cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sticks and Stones, a conserved cell surface ligand for the Type IIa RPTP Lar, regulates neural circuit wiring in Drosophila

Control of tyrosine phosphorylation is an essential element of many cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation neurite outgrowth, and synaptogenesis. Receptor-like protein-tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) have cytoplasmic phosphatase domains and cell adhesion molecule (CAM)-like extracellular domains that interact with cell-surface ligands and/or co-receptors. We identified a new ligand for the Drosophila Lar RPTP, the immunoglobulin superfamily CAM Sticks and Stones (Sns). Lar is orthologous to the three Type IIa mammalian RPTPs, PTPRF (LAR), PTPRD (PTPδ), and PTPRS (PTPσ). Lar and Sns bind to each other in embryos and in vitro. The human Sns ortholog, Nephrin, binds to PTPRD and PTPRF. Genetic interaction studies show that Sns is essential to Lar′s functions in several developmental contexts in the larval and adult nervous systems. In the larval neuromuscular system, Lar and sns transheterozygotes (Lar/sns transhets) have synaptic defects like those seen in Lar mutants and Sns knockdown animals. Lar and Sns reporters are both expressed in motor neurons and not in muscles, so Lar and Sns likely act in cis (in the same neurons). Lar mutants and Lar/sns transhets have identical axon guidance defects in the larval mushroom body in which Kenyon cell axons fail to stop at the midline and do not branch. Pupal Kenyon cell axon guidance is similarly affected, resulting in adult mushroom body defects. Lar is expressed in larval and pupal Kenyon cells, but Sns is not, so Lar-Sns interactions in this system must be in trans (between neurons). Lastly, R7 photoreceptor axons in Lar mutants and Lar/sns transhets fail to innervate the correct M6 layer of the medulla in the optic lobe. Lar acts cell-autonomously in R7s, while Sns is only in lamina and medulla neurons that arborize near the R7 target layer. Therefore, the Lar-Sns interactions that control R7 targeting also occur in trans.
Color Separation of Galaxy Types in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Imaging Data

We study the optical colors of 147,920 galaxies brighter than g* = 21, observed in five bands by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) over ~100 sq. deg. of high Galactic latitude sky along the Celestial Equator. The distribution of galaxies in the g*-r* vs. u*-g* color--color diagram is strongly bimodal, with an optimal color separator of u*-r* = 2.22. We use visual morphology and spectral classification of subsamples of 287 and 500 galaxies respectively, to show that the two peaks correspond roughly to early (E, S0, Sa) and late (Sb, Sc, Irr) type galaxies, as expected from their different stellar populations. We also find that the colors of galaxies are correlated with their radial profiles, as measured by the concentration index and by the likelihoods of exponential and de Vaucouleurs' profile fits. While it is well known that late type galaxies are bluer than early type galaxies, this is the first detection of a local minimum in their color distribution. In all SDSS bands, the counts vs. apparent magnitude relations for the two color types are significantly different, and indicate that the fraction of blue galaxies increases towards the faint end.
Effect of pH, temperature, and use of synergistic oxidative agents on the ultrasonic degradation of tris-2-chloroethyl phosphate, gemfibrozil, and 17β estradiol in water

Abstract The degradation of three contaminants: tris-2-chloroethyl phosphate (TCEP), gemfibrozil (GEM), and 17β estradiol (E2) by ultrasonication (US) was investigated in a 0.6 L batch reactor. The effect of power intensity and temperature on degradation kinetics was quantified. The impact of oxygen (O2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8) on US effectiveness was assessed to determine potential synergism with US. The results illustrated that degradation of contaminants by US followed a first order rate expression and achieved their highest rate of degradation at pH 3, the lowest pH evaluated, except for TCEP which had a relatively constant rate of degradation with respect to solution pH. The maximum rate constants were achieved using US combined with Na2S2O8 and were found to be: 0.0070, 0.039, and 0.033 min–1 for degradation of TCEP, GEM, and E2, respectively. Combining US with H2O2 did not show synergism, while a small degree of synergism was observed when amending with O2. A 20% (average) decrease in the kinetic constant values was observed as the reaction temperature increased from 25 °C to 55 °C at pH 3. This study has provided a better understanding of the US process applied to the removal of organic contaminants from water.
L^p Boundedness of the Scattering Wave Operators of Schroedinger Dynamics with Time-dependent Potentials and applications

This paper establishes the L^p boundedness of wave operators for linear Schrodinger equations in R3 with time-dependent potentials. The approach to the proof is based on new cancellation lemmas. As a typical application based on this method combined with Strichartz estimates, is the existence and scattering for nonlinear dispersive equations. For example, we prove global existence for a class of Hartree nonlinear Schroedinger equations in L^2(R^3); allowing the presence of solitons.
Evidence for the presence and release of BDNF in the neuronal and non-neuronal structures of the internal anal sphincter.

Background Data on the neuromodulatory effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the gastrointestinal tract were recently reported, but there are still no data on the presence, distribution, and release of BDNF in the gastrointestinal tract, including the internal anal sphincter (IAS). Methods We examined the presence and distribution of BDNF and its receptor TrkB in the different IAS structures (neuronal and non-neuronal) via immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical analyses. We also monitored the release of BDNF in an IAS muscle bath (consisting of smooth muscle cells [SMCs], myenteric plexus, and submucosal plexus) before and after different agonists, and electrical field stimulation in the absence and presence of neurotoxin tetrodotoxin. Key results BDNF/TrkB was found to be present in all layers of the IAS, especially the smooth muscle, mucosa, myenteric plexus, and submucosal plexus. Detailed analyses revealed a significant colocalization between BDNF and TrkB in different structures, especially in the smooth muscle, the SMCs, and both plexuses. Data further showed higher levels of BDNF in the cytosol and that of TrkB toward the periphery of the SMCs. Conclusions & inferences These studies showed that BDNF/TrkB was present not only in the enteric nervous system (ENS), but also in the SMCs. For the neuromodulatory effects, BDNF is released locally from the ENS ((myenteric (10.01 ± 0.23 pg/ml) and submucosal plexus (9.05 ± 0.51 pg/ml)) and the SMCs (18.63 ± 1.63 pg/ml). Collectively, these findings have pathophysiological and therapeutic implications regarding the role of BDNF/TrkB in the IAS-associated rectoanal motility disorders.
The Role of Human Centromeric RNA in Chromosome Stability

Chromosome instability is a hallmark of cancer and is caused by inaccurate segregation of chromosomes. One cellular structure used to avoid this fate is the kinetochore, which binds to the centromere on the chromosome. Human centromeres are poorly understood, since sequencing and analyzing repeated alpha-satellite DNA regions, which can span a few megabases at the centromere, are particularly difficult. However, recent analyses revealed that these regions are actively transcribed and that transcription levels are tightly regulated, unveiling a possible role of RNA at the centromere. In this short review, we focus on the recent discovery of the function of human centromeric RNA in the regulation and structure of the centromere, and discuss the consequences of dysregulation of centromeric RNA in cancer.
Validating the use of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite analysis to assess the adrenocortical activity of the zoo-housed Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana).

With limited information known about the zoo-housed Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana), there is a need to gain more knowledge about their basic physiology to be able to better assess their well-being. Our goal was to develop noninvasive methods to evaluate stress physiology in the Sichuan takins housed under human care. The objectives were: (1) validate the use of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) analysis to monitor adrenocortical activity and (2) determine the relationship between FGM concentrations and changes in various factors including environmental conditions, reproductive hormones, and social factors. Three (one male and two females) adult Sichuan takins were included in the study from Lincoln Park Zoo. A cortisol enzyme immunoassay was used to analyze FGM from samples that were collected 2-4 times per week. FGM was biochemically validated in the laboratory and biologically validated using pregnancy and parturition. Results showed that 1 day after birth one female had a more than a six-fold increase in FGM. A positive relationship (p < .05) was observed between FGM and temperature for two of the three takins. Finally, FGM values tended to increase during times when aggression (p = .09) and reproductive (p = .08) behaviors were observed. In conclusion, environmental, reproductive, and behavioral factors could affect adrenocortical activity in zoo-housed Sichuan takins; therefore, these methods can be used to assist in the management and conservation of this threatened species both in zoos and potentially in the wild.
Out with the Old – In with the New

The goal of this opening chapter is to lay a conceptual foundation for what is intended to offer a broad overview of the core aspects of organizational learning, conceptualized as mechanisms by means of which modern commercial, non-profit and other organizations can use available data to fuel not only their decision-making processes, but also broader operational functioning. What is framed here as organizational learning imperative is seen as an inescapable consequence of the interplay among macrotrends that are profoundly changing how work is done and how lives are lived; those macrotrends include the shifting foci of economic value creation from tangible assets towards intangible know-how, digitization and digitalization of commercial and non-commercial aspects of life, the emergence of big data and data-enabled automation, the rise of enduring hypercompetition, and socio-politico-economic volatility becoming the new face of ‘normal’. Set in the comparative context of the ‘old’ ideas of thinking organizations and organizational thinking and the reasons those initially promising perspectives ultimately failed to deliver lasting organizational value, a broad Learning with Data framework is introduced, encompassing MultiModal Organizational Learning typology, an overview of distinct levels of data analytic know-how and a discussion of the elements, as well as the underlying process of analytic learning.
The addition of adjunctive letermovir to valganciclovir for refractory cytomegalovirus viremia in kidney transplant recipients.

Purpose Persistent viral replication resulting in ongoing cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia despite adequate therapy is difficult to manage and associated with negative outcomes. We report a case series of kidney transplant recipients receiving adjunctive letermovir in combination with valganciclovir for refractory CMV. Methods Adult patients receiving a kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant were included if they developed CMV viremia and initiated letermovir 480 mg daily as part of a dual therapy regimen with valganciclovir 900 mg twice daily between 1/9/2020 and 31/12/2020. Included patients received ≥90 days of valganciclovir and had a detectable viral load less than 1000 Iu/ml (log10 Results Eight patients were included. Letermovir was added 223 ± 105 days after initiation of CMV treatment with ganciclovir derivatives. Median viral load at initiation was 139.7 (range: 73-355) IU/ml and did not clear or change significantly after 2, 4 and 12 weeks of adjunctive letermovir (132.5 [range: 34.5-513] IU/ml vs. 68.7 [range: 34.5-574] IU/ml vs. 78.3 [range: 34.5-347] IU/ml, p > 0.05). Tacrolimus was reduced by ∼30% in anticipation of a letermovir-tacrolimus drug interaction. Despite this reduction, mean tacrolimus serum levels two weeks after adjunctive letermovir increased by 43% (5.6 ± 1.6 ng/ml vs 8.0 ± 4.6 ng/ml). Conclusion In kidney and kidney-pancreas recipients with refractory CMV, the use of adjunctive letermovir did not result in viral clearance. Additionally, despite a mean tacrolimus dose reduction of 30% at letermovir initiation, serum concentrations increased by over 40%. Further investigation into the optimal approach to refractory CMV is needed.
Local Governments and Risky Home Loans

Municipalities from the Central Valley in California to Upstate New York bear the legacy of reckless mortgage lending. Foreclosed homes and toxic titles have caused blight and cost communities billions of dollars. Many cities tried to halt the risky loans by calling on state and federal legislators and regulators to intervene. Some even passed ordinances aimed at curtailing the high-cost loans that were destroying their neighborhoods. Their pleas were dismissed and their ordinances overturned. Ultimately, the subprime crisis played a central role in the great financial crisis when millions of people lost their jobs and, as a consequence, lost their homes too. As a result, municipalities have born the burden of empty, dilapidated homes that pepper once vibrant neighborhoods. A handful of cities have sued financial institutions, attempting to recover their losses. The lawsuits have been complex and expensive, and limits on municipal standing have dramatically restricted the relief cities can recover.At the same time that cities were trying to stop abusive loans, most states and the federal government did nothing to curtail the making of unaffordable loans or the growing number of foreclosures. In the worst cases, governmental entities took steps that fueled risky lending. Later, when the subprime crisis morphed into the foreclosure crisis, state and federal governments failed to adequately assist municipalities.I analyze the legal and regulatory problems municipalities encountered when they attempted to restrict high-risk mortgage loans and when they sought to recover for foreclosure blight. I argue that these problems are the result of a broader, more systemic issue: municipalities are severely limited in their ability to act against commercial interests that cause harm to their communities. In the case of risky mortgage lending, I contend that the sensible policy is to expand localities’ power to protect against actions by financial institutions that threaten or impose costs on communities and I introduce models for local regulation of home mortgage lending.
Efficacy of phage therapy in poultry: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria has sparked a renewed interest in alternative bacterial control methods, including bacteriophage administration. In order to determine the overall efficacy of bacteriophage administration for the reduction of bacterial concentrations in poultry, a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis were conducted. The systematic review included studies in which 1) live chickens were challenged with a known quantity of bacteria; and 2) challenged chickens were administered a known quantity of bacteriophages; and 3) concentrations of the challenge bacteria were measured in tissue/fluid samples from both challenged and unchallenged chickens after phage administration; and 4) either standard deviation or standard error was reported. Results of a meta-analysis of the 12 studies included in this review (total inputs: n = 41; total observations: n = 711) indicated that concentrations of challenge bacteria were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in challenged, phage-treated chickens than in challenged, untreated chickens (effect size = -0.82 log10 cfu/g). Phage treatment effects were significantly greater (P < 0.01) in chickens administered phages via feed than in chickens administered phages via drinking water or aerosol spray. No significant differences were observed between subgroups when data were disaggregated by various other experimental characteristics, though some significant differences were observed across subgroups after further disaggregation by sampling time and animal age. As a whole, findings from the systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that phage administration can significantly lower concentrations of targeted bacteria in chickens and that, in some instances, the effect may be greater in the short-term vs. the long-term and in older vs. younger chickens.
Managing Risk and Uncertainty

Let it be that $300 is be distributed in a box having with three compartments (A, B, C). First you get to choose one of four distributions. And then you get a blind choice of one compartment, whose contents you will then receive. Which distribution would you choose?
Polarity in Neurons and Epithelial Cells : Distribution of Endogenous and Exogenous Ion Pumps and Transporters

The surface membranes of neurons and epithelial cells are divided into distinct domains characterized by markedly different protein compositions. Similar mechanisms may function to generate and maintain this polarity in both systems. Viral glycoproteins which are sorted to the epithelial apical and basolateral surfaces, respectively, have been shown to accumulate in the axonal and dendritic domains of infected neurons (Dotti and Simons, 1990) Thus, the signals and mechanisms responsible for apical or basolateral sorting in epithelia may result in axonal or dendritic targetting in neurons. In order to test this model directely we have examined the sorting behavior of two isoforms of the Na, K-ATPase and of the transporter for GABA in primary culture of hippocampal neurons and in polarized epithelial cells. The Na, K-ATPase is an integral membrane protein complex responsible for establishing the electrochemical gradients of sodium and potassium across the plasma membrane of the mammalian cells. The enzyme is composed of two subunits, alpha and beta, both of which exist as multiple isoforms. Three alpha isoforms, encoded by three different genes, have been cloned from the rat. Polarized epithelial cells express the alpha 1 isoform. In brain, alpha 1 and alpha 2 are expressed both in neuronal and in non-neuronal cells, while alpha 3 is the neuron-specific isoform (Sweadner et al. 1990). The GABA-transporter belongs to the noradrenaline/dopamine transporter gene family whose members are thought to terminate synaptic activity by sodium and cloride dependent reaccumulation of neurotrasmitters into presynaptic termini (Guastella et al., 1990).
Test-retest reliability of a questionnaire to assess physical environmental factors pertaining to physical activity

Background Despite the documented benefits of physical activity, many adults do not obtain the recommended amounts. Barriers to physical activity occur at multiple levels, including at the individual, interpersonal, and environmental levels. Only until more recently has there been a concerted focus on how the physical environment might affect physical activity behavior. With this new area of study, self-report measures should be psychometrically tested before use in research studies. Therefore the objective of this study was to document the test-retest reliability of a questionnaire designed to assess physical environmental factors that might be associated with physical activity in a diverse adult population.
Environmental and Ecological Statistics

The emphasis of Environmental and Ecological Statistics is, as its title declares, on statistics, ecology, and the environment. It acts as a forum for multidisciplinary communication and discussion on statistics, ecology, environment, and society.
Ultradeep Optical Identifications and Spectroscopy of Faint Radio Sources

During the last two years we have completed an extensive project of direct CCD imaging with the Palomar 200 inch Four-shooter on several milliJansky and microJansky radio samples, now totaling 200 sources. The purpose is to study the nature and redshift distribution of the radio galaxies that cause the upturn in the milliJansky source counts (WMOKK) and to search for candidates of primeval radio galaxies.
Increased circulating fibrocytes and their capacity of proliferation and differentiation in clinically unstable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Airway inflammation occurs around small airways in COPD, contributing to irreversible airflow obstruction. Circulating fibrocytes have home to the airways in response to local inflammation and able to be transformed into myofibrobalsts for airway remodeling. Objectives: To compare the proportion, proliferation, and differentiation of circulating fibrocytes between clinically unstable and stable COPD patients. Methods: 60 ml peripheral blood were collected from 10 COPD patients with at least 2 episodes of hospitalization (Unstable COPD) and 9 COPD without any episode of hospitalization (Stable COPD) over previous one year, then separating as non-adherent non-T cells (NANT). NANT cells were cultured for 14 days and variable treatment. The fibrocyte markers CD34, CD45RO, collagen I and EGFR were identified by flowcytometry. Serum level of IL-8 was measured. Results: A higher percentage of circulating fibrocytes (12.3±2.4%, n=10) in NANT cells was found in Unstable COPD when compared with Stable COPD (2.9±0.7%, n=9, p Conclusions: Circulating fibrocytes are increased and associated with higher proliferative capacity in clinically unstable COPD patients. Fibrocytes may contribute to airway obstruction in COPD.
Toward the Development of Prudent and Robust Self-Tuning Adaptive Controllers for Process Control

The practical requirements for the routine application of adaptive controllers in the process industry are stringent and demand a comprehensive approach to adaptive controller design and implementation. Some of the key issues involved in the development of a prudent and robust self-tuning controller are reviewed. Examples with a proto-type controller are used as illustrations.
Dynamic visual motion estimation from subspace constraints

The problem of estimating rigid motion from projections may be characterized using a nonlinear dynamical system, composed of the rigid motion constraint and the perspective map. The time derivative of the output of such a system, which is called the "motion field" and approximated by the "optical flow", is bilinear in the motion parameters, and may be used to specify a subspace constraint on either the direction of translation or the inverse depth of the observed points. Estimating motion may then be formulated as an optimization task constrained on such a subspace. We pose the optimization problem in a system theoretic framework as the the identification of a nonlinear implicit dynamical system with parameters on a differentiable manifold, and use techniques which pertain to nonlinear estimation and identification theory to perform the optimization task in a principled manner. The application of a general method presented in by Soatto et al. (see 33rd. IEEE conf. on Decision and Control, 1994) results in a recursive and pseudo-optimal solution of the visual motion estimation problem, which has robustness properties far superior to other existing techniques we have implemented. Experiments on real and synthetic image sequences show very promising results in terms of robustness, accuracy and computational efficiency. >
Fluvial and lacustrine palaeoenvironments of the Miocene Siwalik Group, Khaur area, northern Pakistan

The Miocene Siwalik Group (upsection, the Chinji, Nagri, and Dhok Pathan Formations) in northern Pakistan records fluvial and lacustrine environments within the Himalayan foreland basin. Thick (5 m to tens of metres) sandstones are composed of channel bar and fill deposits of low-sinuousity (1·08–1·19), single-channel meandering and braided rivers which formed large, low-gradient sediment fans (or ‘megafans’). River flow was dominantly toward the south-east and likely perennial. Palaeohydraulic reconstructions indicate that Chinji and Dhok Pathan rivers were small relative to Nagri rivers. Bankfull channel depths of Chinji and Dhok Pathan rivers were generally ≤ 15 m, and up to 33 m for Nagri rivers. Widths of channel segments (including single channels of meandering rivers and individual channels around braid bars) were 320–710 m for Chinji rivers, 320–1050 m for Nagri rivers, and 270–340 m for Dhok Pathan rivers. Mean channel bed slopes were on the order of 0·000056–0·00011. Bankfull discharges of channel segments for Chinji and Dhok Pathan rivers were generally 700–800 m3s−1, with full river discharges possibly up to 2400 m3s−1. Bankfull discharges of channel segments for Nagri rivers were generally 1800–3500 m3s−1, with discharges of some larger channel segments possibly on the order of 9000–32 000 m3s−1. Full river discharges of some of the largest Nagri braided rivers may have been twice these values. Thin (decimetres to a few metres) sandstones represent deposits of levees, crevasse channels and splays, floodplain channels, and large sheet floods. Laminated mudstones represent floodplain and lacustrine deposits. Lakes were both perennial and short-lived, and likely less than 10 m deep with maximum fetches on the order of a few tens of kilometres. Trace fossils and body fossils within all facies indicate the former existence of terrestrial vertebrates, molluscs (bivalves and gastropods), arthropods (including insects), worms, aquatic fauna (e.g. fish, turtles, crocodiles), trees, bushes, grasses, and aquatic flora. Palaeoenvironmental reconstructions are consistent with previous palaeoclimatic interpretations of monsoonal conditions.
Self-reported Vicarious Trauma in Asylum Evaluators: A Preliminary Survey

Hundreds of clinicians in the US conduct asylum evaluations, to document evidence of torture and persecution of people fleeing their home countries. Participating in these encounters puts clinicians at risk for vicarious trauma (VT). Little research addressed VT in physicians. Even less is known about VT among asylum evaluators. A survey was distributed to members of the asylum network of Physicians for Human Rights in Spring 2012. The majority (65 %) of survey participants denied having experienced VT. However, being female, being a mental health professional and having performed a greater number of evaluations was associated with a higher likelihood of reporting VT. We present preliminary data about VT in asylum evaluators. Recruiters and trainers should make every effort to address the issue and educate their volunteers about means of identifying and managing symptoms. Formal and informal support services and resources should be developed and shared with volunteers.
X-RAY DETERMINATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF GLASS*

A method has been developed for analyzing the X-ray diffraction patterns of amorphous solids, and the atomic arrangement in two simple glasses has been completely worked out. In SO2, for example, each silicon is tetra-hedrally surrounded by 4 oxygens at a distance 1.60 AIR, and each oxygen is shared between two such tetrahedral groups. The mutual orientation of the two groups about their common direction of bonding is random, and hence it is a random three-dimensional network which is built up. The configuration does not repeat at regular intervals and hence is noncrystalline; it is this feature which distinguishes the glassy state from the crystalline.
Crossing matrices for SU(2) and SU(3)

The SU(2) crossing matrices for the scattering of I=0, 1/2, 1, 3/2 particles and antiparticles, and the SU(3) crossing matrices for the scattering of singlets, octets, and decimets are listed. The s-t, s-u, and t-u crossing matrices and their inverses are given for each case. The relative phases of the crossing matrix are discussed in detail.
Cognitive deficits in depression and functional specificity of regional brain activity

The growing literature on cognitive deficits in depression is considered in light of regional brain activity as well as comorbid anxiety and life stressors. Cognitive impairments associated with depression are reviewed, with an emphasis on various aspects of executive function such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. These deficits are related to patterns of brain activity observed in prefrontal, anterior cingulate, and parietal cortices, as well as in subcortical regions. Evidence for the largely unexplored role of environmental stressors in depression and their impact on cognition and brain function is also examined, and promising avenues of additional research are noted. In addition to promoting interdisciplinary research, systematically assessing variables such as cognitive performance, comorbid anxiety, and relevant stressors may elucidate distinct patterns of brain function and cognition that could inform prevention and intervention.
Role of mast cells in early epithelial target cell injury in experimental acute graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract The skin is a major target organ for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), the principal complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The purpose of the present study was to test whether mast cell degranulation might be related to early target cell injury in the development of acute GVHD. We employed two irradiated murine strain combinations, one in which disease was mediated by CD4 + effector T cells (B 10.D2 → DBA/2), and the other by CD8 + effector T cells (B10.BR → CBA). As compared to controls, both models exhibited mast cell degranulation of differing extents and patterns, as well as dyskeratosis in the epidermis before the influx of effector lymphocytes. These results suggested that factors produced and released by degranulated dermal mast cells might contribute to early target cell injury. Accordingly, the possible role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a cytokine recently discovered in mast cell granules, was investigated by the injection of anti-TNF-α antibody during the course of disease mediated by either CD4 + or CD8 + T cells. Although overall survival of recipients undergoing CD4 + T-cell-mediated GVHD was only slightly improved and the extent of mast cell degranulation was not affected by anti-TNF-α antibody treatment, the skin exhibited a significant diminution in the number of dyskeratotic cells/linear mm at 3–4 weeks post-transplantation. In contrast, anti-TNF-α antibody failed to enhance survival or reduce the number of dyskeratotic cells in the skin during CD8 + T-cell-mediated disease. Finally, to determine whether CD8 + T-cell-mediated GVHD was at all dependent upon mast cell involvement, the C3H.SW → B6 WW v strain combination was utilized, in which recipients were genetically deficient in mast cells. Onset of GVHD was significantly delayed in B6 WW v mice and was clearly correlated to the appearance and increase of de novo mast cells at later time points.
Formation of alkylsilane-based monolayers on gold.

The oxidation of alkylsilane monolayers on Au has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflection−absorption infrared spectroscopy, contact-angle measurements, and scanning tunneling microscopy. Exposure of the monolayers at 298 K to pure O2 or H2O (>5 × 10-5 Torr and >150 000 L) does not cause oxidation. Ambient atmosphere only causes oxidation if direct sight lines are maintained to the sample. Ozone exposure results in rapid monolayer oxidation. Oxidation initially occurs only at the Si atom, resulting in formation of a cross-linked siloxane monolayer that retains alkyl surface termination. Prolonged ozone exposures result in the oxidation and subsequent loss of the alkyl chain.
OBSERVATION OF MACROSCOPIC COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR AND NEW TEXTURE IN MAGNETICALLY-DOPED LIQUID CRYSTALS

The observation of macroscopic collective behavior in a nematic liquid crystal doped with magnetic grains is reported. This behavior is manifested as a uniform molecular orientational distortion of the entire matrix upon the application of external magnetic fields as low as <1 G. The dependence of the distortion on field strength, dopant concentration, and sample thickness is presented, and a theory which quantitatively accounts for the results is given. At high field intensities, the doped nematic exhibits a heretofore unreported texture of complex cellular topology.
The Use of Computer Communication Technology in a College-Level Introductory Nutrition Course

Abstract Computer communication applications such as electronic mail and the Internet are changing the field of education. However, the use of these applications is just emerging in nutrition education. Because computer technology has been reported to enhance the learning of college students, it is important to identify new strategies to incorporate this medium into the classroom. The use of a computer communication application called an Internet newsgroup, described as an electronic bulletin board, was implemented in a large college-level introductory nutrition course for the fall semester of 1997. The goal was for this communication technology to increase student discussion and participation in the larger sections of this course offered at the university. Four-hundred and forty college students enrolled in 2 sections of the introductory nutrition course were required to send messages weekly for 5 weeks to their assigned newsgroup asking a nutritionally relevant question of interest to them. Students were also required to complete 4 Internet based assignments, in which they were asked to find nutrition related articles or pages on the Internet, evaluate the credibility of the information, and report their findings to the newsgroups. There were a total of nine newsgroups for the students enrolled in the course, with each newsgroup having a senior dietetics major serving as a mentor to answer the questions sent by students. The implementation of this communication technology may serve to enhance the learning of college students enrolled in a nutrition course by providing them with answers to their nutrition questions and by allowing them to explore nutrition information available on the Internet. This also allows nutrition educators to incorporate computer communication technology into the classroom.
Forskolin inhibition of hexose transport in cardiomyocytes

The effects of insulin, forskolin, isoproterenol, and epinephrine on 3-O-methylglucose (hexose) transport and cell cyclic AMP levels were determined in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Insulin stimulated hexose transport in these cells an average of 2.5-fold. Initial hexose transport rates at 1 mM hexose were 3.75×10−2 nmol/mg cell protein/second in the absence of insulin, and 8.25×10−2 nmol/mg cell protein/second in the presence of 12.3 μM insulin. Forskolin at 5 μM nearly abolished hexose transport within 3 s of exposure, but did not increase cell cyclic AMP concentrations within 9 s. The apparentK i for hexose transport inhibition was about 0.3 μM forskolin. Epinephrine and isoproterenol at 50 μM increased cell cyclic AMP 4-fold during 9 s exposure, but did not affect hexose transport. Treatment of cells with these catecholamines of forskolin for up to 99 s increased cell cyclic AMP, but only forskolin inhibited hexose transport. We coclude from these results that forskolin acts on hexose transport independent of its action on adenyl cyclase, and that cyclic AMP does not inhibit or stimulate hexose transport.
Stability of Intellectual Functioning During Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy

We describe the stability of neuropsychologic testing in a 16-year-old boy with cerebellar dysgenesis who received 61 acute and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy treatments for malignant catatonia. Measures of nonverbal intelligence and visual memory before treatment onset and after 61 electroconvulsive therapy treatments indicated no evidence of decline in intellectual functioning and acute or delayed memory. This case offers further support for the safety and efficacy of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in both pediatric and developmentally disabled populations.
Shedding Light on the Frontier of Photodissociation

The development of new ion activation/dissociation methods is motivated by the need for more versatile ways to characterize structures of ions, especially in the growing arena of biological mass spectrometry in which better tools for determining sequences, modifications, interactions, and conformations of biopolymers are essential. Although most agree that collision-induced dissociation (CID) remains the gold standard for ion activation/dissociation, recent inroads in electron- and photon-based activation methods have cemented their role as outstanding alternatives. This article will focus on the impact of photodissociation, including its strengths and drawbacks as an analytical tool, and its potential for further development in the next decade. Moreover, the discussion will emphasize photodissociation in quadrupole ion traps, because that platform has been used for one of the greatest arrays of new applications over the past decade.
Empirically Based Spirituality Education: Implications for Social Work Research and Practice

This article provides a review of the empirical literature supporting development of a graduate social work course in spirituality. A total of 493 articles were reviewed, with 8 studies providing r...
Picogram Fourier transform-Infrared (FT-IR): Ultramicrosampling And Gas Chromatograph-Infrared (GC-IR)

The commonality between ultramicrosampling and GC-IR is far deeper than the desire for picogram detection levels in both cases. Both techniques also need small area light spots: in ultramicrosampling, for spatial resolution; and in GC-IR, to match limited sample volumes. Fast response is needed for real-time measurements on the fly GC-IR, and for mapping analysis of extended samples in a finite line in ultramicro-sampling. And finally, the fly fast processing is required for real-time recognition of significant success in GC-IR (presence of peaks) and in ultramicrosampling (presence of local anomalies in sample). A small FT-IR interferometer benefiting from the counter-Jacquinot advantage (and some less awkward nomenclature is clearly required here), immersion optics for microsampling and optimized sample cells for GC-IR, high efficiency sources and detectors (and detector electronics!), and the systematic application of information,theory to data processing algorithms can be used to bring both these techniques into the middle picogram domain. Progress from here will require cryogenic sampling GC-IR (giving only small improvements over an optimized light pipe) or non FT-IR techniques, such as grating (shudder!) scanned CO2 lasers (capable of a >100 fold gain).
Nutrient and growth response of pinto bean to foliar‐applied herbicides and soil temperatures

Abstract Two soil temperatures, 19 ± 1 and 27 ± 3C affected some nutrient concentrations in roots, stems and leaves of ‘U. I. III’ pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), but did not affect overall plant morphology. Acifluorfen (5‐[2‐chloro‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid) at 0.84 kg ai/ha reduced N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn and Zn levels in each of the 3 plant tissues and also reduced pinto bean height, leaf area, root, leaf, and stem weight, and nodule wet weight compared to the nonherbicide‐treated controls. Bentazon [3‐(l‐methylethyl)‐(lH)‐2,l,3‐benzothiadiazin‐4(3H)‐one‐2,2‐dioxide] and sethoxydim ((2‐[l‐(ethoxyimino)butyl]‐5‐[2‐(ethylthio)propyl]‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐cyclohexen‐l‐one)) generally did not affect pinto bean growth or nutrient accumulation.
Optimal Band-Limited Trajectory Planning and Control for an Inverted Wheeled Pendulum

Mobile inverted pendulum robots consist of an elongated pendulum body with two motors mounted on it for driving the wheels. The velocity and position control of such a vehicle is challenging because of the coupling of the pendulum’s pitch angle from the vertical and the Cartesian motion of the vehicle. On using a nonlinear transform to effect partial feedback linearization, the system dynamics transforms to two subsystems: a linear system with the vehicle’s pitch and in-plane orientation, and a nonlinear system of internal dynamics. In this paper, the problem of utilizing such a partial feedback linearization for optimal trajectory planning of such vehicles is considered. Due to the resulting linear subsystem with vehicle pitch and in-plane orientation, these configuration variables can be controlled by a linear controller (C) using a nonlinear feedback. The planning approach presented in this paper considers the time-constant (τ) of the linear controller C explicitly. A band-limited Sinc-function interpolation is used to plan the variables in the method of collocation. This ensures that high frequency signal content which cannot be handled by the controller C, is absent in the planned trajectory, making the plan better implementable by the controller. The planned trajectory takes the vehicle from point to point, while keeping the vehicle pitch bounded and avoiding obstacles. The optimality condition considered in the algorithm is the length of the path. The optimization problem posed after collocation, is then solved using a standard Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) solver. Simulation results show that the tracking controller C is able to follow the planned trajectory when no initial planar Cartesian error is present.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Synthesis and NMR spectra of 17oxygen enriched phenols

An efficient and convenient method of preparing 17O enriched phenols is described. Aryl boronic acids are oxidized with 17O enriched potassium hydroperoxide. The 17O labeled potassium hydroperoxide is prepared from the autoxidation reaction of benzhydrol with 17O enriched oxygen gas in the presence of potassium t-butoxide. [0–17]Phenol, p-bromo[0–17]phenol and p-methoxy[0–17]phenol were prepared in good to modest overall chemical yields (40–60%) and high isotopic retention (82–90% from 16.8 atom % 17O2 starting material). 17O NMR spectra of the three enriched phenols demonstrate the benefits of using enriched samples in reducing the total experiment time and greatly improving the signal-to-noise ratio compared to unenriched samples.
Deciphering the role of exosomes in tuberculosis

Exosomes were originally described as small vesicles released from reticulocytes during the maturation process. These 40-200 nm microvesicles were hypothesized to be a mechanism for the removal of membrane proteins in lieu of intracellular degradation by Harding et al. (1984) and Johnstone et al. (1987) [1,2]. Exosomes can be distinguished from other extracellular vesicles (ectosomes, apoptotic blebs) based on their size and the protein indicators intercalated in their membrane (also, linking their derivation from the endocytic pathway) by Simpson (2012) [3]. The exact role which exosomes play in cell-to-cell communication and immune modulation is a topic of intense study. However, the focus of most reports has been directed towards discovering aberrations in exosomal protein and RNA content linked to disease onset and progression, and also primarily related to cancer. Nonetheless, exosomes are now documented to be released from a wide variety of cell types by Mathivanan et al. (2012), Simpson et al. (2012) and Kalra et al. (2012) [4-6] and have been isolated from all bodily fluids; thus, exosomes are an excellent source of biomarkers. Here we describe the discoveries related to the role exosomes play in tuberculosis disease, as well as translational work in vaccine development and how circulation of these dynamic vesicles can be harnessed for diagnostic purposes.
Performance and power modeling in a multi-programmed multi-core environment

This paper describes a fast, automated technique for accurate on-line estimation of the performance and power consumption of interacting processes in a multi-programmed, multi-core environment. The proposed technique does not require modifying hardware or applications. The performance model uses reuse distance histograms, cache access frequencies, and the relationship between the throughput and cache miss rate of each process to predict throughput. The system-level power model is derived using multi-variable linear regression, accounting for cache contention. Both models are validated on multiple real multi-core systems using SPEC CPU2000 benchmarks; their performance and power estimates are within 3.5% of measured values on average. We explain how to integrate the two models for power estimation during process assignment, helpful for power-aware assignment.
Prognostic Value of Posttreatment [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake of Primary Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma Treated with Radiation Therapy with or without Chemotherapy: A Brief Review

In patients treated with radiation therapy for non-small cell lung carcinoma, positron emission tomography and computed tomography are commonly used to assess response to treatment. Seven rather small single-institution series have documented the ability of posttreatment positron emission tomography to predict local control and survival through measurements of [ 18 F] fluorodeoxyglucose uptake. The ability to make prognostic assessments using this information would be a major clinical breakthrough by allowing early alterations in patient management. Here, we review the current literature on the prognostic value of posttreatment [ 18 F] fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in patients treated with radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy for non-small cell lung carcinoma.
Emerin in health and disease

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is caused by mutations in the genes encoding emerin, lamins A and C and FHL1. Additional EDMD-like syndromes are caused by mutations in nesprins and LUMA. This review will specifically focus on emerin function and the current thinking for how loss or mutations in emerin cause EDMD. Emerin is a well-conserved, ubiquitously expressed protein of the inner nuclear membrane. Emerin has been shown to have diverse functions, including the regulation of gene expression, cell signaling, nuclear structure and chromatin architecture. This review will focus on the relationships between these functions and the EDMD disease phenotype. Additionally it will highlight open questions concerning emerin's roles in cell and nuclear biology and disease.
Achieving Communication Goals in Superior-Subordinate Relationships: The Multi-Functionality of Upward Maintenance Tactics.

Maintenance of the supervisory relationship is arguably the most important of the communication objectives pursued by subordinates. Maintenance communication creates the context in which other goal‐oriented messages are constructed by the subordinate and evaluated by the supervisor. In this study, an inductive procedure was used to identify upward maintenance tactics reportedly used by subordinates. Subsequent factor analysis using a sample of 518 working adults yielded four maintenance tactic types: Personal, Contractual, Regulative, and Direct. Supervisory relationship quality influenced reported tactic use: Subordinates participating in leadership exchanges (Dansereau, Graen, & Haga, 1975) scored higher on the Personal, Contractual, and Directness factors. Subordinates in supervisory exchanges scored higher on the Regulative factor. Results are interpreted as evidence that in high quality supervisory relationships, upward maintenance tactics may be multi‐functional, simultaneously preserving relational...
INTERPERSONAL TRAITS AND FACILITATIVE HELPING CHARACTERISTICS

Although the over-all regression equation was significant, additive effects of Dominance and Love assessed by Leary's Interpersonal Check List accounted for little variance (16%) in Therapeutic Talent, a composite index. Correlations among measures were based on responses of 53 undergraduate women.