cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rationale for adjuvant chemotherapy.

Surgery or radiation therapy fails to cure clinically evident human cancer, in the main, if the disease is systemic (has metastasized) when first recognized, because neither modality can effectively remove or kill distant and/or unrecognized metastases. Starting drug treatment of a tumor when it is first clinically recognized, or when it re-presents following noncurative surgical or radiological treatment, fails to cure over 90% of cancer in man because the body burden of tumor cells exceeds the tumor cell kill potential of nearly all of the most effective drugs or drug combinations against most tumors. The indicated approach to improving cure rates under these circumstances is to use chemotherapy as an adjuvant to effective (life-prolonging) but noncurative surgical and/or radiological treatment. Surgical adjuvant chemotherapy of carcinoma of the breast and osteogenic sarcoma has already been shown to increase the disease-free interval over that obtained with surgery alone, and the probability of having achieved significant increases in long-term cure rates is high. Laboratory studies with transplantable metastatic lung, breast, and colon carcinomas and melanotic melanoma, and with a spontaneous breast carcinoma of mice, all of which are uniformly fatal if untreated, have shown that: 1) the incidence of metastatic disease is directly related to tumor mass, 2) surgical cure rates drop as tumor mass at surgery increases, 3) grossly evident primary tumors are generally not curable by drug treatment, and 4) surgical adjuvant chemotherapy increases the long-term cure rates with all of these tumors and significantly increases the life span of treatment failures. Effective surgical adjuvant chemotherapy is both dose-responsive and related to the body burden of metastatic tumor at time of drug treatment. The effectiveness of surgical adjuvant chemotherapy decreases 1) as the tumor staging is advanced prior to surgery, 2) as the interval from surgery to start of effective chemotherapy is increased, and 3) as the drug doses are reduced. Additionally, and of critical importance to treatment planning, some drugs that are marginally effective or ineffective against the presurgical total body burden of tumor cells are curative in some to all mice with metastatic disease if given shortly after surgical removal of the primary tumor.
cis-Enediyne chromophore of isano oil

The nonpolar fatty acids from isano oil have been reinvestigated to determine the source of the UV absorption long attributed to conjugatedcis-enediyne groupings. Proton magnetic resonance and mass spectra of certain fractions supported the occurrence of such structures, but discrete compounds with this grouping were not isolated. Part of this ubiquituous UV absorption ascribed to enediyne was found to be due instead to the same conjugated diynones identified previously in the oxygenated acid fraction of isano oil. The structures of methyl octadeca-9,11-diynoate and methyl isanate were correlated with their proton magnetic resonance, (PMR), carbon-13 magnetic resonance, and mass spectra.
Alcohol and sober mood state in female social drinkers

The goals of the present study were to measure the relationship between alcohol consumption in 93 female social drinkers and their cognitive functioning and mood in the sober state, and to investigate the possible causal effects of alcohol consumption on these variables. In the first test session, a limited relationship was seen between previous alcohol consumption and sober cognitive performance. A strong relationship was found between alcohol consumption and self-reported depression and anger in the sober state. Either a prolonged reduction in alcohol consumption or a prolonged maintenance of alcohol consumption was undertaken by random subsets of the original sample. In the second test session 6 weeks later, women who had been randomly selected to reduce their alcohol intake showed decreases in depression, anger, and mental confusion when they were sober, relative to women who maintained or increased their alcohol consumption over the same period of time. We found no changes in cognitive performance in these groups. We concluded that the simplest explanation of the findings is that relatively low levels of alcohol consumption produce substantial increases in depression and anger in the sober state in female social drinkers. The value of considering alcohol consumption as a continuous variable rather than a dichotomous variable with "safe" and "unsafe" zones was discussed.
Transport of dust to high northern latitudes in a Martian polar warming

The transport of dust in the Martian atmosphere into high northern latitudes as a result of a Martian polar-warming (and global-dust-storm) event was investigated using a simplified transport model in conjunction with a beta-plane dynamical model to simulate the transport of dust. Numerical experiments were performed to examine the influence of different warming dynamics and to assess the sensitivity of the transport to the initial dust distribution. Results indicate that substantial amounts of dust could be transported and deposited at high northern latitudes (extending to the pole) in a polar-warming event. The potential for the transport of water was also examined through simulations, with results indicating that large amounts of water could be transported to the north polar region in a warming, on the condition that substantial condensation and precipitation do not take place in the subpolar regions. However, the warmth of the Martian atmosphere during global dust storms makes the latter possible.
Chelation-enhanced fluorescence detection of metal and nonmetal ions in aqueous solution

Our group has previously described large chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effects upon the binding of metal ions, phosphates, and carboxylates to conjugate probes, providing large, readily measurable signals to these molecular recognition events. In understanding the structural requirements for CHEF, it is now possible to use the vast body of information on selective binding by azacrowns and cryptands in the synthesis of selective fluorescence probes. For example, a conjugate probe that allows for the selective, simultaneous assay of Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions has been synthesized and is described. In the homologous series of anthrylazamacrocycles that demonstrate chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) upon Zn(II) or Cd(II) binding in water, the pentacyclen derivative uniquely complexes Cd(II) with perturbation of the emission spectrum. The binding of anions such as phosphate and citrate give rise to fluorescence enhancements as large as six-fold; an observed pH dependence on the magnitude of fluorescence enhancements upon phosphate binding points to intracomplex protonation of the benzylic nitrogen by the HPO42- ion as the origin of this CHEF effect. Anthrylpolyamine conjugate probes yield large (up to 80-fold) changes in fluorescence upon binding to biological polyanions (e.g., DNA, heparin, and polyglutamate) at 1 M concentrations. These fluorescence changes have been used as the basis for a fluorometric assay of heparinase activity; the enzymatic hydrolysis of ATP can also be monitored conveniently using anthrylpolyamine fluoroionophores.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Fabrication of spintronic devices: etching endpoint detection by resistance measurement for magnetic tunnel junctions

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) have received tremendous interest since the discovery of substantial room temperature tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) due to spin-dependent tunneling, and have been intensively investigated for applications in next-generation memory devices, hard disk drives, and magnetic sensors. In the fabrication of MTJs, etching is needed to remove the top cap layers, upper magnetic layers, and the middle oxide layer in order to form a tunneling junction. In view of this, we have devised an innovative, simple, low-cost endpoint detection method for fabricating MTJs. In this method, the endpoint is detected by measurement of the sheet resistance of the MTJ stack. Only a multimeter is needed in this method, hence it provides a simple low-cost alternative for spintronic device researchers to explore the research field of magnetic tunnel junctions. This technique is also of great use in other kinds of metallic stack etching experiments.
Large solutions of mixed sublinear/superlinear elliptic equations

Abstract We consider the equation Δ u = p ( x ) u α + q ( x ) u β on R N ( N ⩾ 3 ) where p, q are nonnegative continuous functions and 0 α ⩽ β . We establish conditions sufficient to ensure the existence and nonexistence of nonnegative entire large solutions of the equation.
Textual Enhancement of Input: Issues and Possibilities

The input enhancement hypothesis proposed by Sharwood Smith (1991, 1993) has stimulated considerable research over the last 15 years. This article reviews the research on textual enhancement of input (TE), an area where the majority of input enhancement studies have aggregated. Methodological idiosyncrasies are the norm of this body of research. Seven major issues appear to be limiting the generalizability of the findings and holding up further progress in the understanding of the efficacy of TE for learning: (1) noticing and/or acquisition; (2) TE and comprehension; (3) simultaneous or sequential processing; (4) TE and the nature of the enhanced form; (5) TE and prior knowledge; (6) TE and input flood; and (7) TE and overuse. The existing research has nonetheless offered some important insights that future research should seek to build on.
Event-related potential asymmetries during the reading of sentences

This report is an overview of the lateral distribution of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) recorded during silent reading in 7 different experiments. Both single word and cross-sentence averages revealed the presence of several ERP asymmetries. The P1, P2 and a negativity between 300 and 500 msec were found to be larger over the right than the left hemisphere. It was argued that this asymmetric negativity was due primarily to the contribution of the N400 elicited by all content words. The degree of N400 asymmetry was unaffected either by the rate of sentence presentation or the ratio of congruent to incongruent sentences but was quite sensitive to family history of left-handedness. In contrast, the P1 and P2 asymmetries were uninfluenced by lexical class or familial sinistrality.
Sensitivity changes over the course of infection increases the likelihood of resistance against fusion but not CCR5 receptor blockers.

Abstract As HIV-1 evolves over the course of infection, resistance against antiretrovirals may arise in the absence of drug pressure, especially against receptor and fusion blockers because of the extensive changes observed in the envelope glycoprotein. Here we show that viruses from the chronic phase of disease are significantly less sensitive to CCR5 receptor and fusion blockers compared to early infection variants. Differences in susceptibility to CCR5 antagonists were observed in spite of no demonstrable CXCR4 receptor utilization. No significant sensitivity differences were observed to another entry blocker, soluble CD4, or to reverse transcriptase, protease, or integrase inhibitors. Chronic as compared to early phase variants demonstrated greater replication when passaged in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of fusion but not CCR5 receptor inhibitors. Fusion antagonist resistance, however, emerged from only one chronic phase virus culture. Because sensitivity to receptor and fusion antago...
Intramolecular electron transfer between Ru(I) and Ru(III) and the heme iron of cytochrome c labeled with ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes

The rates of intramolecular electron transfer between Ru(III) and Fe(II) of three derivatives of cytochrome c labeled at lysines 86, 8 and 7 with Ru(4,4′-dicarboxybipyridine)(bipyridine)22+ have been measured. The respective rate constants are 1.1×105, 1.3×105 and 6×105 s−1. Corresponding rates of electron transfer between Ru(I) and Fe(III) of these derivatives have also been measured. The respective rate constants are 3.3×105, 5.7×105 and 1×106 s−1. In addition the rate constant for a derivative labeled at lysine 87 was determined to be 2.7×105 s−1. The two sets of rate constants appeared to be correlated with each other with respect to the location of the ruthenium label. The Ru(I) rate constants are 2–3 times larger than the corresponding Ru(III) rate constants. Preliminary analysis suggests that the observed rate constants are not consistent with the large free energy of reaction expected for Ru(I).
Non-standard Work and Rural Low-Income Mothers: Making It Work

Work is an integral part of life in the United States and balancing work and family life can be a difficult task for many families made even harder to accomplish when a mother is low-income, living in a rural area, and working non-standard hours. Non-standard work hours include weekends, nights, rotating shifts, or split shifts. Using qualitative data from the longitudinal Rural Families Speak research project, this paper explored how rural low-income mothers who work non-standard schedules access and manage resources to try to balance the demands of work and family life. Interpreted through a family resource management lens, the results illuminate critical resources that allow families to manage work and family life while highlighting the demands the families often faced. Critical resources included accessing informal social support, managing work and family time, and seeking employment that supports work and family balance. Demands that threatened work and family balance included lack of flexibility in available resources and employment which make it difficult to balance work and family. Findings suggest the importance of developing community based programs to support both work and family as well educating employers on ways to support their employees.
A rapid assay for 14C-labeled hydroxylysine in collagen and related materials.

Abstract A rapid technique for assaying 14C-labeled hydroxylysine in biological materials is reported. The assay depends on the periodate oxidation of 14C-hydroxylysine to give 14C-formaldehyde. The 14C-formaldehyde is reacted with dimedon and the resulting 14C-formaldemethone complex is extracted into toluene. The method should be applicable to studying the synthesis and metabolism of hydroxylysine in collagen and in related glycoproteins of tissues such as basement membranes. The method distinguishes between glycosylated and nonglycosylated 14C-hydroxylysine, and therefore it is applicable to studying the glycosylation of hydroxylysine in collagen and similar proteins.
Accuracy of calorie estimation by females as a function of eating habits and body mass

The goal of this study was to evaluate accuracy of calorie estimation by college females in order to test the hypothesis that those displaying bulimic behaviors and restrained eating would evidence greater accuracy in calorie estimation. Subjects completed the Bulimia Test, the Restraint Scale, and a questionnaire in which they estimated the caloric content of various foods
Age-dependent changes in the cellularity and ultrastructure of the spleen of Fischer F344 rats

The age-related changes in the cellularity (cells/gram of tissue) of the spleens and thymuses of Fischer F344 male rats were determined. A decline in the weight of the thymus with age was observed as previously reported by others. The decline was most drastic between 4 and 20 months of age. The spleen, however, increased in weight with age. The increase was almost linear between 4 and 30 months of age. Yet when the number of cells recovered from each organ as a function of age was determined, a decrease for both the thymus and the spleen was observed with increasing age. It was surprising to find that fewer cells were recovered from the spleens of old animals even though the weight of the spleen of the old animals was greater than the spleens from the younger animals. The ultrastructure of the splenic white pulp of rats ranging from 4 to 30 months of age was studied to determine the possible cause for the age-related decrease in cellularity of the spleen. The white pulp of the 4-month-old rats contained a large number of small lymphocytes, and the number of cells was found to decrease with increasing age. The 30-month-old animals had less than 20% the number of lymphocytes in the white pulp as the 4-month-old animals, and the white pulp exhibited an increased number of reticular cells and macrophages with enlarged cytoplasm. The decreased cellularity and increased structural disturbance might be significant in the age-related decline of spleen lymphocyte functions.
Focus on form in the foreign language classroom: students''and teachers''views on error correction and the role of grammar

ABSTRACT While the professional literature abounds with treatises for and against the values of explicit grammar instruction and error correction in foreign or second language classrooms, few researchers have investigated student and teacher beliefs regarding the benefit of these pedagogical procedures. This paper reports on an exploratory study, conducted at the University of Arizona, which examines and compares foreign language student and teacher beliefs regarding the benefit of a focus on form in language learning. A total of 824 students and 92 teachers of the commonly taught as well as the less commonly taught languages were included in the study. Results reveal that the students surveyed are relatively favorably disposed toward a focus on form, regardless of language. However, some surprising discrepancies surfaced in teacher beliefs and in a comparison of student and teacher beliefs. The author recommends that in order to establish pedagogical credibility and increase their students' commitment to and involvement in learning, teachers make an effort to explore students' beliefs about language learning and to establish a fit between their own and their students' expectations.
On presenting audio-tactile maps to visually impaired users for getting directions

Recent years have witnessed significant efforts on developing computer-based technologies for making maps accessible to people who are blind. Existing work has largely focused on the technological aspects of the problem without adequate attention to the humancomputer interaction issues. Using an audio-tactile system as the platform, we present a focused study on such HCI issues for supporting a blind user's effective navigation of a map in getting directions. The ultimate goal of the research is to establish comprehensive design guidelines for building technologies that truly serve the needs of the users in the application of accessible maps. The results of our current study suggest that the proposed designs are effective for supporting a blind user in obtaining directions from online maps.
A 45 nm 8-Core Enterprise Xeon¯ Processor

This paper describes a 2.3 Billion transistors, 8-core, 16-thread, 64-bit Xeon® EX processor with a 24 MB shared L3 cache implemented in a 45 nm nine-metal process. Multiple clock and voltage domains are used to reduce power consumption. Long channel devices and cache sleep mode are used to minimize leakage. Core and cache recovery improve manufacturing yields and enable multiple product flavors from the same silicon die. The disabled blocks are both clock and power gated to minimize their power consumption. Idle power is reduced by shutting off the unterminated I/O links and shedding phases in the voltage regulator to improve the power conversion efficiency.
Partial primary sequence of a human endometrial epithelial progesterone dependent protein secreted in vitro

We have recently identified a uterine progesterone-dependent 25 kD protein (protein #27) secreted by endometrial epithelial cells but not stroma. Protein #27 was originally isolated from human luteal phase uterine fluids and partially purified by two-dimensional gel-electrophoresis and electroelution. It could not be detected in serum. We here report the further purification and amino terminal sequence of this protein, obtained from in vitro luteal phase endometrial tissue incubation media. Protein #27 was purified by a one-step method using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid compositional analysis confirms a high content of nonpolar and hydrophobic residues (40 mol%) and reveals a preponderance of acidic amino acids, consistent with its isoelectric point (5.9-6.3 pH). The amino terminal sequence obtained from a single individual reveals 85% homology with that of pregnancy-associated alpha 2-globulin from pooled cytosolic fractions from pregnancy endometria. We propose that protein #27, secreted by the endometrial epithelium, is an excellent candidate for a marker to be used to study pathological processes of the endometrium such as endometriosis and invasive carcinoma.
Leptin receptor deficiency is associated with upregulation of cannabinoid 1 receptors in limbic brain regions.

b-imager; D 9 -THC ABSTRACT Leptin receptor dysfunction results in overeating and obesity. Leptin regulates hypothalamic signaling that underlies the motivation to hyperphagia, but the interaction between leptin and cannabinoid signaling is poorly understood. We evaluated the role of cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1R) in overeating and the effects of food deprivation on CB1R in the brain. One-month-old Zucker rats were divided into unrestricted and restricted (fed 70% of unrestricted rats) diet groups and maintained until adulthood (4 months). Levels of relative binding sites of CB1R (CB1R binding lev- els) were assessed using ( 3 H) SR141716A in vitro autoradiography. These levels were higher (except cerebellum and hypothalamus) at 4 months than at 1 month of age. One month CB1R binding levels for most brain regions did not differ between Ob and Lean (Le) rats (except in frontal and cingulate cortices in Le and in the hypothalamus in Ob). Four month Ob rats had higher CB1R binding levels than Le in most brain regions and food restriction was associated with higher CB1R levels in all brain regions in Ob, but not in Le rats. CB1R binding levels increased between adolescence and young adulthood which we believe was influenced by leptin and food availability. The high levels of CB1R in Ob rats suggest that leptin's inhibition of food-intake is in part mediated by downregulation of CB1R and that leptin interferes with CB1R upre- gulation under food-deprivation conditions. These results are consistent with prior findings showing increased levels of endogenous cannabinoids in the Ob rats corrobo- rating the regulation of cannabinoid signaling by leptin. Synapse 62:637-642, 2008.
Autoantibodies targeting glomerular annexin A2 identify patients with proliferative lupus nephritis.

Purpose Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently develop lupus nephritis (LN), a complication frequently leading to end stage kidney disease. Immune complex deposition in the glomerulus is central to the development of LN. Using a targeted proteomic approach, we tested the hypothesis that autoantibodies targeting glomerular antigens contribute to the development of LN. Experimental design Human podocyte and glomerular proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with sera from SLE patients with and without LN. The regions of those gels corresponding to reactive bands observed with sera from LN patients were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Results LN reactive bands were seen at approximately 50 kDa in podocyte extracts and between 36 and 50 kDa in glomerular extracts. Those bands were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and 102 overlapping proteins were identified. Bioinformatic analysis determined that 36 of those proteins were membrane associated, including a protein previously suggested to contribute to glomerulonephritis and LN, annexin A2. By ELISA, patients with proliferative LN demonstrated significantly increased antibodies against annexin A2. Conclusion and clinical relevance Proteomic approaches identified multiple candidate antigens for autoantibodies in patients with LN. Serum antibodies against annexin A2 were significantly elevated in subjects with proliferative LN, validating those antibodies as potential biomarkers.
A fast Bayesian change point analysis for the segmentation of microarray data

Motivation: The ability to detect regions of genetic alteration is of great importance in cancer research. These alterations can take the form of large chromosomal gains and losses as well as smaller amplifications and deletions. The detection of such regions allows researchers to identify genes involved in cancer progression, and to fully understand differences between cancer and non-cancer tissue. The Bayesian method proposed by Barry and Hartigan is well suited for the analysis of such change point problems. In our previous article we introduced the R package bcp (Bayesian change point), an MCMC implementation of Barry and Hartigan's method. In a simulation study and real data examples, bcp is shown to both accurately detect change points and estimate segment means. Earlier versions of bcp (prior to 2.0) are O(n2) in speed and O(n) in memory (where n is the number of observations), and run in ~45 min for a sequence of length 10 000. With the high resolution of newer microarrays, the number of computations in the O(n2) algorithm is prohibitively time-intensive. Results: We present a new implementation of the Bayesian change point method that is O(n) in both speed and memory; bcp 2.1 runs in ~45 s on a single processor with a sequence of length 10 000—a tremendous speed gain. Further speed improvements are possible using parallel computing, supported in bcp via NetWorkSpaces. In simulated and real microarray data from the literature, bcp is shown to quickly and accurately detect aberrations of varying width and magnitude. Availability: The R package bcp is available on CRAN (R Development Core Team, 2008). The O(n) version is available in version 2.0 or higher, with support for NetWorkSpaces in versions 2.1 and higher. Contact: chandra.erdman@yale.edu
Bacterial pathogen phytosensing in transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants

Summary Plants are subject to attack by a wide range of phytopathogens. Current pathogen detection methods and technologies are largely constrained to those occurring post-symptomatically. Recent efforts were made to generate plant sentinels (phytosensors) that can be used for sensing and reporting pathogen contamination in crops. Engineered phytosensors indicating the presence of plant pathogens as early-warning sentinels potentially have tremendous utility as wide-area detectors. We previously showed that synthetic promoters containing pathogen and/ or defence signalling inducible cis-acting regulatory elements (RE) fused to a fluorescent protein (FP) reporter could detect phytopathogenic bacteria in a transient phytosensing system. Here, we further advanced this phytosensing system by developing stable transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants containing candidate constructs. The inducibility of each synthetic promoter was examined in response to biotic (bacterial pathogens) or chemical (plant signal molecules salicylic acid, ethylene and methyl jasmonate) treatments using stably transgenic plants. The treated plants were visualized using epifluorescence microscopy and quantified using spectrofluorometry for FP synthesis upon induction. Time-course analyses of FP synthesis showed that both transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants were capable to respond in predictable ways to pathogen and chemical treatments. These results provide insights into the potential applications of transgenic plants as phytosensors and the implementation of emerging technologies for monitoring plant disease outbreaks in agricultural fields.
POORLY WORDED, ILL-CONCEIVED, AND UNNECESSARY CODE PROVISIONS

Both the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and the International Building Code (IBC) -- to some degree or another -- have poorly worded provisions that are unnecessarily complex, are ambiguous, are not justifiable, and/or are overly restrictive. This paper presents just a few of these provisions, the reported justification for these provisions, and suggestions to simplify and improve the codes. Provisions discussed in this paper include the redundancy/reliability factor, the vertical earthquake, minimum base shear and drift limits, and accidental torsion.
A surface micromachined microtactile sensor array

This paper discusses the design and testing of an eight-by-eight tactile capacitive array sensor for detection of sub-millimeter features and objects, where the entire sensor array is smaller than normal human spatial resolution of 1 mm. Each square taction is less than 100 /spl mu/m on a side, with similar spacing between elements. The structural material was doped polysilicon with an air gap dielectric of 0.5 /spl mu/m. A thin (50-80 /spl mu/m) protective layer of silicone rubber was adhered to the polysilicon surface of the sensor to provide interpolation of normal loads between elements. The sensors were tested and possessed good spatial uniformity, the capability of detecting millinewton forces, and good interpolation between elements. The sensors had severe hysteresis problems, but no detectable proximity effects.
Reference Groups and Product Line Decisions: An Experimental Investigation of Limited Editions and Product Proliferation

Some luxury goods manufacturers offer limited editions of their products, whereas some others market multiple product lines. Researchers have found that reference groups shape consumer evaluations of these product categories. Yet little empirical research has examined how reference groups affect the product line decisions of firms. Indeed, in a field setting it is quite a challenge to isolate reference group effects from contextual effects and correlated effects. In this paper, we propose a parsimonious model that allows us to study how reference groups influence firm behavior and that lends itself to experimental analysis. With the aid of the model, we investigate the behavior of consumers in a laboratory setting where we can focus on the reference group effects after controlling for the contextual and correlated effects. The experimental results show that in the presence of strong reference group effects, limited editions and multiple products can help improve firms' profits. Furthermore, the trends in ...
Anti-recoverin antibodies cause the apoptotic death of mammalian photoreceptor cells in vitro.

We developed an in vitro model to study the effect of anti-recoverin antibodies on retinal cells and the mechanism(s) by which they kill photoreceptors in cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR). Rat retinal cells were grown in a defined medium, and cell types were identified by using antibodies against rhodopsin, recoverin, syntaxin, and thy-1. Purified immunoglobulin (IgG) against recoverin was added to the cultures at different concentrations for 24, 48, or 72 hr, and the survival of the cells was determined by fluorescence microscopy. Preimmune IgG and normal medium were used as controls. The cell death detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the terminal deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay were used to demonstrate cells undergoing apoptosis. Double labeling was used to visualize cell types and apoptotic death. Rods, amacrine cells, and ganglion cells were identified in the cultures. Rod cells, but not ganglion cells and amacrine cells, markedly decreased in the presence of 200 microg/ml of anti-recoverin IgG for 24, 48, and 72 hr. Anti-recoverin antibodies caused apoptosis in rod cells but not in amacrine cells. Almost all cells were shown to take up IgG from the medium. In conclusion, our retinal cell cultures provide a system for investigating antibody-mediated photoreceptor cell death and demonstrate that anti-recoverin antibodies cause the apoptotic death of rod cells, with no effect on amacrine cells. The results suggest that anti-recoverin antibodies play a key role in the apoptotic death of photoreceptors in CAR.
Parallel Information-Theory-Based Construction of Genome-Wide Gene Regulatory Networks

Constructing genome-wide gene regulatory networks from large-scale gene expression data is an important problem in systems biology. While several techniques have been developed, none of them is parallel, and they do not scale to the whole genome level or incorporate the largest data sets, particularly with rigorous statistical techniques. In this paper, we present a parallel method integrating mutual information, data processing inequality, and statistical testing to detect significant dependencies between genes, and efficiently exploit parallelism inherent in such computations. We present a new method to carry out permutation testing for assessing statistical significance of interactions, while reducing its computational complexity by a factor of Θ(n2), where n is the number of genes. Using both synthetic and known regulatory networks, we show that our method produces networks of quality similar to ARACNe, a widely used mutual-information-based method. We further explore the use of accelerators for gene network construction by presenting a parallelization on a cluster of IBM Cell blades. We exploit parallelization across multiple Cells, multiple cores within each Cell, and vector units within the cores to develop a high-performance implementation that effectively addresses the scaling problem. We report the first inference of a plant whole genome network by constructing a 15,222 gene network of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana from 3,137 microarray experiments in 30 minutes on a 2,048-CPU IBM Blue Gene/L, and in 2 hours and 25 minutes on a 8-node Cell blade cluster.
Seesaw theories at LHC and warm dark matter

Explaining the origin of neutrino masses clearly requires new physics beyond the Standard Model. I focus on the Seesaw paradigm and discuss a few simplest extensions of the SM that give Majorana masses to the active neutrinos. If realized at TeV scale, seesaw theories could manifest themselves in lepton number violating signatures at both low-energy processes and high-energy collider experiments. I summarize the constraints on the seesaw scales using the current LHC data. The left-right symmetric model connects the seesaw mechanism with the origin of parity symmetry breaking, and provides a unified framework for the simplest seesaw types. With new right-handed charged-current interactions, a TeV such model offers a plethora of new particles and exotic signatures at the LHC, and also accommodates a dark matter candidate, the lightest right-handed neutrino. A challenging question is the dark matter relic density which is typically over-produced in the early universe. The late decays of two heavier right-handed neutrinos can produce entropy and dilute the dark matter number. The key observation for this picture to work is the interplay between the freeze temperature of TeV right-handed gauge interaction and the QCD phase transition. The resulting dark matter mass is predicted to be around keV which makes the left-right model also a theory of warm dark matter. I will also comment on the fate of cosmic baryon asymmetry in this scenario.
Zurückführung der Funktionen beliebiger Winkel auf die Funktionen spitzer Winkel

Wir haben bis jetzt immer von Winkeln zwischen 0° und 360° gesprochen. Es kann aber auch vorkommen, das von Winkeln, die groser als 360° sind, die Rede sein mus. So kann z. B. ein um eine Welle geschlungenes Seil wohl einen Winkel, der groser als 360° ist, umspannen. Auch die trig. Funktionen solcher Winkel konnen vorkommen.
Procedures for Fixed-Width Interval Estimation of the Largest Normal Mean

Abstract Suppose that we are given k(≥1) independent and normally distributed populations π1, …, πk , where πi has unknown mean μ i and unknown variance σi 2 (i = 1, …, k). Let μ[k] denote the largest of the means μ1, …, μk . A two-stage procedure is developed which provides a confidence interval for μ[k] with fixed width. Tables needed to apply the procedure are provided.
Technology Readiness of the NEXT Ion Propulsion System

The NASA's evolutionary xenon thruster (NEXT) ion propulsion system has been in advanced technology development under the NASA in-space propulsion technology project. The highest fidelity hardware planned has now been completed by the government/industry team, including: a flight prototype model (PM) thruster, an engineering model (EM) power processing unit, EM propellant management assemblies, a breadboard gimbal, and control unit simulators. Subsystem and system level technology validation testing is in progress. To achieve the objective Technology Readiness Level 6, environmental testing is being conducted to qualification levels in ground facilities simulating the space environment. Additional tests have been conducted to characterize the performance range and life capability of the NEXT thruster. This paper presents the status and results of technology validation testing accomplished to date, the validated subsystem and system capabilities, and the plans for completion of this phase of NEXT development. The next round of competed planetary science mission announcements of opportunity, and directed mission decisions, are anticipated to occur in 2008 and 2009. Progress to date, and the success of on-going technology validation, indicate that the NEXT ion propulsion system will be a primary candidate for mission consideration in these upcoming opportunities.
Methemoglobin in man Following the use of Prilogaine

SUMMARY We have demonstrated in clinical practice that (1) a dose-response relationship exists between the dose of prilocaine and the incidence of methe-moglobin, (2) the methemoglobin is probably related to a metabolite of prilocaine and not to the agent itself, (3) dosages of prilocaine in excess of 16 mg/kg are necessary to produce methemoglobin levels capable of producing symptoms of hypoxia; however, the dosages exceeding 20 mg/kg in this study did not, on these occasions, produce such symptoms of hypoxia, and (4) that dose of 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg methylene blue can effectively revert methemoglobin levels to normal.
Early Ordovician Chaotic Deposits in the Central Volcanic Belt of Northeastern Newfoundland

Boulder-bearing argillite that contains a varied assemblage of both native and exotic sedimentary and volcanic clasts crops out over a large area in southeastern Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland. It occupies a consistent stratigraphic position throughout this area and is the oldest unit exposed in sequence; it lies beneath Caradocian graptolite-bearing slates. Middle Cambrian trilobites occur in limestone associated with lenticular masses of volcanic rocks that may be allochthonous. The entire unit is thousands of meters thick and is believed to be primarily a sedimentary deposit that has been secondarily remobilized into a chaotic melange. Larger fragments within the argillite consist of graywacke boulders and blocks of lava as much as hundreds of meters long; they float suspended in a matrix of pebbly mudstone. Smaller clasts range from granules of quartz and lithic fragments to cobbles of intrusive and extrusive rocks. The matrix is black, scaly, and pyritiferous with contorted green silty interbeds, commonly all homogenized into a chaotic paste devoid of primary structure. Various lines of evidence suggest polygenetic origin of chaos. Stratigraphic continuity, sedimentary origins of clasts, soft sediment deformation, and brittle rock deformation are all documented as having been important. Structural, stratigraphic, and sedimentological relations are like those in the argille scagliose of the Apennines and suggest similar environments and mechanisms. This chaotic melange records Early Ordovician tectonic movements at the northern extremity of the Appalachian belt. These movements may have heralded the onset of the Taconian Orogeny. Coeval movements in western Ireland were of an almost identical nature.
Genetic Data in Health Care: From Data to Information

A recent article in Nature , entitled “Gather and use genetic data in healthcare” (1), points out that although the human genome project has been declared complete for more than a decade, most medical decisions are still made without the involvement of genetic information. Only a few genetic variants influence medical decisions, such as variants in the BRCA genes, strong predictors for breast cancer that might lead to preemptive mastectomy or a tight screening schedule. Some studies have indicated that the reason for the lack of use …
Modulation of the arcuate nucleus-medial preoptic nucleus lordosis regulating circuit: a role for GABAB receptors

Estradiol rapidly activates a microcircuit in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) that is needed for maximal female sexual receptivity. Membrane estrogen receptor-α complexes with and signals through the metabotropic glutamate receptor-1a stimulating NPY release within the ARH activating proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons. These POMC neurons project to the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and release β-endorphin. Estradiol treatment induces activation/internalization of MPN μ-opioid receptors (MOR) to inhibit lordosis. Estradiol membrane action modulates ARH gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-B (GABAB) activity. We tested the hypothesis that ARH GABAB receptors mediate estradiol-induced MOR activation and facilitation of sexual receptivity. Double-label immunohistochemistry revealed expression of GABAB receptors in NPY, ERα and POMC expressing ARH neurons. Approximately 70% of POMC neurons expressed GABAB receptors. Because estradiol initially activates an inhibitory circuit and maintains activation of this circuit, the effects of blocking GABAB receptors were evaluated before estradiol benzoate (EB) treatment and after at the time of lordosis testing. Bilateral infusions of the GABAB receptor antagonist, CGP52432, into the ARH prior to EB treatment of ovariectomized rats prevented estradiol-induced activation/internalization of MPN MOR, and the rats remained unreceptive. However, in EB-treated rats, bilateral CGP52432 infusions 30 min before behavior testing attenuated MOR internalization and facilitated lordosis. These results indicated that GABAB receptors were located within the lordosis-regulating ARH microcircuit and are necessary for activation and maintenance of the estradiol inhibition of lordosis behavior. Although GABAB receptors positively influence estradiol signaling, they negatively regulate lordosis behavior since GABAB activity maintains the estradiol-induced inhibition.
Pulmonary actinomycosis treated by lung resection.

Two cases of pulmonary actinomycosis treated by upper lobectomy are presented. Both patients had uncomplicated postoperative courses and were well at the time of this writing. There have been 26 other cases of pulmonary resection for actinomycosis reported in the English literature. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in only one instance. Penicillin administered in the postoperative period makes pulmonary resection for actinomycosis safe. The diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis should be considered prior to thoracotomy in the patient who has an undiagnosed chronic lung infiltrate without evidence of tuberculosis or carcinoma.
Strategic Interaction in the 1994 and Earlier Cuban Refugee Crises

The 1994 Cuban refugee crisis is modeled as a prisoners' dilemma game for Cuba and the United States. A threat power version of the theory of moves yields a cooperative outcome in the game, sustained by mutual threats that deter defections by each player, which is consistent with moves made by the players. After the countries implemented deterrent threats, they agreed that Cuba would patrol its borders and the United States would admit 20,000 Cubans each year. We show that the analysis, suitably adapted, also illuminates strategic choices in the 1965 and 1980 Cuban refugee crises.
A Biochemical Study Of The Phenomena Known As Complement Splitting

It is generally accepted that complement may be split into a mid-piece and an end-piece. The mid-piece is thought to be in the globulin fraction, and the end-piece in the albumin fraction. The restoration of complement activity by putting together the albumin and globulin fractions does not prove, however, that each fraction contained a part of the complement, for the albumin fraction can be reactivated in the absence of the globulin fraction. Complement-splitting as brought about by hydrochloric acid, carbon dioxid, and dialysis, is really an inactivation of the whole complement by certain acids or alkalis, either added in the free state to the serum, or liberated as a result of the dissociation of certain electrolytes. That the whole complement, and not a part only, is present in the albumin fraction of the serum can be demonstrated by the removal of the inhibitory action of the acid or alkali. This can be effected by the addition, not only of alkali or acid, but also of any amphoteric substance. When hydrochloric acid, carbon dioxid, or dialysis are employed to produce the phenomenon known as complement-splitting, the complement is merely inactivated, not split.
Nuclear binding of progesterone in hen oviduct. Binding to multiple sites in vitro.

Steroid hormones, including progesterone, are known to bind with high affinity (Kd approximately 1x10(-10)M) to receptor proteins once they enter target cells. This complex (the progesterone-receptor) then undergoes a temperature-and/or salt-dependent activation which allows it to migrate to the cell nucleus and to bind to the deoxyribonucleoproteins. The present studies demonstrate that binding the hormone-receptor complex in vitro to isolated nuclei from the oviducts of laying hens required the same conditions as do other studies of bbinding in vitro reported previously, e.g. the hormone must be complexed to intact and activated receptor. The assay of the nuclear binding by using multiple concentrations of progesterone receptor reveals the presence of more than one class of binding site in the oviduct nuclei. The affinity of each of these classes of binding sites range from Kd approximately 1x10(-9)-1x10(-8)M. Assays using free steroid (not complexed with receptor) show no binding to these sites. The binding to each of the classes of sites, displays a differential stability to increasing ionic concentrations, suggesting primarily an ionic-type interaction for all classes. Only the highest-affinity class of binding site is capable of binding progesterone receptor under physioligical-saline conditions. This class represent 6000-10000 sites per cell nucleus and resembles the sites detected in vivo (Spelsberg, 1976, Biochem. J. 156, 391-398) which cause maximal transcriptional response when saturated with the progesterone receptor. The multiple binding sites for the progesterone receptor either are not present or are found in limited numbers in the nuclei of non-target organs. Differences in extent of binding to the nuclear material between a target tissue (oviduct) and other tissues (spleen or erythrocyte) are markedly dependent on the ionic conditions, and are probably due to binding to different classes of sites in the nuclei.
Issei Garden as Performative Space

Constructing what it means to be Japanese American Christian is more challenging than ever as historic Japanese American churchness give birth to fourth and fifth generations, as they become more multiracial, and as there are increasingly few who know the community's history. In California, the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church is a case that sheds light on how the creation and maintenance of space allow to remember their past and enact what proves a sense of religious and cultural identity, which offers an alternative to what the dominant culture enforces. The gateway between the church's past and present is not its archives, but the church's Issei Memorial Garden, which was built to honor the Issei-first generation of Japanese immigrants-who faced great hardship.
Topiramate Therapy and Cognitive Dysfunction

The effects of topiramate (TPA) adjunctive therapy on cognition in 22 consecutive patients with intractable epilepsy were studied at the Montreal Neurological Hospital, Quebec, Canada.