cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AID and Apobec3G haphazard deamination and mutational diversity.

Activation-induced deoxycytidine deaminase (AID) and Apobec 3G (Apo3G) cause mutational diversity by initiating mutations on regions of single-stranded (ss) DNA. Expressed in B cells, AID deaminates C → U in actively transcribed immunoglobulin (Ig) variable and switch regions to initiate the somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) that are essential for antibody diversity. Apo3G expressed in T cells catalyzes C deaminations on reverse transcribed cDNA causing HIV-1 retroviral inactivation. When operating properly, AID- and Apo3G-initiated mutations boost human fitness. Yet, both enzymes are potentially powerful somatic cell “mutators”. Loss of regulated expression and proper genome targeting can cause human cancer. Here, we review well-established biological roles of AID and Apo3G. We provide a synopsis of AID partnering proteins during SHM and CSR, and describe how an Apo2 crystal structure provides “surrogate” insight for AID and Apo3G biochemical behavior. However, large gaps remain in our understanding of how dC deaminases search ssDNA to identify trinucleotide motifs to deaminate. We discuss two recent methods to analyze ssDNA scanning and deamination. Apo3G scanning and deamination is visualized in real-time using single-molecule FRET, and AID deamination efficiencies are determined with a random walk analysis. AID and Apo3G encounter many candidate deamination sites while scanning ssDNA. Generating mutational diversity is a principal aim of AID and an important ancillary property of Apo3G. Success seems likely to involve hit and miss deamination motif targeting, biased strongly toward miss.
The microstructure and macrostructure of sulfonated poly(ethylene terethphalate) fibers

The effects of fiber-forming processes on the microstructure and macrostructure and overall orientation in sulfonated poly (ethylene terephthalate) (SPET) fibers are reported. The processing parameters examined include drawing, crimping, relaxing, and annealing. Drawing and annealing cause changes in both the crystalline structure and molecular packing in the noncrystalline regions, while crimping and relaxing appear to affect only the noncrystalline regions. A bimodal melting endotherm was observed for the SPET fibers. Experimental data suggest the low-temperature endotherm of the SPET fibers originates from melting of the crystalline structure formed on drawing, and that the high-temperature endotherm results from melting the heat-induced crystals formed during fiber processing and/or thermal analysis
Production equations in terms of chlorophyll concentration, quantum yield, and upper limit to production

For eventual incorporation into a general theory of phytoplankton dynamics, an equation for gross daily production in a water column is needed which is an explicit function of phytoplankton concentration and which does not contain parameters or coefficients dependent on phytoplankton concentration: the production equations of Steele, of Vollenweider, and of Fee are transformed to meet this requirement. It is also desirable, in order to simplify theoretical analysis, that the parameters in production equations be chosen so as to minimize the range of values needed to describe the variation of photosynthesis in nature. This can be achieved by choosing the quantum yield of photosynthesis in weak light as parameter instead of the maximum rate in saturating light. In lakes, the value of the quantum yield in weak light is likely to be about 0.06 moles carbon per einstein absorbed. An additional advantage of the transformed equations is to make evident a simple relation between actual daily production and the upper limit to production.
A Regional Study of Classic Maya Ballcourts From the Upper Grijalva Basin, Chiapas, Mexico

Late/Terminal Classic Maya ballcourts from the upper Grijalva Basin (Chiapas, Mexico) are described and analyzed in a regional settlement and political context. The upper Grijalva Basin is found to have large numbers of ballcourts compared with other parts of the Maya area. The spatial distribution of ballcourts in the basin matches the distribution of civic-ceremonial centers, reflecting the key ritual and political roles of the ballcourt. Absence of a clear hierarchy in size or elaboration among the ballcourts reflects political decentralization. Ballcourt sizes, forms, alignments, and placements indicate their use for either Maya or Mexican hip ball games or more likely some combination of the two game types. Finally, three models that focus on elite factions, elite wealth building, and ritualized conflict are used to explore why the upper Grijalva Basin has so many more ballcourts compared with neighboring parts of the Maya area. An elite-factions model, incorporating a high degree of decentralization across the political landscape, is selected as most plausible for understanding the basin's proliferation of ballcourts.
Busulfan: Development of Improved Methods of Sterilizing Boll Weevils

The standard method of sterilizing Anthonomus grandis Boheman (6-day feeding of 0.1% busulfan, 1-4-butanediol dimethanesulfonate) adequately sterilizes males but does not induce a high degree of sterility in females, and mortality is less than 40% after 2 weeks. Feeding higher concentrations of busulfan alone or lower concentrations of busulfan in combinations with methotrexate, hempa, or apholate for 6 days or less, or feeding 0.1-0.2% busulfan followed by low doses of gamma radiation induces virtually complete sterility in both sexes but causes fairly high mortality. A 4-day feeding of 0.2% busulfan + 0.25% methotrexate resulted in complete sterility in females and almost complete sterility in males, and mortality was less than 40% by 3 weeks after treatment.
Acceptance of the Mineralogical Society of America Roebling Medal for 2006

John, Pete, fellow mineralogists: I am truly humbled by this extraordinary honor, especially when I consider the impressive list of past Roebling Medal recipients. Be that as it may, many, many thanks! We mineralogists celebrate scientific accomplishments with our awards, and far more of us contribute substantially to the advancement of the discipline than can ever be properly recognized. Thus, to be singled out for such an honor, one must be industrious, intelligent, and lucky—and if I had to choose, I’d go for the latter. As an example of my personal good fortune, I’ll talk about the glaucophane schist saga and subduction-zone metamorphism this afternoon at the Roebling Lecture. Happily, I am blessed with great friends and scientific colleagues such as my nominator, Pete …
DO CHANGING VALUES EXPLAIN THE NEW POLITICS? A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE POSTMATERIALIST THESIS

Many social scientists have argued that major political changes have occurred in the postindustrial societies of Western Europe, North America, and Australasia since the 1960s. These changes includ...
Sex influences on material-sensitive functional lateralization in working and episodic memory: men and women are not all that different.

Research investigating the effects of sex on the lateralization of language functions has produced mixed results to date, with some studies finding sex differences and others not (Shaywitz, B.A., Shaywitz, S.E., Pugh, K.R., Constable, R.T., Skudlarski, P., Fulbright, R.K., Bronen, R.A., Fletcher, J.M., Shankweiler, D.P., Katz, L., et al., 1995. Sex differences in the functional organization of the brain for language. Nature 373 607–609; Frost, J.A., Binder, J.R., Springer, J.A., Hammeke, T.A., Bellgowan, P.S., Rao, S.M., Cox, R.W., 1999. Language processing is strongly left lateralized in both sexes. Evidence from functional MRI. Brain 122 (Pt. 2) 199–208). Further, few studies have evaluated how any such sex effects extend to tasks involving cognitive functions that may utilize language processes such as working and episodic memory. This study examined sex difference in materialsensitive functional activation (using fMRI) in working memory and episodic memory that included either words and faces. We performed these analyses on two large groups of healthy subjects with the goal of attempting to replicate results across two independent data sets. The results indicated that both males and females showed strong and consistent evidence for material-sensitive lateralization for both working and episodic memory, such that word tasks resulted in greater left-sided activation and face tasks resulted in greater right-sided activation. Further, few of the sex differences in regions showing material specificity effects in at least one gender replicated across studies, providing little evidence for any differences in lateralization patterns between the sexes. In conclusion, our data suggest that males and females show a similar pattern of lateralized activation to material
A Woman of Rome: The Matron in Justin, 2 Apology 2.1–9

In the sixth century Johannes Lydus revealed that the city of Rome had three names. The one related to mystic rites was Eros, while the hieratic one was Flora and the political one was Rome. The events we shall discuss took place at Rome, and under the influence of an Eros of sorts. We shall call the heroine “Flora” for reasons to be set forth later. The whole story is told by the early Christian apologist Justin.
Analyses of Infinite Reservoir Using the Boundary Element Method with Particular Integrals

A solution procedure is proposed for the determination of the hydrodynamic pressures on dams with infinite reservoir in the upstream direction. Frequency-independent fundamental solutions are used in the analyses which include the effect of water compressibility.
Assessing the impact of international conservation aid on deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa

International conservation donors have spent at least $3.4 billion to protect biodiversity and stem tropical deforestation in Africa since the early 1990s. Despite more than two decades of experience, however, there is little research on the effect of this aid at a region-wide scale. Numerous case studies exist, but show mixed results. Existing research is usually based on community perception or focused on short-term donor objectives rather than specific conservation outcomes, like deforestation rates. Thus, the impact of billions of dollars of conservation aid on deforestation rates remains an open question. This article uses an original dataset to analyze the effect of international conservation aid on deforestation rates in 42 African countries between 2000 and 2013. We first describe patterns of conservation aid across the continent and then assess its impact (with one to five-year lags), controlling for other factors that may also affect deforestation, including rural population, protected areas (PAs), governance, and other economic and commodity production variables. We find that conservation aid is associated with higher rates of forest loss after one- or two-year lags. A similar result holds for PA extent, suggesting possible displacement of deforestation from PAs. However, governance quality in high forest cover countries moderates these effects such that deforestation rates are reduced. Rural population is the most consistent factor associated with forest loss, confirming previous studies of this driver. Our results suggest that in heavily forested countries, development projects designed to support conservation work initially in conditions of good governance, but that conservation aid alone is insufficient to mitigate larger deforestation drivers.
Dangers of limited SDI

Recent efforts to redefine the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) are mostly aimed at building support for a system to defend US land-based missiles. This is thought to be a more feasible goal than President Reagan's dream of an impregnable shield to defend the US population against ballistic missiles. But a feasible idea is not necessarily a good one. While chasing the population-defense fantasy would destroy the existing arms control regime and waste the national treasure of money and talent, defending land-based missiles would be dangerous and destabilizing. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger held fast to the idea of population defense in January, when he told the Senate Armed Services Committee that even early deployments of SDI systems that could be developed in the near future should be the first phase of a system that would protect the continent. But such statements may reflect the administration's determination to do away with the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty more than its belief that population defense is a reasonable goal. The author notes that, to those longstanding problems of defense decision making, they must now add the pressures of SDI. Furthermore, whatever the motives of those who advocate redirecting SDI, it is clear that concernsmore » about the vulnerability of land-based missiles could be addressed in more sensible ways. 5 references.« less
Public Pension Funds and Alternative Investments: A Tale of Four Swedish National Pension Funds

ABSTRACTThis exploratory study offers insights into why public pension plans might invest in alternative asset classes at levels inconsistent with modern portfolio theory. Using a case study methodology, the research relies on fieldwork data and in-depth interviews with individuals familiar with four Swedish national pension funds. The findings suggest that alternative assets are perceived as important vehicles for improving portfolio diversification, but that the funds’ propensity to invest in them is constrained by information asymmetry and access to alternatives. The findings also indicate that investment restrictions and political considerations have had limited effects on decisions to invest in alternative assets.
Stabilizing uncertain nonlinear systems via the constrained discrete-time state-dependent Riccati equation controller

The constrained discrete-time state-dependent Riccati equation technique in the presence of uncertainties in the nonlinear system to be controlled is investigated. The CD-SDRE is divided into two parts — D-SDRE and MPC-based controllers, and the entire system is considered to be a switched system. First, the system stability under each controller is separately established. The stability of the entire switched system (CD-SDRE) is then proven based on the each control system stability. Control of the spacecraft with nonlinear attitude dynamics in the presence of fuel slosh effect under limited actuator performance is used to show the effectiveness of the proposed CD-SDRE controller.
Evaluation of the failure of the Cypress Viaduct in the Loma Prieta earthquake

Abstract This article describes analytical studies performed to explain the collapse of the Cypress Street Viaduct. The modes of failure of four types of bents are described. A strength analysis is presented, which gives estimates of the forces that were necessary to produce the failure of these bents. These estimates are computed based on the observed failure mechanism of each type of bent, on measured mechanical characteristics of the materials, and on simplified structural models. The overstrength of these bents, above the level of forces for which they were designed, is evaluated. Levels of acceleration required to produce the failure are given. From comparison of these levels of accelerations with those resulting from the elastic as well as the inelastic response spectra corresponding to ground motions recorded near the Viaduct, it is concluded that the demanded shear strength was considerably higher than the supplied strength and that bent type B8 was the weakest one and where the failure was probably initiated.
A Multilevel Analysis of Race on the Decision to Petition a Case in the Juvenile Court

There is a large body of research examining the impact of race on juvenile court outcomes. Fewer studies have specifically examined the decision by prosecutors to formally petition a case to the ju...
Quantum Yield Regeneration: Influence of Neutral Ligand Binding on Photophysical Properties in Colloidal Core/Shell Quantum Dots

This article describes an experiment designed to identify the role of specific molecular ligands in maintaining the high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) observed in as-synthesized CdSe/CdZnS and CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QDs). Although it has been possible for many years to prepare core/shell quantum dots with near-unity quantum yield through high-temperature colloidal synthesis, purification of such colloidal particles is frequently accompanied by a reduction in quantum yield. Here, a recently established gel permeation chromatography (GPC) technique is used to remove weakly associated ligands without a change in solvent: a decrease in ensemble QY and average PL lifetime is observed. Minor components of the initial mixture that were removed by GPC are then added separately to purified QD samples to determine whether reintroduction of these components can restore the photophysical properties of the initial sample. We show that among these putative ligands trioctylphosphine and cadmium oleate can re...
Thermal evidence for Taylor columns in turbulent rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection

We investigate flow structures in rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection experiments in water using thermal measurements. We focus on correlations between time series measurements of temperature in the top and bottom boundaries. Distinct anticorrelations are observed for rapidly rotating convection, which are argued to attest to heat transport by convective Taylor columns. In support of this argument, these quasigeostrophic flow structures are directly observed in flow visualizations, and their thermal signature is qualitatively reproduced by a simple model of heat transport by columnar flow. Weakly rotating and nonrotating convection produces positively correlated temperature changes across the layer, indicative of heat transport by large-scale circulation. We separate these regimes using a transition parameter that depends on the Rayleigh and Ekman numbers, RaE3/2.
Study on the Quality Standard of Licorice Juice as A Processing Excipient

Objective:To establish the quality standard of licorice juice as a processing excipient.Method: TLC identification,routine testing and determination by HPLC of ten batches of licorice juice were performed.Result: The identification method of licorice juice was established with both ammonium glycyrrhizate and liquiritin as reference substances for the first time.The content data of ash and soluble solid was obtained.The concentration data of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin was obtained.Conclusion: For the first time the research on quality standard of licorice juice was conducted systematically and the established standard can be used to control the quality of licorice juice as a processing excipient.
Evidence for distinct lymphocytic and monocytic populations in a patient with terminal transferase--positive acute leukemia

Two distinct cell populations with lymphoblastic and monocytic characteristics were separated and characterized by multiple cell markers in a patient with terminal transferase-positive acute acute leukemia. The clinical course and sequential cell marker studies were consistent with the interpretation of a defect at the level of a common stem cell giving rise to a terminal transferase--positive lymphoblastic cell population at diagnosis and, following initial therapy, a terminal transferase--negative monocytic population.
Airway assessment of patients undergoing endoscopic procedures.

Objectives In advance of endoscopic procedures, an evaluation to assess the risk of sedation is performed by the gastroenterologist. Based on regulations, gastroenterologists are required to perform an airway assessment. At this time, data supporting this regulation are limited; therefore, we evaluated airway assessment accuracy by gastroenterologists before endoscopic procedures. Methods A retrospective, single tertiary care center study was performed from May 2012 through August 2013. Patients who underwent an endoscopy or colonoscopy performed at the University of Missouri-Columbia with documented Mallampati scores were included in the analysis. Three primary cohorts of patients were included in our study: gastroenterologist versus anesthesiologist, gastroenterologist versus other gastroenterologists, and gastroenterologists versus themselves. Data were collected and recorded for patient age, body mass index, and Mallampati score. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and linear weighted kappa analysis for agreement. Results For gastroenterologists versus anesthesiologists and versus other gastroenterologists, the agreement on Mallampati scores was poor (weighted kappa index 0.103, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.0126 to 0.219; percentage of agreement 42% and 0.120, 95% CI -0.0211 to 0.260; percentage of agreement 46%, respectively). For gastroenterologists versus themselves for the same patient, the agreement on Mallampati scores was only moderate (weighted kappa index 0.420, 95% CI 0.119-0.722; percentage of agreement 65%). Conclusions Gastroenterologists performing a preprocedure assessment using Mallampati scores have poor agreement with anesthesiologists and colleagues and only moderate agreement with themselves.
Objective evaluation of the efficacy of various venous cannulas.

Six venous cannulas (USCI No. 32, USCI No. 40, USCI No. 44, Sarns No. 40, Sarns two-stage cavoatrial, and Ferguson Argyle No. 40) were tested for efficiency of venous flow during cardiopulmonary bypass, with and without aortic cross-clamping. Each cannula was tested six times in dog models (twice in each of three dogs) and the data were averaged. The tip of the cavoatrial Sarns catheter was positioned as recommended. Two No. 32 USCI caval cannulas were placed either with or without caval snaring. The other cannulas were placed in the right atrium. Arterial flow was constant at 80 mllkglmin, and aortic pressure averaged 84 mm Hg. Central venous pressure and the right ventricle excluded from the pulmonary artery so that blood which was not drained via the venous cannula was measured. Each single atrial cannula decompressed the right atrium (right atrial pressure 0 to 1 mm Hg) better than two caval cannulas (right atrial pressure 0 to 2 mm Hg). Cavai snaring did not empty the right atrium (right atrial pressure 2 to 5 mm Hg) as well as any single cannula. The cavoatrial Sarns catheter did not empty the right atrium as well (right atrial pressure 2 to 4 mm Hg), but drained blood from the inferior vena cava (central venous pressure 0 mm Hg) better than other atrial cannulas (central venous pressure 1 to 5 mm Hg). All of the atrial cannulas performed equally well. The right ventricular vent flow varied between 63 and 70 ml/min with each of the atrial cannulas but rose to 85 ml / min with the cavoatrial Sarns catheter and 190 and 74 ml/min during caval cannulation with and without snaring, respectively. Aortic cross-clamping eliminated coronary sinus flow and decreased right ventricular vent flow. Therefore, a single atrial cannula is more efficient in draining blood from the right side of the heart than are two caval or a cavoatrial cannula. This advantage is negated by aortic cross-clamping.
Effects of 3 forest management systems on herpetofaunal diversity over 23 years in the Missouri Ozarks

Abstract Sustainable forest management is vital in today’s human-dominated landscapes. An important part of sustainable management is protecting biodiversity, including herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians). To examine the effects of landscape-scale forest management on a diverse herpetofauna community in oak-dominated forests in the Missouri Ozarks, we experimentally assessed differences in herpetofaunal diversity among 3 treatments (i.e., forest management systems) over 2 decades through the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project. We assigned 9 forest compartments to 1 of 3 blocks, such that each block contained 3 compartments, and then randomly assigned 1 compartment within each block to a treatment: even-aged; uneven-aged; or no-harvest management. Management entries occurred in 1996 and 2011. We installed 12 herpetofauna trap arrays per compartment; 6 on north and east slopes and 6 on south and west slopes. We conducted trapping for 14 years during the 23 year study period, and used a variety of metrics to assess diversity, including species richness, Shannon Diversity, Jaccard’s and Morisita’s Indices of Similarity, and species-list occupancy. Results indicated minimal difference in herpetofaunal diversity among treatments at the landscape-scale after 23 years of management. Notable year-to-year variations in diversity were observed through time across treatments, likely due to changes in detectability. However, detection did not differ among treatments in species-list occupancy models, indicating that species richness and similarity metrics assessing differences between forest management strategies without accounting for detection are reliable for this study. We found no evidence that overall herpetofaunal diversity was negatively impacted by even-aged, uneven-aged, or no-harvest forest management in the Missouri Ozarks at the scale of forest compartments over this time period.
On the asymptotic flux of ultrapermeable seawater reverse osmosis membranes due to concentration polarisation

Abstract Just as thermodynamic considerations impose a finite limit on the energy requirements of reverse osmosis, concentration polarisation imposes a finite limit on flux, or equivalently, on system size. In the limit of infinite permeability, we show the limiting flux to be linearly dependent on the mass transfer coefficient and show this to be true for low recovery systems just as well as moderate and high recovery single stage and batch reverse osmosis system designs. At low recovery, the limiting flux depends on the logarithm of the ratio of hydraulic to bulk osmotic pressure and at moderate or higher recovery, the relationship with this pressure ratio is a little more complex but nonetheless can be expressed as an explicit analytical formula. For a single stage seawater reverse osmosis system operating at a hydraulic pressure, recovery ratio, and value of mass transfer coefficient that are typical today, the flux asymptote is roughly 60 L m−2 h−1 – roughly four times where average fluxes in seawater reverse osmosis systems currently stand.
Nitrogen dioxide pollution exposure is associated with olfactory dysfunction in older U.S. adults.

Background Olfactory dysfunction has profound effects on quality of life, physical and social function, and mortality itself. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a pervasive air pollutant that is associated with respiratory diseases. Given the olfactory nerve's anatomic exposure to airborne pollutants, we investigated the relationship between NO2 exposure and olfactory dysfunction. Methods The ability to identify odors was evaluated using a validated test in respondents from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a representative probability sample of home-dwelling, older U.S. adults age 57 to 85 years. Exposure to NO2 pollution was assessed using measurements obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) ambient monitoring site closest to each respondent's home. We tested the association between NO2 exposure and olfactory dysfunction using multivariate logistic regression. Results Among older adults in the United States, 22.6% had impaired olfactory function, defined as ≤3 correct (out of 5) on the odor identification test. Median NO2 exposure during the 365 days prior to the interview date was 14.7 ppb (interquartile range [IQR], 10.8 to 19.7 ppb). An IQR increase in NO2 exposure was associated with increased odds of olfactory dysfunction (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.72), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, cognition, comorbidity, smoking, and season of the home interview (n = 1823). Conclusion We show for the first time that NO2 exposure is associated with olfactory dysfunction in older U.S. adults. These results suggest an important role for NO2 exposure on olfactory dysfunction, and, potentially, nasal disease more broadly.
Corporate Responsibility: Promoting Climate Justice Through the Divestment of Fossil Fuels and Socially Responsible Investment

Climate change has been discussed as the “biggest threat of our time.” The economic, environmental, and social consequences of climate change are well documented and the fossil fuel industry is the main perpetrator of these harms. In 2015, the fossil fuel divestment movement has taken over headline news by becoming the fastest growing divestment corporate campaign in history. Divestment of fossil fuels is the people demanding institutions and corporations to adopt comprehensive sustainable investment policies that eliminate the environmental and social injustices that the fossil fuel industry is creating. Unparalleled environmental and social pressures driven by climate change impacts on food, water, energy, access to natural resources, and human rights have become material issues for businesses and the corporate world. The Principles for Responsible Investment is an initiative supported by the United Nations that includes six aspirational principles which focus on the relevance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors to investment decision-making and ownership practices. This chapter analyzes the divestment of fossil fuels debate and discusses responsible investment through a corporate responsibility lens with a focus on climate justice. The chapter proposes that the divesting of fossil fuels allows corporations to be not only socially responsible but allows for the managing of climate change risks through responsible investments. The divestment of fossil fuels is a way to mitigate climate change harms and promote sustainability to protect our future generations.
Abstract 1340: Antitumor effector B cells directly kill tumor cells involving the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway and their therapeutic efficacy is enhanced by IL-2

In cancer immunotherapy, effector B cells can inhibit spontaneous tumor metastases as well as local tumor growth in animal models. We have previously reported that antitumor effector B cells generated from tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) could directly kill tumor cells via the Fas/FasL pathway and are regulated by IL-10. Trafficking of TDLN B cells in vivo suggested that they were recruited to the tumor and lung as well as secondary lymphoid organs. The number of TDLN B cells increased following transfer. As a result, adoptive transfer of TDLN B cells conferred tumor regression in a spontaneous pulmonary metastasis mouse model of breast cancer, 4T1. Removal of IL-10, either by using IL-10-/- TDLN B cells or by systemic neutralization of IL-10 using anti-IL-10 antibody, significantly augmented the therapeutic efficacy of adoptively transferred TDLN B cells. In recent studies, we found that tumor cell death mediated by effector B cells involves the CXCR4/CXCL12 as well as Fas/FasL interactions. Blockade of CXCR4 and FasL using a CXCR4-specific inhibitor, AMD3100, and anti-FasL antibody, respectively, reduced the killing of 4T1 tumor cells by 4T1 TDLN B cells. Of note, blockade of CXCR4 and FasL concurrently inhibited B cell-mediated direct killing of tumor cells in an additive fashion, suggesting that both CXCL12/CXCR4 and Fas/FasL pathways are involved in the direct killing of 4T1 tumor cells by 4T1 TDLN B cells. In other experiments, we found that TDLN B cells express IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) and the ability of the TDLN B cells to inhibit metastasis was significantly enhanced with exogenous IL-2 administration. Besides our previously reported Fas/FasL pathway and IL-10-mediated suppression, our recently identified CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway and IL-2-mediated augmentation of the biological function of effector B cells suggests these B cells may represent an important component of the host immune response against tumor. Citation Format: Yang Xia, Huimin Tao, Yangyang Hu, Li Zhou, Yangyi Bao, Steven K Lundy, Shiang Huang, Qiao Li, Alfred E Chang. Antitumor effector B cells directly kill tumor cells involving the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway and their therapeutic efficacy is enhanced by IL-2. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1340. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1340
The State of America’s Water Resource

Water resources planning and management on the river basin level can be said to have begun in 1965, with passage of the Water Resources Planning Act thereby establishing the Water Resources Council (WRC). The Council released two national assessments of the state of the U.S. water resource, one in 1968 and the second in 1978. This chapter begins with the work of the WRC and takes the story of the state of the resource into the early twenty-first century in same major basins examined by the WRC, and begins a look at the effects of climate change on the sustainability of the resource in the Nation’s major river basins.
Pharmacokinetics of rifapentine and rifampin in a rabbit model of tuberculosis and correlation with clinical trial data

In clinical trials of two rifamycin antibiotics (rifampin and rifapentine) for treating tuberculosis (TB), patients with cavitary lung lesions did not appear to derive benefit from rifapentine. Rifapentine was found not to outperform rifampin, despite a lower minimum inhibitory concentration against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mouse models of TB. To understand these findings, we have developed a rabbit model of TB that reliably develops lung cavities with features similar to those of patients with pulmonary cavitary TB. After single or multiple doses of rifampin or rifapentine that produced human-equivalent plasma exposures, rabbits were sacrificed at different time points after dosing. We measured site-of-disease drug pharmacokinetics and tissue drug distribution. We used pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling to estimate drug penetration into different types of tubercular lesions. Both drugs penetrated rabbit lung cellular lesions, as well as the fibrotic cavity wall of cavitary lesions (penetration coefficients ≥1 compared to plasma). For the necrotic liquefied material inside cavitary lesions known as caseum (which contains high numbers of bacteria), the penetration coefficient was 1.0 for rifampin but only 0.25 for rifapentine. When estimates of site-of-disease drug PK were substituted into clinical PK/PD models, the relationship between site-of-action exposure and sputum culture conversion was significant (P < 10-7). We propose that poor penetration of rifapentine into lung cavitary lesions explains, in part, why rifapentine doses required to improve treatment outcomes in two phase 2 clinical trials were four times higher in TB patients with large cavities compared to TB patients without cavitary lung disease.
MYELIN PROTEOLIPID PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN NORMAL AND JIMPY MICE

The myelin membrane is a highly specialized extension of the oligo-dendroglial plasma membrane, which surrounds axons and forms a tightly compacted multilamellar structure (Peters et al., 1970). Myelin integrity is essential for normal nervous system function, and understanding the mechanism of myelin formation is important because of the large number of clinical problems observed when normal myelin formation is altered (Adams and Victor, 1970). Oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin formation have become important developmental problems to investigate at the molecular level for several reasons. Oligodendrocyte differentiation occurs over a narrow time period during brain development, indicating that it is tightly developmentally regulated. Since the myelin membrane has a somewhat simple protein composition, with the proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) comprising 70–80% of adult CNS myelin protein (Eng et al., 1968; Norton and Poduslo, 1973) a major portion of the oligodendrocyte differentiation program is dedicated to the synthesis of these two groups of proteins.
Haem transport to the liver by haemopexin. Receptor-mediated uptake with recycling of the protein

Rat [59Fe]haem–125I-labelled haemopexin complexes (700pmol/rat) associate rapidly and exclusively with the liver after intravenous injection into anaesthetized rats. The two isotopes exhibit different patterns of accumulation. Liver 125I-labelled haemopexin is maximum 10min after injection (20±4.9pmol/g of liver) and then declines by 2h to the low values (about 3pmol/g of liver) seen after injection of the apoprotein. In contrast, [59Fe]haem accumulates in the liver for at least 2h. Haemopexin undergoes no extensive proteolysis during 2h of haem transport as shown by precipitation with acid (98%) and specific antiserum (92%) and by electrophoresis. Moreover, only 1–2% of the dose is located in extrahepatic tissues, and there is no significant urinary excretion of either 125I or 59Fe. Hepatic uptake at 10min is saturable, reaching 200pmol of haemopexin/g of liver and 350pmol of haem/g of liver at a dose of 9nmol/rat, whereas uptake of the apoprotein is 3–5% of the dose. This suggests that the interaction of haem–haemopexin with the liver is a specific receptor-mediated process. The complex probably interacts via the protein moiety, since the haem analogues mesohaem and deuterohaem do not affect association of the protein with the liver but the species of haemopexin does. Increasing amounts of protein are associated with the liver 5min after injection in the order: human>rabbit>rat, and haem uptake is consistently increased. For both rat and rabbit haemopexin saturation is reached at the same concentration of protein, i.e. 180–200pmol/g of liver, indicating that the different protein species bind to a common receptor. We propose that haemopexin transports haem to the liver by a specific receptor-mediated process and then returns to the circulation.
David vs. Goliat (Caso Planned Parenthood y la venta de órganos de bebés abortados): La pendiente resbaladiza de la legalización del aborto

After the legalization of the constitutional right of women to abortion in the United States with the case Roe vs. Wade, the door was opened to many consequences that this decision brought with it. One of these consequences is the illegal sale of organs and tissues extracted in abortions. In the present article a bioethical and biolegal analysis will be developed of the case that brought to light that slippery slope of the legalization of abortion, this is the case of the research of the non-profit organization, Center for Medical Progress (CMP) to the multinational abortion, Planned Parenthood, and the consequent investigation and final report presented by the Select Panel of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the US House of Representatives.
Design and analysis of robust algorithms for fault-tolerant computing.

We propose a new strategy to recognize the maximum subcube of size k in an n-cube multiprocessor. This strategy will enhance the performance drastically so that our algorithm will outperform the buddy system by a factor $\sb{\rm n}$C$\sb{\rm k}$, the gray strategy by $\sb{\rm n}$C$\sb{\rm k}$/2 and Al-Dhelaan strategy by $\sb{\rm n}$C$\sb{\rm k}$/(k(n $-$ k) + 1) in cube recognition. We present a very efficient processor allocation strategy which makes larger contiguous spaces for the new coming job than the buddy, gray and the Al-Dhelaan strategies do. Furthermore, this new strategy is suitable for static as well as dynamic processors allocation and it results in less fragmentation and higher fault tolerance. We also describe an efficient procedure for task migration under the new strategy: (1) goal configuration under the new strategy; (2) node-mapping between source and destination nodes; and (3) the shortest deadlock-free routing algorithm. We describe an optimal fault-tolerant broadcasting algorithm in the hypercube in the presence of n $-$ 1 faulty processors. This algorithm takes log$\sb2$(N) + 1 steps to broadcast the message to all other processors. Our broadcasting algorithm is a procedure by which a processor can pass a message to all other processors in the network non-redundantly: This procedure is important for diagnosis of the network, distribution agreement or clock synchronization. A simple yet efficient algorithm to broadcast in a Cube-Connected Cycles Network containing faulty node/links is proposed. The algorithm is particularly useful in critical real-time systems that can't tolerate the time overhead of identifying the faulty processors on-line. The algorithm delivers multiple copies of the broadcast message through disjoint paths to all the nodes in the system. The salient feature of the proposed algorithm is that the delivery of the multiple copies is transparent to the processes receiving the message and does not require that the precesses know the identity of the faulty processors. The precesses on non-faulty nodes that receive the message identify the original message from the multiple copies using some scheme appropriate for the fault model used. We describe the definition and theory of adjacent asymmetric error masking codes. When these codes are used for short-circuit faults, they are capable of masking a single adjacent asymmetric error in bus in LSIs. This can be used in minimizing the number of transistors in the decoder of the bus line circuits, i.e., the code have the minimum weight. The bus lines can also be minimized. We systematically derive more codewords than those of previously known codes and present a formula to find the total number of codewords for each weight 2, 3 and 4 in the constant weight codes. When the weight is 2 in constant weight code, we prove that the number of codewords obtained is maximum.
Electronic Health Records in Hospitals: Preventing Dosing Errors in the Medication Administration Context.

Medication errors are among the highest contributors to complications during a hospital stay. Dosing errors have an impact on the detrimental effects of a medication error. While clinical decision support systems have targeted prescribing errors, the system design challenges associated with dosing error prevention in the medication administration context is not well understood. This paper presents an overview of the effectiveness of current systems used in the medication delivery process. The system enhancement strategies to improve dosing error detection and prevention in the medication administration context should consider the medication safety loopholes in the electronic health record (EHR).
Why are Hexol Cluster Cations [Tris(cis-tetraaminedihydroxo)Co]+6 So Easily Resolved into Their Antipodes? Part 2. Preparation, Crystal Structural Studies and the Nine Sources of Chirality of Hexol Clusters

Heretofore, it had been impossible to determine the structure of the original Werner's hexol cation inasmuch as the synthetic procedure given by Werner produces crystals unsuitable for single crystal X-ray (XRD) diffraction studies. Thus, it was greatly satisfying that crystals obtained here, using a different method of preparation, produced useful crystals of three different derivatives. X-ray quality crystals of composition [Co(NH3)4CO3][Co{(HO)2Co(NH3)4}3](NO3)6(OH) · 2 H2O(III) were obtained while attempting to grow crystals of [Co(NH3)5CO3]NO3 from water solutions allowed to evaporate at room temperature (ca. 22°C). (III) crystallizes in space group P\(\overline 1\) (No. 2), with lattice constants: a = 11.767(1), b = 12.856(2), c = 17.040(1) A, α = 75.49(2), β = 72.59(2), γ = 68.53(7)°, V = 2259.84 A3, and d(calc; M.W. = 1148.2, Z = 2) = 1.687 g-cm−3. A total of 4428 data were collected using MoKα (λ = 0.71073 A radiation, over the range of 4° ≤ 2θ ≤ 40°; of these, 2469 [independent and with I ≥ 3σ(I)] were used in the structural analysis. Data were corrected for absorption (μ = 18.97 cm−1) and transmission coefficients ranged from 0.536 to 0.999. The final R(F) and RW(F) residuals were, respectively, 0.18 and 0.18, the high values of which are due to disorder of several of the nitrate counteranions. Nonetheless, the results are of interest since this double salt consists of two fully ordered cations: [Co(NH3)4CO3]+, containing a bidentate carbonato ligand, and Werner's hexol cation {Co[Co(OH)2(NH3)4]3}6+. The presence of the bidentate carbonato cation is important in view of the fact that the starting material was the monodentate pentaamine carbonato cation, a result which provides a guide to the mechanism of the reactions involved in the preparation of compound (III), in particular, and of the hexol cations, in general. Thus, this study is an amplification of our recent description [1] of Werner's hexol salts. Finally, we explain here the origin of the large optical rotatory power of these cations and enumerate the nine sources of chirality present in them. In our previous paper, we listed only seven [1]; however, we have recently come to realize there are two additional ones, described below.
Uncovering climate (in)justice with an adaptive capacity assessment: A multiple case study in rural coastal North Carolina

Abstract Climate change resilience is an area of praxis where efforts to enhance community adaptive capacity are informed by theory. However, there is growing evidence that ethnocentrism and privilege are shaping coastal management policies while many communities with climate justice issues struggle to build resilience. Particularly, rural coastal communities, contrasting urban areas, have limited access to centralized planning efforts, unique local contexts for outreach, compounding social vulnerabilities (job loss, out-migration, limited social services), and receive less attention from resilience researchers. Following calls to integrate climate justice into resilience praxis, we assess perceptions of adaptive capacity within predominately African American communities in a rural low-lying coastal region in eastern North Carolina. We add a climate justice lens to evaluate the previously-validated Rural Coastal Community Resilience (RCCR) framework. The RCCR is intended to improve planning efforts by providing climate change information, initiating conversations, and contributing to resilience theory. In contrast to its previous applications, engagement led to declines in perceived adaptive capacity. This result highlights that the information sharing goals of the engagement efforts were poorly aligned with community concerns and threat perceptions. Additionally, perceived climate injustices emerged revealing instances of adaptation oppression. This study recommends strategies to rethink traditional extension efforts to improve inclusiveness by deeply interrogating the inherent whiteness of standard modes of communicating climate science.
Aprendre a Cooperar a l’ESO: la Comissió de suports com a eina d’inclusió a 2n d’ESO

L'article presenta el desenvolupament de la dinamica de cohesio de grup “Comissio de suports”, (Stainback i Stainback, 1999 i Pujolas, 2008,) en un grup classe de 2n d‟ESO, que des de 1r estan organitzats en equips d'aprenentatge cooperatiu. Des de la Comissio de coordinacio d'aprenentatge cooperatiu i amb la participacio de l‟orientadora, s'analitza la incidencia d‟ aquesta dinamica per generar un entorn d’ajuda mutua i per facilitar la inclusio i la participacio a l'aula de l'alumnat que troba mes barreres per a la participacio i l’aprenentatge; i al mateix temps, veure com s'afavoreix la millora en l'aprenentatge de tots els que hi participen. L'analisi es una mostra de la investigacio col·laborativa sobre el desenvolupament de l'aprenentatge cooperatiu en el centre, en el marc de la recerca sobre els vincles entre els canvis en la practica educativa i la millora dels aprenentatges dels estudiants.