cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Invasive predator tips the balance of symmetrical competition between native coral‐reef fishes

The importance of competition and predation in structuring ecological communities is typically examined separately such that interactions between these processes are seldom understood. By causing large reductions in native prey, invasive predators may modify native species interactions. I conducted a manipulative field experiment in The Bahamas to investigate the possibility that the invasive Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans) alters competition between planktivorous fairy and blackcap basslets (Gramma loreto and Gramma melacara, respectively). Competition between these coral-reef fishes is known to have symmetrical effects on the juveniles of both species, whereby the feeding positions under reef ledges and growth rates of these individuals are hindered. Following baseline censuses of local populations of competing basslets, I simultaneously manipulated the abundance of lionfish on entire reefs, and the abundance of basslets in local populations under isolated ledges within each reef, resulting in three treatments: unmanipulated control populations of both basslets, reduced abundance of fairy basslet, and reduced abundance of blackcap basslet. For eight weeks, I measured the change in biomass and feeding position of 2-5 cm size classes of each basslet species and calculated the growth rates of ~2 cm individuals using a standard mark-and-recapture method. Experimental populations were filmed at dusk using automated video cameras to quantify the behavior of lionfish overlapping with basslets. Video playback revealed lionfish hunted across all ledge positions, regardless of which basslet species were present, yet lionfish differentially reduced the biomass of only juvenile (2 cm) fairy basslet. Predation reduced the effects of interspecific competition on juvenile blackcap basslet as evidenced by corresponding shifts in feeding position toward coveted front edges of ledges and increases in growth rates that were comparable to the response of these fish in populations where competition was experimentally reduced. Thus, an invasive marine predator altered the outcome of interspecific competition via differential predation, which tipped the balance of competition between native prey species from symmetrical to asymmetrical effects on juveniles. This study reveals a newly demonstrated context in which predation can indirectly facilitate prey, further broadening our understanding of the interactive effects of predation and competition in the context of invasive species.
Self-Leadership: Journey from Position-Power to Self-Power

Self-leadership marks the transition from position-power to self-power. It is built on the understanding that everybody has two most basic needs—the need to express oneself and the need to surpass oneself. These needs may not always be very well-articulated, but they are there in and through all our strivings and pursuits. Self-leadership accomplishes both in one stroke by inspiring excellence in oneself and others and by enabling people to express and surpass themselves. The chapter offers a unique perspective on self-leadership which is defined as leading from one’s highest authentic self. Leadership is approached as an expression (and as an extension) of who we are. Exemplary leaders recognize that the most important challenges confronting organizations and society at large are so profound and pervasive that they can only be resolved at the fundamental level of the human spirit—at the level of one’s authentic self.
The Persisting Problem of Precedent Autonomy Among Persons in a Minimally Conscious State: The Limitations of Philosophical Analysis and Clinical Assessment

Determining whether it is ethical to withdraw life-sustaining treatments (WOLST) from a patient in the minimally conscious state (MCS) recalls recurring debates in bioethics, including the applicab...
Selection of Proton Pump Inhibitors for Formulary Inclusion

To accurately assess any therapeutic class or specific agent for inclusion in the hospital formulary, a consistent evidence-based review process should be followed. Utilization of any therapeutic class, including the proton pump inhibitors, is more efficient if a single agent is used throughout the healthcare system. The lack of evidence supporting intravenous proton pump inhibitor therapy in stress-related mucosal damage and no comparative data in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding allows interchange of all agents more readily. Although many factors need consideration, the ideal proton pump inhibitor should be available orally and intravenously, and be prepared easily for administration to patients unable to swallow capsules or tablets. Using these criteria, the hospital system may be able to leverage the best possible cost for selection of a proton pump inhibitor for their formulary.
Four new species of Magelona (Annelida: Magelonidae) from Easter Island, Guam and Hawaii.

Several collections of magelonids from Easter Island, Guam in the Mariana Islands and Hawaii were examined. Five magelonids are fully described and illustrated: Magelona anuheone sp. nov. (Easter Island), M. cf. symmetrica Mortimer & Mackie, 2006 (Guam), M. alexandrae sp. nov. (Hawaii), M. cinthyae sp. nov. (Hawaii) and M. paulolanai sp. nov. (Hawaii and Guam). Magelona anuheone sp. nov. has a distinctly longer than wide prostomium with inflated and well-developed prostomial horns, similar to M. montera from the Indian Ocean. Magelona alexandrae sp. nov. belongs to Magelona species with crenulated upper margin of thoracic postchaetal lamellae and also well-developed prostomial horns. Magelona cinthyae sp. nov. is unique among its congeners in that several collected adult individuals presented two or more eyespots in the prostomium, a feature only previously recorded to pelagic larval stages. Magelona paulolanai sp. nov. belongs to a group of species with rudimentary prostomial horns, simple capillaries on chaetiger 9 and tridentate abdominal hooks. All species are illustrated and compared to their morphologically similar congeners.
Robust newsvendor problems: effect of discrete demands

Distribution-free newsvendor models often assume continuous demand distributions to facilitate analysis and computation. However, in practice, discrete demand is a natural phenomenon. So far, there exists no analytical and computational results in the literature under this setting. Thus, the goal of this paper is to investigate the newsvendor problems with partial information when the demand is discrete and solve them using the so-called discrete moment problems. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the value of discrete information.
Direct Observation of C2O4•- and CO2•- by Oxidation of Oxalate within Nanogap of Scanning Electrochemical Microscope.

Oxalate oxidation in the presence of different oxidized luminophores leads to the emission of light and has been studied extensively in electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL). The proposed mechan...
Revisiting Safe Operating Area: SiGe HBT Aging Models for Reliability-Aware Circuit Design

This paper presents and validates a physics-based compact aging model for predictive simulation of hot-carrier degradation in SiGe HBTs. Separate aging functions model the effects of high-field mixed-mode and high-current Auger-hot-carrier stresses and are integrated together to provide predictive capability across a wide bias range. The variation of aging rate with device geometry and the incorporation of multiple parameter shifts due to hot carrier polysilicon degradation are explored. Additionally, aging simulation results of a driver circuit are presented to begin to demonstrate how such models may be incorporated as part of the circuit design process.
Homelessness among immigrants in the United States: rates, correlates, and differences compared with native-born adults.

Abstract Objectives This study examines rates of lifetime adult homelessness among foreign-born adults in the United States and how they differ from native-born adults. Study design Cross-sectional data from a nationally representative US sample were analyzed. Methods A sample of 29,896 native-born (weighted 84.1%) and 6404 foreign-born (weighted 16.0%) US adults participating in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III were compared on rates of homelessness, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, mental and substance-use disorders, health insurance, and use of welfare. Results There was no significant difference in rates of lifetime adult homelessness between foreign-born adults and native-born adults (1.0% vs 1.7%). Foreign-born participants were less likely to have various mental and substance-use disorders, less likely to receive welfare, and less likely to have any lifetime incarceration. The number of years foreign-born adults lived in the United States was significantly associated with risk for homelessness. Conclusions These findings suggest the ‘healthy immigrant effect’ applies to the mental health and social functioning of US immigrants but may not necessarily apply to homelessness. Long-standing immigration procedures requiring mental health and psychosocial evaluations may contribute to selection effects.
180/sup 0/ elastic electron scattering from the magnetization distributions of /sup 25/Mg and /sup 93/Nb

Magnetic electron scattering cross sections for $^{25}\mathrm{Mg}$ and $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ have been measured by means of 180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} elastic electron scattering at momentum transfers from 0.8 to 2.2 ${\mathrm{fm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The $M1$, $M3$, and $M5$ form factors extracted from the data for $^{25}\mathrm{Mg}$ agree with shell model and Nilsson model calculations over most of the momentum transfer range. The $M3$ form factor is strongly suppressed with respect to the $M1$ and the $M5$. The measured relatively small quenching of the $M1$, $M3$, $M5$, $M7$, and $M9$ form factors of $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ are in good agreement with a shell model calculation of Gloeckner, and show that the magnetic effects in $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ are predominantly due to the single $1{g}_{\frac{9}{2}}$ proton.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{25}\mathrm{Mg}$($e$,$e$), $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$($e$,$e$), $E=80\ensuremath{-}215$ MeV, $\ensuremath{\theta}=180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E,180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})$; deduced magnetic moment from factors.
Distal esophagus is the most commonly involved site for strictures in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

While strictures are common in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), there are few data on stricture distribution and characteristics. Our primary aim was to characterize strictures by location in the esophagus in EoE and associated clinical, endoscopic, and histologic features. This was a retrospective study from the UNC EoE Clinicopathologic Database of subjects with esophageal strictures or narrowing from 2002 to 2017. Strictures were categorized as distal esophagus/gastroesophageal junction, mid-esophagus, proximal esophagus, or diffusely narrowed. Stricture location was assessed and compared with clinical, endoscopic, and histologic features, and also with treatment response to diet or topical steroids. Efficacy of combination therapy with dilation and intralesional steroid injection was assessed in a sub-group of patients with strictures. Of 776 EoE cases, 219 (28%) had strictures, 45% of which were distal, 30% were proximal, 5% were mid-esophageal, and 20% had diffuse narrowing. Those with mid-esophageal strictures were younger (P = 0.02) and had shorter symptom duration (P < 0.01). Those with diffuse esophageal narrowing were more likely to be women (57%) and have abdominal pain (25%). There was no association between other clinical, endoscopic, and histologic findings and treatment response based on stricture location. Fourteen patients (8%) received intralesional triamcinolone injection and subsequently achieved a higher mean dilation diameter after injection (13.7 vs. 15.5 mm; P < 0.01). In conclusion, almost half of strictures in EoE patients were in the distal esophagus. Therefore, EoE should be a diagnostic consideration in patients with focal distal strictures and not presumed to be secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) creates sugar-specific taste aversion to fructose through action in the brain in mice

Abstract Metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity are a growing healthcare concern, and their increasing rates are attributed to increased consumption of carbohydrate-rich diets and sugar-sweetened beverages. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a complex metabolic regulator, and there is significant evidence that it may play a role in fructose metabolism, driving relative aversion to sweet taste. As such, we examined the relationship between FGF21 and the preferential intake of simple carbohydrates in mice, both as liquid solutions and as dietary additives. Genetic deletion of FGF21 or its obligate co-receptor β-klotho (KLB) had no impact on preference for sugar sweetened solutions. FGF21 overexpression, however, substantially suppressed preference for fructose solutions, but had no effect on glucose or sucrose preference. Infusions of FGF21 also suppressed fructose preference specifically, an effect that was dependent on expression of KLB in the CNS. These results demonstrate that FGF21 creates sugar-specific taste aversion to fructose, which may be mediated by a KLB-dependent pathway in the brain. Highlights FGF21 administration suppresses fructose preference in mice. Preference for glucose or sucrose is not affected by FGF21 administration. Genetic FGF21 deletion does not enhance fructose, glucose, or sucrose preference. FGF21 requires central β-klotho expression to suppress fructose preference.
Dosimetry, Radiobiology and Synthetic Lethality: Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (RPT) With Alpha-Particle-Emitters

As a treatment modality that is fundamentally different from other therapies against cancer, radiopharmaceutical therapy with alpha-particle emitters has drawn the attention of the therapy community and also the biopharmaceutical industry. Alpha-particles cause a preponderance of complex DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). This provides an opportunity to either enhance cell kill by using DNA DSB repair inhibitors or identify patients who are likely to be high responders to alpha-emitter RPT. The short-range and high potency of alpha-particles requires special dosimetry considerations. These are reviewed in light of recent updates to the phantoms and associated dosimetric quantities used for dosimetry calculations. A formalism for obtaining the necessary microscale pharmacokinetic information from patient nuclear medicine imaging is presented. Alpha-emitter based radiopharmaceutical therapy is an exciting cancer therapy modality that is being revisited. Further development of imaging and dosimetric methods specific to alpha-particle emitters, coupled with standardization of the methods and rigorous evidence that dosimetry applied to alphaRPT improves patient care are needed moving forward.
Image Postprocessing and Volume Rendering

Nearly all images produced in a medical imaging department are processed to some degree. Some processing is done to make digital images look more like their film predecessors. Some processing is done to accentuate certain features (e.g., bone and soft tissue kernels in CT) or to provide higher resolution (e.g., MRA). This postprocessing is typically focused on producing images that are visually pleasing. However, postprocessing can also be used to improve the performance of a CAD algorithm, to produce renderings of components of the image set that are more useful. This chapter will begin with very basic image processing functions, and proceed on to advanced techniques that are increasingly being applied as a part of postprocessing enhancements.
Good Code Sets Based on Triangular Chirps with Signed Segments and Different Slopes

A good code set based on triangular chirps is introduced. It is shown that changing the sign of one of the segments of the triangular chirp results in a quazi-orthogonal waveform. A good code set is generated by varying the slope and the sign of one of the segments of the triangular chirp. Thus, doubling the number of codes in the set obtained by varying the slope alone while preserving the cross-correlation properties of the set. The different members of the good code set satisfy other important conditions like constant time bandwidth product, tolerance to and the ability to detect Doppler shifts. It also shown that extended matched filters could be used to enhance the Doppler tolerance and detection capability of the codes. The proposed good codes sets could be used for MIMO radar and netted radar applications.
Mitofusin-2 mediates doxorubicin sensitivity and acute resistance in Jurkat leukemia cells.

Abstract Mitochondria oscillate along a morphological continuum from fragmented individual units to hyperfused tubular networks. Their position at the junction of catabolic and anabolic metabolism couples this morphological plasticity, called mitochondrial dynamics, to larger cellular metabolic programs, which in turn implicate mitochondria in a number of disease states. In many cancers, fragmented mitochondria engage the cell with the biosynthetic capacity of aerobic glycolysis in service of proliferation and progression. Chemo-resistant cancers, however, favor remodeling dynamics that yield fused mitochondrial assemblies utilizing oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) through the electron transport chain (ETC). In this study, expression of Mitofusin-2 (MFN-2), a GTPase protein mediator of mitochondrial fusion, was found to closely correlate to Jurkat leukemia cell survival post doxorubicin (DxR) assault. Moreover, this was accompanied by dramatically increased expression of OXPHOS respiratory complexes and ATP Synthase, as well as a commensurate escalation of state III respiration and respiratory control ratio (RCR). Importantly, CRISPR knockout of MFN-2 resulted in a considerable decrease of doxorubicin (DxR) median lethal dose compared to a treated wildtype control, suggesting an important role of mitochondrial fusion in chemotherapy sensitivity and acute resistance.
Avoidance of Passive Transfer Failure in Calves

Partial or complete failure of passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins is known to be a major determinant of liability to neonatal disease and mortality in calves. When considering the causes of failure of passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins the transfer process can be divided into three stages. These are:1. The formation of adequate volumes of high immunoglobulin concentration colostrum in the udder.2. The ingestion of an adequate mass of immunoglobulin by the calf early in life.3. The transfer of immunoglobulins across the gut into the circulation of the calf. Currently we have information on the causes of failure associated with deficiencies in the first two of these stages and there are management strategies that can be used to minimize failure associated with these stages. We have limited knowledge to allow successful intervention strategies associated with the third stage.
Editorial: A New Day

Editorial statement for RDS v17i1 considers the impact of the pandemic at its one year mark, and lists content of the issue.
Coterie availability in sites

In this paper, we explore new failure models for multi-site systems, which are systems characterized by a collection of sites spread across a wide area network, each site formed by a set of computing nodes running processes. In particular, we introduce two failure models that allow sites to fail, and we use them to derive coteries. We argue that these coteries have better availability than quorums formed by a majority of processes, which are known for having best availability when process failures are independent and identically distributed. To motivate introducing site failures explicitly into a failure model, we present availability data from a production multi-site system, showing that sites are frequently unavailable. We then discuss the implementability of our abstract models, showing possibilities for obtaining these models in practice. Finally, we present evaluation results from running an implementation of the Paxos algorithm on PlanetLab using different quorum constructions. The results show that our constructions have substantially better availability and response time compared to majority coteries.
Plasmid Molecular Biology

Plasmids face many of the same problems as bacterial chromosomes. They must replicate themselves, synthesize appropriate gene products, and segregate at least one copy of the plasmid into each daughter cell at cell division. However, plasmids also maintain incompatibility functions that prevent other, similar plasmids from taking up residence in the same cell and in many cases can transfer their DNA to other cells. They exist in a characteristic low or high copy number relative to the bacterial chromosome. This chapter considers the various methods by which plasmids accomplish these tasks.
1H and 2H NMR studies of water in work-free wheat flour doughs.

Proton and deuterium NMR relaxation methods were used to characterize water compartmentalization and hydration in work-free wheat flour doughs. Transverse (spin-spin) relaxation measurements define three motionally unique water compartments in the work-free dough preparations. The apparent occupancy fraction and relative mobility of each water domain are found to be functions of moisture content, temperature, and flour type. Additionally, the number of relaxation-resolved water compartments and their characteristic relaxation rate constants are found to depend critically on both moisture content and the interpulse-delay employed for the multi-pulse relaxation experiments. Under controlled experimental conditions, dynamics between the three water compartments can be observed to be consistent with the onset of flour hydration. The most notable observation during the initial period of hydration is a loss of “free” or “loosely bound” water to environments characterized by less mobility. Freezing studies show that hard wheat doughs have slightly less amorphous, non-freezable water than do soft wheat flour doughs prepared under similar conditions.
Scoring Systems in Critical Care

Today’s health care environment is focused on providing both high quality and error-free care. Transparency is becoming an expectation, with many outcomes reported publically. Scoring systems are an objective measure which can be used to assess quality of care, assist with the evaluation and modification of complex systems of care, improve patient outcomes and predict morbidity and mortality. Their role has become secure in critical care because physician’s judgments are too subjective for quality assessment in large samples.
A method of extracting the mass of the top quark in the di-lepton channel using the D0 Detector

We present a method for extracting the mass of the top quark from the di-lepton decays of top anti-top quark pairs. In this decay channel two neutrinos remain undetected. Extraction of the mass of the top quark by kinematic reconstruction is not possible because the event is under-constrained. We therefore employ a dynamical likelihood method to solve the problem.
Clinical Efficacy of Halstead's Impairment Index versus an Empirical Weighting Procedure.

The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery is commonly used to determine the presence or absence of neurocognitive impairment. A principal indicator used to make this determination is the Impairment Index, an index comprising seven measures from the battery. The Impairment Index has been criticized for assuming equality among the measures. Using the original validation sample for the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, a discriminant function analysis was performed to determine the best set of weights for the seven measures. The results showed that the measures are of differential importance in discriminating between impaired and non-impaired subjects. Cross-validation of the obtained weights on a new sample indicated that the two weighting methods do not differ in classification accuracy. The findings suggest that an empirically derived set of weights is probably no more useful than the easier-to-compute equal weighting procedure commonly used.
Pulmonologist Involvement, Stage-Specific Treatment, and Survival in Adults with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Rationale: Up to 80% of patients with lung cancer have comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many of them are poor candidates for stage-specific lung cancer treatment due to diminished lung function and poor functional status, and many forego treatment. The negative effect of COPD may be moderated by pulmonologist-guided management.Objectives: This study examined the association between pulmonologist management and the probability of receiving the recommended stage-specific treatment modality and overall survival among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with preexisting COPD.Methods: Early- and advanced-stage NSCLC cases diagnosed between 2002 and 2005 with a prior COPD diagnosis (3–24 months before NSCLC diagnosis) were identified in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results tumor registry data linked to Medicare claims. Study outcomes included receipt of recommended stage-specific treatment (surgical resection for early-stage NSCLC and chemotherapy for advanced-stage NSC...
Improving competition representation in theoretical models of self-thinning: a critical review

Summary 1 Many theoretical models have been proposed to explain the empirical self-thinning relationship given by Yoda et al. in 1963 for even-aged, monospecific stands of plants, but the models are inadequate to allow consensus on the processes driving variation in density-dependent mortality and self-thinning. 2 Most non-individual based models (non-IBMs), and many IBMs, employ a common representation of competition in which a finite amount of potential crown area remains completely allocated throughout self-thinning, making stand density inversely proportional to mean projected crown area. 3 This representation entails four assumptions regarding the competition process: the population is adequately represented by the mean plant; total stand resource utilization is constant throughout self-thinning; competition is a horizontal packing process; and differences in initial stand conditions may affect the rate of competition but not the process itself. 4 Reviewing published empirical data, the competition literature and the logical implications for the self-thinning process shows that all four assumptions are untenable as generalizations. Unfortunately, their application provides neither a mortality-inducing mechanism nor insight into the relationship between stand growth and mortality. 5 Explaining the observed variation in self-thinning relationships therefore requires improved representation of the competition process. This improvement is likely to require IBMs that explicitly represent variation in plant size or resource acquisition, two-dimensional stand distribution, dynamic rather than static stand resource utilization, and, perhaps, explicit three-dimensional stand development. Most importantly, the requirement for explicitly modelling mortality mechanisms implies that whole plant models may be insufficient for insight into the self-thinning process. 6 The review reinforces the need to assess mechanistic models for more than their ability to reproduce a single, high-level pattern. Such models should be assessed for their ability to simultaneously reproduce multiple features selected from the levels of both the modelled mechanisms and the high-level patterns. 7 Progress in understanding the observed variation in self-thinning currently requires a shift from searching for universal insight into the modelling of specific mechanisms for specific plant types, eventually leading to a broader theory explaining how variation in plants affects the competition process.
Anterior EEG Asymmetry and the Modifier Model of Autism

Individual differences in the expression of autism complicate research on the nature and treatment of this disorder. In the Modifier Model of Autism (Mundy et al. 2007), we proposed that individual differences in autism may result not only from syndrome specific causal processes, but also from variability in generic, non-syndrome specific modifier processes that affect the social and emotional development of all people. One study supporting this model found that measures of resting anterior EEG asymmetry, a measure reflecting complex brain processes associated with generic individual differences in approach and avoidance motivation, may help explain differences in the expression of autism in children without intellectual disabilities (Sutton et al. 2005). In the current study, we partially replicated the observation that children with autism who exhibited a pattern of left frontal EEG asymmetry tended to display milder levels of social symptoms, although in the current sample this pattern applied only to HFA children with relatively lower verbal IQs. New observations indicated that left frontal EEG asymmetry was also associated with retrospective parent reports of significantly later age of onset of symptoms, but also higher levels of self-reported outward expressions of anger as well as symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder in school-age higher functioning children with ASD. Therefore, the results of this study provide a new and fully independent set of observations, which indicate that individual differences in anterior EEG asymmetry may significantly moderate the expression and developmental course of autism. This observation may have clinical implications for identifying meaningful diagnostic sub-groups among children with autism.
Thermodynamics of dilute XY quantum chains

It is shown that the specific heat and susceptibility (${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{\mathrm{zz}}$) of the dilute $\mathrm{XY}$ $\mathrm{s}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{n}\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}$ chain can be calculated by summing over the finite segments. At low temperatures the specific heat is determined by segments with an even number of spins, whereas the susceptibility is determined by segments with an odd number of spins. At low temperatures the specific heat behaves as ${(\frac{{T}_{0}}{T})}^{\frac{5}{4}}\mathrm{exp}[\ensuremath{-}2{(\frac{{T}_{0}}{T})}^{\frac{1}{2}}]$, where ${T}_{0}$ is a characteristic temperature in the dilute spin system.
Lyn tyrosine kinase signals cell cycle arrest but not apoptosis in B- lineage lymphoma cells

Abstract Signal transduction initiated by binding of antibodies to cell surface molecules can have an important impact on the growth of tumor cells. The malignant behavior of the murine lymphoma BCL1 can be suppressed and the neoplastic cells can be induced to enter a dormant state by in vivo ligation of membrane immunoglobulin. Anti-CD19 antibodies can prolong the survival of SCID mice challenged with the human Burkitt lymphoma cell line, Daudi. Here, we show that cross-linking of membrane immunoglobulin on both murine BCL1 and human Daudi cells initiates a cascade of signals leading to the induction of both apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vitro. Using antisense oligonucleotides, we demonstrate that the immunoglobulin-associated Lyn tyrosine kinase is required for anti-immunoglobulin-mediated cell cycle arrest but is not required for the signal leading to apoptosis. These results define a branch point in the cytosolic signaling pathways mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In Daudi cells, Lyn is also critical for cell cycle arrest induced by anti-CD19 signaling. Thus, the Lyn tyrosine kinase may be an important mediator of cell cycle arrest in neoplastic B lymphocytes and, perhaps, other cell types.
Oral proficiency testing and its significance for practice

(1987). Oral proficiency testing and its significance for practice. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 26, Teaching Foreign Languages, pp. 282-287.
TLC Analysis of Mannich Bases Derived from Indolizines

Seven Mannich bases derived from indolizines were studied using TLC procedures. Alumina, cellulose, and silica gel plates and a number of solvent systems were employed.
Generation and migration of hydrocarbons in offshore South Texas Gulf Coast sediments

Abstract The hydrocarbon content of two thick Tertiary sequences from the offshore Gulf Coast (South Padre Island and Mustang Island) was studied using a headspace technique, thermal distillation, pyrolysis and solvent extraction. The threshold of oil generation was determined to occur in the range of 3050 m (10,000 ft; 120°C) in Miocene sediments. In the South Padre Island well, the distribution of the different classes of hydrocarbons along the sedimentary column suggests some updip migration processes are occurring.
Monte Carlo simulation of electron-hole thermalization in photoexcited bulk semiconductors

We use an ensemble Monte Carlo technique to model the thermalization of electron-hole plasmas following a laser excitation. For concreteness, we concentrate on the results of two recent experiments. Our calculations quantitatively confirm the existence of separate effective electron and hole temperatures during the first 10 ps in ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$As. The carrier cooling can be explained by invoking both nonequilibrium phonons and carrier degeneracy. Comparison with a band-edge luminescence experiment brings out features concerning the electron-hole and intervalley scattering contributions.
Estrogen, inflammation, and platelet phenotype.

Abstract Background: Although exogenous estrogenic therapies increase the risk of thrombosis, the effects of estrogen on formed elements of blood are uncertain. Objective: This article examines the genomic and nongenomic actions of estrogen on platelet phenotype that may contribute to increased thrombotic risk. Methods: To determine aggregation, secretion, protein expression, and thrombin generation, platelets were collected from experimental animals of varying hormonal status and from women enrolled in the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study. Results: Estrogen receptor β predominates in circulating platelets. Estrogenic treatment in ovariectomized animals decreased platelet aggregation and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) secretion. However, acute exposure to 17β-estradiol did not reverse decreases in platelet ATP secretion invoked by lipopolysaccharide. Thrombin generation was positively correlated to the number of circulating microvesicles expressing phosphatidylserine. Conclusion: Assessing the effect of estrogen treatments on blood platelets may lead to new ways of identifying women at risk for adverse thrombotic events with such therapies.
In the Rat, Interleukin- 1α Acts at the Level of the Brain and the Gonads to Interfere with Gonadotropin and Sex Steroid Secretion*

These studies were designed to investigate a possible effect of the monokine interleukin-1α (Il-1α) on gonadotropins and/or sex steroid secretion. Three putative sites of action were considered: the central nervous system, the pituitary, and the gonads. A central nervous system-mediated mechanism was tested by injecting Il-1α into the lateral ventricle of the brain of castrated rats; this treatment caused a dose-related inhibition of LH secretion, with a minimum effective dose below 0.1 μg (6.6 pmol) and a maximum effect at 1 μg (66 pmol). The plateau response was observed 120 min after injection. The possibility that Il-1α might alter pituitary sensitivity was studied by administering 200 ng GnRH, iv, into gonadectomized control rats or rats pretreated with 1 μg Il-1α intracerebroventricularly. GnRH induced a comparable increase in the plasma LH levels of both groups of animals. Finally, hypophysectomized immature (24-day-old) female rats were used to determine if we could confirm in vivo that interleuki...
Gender effects on challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract Challenging behaviors are extremely prevalent within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) population. To date, numerous factors affecting the rates of challenging behaviors within the ASD population have been examined including age, gender, ethnicity, and intellectual functioning. Controversy has arisen in regard to the effect of gender on challenging behaviors rates in individuals with ASD with some researchers finding differences while others do not. The aim of the current study was to examine the gender effects of children and adolescents with ASD on challenging behavior rates in an effort to assist in clarifying this relationship. Three hundred ninety-one children ages 2 through 17 years participated in the current study and were assigned to one of four groups: male with ASD, male without ASD, female with ASD, and female without ASD. Differences in rates of challenging behaviors between the groups were examined using the Autism Spectrum Disorder-Behavior Problems for Children. Overall, gender was not found to have an effect on the rates of challenging behaviors among children and adolescents with or without ASD. The implications of this finding are discussed along with possible future avenues of investigation.
Conformal Magnifier: A Focus+Context Technique with Local Shape Preservation

We present the conformal magnifier, a novel interactive focus+context visualization technique that magnifies a region of interest (ROI) using conformal mapping. Our framework supports the arbitrary shape design of magnifiers for the user to enlarge the ROI while globally deforming the context region without any cropping. By using the mathematically well-defined conformal mapping theory and algorithm, the ROI is magnified with local shape preservation (angle distortion minimization), while the transition area between the focus and context regions is deformed smoothly and continuously. After the selection of a specified magnifier shape, our system can automatically magnify the ROI in real time with full resolution even for large volumetric data sets. These properties are important for many visualization applications, especially for the computer aided detection and diagnosis (CAD). Our framework is suitable for diverse applications, including the map visualization, and volumetric visualization. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness, robustness, and efficiency of our framework.
Effect of N and P fertilization on yield and quality of Kochia grown in the greenhouse

Abstract The use of kochia (Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.) as a forage crop has recently generated considerable interest, but little is known about how fertilization affects yield and quality. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted; the first with a clay loam soil and 0, 67 and 135 kg P/ha, and the second with a sandy loam soil and extremely high rates of P, which were 0, 4.5, 9.0, 13.5 and 17.9 ton P/ha. Both had 0, 84, 168 and 252 kg N/ha in a complete factorial with the P levels. In the first experiment, dry matter yield, root dry matter yield and flowering percentage increased linearly with N, while Ca, P and oxalate percentage decreased quadratically with N. Oxalate levels were low with a mean of 1.98%. Phosphorus levels affected only P percentage, which increased quadratically with P level. No interactions were observed between N and P in the first experiment. In the second experiment, the high levels of P increased dry matter yield, crude protein and oxalate percentages, especially at low N level...
The reaction of ammonia with SiOSiHCl2 monolayers on silica

Abstract High surface area silica was completely dehydroxylated by reaction with HSiCl 3 . The SiOSiHCl 2 (I) monolayer was then exposed to NH 3 at 22 °C, the surface reactions being followed by infrared spectroscopy using the perturbation of the SiH band as probe of the otherwise unobservable reactions occurring at the SiCl bond. NH 3 was taken up at quite low pressures to form a mixture of surface species. I reacted to form a species II which was then converted to a species III. Degassing at 22 °C reversed the processes, almost all I being re-formed. Successive sorption-degassing cycles caused the formation or at least three other species. The spectra suggest that reversible ammonolysis of I occurred, the SiH mode being perturbed by the reversible formation of SiNH 2 ··· NH 4 Cl. The complex results suggest that reactions on halogenated surfaces are more involved than has so far been suspected.
Does Small High School Reform Lift Urban Districts? Evidence From New York City

Research finds that small high schools deliver better outcomes than large high schools for urban students. An important outstanding question is whether this better performance is gained at the expense of losses elsewhere: Does small school reform lift the whole district? We explore New York City’s small high school reform in which hundreds of new small high schools were built in less than a decade. We use rich individual student data on four cohorts of New York City high school students and estimate effects of schools on student outcomes. Our results suggest that the introduction of small schools improved outcomes for students in all types of schools: large, small, continuously operating, and new. Small school reform lifted all boats.
Rotational deformities after fractures of the femoral shaft in childhood.

Sixty-two patients with femoral fractures treated conservatively have been studied over an interval of 1 to 6 years. Rotational deformity was assessed by a radiological method of anteversion measurement. The degree of rotational deformity following fracture ranged from 10 degrees to 33 degrees in just over one-third of the whole group; by later assessment there was no evidence of spontaneous correction during growth. In view of the possibility of early complaints, e.g. pain and fatigue in the abnormally rotated extremity, and the potential risk of subsequent arthrosis, we consider that rotational deformity over 20 degrees ought to be avoided. It is suggested that use of the extension table of Weber is the most satisfactory conservative method of treatment of femoral fractures in childhood (Weber, 1969). This enables correction of significant rotation deformity during treatment under radiographic control.
History of the law of charity, 1532-1827

Part I. The development of the law of charity 1532-1700: 1. Introduction: Charity before the Reformation 2. The Reformation and the law of charity 3. The Statutes of Charitable Uses: 39 Elizabeth I c. 6 and 43 Elizabeth I c. 4 4. The development of the Law of Charity 1545-1700: A definition of charity 5. The development of the Law of Charity 1545-1700: The privileges of charity Part II. The development of the Law of Charity 1700-1827: 6. Introduction 7. The Mortmain Act, 1736 8. The preamble to the Charitable Uses Act, 1601, and the definition of charity 9. The influence of the Mortmain Act, 1736, on the definition of charity 10. The development of the Law of Charity 1700-1827: The privileges of charity 11. The Enforcement of Charitable Trusts 1700-1827.
A 13-item score based on readily available risk factors predicted risk for 3-year mortality in heart failure

Source Citation Pocock SJ, Ariti CA, McMurray JJ, et al; Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC). Predicting survival in heart failure: a risk score based on 39 372 patients fr...
Genes for murine Y1 and Y3 Ro RNAs have class 3 RNA polymerase III promoter structures and are unlinked on mouse chromosome 6.

Abstract Murine YRNAs, which are components of the conserved Ro ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex, have been identified by enzymatic RNA sequencing. Mouse Y1 (mY1) and Y3 (mY3; originally named mY2) RNAs share 97 and 95% identity to the human Y1 and Y3 RNAs, respectively. TATA-like sequences, Proximal Sequence Elements, and octamer sequences, which are upstream promoter element motifs indicative of Class 3 RNA Polymerase III (RNAPIII) transcribed genes, are found upstream of both the putative mY1 and mY3 coding regions. Further, these elements are strikingly conserved both in sequence and position relative to known Class 3 genes and to human YRNA genes. Inhibition of transcription in vitro by 200/g/ml but not 1 ug/ml of a-amanitin indicates transcription of the mouse YRNA genes by RNAPIII. Southern blot of C57BL/6J and Mus spretus murine genomic DNA with mY1 and mY3 gene-specific probes suggests that these genes are single copy in the mouse genome. Finally, gene mapping with a (C57BL/6J x SPRET/E)F, x SPRET/E i mouse interspecific backcross DNA panel localizes the mY1 gene to the distal end of mouse chromosome 6, close to the motheaten (me) autoimmunity locus. The mY3 gene maps to the proximal end of mouse chromosome 6 very close to the T cell receptor s locus, in a region homologous to human chromosome 7 where the human YRNA genes have been mapped.
Anomaly Trends for Missions to Mars: Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey

Conducted as a part of NASA Ultra-Reliability effort: Goal is to design for increased reliability in all NASA missions. Desire is to increase reliability by a factor of 10. Study provides a baseline for current technology. Analyzed anomalies for spacecraft orbiting Mars. Long lived spacecraft. Comparison with current rover missions and past orbiters. Looked for trends to assist design of future missions.
Effect of Specific Antibodies on Chronic Echovirus Type 5 Encephalitis in a Patient with Hypogammaglobulinemia

The effects of specific antibodies in chronic echovirus type 5 (echo 5) encephalitis were investigated in a patient with x-linked hypogammaglobulinemia. Virus was detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood despite treatment with commercial human gammaglobulin that contained low titers of antibodies to echo 5 (0.6 x 10(4) units per injection). Virus disappeared from blood and CSF when plasma containing high concentrations of antibodies (total dose, 1--4 x 10(4) units/kg) was administered intravenously. Maximal inhibition of virus was achieved in culture and in the patient's CSF when the titer of antibody to echo 5 in CSF was greater than or equal to 16 units/ml. Although the patient died, hyperimmune plasma improved the neurologic status and eliminated detectable virus from the blood and CSF.
The c-axis electrical conductivity of kish graphite

Abstract Measurements are reported on the temperature dependence of the d.c. conductivity in the c-direction of kish graphite. These results show that both the magnitude and temperature dependence of the c-axis conduction are similar to results reported in single crystal graphite, but qualitatively different from observations made in pyrolytic graphite. Because of differences in the impurity and defect density between kish graphite and single crystal graphite, the present results on kish graphite provide support for a band conduction model for c-axis conduction in graphite.