cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endothelin-1 Stimulates Vasoconstriction Through Rab11A Serine 177 Phosphorylation

Rationale: Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK) are composed of pore-forming BKα and auxiliary β1 subunits in arterial smooth muscle cells (myocytes). Vasoconstrictors, including endothelin-1 (ET-1), inhibit myocyte BK channels, leading to contraction, but mechanisms involved are unclear. Recent evidence indicates that BKα is primarily plasma membrane localized, whereas the cellular location of β1 can be rapidly altered by Rab11A-positive recycling endosomes. Whether vasoconstrictors regulate the multisubunit composition of surface BK channels to stimulate contraction is unclear. Objective: Test the hypothesis that ET-1 inhibits BK channels by altering BKα and β1 surface trafficking in myocytes, identify mechanisms involved, and determine functional significance in myocytes of small cerebral arteries. Methods and Results: ET-1, through activation of PKC (protein kinase C), reduced surface β1 abundance and the proximity of β1 to surface BKα in myocytes. In contrast, ET-1 did not alter surface BKα, total β1, or total BKα proteins. ET-1 stimulated Rab11A phosphorylation, which reduced Rab11A activity. Rab11A serine 177 was identified as a high-probability PKC phosphorylation site. Expression of a phosphorylation-incapable Rab11A construct (Rab11A S177A) blocked the ET-1–induced Rab11A phosphorylation, reduction in Rab11A activity, and decrease in surface β1 protein. ET-1 inhibited single BK channels and transient BK currents in myocytes and stimulated vasoconstriction via a PKC-dependent mechanism that required Rab11A S177. In contrast, NO-induced Rab11A activation, surface trafficking of β1 subunits, BK channel and transient BK current activation, and vasodilation did not involve Rab11A S177. Conclusions: ET-1 stimulates PKC-mediated phosphorylation of Rab11A at serine 177, which inhibits Rab11A and Rab11A-dependent surface trafficking of β1 subunits. The decrease in surface β1 subunits leads to a reduction in BK channel calcium-sensitivity, inhibition of transient BK currents, and vasoconstriction. We describe a unique mechanism by which a vasoconstrictor inhibits BK channels and identify Rab11A serine 177 as a modulator of arterial contractility.
Probabilistic inference under time pressure leads to a cortical-to-subcortical shift in decision evidence integration.

Abstract Real-life decision-making often involves combining multiple probabilistic sources of information under finite time and cognitive resources. To mitigate these pressures, people “satisfice”, foregoing a full evaluation of all available evidence to focus on a subset of cues that allow for fast and “good-enough” decisions. Although this form of decision-making likely mediates many of our everyday choices, very little is known about the way in which the neural encoding of cue information changes when we satisfice under time pressure. Here, we combined human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a probabilistic classification task to characterize neural substrates of multi-cue decision-making under low (1500 ms) and high (500 ms) time pressure. Using variational Bayesian inference, we analyzed participants’ choices to track and quantify cue usage under each experimental condition, which was then applied to model the fMRI data. Under low time pressure, participants performed near-optimally, appropriately integrating all available cues to guide choices. Both cortical (prefrontal and parietal cortex) and subcortical (hippocampal and striatal) regions encoded individual cue weights, and activity linearly tracked trial-by-trial variations in the amount of evidence and decision uncertainty. Under increased time pressure, participants adaptively shifted to using a satisficing strategy by discounting the least informative cue in their decision process. This strategic change in decision-making was associated with an increased involvement of the dopaminergic midbrain, striatum, thalamus, and cerebellum in representing and integrating cue values. We conclude that satisficing the probabilistic inference process under time pressure leads to a cortical-to-subcortical shift in the neural drivers of decisions.
Paternal Acculturation and Maternal Health Behaviors: Influence of Father's Ethnicity and Place of Birth

Abstract Objectives: Studies show disparities in maternal health behaviors according to acculturation, but whether paternal factors influence these patterns is unknown. We assessed the relationships between fathers' ethnicity and place of birth with maternal smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding initiation overall and for 30 major ethnic groups. Materials and Methods: Data were from the Standard Certificate of Live Births on 1,053,096 births in Massachusetts between 1996 through 2010. We examined the concordance of maternal and paternal ethnicity and place of birth across three categories (United States-born white, United States-born Other ethnicity, and foreign-born), and then in relation to maternal smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding initiation. Multivariable models adjusted for maternal age, marital status, education, plurality, parity, prenatal care, delivery source of payment, and year of birth. Results: United States-born white mothers were less likely to smoke during pregnancy (adjuste...
Particle Trapping in Protoplanetary Disks: Models vs. Observations

With modern astronomical observatories, such as ALMA , we are now able to constrain the physical processes that govern planet formation by confronting model predictions with observations. Of particular interest is the growth and evolution of dust grains into larger solids, a crucial first step in the formation of planetesimals that shapes the diversity of exoplanetary systems. In traditional disk models, with smooth radial gradients , dust growth inevitably leads to the fast inward migration of pebbles, a challenge to understanding both planet formation and disk observations. However, recent high resolution observations at different wavelengths show that disks are not smooth, but show diverse structures, including rings, asymmetries, dips of emission, and spiral arms . In this chapter, we summarize how models of evolving gas and dust disks can explain these observed structures. We explore several phenomena that can create particle traps in gas disks , such as magneto-rotational instabilities and embedded planets. We place these models in the context of planetesimal formation theory broadly, and discuss open questions and future opportunities for both theoretical and observational work.
Double electron barrier structure for suppression of dark current in microjunction-based type-II InAs/InAsSb superlattice long-wavelength infrared photodetectors

Reduction of dark current density in microjunction-based InAs/InAs1-xSbx type-II superlattice long-wavelength infrared photodetectors was demonstrated. A double electron barrier design was used to suppress both generation-recombination and surface dark currents. The photodetectors exhibited high surface resistivity after passivation with SiO2, which permits the use of small size features without having strong surface leakage current degrading the electrical performance. Fabricating a microjunction structure (25×25 μm2 mesas with 10×10 μm2 microjunctions) with this photodetector double barrier design results in a dark current density of 6.3×10-6 A/cm2 at 77 K. The device has an 8 μm cut-off wavelength at 77 K and exhibits a quantum efficiency of 31% for a 2 μm-thick absorption region, which results in a specific detectivity value of 1.2×1012 cm·Hz1/2/W at 77 K.
High-sensitivity terahertz spectroscopy systems based on plasmonic photoconductors (Conference Presentation)

Although unique potentials of terahertz waves for chemical identification and material characterization have been recognized for quite a while, the relatively poor performance of current terahertz spectroscopy and spectrometry systems continue to impede their deployment in field settings. This talk describes some of the recent advancements in terahertz spectroscopy systems by using optically-pumped plasmonic photoconductors for terahertz wave generation and detection. Incorporating plasmonic nanostructures inside the active area of photoconductive terahertz sources and detectors offers enhanced quantum efficiencies while maintaining ultrafast operation. This enhancement is due to the unique capability of plasmonic nanostructures to significantly increase the concentration of photo-induced carriers inside the device active area, where they interact with a bias/terahertz electric field to generate/detect terahertz radiation. By the use of this powerful technique, broadband terahertz spectroscopy with record-high signal-to-noise ratio levels exceeding 110 dB and broadband terahertz spectrometry with quantum-level sensitivities are demonstrated. Such high-sensitivity terahertz spectroscopy and spectrometry systems could offer numerous opportunities for e.g., biomedical sensing, atmospheric studies, space explorations, pharmaceutical quality control, and security screening applications.
Assessment of Pain in the Critically Ill

Self-report, the gold standard for pain assessment, is a challenge when critically ill patients have difficulty communicating with the nursing staff. Researchers have begun to investigate how critical care nurses assess pain in the ICU, using a small number of assessment tools. This article reviews the literature related to pain assessment in the critically ill and offers recommendations for pain assessment, including adaptation of a variety of pain measures to the specific needs and abilities of this population.
Light and Membrane Biogenesis in Rod Photoreceptors of Vertebrates

Throughout the life of an individual, retinal visual cells carry on an elaborate process of photosensitive membrane turnover which is at once prodigious and exquisitely adapted to maintenance of optimal function. The magnitude of the phenomenon, first defined in detail by the work of R. W. Young (1), can best be appreciated by realizing that rod outer segments of rodents are renewed entirely within a period of 10 to 12 days. During this period, outer segment dimensions in adult animals remain stable through the establishment of a balance between synthetic and degradative functions (2). Synthesis of photosensitive membrane precursors occurs in the cell body (inner segment) after which they are transported to the base of the outer segment for incorporation into membrane discs (3, 4). Ultimately, discs are degraded within the lysosomal system of retinal pigment epithelial cells (5, 6).
Research on Fault Line Selection for Single Phase Grounding in Active Distribution Network Based on Softmax Regression

With the high penetration of distributed generators(DGs), the radial structure of conventional distribution system will change to multi-terminal type. Influenced by the short-circuit current injected from distributed generators, the traditional distribution network fault line selection method may fail. So choose the right line selection method, find the fault line and remove the fault, the safe operation of the grid has a very important significance. Firstly, an accurate active distribution network model is established in MATLAB environment. In this model, single-phase ground fault that may occur is considered. Then, the data collected from the output characteristic of the converter under each conditions. Then train a model in TensorFlow environment. Finally, the trained model is used to detect the state of single-phase ground fault so as to achieve the effect of fault line selection. The method mainly collects the characteristic quantity output at the front of each feeders when the single-phase grounding fault of each line of the system is set up, and automatically excavates the logic relation behind the characteristic data so as to improve the redundancy of the occurrence of the fault threshold, and As the number of acquisitions increases, the accuracy of fault line selection will be improved. The results show that this method effectively improves the accuracy of single-phase ground fault line selection.
Abstract #4283: Erythropoetin receptor (EpoR) was expressed at low to undetectable levels in tumor cell lines: Expression was not regulated by hypoxia and no epo-induced downstream signaling was detectable

EpoR mRNA and protein expression were surveyed in 67 tumor cell lines from ovary, breast, head and neck, lung, brain, prostate, cervix, liver, colon and blood. A sensitive and specific anti-EpoR monoclonal antibody (mAb), A82, was recently discovered allowing analysis of EpoR levels in human cells by immunoblotting. Total EpoR protein levels were estimated by comparing the amount of full length (59 kDa) EpoR protein in total cell lysates to a known amount of purified EpoR protein. The functional form of EpoR is a dimer, so total EpoR protein levels are reported as dimers/cell. The cell lines, UT-7/Epo and OCIM-1 cells were used as positive controls and in repeat experiments the total amount of EpoR varied 2-3-fold (30,000 -100,000 and 8,000 -16,000 EpoR/cell respectively). Primary human erythroid cells (generated from purified CD34+ cells after 4 days in-vitro culture) had 32,000-64,000 EpoR/cell. Scatchard analysis of UT-7/Epo and OCIM-1 cells demonstrated 10-20% of the total EpoR protein was detected on the cell surface, while COLO677 and 769-P cells showed no binding (and also had no detectable EpoR protein). In a survey of 61 solid tumor cell lines, 26 had no detectable EpoR protein ( Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 4283.
Does Cell of Origin Classification Impact Outcomes in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma after Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

Background The cell of origin (COO) classification has been shown to predict survival outcomes in de-novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), however, it is unclear if this holds true following high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) in relapsed DLBCL patients. The current analysis aims to compare survival outcomes based on COO classification in relapsed DLBCL patients who received auto-HCT. Methods This retrospective study includes relapsed/refractory DLBCL patients, aged 18 and above, who received auto-HCT with standard of care conditioning from January 2007 to December 2016 at our institution. Hans algorithm using CD10, BCL6 and MUM1 markers was performed to classify patients as per COO into the GCB and non-GCB types. Kaplan Meier method was used to estimate progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results A total of 122 DLBCL (71 GCB, 51 non-GCB) patients were analyzed. Detailed patient characteristics are provided in Table 1. Except for GCB cohort being older (64 vs. 58 years, p 70 (HR=2.9, p=0.03) and IPI score 0 (HR=0.3, p=0.005) were significant variables in predicting PFS. After adjusting for these variables, no significant differences were seen in PFS between two groups. The median OS has not yet been reached in both groups therefore a difference in OS cannot be analyzed. Conclusion Our results suggest that cell of origin is not prognostic for patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL treated with high dose chemotherapy followed by auto-SCT.
Structure and properties of pseudomorphically transformed bcc Mg in Mg/Nb multilayered nanolaminates studied using synchrotron X-ray diffraction

We utilize synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements, conducted inside a diamond anvil cell, to analyze the high-pressure stability of Mg/Nb multilayered nanocomposites of equal (1:1) and unequal (1:10) thickness ratios. At larger layer thicknesses, Mg in these nanocomposites exists in its traditional hexagonal close packed (hcp) structure, while below a critical layer thickness of 7–8 nm, the Mg structure is found to transform into an interface strain-induced metastable pseudomorphic body center cubic (bcc) crystal structure. The hcp Mg present in the larger layer thicknesses exhibits an hcp-to-bcc phase transformation at pressures greater than 44 GPa, and this pressure value is found to vary between the equal and unequal Mg/Nb nanocomposite thickness ratios. On the other hand, the pseudomorphic bcc Mg structure is stable up to pressures of 60 GPa. Additionally, the compressibility of the pseudomorphic bcc Mg structure under pressure is shown to be fundamentally different from the bulk (nonlaminated) bcc Mg structure formed under high pressures. These results indicate that interface strain engineering, and an appropriate choice of the adjacent layer material, might be a viable pathway for tuning the structure and properties of the pseudomorphic bcc Mg structure.
Understanding consumers’ online fashion renting experiences: A text-mining approach

Abstract With the increasing demand for fashion products, the textile and apparel industry is facing huge challenges in resource management and environmental regulations. Fashion renting provides an option to reuse clothing products. Besides that, it also fulfills an individual’s fashion needs while reducing the production of new clothes. Though some studies have been done to examine consumers’ opinions of fashion renting, most of these studies employed survey methods and did not utilize actual data of consumers’ real renting experiences. The purpose of this study is to evaluate consumers’ actual renting experiences and to identify the motivations and barriers for those consumers to rent fashion products. A data-mining approach was applied in this study. Consumers’ comments on renting experiences from three fashion rental companies, Rent the Runway (RTR), Gwynnie Bee (GB), and Bag Borrow Steal (BBS), were collected as a reliable data source to dig into and identify consumers’ motivations and concerns. Based on the theory of customer value, both benefits and costs for fashion renting were discovered. In addition, a comparison of the three fashion rental companies was also discussed. This study is the first attempt to use a data-mining method to thoroughly investigate the benefits and costs of fashion online renting through real consumers’ feedback of three different types of rental companies. It provides an in-depth text analysis of consumers’ online fashion renting experiences through the use of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling and word co-occurrence networks.
Guidelines for standardized nomenclature and reporting in uterus transplantation: An opinion from the United States Uterus Transplant Consortium

Uterus transplantation is a nascent but growing field. To support this growth, the United States Uterus Transplant Consortium proposes guidelines for nomenclature related to operative technique, vascular anatomy, and donor, recipient, and offspring outcomes. In terms of anatomy, the group recommends reporting donor arterial inflow and recipient anastomotic site delivering inflow to the graft and offers standardization of the names for the 4 veins originating from the uterus because of current inconsistency in this particular nomenclature. Seven progressive stages with milestones of success are defined for reporting on uterus transplantation outcomes: (1) technical, (2) menstruation, (3) embryo implantation, (4) pregnancy, (5) delivery, (6) graft removal, and (7) long-term follow-up. The 3 primary metrics for success are recipient survival (as reported for other organ transplant recipients), graft survival, and uterus transplant live birth rate (defined as live birth per transplanted recipient). A number of secondary outcomes should also be reported, most of which capture stage-specific milestones, as well as data on graft failure. Outcome metrics for living donors include patient survival, survival free of operative intervention, and data on complications and hospitalizations. Finally, we make specific recommendations on follow-up for offspring born from uterine grafts, which includes specialty surveillance as well as collection and reporting of routine pediatric outcomes. The goal of standardization in reporting is to create consistency and improve the quality of evidence available on the efficacy and value of the procedure.
Introduction: How Healthcare Organizations Can Benefit from a Road Map to Close the Gender Pay Gap

For four decades, women have represented a significant proportion of the physician workforce in the United States and now comprise half of medical students, residents, and fellows and over a third of active physicians nationally. Despite these numerical gains in representation, women physicians continue to experience well-documented disparities in opportunity and compensation within our profession, currently earning 75 cents on the dollar compared with their male counterparts after accounting for specialty, geography, time in practice, and average hours per week worked. While much has been written about the problem of gender pay disparities in medicine, a robust discussion about how to rectify the situation has been missing from the conversation. Achieving salary equity can be an overwhelming undertaking for institutions and their leaders. Although inequitable pay represents a convergence of forces that diminish women’s professional value within our healthcare enterprises, compensation is foremost a business endeavor. Therefore, a road map for operationalizing equity within the finance, human resources, and compliance structures of our organizations is critical to closing the gender pay gap. Our contributing authors – experts in the fields of compensation, employment law, human resources, and gender equity – intend this book to be a step-by-step guide for institutions seeking to examine their policies and revise their practices to eliminate gender pay disparities among their physician workforce. By breaking down traditional compensation methodologies, outlining processes to support new approaches, and anchoring recommendations in change management principles that address culture transformation, enhanced communication, and accountability, this road map will assist healthcare enterprises plan courses of action and identify potential pitfalls so they can be understood and mitigated.
Insights into the Irritating Mechanisms of TRPA1 Revealed by Cryo-EM

TRPA1 is a promising target for the development of novel treatments for chronic pain. In this issue of Neuron, Liu et al. (2021) report a novel non-covalent TRPA1-biased agonist, GNE551, revealing a unique binding pocket by cryo-EM and activation properties that pave a path toward new avenues in the treatment of chronic pain.
Effect of Surface Roughness on Remelting and Stresses During Splat Solidification

This is a copy of the slides presented at the meeting but not formally written up for the volume. In order to understand the microstructural evolution in plasma sprayed coatings, the solidification process was modeled using a 2-D FEM model based on enthalpy formation. Studies of the surface of the coatings showed surface roughnesses across multiple length scales. The model was used to examine the effects of the substrate and splat temperatures and the surface roughness features on the onset of remelting of the underlying surface on which the splat solidifies. The surface roughness was found to promote remelting, indicating that it was an important parameter that determines splat solidification. The temperatures of the splat and substrate were consolidated into one non-dimensional parameter that captured the onset of remelting with a non-dimensional remelting point.A fully coupled thermo-mechanical finite element model was also run for a single splat case, to provide more insight stress buildup during solidification. An important result was that the relative size of the surface roughness features, as compared to the splat thickness, is very important. Very large wavelengths compared to splat thickness lead to smaller stresses, since the solidification and the interface are essentially 1-D. Very small wavelengths compared to splat thickness also leads to reduced stresses, since the solidification front quickly becomes 1-D. Only roughness features on the scale of splat thickness are important in providing locations of maximum stress concentration, which are locations of microcrack formation.
Reported Benefits of Low-Dose Naltrexone Appear to Be Independent of the Endogenous Opioid System Involving Proopiomelanocortin Neurons and β-Endorphin

Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders at doses of 50–150 mg/d. Naltrexone has also been prescribed at much lower doses (3–6 mg/d) for the off-label treatment of inflammation and pain. Currently, a compelling mechanistic explanation for the reported efficacy of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is lacking and none of the proposed mechanisms can explain patient reports of improved mood and sense of well-being. Here, we examined the possibility that LDN might alter the activity of the endogenous opioid system involving proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) in male and female mice. Known actions of POMC neurons could account for changes in pain perception and mood. However, using electrophysiologic, imaging and peptide measurement approaches, we found no evidence for such a mechanism. LDN did not change the sensitivity of opioid receptors regulating POMC neurons, the production of the ꞵ-endorphin precursor Pomc mRNA, nor the release of ꞵ-endorphin into plasma. Spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs) onto POMC neurons were slightly decreased after LDN treatment and GCaMP fluorescent signal, a proxy for intracellular calcium levels, was slightly increased. However, LDN treatment did not appear to change POMC neuron firing rate, resting membrane potential, nor action potential threshold. Therefore, LDN appears to have only slight effects on POMC neurons that do not translate to changes in intrinsic excitability or baseline electrical activity and mechanisms beyond POMC neurons and altered opioid receptor sensitivity should continue to be explored. Significance Statement Naltrexone blocks opioid receptor activity and is used for the treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders but is also prescribed at lower doses to treat inflammation and pain. A compelling mechanistic explanation for the reported efficacy of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is lacking, and understanding the central effects of LDN is important, both for basic science and to inform future applications of LDN for central disorders. We hypothesized that LDN might alter the activity of endogenous opioid systems in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons of the hypothalamus. However, we found no evidence for such a mechanism and LDN appears to only slightly affect POMC neurons. We conclude that future studies should shift focus to other opioid systems outside of POMC neurons.
In reference to RPC: it's time to add distributed memory

RPC has been remarkably successful. Most distributed applications built today use an RPC runtime such as gRPC [3] or Apache Thrift [2]. The key behind RPC's success is the simple but powerful semantics of its programming model. In particular, RPC has no shared state: arguments and return values are passed by value between processes, meaning that they must be copied into the request or reply. Thus, arguments and return values are inherently immutable. These simple semantics facilitate highly efficient and reliable implementations, as no distributed coordination is required, while remaining useful for a general set of distributed applications. The generality of RPC also enables interoperability: any application that speaks RPC can communicate with another application that understands RPC.
Optimizing Interconnects RC Variability for Automotive Manufacturing using Novel Advanced Process Control

Control of variation in interconnects resistance and capacitance (RC) model due to variability in semiconductor manufacturing is extremely challenging, especially to meet the stringent automotive sigma requirements of Cp/Cpk 1.67. Real-time in-line APC improves R and C sigma by reducing LtL variation, however, WiW variation is non-negligible as it degrades RC correlation and causes off-centering in the model when R and C test keys are not located at same location. We demonstrate interconnects RC model within < 2% from target by using APC to mitigate WiW variation with real-time tuning of CMP oxide loss target for various radial zones in a wafer instead of whole wafer. We also demonstrate the concept of interconnects process integration with dynamic routing to mitigate tools variation by continuous learning of tools historical data for better variability control in order to further optimize the RC model. This provides insights to the application of machine learning to realize industry 4.0 smart and efficient concept for semiconductor manufacturing.
Definitions and Dependencies

Unlike most other areas of computer-related study, HCI has been faced with a number of exceptional problems and hurdles to impede its progress. Not only were there difficulties in formulating a credible identity and in gaining acceptance in the scientific community, as discussed in Chapter 1; those difficulties were probably symptomatic of certain fundamental issues that had to be resolved.
Evaluation of Time-Delayed Uncertainty Cancellation Systems

This paper analyzes the performance and robustness properties of a control architecture that has been recently proposed [4,5] for uncertain systems. The proposed architecture adjusts the control input based on an estimate of the uncertainty effects. The analysis shows that the effectiveness of the architecture is due to an inherently large control system bandwidth, and illustrates its limitations.
Using Pharmabase to perform pharmacological analyses of cell function.

Pharmabase is designed to form a bridge between the molecular dimension of cell transport processes and the functional manipulation of the protein players. It has as its emphasis membrane transport and related pharmacology. Several search and navigation options are available, including membrane transport, disease, and a graphic interface arranged by pathway and cell type. The level of entry to the database can be tailored to the investigator's level of expertise. The final product of Pharmabase is a Compound Record detailing the use and targets of individual compounds. Navigation routes generally fall into hierarchical keys and are cross-referenced. Pharmabase encourages input from its user community. It is maintained by the BioCurrents Research Center, an NIH resource funded through the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR). Keywords: Pharmacology; Channels; Pumps; Carriers; Protein transporters
Suppression of Reticuloendothelial Function in the Rat with Cyclophosphamide

Effects of cyclophosphamide immunosuppressive therapy upon reticuloendothelial function in the rat have been studied. Numerous side effects including leukopenia, hematuria, diarrhea, hemorrhagic cystitis, and petechial hemorrhage in the lungs and the small bowel were observed. Studies utilizing 32P-labeled bacteria revealed no change in the ability of the liver, spleen, lungs, or kidneys to ingest Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Utilization of labeled Staphylococcus aureus revealed an impairment of splenic uptake in animals receiving the maximal dose of 100 mg/kg. However, the liver, lungs, and kidneys were not affected. Although no generalized defect in the ingestive powers of these organs was observed, the ability of the lungs and kidneys from treated animals to kill ingested bacteria was significantly impaired. Regardless of the bacterium employed, the lungs and kidneys revealed a decrease in bactericidal ability with increasing drug dosages. Neither the liver nor the spleen from treated animals exhibited any decrease in bactericidal effect. Possible causes of this reduction in the bactericidal ability of alveolar and renal tissue following immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide are discussed.
Galaxy Catalogues and Surveys

I’d like to begin this survey of surveys and catalogues of galaxies with a story about Gerard de Vaucouleurs and myself. When I first went to work for him in the summer of 1965, I was the proud owner of a copy of the then-new Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies (RC1; 1964). I don’t often seek autographs for my books, but this was a special occasion and a special book, so I asked Gerard and Antoinette for their autographs. After signing the title page, Gerard began leafing through the catalogue and noticed some of my penciled “updates” in the B(0) column. Learning that these magnitudes had not (yet!) been reduced to the B(0) system, he scolded me for putting the wrong numbers in the catalogue. Properly chastized, I immediately wrote a short computer program to do the reduction, and spent the necessary time to get the correct data into the correct columns.
Do upper ureteral stones need to be manipulated (push back) into the kidneys before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

AbstractThe current practice for the management of upper ureteral stones is to push the stone back into the renal pelvis before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL**Dornier Medical Systems, Inc., Marietta, Georgia.). The results in 903 patients with an upper third ureteral stone pushed back before ESWL were compared to those of 815 with an upper third ureteral stone treated by ESWL in situ with a ureteral stent bypassing the stone. The stone size in the in situ group was larger than in the push back group. More shocks at a higher kilovoltage were required to treat the in situ group. The retreatment rate and post-ESWL secondary procedure rate for the push back group with single stones were 4% and 1.5%, respectively, compared to 5% and 7.5%, respectively, for the in situ group. The stone-free rate with single stones at 3 months was 73% in the push back group and 79% in the in situ group. There appears to be little advantage in manipulating a ureteral stone into the kidney (push back) before treatmen...
Microwave spectrum of the argon-tropolone van der Waals complex.

The rotational spectrum of the argon-tropolone van der Waals complex in the ground vibrational state has been measured in the frequency range of 6 to 17 GHz using a pulsed-jet, Balle-Flygare-type Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Eighty-six transitions for the complex (Ar-12C7H616O2) were observed, assigned, and fit using a Watson A-reduction Hamiltonian giving the rotational and centrifugal distortion constants A = 1080.4365(3) MHz, B = 883.4943(3) MHz, C = 749.0571(2) MHz, ΔJ = 2.591(2) kHz, ΔJK = -3.32(1) kHz, ΔK = 5.232(9) kHz, δJ = 0.944(1) kHz, and δK = -0.028(8) kHz. The tunneling motion of the hydroxyl proton in the tropolone moiety is quenched in the ground electronic state by complexation with argon. The coordinates of the argon atom in the monomer’s principal axis system are a = 0.43 A, b = 0.23 A, c = 3.48 A.
Open reduction and internal fixation of acetabulum fractures: does timing of surgery affect blood loss and OR time?

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the timing of surgical intervention for fractures of the acetabulum and its influence on perioperative factors. Design Retrospective review. Setting Level I trauma center. Patients Two hundred eighty-eight consecutive patients who sustained either posterior wall (PW), associated both column (ABC), or anterior column posterior hemitransverse (ACPHT) acetabulum fractures were included in the study. Intervention One hundred seventy-six PW fractures were treated through a Kocher-Langenbeck approach, and 112 ABC/ACPHT fractures were treated through an anterior intrapelvic approach. Main outcome measurements Estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time. Results EBL (800 vs. 400 mL), operative time (270 vs.154 minutes), and hospital stay (11 vs. 7 days) were greater for the ABC/ACPHT fractures compared with the PW fractures. When comparing early (≤48 hours) versus late (>48 hours) treatment of PW fractures, there was no difference in EBL (400 vs. 400 mL, P = 0.37) or operative time (150 vs. 156 minutes, P = 0.50). In comparison of early versus late treatment of ABC/ACPHT fractures, no significant difference was noted in EBL (725 vs. 800 mL, P = 0.30) or operative time (258.5 vs. 272 minutes, P = 0.21). Conclusions We found no advantage or disadvantage in terms of EBL or operative time for early (≤48 hours) versus late (>48 hours) fixation for either PW or ABC/ACPHT acetabular fractures. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Immigration and mental health: diverse findings in Asian, black, and Latino populations.

Immigration has deeply transformed the racial and ethnic composition of the United States. Over the past 3 decades, the immigration of people from Mexico and South American and Latin American countries has resulted in Latinos becoming the largest ethnic minority population, totaling 12.5% of the US population. Although Asian Americans do not match the population size of Latinos, they have grown at the fastest rate of any major racial category and make up nearly 4% of the US population. Black immigrants have not received the same attention as Latino or Asian immigrants, but they contribute significantly to an increasingly diversified US Black population; Blacks from the Caribbean are the largest subgroup of immigrants, constituting slightly more than 4% of the national Black population. In some major cities, such as New York, Boston, and Miami, Black immigrants are more than one fourth of the entire Black population.1–5
Use of cardiac resynchronization therapy to optimize beta-blocker therapy in patients with heart failure and prolonged QRS duration.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 52 patients with heart failure to determine the change in β-blocker therapy after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). After 6 months of CRT, the number of patients receiving β-blocker therapy increased from 36 to 44, with improved clinical outcomes and larger β-blocker doses, indicating that these 2 therapies may work together to improve outcomes by allowing the use of larger doses of β blockers while correcting ventricular dyssynchrony.
“A proper spirit is abroad:” Peirce, sylvester, ward, and American mathematics, 1829–1843

Abstract James J. Sylvester, after coming to the United States as a young man to teach at the University of Virginia, became a friend of Benjamin Peirce, the leading American mathematician of his generation, and Samuel Ward, the first American to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics. Ward and Peirce were also acquainted. Sylvester and Ward had especially high hopes for what they might accomplish as mathematicians in the United States, but Sylvester soon returned to England, and Ward quickly abandoned his mathematical career. Peirce did not produce significant mathematical research unit near the end of his life, some thirty years later.
Primary productivity and nutrient utilization ratios in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean based on seasonal changes in seawater chemistry

Abstract In the austral winter (September–October) of 1994, a hydrographic cruise in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean (NBP94-5) was completed, complementing two austral summer cruises (February–March) in 1992 (WOCE S4-P) and 1994 (NBP94-2) in the same area. During all three cruises, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and concentration of total carbon dioxide dissolved in seawater were determined throughout the water column, accompanied by oxygen and nutrient measurements. Seasonal changes in CO 2 and nutrients observed in the mixed layer above the remnant winter water were used to estimate utilization ratios, primary productivity, and new production. The mean rate of primary production over 120 days ranged from 6 to 24 mmol C m -2 d -1 , consistent with the notion of the Southern Ocean as a low productivity area. Primary production was highest in the northern limb of the Ross Sea Gyre, where the wintertime vertical stability of the upper water column was lower. The circulation patterns and nutrient distributions in the region studied appear to influence the primary production rates observed. The ratio of biogenic silica to carbon was found to be 0.66±0.02. The observed N/P utilization ratio of 13.0±1.2 and C/P utilization ratio of 91.4±7.9 are both significantly lower than the traditional Redfield ratios of 16 and 106, respectively. The former is, however, consistent with the ΔN/ΔP regeneration ratio of 14.0±0.3 discerned for deep waters south of the Polar Front. Hence, the classical C/P and N/P Redfield ratios do not appear to hold in Antarctic waters. On the other hand, the C/N utilization ratio of 6.9±0.6 does agree with the Redfield ratio of 6.6 (106/16). This C/N ratio also agrees with the ratio obtained for surface particulate organic matter (POM) taken during the WOCE S4-P cruise along 67°S. Accordingly, the biological cycles of carbon and nitrogen in the Southern Ocean appear to be “Redfieldian”.
Perception of Translational Heading From Optical Flow

Radial patterns of optical flow produced by observer translation could be used to perceive the direction of self-movement during locomotion, and a number of formal analyses of such patterns have recently appeared. However, there is comparatively little empirical research on the perception of heading from optical flow, and what data there are indicate surprisingly poor performance, with heading errors on the order of 5"-10". We examined heading judgments during translation parallel, perpendicular, and at oblique angles to a random-dot plane, varying observer speed and dot density. Using a discrimination task, we found that heading accuracy improved by an order of magnitude, with 75%-correct thresholds of 0.66* in the highest speed and density condition and 1.2 ° generally. Performance remained high with displays of 63-10 dots, but it dropped significantly with only 2 dots; there was no consistent speed effect and no effect of angle of approach to the surface. The results are inconsistent with theories based on the local focus of outflow, local motion parallax, multiple fixations, differential motion parallax, and the local maximum of divergence. But they are consistent with Gibson's (1950) original global radial outflow hypothesis for perception of heading during translation.
A Case Study of an Intervention to Support Ed.D. Students in Dissertation Writing

Dissertation writing is often the most challenging aspect of the doctoral program. In an effort to raise completion rates and lower time-to-degree as well as increase student satisfaction with the program, professors in an Ed.D. program developed a semester-long course to support students writing their dissertations. This case study describes the development of the course and the implementation of the first semester. The course consisted of a series of workshops on various aspects of dissertation writing as well as various other activities such as peer review. The students did not receive a grade for the course. After reviewing data, students in the course were classified by their productivity that semester and engagement in the course. Students who were highly engaged but not highly productive were the most prevalent group. In this article, the authors also provide follow-up, including changes made the next semester and data on student completion.
Regulation of a γ-Aminobutyric Acid Transporter by Reciprocal Tyrosine and Serine Phosphorylation

A feature of the rat brain γ-aminobutyric acid transporter GAT1, and other members of the neurotransmitter transporter family, is its regulated redistribution between intracellular locations and the plasma membrane. Recent studies have focused upon defining the signaling molecules that facilitate this redistribution. Agents that promote direct tyrosine phosphorylation of GAT1 promote a relative increase in surface GAT1 levels, and this results from a slowing of the transporter internalization rate. Agents that act to increase protein kinase C (PKC) activity promote a relative decrease in surface GAT1 levels; whether this effect is caused by direct transporter phosphorylation is unknown. The opposing actions of tyrosine kinase activity and PKC activity raise the possibility that the subcellular distribution of GAT1 is associated with mutually exclusive transporter phosphorylation events. The present experiments show that GAT1 is phosphorylated on serine residues in a PKC-dependent manner, but this state is only revealed when GAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation is eliminated or greatly reduced. The relative levels of serine phosphorylation and tyrosine phosphorylation are negatively correlated. The amount of serine phosphorylation is regulated by agents that affect tyrosine phosphorylation, and vice versa. In addition, the ability of agents that affect tyrosine kinase activity to regulate GAT1 serine phosphorylation requires a change in its tyrosine phosphorylation state. These data support the ideas that GAT1 can exist in either of two mutually exclusive phosphorylation states and that the relative abundance of these states determines in part the relative subcellular distribution of the transporter.
Alternatives for flow solution at the leading edge of gravity currents using the shallow water equations

ABSTRACTThe shallow water equations (SWEs) are implemented in gravity current (GC) models because of the good balance between accuracy and computational effort. In this context appropriate treatment is required at the GC leading edge that is analogous to a moving boundary condition. To date, solution strategies used at the leading edge have not been systematically compared to determine the best alternatives. This work aims to analyse three strategies, comparing results with experiments and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (NS) models. Two of these alternatives are implemented using method of characteristics theory, while the third alternative, proposed by the authors, constitutes a newer conservative shock-tracking approach. Despite some of the differences in continuity error and computational effort, these solution strategies accurately predicted front trajectories albeit with much less computational effort when compared with NS models. As anticipated, GC shapes yielded by one-layer SWE models do not comp...
Hydrodynamic Induced Vibrations in Accelerated Thrust Bearings

The transient response of an infinitely-wide slider bearing subject to tangential acceleration of the thrust ring has been investigated numerically. The reduced Navier-Stokes equations and the continuity equation are solved for a fixed-shoe bearing to produce a time-dependent solution for the pressure distribution, film geometry and velocity distributions for different types of runner acceleration. For a gradual increase or decrease in acceleration the new supporting film is found to be fully developed in the course of a few seconds. When the acceleration or deceleration is very rapid, an oscillation of the runner in the axial direction takes place. In the cases reported, this oscillation is always damped. As the ‘jerk’ (rate of change of acceleration) increases, the vibration increases in frequency, it has a greater amplitude and takes longer to die out. In all cases the resulting runner oscillation takes place about the steady-state position compatible with the new runner velocity.
A Low Noise Infrared Spot Scanner For Testing Detector Arrays

A low noise spot scanner has been built for use in testing the performance of infrared detector arrays for NASA's IR detector technology development program and the University of California's MICRO program. The scanner provides a convenient low noise detector test environment and a wide range of test conditions including versatile temperature control of the detector, ambient background, and blackbody source temperature and control of spot size, color, and brightness.
Kramers-Kronig Analysis of Reflectance Data for Diamond

The use of the Kramers-Kronig relation in the analysis of reflectance data is discussed briefly. The recent results of Walker and Osantowski for diamond are reanalyzed and found to be in some error. New data are presented which appear more consistent with the expected optical behavior of diamond.