cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
E-204 Novel blood analogue for in-vitro neurovascular modeling

Introduction In-vitro models for simulating surgical procedures is a cost-effective way of creating fail-safe surgical protocols. Insights gained from these models can also aid in testing new medical devices and reduce the use of animal models. Traditional glass- and silicone-based in-vitro models use distilled water with surfactant additives for lubricity. However, a new material, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) dissolved in distilled water, can mimic the mechanical and rheological properties of blood. We have shown that CMC fluid out-performs distilled water, glycerol mixtures, and bovine blood, in terms of physiological accuracy. Methods We tested the density and dynamic viscosity of the following blood analogs: CMC, distilled water, glycerol mixture (22 wt%), bovine blood (Bos taurus). For each material, samples were tested with a 20 mm cylindrical parallel plate head geometry (0.25 ml) attached to a hybrid rheometer (DHR-2, TA Instruments), set at 37°C (human physiological temperature). Three samples of each blood analog were tested and repeated 5 times. A shear rate sweep from 15 to 105 1/s was tested to cover a wide range of physiological blood flow rates. Results We compared the density and dynamic viscosity of different materials in table 1. Different CMC fluid concentrations and the resulting viscosity ranges are compared to blood with increasing shear rate (figure 1). CMC matches the initial viscosity and undergoes shear-thinning like human blood. Distilled water has a lower viscosity than blood that does not change with shear rate. It was found that CMC (1% wt) is closest to the material properties of human blood flow at the Circle of Willis (CW). Conclusion CMC fluid is a promising tool in investigating blood flow characteristics in a bench-top model. It can mimic accurate physiologically relevant mechanical properties of blood and has the potential of being used as a go-to tool for medical device testing applications. This fluid will be able to minimize friction between synthetic vessels and endovascular devices and enhance the accuracy of simulated surgery models. Disclosures H. Sodawalla: None. W. Merritt: None. T. Becker: 1; C; NIH STTR Phase I (#1R41NS097069-01A1).
Wearable triboelectric nanogenerators for biomechanical energy harvesting

Abstract With compelling features of flexibility, conformability, and user friendliness, wearable bioelectronics have undergone tremendous development on account of miniaturization and multifunction advancements which could cater to the development trend of Internet of Things (IoT) and fifth-generation wireless technology. However, powering wearable bioelectronics sustainably and pervasively is beyond the capability of traditional power supply systems and remains a challenge and highly desired. By using the coupling effect of contact electrification and electrostatic induction, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) were demonstrated to efficiently convert irregular and low-frequency biomechanical energy from human body movements into electrical energy for the sustainable powering of wearable bioelectronics. In this article, the latest representative achievements of wearable TENGs for electricity generation are comprehensively reviewed with the order of the accessible biomechanical energy on the human body from head to feet. This review not only covers the fundamental working mechanism, rational structural design, selection of the tribo-materials, and fabrication process of wearable TENGs, but also investigates the movement patterns and characteristics of each part of the body, as well as its feasibility and convenience for electricity generation. Finally, perspectives and challenges regarding wearable TENGs at present are discussed.
Use of Drift Studies to Understand Seasonal Variability in Sea Turtle Stranding Patterns in Mississippi

Stranded sea turtles provide valuable information about causes of mortality that threaten these imperiled species. Many potential factors determine whether drifting sea turtles are deposited on shore, discovered by people, and reported resulting in successful documentation. We deployed sea turtle cadavers and wooden effigy drifters with affixed GPS-satellite tags to study stranding probability in the northern Gulf of Mexico in an effort to better understand seasonal stranding variations in this region. We also documented reporting of carcasses by the public to determine reporting rates. Season and distance from shore greatly influenced beaching results. During winter months when strandings are infrequent and sea turtle abundance is likely low in cold nearshore waters, carcasses had an 80 – 90% probability of beaching. Beaching probability was reduced to 37 – 50% during the spring, which is the period of greatest strandings in this region. During summer months when relatively few strandings are documented, the probability of a carcass beaching dropped to only 4 – 8%. Low summer stranding rates were coincident with higher rates of decomposition (7%) attributed to warmer water temperatures, more frequent scavenging (69% of carcasses), and shifting wind and current patterns which drive carcasses offshore or to remote locations. As waters cooled in the fall, probability of carcasses beaching increased to 40 – 48%, coincident with a small pulse in strandings that often occurs during this period. Only 28% of carcasses and effigies came ashore on mainland beaches and were easily available for discovery by the public, 49% were on barrier islands that are publicly accessible and 23% beached in dense salt marshes where discovery was unlikely. The 47% of objects that did not beach included those lost at sea and carcasses that were likely scavenged or decomposed. Only 22% of beached carcasses were reported due to infrequent (11%) reporting on barrier islands. Notably, only 50% of carcasses deposited on mainland beaches were reported, which was lower than anticipated. We recommend additional efforts to increase reporting rates of carcasses by the public and use of dedicated surveys to detect stranded sea turtles, especially on barrier islands in this region.
The Cross-National Relationship Between Women’s Autonomy and Long-Term Homicide Trends

Some researchers argue that growing women’s autonomy has worsened homicide victimization rates, attributed to a backlash effect. Others argue that increased women’s autonomy has an ameliorative effect, lessening homicide rates. To address this ambiguity, this article puts forward both methodological and theoretical modifications. First, data (from the UNODC Global Study on Homicide) is analyzed longitudinally rather than cross-sectionally. This analytical focus on changing trends is more appropriate to test existing theories. Second, we use measures of women’s autonomy across a number of social institutions, estimating and comparing effects in terms of women’s gains in political office, the labor market, and for adolescent fertility. Women’s gains in political office have no relationship with homicide rates. Integration of women in the labor market shows a curvilinear relationship, demonstrating a backlash affect until women are about 40% of the labor market, when homicide rates start declining. However, for low-income countries the labor market integration shows a linear, positive effect on homicide rates. Adolescent fertility has a strong, positive association with homicide trends—in fact, among the strongest of all predictors. Finally, gains in women’s autonomy are similarly consequential for the homicide against males and females. Overall, findings show that different measures of autonomy have distinct effects, and that gains amongst a restricted political elite do not necessarily spill over to other social institutions, such as the private sphere of families, which can be more impactful for changes in homicide rates.
Laws of Taphonomic Relative Timing and Their Application to Forensic Contexts

In the analysis of taphonomic effects that have occurred to osseous remains, it is often necessary to interpret multiple overlapping changes. Individual taphonomic effects can be isolated from each other, and these follow rules of relative timing, whereby earlier or later effects can be determined. These rules are similar to those of archaeological and geological stratigraphy, from which the basic concepts of superposition and other physical relationships are derived. Taphonomic effects can be caused by multiple processes associated with early phases (death, decomposition, and scavenging of fresh remains) or with later phases (staining of bone surfaces, breakdown of the bone, and scavenging upon dry remains). The relative sequencing of the taphonomic effects to a set of remains can be used to reconstruct their postmortem history and to separate human activity, including trauma, from scavengers and other biological agencies. The four laws presented here pertain to (1) superposition, (2) positional aspect continuity, (3) original continuity, and (4) succession of changes. These laws can be applied more broadly in some archaeological/paleoanthropological situations, but the specific examples used to illustrate them here come from forensic settings.
The Effect of Advanced Practice Providers on ACGME Colon and Rectal Surgery Resident Diagnostic Index Case Volumes.

Objective Prior to 2015 residents in our Accreditation Council for Graduation Medical Education (ACGME) colon and rectal surgery training program were in charge of managing, with faculty oversight, the outpatient anorectal clinic at our institution. Starting in 2015 advanced practice providers (APPs) working in the division assumed management of the clinic. The effect of APPs on ACGME resident index diagnostic case volumes has not been explored. Herein we examine ACGME case log graduate statistics to determine if the inclusion of APPs into our anorectal clinic practice has negatively affected resident index diagnostic anorectal case volumes. Design ACGME year-end program reports were obtained for the years 2011 to 2019. Program anorectal diagnostic index volumes were recorded and compared to division volumes. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tests were conducted to assess whether the number of cases per year (for each respective case type) prior to the introduction of APPs into the anorectal clinic (2011-2014) differed from the number of cases per year with the APP clinic in place (2015-2018). A p-value Setting Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (quaternary referral center). Participants Colon and rectal surgery resident year-end ACGME reports (2011-2019). Results ANOVAs revealed a marginally significant (p = 0.007) downtrend for hemorrhoid diagnostic codes, and a significant uptrend (p = 0.000) for fistula cases. Controlling for overall division volume, ANCOVA only reveled significance for fistula cases (p = 0.004) with the involvement of APPs. Conclusions At our institution we found the inclusion of APPs into our anorectal clinic practice did not negatively affect colon and rectal surgery resident ACGME index diagnostic anorectal case volumes. Inclusion of APPs into a multidisciplinary practice can promote resident education by allowing trainees to pursue other educational opportunities without hindering ACGME index case volumes.
HPC-ABDS high performance computing enhanced apache big data stack

We review the High Performance Computing Enhanced Apache Big Data Stack HPC-ABDS and summarize the capabilities in 21 identified architecture layers. These cover Message and Data Protocols, Distributed Coordination, Security & Privacy, Monitoring, Infrastructure Management, DevOps, Interoperability, File Systems, Cluster & Resource management, Data Transport, File management, NoSQL, SQL (NewSQL), Extraction Tools, Object-relational mapping, In-memory caching and databases, Inter-process Communication, Batch Programming model and Runtime, Stream Processing, High-level Programming, Application Hosting and PaaS, Libraries and Applications, Workflow and Orchestration. We summarize status of these layers focusing on issues of importance for data analytics. We highlight areas where HPC and ABDS have good opportunities for integration.
General Purpose Procedures for Deterministic Scheduling

This chapter describes a number of general purpose procedures that are useful in dealing with scheduling problems in practice and that can be implemented with relative ease in industrial scheduling systems. All the techniques described are heuristics that do not guarantee an optimal solution; they instead aim at finding reasonably good solutions in a relatively short time. The heuristics tend to be fairly generic and can be adapted easily to a large variety of scheduling problems.
Metabolism of biotin and analogues of biotin by microorganisms. II. Further studies on the conversion of D-biotin to biotin vitamers by Lactobacillus plantarum.

Birnbaum, Jerome (University of Cincinnati, Cinncinati, Ohio), and Herman C. Lichstein. Metabolism of biotin and analogues of biotin by microorganisms. II. Further studies on the conversion of d-biotin to biotin vitamers by Lactobacillus plantarum. J. Bacteriol. 92:913–919. 1966.—Lactobacillus plantarum growing in excess biotin converts a portion to two vitamers (combinable and uncombinable with avidin) not utilizable for growth. These were detected by differential yeast-lactobacillus assay. In the present study, suspensions of 12- and 72-hr cells showed no converting activity. Vitamer formation by nonproliferating 24-hr cells required glucose and exhibited a lag; 17-hr cells showed neither a lag nor a glucose requirement. Iodoacetate and chloramphenicol inhibited vitamer formation by 24-hr cells, but had no effect on 17-hr cells. Addition of hydrolyzed casein or preincubation in biotin decreased the lag and enhanced vitamer formation in 24-hr cells, but had no effect in 17-hr cells. Apparently, 17-hr cells contain the converting enzymes which degenerate as growth proceeds; the lag exhibited by 24-hr cells represents the time necessary to reform the enzymes. Equal amounts of the two vitamers were formed in 17-hr cells; only the avidin-combinable form was produced initially by 24-hr cells, unless hydrolyzed casein was present. Electrophoresis revealed that the avidin-combinable vitamer has the same charge as biotin,whereas the uncombinable form possesses both positive and negative groups. Column chromatography was used to separate the avidin uncombinable material from biotin and the avidin-combinable form. L. plantarum was unable to accumulate the avidin-uncombinable vitamer under conditions permitting good biotin accumulation. It was concluded that L. plantarum sequentially converts biotin to avidin-combinable and -uncombinable vitamers, the latter being impermeable to the cells.
Measuring time-frequency information and complexity using the Renyi entropies

In search of a nonparametric indicator of deterministic signal complexity, we link the Renyi entropies to time-frequency representations. The resulting measures show promise in several situations where concepts like the time-bandwidth product fail.
Aircraft noise and social factors in psychiatric hospital admission rates: a re-examination of some data

Jenkins et al. (1981) published data on rates of admission to three psychiatric hospitals for 12 large samples of people living near London's Heathrow Airport. The percentages of people who were classified as being affluent, living alone, males having moved within last five years, unemployed, and immigrants, as well as the levels of aircraft noise to which they were exposed, were given for each of the samples. Multiple-correlation analyses revealed the following: (1) movement of males in the previous five years was not generally associated with hospital admission rates; (2) immigrant status, living alone, and affluence were negatively, and generally statistically significantly, associated with admission rates; and (3) unemployment and level of exposure to aircraft noise were positively, and generally statistically significantly, associated with admission rates. Unlike the conclusion reached by Jenkins et al., it is concluded from the present analysis of their data that there are statistically significant associations between psychiatric hospital admission rates and level of exposure to aircraft noise. This difference in findings appears to be due to a more comprehensive assessment of the interrelations of all the tested socioeconomic and aircraft noise variables by the multiple-correlation procedure used in the present analysis, in comparison with the graphic modelling assessment applied by Jenkins et al. to a limited portion of the socioeconomic data. Together, the five socioeconomic and aircraft noise variables correlate at about 0.98 with hospitalization rates for most population groups.
Increasing nutrient concentrations and the rise and fall of a coastal fishery; a review of data from the Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract There is a conceptual basis, and some empirical evidence, that increasing nutrient loads to coastal waterbodies will initially increase ecosystem productivity up to a threshold, beyond which secondary productivity and fishery yields will decline. Here we have compiled data from the Egyptian and international literature for fish landings and inorganic nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) data from four large coastal lagoons (63–500 km 2 ) on Egypt's Nile Delta to provide evidence for the initially positive, but then negative, response of fishery yields to increased nutrient supply across a very wide range of enrichment (up to 1 mM dissolved organic nitrogen, DIN). Taking the data from the four lagoons as an aggregate, fish landings increase with increased nutrients up to a peak in landings at approximately 100 μM DIN, beyond which there was an exponential decline in landings. It appears that pesticide and heavy metal contamination and overfishing played only minor roles in the lowered fishery yield at highest DIN concentrations. We do not have sufficient evidence about the specific mechanisms that led to the decline of the fishery, but suspect that some feature of eutrophication—low oxygen, for example, may have been involved.
Recession-Induced Stress and the Prediction of Corporate Failure*

. In this paper we examine whether the occurrence of recession-induced stress is an incrementally informative factor that contributes to the predictive and explanatory power of accounting-based failure prediction models. We show that accounting-based statistical models used to predict corporate failure are sensitive to the occurrence of a recession. Moreover, after controlling for the intertemporally unconditioned “stressed” and “unstressed” types of corporate failure, we find that models conditioned on the occurrence of a recession still add incremental explanatory power in predicting the likelihood of corporate failure. This source-related characterization of stress appears distinct from other types of corporate failure that have been identified. Resume. Les auteurs se demandent si l'occurrence du stress amene par la recession est un facteur qui apporte une information supplementaire contribuant au pouvoir predictif et explicatif des modeles de prevision des faillites reposant sur la comptabilite. Ils montrent que les modeles statistiques fondes sur la comptabilite utilises pour prevoir les faillites des entreprises sont sensibles a l'occurrence d'une recession. De plus, une fois controlee la nature de la faillite de l'entreprise — faillite annoncee par le stress et faillite non annoncee par le stress sans conditionnement intertemporel —, les auteurs en viennent a la conclusion que les modeles conditionnes par l'occurrence d'une recession ont encore un pouvoir explicatif accru dans la prediction de la probabilite de faillite de l'entreprise. Cette definition du stress liee a la source semble differente des autres types de faillite de l'entreprise qui ont ete cernes.
Wavelet based in eigenvalue problems in quantum mechanics

Abstract The use of Daubechies' compact support wavelets in quantum mechanical eigenvalue problems is investigated. It is shown that these orthogonal multiresolution functions provide an efficient basis for systems in which the potentials vary strongly in different regions.
3 Gbit/s optically preamplified direct detection DPSK receiver with 116 photon/bit sensitivity

For the first time experimental bit error rate curves are presented for an optically preamplified direct detection differential phase shift keying (DPSK) communication link. DPSK offers 6 dB peak power sensitivity improvement over more traditionally optically preamplified on/off keying (OOK). Using an erbium doped fibre preamplifier, a fibre Fabry–Perot filter, an optical DPSK demodulator consisting of a fibre-optic Mach–Zehnder interferometer with a 1 bit differential delay, and a balanced receiver, a sensitivity of 116 photon/bit was obtained. To the authors' knowledge these results represent the first demonstration of optically preamplified DPSK with better sensitivity than previously reported multigigabit per second heterodyne DPSK and 3 dB more sensitivity on a peak power basis than previously reported preamplified OOK systems.
Exploring Factors Influencing Student Study Abroad Destination Choice

This study applies qualitative analysis as a systematic tool for insight into factors influencing international students' university choice. We also develop a structural model for further analysis and understanding of that choice. Qualitative analysis of data collected via online chat identifies motivational and constraining factors that influence foreign students' decision to study in the United States. The study applies and explicates a contemporary qualitative approach to the analysis of interview transcripts for the determination of choice factors and their importance. Inductive analysis is used to postulate a model for international student destination choice based on the travel decision push and pull model. Three push factors (personal growth, language, and career) and three pull factors (college issues, physical geography, and U.S. culture) were determined to influence choice of country and institution. In addition, structural factors including visa issues and cost issues were identified as constra...
Disparities in survival after Hodgkin lymphoma: a population-based study

Survival after Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is generally favorable, but may vary by patient demographic characteristics. The authors examined HL survival according to race/ethnicity and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), determined from residential census-block group at diagnosis. For 12,492 classical HL patients ≥15 years diagnosed in California during 1988–2006 and followed through 2007, we determined risk of overall and HL-specific death using Cox proportional hazards regression; analyses were stratified by age and Ann Arbor stage. Irrespective of disease stage, patients with lower neighborhood SES had worse overall and HL-specific survival than patients with higher SES. Patients with the lowest quintile of neighborhood SES had a 64% (patients aged 15–44 years) and 36% (≥45 years) increased risk of HL-death compared to patients with the highest quintile of SES; SES results were similar for overall survival. Even after adjustment for neighborhood SES, blacks and Hispanics had increased risks of HL-death 74% and 43% (15–44 years) and 40% and 17% (≥45 years), respectively, higher than white patients. The racial/ethnic differences in survival were evident for all stages of disease. These data provide evidence for substantial, and probably remediable, racial/ethnic and neighborhood SES disparities in HL outcomes.
Thermoelectric performance of granular semiconductors

We study the effects of doping and confinement on the thermoelectric properties of nanocrystalline semiconductors. We calculate the thermopower and figure of merit for temperatures less than the charging energy. For weakly coupled semiconducting grains it is shown that the figure of merit is optimized for grain sizes of order 5 nm for typical materials, and that its value can be larger than one. Using the similarities between granular semiconductors and electron or Coulomb glasses allows for a quantitative description of inhomogeneous semiconducting thermoelectrics.
Zero-temperature statics and dynamics of a random-exchange model for magnetic properties of La2-xSrxCuO4 in the insulating regime.

Results are presented for the zero-temperature statics and dynamics of a random-exchange model proposed for the magnetic properties of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$. Numerical calculations of the staggered magnetization, the static structure factor, the distribution and localization of the harmonic magnon modes, and the dynamic structure factor are reported for c\ensuremath{\ll}1, where c is the fraction of ferromagnetic exchange integrals in an otherwise perfect two-dimensional antiferromagnetic array with nearest-neighbor Heisenberg interactions. The relevance of the findings to the magnetic behavior of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ in the insulating regime is assessed. It is pointed out that the model accounts for the crossover from antiferromagnetic to spin-glass behavior, the broadening of the static structure factor, and the renormalization of the spin-wave modes that occur with increasing hole concentration at low temperatures.
Pre-inflationary vacuum in the cosmic microwave background

We consider the effects on the primordial power spectrum of a period of radiation-dominated expansion prior to the inflationary era. If inflation lasts a total of only 60 e-folds or so, the boundary condition for quantum modes cannot be taken in the short-wavelength limit as in the standard perturbation calculation. Instead, the boundary condition is set by the vacuum state of the prior radiation-dominated epoch, which only corresponds to the inflationary vacuum state in the ultraviolet limit. This altered vacuum state results in a modulation of the inflationary power spectrum. We calculate the modification to a best-fit model from the WMAP3 data set, and find that power is suppressed at large scales. The modified power spectrum is favored only very weakly by the WMAP3 temperature and polarization data.
The Marxist Critique of Religion: A Persisting Ambiguity

HE critique of religion fashioned by Karl Marx over a hundred years ago is of more than historic interest. It ranks with Freud's analysis as a powerful secular probe that must be taken seriously in any contemporary assessment of the role of religion in human culture. Besides its intrinsic importance in this respect, the critique of religion also contributes to a grasp of Marxism as a total system of thought in which it plays a significant role. Furthermore, in the last decade, the attempt to develop a Marxist-Christian dialogue has encouraged a fresh examination of Marx's approach to religion.' However, any attempt to further dialogue between Marxism and Christianity (or a broader dialogue between Marxism and religion) seems off to a false start if it tones down the unrelieved rejection of religion and the unqualified statement of atheism that is both implicit and explicit in Marx's pronouncements on the subject. Still, many critics have suggested that in spite of this pronounced hostility to religion, Marxism has itself assumed a religious or "quasi-religious" form, though for that very reason involved in conflict with the traditional religions of east and west.2
ALA-induced PpIX-based intraoperative photodynamic therapy in a rat sarcoma model: preliminary results

For soft tissue sarcomas with high local recurrence rates following seemingly adequate surgical excision, intraoperative photodynamic therapy (IOPDT) provides a treatment strategy to eradicate microscopic, residual disease. Six Fischer 344 rats were given bilateral subcutaneous syngeneic 9L gliosarcoma tumors. When tumors reached 1.0 cm3, the rats were given 200 mg/kg ALA by intraperitoneal injection. Four hours later the rats were anesthetized, both tumors were incompletely excised and one surgical field was treated with 635 nm laser light (75 mW/cm2, 100 J/cm2). The surgical sites were then closed and the rats were monitored for local recurrence of the tumor. Low intensity fluorescent microscopic images captured with a cooled CCD camera confirmed that the tumors converted ALA into PpIX. Post-IOPDT swelling of the treated leg lasted 48 hours. An 80% local recurrence rate was observed in both groups 14 days following treatment. There was no difference in wound healing between IOPDT-treated sites and sites treated with surgery alone. Recurrent tumors were smaller in IOPDT sites than those treated with surgery alone. Additionally, the IOPDT recurrences were at the margin of the treatment field, suggesting a photoirradiation 'geographical miss.' These preliminary results, although disappointing, suggest that with further refinement IOPDT is a promising treatment modality for traditionally difficult to treat tumors.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Grouping and emergent features in vision: Toward a theory of basic gestalts

Gestalt phenomena are often so powerful that mere demonstrations can confirm their existence, but Gestalts have proven hard to define and measure. Here we outline a theory of basic Gestalts (TBG) that defines Gestalts as emergent features (EFs). The logic relies on discovering wholes that are more discriminable than are the parts from which they are built. These wholes contain EFs that can act as basic features in human vision. As context is added to a visual stimulus, a hierarchy of EFs appears. Starting with a single dot and adding a second yields the first two potential EFs: the proximity (distance) and orientation (angle) between the two dots. A third dot introduces two more potential EFs: symmetry and linearity; a fourth dot produces surroundedness. This hierarchy may extend to collinearity, parallelism, closure, and more. We use the magnitude of Configural Superiority Effects to measure the salience of EFs on a common scale, potentially letting us compare the strengths of various grouping principles. TBG appears promising, with our initial experiments establishing and quantifying at least three basic EFs in human vision. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Cdc42-mTOR Signaling Pathway Controls Hes5 and Pax6 Expression in Retinoic Acid-dependent Neural Differentiation

The conditional knockout of the small GTPase Cdc42 from neuroepithelial (NE) and radial glial (RG) cells in the mouse telencephalon has been shown to have a significant impact on brain development by causing these neural progenitor cells to detach from the apical/ventricular surface and to lose their cell identity. This has been attributed to the requirement for Cdc42 in establishing proper apical/basal cell polarity and cell-cell adhesions. In the present study, we provide new insights into the role played by Cdc42 in the maintenance of neural progenitor cells, using the mouse embryonal carcinoma P19 cell line as a model system. We show that the ability of P19 cells to undergo the transition from an Oct3/4-positive, undifferentiated status to microtubule-associated protein 2-positive neurons and glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes, upon treatment with retinoic acid (RA), requires RA-induced activation of Cdc42 during the neural cell lineage specification phase. Experiments using chemical inhibitors and RNA interference suggest that the actions of Cdc42 are mediated through signaling pathways that start with fibroblast growth factors and Delta/Notch proteins and lead to Cdc42-dependent mTOR activation, culminating in the up-regulation of Hes5 and Pax6, two transcription factors that are essential for the maintenance of NE and RG cells. The constitutively active Cdc42(F28L) mutant was sufficient to up-regulate Hes5 and Pax6 in P19 cells, even in the absence of RA treatment, ultimately promoting their transition to neural progenitor cells. The ectopic Cdc42 expression also significantly augmented the RA-dependent up-regulation of these transcription factors, resulting in P19 cells maintaining their neural progenitor status but being unable to undergo terminal differentiation. These findings shed new light on how Cdc42 influences neural progenitor cell fate by regulating gene expression.
Facile Method for Determining the Aspect Ratios of Mineral Dust Aerosol by Electron Microscopy

Mineral dust is the second largest atmospheric emission by mass and one of the least understood sources. The shape of the particles depends on their composition and has implications for particle optical properties and reactive surface area. Mineral dust particles are often approximated as spheroids to model their optical properties. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to measure the aspect ratios of calcite, quartz, NX-illite, kaolinite (KGa-1b and KGa-2), and montmorillonite (STx-1b and SWy-2). In addition to traditional SEM images of the top of the particles, the SEM substrates are oriented approximately normal to the electron beam in order to image the side of the particles. In this manner, aspect ratios for the top and side orientation of the particles are determined. Calcite particles have an aspect ratio of approximately 1.3 in both orientations, while quartz particles have an aspect ratio of 1.38 in the top orientation and 1.64 in the side orientation. The clay minerals studie...
Cytotoxic and proliferative allospecific T-cell clones contain perforin and mediate anti-CD3-induced cytotoxicity

Some in vitro-generated allospecific T-cell clones can kill target cells bearing specific antigen, whereas others can only proliferate in response to that antigen. The mechanism of target lysis by clones that exhibit antigen-specific cytotoxicity is thought to involve the exocytosis of lytic granules, which contain the pore-forming protein perforin. Here, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4-8- T-cell clones, positive for CD3 and the alpha/beta T-cell receptor, were tested for their ability to lyse the mouse-anti-human CD3 hybridoma OKT3; this hybridoma has been shown to trigger the cytolytic mechanism in cytotoxic T cells regardless of their clonal specificity. We found that all in vitro-generated allospecific T-cell clones can efficiently lyse the OKT3 targets whether or not they can kill alloantigen-bearing lymphoblastoid B-cell line targets. Furthermore, all tested clones contained perforin. The OKT3 hybridoma was not lysed by perforin-negative, CD3+ leukemic T-cell lines or by CD3- NK clones. Thus, the presence of perforin in T-cell clones correlated with their ability to lyse OKT3 targets, but not with their ability to lyse alloantigen-bearing targets. These results demonstrate that T-cell clones that are nonlytic when activated by specific antigen nevertheless contain a complete lytic mechanism and also support the proposed central role in perforin in that mechanism.
A Piagetian approach to social work practice with children and adolescents

While the field of social work is heavily committed to the treatment of children and adolescents with behavior problems, it has given little attention to the application of Piaget's egocentrism theory to these problems. This paper outlines the theory proposed by Piaget and reviews subsequent empirical validation and clinical applications of his theory. The role of social work in developing more sophisticated applications of Piaget's theory is discussed.
Method for estimating right ventricular volume by planes applicable to cross-sectional echocardiography: correlation with angiographic formulas.

Abstract Right ventricular (RV) volumes determined by echocardiography were compared with those measured using established angiographic formulas. RV cast displacement volumes were first correlated with data derived from radiographic images of the casts corresponding to standard anglographic RV views. Four established anglographic formulas (Ferlinz, Boak, Fisher and Thilenius) correlated well with cast volume, with the corrected prism method of Fisher showing a best fit (r = 0.98, y = 1.1 + 0.9x, standard error of the estimate = 3.6). Cast volumes calculated using our echocardiographic formula were then examined relative to the volumes derived from radiographic images of the RV casts. Volumes Calculated using the corrected area-length Thilenius formula correlated best with those obtained using our derived 2-dimensional echocardiographic formula (r = 0.96, y = 4.6 + 1.0x, standard error of the estimate = 6.8). These data confirm that volume calculated using the suggested optimal echocardiographic formula correlates well with volume obtained using derived angiographic data. Accordingly, confirmation In humans by the use of angiography is a rational step.
Post-traumatic stress symptoms in pediatric heart transplant recipients

Traumatic experiences are not unusual in pediatric heart transplant (HT) recipients before and after transplantation. Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) present at the time of transplant evaluation and developing afterward occur with an unknown frequency. We sought to determine the burden of these symptoms in heart transplant patients. We reviewed 51 consecutive HTs between 2003-2007, including 40 primary transplants and 11 retransplants. Symptoms were present in 17 of the 51 patients (34%) at the time of orthotopic heart transplantation evaluation. None met the criteria for full post traumatic stress disorder. Transplant complications were examined. Nineteen subjects of the total sample had rejection in the first year following transplant. Rejection rates in the first year was 41% for those with PTSS (7 of 17 patients) and 36% for those without (12 of 33 patients) (P=n.s). Of those patients presenting for a second heart transplant, 55% had PTSS at the time of transplant evaluation and/or the peritransplant period; whereas, (28%) undergoing a primary transplant had PTSS. In addition to symptoms resulting from the disease process leading to HT and other prior experiences, the HT itself seems to present a large psychiatric burden on patients. All patients need to be followed before and after HT for signs and symptoms related to PTSS. Future studies should be undertaken to determine if preventative detection and treatment of patients with these PTSS symptoms early can lead to better outcomes.
Trade effects of European Community preferences to Mediterranean countries: The case of textile and clothing imports

Abstract The European Community (EC)'s preferential trade agreements with Mediterranean countries have been subject to little ex post assessment. This paper analyses the preferences' impact on EC textile and clothing imports from Mediterranean countries. The preferred imports grew faster than world trade or OECD imports from developing countries, and as a proportion of EC imports and Mediterranean exports; EC preferences thus appear to have had a significant effect on Mediterranean countries' textile and clothing exports, although some recipients have taken greater advantage than others. Post-1977 EC protectionism in these products further benefited the preference-recipients, who were largely unimpeded by quatitative restrictions.
Regional acid deposition calculations with the IBM PC LOTUS 1-2-3 system

Abstract The two basic methods for performing regional acid deposition calculations on a main frame computer have been adapted to the IBM PC LOTUS 1-2-3 spreadsheet system. The first method uses the so-called unit transfer matrices of ambient sulfate concentrations and wet and dry sulfur depositions from eight long-range transport models and emission vectors for historical, current, and future periods to calculate concentrations and depositions from each of eleven large source regions to each of 9 targeted sensitive receptors in eastern North America. The second method uses a simple regional climatological deposition model (RCDM) that is an Eulerian-type model, but with simplifications in physical and chemical processes that provide an analytical solution to the conservation of mass equations, and thus is free from numerical solution errors. The purpose of this paper is to provide documentation of the PC adaptation of the transfer matrix algebra and simple climatological deposition model methods. The paper includes schematic diagrams of the two basic methods and of the spreadsheet layouts and listings of the LOTUS MACROS used to facilitate the calculations. The system is readily available and easily transferable by either remote access or copy on diskettes. Some recommendations for further enhancement of the PC-regional acid deposition calculation system are provided.
Biological Control of Fusarium Crown and Root Rot of Tomato in Florida Using Trichoderma harzianum and Glomus intraradices

Abstract Field experiments were conducted to evaluate commercial formulations of two beneficial fungi, Trichoderma harzianum and Glomus intraradices, for the control of Fusarium crown and root rot of tomato, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici . Tomato seeds cv. "Sunny" were planted into soil nonamended or amended with the biocontrol agents, the former treatment serving as the control. After 6-7 weeks, plants were transplanted into beds fumigated with methyl bromide-chloropicrin in commercial tomato fields with a previous history of Fusarium crown and root rot. Disease incidence and severity were recorded at harvest maturity. Large and extra-large fruits (greater than or equal to 6.27 cm) also were harvested, counted, and weighed at maturity. Total marketable fruit yield was also determined. Compared to the controls, significant decreases in disease incidence were obtained with treatments of T. harzianum (1993), G. intraradices (1991), and T. harzianum + G. intraradices (both years). Significant decreases in disease severity were obtained with the treatments of T. harzianum (1993), G. intraradices (1991), and T. harzianum + G. intraradices (1993). Yields of large and extra-large fruit or total marketable yield were not significantly different over the controls. These data suggest that commercial biological control agents may be effective in reducing Fusarium crown and root rot and that further evaluation of these agents is justified.
Gestalt Therapy: Student Perceptions of Fritz Perls in 'Three Approaches to Psychotherapy'

The Three Approaches to Psychotherapy (TAP) videotape series introduces students to three major schools of psychotherapy: client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, and rational-emotive therapy. A sample of undergraduate students viewed the TAP series. The students were surveyed about their observations of Gestalt therapy and Fritz Perls' interactions with and treatment of Gloria, the client. This importance of the film series is its presentation of psychotherapy as done in that time by the founders of these schools. Videotapes are routinely employed educationally to show therapy techniques and illuminate theory. This paper examines the usefulness of this video to teach gestalt therapy to psychology students in four sections - two underclass and two upper class sections - in the same term. Student perceptions of this 40- year-old film series are explored. The gender relationship of therapist and client is shown as an example of the apparent sexism of the culture and cognitive processes of the time and its participants. Results found to today's instructionally sophisticated students agreed with Perls' explanation and portrayal of gestalt therapy and interactions with Gloria, his adult client.
Study of the aggregation and allosteric control of bovine glutamate dehydrogenase by means of quasi-elastic light scattering spectroscopy

Beef liver glutamate dehydrogenase is one of a number of allosteric, or regulatory, enzymes which are known to demonstrate reversible selfaggregation in vitro. In this report we present evidence that aggregation plays an important role in the allosteric control of this enzyme. Quasielastic light scattering spectroscopy is used in conjunction with biochemical determinations of enzyme activity in order to quantitatively characterize the relation between aggregation and enzyme activity. A mathematical model is presented which successfully predicts this experimentally observed relation and elucidates the specific role of aggregation in the allosteric regulation of this enzyme. We find that the net effect of the aggregation is: (1) to cause the allosteric transition of the enzyme from inactive to active form to occur at a lower level of allosteric activation, where the level of allosteric activation is a measure of the relative concentrations of allosteric activators and inhibitors; and (2) to make this allosteric transition a more abrupt function of the level of allosteric activation . This finding has important implications for the functioning of this enzyme as a control element in protein metabolism.
Inactivation of maize transposon Mu suppresses a mutant phenotype by activating an outward-reading promoter near the end of Mu1.

Abstract We described previously a mutation in maize, hcf106, caused by the insertion of a Mu1 transposon. When the Mu transposon system is in an active phase, hcf106 conditions a nonphotosynthetic, pale green phenotype. However, when the Mu system is inactive (a state correlated with hypermethylation of Mu elements), the plant adopts a normal phenotype despite the continued presence of the transposon within the gene. The molecular mechanisms that mediate this suppression of the mutant phenotype have now been investigated. We show here that the Mu element responsible for the hcf106 lesion lies within sequences encoding the 5'-untranslated leader of the Hcf106 mRNA. When the Mu transposon system is active, this insertion interferes with the accumulation of mRNA from the hcf106 allele. However, when Mu is inactive, mRNA similar in size and abundance to that transcribed from the normal allele accumulates. These transcripts initiate at many sites throughout a 70-base-pair region, within and immediately downstream of the Mu1 insertion. Thus, an unusual promoter spanning the downstream junction between Mu1 and Hcf106 substitutes for the normal Hcf106 promoter but only when Mu is inactive. The pattern of mRNA accumulation in different organs and in response to light suggests that the activity of this promoter is conditional not only upon the phase of Mu activity, but also upon signals that regulate the normal Hcf106 promoter.
A method of creating 3-D face images from 2-D photos for face recognition

In this paper, a method of creating a Three-Dimensional (3-D) face image from one or more 2-D face images is proposed. The 3-D synthetic face is actually represented by parameters of a set of 3-D face images of other persons. When a 2-D probing photo is presented, a 3-D synthetic face image is projected onto the 2-D image plane, following the pose and illumination compensations. An optimisation algorithm is applied to minimise the error, once the algorithm converges, the depth and intensity parameters of the 3-D synthetic face image are obtained of the 2-D probing photo in the 3-D space.
Structure-Activity Relationships of 2,N6,5′-Substituted Adenosine Derivatives with Potent Activity at the A2B Adenosine Receptor

2, N6, and 5‘-substituted adenosine derivatives were synthesized via alkylation of 2-oxypurine nucleosides leading to 2-arylalkylether derivatives. 2-(3-(Indolyl)ethyloxy)adenosine 17 was examined in both binding and cAMP assays and found to be a potent agonist of the human A2BAR. Simplification, altered connectivity, and mimicking of the indole ring of 17 failed to maintain A2BAR potency. Introduction of N6-ethyl or N6-guanidino substitution, shown to favor A2BAR potency, failed to enhance potency in the 2-(3-(indolyl)ethyloxy)adenosine series. Indole 5‘ ‘- or 6‘ ‘-halo substitution was favored at the A2BAR, but a 5‘-N-ethylcarboxyamide did not further enhance potency. 2-(3‘ ‘-(6‘ ‘-Bromoindolyl)ethyloxy)adenosine 28 displayed an A2BAR EC50 value of 128 nM, that is, more potent than the parent 17 (299 nM) and similar to 5‘-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (140 nM). Compound 28 was a full agonist at A2B and A2AARs and a low efficacy partial agonist at A1 and A3ARs. Thus, we have identified and optimized 2-(2-a...