cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4811: Functional pathway analysis in pancreatic cancer cells treated with a novel anti-cancer agent, copper-tolfenamic acid

Anti-cancer activity of tolfenamic acid (TA) has been studied using several preclinical cancer models including pancreatic cancer (PaCa). Since the dosage used for the anti-cancer actions of TA is rather high, we investigated Copper-TA (Cu-TA) for anti-proliferative activity using 12 cancer cells (representing 6 cancers) and demonstrated that Cu-TA is more effective than TA (IC50 values are 30-80% less than TA). Recently, we reported that Cu-TA inhibits tumor growth in mouse xenograft (pancreatic tumor) model. The objective of this investigation is to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of Cu-TA using PaCa cell lines. MIA PaCa-2 cells were treated with vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide) or 29 µM (IC50) of Cu-TA and processed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) to determine the differentially expressed genes using Oncology Biomarker (HTG EdgeSeq) panel. The functional significance of the altered gene expression was determined via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis which identified several networks, regulators, as well as molecular and cellular functions that were affected by Cu-TA treatment. A total of 18 networks were found to be involved with Cu-TA treatment and these networks had a significant overlap. Confirmation experiments assessing the alterations in the expression of selected candidate markers were conducted by qPCR and Western blot analysis using both MIA PaCa-2 and PANC 1 cell lines. The top upstream regulators included tumor protein p53, human epidermal receptor growth factor 2, Sp1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. These regulators were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The top five molecular/cellular functions affected by Cu-TA treatment were cell death/survival, cellular development, cell growth/proliferation, cell cycle and cellular movement. qPCR results of selected genes, Centromere protein F, DNA damage inducible transcript 3 and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (differentially expressed genes in sequencing) demonstrated that Cu-TA is efficacious at lower doses than TA. In summary, the NGS and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified critical genes or pathways altered by Cu-TA. This investigation demonstrated that the networks and regulators associated with cancer cell survival or apoptosis that are modulated in PaCa cells suggests that Cu-TA is altering genes associated with cancer, thereby demonstrating its potential as an effective anti-cancer agent. Citation Format: Myrna Hurtado, Laszlo Prokai, Umesh T. Sankpal, Blair Levesque, Rajasekhar Maram, Jaya Chhabra, Deondra T. Brown, Raj K. Gurung, Alvin A. Holder, Jamboor Vishwanatha, Riyaz Basha. Functional pathway analysis in pancreatic cancer cells treated with a novel anti-cancer agent, copper-tolfenamic acid [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4811.
Spatio-temporal Event Forecasting and Precursor Identification

Spatio-temporal societal event forecasting, which has traditionally been prohibitively challenging, is now becoming possible and experiencing rapid growth thanks to the big data from Open Source Indicators (OSI) such as social media, news sources, blogs, economic indicators, and other meta-data sources. Spatio-temporal societal event forecasting and their precursor discovery benefit the society by providing insight into events such as political crises, humanitarian crises, mass violence, riots, mass migrations, disease outbreaks, economic instability, resource shortages, natural disasters, and others. In contrast to traditional event detection that identifies ongoing events, event forecasting focuses on predicting future events yet to happen. Also different from traditional spatio-temporal predictions on numerical indices, spatio-temporal event forecasting needs to leverage the heterogeneous information from OSI to discover the predictive indicators and mappings to future societal events. While studying large scale societal events, policy makers and practitioners aim to identify precursors to such events to help understand causative attributes and ensure accountability. The resulting problems typically require the predictive modeling techniques that can jointly handle semantic, temporal, and spatial information, and require a design of efficient and interpretable algorithms that scale to high-dimensional large real-world datasets. In this tutorial, we will present a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art methods for spatio-temporal societal event forecasting. First, we will categorize the inputs OSI and the predicted societal events commonly researched in the literature. Then we will review methods for temporal and spatio-temporal societal event forecasting. Next, we will also discuss the foundations of precursor identification with an introduction to various machine learning approaches that aim to discover precursors while forecasting events. Through the tutorial, we expect to illustrate the basic theoretical and algorithmic ideas and discuss specific applications in all the above settings.
3D printing for dosimetric optimization and quality assurance in small animal irradiations using megavoltage X-rays.

Abstract Purpose New therapeutic options in radiotherapy (RT) are often explored in preclinical in-vivo studies using small animals. We report here on the feasibility of modern megavoltage (MV) linear accelerator (LINAC)-based RT for small animals using easy-to-use consumer 3D printing technology for dosimetric optimization and quality assurance (QA). Methods In this study we aimed to deliver 5 × 2 Gy to the half-brain of a rat using a 4 MV direct hemi-field X-ray beam. To avoid the beam's build-up in the target and optimize dosimetry, a 1 cm thick, customized, 3D-printed bolus was used. A 1:1 scale copy of the rat was 3D printed based on the CT dataset as an end-to-end QA tool. The plan robustness to HU changes was verified. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), for both MV irradiations and for kV imaging doses, and a gafchromic film were placed within the phantom for dose delivery verifications. The phantom was designed using a standard treatment planning software, and was irradiated at the LINAC with the target aligned using kV on-board imaging. Results The plan was robust (dose difference Conclusions Use of consumer 3D-printers enables dosimetry optimization and QA assessment for small animals MV RT in preclinical studies using standard LINACS.
Microsporidia Can Acquire Lamin-like Intermediate Filaments and Cell Adhesion Catenin-cadherin Complexes from the Host (?)

On their spore surfaces, Microsporidia often develop a canopy of filaments with characteristics of intermediate filaments (IF), as we demonstrated in previous studies on Thelohania sp., Ameson michaelis, and Spraguea lophii. Genomic studies indicate that among invertebrates, lamins that may localize in the cytoplasm or nucleus, are the only known IF type. These IFs can bind to the substrate containing cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) cadherins, associated with β and γ catenins. The objects of this study were to determine whether microsporidia have CAMs with the attached IFs on their envelopes and to find out if these proteins are provided by the host. An examination was made for localization of lamins and CAMs on the spores of the mentioned above species and Anncaliia algerae, plus in the host animals. Then, we determined whether the spores of A. michaelis and A. algerae could bind vertebrate nuclear lamin onto the spore surface. We also tested transgenic Drosophila melanogaster stocks bearing cadherin-GFP to see whether developing A. algerae parasites in these hosts could acquire host CAMs. The tests were positive for all these experiments. We hypothesize that microsporidia are able to acquire host lamin IFs and cell adhesion catenin-cadherin complexes from the host.
Medical Students and COVID-19: Challenges and Supportive Strategies

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread across the world, it is also adversely affecting medical student education. In addition, COVID-19 poses several challenges to medical students' physical and mental health and their professional identity formation. Medical students are experiencing increasing anxiety due to the COVID-19 disruption. Medical students show higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and stigmatization around depression and are less likely to seek support. It is therefore important to safeguard their mental health and implement effective strategies to support their educational, physical, mental, and professional well-being.
Partisan Investment in the Global Economy: Why the Left Loves Foreign Direct Investment and FDI Loves the Left

Pinto develops a partisan theory of foreign direct investment (FDI) arguing that left-wing governments choose policies that allow easier entry by foreign investors more than right-wing governments, and that foreign investors prefer to invest in countries governed by the left. To reach this determination, the book derives the conditions under which investment flows should be expected to affect the relative demand for the services supplied by economic actors in host countries. Based on these expected distributive consequences, a political economy model of the regulation of FDI and changes in investment performance within countries and over time is developed. The theory is tested using both cross-national statistical analysis and two case studies exploring the development of the foreign investment regimes and their performance over the past century in Argentina and South Korea.
National Employment Systems and Job Autonomy: Why Autonomy is High in the Nordic Countries and Low in the United States, Canada, and Australia

We present evidence that across countries, similar jobs carry very different levels of autonomy.
IDSA made 4 strong recommendations for preventing COVID-19 infection in health care personnel.

SOURCE CITATION: Lynch JB, Davitkov P, Anderson DJ, et al. Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines on infection prevention for health care personnel caring for patients with suspected or known COVID-19. Clin Infect Dis. 2020. [Epub ahead of print.] 32716496.
Cyanide consumption minimisation and concomitant toxic effluent minimisation during precious metals extraction from waste printed circuit boards

Abstract Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) constitute a hazardous material with up to 40 different metals, including numerous many heavy metals and environmentally harmful metals. Most hydrometallurgical processing approaches use high concentrations of toxic reagents and generate significant amounts of harmful effluents. This research investigates the use of cyanide-starved glycine solution containing no free cyanide in the leachate to extract precious metals from WPCBs, with most of copper and base metals pre-removed by upstream glycine-only leaching. Under the optimised conditions, 90.1% Au, 89.4% Ag and 70.1% Pd were extracted together with 81.0% Cu and 15.0% Zn. The extraction of other base metals remained low at 8.3% for Al and 70% whereas the glycine can be reused. Analysis indicates that with an initial cyanide dose of 250 ppm, the leaching solution was starved of cyanide after 4 h with no free cyanide, which minimises safety and health risks significantly compared with traditional intensive cyanidation ([CN] > 3500 ppm). Glycine and cyanide dose, pH, and particle size dominated leaching kinetics, while staged addition of cyanide did not enhance the extractions. A significant (70–90%) reduction in required cyanide use and cyanide-bearing effluents can be achieved while performing polymetallic metal removal and allowing reagent recycling.
Control of Body Segment Differentiation in Drosophila by the Bithorax Gene Complex

The bithorax complex (BX-C) in Drosophila is a giant cluster of closely linked genes that plays a major role in determining the segmentation pattern of the organism. From developmental and cytogenetic studies of this complex it now appears that orderly derepression of BX-C genes controls the orderly differentiation of body segments commencing with the thorax and proceeding posteriorly. The available evidence also suggests that the level of development which a given one of these segments achieves is a function of the particular subset of BX-C genes that is active in that segment. This paper summarizes the current status of our knowledge of what the BX-C genes do during development and how they are regulated.
Vitamin E inhibition of hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis: A gross, histologic, and ultrastructural study

Sixty-four young adult male and female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were divided into four equal experimental groups of sixteen animals. In Group 1 animals the left buccal pouch was painted three times weekly with a 0.25 percent solution of 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) in heavy mineral oil. In Group 2 animals the left buccal pouch was similarly painted with DMBA, but the animals also received 7 I.U. of vitamin E (α tocopherol) twice weekly on days alternate to the DMBA painting. The vitamin E was administered orally via a fine pipette. Group 3 animals were similarly painted with DMBA and received vitamin E vehicle by pipette. Group 4 animals served as untreated controls. Four animals in each group (two male, two female) were killed at 8, 10, 12, and 14 weeks. Buccal pouches were photographed and excised. Tumors were noted and measured in the left buccal pouches. The buccal pouches as well as major organs were fixed in formalin, sectioned in paraffin, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. In the Group 2 animals receiving vitamin E, there was a significant delay in tumor formation so that by 12 to 14 weeks there were fewer tumors and their average size was smaller than those in the Group 1 and Group 3 animals painted with DMBA but receiving no vitamin E supplement. Microscopic examination revealed that there was less invasion of underlying tissues and less surface necrosis. The tumors in both control and vitamin E groups were well-differentiated epidermoid carcinomas. No differences in the nature of the cellular patterns of the carcinomas in control and vitamin E groups were revealed by electron microscopic studies.
Higher Judicial Appointments in India – The Dilemma and the Hope: Trusting the Wisdom of the Generations

The dilemma between judicial independence and democratic accountability was prominent in the extensive debate on the judicial provisions in the Constituent Assembly. Though the Assembly did not intend to insulate the judicial appointment process completely from politics, political intermeddling was greatly feared for the sake of its independence. In this paper, while examining how far the dilemma informed the evolution the of the constitutional provisions regarding judicial appointments in India, firstly I will argue that it was this basic dilemma which made the constitution makers provide only a vague outline instead of a procedurally sound system of judicial appointment where roles of both the judiciary and the executive could be clearly demarcated. I will further argue that the strong bias towards the independence of judiciary had prompted the Assembly to provide what had not been provided by other constitutions in the world i.e., judicial consultation to eliminate the dangers of executive arbitrariness. The same time, the concerns about democratic accountability persuaded the framers of the constitution to leave a cardinal place in the integration of the whole consultative process for the executive so that an ideally perfect system of check and balance could be established. I will, finally, argue that the constitution makers had hoped that those who work the constitution would be able to make the vague provisions workable by way of developing healthy constitutional conventions in the light of future experience so that judicial independence and democratic accountability could be balanced.
An expendable bioluminescence measuring bathy-photometer

A low-cost compact marine bioluminescence (BL) measuring bathy-photometry has been developed for expendable use. This design allows investigators to add BL measurements to their data collection programs thus improving the worldwide data base of BL distribution. The shock tolerant solid state circuitry allows this instrument to be adapted for harsh deployment applications such as a rapid survey air drop package.
Isomorphism classes of finite dimensional connected Hopf algebras in positive characteristic

Abstract We classify all finite-dimensional connected Hopf algebras with large abelian primitive spaces. We show that they are Hopf algebra extensions of restricted enveloping algebras of certain restricted Lie algebras. For any abelian matched pair associated with these extensions, we construct a cohomology group, which classifies all the extensions up to equivalence. Moreover, we present a 1–1 correspondence between the isomorphism classes and a group quotient of the cohomology group deleting some exceptional points, where the group respects the automorphisms of the abelian matched pair and the exceptional points represent those restricted Lie algebra extensions.
Assessment of interfractional variation of the breast surface following conventional patient positioning for whole‐breast radiotherapy

The purpose of this study was to quantify the variability of the breast surface position when aligning whole-breast patients to bony landmarks based on MV portal films or skin marks alone. Surface imaging was used to assess the breast surface position of 11 whole-breast radiotherapy patients, but was not used for patient positioning. On filmed fractions, AlignRT v5.0 was used to capture the patient's surface after initial positioning based on skin marks (28 "preshifts" surfaces), and after treatment couch shifts based on MV films (41 "postshifts" surfaces). Translations and rotations based on surface captures were recorded, as well as couch shifts based on MV films. For nonfilmed treatments, "daily" surface images were captured following positioning to skin marks alone. Group mean and systematic and random errors were calculated for all datasets. Pearson correlation coefficients, setup margins, and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated for preshifts translations and MV film shifts. LOA between postshifts surfaces and the filmed treatment positions were also computed. All the surface captures collected were retrospectively compared to both a DICOM reference surface created from the planning CT and to an AlignRT reference surface. All statistical analyses were performed using the DICOM reference surface dataset. AlignRT reference surface data was only used to calculate the LOA with the DICOM reference data. This helped assess any outcome differences between both reference surfaces. Setup margins for preshifts surfaces and MV films range between 8.3-12.0 mm and 5.4-13.4 mm, respectively. The largest margin is along the left-right (LR) direction for preshift surfaces, and along craniocaudal (CC) for films. LOA ranges between the preshifts surfaces and MV film shifts are large (12.6-21.9 mm); these decrease for postshifts surfaces (9.8-18.4 mm), but still show significant disagreements between the two modalities due to their focus on different anatomical landmarks (patient's topography versus bony anatomy). Pearson's correlation coefficients further support this by showing low to moderate correlations in the anterior-posterior (AP) and LR directions (0.47-0.69) and no correlation along CC (< 0.15). The use of an AlignRT reference surface compared to the DICOM reference surface does not significantly affect the LOA. Alignment of breast patients based solely on bony alignment may lead to interfractional inconsistencies in the breast surface position. The use of surface imaging tools highlights these discrepancies, and allows the radiation oncology team to better assess the possible effects on treatment quality.
2004 TASI Lectures on Neutrino Physics

I discuss, in a semi-pedagogical way, our current understanding of neutrino physics. I present a brief history of how the neutrino came to be ``invented'' and observed, and discuss the evidence that led to the recent discovery that neutrinos change flavor. I then spend some time presenting mass-induced neutrino flavor change (neutrino oscillation), and how it pieces all the neutrino puzzles except for the LSND anomaly, which is also briefly discussed. I conclude by highlighting the importance of determining the nature of the neutrinos, i.e., are they Dirac or Majorana fermions.
The imidazoacridinone, C-1311 (Symadex™): The first of a potent new class of FLT3 inhibitors

B35 Background: C-1311 (Symadex™) is the lead compound in clinical development from a new series of agents, the imidazoacridinones. It has been previously thought that C-1311 was solely a topoisomerase II inhibitor and DNA damaging agent. Contemporary analysis, however, points to alternative structural parallelisms between C-1311 and the molecular scaffolds now seen as common motifs in receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors.Since mutations and the over-expression of these RTKs have been commonly found in tumor cells, we initiated a kinase inhibitor screening program, first in silico by molecular similarity matching, and then in vitro against recombinant RTKs. We were surprised to find that C-1311 inhibits FLT3 selectively and at nanomolar concentrations, while retaining much weaker TOP2 inhibition than previously recognized.Materials and Methods: In silico screens were carried out with drug-likeliness and property prediction algorithms (Dragon, Milano Chemometrics, X/ABLE, Xanthus Pharmaceuticals). Molecular "seeds" were generated by permuting the pharmacophore fragments from all RTKs known to date. Inhibitor assays were performed using the Z9-Lyte™ Kinase Screen (Invitrogen) and kinase enzyme assays (MDS). In vitro TOP2 assays were performed by measuring the inhibition of topoisomerase II decatenation of kDNA.Results: C-1311 clusters with RTK inhibitors, especially when sunitinib is used as a molecular "seed" for pattern recognition. The statistical similarity coefficients fall in the 0.7-0.8 positive probability range, compared to 0.2-0.4 for the classical TOP2 inhibitors. C-1311 has demonstrated low nanomolar inhibition (8-15 nM IC 50 ) against wild-type FLT3 and its D835Y mutant in vitro. Inhibition of PDGFR, FGFR, VEGFR2, and TRKA at low micromolar levels has also been observed. In contrast, the IC 50 of C-1311 in the TOP2 assay is 44 μM compared to 3 and 12 μM for mitoxantrone and daunorubicin, respectively.Conclusions: TOP2 inhibition studies have shown C-1311 to be 15-fold less potent in inhibiting TOP2 than mitoxantrone. Newly initiated studies by in silico screening and with RTK assays have uncovered C-1311 to be a potent and selective FLT3 inhibitor showing about 5,000-fold greater selectivity in vitro than daunorubicin. This finding may prove to be useful in treating as yet unexplored indications, such as hematological cancers and autoimmune diseases.
Constraints Contributed by Chromatin Looping Limit Recombination Targeting during Ig Class Switch Recombination

Engagement of promoters with distal elements in long-range looping interactions has been implicated in regulation of Ig class switch recombination (CSR). The principles determining the spatial and regulatory relationships among Igh transcriptional elements remain poorly defined. We examined the chromosome conformation of C region (CH) loci that are targeted for CSR in a cytokine-dependent fashion in mature B lymphocytes. Germline transcription (GLT) of the γ1 and e CH loci is controlled by two transcription factors, IL-4-inducible STAT6 and LPS-activated NF-κB. We showed that although STAT6 deficiency triggered loss of GLT, deletion of NF-κB p50 abolished both GLT and γ1 locus:enhancer looping. Thus, chromatin looping between CH loci and Igh enhancers is independent of GLT production and STAT6, whereas the establishment and maintenance of these chromatin contacts requires NF-κB p50. Comparative analysis of the endogenous γ1 locus and a knock-in heterologous promoter in mice identified the promoter per se as the interactive looping element and showed that transcription elongation is dispensable for promoter/enhancer interactions. Interposition of the LPS-responsive heterologous promoter between the LPS-inducible γ3 and γ2b loci altered GLT expression and essentially abolished direct IgG2b switching while maintaining a sequential μ→γ3→γ2b format. Our study provides evidence that promoter/enhancer looping interactions can introduce negative constraints on distal promoters and affect their ability to engage in germline transcription and determine CSR targeting.
A versatile probe for chemoselective capture and analysis of carbonyl compounds in exhaled breath

We describe an aminooxy reagent for the capture of trace aldehyde and ketone volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. The reagent, 4-(2-aminooxyethyl)-morpholin-4-ium chloride (AMAH), when coated onto micropillars within a silicon microreactor, chemoselectively and covalently retains carbonyl VOCs from exhaled breath. The AMAH–carbonyl adducts are then eluted from the microreactor with methanol and directly analyzed by Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry (MS), where the aminium ion of the reagent enhances the sensitivity for high mass accuracy. We also outline a protocol for treatment of the AMAH–carbonyl adducts with poly(4-vinylpyridine) to afford the corresponding volatile carbonyl adducts that now can be analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This convenient protocol imparts flexibility for the identification and quantification of isomeric VOCs using both FT-ICR-MS and GC-MS. Representative breath analyses are given to illustrate this applicability of AMAH.
Differential relationships of extraversion, impulsivity, and sociability to study habits

Abstract Reanalysis of data on library study habits presented by J. B. Campbell and C. W. Hawley (Journal of Research in Personality, 1982 , 16, 139–148) revealed differential utility for the EPI extraversion scale and its components, impulsivity and sociability. Individuals studying in locations that provided greater external stimulation had significantly higher extraversion and impulsivity, but not sociability, scores than individuals studying elsewhere in the library. Impulsivity was more strongly associated than sociability with preferred noise levels, frequency of study breaks, and importance and preferred levels of socializing opportunities, but less strongly associated with preferred levels of crowdedness. Findings are discussed in terms of the interpretation, reliabilities, and theoretical context of the subscales.
Comment on Jahn-Teller Distortion of Ag2+ Ions in SrF2 and CaF2 by Odd Modes

Observation of the Ag2+ in CaF2 and SrF2 has been reported by Fedder. The present comment suggests an alternate interpretation of the electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) results given in his paper by attributing them to the O- ion incorporated into CaF2 and SrF2.
Numerical simulation of martensitic transformations in two- and three-dimensional polycrystals

Abstract We introduce a fast numerical method for the evaluation of the effective elastic energy in martensitic polycrystals in two and three dimensions. The overall complexity of the method is O N operations, where N is the number of component crystallites. Upper and lower bounds on the energy are also presented which allow us to estimate the accuracy of the numerical results. Our new three-dimensional computations and bounds for random polycrystals, which are the first ones available in the literature, provide substantial insights on the behavior of polycrystalline martensites. They suggest that recoverable strains can be much larger than those attainable with zero energy.
Liberalism in Poland: Reply to Walicki

(1989). Liberalism in Poland: Reply to Walicki. Critical Review: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 348-354.
Estrogen modulates place learning through estrogen receptors in the hippocampus

Moderate elevations in circulating estradiol enhance learning in tasks that tap place learning strategies such as those requiring the use of extramaze cues. Use of place learning strategies is particularly impaired by damage to the hippocampus, a structure shown to be sensitive to estrogen treatments. We have shown that direct estrogen infusions into the dorsal hippocampus, and not the dorsolateral striatum, enhance place learning, suggesting that the hippocampus may be an important modulatory site for the effects of estrogen on place learning. The current experiment tested whether the hippocampus is indeed a critical site of estrogen modulation through classical estrogen receptors. Young adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized for 21 days and given systemic injections (0.1 ml) of sesame oil (OIL) or 10 microg of 17beta-estradiol-benzoate (E2), 48 and 24 h before being trained on a place task. Twenty-four hours prior to the first systemic injection, separate groups of rats received bilateral hippocampal implants of either the antiestrogen ICI 182,780 (ICI) or cholesterol vehicle. Implants were maintained until and throughout training. Intrahippocampal ICI reversed the enhancement in place learning seen with systemic E2 treatment. Unexpectedly, intrahippocampal ICI in OIL-treated rats also enhanced place learning. These data suggest that ICI may have some mixed agonist and antagonist effects in the hippocampus and that estrogen enhances place learning through activation of estrogen receptors located in the hippocampus.
EFFECTS OF GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI ON LUNG FLUID BALANCE QUO IN UNANESTHETIZED SHEEP

Sepsis and pneumonia with group B streptococci (GBS) has become an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality among newborn infants. Because the associated clinical syndrome resembles endotoxemia with respiratory distress as a prominent feature, the effects of infusing GBS on lung fluid balance were studied in unanesthetized sheep. Sheep were prepared as described previously (J. Clin. Invest. 54:792, 1974) and during each experiment, lung vascular pressures, lung lymph flow, lymph and plasma protein concentrations and arterial blood gases and pH were measured. After a steady baseline period, 109-1011 GBS suspended in 100ml saline was infused over 30 minutes. GBS caused chills, fever, a 45% increase in pulmonary artery pressure, a 75% increase in lung lymph flow and a 10% decrease in lymph: plasma (L/P) protein concentration. GBS also caused PaO2 and PaCO2 to fall and pHa to increase. Heat killed and live organisms had similar effects. The increase in lung lymph flow with decreased L/P protein concentration is like the previously reported response to mechanically increased lung vascular pressures (Circ. Res. 37:271, 1975). It is concluded that intravenous GBS causes increased fluid filtration from lung mlcrovessels primarily by increasing microvascular pressure. This effect could be an important part of the GBS septicemic syndrome in neonates, and may be mediated by an “endotoxin-like” substance.
Composition and flux of particulate amino acids and chloropigments in equatorial Pacific seawater and sediments

Abstract Compositions and fluxes of amino acids and major chloropigments were measured in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean as part of the US JGOFS EqPac program. Fluxes decreased by several orders of magnitude, from 400 to 0.03 mg amino acid m −2 d −1 and from 9 mg to 0.0004 μg chloropigment m −2 d −1 , between production in the surface waters and accumulation at the sea floor. Most rapid losses were in surface waters and at the sediment interface. Losses from the mid-water column were as great as those in surface waters or at the sediment interface, but occurred over a much greater depth range. Export flux estimates based on floating sediment traps were higher near the equator and decreased poleward, similar to primary production. Little meridional difference was apparent in composition of either amino acids or pigments in exported material over the 24° of latitude sampled in spite of the large (factor of 5–6) difference in fluxes. However, pigment composition changed dramatically with depth in the water column, and considerable diagenesis occurred before particles reached the sediment. Pigment compositions suggest that suspended particles were more degraded in the northern than in the southern hemisphere, possibly due to differences in food chain structure. Compositional changes in amino acids occurred in the water column, but were most noticeable at the sediment–seawater interface. Increases in the relative proportions of aspartic acid and glycine with depth were more consistent with preferential preservation within the particulate matrix than with any inherent stability of these compounds to heterotrophic consumption. The contribution of amino acids and pigments to total organic carbon clearly shows that selective degradation of organic matter occurs with depth; this is not evident from total organic carbon data alone. Amino acids contributed about a quarter of the total organic carbon (OC) in surface waters and 16% of the OC in sediment; pigments decreased from 1% of total OC in surface waters to
Structure of the yeast RNA polymerase II holoenzyme: Mediator conformation and polymerase interaction.

Summary RNAPII subunit (Kim et al., 1994). CTD phosphorylation plays a critical role in orchestrating the interaction be- The holoenzyme formed by RNA polymerase II tween the polymerase and Mediator. Biochemical and(RNAPII) and the Mediator complex is the target of structural evidence (Myers et al., 1998, Asturias et al., transcriptional regulators in vivo. A three-dimensional 1999) indicates that Mediator and RNAPII interact to structureoftheyeastholoenzymehasbeengenerated form a stable complex, known as the RNAPII holoen- from electron microscopic images of single holoen- zyme. Removal of the repetitive CTD region of RNAPII zymeparticles.ExtensivechangesinMediatorconfor- is lethal in vivo (Nonet et al., 1987) and, in vitro, prevents mation required for interaction with RNAPII have been the formation of the holoenzyme complex (Asturias et modeled by correlating the polymerase-bound and al., 1999). While Mediator-associated RNAPII has a hy- free Mediator structures. Determination of the precise
A rearrangement algorithm for switching networks composed of digital symmetrical matrices

Abstract The goal of this paper is to study the rearrangeability of switching networks composed of digital symmetrical matrices (DSM networks). We will describe an efficient rearrangement algorithm for rearrangeable DSM networks with O(r2) time complexity, where r is the number of input (output) switches. We also show that r−1 is an upper bound on the number of existing connections that need to be rearranged in order to realize a connection request.
The importance of understanding spatial population structure when evaluating the effects of silviculture on spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum)

Current silvicultural practices in the northeastern United States create diverse vegetation patterns and microclimates that provide a mosaic of terrestrial habitats for amphibian species. We inferred patterns of habitat use by the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, by studying colonization of four newly created breeding pools each surrounded by four different forest treatments: a control, partial cut, clearcut with coarse woody debris (CWD) removed, and clearcut with CWD retained. Created pools were rapidly colonized, indicating that breeding salamanders readily bred in new pools they encountered. This suggests that in our study area pool-specific philopatry and site fidelity may not be high and that particular pools may not define local breeding populations. In the experimental silvicultural treatments, juvenile salamanders preferred the control forest to the clearcuts, whereas adult salamanders showed no significant preferences among the treatments. Although silvicultural practices such as clearcutting may reduce juvenile movement between pools, inter-pool movement by adults that are more tolerant of habitat change may ameliorate this effect in our study area. If juveniles are the primary life-history stage dispersing between local populations (i.e., moving between more isolated groups of pools), however, there is potential for clearcutting to reduce the connectivity between local populations.
SAFFLOWER PROTEIN ISOLATES: INFLUENCE OF RECOVERY CONDITIONS UPON COMPOSITION, YIELD AND PROTEIN QUALITY

Safflower protein isolates (SPI) containing from 86.7–95.6% protein (N × 5.3) were prepared by extracting safflower meal at pH 8, 9 or 10 with NaOH and precipitating the protein with HCl at pH 5 (the iso-electric point) or 6. Within the various conditions used, N extraction was 64–77% with N recovered in the SPI ranging between 53 and 64%. Yield, as % weight or % N, increased with more alkaline extraction, whereas SPI with higher protein values resulted from lower extraction pH and precipitation at pH 6. Within any extraction pH, % N recovered was not significantly influenced by precipitation pH. Lysine was the first limiting amino acid in both safflower meal and SPI. True N digestibility of SPI was 96–97%, with that of the meal ranging from 78–85%. PER of safflower meal was not adversely affected by processing temperatures of up to 110°C, and, when combined with soy flour (1:1, w/w), PER was equivalent to that of soy protein alone. PER of SPI (1.05–1.28) was increased to 2.1–2.2 by supplementation with L-lysine or when combined with a digestible protein with a complementary amino acid composition, such as rice bran protein concentrate.
Forecasting cause-specific mortality using time series methods

Abstract Age profiles of cause-specific mortality for five leading causes of death are represented by parameterized mortality schedules. Such schedules are estimated for males and females over the period 1960–1985. The resulting time series of parameters are modeled as ARIMA processes, and parameter forecasts from these models yield forecasts of the complete age profile of mortality-by-cause. Forecasted profiles for most causes show satisfactory mean absolute percent errors and Theil statistics, with improvements relative to trend extrapolation methods at the longer forecast horizons.
Internet Authorship: Social and Political Implications Within Kyrgyzstan

This paper presents the results of our corroborated study of grassroots Internet sites and authors in the nation of Kyrgyzstan, exceptional in Central Asia for its deregulated Internet policy. The study presents a set of semistructured interviews with notable grassroots Internet authors and activists, including bloggers, forum participants, and journalists, and analyzes this data via a critical communication and media studies lens to point to significant implications on emergent social, cultural, and political movements in the nation.
Photochemical and thermal bergman cyclization of a pyrimidine enediynol and enediynone.

Novel 10-membered pyrimidine enediynes (3 and 4) were synthesized in seven and eight steps, respectively. These compounds were compared for their abilities to undergo Bergman cyclization both therm...
Recommending prime spots of a destination and time to visit from geo-tagged social data

Planning a trip can be a tedious task. One has to search for what places to visit at a destination (i.e. area) and what time to visit the destination. Sometimes this can be a time-consuming task because there are too much information available, and it is hard for one to choose which information to trust. In this paper we present a recommendation system clustering geo-tagged social data in a destination from each information source - Flickr and Foursquare - and combining the results from these diverse information sources to recommend places to visit. Our experimental results show that our recommendation system automatically suggests prime spots in Yellowstone national park with 0.83 precision and 0.927 NDCG, and in Yosemite national park with 0.8 precision and 0.912 NDCG. In addition, visualizing temporal information of social data helps travelers to decide when to visit a destination.
The Arabidopsis sugar-insensitive mutants sis4 and sis5 are defective in abscisic acid synthesis and response.

Summary Although soluble sugar levels affect many aspects of plant development and physiology, little is known about the mechanisms by which plants respond to sugar. Here we report the isolation of 13 sugar-insensitive (sis) mutants of Arabidopsis that, unlike wild-type plants, are able to form expanded cotyledons and true leaves when germinated on media containing high concentrations of glucose or sucrose. The sis4 and sis5 mutants are allelic to the ABA-biosynthesis mutant aba2 and the ABA-insensitive mutant abi4, respectively. In addition to being insensitive to glucose and sucrose, the sis4/aba2 and sis5/abi4 mutants also display decreased sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of mannose on early seedling development. Mutations in the ABI5 gene, but not mutations in the ABI1, ABI2 or ABI3 genes, also lead to weak glucose- and mannose-insensitive phenotypes. Wild-type and mutant plants show similar responses to the effects of exogenous sugar on chlorophyll and anthocyanin accumulation, indicating that the mutants are not defective in all sugar responses. These results indicate that defects in ABA metabolism and some, but not all, defects in ABA response can also alter response to exogenous sugar.
What’s Love Got to Do with It? The Sociology of Godly Love and the Renewal of Modern Pentecostalism

This article uses the recent work of sociologist Margaret M. Poloma to argue that developments in the sociology of Pentecostalism have the potential to revitalize a classical Pentecostal movement that can be otherwise understood as languishing. In particular, the social scientific study of benevolent service in various segments of the Pentecostal movement provides the springboard for the argument. After locating the interdisciplinary work of Poloma and her colleagues on godly love within the broader context of social science research in the last half century, this paper will explore its implications for the future and renewal of especially the classical Pentecostal movement, for Pentecostal theology and self-understanding, and for scholarship on Pentecostalism.
Use of State Space in the Dynamic Synthesis/Design and Operation/Control Optimization of a PEMFC System

An often used approach to the synthesis/design optimization of energy systems is to only use steady state operation and high efficiency (or low total life cycle cost) at full load as the basis for the synthesis/design. Transient and partial load operations are considered secondarily by system and control engineers once the synthesis/design is fixed (i.e. system testing with standard load profiles). This paper considers the system dynamics from the very beginning of the synthesis/design process by developing the system using a set of transient thermodynamic, kinetic, geometric as well as cost models developed and implemented for the components of a 5 kW PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) system. The system is composed of three subsystems: a stack subsystem (SS), a fuel processing subsystem (FPS), and a work and air recovery subsystem (WRAS). In addition, state space is used in a looped set of optimizations to illustrate the effect of the control system on the synthesis/design optimization and to develop a set of optimal multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) controllers consistent with the optimal synthesis/design of the PEMFC system. It is shown that these MIMO controllers correspond to the ones found in a non-looped optimization in which the gains for the controllers are part of the decision variable set for the overall synthesis/design and operation/control optimization. These last set of results are then compared with the optimizations results found with the traditional approach of using a single load point in order to show the advantage of the dynamic optimization.© 2008 ASME
Assessing alexithymia and related emotional ability constructs using multiple methods: Interrelationships among measures.

This study examined relationships among various measures of emotional ability reflecting different methods of assessment: self-report, clinical interview, collateral report, and emotion-relevant performance. On 140 young adults, the authors assessed self-reported alexithymia, emotional approach coping, and trait metamood skills; observer-reported alexithymia; interviewer-rated alexithymia; emotional awareness in response to vignettes; and emotional intelligence test performance. There were moderate magnitude correlations among the self-report measures, but correlations among other measures were relatively low. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a 3-factor model in which explicit self, implicit self, and explicit other measures were differentiated. These emotional ability measures do not form a unitary construct but differ as a function of the person providing the information and whether the measure is explicit or implicit.
The Nonexistence of Certain Galois Extensions Unramified Outside 5

Abstract Let ρ be a two-dimensional semisimple odd representation of Gal ( Q / Q ) over a finite field of characteristic 5 which is unramified outside 5. Assuming the GRH, we show in accordance with a conjecture by Serre that ρ = χ a 5 ⊕ χ b 5 , where a + b is odd.
What affects mortality after the operative management of hepatic abscess

Background. Historically, the operative mortality associated with hepatic abscess was >50%. More recently, patients have been treated with percutaneous drainage; however, those failing conservative management are treated operatively. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of operation for hepatic abscess in those failing conservative treatment or in those presenting as a surgical emergency. Patients and methods. This was a retrospective review of patients undergoing operation for hepatic abscess at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota from 1990 to 2003. Results. Of 288 patients diagnosed with hepatic abscesses, 32 required operation. Percutaneous drainage was the initial treatment in 15 (47%). The remaining 17 were initially managed with operation. Operative indication was septic shock (41%), failed nonoperative management (31%), and failure to make a diagnosis (28%). Operation was drainage (62%) or resection (38%). The morbidity and mortality rates were 41% and 15.6%, respectively. Factors associated with increased operative mortality were shock (p=0.04), INR > 1.5 (p=0.03), WBC >15 000 (p=0.04), AST > 150 U/L (p=0.01), alkaline phosphatase >500 U/L (p=0.03), positive blood cultures (p=0.03), total bilirubin >2.0 mg/dl (p 0.10), peritonitis (p>0.10), intensive care admission (p>0.10), polymicrobial infection (p>0.10), and blood transfusion (p>0.10). Conclusion. Operative intervention is avoided in 89% of patients with hepatic abscess. Septic shock is the most common reason for operation. Patients with septic shock, INR > 1.5, WBC > 15 000, AST > 150 U/L, total bilirubin >2.0 mg/dl, positive blood cultures, or alkaline phosphatase >500 U/L have increased mortality when undergoing operation for hepatic abscess.
Correlation consistent basis sets for the atoms In–Xe

In this work, the correlation consistent family of Gaussian basis sets has been expanded to include all-electron basis sets for In–Xe. The methodology for developing these basis sets is described, and several examples of the performance and utility of the new sets have been provided. Dissociation energies and bond lengths for both homonuclear and heteronuclear diatomics demonstrate the systematic convergence behavior with respect to increasing basis set quality expected by the family of correlation consistent basis sets in describing molecular properties. Comparison with recently developed correlation consistent sets designed for use with the Douglas-Kroll Hamiltonian is provided.