cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sustained high levels of physical activity lead to improved performance among "Race Across the USA" athletes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate physiological and performance adaptations associated with extremely high daily sustained physical activity levels, we followed six runners participating in the 2015 Race Across the USA. Participants completed over 42.2 km a day for 140 days, covering nearly 5,000 km. This analysis examines the improvement in running speed and potential adaptation in mean submaximal heart rate (SHR) throughout the race. METHODS Data were collected during three 1-week long periods corresponding to the race beginning, middle, and end and included heart rates (HRs), body mass, running distances and speeds. HR data were collected using ActiTrainer HR monitors. Running speeds and distances were also recorded throughout the entire race. RESULTS Athletes ran significantly faster as the race progressed (p < .001), reducing their mean marathon time by over 63 min. Observed mean SHR during the middle of the race was significantly lower than at the beginning (p = .003); however, there was no significant difference between mean SHR at the middle and end of the race (p = .998). CONCLUSION These results indicate an early training effect in SHR during the first half of the race, which suggests that other physiological and biomechanical mechanisms were responsible for the continued improvement in running speed and adaptation to the high levels of sustained physical activity.
Longitudinal Microsurgery Laboratory Training during Hand Surgery Fellowship.

Background Laboratory training courses have traditionally offered an attractive method to learn microsurgery in a low-risk environment. However, courses are often limited by cost, accessibility, and their one-time, nonlongitudinal nature. Our aims were to (1) describe our institution's microsurgical training course for hand surgery fellows, which is longitudinal and integrated within our fellowship curriculum and (2) investigate how this course affects the microsurgical confidence and competence of trainees throughout their fellowship year. Methods All hand fellows who trained in our 1-year combined hand surgery fellowship from 2016 through 2018 participated in this study. Baseline data on the type and duration of residency training, previous microsurgery experience and self-reported confidence, knowledge, and interest in microsurgery were recorded. Self-reported scores were documented using a continuous scale ranging from 0 to 10. An initial 3-day laboratory course combining the use of didactic teaching, a nonliving synthetic model, and a live rat model was conducted. Repeat laboratory training occurred thereafter at 6 and 12 months. At the end of each session, fellows repeated the baseline questionnaire and faculty assessed their microsurgical competence using a standardized global rating scale (GRS). Results A total of six fellows (2 years) were enrolled. At the end of the initial course, there was a statistically significant increase in mean self-reported confidence in microsurgery from 4.3 to 6.2 and knowledge from 4.7 to 6.5. Mean scores in interest were unchanged, from 9.2 to 9.3. There was also an increase in mean GRS score from day 3 to months 6 and 12. Conclusion A longitudinal microsurgical training course integrated within a hand surgery fellowship is associated with increased confidence and microsurgical skill. This study describes our approach and its feasibility.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Kidney Transplant Access Within a Theoretical Context of Medical Eligibility

Background Non-Hispanic black (NHB) and Hispanic patients have lower access to kidney transplantation compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). We examined whether differences in the prevalence of comorbidities that affect eligibility for transplant contribute to disparities in receipt of transplantation. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 986 019 adults who started dialysis between 2005 and 2014, according to the United States Renal Data System. We compared prevalence of comorbidities that could influence transplant eligibility by race/ethnicity. We examined time to first transplant by race/ethnicity in this overall cohort and in a very healthy sub-cohort without conditions that could be contraindications to transplantation. Results During 2.3 years of mean follow-up, 64 892 transplants occurred. NHBs and Hispanics had a lower prevalence of medical barriers to transplantation at the time of dialysis initiation than NHWs, including age >70 years (26% in NHB versus 47% in NHW) and malignancy (4% in Hispanics versus 10% in NHWs). Access to transplant was 65% lower (95% CI, 0.33-0.37) in NHBs and 43% lower (95% CI, 0.54-0.62) in Hispanics (versus NHWs) in the first year after end-stage renal disease, but by Year 4, access to transplantation was not statistically significantly different between Hispanics or NHBs (versus NHWs). In our very healthy cohort, racial and ethnic disparities in access to transplantation persisted up to Year 5 in NHBs and Year 4 in Hispanics after end-stage renal disease onset. Conclusions Differences in medical eligibility do not appear to explain racial/ethnic disparities in receipt of kidney transplantation and may mask the actual magnitude of the inequities that are present.
Hypoxia Induced Heparan Sulfate Primes the Extracellular Matrix for Endothelial Cell Recruitment by Facilitating VEGF-Fibronectin Interactions

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) is critical for the development, growth, and survival of blood vessels. Retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells are a major source of VEGF in the retina, with evidence that the extracellular matrix (ECM)-binding forms are particularly important. VEGF associates with fibronectin in the ECM to mediate distinct signals in endothelial cells that are required for full angiogenic activity. Hypoxia stimulates VEGF expression and angiogenesis; however, little is known about whether hypoxia also affects VEGF deposition within the ECM. Therefore, we investigated the role of hypoxia in modulating VEGF-ECM interactions using a primary retinal cell culture model. We found that retinal endothelial cell attachment to RPE cell layers was enhanced in cells maintained under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, we found that agents that disrupt VEGF-fibronectin interactions inhibited endothelial cell attachment to RPE cells. We also found that hypoxia induced a general change in the chemical structure of the HS produced by the RPE cells, which correlated to changes in the deposition of VEGF in the ECM, and we further identified preferential binding of VEGFR2 over VEGFR1 to VEGF laden-fibronectin matrices. Collectively, these results indicate that hypoxia-induced HS may prime fibronectin for VEGF deposition and endothelial cell recruitment by promoting VEGF-VEGFR2 interactions as a potential means to control angiogenesis in the retina and other tissues.
Deaths in pulmonary hypertension: US location trends.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.1 While recently there has been an emphasis on hospice care for serious illnesses,2 little is known about end-of-life in PH. Since location of death is important, we investigated demographic trends and predictors of location among persons dying with PH in the USA. We analysed the Mortality Multiple Cause-of-Death Public Use Record from the National Center for Health Statistics, which provides mortality data for all US deaths, merged with death certificate data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Wide-Ranging OnLine Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database. We included natural deaths between 2004 and 2017 for which PH was identified as an underlying cause. This was defined as the disease or injury leading directly to death as entered by the physician on the death certificate. In multiple comorbidities (common in PH), underlying cause is determined by condition sequence on the certificate and associated selection rules and modifications.2 3 Records were queried to include age, ethnicity, …
Clinical trial design for neuroprotection in RHO autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa; outcome measure considerations.

Purpose: To identify structural and functional outcome measures among patients with Rho-positive autosomal dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa (adRP) to aid neuroprotection trial design.Methods: This was...
Recommendations for Land Disposal of Oil Spill Cleanup Debris

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) has sponsored a number of studies relating to effective and environmentally appropriate methods of disposal of oil spill debris. Although some of these studies are still in progress, enough has been learned so that both research and operations personnel agree that sound technology for the land disposal of oily wastes does exist today. This paper presents practical recommendations to help local officials and cleanup contractors select a suitable disposal strategy, short descriptions of the actual disposal methods, and references to literature containing detailed how-to-do-it information. Thermal oxidation processes (burning, incineration, and pyrolysis) are only briefly mentioned. The land disposal methods of land cultivation, sanitary landfilling, and direct burial are discussed in more detail, together with their monitoring implications. Tables are presented of potential problems and solutions, site selection criteria, and comparisons between the land disposal methods (advantages, applicability to debris types, environmental considerations, and costs).
DNA Damage: Sensing

Maintenance of genomic stability is essential for the survival of cells, organisms, and species. Genomic stability relies on the complete and accurate transmission of genetic materials from mother cells to daughter cells and from one generation to the next. This task is daunting, however, because the genome is constantly challenged by numerous intrinsic and extrinsic stresses that damage deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). If left untreated, such damage can destabilize the genome by introducing gene mutations, duplications, and chromosomal rearrangements such as deletions and inversions, which fortunately does not normally happen as cells evolve a complex damage sensing and signaling mechanism named the DNA damage and replication checkpoint. Checkpoint activation effectively pauses the progression of the cell cycle, allowing more time for the removal of DNA lesion. Moreover, activated checkpoint also regulates and coordinates a number of cellular processes including DNA repair, DNA replication, and chromatin remodeling to alleviate the stress on the genome. At the core of the checkpoint-signaling network, a family of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI-3K)-like kinases and their regulatory partners serve as both DNA damage sensors and initiators of checkpoint signaling. In this article, we will discuss in detail how DNA damage is sensed and processed by the DNA damage and replication checkpoint. We will also discuss how signals generated at sites of DNA damage are propagated and relayed through the checkpoint pathways to influence other cellular events.
Vapor Transport in the Unsaturated Zone

In this section, we focus our attention primarily on the fate and transport of volatile organic vapors in the unsaturated zone. Organic vapors can arise from soil and groundwater contaminated with fuel hydrocarbons, organic solvents, pesticides, or other organic pollutants. Transport of these vapors occurs primarily by some combination of gas-phase Fickian diffusion (driven by organic vapor concentration gradients) and advection (driven by air pressure gradients). Other processes such as sorption to soil surfaces and air–water interfaces and biodegradation by soil microorganisms can further influence the fate and transport of organic vapors. We review these processes along with organic vapor sampling methodologies and chamber devices used to quantify organic vapor fluxes from the subsurface to the atmosphere. Keywords: vadose zone; organic vapor; diffusion; advection; barometric pumping; flux chamber; air pressure; indoor air; volatile organic compounds; soil gas; sorption; biodegradation
Female police officers in Texas: Perceptions of colleagues and stress

The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of Texas female police officers toward their colleagues. Further, the study measures respondents’ perceptions regarding work‐related stress. An independent sample t‐test analysis was conducted while controlling for the percentage of female officers working at participating Texas law enforcement agencies. Overall, the findings suggest that the percentage of female officers employed in a particular law enforcement agency did not produce a statistically significant impact on respondents’ perceptions of their male/female counterparts or stress‐related issues.
Biobehavioral Correlates of Relocation in the Frail Elderly: Salivary Cortisol, Affect, and Cognitive Function

Objectives: To examine affect and physiological stress in frail older adults in response to a voluntary nursing home relocation. Design: Randomized, controlled trial. Setting: Long-term care facility located within the greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, community. Participants: Seventy-seven nursing home residents, aged 65 and over. Intervention: Experimental group residents were relocated to a newly built nursing home facility with a cluster design in the fall of 2001; control group residents were moved after study completion in the spring of 2002. Measurements: Mini-Mental State Examination scores, Observed Affect Rating Scale scores, salivary cortisol, blood pressure, and pulse obtained 1 week before moving and 1 week and 4 weeks after moving. Results: Relocated nursing home residents demonstrated significant differences in salivary cortisol and mood from a randomly selected group of residents that had not yet moved. Relocation resulted in significantly higher cortisol levels 1 week after the move (P=.005), followed by a significant decline in afternoon cortisol at 4 weeks after the move (P=.03). Moreover, relocated residents had significantly lower depression and anxiety symptoms and pulse rates than residents who had not yet moved. Conclusion: These findings have important implications for planning medical and social services for relocated elderly. Efforts should be made to prepare individuals for the initial stressors associated with relocation, but it also appears that the stress imposed by relocation is time limited and may begin to ease as early as 4 weeks postmove.
Rab3D localizes to zymogen granules in rat pancreatic acini and other exocrine glands

Rab3 proteins are members of the family of Ras-like monomeric GTP-binding proteins that have been implicated in secretion in neuronal cells. Although an isoform of Rab3 has been assumed to exist in pancreatic acini, its identity has not yet been established. We now report that Rab3D is present in rat pancreatic acini and is localized to the zymogen granule membrane. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used with primers based on mouse Rab3D to amplify Rab3D from rat pancreas. The PCR product without primer sites consisted of 580 base pairs and was 94% identical to the mouse Rab3D cDNA sequence previously cloned from adipocytes. Western blotting with a polyclonal antiserum raised against Rab3D-specific carboxyterminal amino acids identified Rab3D in rat pancreatic acini and revealed its concentration on zymogen granule membranes. Immunocytochemistry of pancreatic lobules showed that Rab3D localized to the apical region in a pattern similar to amylase. Confocal fluorescence microscopy of lobules double immunolabeled with antibodies to Rab3D and the granule membrane marker protein glycoprotein-2 (GP-2) revealed a similar localization of these proteins to zymogen granules. Immunocytochemistry also revealed the presence of Rab3D in chief and enterochromaffin-like cells in the stomach, acinar cells in lacrimal and parotid gland, and Paneth cells in the intestine. These results show that Rab3D is expressed in rat pancreatic acini and other exocrine secretory cells. Its location implies it may be involved in regulated exocytosis.
Retrovirally introduced antisense integrin RNA inhibits neuroblast migration in vivo.

Abstract We used retrovirus-mediated gene transfer to ask whether integrins are involved in the development of neuroblasts in the chicken optic tectum. Vectors were constructed with the E. coli lacZ gene in the sense orientation and β 1 integrin sequences in the antisense orientation. Tests in culture showed that the progeny of cells infected by these vectors were identifiable by expression of LacZ and had reduced levels of β 1 integrins on their surfaces. We then injected these vectors into optic tecta on E3, at the height of neuronal production. Clones of LacZ-positive cells were analyzed 3–9 days later, as they migrated along radial gliato form thetectal plate. Antisense sequences had little effect on the proliferation of progenitors, or on the radial stacking of their progeny in the ventricular zone (E6). However, many antisense-bearing cells accumulated in the ventricular zone and failed to migrate into the tectal plate (E7.5 and E9). At later stages (E12), few antisense-bearing cells could be found. Thus, integrin appears to be required in the migratory process, and cells that fail to engage in integrin-mediated interactions may die.
Fretting Fatigue Modeling and Repair Evaluation for Generator Rotors

Generator Rotor Tooth Cracks have been recently observed on some long service generator rotors. The purpose of this paper is to document the root cause analysis as well as a repair methodology that was developed in support of one of these cracked units. The paper discusses the development of a finite element model to understand the operating modes and failure mechanisms that caused the initiation of these cracks. The results of the analysis agreed very well with field observations on cracked units and with some limited repair options that have been successfully used in the past. An experimental fretting fatigue testing program is currently underway to substantiate and extend the results reported in this paper.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Behind closed doors: use of visual cover by courting male three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Abstract Species that form breeding aggregations, such as the three-spined stickleback, have ample opportunity to observe and interact with others in their respective populations. This exposes courting pairs to distraction or disruption from onlooking individuals. Thus, courting inconspicuously could be beneficial to males. We tested whether males would court inconspicuously by housing them in individual tanks with visual access to a neighbouring male. A dummy of a gravid female three-spined stickleback was presented to a male in the front quadrant of the tank while screens concealed either the front quarter or front half of the tank from the neighbour. When a portion of the tank was concealed from a neighbouring rival, males courted more in the concealed areas than those that were exposed to a rival. Hence, in the presence of rivals, males can adjust their courtship behaviour in ways that could increase their mating success. Whether this reflects an active ‘strategy’ or a passive result of the male being less distracted by its neighbour is presently unknown.
Multiplication-based analog motion detection chip

Novel use of an analog motion detection circuit is presented. The circuit, developed by Tanner and Mead, computes motion by dividing the time derivative of intensity by its spatial derivative; the four-quadrant division is realized with a multiplier within a negative feedback loop. The authors have opened the loop and characterized the circuit as a multiplication-based motion detector, in which the output is the product of the temporal and spatial derivatives of intensity, for various light levels and various moving patterns. An application to the time-to- contact computation is presented.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Susceptibility of Some Eastern Forest Species to Phytophthora ramorum.

Tooley, P. W., and Kyde, K. L. 2007. Susceptibility of some Eastern forest species to Phytophthora ramorum. Plant Dis. 91:435-438. We tested some common Eastern forest species for their reaction to stem and leaf inoculation with Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen that causes sudden oak death. Stem lesions were produced on inoculated seedlings of 12 Eastern forest species following 72 to 76 days of incubation in a containment greenhouse cubicle at 20oC. Chestnut oak (Quercus prinus) and white oak (Q. alba) were followed by northern red oak (Q. rubra) in susceptibility to stem inoculation. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and black walnut (Juglans nigra) were more resistant to stem inoculation than most of the oak species tested. P. ramorum was isolated on selective medium at distances of up to 8 mm from stem lesion margins. Foliar lesions were observed within 7 days when seedlings were inoculated with 5,000 sporangia/ml followed by incubation at 20oC in a dew chamber. Chestnut oak was followed by tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) and coast live oak (Q. agrifolia) in susceptibility to P. ramorum by foliar inoculation. Chestnut oak, an ecologically important species in parts of the Eastern United States, emerged as the most susceptible host tested in both stem and foliar inoculations. The results indicate that, under controlled conditions, P. ramorum is able to infect some important Eastern forest species and cause lesions on stems and foliage. It remains to be determined whether infection of these species by P. ramorum would occur under natural conditions.
Changing Indications for Pacemakers in Children

Abstract Permanent pacemakers were implanted in 50 children. Indications were symptomatic sinus node dysfunction in 34 (68%), surgical block in 9 (18%), and congenital block in 7 (14%). Twenty-three (68%) of the 34 children with sinus node dysfunction had undergone prior cardiac operations. Only 4 of the 50 patients (8%) had electrode problems after a mean pacing time of 29.5 months (range, 1 to 96 months). All 35 of the mercury-cell pulse generators used in 28 patients ceased to function after an average useful life of 20.8 months (range, 1 to 51 months). The lithium-powered units in the 45 survivors all show satisfactory pacing after 5 to 44 months (mean, 28.1 months). With improved pacemaker technology, longer survival after complex repairs, and better monitoring techniques, the indications for cardiac pacing in children have broadened. Surgical block now is an indication in only a small fraction of the pediatric pacemaker population. Sinus node dysfunction accounts for an ever-increasing majority of the pacemakers we currently implant in children.
A Ruby-Laser System For Satellite Ranging

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) operates a worldwide network of observing stations. These stations obtain experimental data from which precise satellite orbits are computed on a CDC 6400 computer at the Observatory's headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In contrast to many other tracking systems, real-time data are not essential. It can take as long as a year to obtain the necessary time corrections, apply these, and compute the orbits. The important requirement for the useful scientific applications of the results is the accuracy of the computed orbits. And, of course, the accuracy of these orbits depends upon that of the data obtained from the tracking system.© (1967) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Centromeres of budding and fission yeasts.

Abstract Centromeres of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are structurally relatively simple, are specified by only about 125 base pairs of DNA, and contain no repeated DNA sequences. The centromere regions in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe span many kilobase pairs of DNA and contain repeated DNA sequences that appear to be necessary for full centromere function. A portion of the repeated sequences is organized into a large inverted repeat structure in the centromere region of each S. pombe chromosome. Fission yeast provides an excellent model system for studying the role of repeated DNA sequences in centromere function.
Captopril to mitigate chronic renal failure after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To test whether the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril was effective in mitigating chronic renal failure after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods and Materials: A total of 55 subjects undergoing total body irradiation (TBI)-HSCT were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. Captopril or identical placebo was started at engraftment and continued as tolerated until 1 year after HSCT. Results: The baseline serum creatinine and calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) did not differ between groups. The 1-year serum creatinine level was lower and the GFR higher in the captopril compared with the placebo group (p = 0.07 for GFR). Patient survival was higher in the captopril compared with the placebo group, but this was also not statistically significant (p = 0.09). In study subjects who received the study drug for more than 2 months, the 1-year calculated GFRs were 92 mL/min and 80 mL/min, for the captopril and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.1). There was no adverse effect on hematologic outcome. Conclusions: There is a trend in favor of captopril in mitigation of chronic renal failure after radiation-based HSCT.
Low-temperature, polysulfide reactions of conjugated ene carbonyls: A reaction model for the geologic origin of S-heterocycles

Abstract The theoretical basis for a type of reaction of sulfur-acceptor carbon molecules with donor catenated forms of sulfur is presented. The reactions between conjugated ene carbonyls as sulfur-acceptors and polysulfide as a sulfur donor are described. The scope of this reaction is broadened by demonstrating that the room-temperature action of polysulfide on dienones produces thiophenes. Evidence is given for the structure of 2-benzoyl-5-phenylthiophene, resulting from 1,5-diphenyl-2,4-pentadien-1-one, and 2-acetyl-5-phenylthiophene, resulting from 6-phenyl-3,5-hexadien-2-one. Evidence is also presented for the structure of 2,4-dibenzoyl-3,5-diphenylthiolane, the product resulting from the action of polysulfide on the mixture of benzaldehyde and acetophenone. The same thiolane is shown to result as the minor thiolane component when chalcone reacts with polysulfide in 80% water/20% ethanol. The major component is a known rearranged thiolane identified by its physical properties. The reactiol of chalcone and polysulfide in ethanol at 0 or 25°C results in thiolane formation as evidenced by the isolation of 2,4-dibenzoyl-3,5-diphenylthiolane. However, the reaction of the same two compounds in boiling methanol (65°C) results in a competitive hydrogenation of chalcone giving dihydrochalcone in addition to the formation of thiolane. The demonstration of the low-temperature reaction of polysulfide with conjugated ene carbonyls in the present work adds an additional pathway for possible formation of S-heterocycles in the geosphere.
Sparse representation of point trajectories for action classification

Action classification is an important component of human-computer interaction. Trajectory classification is an effective way of performing action recognition with significant success reported in the literature. We compare two different representation schemes, raw multivariate time-series data and the covariance descriptors of the trajectories, and apply sparse representation techniques for classifying the various actions. The features are sparse coded using the Orthogonal Matching Pursuit algorithm, and the gestures and actions are classified based on the reconstruction residuals. We demonstrate the performance of our approach on standardized datasets such as the Australian Sign Language (AusLan) and UCF Motion Capture datasets, collected using high-quality motion capture systems, as well as motion capture data obtained from a Microsoft Kinect sensor.
Special requirements for calculation methods for soil decontamination processes

Abstract Soil decontamination is one of the major problems of industrialized nations. Various soil purification processes together with their characteristic attributes are discussed. Some transport and equilibrium phenomena of the contaminant/soil system are covered and some research needs are outlined which will facilitate better process design and significantly reduce clean-up costs.
Cervical epidural hematoma after chiropractic manipulation in a healthy young woman: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE : Posttraumatic spinal epidural hematoma is an uncommon entity. We present the first report of spinal epidural hematoma occurring after chiropractic manipulation in a healthy young adult without preexisting cervical disease or any obvious predisposing factors. CLINICAL PRESENTATION : The patient presented with radicular and myelopathic symptoms that developed 15 minutes after chiropractic manipulation. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. They revealed a cervical epidural hematoma. INTERVENTION : The hematoma was evacuated, and all of the patient's neurological symptoms improved over the course of the next 3 days. CONCLUSION : Although cervical spinal epidural hematoma is a rare clinical entity, it must be considered in patients with pain or neurological deficit after cervical trauma.
Congenital acute leukemia: Skin nodules, a first sign*

Summary 1. Skin nodules may be the first sign of congential leukemia. 2. The nodules are histologically characteristic even though leukemic infiltration or hematopoiesis be inconspicuous. 3. A case of congenital myeloid leukemia with specific skin nodules is reported.
IL-6 contributes to an immune tolerance checkpoint in post germinal center B cells

The generation of a B cell repertoire involves producing and subsequently purging autoreactive B cells. Receptor editing, clonal deletion and anergy are key mechanisms of central B cell tolerance. Somatic mutation of antigen-activated B cells within the germinal center produces a second wave of autoreactivity; but the regulatory mechanisms that operate at this phase of B cell activation are poorly understood. We recently identified a post germinal center tolerance checkpoint, where receptor editing is re-induced to extinguish autoreactivity that is generated by somatic hypermutation. Re-induction of the recombinase genes RAG1 and RAG2 in antigen-activated B cells requires antigen to engage the B cell receptor and IL-7 to signal through the IL-7 receptor. We demonstrate that this process requires IL-6 to upregulate IL-7 receptor expression on post germinal center B cells. Diminishing IL-6 by blocking antibody or haplo-insufficiency leads to reduced expression of the IL-7 receptor and RAG and increased titers of anti-DNA antibodies following immunization with a peptide mimetope of DNA. The dependence on IL-6 to initiate receptor editing is B cell intrinsic. Interestingly, estradiol decreases IL-6 expression thereby increasing the anti-DNA response. Our data reveal a novel regulatory cascade to control post germinal center B cell autoreactivity.
Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Functions on Nanopatterned PLGA Surfaces

The effects of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) surface properties on lung epithelial carcinoma cell functions were previously identified. Results demonstrated decreased lung epithelial carcinoma cell vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis on 23 nm surface featured PLGA compared to the PLGA nano-smooth substrates. To investigate the universality of nanopatterned PLGA on inhibiting cancer cell functions, here, breast epithelial adenocarcinoma cell, MCF-7, early functions were determined on different PLGA nanometer surface topographies. Moreover, the viability of healthy breast cells was determined by an MTT assay to investigate the effects of nanopatterning on healthy breast cell growth. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) verified the varied nanotopographies on the PLGA surfaces prepared in this study. Importantly, results demonstrated significantly decreased breast adenocarcinoma cell functions (including decreased proliferation rate and decreased VEGF synthesis) on 23 nm featured PLGA surfaces compared to the other PLGA surface topographies (specifically, nano-smooth, 300 nm and 400 nm surface featured PLGA surfaces). In contrast, healthy breast epithelial cell studies indicated a 24% higher cell proliferation on the 23 nm featured PLGA surfaces compared to all other PLGA samples. In summary, these results provided further insights into understanding the role surface nanotopographies can have on selectively inhibiting cancer cell functions for a wide range of anti-cancer applications.
Estrogen reduces myointimal proliferation after balloon injury of rat carotid artery.

Background Vascular disease progresses more slowly in females with functional ovaries than in males. The mechanisms of this vasoprotective effect of female sex are incompletely understood. This study tested (1) whether there is a sex difference in the development of myointimal proliferation after balloon injury of the rat carotid artery in vivo, (2) whether this response is estrogen or androgen dependent, and (3) whether there is a sexual dimorphism in expression of the c- myc proto-oncogene in intact and/or damaged rat carotid arteries. Methods and Results Ten-week-old male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were either gonadectomized or studied intact. Gonadectomized rats of both sexes were implanted with estradiol, testosterone, or nothing (control) 3 days before vascular injury. Two weeks later, the rats were killed by overdose of pentobarbital, and the injured right and uninjured control left carotid arteries were fixed and subjected to morphometric analysis for evaluation of the degree of myointimal thickening. Separate groups of intact male and female rats were killed at 1 and 2 hours after vascular injury, and total RNA from injured and uninjured vessels was subjected to Northern blot analysis for assessment of steady state c- myc mRNA levels. Neointimal area and the ratio of neointimal to medial area were significantly less in intact female rats than in intact male rats ( P <.05). Gonadectomy of female rats was associated with a greater increase in neointima formation after balloon injury than that observed in intact females ( P <.05), but testosterone replacement did not further enhance this response. Estradiol treatment significantly inhibited myointimal proliferation after vascular injury in gonadectomized rats of both sexes ( P <.05). Neither gonadectomy nor gonadectomy plus testosterone replacement altered the myointimal proliferative response to balloon injury in male rats. Steady state c- myc mRNA levels were detectable in undamaged carotid arteries in intact rats of both sexes and were significantly greater in males than in females; c- myc mRNA levels were increased in both sexes after carotid injury, but the response was significantly larger in magnitude and more rapid in males than in females. Conclusions These data indicate that the sex difference in myointimal proliferation after vascular injury is estrogen dependent. C- myc gene expression is greater in the undamaged carotid artery of the male than in that of the female, and the responsiveness of this gene to balloon injury of the artery is more rapid and more robust in the male than in the female rat. These findings have direct implications for the prevention and treatment of vascular disease in humans.
2-D conductance and magnetoconductance in a thin crystal of Bi14Te11S10.

Abstract In a crystal of Bi14Te11S10 the number of scattering centers is manipulated by allowing gases to adsorb/desorb on the surface. An increase in the number of scattering centers causes the temperature dependence of the low temperature conductance to change from logarithmic to exponential and the magnetoresistance to change sign from positive to negative.
Oh, Snap! Enabling and Encouraging Success in CS1 (Abstract Only)

CS10, is UC Berkeley's CS0 course. Each semester we have between 40% and 50% of our students continue on to CS61A, our CS1 course. Meanwhile an average of 25% more students express interest in continuing learning computer science through other means. CS10 is taught in a visual language called Snap! and CS61A in Python. This poster explores some of the trends we have seen between CS10 and CS61A enrollment, and our new "Besides Blocks" curriculum which helps transition students from a visual to text based language. Besides Block is approximately one fourth of the CS10 curriculum which introduces Python in the context of the Turtle Graphics system, and a tool called Codification which is a way of translating Snap! blocks to Python.
Structure and valence from complementary anomalous X-ray and neutron powder diffraction

Abstract We introduce a new type of crystallography whose major aim is to study the crystal chemistry and the electronic structure of constituent atoms or ions in crystals, rather than the crystal structure itself. These results are obtained from recent experiments that take advantage of the complementary nature of anomalous X-ray and neutron diffraction data, and of the fact that anomalous scattering can provide substantial changes in the scattering factors for atoms or ions with similar atomic number Z or with the same Z but different valence. Examples presented include: the determination of constituent ordering among several sites in Fe/Co/V alloys and in certain high temperature superconductors; the study of ordering that arises via valence fluctuation in metallic cerium; the determination of anomalous X-ray scattering factor variation for copper with oxidation state; and finally, the determination of site-specific valence of the Cu ions in the chain and plane sites in the high temperature superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6+ x as a function of oxygen stoichiometry.
Protease mediated prophenoloxidase activation in the hemolymph of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Endotoxin and laminarin activated prophenoloxidase in the plasma of Manduca sexta hemolymph. Diisopropylfluorophosphate inhibited this activation, suggesting the presence of a serine protease in the activation cascade. Exogenously added proteases such as pronase, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, and thermolysin also activated prophenoloxidase in Manduca plasma. However, these enzymes did not cause any detectable activation of partially purified prophenoloxidase. Thermolysin and subtilisin mediated activation of prophenoloxidase was inhibited by p-nitrophenyl-p′-guanidobenzoate. Similarly, benzamidine inhibited prophenoloxidase activation catalyzed by thermolysin. Activity measurements reveal the activation of a serine protease prior to prophenoloxidase activation. These results indicate the presence of a precursor form for the serine protease which is responsible for prophenoloxidase activation in Manduca sexta hemolymph.
A Family Psychosocial Risk Questionnaire for Use in Pediatric Practice

The objective of this study is to develop new methods to better identify psychosocial risk such that children with the greatest risk of poor future outcomes receive more intensive preventive health services. Based on structured literature review and secondary data analysis, a 52-item psychosocial risk questionnaire was administered to 2,083 families of children ( 25) on the questionnaire, more than double our observed average failure rate of 19.5 %, while it was less than 7 % for a child with the lowest possible score on the questionnaire. Thirteen parent-reported items can be compiled into a summary psychosocial risk questionnaire that predicts failure on developmental screening among preschool children. With further validation, this questionnaire could conceivably be used by clinicians to tailor pediatric preventive care to children at varying levels of risk.
ESB Enablement of an International Corporate Acquisition, an Experience Report

When a large Chinese manufacturing company acquired a Western competitor, an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) became a key enabler for the transition of business applications to their strategic infrastructure. Prior to the acquisition, their business model was based largely on domestic selling to distributors. The acquisition introduced new business models including relationship-based selling to large corporations and marketing custom configurations directly to consumers over the Internet. The company had to quickly incorporate substantial EDI connectivity and there was a significant learning curve for many on the team to learn the client's ERP package. The project schedule was aggressive and a globally distributed development team was used. This required our team to proactively collaborate across many time zones and play unfamiliar development roles. The author describes approaches taken to address these problems as well as potential areas for improvement which should benefit others participating in similarly complex projects.
A classification of 148 U.S. maize inbreds. II: Validation of cluster analysis based on RFLPs

To be useful to breeders, classification of genotypes based on cluster analysis must provide meaningful groupings of the genotypes clustered. We evaluated a classification of 148 U.S. maize [Zea mays L.] inbreds resulting from cluster analysis based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) to determine if it represented the true associations among the lines. Testing was aimed at the products of the two steps in cluster analysis: the proximity matrix containing estimates of groups in the form of a tree diagram [...]
Children's spatial knowledge of their neighborhood environment

Six-, eight-, and ten-year-olds' spatial knowledge of their neighborhood was examined. Children initially made bearing and distance estimates from their homes to three distant landmarks in the neighborhood area. They were then asked how far their parents permitted them to travel in the neighborhood with freinds and by themselves and how far they actually traveled. Finally, children described how they found their way from one neighborhood location to another. There were three major findings. First, children at all age levels knew the general direction to distant landmarks, suggesting that children as young as 6-years-old can infer spatial relations in large, familiar environment. Second, activity range increased over age, with boys ranging further than girls. Third, although children took advantage of a wide variety of cues to find their way in their neighborhood, clear developmental patterns of cue utilization and ldway-findingrd strategies were not evident.
More on integral generalised inverses of integral matrics

New results are obtained on integral generalized inverses of integralmatrices, mainly on integral {1,3}- and {1,4}- inverses. Some of these results have counterparts, already given in [4], [7], for generalized inverses of matrices over fields.
Targeting hyponatremia and hemodynamics in acute decompensated heart failure: Is there a role for vasopressin antagonists?

Current treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has not reduced the significant morbidity or mortality associated with this disease, and has promoted drug development aimed at neurohormonal targets. Hypervolemic hyponatremia, which is linked to the nonosmotic release of arginine vasopressin, is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). Vasopressin acts on V2 and V1a receptors to cause water retention and vasoconstriction, respectively. Clinical trials have demonstrated that vasopressin receptor antagonists (VRAs) are effective in treating hypervolemic hyponatremia in ADHF without a negative impact on renal function. The small hemodynamic benefit seen with VRA use appeared to result from V2-receptor antagonist–induced increase in urine output rather than from a vasodilatory drug effect. VRA use in ADHF trials was associated with minimal symptomatic improvement and no impact on morbidity or mortality. At present, clinical trial evidence does not support the routine use of VRAs in ADHF. Given the favorable renal profile of VRAs, studies on the possible benefit of VRAs in ADHF patients with renal insufficiency and diuretic resistance appear warranted.
The satisfactory reproducibility of the Ki-67 index in breast carcinoma, and it's correlation with the recurrence score

Objective: The clinical utility of Ki-67 in predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is limited by lack of an accepted validated method of assessment of Ki-67 and wide variations in the cut-offs. In this study, the interobserver variability in the estimation of Ki-67 proliferation index (PI) and its association with recurrence score (RS) was assessed. Materials and Methods: The interobserver variability was assessed between 3 pathologists in 27 invasive breast carcinomas that had also been analyzed for the RS (Oncotype DX). The guidelines proposed by International Breast Cancer Working Group (IBCWG) for analysis of Ki-67 were used. A Pearson correlation between the mean Ki-67 PI and the RS was calculated. Results: In the 27 tumors, the pathologists were in 89.1% agreement (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.891, 95%, 0.806-0.945) for Ki-67 PI estimation. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation between Ki-67 and RS (r = 0.78464, P < 0.0001) was obtained. There were 10 cases with low risk (mean RS: 10.1; Ki-67 range: 3-33%); 13 with intermediate risk (mean RS: 21.4; Ki-67 range: 6-43%) and 3 with high risk (mean RS: 53; Ki-67 range: 55-91%). Conclusion: Conventional evaluation of Ki-67 index is reproducible using the method suggested by the IBCWG. The wide range of Ki-67 PI in low and intermediate risk groups and the unexpectedly high Ki-67 PI in some low risk carcinomas limit its use as a predictive measure.
On the dissolution of carbonate and silicate in the deep ocean

Abstract The equilibrium, steady state and chemical kinetic models of the calcite compensation depth are examined in detail using recently available thermodynamic and field data. The steady-state model is found to be the only valid one in that no general correlations are found with ‘critical’ saturation or kinetic features in the water column. The presence of turbulent conditions or of active currents in the bottom waters, as inferred from temperature and nephelometer data, apparently exerts a marked accelerating influence on the dissolution rate. The striking similarity between the oceanic distribution of alkalinity and dissolved silica is explained in terms of a common slow dissolution step at the sediment surface.
Intrapersonal Resources and the Effectiveness of Self-Help Groups for Bereaved Older Adults

The relative impact of three intrapersonal resources (self-esteem, competencies and life satisfaction) and the duration of a self-help group intervention on levels of depression and grief were examined over time among a sample of 295 recently bereaved older adults. In general, the resources examined had a greater direct influence on outcomes than the intervention. Also, those with lower competencies reported reduced depression and grief with greater meeting attendance, whereas the opposite was at first true for those with high competencies. Depression eventually decreased, however, among those with high competencies who continued to attend self-help group meetings for more than 8 weeks. Although bereavement self-help groups can aid those who may be deficient in selected skills, it is equally important to emphasize ways the bereaved can more effectively use those strengths that they may already possess in order to facilitate adaptation.