wavelength is determined using the frequency corresponding to the first minimum on an input impedance-frequency diagram obtained at the heart. Computer results are given as time histories of pressure and flow at any model nodal point starting from initial conditions of null flow and constant pressure throughout the model. Variations in these pressure and flow distributions caused by the introduction of pathologic situations into the model illustrate the efficacy of the simulation and of the circle in equalizing and redistributing flows in abnormal situations.
Using Uniaxial Pseudorandom Stress Stimuli to Develop Soft Tissue Constitutive Equations

A nonlinear systems identification method was used to develop constitutive equations for soft tissue specimens under uniaxial tension. The constitutive equations are developed from a single test by applying a pseudorandom Gaussian (PGN) stress input to the specimen, measuring the resulting strain, and calculating the Volterra–Wiener kernels. First and second order kernels were developed for two tissues with widely different properties, rat medial collateral knee ligaments, and rat skin. These kernels were used to predict the strain response to a variety of sinusoidal stress inputs. These predicted strains were compared with the measured strain response using the normalized mean squared error (NMSE). Results showed NMSEs in the range of 0.01–0.08 provided that the magnitudes of the applied stresses were present in the original PGN stress input. Overall, the method provides a means to develop soft tissue constitutive equations that can predict both nonlinear and viscoelastic behavior over a wide range of stress inputs. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC02: 8719Rr
Nalmefene: Intravenous safety and kinetics of a new opioid antagonist

In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study we evaluated the safety and kinetics of a new narcotic antagonist, nalmefene, after 2, 6, 12, and 24 mg intravenous doses to healthy men. At each dose level four subjects received active drug and two received placebo. The drug was well tolerated at all dose levels with only mild and transient side effects, the most common of which was lightheadedness. The plasma concentration-time data were best fit with a triexponential equation, and the terminal elimination phase had a harmonic mean t1/2 of 8 to 9 hours. Only about 5% of the dose was excreted in the urine as intact nalmefene, with up to 60% excreted as nalmefene glucuronide. Although intersubject differences were noted, mean or dose-normalized mean kinetic parameters such as clearance, steady-state volume of distribution, terminal t1/2, and AUC showed no consistent trends related to increasing doses, indicating that nalmefene has linear pharmacokinetics.