cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ForumDash: analyzing online discussion forums

Since introducing Internet-based distance education programs in 1996, Drexel University has gained recognition as an online education leader. Remaining at the vanguard means finding innovative, automated solutions to determine which students are contributing to thoughtful discussion, helping faculty engage with online students more efficiently, and spending less time managing ever more complex Learning Management Systems (LMS). We introduce ForumDash, a BBLearn plugin for the Blackboard LMS1, designed to enhance online learning. Through its three visualization tools, ForumDash shows instructors which students are contributing, struggling, or distracted, thereby helping instructors target their efforts, save time managing online courses, and scale course tools up to the level of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). ForumDash also provides students with performance feedback, showing them whether their participation levels are satisfactory. Initial testing with two Drexel University Online courses produced positive feedback, and larger scale testing is in progress.
Prophylaxis of catheter-related bacteremia using tissue plasminogen activator-tobramycin locks

This retrospective study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of tissue plasminogen activator-tobramycin antibiotic lock solutions (TPA/tobra ABLs) for prophylaxis of catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) in high-risk children on long-term hemodialysis. During the first 6 months (Era 1), the high-risk group was defined. These patients received TPA/tobra ABL prophylaxis after every hemodialysis treatment for the next 6 months (Era 2). The prophylaxis regimen was applied once a week for the third 6-months period (Era 3). Primary endpoints were CRB and infection-free catheter survival. There were 16,412 catheter days, and 95 cases of CRB in 43 children. The incidence of CRB was 5.8/1,000 catheter days. Significant decrease in the incidence of CRB was observed when prophylactic TPA/tobra ABL was used in the high-risk group (P = 0.0201). There was a tendency for less CRB when prophylactic ABL was applied after every hemodialysis session compared with once a week (P = 0.0947). The catheters in the high-risk group had shorter survival times than those in the average-risk group in Era 1 (P < 0.0001). However, both the overall and infection-free survival of the catheters in the high-risk group significantly improved while the patients were receiving TPA/tobra ABL prophylaxis, becoming similar to the outcomes of the catheters in the average-risk group and exhibiting statistically non-significant differences (P = 0.5571 and P = 0.9711, respectively). In conclusion, the TPA/tobra ABLs may effectively reduce the rate of CRB, and this may prolong both the overall and infection-free survival times of the catheters in the high-risk group.
On the role of drug penetration in amethopterin resistance of Sarcoma-180 cells in vitro.

Abstract 1. 1. The measurement of the net rate of influx of amethopterin was based on the rate of formation of the intracellular folic acid reductase-amethopterin complex. This rate was found to be identical for the sensitive and resistant sublines of Sarcoma-180 cells cultured in vitro . It was slow (4.6·10 −8 cm/sec at 36°) and proportional to the concentration of amethopterin over a 1000-fold range. The net rates of influx of amethopterin and aminopterin were the same. 2. 2. It was mathematically proven that the degree of resistance to amethopterin would be directly proportional to the content of folic acid reductase in these cells if amethopterin were irreversibly bound by the enzyme. The lack of direct proportionality is caused by the intracellular dissociation of the enzyme-amethopterin complex. The final degree of resistance to amethopterin is determined by (a) the cellular folic acid reductase (EC 1.5.1.3) content, (b) the rate of growth, which determines the rate of synthesis of new enzyme, (c) the slow influx of amethopterin and its great affinity to folic acid reductase. These cause the concentration of the intracellular free amethopterin to be only a fraction of the extracellular amethopterin. Consequently, even a small degree of dissociation of the enzyme-amethopterin complex contributes to the degree of resistance to amethopterin. This dissociation becomes especially significant in the 3000-fold resistant subline in which folic acid reductase constitutes about 4% of the total cellular protein. In this subline less than 1% of the total enzyme needs to be functional for normal growth.
Sex Discrimination after Death: A Seventeenth-Century English Study.

Funeral sermons published in England during a three-decade period (1601–1630) were examined for possible sex bias. Because London dominated the publishing business, all but four, regardless of wher...
SU-GG-T-406: Improving Lung Radiation-Pneumonitis Prediction by Combining Different Models

Purpose: Combining the results of methodologically different models (decision fusion) has been shown to yield a fused result that more truthfully represents the underlying phenomenon, compared to the individual models. In this work, we study the effect of combining 4 different models (Decision_Trees, Neural_Networks, Support_Vector_Machines, Self_Organizing_Maps) to predict for radiation‐induced pneumonitis. Method and Materials: The four models were built from a database of 219 lungcancer patients who underwent thoracic radiotherapy at our institution. Each model was built by independently selecting a small number of features from the list of all available variables; no two models had all features in common. To gauge variance in the model predictions of pneumonitis, 100 predictions per model were generated for each patient (predictions were from model versions built using randomly chosen subsets of the remaining patients). The results were fused by simple averaging of the predictions from all four models.Results: The low inter‐model correlations between the patient predictions from the four models indicated differences in opinion (Pearson correlation range = 0.18 – 0.59, Spearman rank‐correlation range = 0.19 – 0.63). Fusion improved predictive capability over any of the component models. For example, randomly fusing 5 of the 100 predictions from each of the 4 models yielded a Receiver Operating Characteristics area of 0.79 (95% interval: 0.77 – 0.80) compared to: 0.74 (0.70 – 0.77) for Neural_Networks, 0.70 (0.68 – 0.72) for Decision_Trees, 0.75 (0.68 – 0.79) for Support_Vector_Machines, and 0.72 (0.69 – 0.75) for Self_Organizing_Maps. The following three sets of consensus features were extracted as those that most influenced all four models in predicting radiation‐pneumonitis: (1) chemotherapy prior to radiotherapy; (2) EUD for exponent a = 1.2 to 3; (3) EUD for a = 0.5 to 1.2 & lung volume > 20 – 30 Gy. Conclusion: Decision fusion by combining the results of four methodologically different models improves radiation‐pneumonitis prediction.
Numerical determination of potentials

In this paper we will describe some computational methods for the recovery of potentials under a variety of types of data measurements. We will look at both inverse Sturm-Liouville problems on a finite interval and inverse scattering problems on the line. The unifying approach to all of this is the fact that many of these types of problems can be solved by converting the given spectral or scattering data into boundary data for a certain hyperbolic partial differential equation. In all cases the problem is an overdetermined one and it is precisely this fact that allows us to recover the potential. Further, we will show that this translated problem can be solved in a numerically stable way, and indeed this approach leads to an excellent, as well as a unifying, scheme for the reconstruction of the potential. There is a classical method of solving many of the above types of problems and the definitive formulation is due to Gel'fand, Levitan and Marchenko some forty years ago. Our approach has many similarities, and indeed the same starting point, but the crucial difference is while the original scheme reduced the problem to a Fredholm integral equation, we will exploit instead an equivalent hyperbolic partial differential equation.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Cohesive Shambles: The Clash's 'London Calling' and the Normalization of Punk

The Clash’s London Calling was released just at the moment when the British punk movement seemed to be imploding. From the earliest reviews, it was received as a musical masterpiece that drew on many styles while still managing to be ‘punk’ in some sense. This article argues that London Calling normalized punk, allowing it to be more than an event: punk could henceforth be assimilated into traditional musical discourse and aesthetics. As a careful balancing act between punk street-cred and mainstream musical values, London Calling allowed a double reading. Punk fans could find in it what they sought: anti-establishment anger and at times a messy, disdainful approach to conventional musicianship. At the same time critics and listeners who had come since the late sixties to assimilate rock into a Romantic (or post-Romantic) system of ‘art’ values could find in it what they sought: stylistic growth, organic coherence, originality, and even a ‘universal’ narrative of struggle, triumph, and redemption played out across the album. It is possible to isolate not only a story, but musical connections between the songs (keys, recurrent motifs, and topoi) all laid out in a logical manner. However, unlike concept albums in the seventies’ progressive rock style against which punk reacted, London Calling often calls attention away from its musical coherence, and even its textual coherence, rather than towards it—such as by the last-minute addition of a bonus track that disrupts the narrative and key schemes established earlier. The ease with which the album can be praised in established musical language should not completely obscure its potential (and the general potential of punk) to undercut and confront conventional musical discourse.
Standards for the Optimal Management of COPD: A Summary

Tobacco smoking is the main cause of COPD, and encouragement and support in smoking cessation is the best way to help the patient with COPD. The three major goals of COPD management are to lessen airflow limitation, to prevent and treat secondary medical complications, and to decrease respiratory symptoms and improve quality of life. Outpatient pharmacotherapy should be organized in a stepwise manner according the severity of disease, the aims being to induce bronchodilation, reduce inflammation, and facilitate expectoration, although the role of anti-inflammatory and mucolytic treatment of COPD has not been clearly established. Patients whose conditions are not well controlled with optimal pharmacotherapy are candidates for enrollment in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Correction or prevention of hypoxemia is a priority, and long-term oxygen therapy supplementation prolongs survival in hypoxemic patients. With only limited data on criteria for hospital admission and the objectives of hospitalization, the published standards on the management of COPD include an expert consensus statement on these aspects of hospital care. Surgery, special considerations such as sleep, nutrition, and air travel, and ethical issues are discussed.
QT dispersion predicts ventricular arrhythmia in pediatric cardiomyopathy patients referred for heart transplantation.

Abstract Background QT dispersion has been used in stratifying risk for sudden death in adults with dilated cardiomyopathy, but its role in the pediatric population has not been delineated. Methods We reviewed electrocardiograms in pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy referred for heart transplantation, to evaluate the role of QT dispersion in predicting malignant arrhythmias in these patients. Three groups were defined: Group I (n = 13) had dilated cardiomyopathy and malignant ventricular arrhythmias, Group II (n = 13) had dilated cardiomyopathy with no ventricular arrhythmias and Group III (n = 30) consisted of normals. QT dispersion was defined as the duration of the shortest QT subtracted from that of the longest. In addition, the standard deviation of the QT intervals was calculated for each ECG, using 12 leads. Results QT dispersion was significantly prolonged in Group I (97 ± 33 msec) compared to Group II (74 ± 19 msec) and Group III (42 ± 17 msec). QT standard deviation was also prolonged in Group I (30 ± 11 msec) vs Group II (22 ± 5 msec) and Group III (13 ± 4 msec). Using a threshold value of 90 msec for QT dispersion or 25 msec for QT standard deviation, a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 70% was obtained for identifying patients who would subsequently develop ventricular arrhythmias. Conclusions In pediatric heart transplant candidates with dilated cardiomyopathy, QT dispersion and QT standard deviation identify patients at higher risk for the development of malignant ventricular arrhythmia. This simple test can be helpful in the evaluation and management of these patients awaiting transplantation.
Application of the augmented theory of α-helix-to-random-coil transitions of two-chain, coiled coils to extant data on synthetic, tropomyosin-analog peptides

The statistical mechanical theory for the helix-to-random-coil transition in two-chain coiled coils is applied to extant data for two synthetic coiled-coil polypeptides. These peptides have the primary structure K(LEALEGK)n, in which n = 4, 5. This repeating heptet sequence mimics the pattern of hydrophobic, acidic, and basic residues characteristic of the 284-residue tropomyosin molecule, the prototypical coiled-coil protein. Theoretical calculations for single chains show that such model peptides cannot be directly compared to proteins like tropomyosin because of differences in chain length (29 and 36 residues vs 284) and in intrachain interactions, the latter caused by the differences in amino acid composition and seqeunce between protein and model. Application of the theory to extant data on the two synthetic peptides provides a semiquantitative fit and results in an assessment of the interhelix interaction in the model peptides. The value obtained, ∼ 2000 cal · (mol of turn pairs)–1, is four to five times larger than has been obtained for tropomyosin. This probably is a result of greater regularity in the structure of the synthetics and of the exclusive presence of leucine in the hydrophobic interface. The theory employed here insists that this powerful interhelix interaction in the synthetic is the principal reason that such short chains can be so highly helical at moderate and low temperatures. Theory predicts, indeed, that a tropomyosin-length chain with a sequence homologous to these synthetics would be completely thermally stable in the entire temperature range accessible in aqueous solutions. Theory also predicts a much more pronounced effect of concentration on the 29- and 36-residue synthetic polymers than is predicted or observed in the case of tropomyosin, and it also predicts a pronounced stabilizing effect of pH-reduction on the thermal curves. On the last two points, sufficient data are not yet available with which to test the theory.
A Petri net-based decomposition approach in modelling of manufacturing systems

This paper discusses the decomposition problem in the modelling and simulation of manufacturing systems. Petri nets are chosen as the modelling tool in a manufacturing system control study. The parallelism properly in the manufacturing system operations are extracted by the developed decomposition procedure. A system can be divided into several subsystems based on this decomposition procedure. Subsystems then can be analysed or simulated concurrently. This process generates the parallel processing activity for modelling and simulating manufacturing systems.
Adaptive allocation of CDMA resources for network-level QoS assurances

In a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, multiple mobile hosts (MHs) can simultaneously transmit over the wireless channel by using different codes. To assure an acceptable quality of service for all users' flows, the network usually tunes the transmit powers of all MHs to achieve a certain level of signal strength as compared to the noise and the interference (SINR) for each user. The traditional assumption in power control schemes is that the SINR requirement is statically determined for each user flow.In contrast, in this paper, we propose a scheme that dynamically adapts the SINR requirements of user flows based on its quality of service (QoS) requirements and the conditions of the wireless channel between the MHs and the base station. As a result of this adaptation, we show that network-level QoS measures such as fraction of packets meeting their delay requirements and energy consumed per packet transmission are significantly better than in a scheme that statically fixes the SINR requirements.Our scheme uses a simple table-driven approach for optimally selecting the target SINR requirement for each MH at run time. The entries in the table are computed offline using a dynamic programming algorithm with the objective of maximizing a profit function that balances the need for meeting the network-level QoS requirements and the cost of using a particular target SINR for a given transmission.
Irreversible in vivo inhibition of rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase by p-chlorophenylalanine.

Abstract Rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase was markedly inhibited by a single injection of p-chlorophenylalanine. The enzyme activity remained low for two days and returned to normal levels by the sixth day. Injections of puromycin or ethionine prevented the reappearance of enzyme activity suggesting that this reappearance is due to the synthesis of new enzyme.
The Sensory Environment of the NICU: Scientific and Design-Related Aspects

In the early stages of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) design as life-anddeath treatments were being refined, the impact of light, noise, movement, and other sensory stimuli was considered of minor importance. As long-term developmental status has replaced the survival rate as the focal point for evaluation of the quality of neonatal care, interest in the impact of the physical environment on the developing premature brain has accelerated. Although extensive animal data on this topic are available, human studies have been hampered by small numbers of patients, and, even now, clinical research in this area is complicated by difficulties with blinding and exclusion of confounding factors. Despite these limitations, there are few areas of research where study data are applied as quickly as that describing the sensory environment of the NICU. Given this setting, an issue of Clinics in Perinatology that summarized the scientific foundations and the NICU design implications of our understanding of the sensory environment of the NICU seemed highly relevant. Our goal is to establish a solid evidence base for the importance of considering this aspect of neonatal care and to provide useful suggestions for how to implement this knowledge. Each of the authors in this issue is preeminent in their field, but special mention must be made of the author of our first article, Dr. Stanley Graven. A
Asymptotics of the Solutions to Singularly Perturbed Multidimensional Integral Equations

Abstract Asymptotics of solutions to the equations ϵhϵ + Rhϵ = f as ϵ → + 0 is studied for a class of multidimensional integral equations that are basic in estimation theory.
Judgment and grace in the aging process

There is both judgment and grace in the aging process. The resources of Christian theology can be utilized to make aging more of a blessing than a curse. Judgment in aging is experienced as the judgment of time—little time left, loss of opportunity either to complete projects or to amend what has not been done well. The sins of the elderly are largely “reactive” rather than “proactive” The shape of guilt for the elders easily takes the form of fear of rejection and ultimate despair rather than longing for restoration and hope of forgiveness because of the cultural climate in which we are aging. To overcome this pastoral care management of resources of hope, acceptance and forgiveness are curcially important in ministry to the elders.
The link between hypertension and nephrosclerosis

Nephrosclerosis is literally defined as hardening of the kidneys (Greek derivation: nephros, kidney; sklerosis, hardening). It is the result of scarring or replacement of the normal renal parenchyma by dense collagenous tissue. In practice, nephrosclerosis refers to diseases with predominant pathologic changes occurring in the preglomerular microvasculature and secondarily involving the glomeruli and interstitium. The relationship between mild to moderate hypertension and either nephrosclerosis or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains circumstantial, although these syndromes have long been associated in the medical literature. Nephrologists credit hypertension as the etiology of nephrosclerosis in 25% of patients initiating Medicare-supported renal replacement therapy, even though other processes may cause similar renal pathologic findings. Strikingly, serum creatinine values infrequently increase in patients with long-standing mild to moderate hypertension. Patients classified as having hypertensive ESRD typically present with advanced disease, making the processes that initiated the renal disease difficult to detect. Nephrologists are twice as likely to label an African-American patient as having hypertensive nephrosclerosis, compared with a white patient, when presented with identical clinical histories. This review proposes that many patients classified as having hypertensive nephrosclerosis actually have intrinsic renal parenchymal diseases, renal artery stenosis, unrecognized episodes of accelerated hypertension, or a primary renal microvascular disease. The familial clustering of ESRD attributed to hypertension in African-Americans and the identification of genes associated with renal injury in animals support the concept that inherited factors may predispose to renal failure. African-American families often have members with ESRD from disparate etiologies, including hypertensive ESRD. This suggests that common mechanisms, be they inherited or environmental, underlie the development of progressive renal failure in diverse forms of nephropathy. Identification of the mechanisms producing susceptibility to progressive renal disease would support the concept that mild to moderate elevations in blood pressure per se are uncommon causes of nephrosclerosis.
Lipid Hypothesis of Cardiovascular Calcification

Prosthetic heart valve calcification can be a devastating event, especially in young children. In this issue of Circulation, Vyavahare et al1 make the important observation that bioprosthetic heart valve calcification is prevented by valvular pretreatment with ethanol. Not only do these findings have a direct impact on treatment of patients with valvular heart disease, they also provide clues about the fundamental mechanisms underlying calcification of bioprosthetic valves as well as native valve disease and atherosclerotic plaque in general. A particularly important question raised by this study is whether lipids and/or protein modification is an etiologic factor in cardiovascular calcification. To explain the negative effects of ethanol on bioprosthetic calcification, Vyavahare and colleagues1 identified three possible mechanisms: elimination of phospholipids and cholesterol, changes in collagen fiber conformation, and possible direct effects of ethanol on osteocalcin and/or the calcification process. Although they provide evidence for the first two possibilities, the following analysis suggests that the first mechanism predominates. ### Lipid Extraction Although ethanol treatment extracted almost all the lipid elements, the authors did not consider this the sole mechanism because the alternative method of lipid extraction, chloroform-methanol treatment, had less effect on calcification than ethanol despite an even more effective extraction. However, technical factors may need to be considered further because other investigators2 3 4 using chloroform-methanol extraction in a similar …
Dissipative tunneling in a bath of two-level systems

The dynamical behavior of a two-level system coupled linearly to a dissipative bath of two-level systems whose tunneling splittings and coupling parameters are distributed according to an Ohmic spectrum is studied using numerical path integral methods as well as the noninteracting blip approximation for an equivalent harmonic environment characterized by a scaled spectral density. Comparisons with the behaviors of the conventional spin-boson model of similar coupling strength reveal a weaker quenching of coherence in the present case. Finally, the boundary in parameter space between coherent and incoherent dynamics is mapped.
In-Vitro Modeling of Heart Failure in the Presence of a Prosthetic Heart Valve Using Particle Image Velocimetry

It is well-known that cardiovascular disease, affecting millions of people, is the number one killer in the US and worldwide. Current trends indicate that cardiovascular disease (CVD) will claim approximately 20 million victims in 2020 as the leading cause of death worldwide and will be responsible for over a billion deaths between 2000 and 2050 [1]. According to the American Heart Association, one in three American adults have one or more types of heart disease. Economically, the total and indirect costs due to cardiovascular diseases in 2009 were estimated at $475.3 billion. The spectrum of cardiac disease encompasses a broad range of disorders, varying from myocardial ischemia, valvular disease, diastolic dysfunction, congestive heart failure (which is projected to affect 20 million people by 2020), etc. Most of these disorders initiate and are associated to the left side of the heart, which is the workhorse and also the focus of our research herein.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Dopaminergic Agents: Influence on Serotonin in the Molluscan Nervous System

Treatment of the mussel Mytilus edulis with 6-hydroxydopamine or with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine decreased dopamine and increased serotonin in the nervous system. Treatment with dopamine decreased serotonin concentrations and prevented the effect of 6-hydroxydopamine. The serotonin concentration appears to be determined in part by the concentration of dopamine.
Evidence that ultraviolet light-induced DNA replication death of recA bacteria is prevented by protein synthesis in repair-proficient bacteria.

Abstract The utlraviolet light (UV) survival curve of Escherichia coli WP10 recA trp is almost biphasic, with a greatly reduced shoulder but demonstrating a transition to a decreased slope with increasing fluences, indicating the presenc ein the culture of a low freqeuency of resistant cells. Treatment of the culture with chloramphenicol before UV exposure brought almost all the cells to a high degree of UV resistance, by bringing them to the end of their DNA replication cycle. The survival curves of the repair-proficient E. col WP2 trp showed a similar pattern with chloramphenicol treatment of tryptophan starvation before UV exposure, but only if protein synthesis were blocked by chloramphenicol for 60 min after UV exposure. The result suggests that when recA/lexA -regulon induction is prevented, either by the recA mutation or by inhibition of protein synthesis after UV exposure, death occurs unless the cells are in the resitant state characteristic of bacteria at the end of their DNA replication cycle. With repair-proficient bacteria treated before UV exposure with chloramphenicol, when protein synthesis is not blocked after UV exposure, a marked expansion of the shoulder occures because of the function of another resistance-conferring mechanism. This mechanism also depends on the recA + gene expansion of the shoulder does not occur in recA bacteria when protein synthesis is inhibited before UV exposure.
Effects of phosphodiesterase inhibition by pentoxifylline on MAPK P38 and cAMP/PKA intracellular signaling pathways

Abstract Phosphodiesterase inhibition attenuates neutrophil oxidative burst and TNF-α production. We postulated that pentoxifylline (PTX), a non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, decreases whole blood TNF-α production by p38 MAPK- and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)-dependent mechanisms. In addition, PTX may attenuate neutrophil oxidative burst by decreasing p38 MAPK activation. Human whole blood and isolated neutrophils (1 × 106 cells/ml) were stimulated with fMLP (1 μM), PTX (2 mM), and fMLP + PTX concomitantly. Proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to membranes, and immunoblotted with phosphorylated and whole p38 and CREB antibodies. TNF-α (ELISA) and neutrophil oxidative burst (flow cytometry) were measured in whole blood. PTX significantly decreased both fMLP-induced TNF-α (65%) in whole blood and neutrophil oxidative burst (75%). p38 MAPK phosphorylation was significantly attenuated by PTX treatment of fMLP-stimulated neutrophils, whereas CREB phosphorylation was significantly increased. In conclusion, PTX regulates proinflammatory cytokine synthesis likely by activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and attenuating p38 MAPK activation. In addition, attenuation of neutrophil oxidative burst by PTX occurs, at least in part, by its down regulatory effects on the p38 signaling pathway. Download : Download full-size image
Specific binding of phorbol esters to nuclei of human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Summary In this report, we demonstrate that HL-60 nuclei isolated in calcium but not EGTA containing buffers specifically bind PE and express approximately 37,000 receptor sites/nucleus. Nuclear phorbol ester binding is lost by isolation in the absence of calcium, but can be repleted by the addition of partially purified protein kinase C and calcium. When HL-60 cells are treated with bryostatin 1, a compound which activates protein kinase C in a similar fashion to phorbol esters but does not induce differentiation of HL-60 cells, and nuclei are isolated in the presence of EGTA, these nuclei continue to bind phorbol esters. These experiments suggest that HL-60 nuclei bind PE in vitro , and that comments that activate protein kinase C may increase nuclear binding of PE in situ .
Combined Toxicity of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin and α-Methyl-3,4-dihydroxy-1-phenylalanine (Methyl-dopa)

THE absence of a measurable pharmacological action of Staphylococcus enterotoxin in small laboratory animals limits investigation of the mode of action of this toxin. In view of published work in which drug interactions have been used to examine mechanisms of action1,2 we undertook an investigation of the toxicity of combined treatments of Staphylococcus enterotoxin and methyl-dopa in mice.
Recommendations of the brain tumor subcommittee for the reporting of trials

Since its constitution during the 22nd annual meeting of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology in Rome in 1990, the Brain Tumor Subcommittee has worked to arrive at a consensus for reporting criteria that should be adopted when brain tumor trials are presented. This consensus is presented here concerning minimum requirements for diagnostic procedures and a systematic approach to define the extent of surgically achieved resection by a radiodiagnostic classification aided by the surgical report as well as response and remission criteria.
Effects of a preventive parent‐training intervention on observed family interactions: proximal outcomes from preparing for the drug free years

Children are especially vulnerable to the initiation of substance use and other problem behaviors as they move from childhood into early adolescence. This is true for children living in urban and rural areas alike. A number of family-related factors have been identified that contribute to the risk for or protection against such problems. This article reports the results of an experimental test of the effects of Preparing for the Drug Free Years (PDFY) on targeted parental behaviors. PDFY is a parenting curriculum based theoretically on the social development model; it seeks to reduce risks and enhance protection against early substance use initiation by improving patterns of parental behavior and family interaction predictive of childhood substance use. The study examined parental behavior targeted by specific intervention sessions, based on systematic observations of videotaped family interactions. The sample consisted of economically stressed, rural Midwestern families. Consistent with hypotheses, the PDFY intervention was found to be effective in promoting proactive communication from parent to child and in improving the quality of parent-child relationships. PDFY also reduced mothers' negative interactions with their children in the study. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Aging Colon: The Role of Enteric Neurodegeneration in Constipation

Constipation is a common problem in the elderly, and abnormalities in the neural innervation of the colon play a significant role in abnormalities in colonic motility leading to delayed colonic transit. The scope of this review encompasses the latest advances to enhance our understanding of the aging colon with emphasis on enteric neurodegeneration, considered a likely cause for the development of constipation in the aging gut in animal models. Neural innervation of the colon and the effects of aging on intrinsic and extrinsic nerves innervating the colonic smooth muscle is discussed. Evidence supporting the concept that neurologic disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, not only affect the brain but also cause neurodegeneration within the enteric nervous system leading to colonic dysmotility is presented. Further research is needed to investigate the influence of aging on the gastrointestinal tract and to develop novel approaches to therapy directed at protecting the enteric nervous system from neurodegeneration.
Absorption pattern of ragweed antigen and active sensitization in man following repository pollen injection.

Abstract 1.1. The reverse passive transfer technique was used to study the absorption pattern of ragweed antigen from the site of injection of the repository as well as the conventional aqueous solution. 2.2. It was found that the immunologic reaction following repository ragweed injection remained positive in the nonatopic subjects for a period of 29 to 35 days as compared to 15 days in an atopic subject. 3.3. It was demonstrated that the ragweed antigen persisted in the circulation following aqueous injection for a period of 8 to 15 days in nonatopic subjects and 3 days in the atopic individual. 4.4. The production of an induced immediate type wheal reaction following a ragweed skin test was demonstrated in the nonatopic subjects. This was not transferred by the serum passive transfer technique. However, skin test to ragweed in the atopic subject was intensified and transferred. 5.5. A delayed reaction in 1 nonatopic subject was followed by an immediate-type reaction. 6.6. The induction of hypersensitivity is discussed as to its significance in the evaluation of this mode of therapy. 7.7. Further investigation of the mechanism of adjuvant therapy is basic, over and above the simple clinical effectiveness of repository therapy.
Photoexcitation processes of CH3OH: Rydberg states and photofragment fluorescence

Photoabsorption and fluorescence cross sections of methanol vapor were mearured using synchrotron radiation. Weak structures observed in the 110–140 nm region are classified into three Rydberg series. Quasidiatomic repulsive potential curves for the states dissociating into CH3 + OH(A2Σ+) are obtained from the measured fluorescence cross section. The photodissociation processes are discussed in accord with the fluorescence observed. The fluorescence quantum yield (< 0.8%) for photodissociation of CH3OH is one order of magnitude smaller than that of H2O, indicating a correlation that the fluorescence quantum yield decreases with increasing number of molecular orbitals.
COMMUNICATION PATTERNS OF FOREIGN IMMIGRANTS IN THE PROCESS OF ACCULTURATION1

This paper reports the theoretical development and testing of a causal model of communication patterns of foreign immigrants in the process of acculturation. Communication patterns are conceptualized on two levels: cognitive and behavioral. The cognitive level is observed by the complexity of an immigrant's perception of the host society; the behavioral level by the immigrant's involvement in the host society through interpersonal and mass communication. Three causal factors are identified as major determinants of the immigrant's communication patterns: language competence, acculturation motivation, and accessibility to host communication channels. The theory consists of nine propositions which explain the relationship among the three causal factors, behavioral participation in host communication channels, and cognitive structure in perceiving the host society. The theory was tested and supported by a survey among 400 randomly selected Korean immigrants in the Chicago area.
Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Members Damaged by Earthquakes

Abstract A number of building authorities have included or are proposing to include loss in lateral capacity of the structural system caused by earthquake damage as a basis for requiring specific degrees of seismic repair and upgrades of the damaged members or of the entire structural system. Attempts have been made to apply this criteria through the size of cracks in reinforced concrete walls. This paper reviews experimental results which demonstrate that size of wall crack is not directly related to a reduction in wall capacity. The effectiveness of various wall crack repair techniques on restoring wall characteristics is discussed.
Fractionation of denatured pneumococcal DNA: evidence for resolution of complementary strands.

Pneumococcal DNA which has been fully denatured at 95° to 100°C, has been resolved into at least two fractions by means of methylated albumin columns. These are similar to the fractions previously obtained after partial denaturation at 90°C ( Roger, Beckmann & Hotchkiss, 1966 ), and differ in their capacity to regain transforming activity under conditions which favor renaturation. When two chromatographically distinct fractions are obtained, neither of which can be reactivated to an appreciable extent by itself, mixing them before annealing results in recovery of high biological activity. This amounts to 50 to 70% of native activity for the streptomycin resistance marker. The simplest explanation for these results is that the methylated albumin column is capable of resolving the complementary DNA strands. Since three genetic markers with widely separated critical inactivation temperatures show the same effect, resolution is probably based upon some as yet unknown feature associated with polarity. When the fractions are obtained from two DNA's which carry different genetic markers, it has been shown by renaturation of the appropriate mixed fractions that either one helps the other to renature activity. If strands of opposite polarity have been resolved, the two renatured mixed fractions should contain relatively pure hybrid molecules, genetically marked in opposite strands. Since these both have transforming activity, it is concluded that either strand can initiate a transformation event. The physical properties of the denatured DNA, and the fractions derived from it, have been studied. Our preparations of denatured pneumococcal DNA have a molecular weight of 4 to 5 million. The sedimenting boundary shows a major component of 45 s and a minor component of 8 s. The sharpness of the boundaries indicates that both components are relatively homogeneous. In solutions containing high concentrations of salt, the sedimenting boundaries are very broad and the components are not well resolved. It is concluded that the components in the denatured DNA associate in strong salt solutions. The denatured fractions obtained after chromatography also contain the components, which are, therefore, eluted together from the methylated albumin column.
Stabilizers and inhibitors in the sensitized sheep-cell agglutination reaction.

Study of euglobulin fractions from normal sera has demonstrated two types of inhibitors for the sheep cell agglutination reaction. One of these is a gamma globulin, the other, an alpha-2 globulin. Gamma globulin in an aggregated state neutralizes the rheumatoid factor by combining with it. The specific constitutent of the alpha-2 globulins responsible for these properties is not yet known, nor has it been possible to define the mechanism by which these proteins stabilize the reaction. Certain properties of these two fractions are described and their possible roles in positive reactions in certain nonrheumatoid conditions are discussed. Un studio del fractiones euglobulinic in seros normal ha demonstrate le existentia de duo inhibitores in le reaction de agglutination a cellulas ovin. Un de istos es un globulina gamma, le altere un globulina alpha-2. Globulina gamma in un stato aggregate neutralisa le factor rheumatoide per combinar se con illo. Le constituente specific del globulinas alpha-2 que es responsabile pro iste proprietates es non ancora cognoscite. Similemente il ha non ancora essite possibile definir le mechanismo per que iste proteinas stabilisa le reaction. Certe proprietates del mentionate duo fractiones es describite. Lor rolo possibile in reactiones positive in certe conditiones nonrheumatoide es discutite.
Novel Hydrogel Actuator Based on Biomimetic Chemistry

Hydrogel actuators were prepared by combining ionoprinting technique with reversible metal ion coordination chemistry found in mussel adhesive proteins. Hydrogels were formulated with biomimetic dopamine moiety, which contains a catechol side chain that is capable of forming mono-, bis-, and tris-complexes with ferric (Fe3+) ions with increasing pH. Catechol-Fe3+ complexation increased local crosslinking density, which induced hydrogel bending at the site of Fe3+ ionoprinting. The effect of pH on the dynamic response of hydrogel actuation was tracked by following the radius of curvature at the ionoprinting site. Both the rate of change and the maximum radius of curvature increased when the pH with increasing pH (2.5-9.5), indicating that pH can be used to modulate hydrogel actuation. Additionally, hydrogels containing Fe3+ demonstrated higher extent of deswelling when equilibrated at a basic pH. Similarly, dynamic mechanical analysis in the compression mode revealed that both the storage and loss modulus values for Fe3+-containing hydrogels increased with increasing pH. These results indicated that bis- and tris-complexes formed at an elevated pH level contributed to a faster rate of actuation and a more condensed network architecture. Hydrogel actuation and deswelling were also observed at pH of 3.5 although to a lesser degree, potentially due to a stronger affinity between network-bound catechol and Fe3+ ions as compared to complexes formed in a dilute solution.
Resolution of the Nuclear Localization Mechanism of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 FUNCTIONAL EFFECTS IN APOPTOSIS

Mechanisms regulating the nuclear localization of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) remained enigmatic despite the crucial regulation by nuclear GSK3β of important cellular functions. These include regulation of gene expression, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis, achieved by the phosphorylation by GSK3 of nuclear substrates (e.g. numerous transcription factors). We resolved this mechanism by identifying a bipartite nuclear localization sequence (NLS) that is necessary for the nuclear accumulation of GSK3β and is sufficient to drive yellow fluorescent protein into the nucleus. Despite the NLS, most GSK3β is cytosolic, sequestered in protein complexes that, although still mobile in the cytosol, block the NLS. Conditions promoting nuclear translocation of GSK3β release it from cytosolic complexes, allowing the NLS to direct nuclear import. Using this information to prepare a nucleus-excluded active GSK3 construct, we found that the antiapoptotic effect of GSK3β in tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis is mediated by cytosolic, not nuclear, GSK3β. Identification of a GSK3β NLS allows new strategies to decipher and manipulate its subcellular actions regulating gene expression and apoptosis and its involvement in diseases.
Recovery of cholinesterase activity in organophosphate treated insects

Results on the mode of recovery of inhibited cholinesterase both in American cockroaches and house flies were found indicative of a predominant recovery process that was not influenced by inhibitors which resulted in dimethyl, di-n-propyl, diisopropyl, and di-n-butyl phosphorylated cholinesterase. A study was made of both in vivo and in vitro ageing of dimethyl phosphorylated cholinesterase. The slow in vivo ageing rate found suggests that a considerable portion of non-aged dimethyl phosphorylated cholinesterase was present even during the prolonged slow recovery of cholinesterase leves. The in vivo ageing experiments combined with the slow in vivo recovery observed in other experiments can best be explained by concluding that the slow recovery is a result of cholinesterase synthesis and not a reversal of inhibited cholinesterase.
Local community size mediates ecological drift and competition in metacommunities

The outcome of competitive interactions is likely to be influenced by both competitive dominance (i.e. niche-based dynamics) and ecological drift (i.e. neutral dynamics governed by demographic stochasticity). However, spatial models of competition rarely consider the joint operation of these two processes. We develop a model based on the original competition-colonization trade-off model that incorporates niche and neutral processes and several realistic facets of ecological dynamics: it allows local competition (i.e. competition within a patch) to occur within communities of a finite size, it allows competitors to vary in the degree of competitive asymmetry, and it includes the role of local migration (i.e. propagule pressure). The model highlights the role of community size, i.e. the number of competitors in the local community, in mediating the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic forces. In metacommunities where local communities are small, ecological drift is substantial enough that strong competitors become effectively neutral, creating abrupt changes in the outcome of competition not predicted by the standard competition-colonization trade-off. Importantly, the model illustrates that, even when other aspects of species interactions (e.g. migration ability, competitive ability) are unchanged, local community size can alter the dynamics of metacommunity persistence. Our work demonstrates that activities which reduce the size of local communities, such as habitat destruction and degradation, effectively compound the extinction debt.
Diquark condensation in high density baryon matter

Abstract We argue that cold quark matter is a diquark Bose condensate. The Cooper pairs of QCD are spin-isospin zero, color anti-symmetric quark pairs. For two light flavors, instanton effects lead to gaps on the order of 50 MeV.