cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of nuclear factor-kappa B activation by the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor PERK to mediate estrogen-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Stress responses are critical for estrogen (E2)-induced apoptosis in E2-deprived breast cancer cells. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is an important therapeutic target to prevent stress responses in chronic inflammatory diseases including cancer. However, whether E2 activates NF-κB to participate in stress-associated apoptosis in E2-deprived breast cancer cells is unknown. Here, we demonstrated that E2 differentially modulates NF-κB activity according to treatment time. E2 initially has significant potential to suppress NF-κB activation; it completely blocks tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-induced activation of NF-κB. We found that E2 preferentially and constantly enhances the expression of the adipogenic transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ), which is responsible for the suppression of NF-κB activation by E2 in MCF-7:5C cells. Interestingly, NF-κB p65 DNA-binding activity is increased when E2 is administered for 48 h, leading to the induction of TNFα and associated apoptosis. Blocking the nuclear translocation of NF-κB can completely prevent the induction of TNFα and apoptosis induced by E2. Further examination revealed that protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), a stress sensor of unfolded protein response (UPR), plays an essential role in the late activation of NF-κB by E2. This modulation between PERK and NF-κB is mainly mediated by a stress responsive transcription factor, transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), independently of the classic canonical IκBα signaling pathway. Thus, inhibition of PERK kinase activity completely blocks the DNA binding of both STAT3 and NF-κB, thereby preventing induction of NF-κB-dependent genes and E2-induced apoptosis. All of these findings suggest that PERK is a key regulator to convey stress signals from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus and illustrate a crucial role for the novel PERK/STAT3/NF-κB/TNFα axis in E2-induced apoptosis in E2-deprived breast cancer cells.
Psoriasis: Epidemiology and Genetics

Psoriasis has a worldwide distribution. Epidemiologic data are presented in order to analyze genetic and nongenetic factors affecting the manifestaton of psoriasis. No clear-cut genetic mode of inheritance has been established, although genetic factors undoubtedly play a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Proposed EBT-P quench detection technique in a magnetically noisy environment

The presence of large magnetic interferences in the EBTP plasma makes the detection of normal zones in the superconductor extremely difficult. A technique has been developed to model these magnetic noises and coil components as mutual inductances. The computer program SPICE was then used to develop a proposed conceptual circuit for reliable protection of the EBT-P mirror coils in the 60 GHz mode that may later be upgraded to 90 GHz operations.
Characterization of The Surface Fractal Dimension of Evaporated Silver and Gold Films Through Adsorption Isotherm Measurements

Abstract Thin solid films are receiving much current attention as model systems for nonequilibrium growth processes and also on account of their potential for use as protective overcoats. The technique of adsorption is particularly advantageous for the characterization of the roughness and porosity of such films because of the microscopic size of the probe and because the surface area probed by the adsorbed monolayer includes that contained in pores. Adsorption studies have been carried out for various silver and gold films which have been deposited under controlled conditions onto the surface electrodes of a quartz crystal microbalance. We have studied films deposited at rates between .5 and 75 A/sec and at temperatures ranging from 80–500 K. Within this range, there results a wide variety of film behavior, ranging from amorphous to crystalline to porous to potentially self-affine fractal structures.
CR1—Cytoskeleton Interactions in Neutrophils

The C3b receptor (CR1) is a polymorphic membrane glycoprotein (Dykman et al., 1983a,b, 1984, 1985; Wong et al., 1983). It is found in a variety of cell types and has several important immunologic functions (see reviews in Fearon, 1985, Schreiber, 1984, and Arnaout and Colten, 1984). For example, aside from mediating attachment of phagocytic cells to opsonized targets, erythrocyte CR1 may function in systemic clearance of complement-containing immune complexes (Cornacoff et al., 1983) or in local inhibition of complement-mediated damage to autologous tissues (Iida and Nussenzweig, 1983). It has been proposed that this function inadvertently plays a roll in the pathogenesis of CR1 deficiency found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (Iida et al.,1982). In addition, the human neutrophil CR1 mediates endocytosis of soluble multivalent ligand or soluble C3b-bearing complexes (Fearon et al., 1981; Abrahamson and Fearon, 1983). How this is effected has prompted researchers to investigate the relationship between CR1 and the cytoskeletal apparatus. Among the tools available to accomplish this is nonionic detergent lysis (or extraction) of cells.
Clinical Arterial Peripheral Vascular Pathology Does Not Impact Short- or Long-Term Survival after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Introduction. The dramatic changes in vascular hemodynamics after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are well noted. However, little postprocedural data exists on the outcomes in patients with clinical arterial peripheral vascular pathology [abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), carotid artery stenosis (CAS), and peripheral artery disease (PAD)] undergoing TAVR for severe aortic stenosis. Setting. A single center healthcare system. Methodology. A retrospective chart review case-control study of 342 consecutive patients who underwent a TAVR for severe aortic stenosis at Sanford Health in Fargo; ND was performed to determine if preprocedural comorbid AAA, CAS, or PAD was associated with worse outcomes after TAVR. Results. Patients with preprocedural comorbid AAA, CAS, or PAD had no significant difference overall survival at 1 month (94% versus 95% p =.812), 6 months (88% versus 89% p = .847), 1 year (74% versus 83%, p =.130), or 2 years (58% versus 63%, p =.611) after TAVR. Patients with clinical arterial peripheral vascular pathology also had no significant difference in preprocedural outcomes. Conclusion. This study gives evidence to suggest that patients with a comorbid clinical peripheral arterial pathology at the time of TAVR do not have a statistically significant increase in mortality out to 2 years after TAVR and no increase in procedural complications. These results affirm the safety and feasibility of TAVR in patients with AAA, CAS, and/or PAD.
The Role of the Posterior Bundle of the Medial Collateral Ligament in Posteromedial Rotatory Instability of the Elbow

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate two hypotheses. First, that disruption of posterior bundle of the medial collateral ligament (PMCL) has to occur for the elbow to subluxate in cases of po...
Unraveling the Mysteries of Recurring Slope Lineae

Abstract Recurring slope lineae (RSL) are narrow dark features that incrementally lengthen down dust-poor steep slopes when temperatures are warm. They subsequently fade during cooler seasons and recur annually. Here, we discuss possible formation mechanisms based on observations of 748 candidate and confirmed RSL sites. RSL occur on well-preserved craters, canyon walls, light-toned layer deposits, fractures, central peaks, and pits from 42°N to 53°S. We have constrained the seasonality of five RSL regions as a function of slope orientation showing that RSL are always actively lengthening somewhere on the surface of Mars. Dry granular flow, wet-triggered debris flow, and wet-dominated flow formation mechanisms have been proposed, but no mechanism can adequately describe all the RSL observations. More advanced modeling combined with data from future remote sensing or in situ instrumentation is needed to fully discriminate between these formation mechanisms. Furthermore, we acknowledge that RSL may be formed via multiple mechanisms.
Aminoglycoside Functionalization as a Tool for Targeting Nucleic Acids

Aminoglycoside functionalization as a tool for targeting natural and unnatural nucleic acids holds great promise in their development as diagnostic probes and medicinally relevant compounds. Simple synthetic procedures designed to easily and quickly manipulate amino sugar (neomycin, kanamycin) to more powerful and selective ligands are presented in this chapter. We describe representative procedures for (a) aminoglycoside conjugation and (b) preliminary screening for their nucleic acid binding and selectivity.
Sexual Assault Victimization, Fear of Sexual Assault, and Self-Protective Behaviors: A Test of General Strain Theory

According to Agnew’s General Strain Theory, many individuals who experience strain are more likely to engage in crime or become delinquent. To date, past research has examined the relationship betw...
Aβ Fibrils Can Act as Aqueous Pores: a Molecular Dynamics Study

Aggregation of Aβ peptides is important in the etiology of Alzheimer9s Disease (AD), an increasingly prevalent neurodegenerative disease. We ran multiple ~ 300 ns all-atom explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations starting from three NMR-based structural models of Aβ(1-40 residues) fibrils having 2-fold (pdb code 2LMN) or 3-fold rotational symmetry (2LMP, and 2M4J). The 2M4J structure is based on an AD brain-seeded fibril whereas 2LMP and 2LMN represent two all-synthetic fibrils. Fibrils are constructed to contain either 6 or an infinite number of layers made using periodic images. The 6 layer fibrils partially unravel over the simulation time, mainly at their ends, while infinitely long fibrils do not. Once formed, the D23-K28 salt bridges are very stable and form within and between chains. Fibrils tend to retain (2LMN and 2LMP) or develop (2M4J) a "stagger" or register shift of beta-strands along the fibril axis. The brain-seeded fibril rapidly develops gaps at the sides of the fibril, which allows bidirectional flow of water and ions from the bulk phase in and out the central longitudinal core of the fibril. Similar but less marked changes were also observed for the 2LMP fibrils. The residues defining the gaps largely coincide with those demonstrated to have relatively rapid Hydrogen-Deuterium exchange in solid state NMR studies. These observations suggest that Aβ(1-40 residues) fibrils may act as aqueous pores that might disrupt water and ion fluxes if inserted into a cell membrane.
Climatic Stress, Internal Migration, and Syrian Civil War Onset

Syria recently suffered a once in 500-year meteorological drought followed by one of the worst conflicts of the twenty-first century. We exploit subnational variation in drought impact to examine a...
Utilization Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapy.

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in the United States. Among other reforms, Medicaid expansion for low-income adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level contributed to broadening health insurance access to >17 million Americans ([1][1]).
Etiology and grading treatment of gastrointestinal failure

Gastrointestinal failure is often secondary to a variety critically illness such as sepsis, severe hypoxia and severe gastrointestinal diseases and characterized gastrointestinal mucous lesion, dysfunction of gastrointestinal motility and barrier.It is a pivotal factor influencing the outcome of critically ill patients.Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is important to improve the outcome of patients, but for a long time there was no unified definition and standard of diagnosis and also no consensus of therapeutic regimen because of lacking specific criteria of assessment.In recent years, the new conception of acute gastrointestinal injury with its four grades of severity and therapeutic regimen based on the grades were proposed in adult ICU field which is worth learning for pediatrician.In this review, the etiology of gastrointestinal failure and the new concepts on its different grades and grading treatment were discussed. Key words: Acute gastrointestinal injury; Gastrointestinal failure; Etiology; Grading treatment,
Ethics in Testing: Rights, Responsibilities, and Fairness

This chapter discusses some of the key ethical principles and standards that are most relevant to the clinical assessment of children and adolescents. Readers are directed to key sources that provide guidance on these standards, which should be a reference to anyone conducting clinical assessments. Topics include a discussion of the basic elements of informed consent and some unique considerations to the consent process when testing children and adolescents. Other topics include a discussion of what is meant by an “evidence-based” assessment and how this relates to standards of practice. We also discuss issues related to fairness in testing, such as making accommodations for children or adolescents with a disability and how to minimize bias in testing.
On the adequacy of message-passing parallel supercomputers for solving neutron transport problems

A coarse-grained, static-scheduling parallelization of the standard iterative scheme used for solving the discrete-ordinates approximation of the neutron transport equation is described. The parallel algorithm is based on a decomposition of the angular domain along the discrete ordinates, thus naturally producing a set of completely uncoupled systems of equations in each iteration. Implementation of the parallel code on the Intel iPSC/2 hypercube, and solutions to test problems are presented as evidence of the high speedup and efficiency of the parallel code. The performance of the parallel code on the iPSC/2 is analyzed, and a model for the CPU time as a function of the problem size and the number of participating processors is developed and validated against measured CPU times. It is concluded that parallel computers with a few hundred processors are capable of producing large speedups at very high efficiencies in very large three-dimensional problems.
Ernest Nagel: A Biography

This paper provides a summary and overview of Ernest Nagel’s life, based on his archive correspondence with members of the Vienna Circle and other philosophers and scientists. Nagel’s main works are noted and discussed against his personal background.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults: A case in a previously healthy adult.

A 25-year-old previously healthy female presented to the emergency department (ED) with 5 days of rash, fevers, shortness of breath, and generalized weakness. She had presented to another ED 4 days previously and noted that her rash had improved, but her other symptoms were worsening. She had recovered from COVID-19, confirmed by positive antigen test 5 weeks prior. On ED arrival, she was afebrile and persistently tachycardic to a rate of 120 beats per minute, despite aggressive fluid resuscitation with 3L of IV crystalloid. She was found to have a troponin elevated to 0.06 ng/mL in addition to a d-dimer elevated to 1.42 mcg/mL FEU. She was admitted to the hospital where she developed hypotension requiring vasopressor support and was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a newly reduced ejection fraction of 31%. She was diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A). The patient received intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone 60 mg Q12 hours while admitted. She was discharged on hospital day 3 with a prednisone taper and is currently doing well at her most recent follow-up with infectious disease.
Preconditions and multilevel models in studying post-surgical adverse outcomes

A variety of adverse outcomes, such as kidney injury, death, cardiac injury, and respiratory failure affect a significant number of patients after surgery. Previous research has investigated possible predictors for these outcomes, including features extracted from physiologic time series, change points in the time series, and prior conditions. This study builds upon this previous work by further exploring time series statistics, such as entropy, long-term memory, and change point analysis, as possibly predictive measures of volatility. These statistics are further examined by conditioning on prior conditions using multilevel modeling. For prediction, we use both random forest models and the robust method of L 1 regularized logistic regression. Predictive results from these models are evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and their area under the curve values. While the developed models did not show improvements in predictive accuracy, they did show that change point analysis and measures of entropy and long-term memory can be useful tools in predicting post-surgical adverse outcomes. The multilevel models show the important interactions between prior conditions and time series statistics for predicting adverse outcomes.
Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, First Update Supplement

360-Degree Performance Appraisal Systems. Accounting and Reporting for Private Nonprofit Organizations-Balancing Economic Efficiency with Social Mission. Acquiring Resources Through Price Negotiation: A Public Sector Approach. Administrative Law Judges and Agency Adjudication. Administrative Reform in Southeast Asia. Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes. Assessing the Validity of Constructive Change Proposals. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Budget Stabilization Fund. Bureaucrats and Politicians in Southeast Asia. Cambodia. Capital Programming and Budgeting: Comparative Local Government Perspectives. Capital Purchases. Community-Based Planning for HIV/AIDS. Cooperative Purchasing. Court System Strategic Planning. Crisis Policy-Making and Management in Southeast Asia. Decentralization in Southeast Asia. Democracy and Public Policy. Development Administration in Southeast Asia. Environmental Policy. Ethics and Administrative Reform. Ethics and Information and Communication Technology. Financial Condition. Foreign Policy Analysis. Freedom of Information Act-Federal. Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs). Health Care Decision Analysis, Alternatives in. Health Care Decision Making Behavior, Emerging Paradigms of. Health Care Policy. Health Care, Assessment and Evaluation of. Humanitarian Intervention. Impacts of Bureaucratic Reform on State Government Administration. Indonesia. Information Sourcse and State Policy Making. Integrated Healthcare Systems: New Trends, Emerging Models, and Future Shocks. Internal Control. John Rawls. Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). Logistics and Transportation. Malaysia. Milgram Experiments. Models of the Policy Process. National Security Policy. New Public Service. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
Protein tyrosine phosphatase assays.

Tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins play a critical role during many processes of the immune system, from early development to fully differentiated effector function. Since the opposing actions of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) determine the steady state level of tyrosine phosphorylation on a given protein, it is often important for mechanistic studies to determine the specific activities of PTKs and PTPs. PTPs are defined by their enzymatic activity that catalyzes the dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine residues. This unit focuses on methods to determine the enzymatic activity of PTPs. While there are many varieties of PTP assays, the focus in this unit is on immune complex PTP assays, which do not require elaborate biochemical purifications and are commonly used to test the activities of specific PTPs in the immune system. Although it has become increasingly recognized that PTPs show substrate specificities, most in vitro PTP assay are based on the use of generic surrogate substrates. In the basic protocol provided in this unit, dephosphorylation of the chromogenic substrate p-Nitrophenyl Phosphate (pNPP) is measured to determine the enzymatic activity of the PTP. In the first alternative protocol, the release of inorganic phosphate from a phosphopeptide is quantified using the Malachite Green Assay. The second alternative protocol uses a radioactively-labeled phosphoprotein as substrate, and the amount of released radioactivity is used to assess PTP activity.
The boylston street fishweir: Revisited

Excavations for the Boston subway system early in this century and later for building sites revealed the presence of waterlogged wood in the peat and silt deep beneath the present surface. Beginning more than 50 yr ago, the investigation of geological and biological materials recovered from these sites, especially the wood remains, believed to have been set in place by prehistoric Native Americans, became a benchmark for the multidisciplinary application of scientific methods in archaeology and environmental reconstruction. Recent excavations for building foundations in Boston have exposed additional wooden materials. We have analyzed 216 specimens recently recovered from an excavation at 500 Boylston Street where older office buildings were demolished to make way for a new commercial structure. Although some of our findings differ from those of the previous investigators we find support for the earlier supposition that the remains represent an ancient Native American fishweir, a fencelike barrier and trap for fish on an ancient shoreline.
Computing 3D Non-rigid Brain Registration Using Extended Robust Point Matching for Composite Multisubject fMRI Analysis

In this paper we present extensions to the Robust Point Matching framework to improve its ability to handle larger point sets with greater computational efficiency. While in the past this methodology has only been used to register either two-dimensional or small synthetic three-dimensional data-sets we demonstrate its first successful application on large real 3D data-sets. We apply this methodology to the problem of forming composite activation maps from functional magnetic resonance images. In particular we demonstrate the superior performance of this algorithm to a pure intensity-based registration in the specific area of the fusiform gyrus. We also demonstrate that the robustness of this method can be useful in the case where part of the brain is missing as a result of incorrect image slice specification.
Correction: Structure, function, self-assembly, and applications of bottlebrush copolymers.

Correction for ‘Structure, function, self-assembly, and applications of bottlebrush copolymers’ by Rafael Verduzco et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, 44, 2405–2420.
Complementation by Restricted Phage T1

The ability of restricted phage T1hr to complement stocks of T1am mutants carrying the P1 modification has been tested in mixed infection of Escherichia coli B(P1). Of the 18 genes tested, 15 could be complemented to give successful infection of approximately 10 to 25% of the cells, and 2 other genes consistently gave at least 5% complementation. The progeny phage produced in these infections was predominantly of the hr+am genotype. A mutant in gene 12 could be complemented very poorly, if at all. With one double mutant stock, the complementation obtained was nearly as good as the more poorly complemented of the two corresponding single mutants.
Retrieval goal modulates memory for context

fMRI was employed to assess whether the contents of recollection vary according to retrieval goal. At study, visually presented words were superimposed on urban or rural scenes or a gray background. The word-background pairs were presented in one of three spatial locations. During a scanned test phase, studied and unstudied words were presented. Two different source memory tasks were randomly interleaved. In the "background" task, the requirement was to judge whether the word had been presented against one of the two classes of scene, as opposed to the alternate class or the gray background. In the "location" task, discrimination was between words presented in one of the two lateral locations and words presented in either of the alternate locations. In both tasks, unstudied words required a separate response. In the background task, words studied against scenes elicited greater activity in parahippocampal and retrosplenial cortex than did words studied against the gray background, consistent with prior reports of scene reinstatement effects. Reinstatement effects were also evident in the location task. Relative to the background task, however, the effects were attenuated in parahippocampal cortex. In other regions, including medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortex, activity elicited in the location task by items associated with scenes was lower than that elicited by items presented on the gray background. The findings are interpreted as evidence that contextual retrieval is partially modulated by retrieval goal.
Steady-State Modeling and Simulation of a Distribution Feeder with Distributed Energy Resources in a Real-Time Digital Simulation Environment

This paper presents modeling procedures and validated results for the IEEE-13 node test distribution feeder using the real-time digital simulation platform RTDS-RSCAD. Models for distribution feeders in this real-time platform are rare, and this paper provides a detailed approach for developing this type of model. The platform-specific models, challenges, assumptions, solutions, and steady-state validation are presented. The feeder model developed here is aimed to be extended to an electric microgrid with integrated distributed energy resources (DER), which can be used to perform microgrid dispatch simulations. As demand curve information is important for microgrid dispatch simulations and is not available for the test feeder, a method for demand curve synthesis is presented. In addition, a method for DER sizing and placement is presented for design of a potential microgrid. Keywords—asset sizing, asset placement, distribution feeder model, HOMER, IEEE-13 node, real time, simulation, validation.
High efficiency shoot regeneration from callus of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)

Callus was induced from leaf segments of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) on modified B5 (mB5) medium with 0.1 mg/1 benzyladenine (BA) and 0.5 mg/1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The resulting callus was either subcultured to solidified Woody Plant Medium (WPM) with 0.5 mg/1 BA directly for shoot regeneration or sieved into liquid mB5 medium for suspension culture. After 3 weeks of suspension culture, when the callus clumps grew to 3–4 mm in diameter, they were transferred onto solidified WPM with 0.5 mg/1 BA for shoot regeneration. Almost 100% of the clumps formed shoots on WPM when subcultured directly from mB5 with an average number of 6 shoots per callus. When transferred from suspension culture in mB5 to WPM, an average of 6 shoots per callus were produced from 51% of calli. These shoots could be easily rooted on either mB5 or WPM with 0.2 mg/1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and transferred to pots. Transplanted plants were kept under intermittent mist for 2–4 weeks before normal growth in the green house.
Response to Letter by Pfeilschifter et al

Response: We appreciate the letter from Pfeilschifter et al1 regarding our article in which we demonstrated that activation of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1) by FTY720 is neuroprotective against cerebral ischemia through the prevention of caspase-dependent apoptosis in neurons. Both lymphocytes and vascular endothelial cells have S1P1,2 through which FTY720 may exert protective effects against ischemic brain. However, neurons also have S1P1, and S1P1 expression on neurons is preserved even after middle cerebral artery occlusion, as we demonstrated in our study.1 Despite efforts to develop novel agents to rescue neurons from neuronal death in penumbra where apoptotic events occur, few currently …
Materials and manufacturing processes selection system for product designs in concurrent engineering

Abstract This paper deals with aspects relating to the selection of work materials and suitable processes required to manufacture the product which has been designed in the domain of concurrent engineering. The optimal selection of work materials and manufacturing processes impacts the production costs considerably, which are committed largely during the preliminary and detail design stages of the product, based mostly on product functionality rather than manufacturing considerations. This paper describes methods which can be used to select work materials and their processing techniques in light of manufacturability considerations, during the preliminary and detail product design stages. Expert systems technology is used to build the models with appropriate interfaces to algorithms and data bases, for performing the quantitative measurements pertaining to manufacturability.
Potentiated lymphokine-activated killer cell activity generated by low-dose interleukin-2 and mismatched double-stranded RNA

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity was measured in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) treated in vitro for 3 days with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and mismatched double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Lytic activity was measured utilizing K562 (NK-sensitive) and 786-0 (NK-resistant) target cells. PBMC cultured with rIL-2 (10-1000 BRMP U/ml) alone showed concentration-dependent lytic activity against the 786-0 target cells, while cells cultured in unsupplemented medium or medium supplemented with mismatched dsRNA (200 micrograms/ml) alone could not lyse the 786-0 targets. The combination of mismatched dsRNA with suboptimal concentrations of rIL-2 (10-30 U/ml) showed enhancement of both natural killer (NK) and LAK cell activities. The uptake of [3H]thymidine by treated effector cells was dependent on time and rIL-2 concentration and was not increased in the cells treated with low-dose rIL-2/mismatched dsRNA, compared to those treated with low-dose rIL-2 or mismatched dsRNA alone. Similarly, changes in the expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD57, CD16 and CD25 cell surface antigens were independent or rIL-2 concentration and not altered by the presence of mismatched dsRNA. These results indicate that mismatched dsRNA can potentiate rIL-2-induced LAK cell activity by increasing the functional activity per cell, rather than by increasing the number of activated cells.
Quicksort algorithms with an early exit for sorted subfiles

The Quicksort algorithm is known to be one of the most efficient internal sorting techniques. Quicksort has received considerable attention almost from the moment of its invention. This paper reviews some of the important improvements to Quicksort that have appeared in the literature. Historically, the improvements to Quicksort have been in one of the following areas: (1) algorithms for determining a better pivot value, (2) algorithms that consider the size of the generated subfiles, and (3) various schemes used to partition the file. Despite improvements in these areas, the worst case situation of O(n2) comparisons for sorted or nearly sorted files still remains. This paper proposes a fourth research area for Quicksort improvement designed to remove the worst case behavior due to sorted or nearly sorted files. During the partitioning process (using any scheme) determine if the left and right subfiles are in sorted order. This is a minor but very effective modification to the Quicksort algorithm. A new Quicksort algorithms, Qsorte, is presented that provides an early exit for sorted subfiles. Test results on randomly generated lists, nearly sorted lists, sorted and sorted lists in reverse order are given for Quicksort, Quickersort, Bsort, Qsorte and several other algorithms. Results show Qsorte performs just as well as Quicksort for random files and in addition has O(n) comparisons for sorted or nearly sorted files and O(n) comparisons for sorted or nearly sorted files in reverse.
Retinal rod outer segment membrane models.

DRATZ et al.1 have reported on the reactivity of rhodopsin with the fluorescent labelling compound, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Rhodopsin failed to react in intact or sonicated disk membranes, but did react following dissolution of the membranes with detergents. Phospholipase-C treatment of the membranes and subsequent extraction of the diglycerides with hexane also caused the proteins to react. FITC reacts in model systems with amino, sulphydryl and tyrosyl groups1, so the lack of reactivity of membrane-bound rhodopsin was interpreted to mean that none of these groups were exposed to the aqueous environment. These authors therefore concluded that rhodopsin must be completely buried in the interior of a lipid bilayer, rather then partially buried and partially exposed to the water as proposed by Vanderkooi and Sundaralingam2.
Combinatorial discovery of tumor targeting peptides using phage display.

Peptides possess appropriate pharmacokinetic properties to serve as cancer imaging or therapeutic targeting agents. Currently, only a small number of rationally-derived, labeled peptide analogues that target only a limited subset of antigens are available. Thus, finding new cancer targeting peptides is a central goal in the field of molecular targeting. Novel tumor-avid peptides can be efficiently identified via affinity selections using complex random peptide libraries containing millions of peptides that are displayed on bacteriophage. In vitro and in situ affinity selections may be used to identify peptides with high affinity for the target antigen in vitro. Unfortunately, it has been found that peptides selected in vitro or in situ may not effectively target tumors in vivo due to poor peptide stability and other problems. To improve in vivo targeting, methodological combinatorial chemistry innovations allow selections to be conducted in the environment of the whole animal. Thus, new targeting peptides with optimal in vivo properties can be selected in vivo in tumor-bearing animals. In vivo selections have been proven successful in identifying peptides that target the vasculature of specific organs. In addition, in vivo selections have identified peptides that bind specifically to the surface of or are internalized into tumor cells. In the future, direct selection of peptides for cancer imaging may be expedited using genetically engineered bacteriophage libraries that encode peptides with intrinsic radiometal-chelation or fluorescent sequences.
The development and implementation of a computerized on‐line obstetric record

Summary We developed and implemented a completely paperless and on-line obstetric record in the high-risk obstetric clinics at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Patient care and interactions are input directly into the computer by the health care providers. Laboratory information is transferred automatically from the Laboratory Information Service into the computerized prenatal record. The system has been in continuous operation for 2 years and is highly regarded. Problems such as illegible handwriting, missing records, and missing laboratory data have disappeared. Research and data query capabilities have been facilitated. The feasibility and applicability of a computerized record replacing the paper record has been demonstrated.
Outcomes and complications of pelvic lymph node dissection during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy

Describe the outcomes and complications of patients who underwent standard pelvic lymphadenectomy (SPLND) and extended PLND (EPLND), or who did not undergo PLND (non-PLND) at the time of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected longitudinal data of 492 RALPs performed by a single surgeon (Kane) over a 5-year period. Patients are subdivided into three treatment groups: 54 EPLND; 231 SPLND; and 207 non-PLND. Indications for EPLND include Gleason score ≥8, PSA ≥10 ng/mL, and higher D’Amico risk group. Patient demographics, perioperative complications, and short-term oncologic outcomes are compared. Patients who underwent EPLND had higher-risk prostate cancer as evidenced by higher mean PSA (8.5 ng/mL), biopsy Gleason sum (≥8) (57.7 %), and D’Amico risk group (75.9 %), compared to SPLND and/or non-PLND groups (p ≤ 0.001). The EPLND total lymph node yield was similar compared to SPLND (20 vs. 18; p = 0.070). When the EPLND (n = 41) and SPLND (n = 57) were examined among only high-risk patients, the lymph node (IQR) yields [20 (14–29) vs. 17 (12–23)] and the proportion of positive nodes [29.3 % (12/41) vs. 12.3 % (7/57)] differed significantly (p = 0.048 and p = 0.042, respectively). Complication rates for all groups were similar and lymphocele formation was 5 %; 2.5 % were clinically significant. Robotic PLND can be performed with nodal yield comparable to open or laparoscopic PLND. Robotic EPLND improves nodal yield and the proportion of high-risk patients with nodal metastases recognized. Robotic PLND is associated with an approximately 5 % lymphocele rate. There is no difference in complications between EPLND and SPLND.
Poster: a highly efficient MGPT implementation for LAMMPS; with strong scaling

The MGPT potential has been implemented as a drop in package to the general molecular dynamics code LAMMPS. We implement an improved communication scheme that shrinks the communication layer thickness, and increases the load balancing. This results in unprecedented strong scaling, and speedup continuing beyond 1/8 atom/core.In addition, we have optimized the small matrix linear algebra with generic blocking (for all processors) and specific SIMD intrinsics for vectorization on Intel, AMD, and BlueGene CPUs.
Congenital lung anomalies: can we postpone resection?

Abstract Background/Purpose The management of asymptomatic congenital lung lesions is controversial. It is unclear whether elective resection provides a significant benefit. We sought to determine whether early vs delayed resection of asymptomatic congenital lung malformations resulted in complications. Methods Institutional billing records were queried for patients with lung malformations over a 10-year period. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, type of anomaly, symptoms, management, and procedural or disease-related complications. Results Eighty-seven patients were identified. The diagnoses included congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (41%), bronchogenic cyst (19.3%), sequestration (13.2%), and congenital lobar emphysema (12.0%). Fifty patients were observed for some period. Eleven became symptomatic, and 47 underwent resection at a mean age of 11 months. There was no difference in the type of resection, length of hospitalization, or complication rate between patients who underwent early vs delayed resection. There were no occurrences of malignancy or death. Conclusions In our series, there was no difference in measurable outcomes between early and delayed resection of congenital lung lesions. These data provide some support for a management strategy that might include observation with delayed resection for asymptomatic patients.
Simple connection between conservation laws in the Korteweg-de Vries and sine-Gordon systems

An infinite sequence of conserved quantities follows from the Lax representation in both the Korteweg-de Vries and sine-Gordon systems. We show that these two sequences are related by a simple substitution. In an appendix, two different methods of deriving conservation laws from the Lax representation are presented.
Column chromatography in the determination of tocopherol: Florisil, silicic acid, and secondary magnesium phosphate.

Abstract It has been shown that Florisil should be hydrated to 20% water to allow complete recovery of the tocopherols in column chromatography using eluting solvent of ethyl ether in Skellysolve F. Column chromatography with Florisil allows separation of the tocopherols into three groups (α, β and γ, and gd) using eluting solvents of ethyl ether or benzene in Skellysolve F. Saponified extracts of rat livers were analyzed directly for α-tocopherols after column chromatography with Florisil. However, total tocopherol could not be determined because large amounts of non-tocopherol, reducing substances were eluted from the columns along with δ-tocopherol. It was found that silicic acid had to be hydrated to Brockman activity grade III (15% water) to ensure good recoveries of α-tocopherol using elution of the columns with Skellysolve F—ethyl ether (98:2). It has been shown that there is difficulty in washing the MgHPO 4 during activation and that moisture can be used to deactivate activated MgHPO 4 to allow complete recovery of α-tocopherol. Large microgram amounts of coenyzme Q, changed by saponification into reducing compounds, were found to be partially eluted with tocopherol from columns of Florisil, silicic acid, or MgHPO 4 . Also reducing coenzyme Q-type-compounds may be formed on columns of MgHPO 4 and eluted with the non-α-tocopherols.
The role of inflation uncertainty in Germany: Friedman's hypothesis revisited

The paper reconsiders Friedman's (1977) proposition that increased inflation uncertainty may have adverse real effects for the German case. A proxy for the unobservable uncertainty variable is obtained from the Kalman-filtering estimation of a time-varying parameter model of inflation. This measure is introduced into an output equation that also includes anticipated and unanticipated inflation, thus allowing tests of both the Friedman and the Macro Rational Expectations hypotheses. The empirical evidence does not provide strong support for Friedman's view. Unanticipated inflation, on the other hand, seems to play a significant role for German output growth in the short run.
β-Endorphin: Photoaffinity labelling of a non-opioid binding site in a human neuroblastoma

Abstract A photoaffinity reagent 2-nitro-4-azidophenylsulfenyl chloride (2,4-NAPS-Cl) and synthetic analogs of human β-endorphin (βh-EP) were employed to demonstrate the presence of receptor sites specific for βh-EP but of non-opioid character in a human neuroblastoma cell line (IMR-32). The radioactive photoaffinity probe was carried out using [ 125 I-Tyr 1 ,2,4-NAPS-Trp 27 ]-β h -EP and IMR-32 cell membranes. After solubilization with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a single labelled protein band was identified with a molecular weight of 72,000. Labelling was blocked by βh-EP or βh-EP-(6–31) but remained in the presence of βh-EP-(1–27). The specificity of this band is thus identical to that of the non-opioid site previously characterized. Various nonionic or zwitterionic detergents did not extract the labelled non-opioid site.
Two-dimensional numerical analysis of AlGaAsGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors including the effects of graded layer, setback layer and self-heating

Abstract This paper presents a two-dimensional numerical analysis to investigate the effects of the graded layer, setback layer and self-heating on the current gain and cutoff frequency of AlGaAs GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). In addition to the standard drift-diffusion set of equations, the free carrier energy balance equations are also used in simulation to solve self-consistently the free carrier transport in the HBT. The results suggest that the elevated lattice temperature in the HBT resulting from the self-heating effect is a key factor limiting the HBT d.c. and a.c. performance at high current levels. Furthermore, it is found that the HBT with both the graded and setback layers has higher peak current gain and cutoff frequency than the abrupt HBT, graded HBT or abrupt HBT with a setback layer. Experimental data measured from abrupt and graded HBTs are included in support of the simulation results.
Field Dependence and Eye Dominance

21 Ss with incompletely established eye dominance were found to be significantly more field dependent (Hidden-figures Test) than 58 with established eye dominance.
A Stable Pulsed Hollow Cathode Power Supply

A circuit for a stable pulsed hollow cathode power supply is described. The long term current stability of this power supply is shown to have a relative standard deviation of ±0.0082%. This power supply has been used to replace the optical chopper in conventional atomic absorption systems using lock-in amplifier type data acquisition.
Dynamics of a dipolar bead in a finite conductivity cavity

This paper describes an algorithm to simulate the dynamics of a dipolar bead in an electrophoretic spherical cavity in the presence of mobile counter ions and applied fields. The model includes consideration of form drag and viscous damping, both corrected for wall effects, and a particle model of the ions in the cavity. Several levels of approximation are implemented to expedite the overall computation. As a particular application, bead dynamics in the presence of an alternating external field has been investigated as functions of applied voltage, switching frequency, and solvent conductivity.
Science education in a secular age

A college science education instructor tells his students he rejects evolution. What should we think? The scene unfolds in one of the largest urban centers in the world. If we are surprised, why? Expanding on Federica Raia’s (2012) first-hand experience with this scenario, I broaden her discussion by considering the complexity of science education in a secular age. Enjoining Raia within the framework of Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age, I task the science education community to consider the broad strokes of science, religious faith, and the complexity of modernity in its evolving, hybridized forms. Building upon anthropological approaches to science education research, I articulate a framework to more fully account for who, globally, is a Creationist, and what this means for our views of ethically responsive science education.
Generation of plasmatic coagulation factors by the isolated rat liver perfused with completely synthetic blood substitute.

Abstract Perfusion of isolated rat livers with a synthetic blood substitute (perfluorochemical with hydroxyethyl starch) indicated that these livers generate factors II, V, VII, IX, X, XI, XII, antithrombin III and plasminogen just as well as when they are perfused with blood components. Again it was demonstrated that rat livers release appreciable amounts of factor VIII:C only when exposed to some ingredient in plasma and serum, possibly VIIIR:AG.
MicroRNA-200c Contributes to Injury From Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia by Targeting Reelin

Background and Purpose—MicroRNA (miR)-200c increases rapidly in the brain after transient cerebral ischemia but its role in poststroke brain injury is unclear. Reelin, a regulator of neuronal migration and synaptogenesis, is a predicted target of miR-200c. We hypothesized that miR-200c contributes to injury from transient cerebral ischemia by targeting reelin. Methods—Brain infarct volume, neurological score and levels of miR-200c, reelin mRNA, and reelin protein were assessed in mice subjected to 1 hour of middle cerebral artery occlusion with or without intracerebroventricular infusion of miR-200c antagomir, mimic, or mismatch control. Direct targeting of reelin by miR-200c was assessed in vitro by dual luciferase assay and immunoblot. Results—Pretreatment with miR-200c antagomir decreased post–middle cerebral artery occlusion brain levels of miR-200c, resulting in a significant reduction in infarct volume and neurological deficit. Changes in brain levels of miR-200c inversely correlated with reelin pro...
Understanding and working with non‐compliant and aggressive young children

Interpersonal, familial, and situational risk factors that predict young children's aggression and non‐compliance are explored. Here examples of specific techniques and provided to help teachers and parents effectively support children's early development of cooperative and prosocial behaviours as well as problem‐solving skills in family and school situations.
Discounting Their Own Success: A Case for the Role of Implicit Stereotypic Attribution Bias in Women's STEM Outcomes

The important influence of social psychological fa- ctors, including stereotypes, on responses to achievement settings cannot be denied. In the target article (“Ingroup Experts and Peers as Social ...