cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of uncontrolled proliferation and the angiogenic switch in cancer.

The major goal of evolutionary oncology is to explain how malignant traits evolve to become cancer "hallmarks." One such hallmark---the angiogenic switch---is difficult to explain for the same reason altruism is difficult to explain. An angiogenic clone is vulnerable to "cheater" lineages that shunt energy from angiogenesis to proliferation, allowing the cheater to outcompete cooperative phenotypes in the environment built by the cooperators. Here we show that cell- or clone-level selection is sufficient to explain the angiogenic switch, but not because of direct selection on angiogenesis factor secretion---angiogenic potential evolves only as a pleiotropic afterthought. We study a multiscale mathematical model that includes an energy management system in an evolving angiogenic tumor. The energy management model makes the counterintuitive prediction that ATP concentration in resting cells increases with increasing ATP hydrolysis, as seen in other theoretical and empirical studies. As a result, increasing ATP hydrolysis for angiogenesis can increase proliferative potential, which is the trait directly under selection. Intriguingly, this energy dynamic allows an evolutionary stable angiogenesis strategy, but this strategy is an evolutionary repeller, leading to runaway selection for extreme vascular hypo- or hyperplasia. The former case yields a tumor-on-a-tumor, or hypertumor, as predicted in other studies, and the latter case may explain vascular hyperplasia evident in certain tumor types.
Time- and voltage-dependent modulation of a Kv1.4 channel by a beta-subunit (Kv beta 3) cloned from ferret ventricle

In mammals, voltage-gated K+ channels can be made of complexes containing alpha-subunits similar to the Shaker K+ channel and smaller cytoplasmic beta-subunits. Recent studies have suggested that t...
The Global Context and US Defense Industry

Part of the argument presented in the introductory chapter was that the current transformation of Europe’s defense industry and the role of the European Union (EU) in this process are not taking place within a vacuum. There are international forces that are influencing decisions being made by industry executives and politicians inside and outside the EU. These global factors are primarily of a political and economic nature, although technological change is also important. The foreign and domestic policies made by ‘great power’ countries, the activities undertaken by multinational corporations, and the decisions made by other international actors shape the context within which Europe’s defense industry and European politicians operate. As discussed below, the United States (US) plays a particularly influential role, economically and politically, in world affairs. The member states of the EU are forced to react individually and collectively. The actions taken by the European Commission and Parliament (discussed in the previous chapter), member states (Chapter 5), and by defense industry interest groups (Chapter 6), only make sense when the international environment is considered as well.
Seeding Cracks Using a Fatigue Tester for Accelerated Gear Tooth Breaking

This report describes fatigue-induced seeded cracks in spur gears and compares them to cracks created using a more traditional seeding method, viz. notching. Finite element analysis (FEA) compares the effective compliance of a cracked tooth to the effective compliance of a notched tooth where the crack and the notch are of the same depth. In this analysis, cracks are propagated to the desired depth using FRANC2D and effective compliances are computed in ANSYS. A compliance-based feature for detecting cracks on the fatigue tester is described. The initiated cracks are examined using both non-destructive and destructive methods. The destructive examination reveals variability in the shape of crack surfaces.
Thomas Brinton (BR)

A native of Norfolk, Thomas Brinton became a Benedictine monk at the priory of Norwich, where he found not only a decent library but a learned environment, which he shared with one of the best Benedictine theologians of the later fourteenth century, the future cardinal Adam Easton. Apparently Brinton was sent to study, first at Cambridge – sermon 32 relates a story “tempore quo studui Cantabrigie” – and later to Oxford, where he incepted as doctor of canon law in 1364. By then he evidently enjoyed a reputation as preacher, for he was called home, with Adam Easton, “in order to preach the customary sermons in the cathedral.” Before and after his doctorate he spent several years at the papal curia at Avignon and in Rome, where he served as proctor of the general chapter of the English Benedictines and preached before the pope. In Rome he was also involved in the founding of what became the English College. In January of 1373 Pope Gregory XI appointed him bishop of Rochester, against the election of the priory monks, and for the next decade Brinton took part in a number of major political events of Church and state: the parliaments of 1376 and 1377, the peace negotiations with France (1380), the commission that tried the rebels of the Peasants’ Revolt (1381), and the Blackfriars Council, which condemned Wyclif's teaching (1382).
A telephone-based intervention to promote physical activity during smoking cessation: a randomized controlled proof-of-concept study.

Smoking and physical inactivity contribute to disproportionate disease burden among underserved adults. Telephone-based interventions (quitlines) are becoming the standard care for addressing smoking. There is increasing interest to determine whether quitlines can be utilized to administer interventions for other unhealthy behaviors. This study aims to examine the proof-of-concept and potential efficacy of a telephone-based behavioral counseling intervention to boost daily low-to-moderate physical activity among low-income, physically inactive smokers. Participants (N = 101) were randomized to receive 4 weeks of counseling prior to their smoking quit day that included either standard smoking cessation counseling (control) or the Step-up to Quit (SUTQ) intervention. SUTQ promoted daily walking to foster physical activity as a primary smoking urge management strategy and facilitate incremental increases in daily steps with the goal of achieving 7500 steps/day by the quit day in week 4. Exploratory structural equation modeling tested SUTQ effects on six measures of low-to-moderate physical activity (primary outcome) and smoking cue reactivity (secondary outcome) simultaneously in a single multivariate model with controlling variables. The sample was 51 % female and 77 % African-American, with a mean age of 42.1 years (SD = 10.9). Compared to the control condition, SUTQ intervention was associated with greater physical activity at week 4 (b = 0.51, z = 1.71, p = 0.08), with between-group differences sustained at follow-up. At week 4, the SUTQ group had higher 7-day mean steps/day (M = 7,207.25, SD = 4,276.03) than controls (M = 3,947.03, SD = 3,655.03) (t = 3.35; p 7500 steps/day goal (49% vs. 11 %, c2 = 10.78; p < .01), a difference that was sustained at 1-month follow-up (X2 = 9.04, p < .01) Effects of SUTQ treatment on cue reactivity were in the hypothesized direction but not significant (b = −0.29; z = −1.09, p = 0.27). To our knowledge, this is the first study to promote physical activity using telephone counseling in an underserved population of smokers known to have greater challenges with physical activity adoption and smoking cessation. The SUTQ approach suggests that integration of physical activity advice and support within the context of smoking cessation treatment has the potential to promote physical activity among smokers intending to quit.
Assessing Water Use Variation Among the Cytotypes of the Autopolyploid Southwestern Desert Creosotebush (Larrea tridentata [DC.] COVILLE: ZYGOPHYLLACEAE)

Genome duplication, or polyploidy, has played an important role in the diversification of flowering plants, but the ecological and evolutionary consequences of polyploidy still remain unclear. Polyploidy is known to either cause or facilitate phenotypic changes, and ploidy-specific phenotypic differences may lead to the exploitation of novel niche space. Many studies reporting phenotypic variation between cytotypes have been observational, and may not reflect ecological adaptation by diploids and polyploids to different habitat. One such trait, water use, may play an outsized role in survival and population expansion into novel habitat. To test whether water use differs among ploidy levels, we grew field-collected diploid, autotetraploid, and autohexaploid cytotypes of the characteristic North American desert plant, Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville, under greenhouse conditions. We measured whole plant water use gravimetrically over six wk, standardizing water use with measures of total stomatal area. We found that water use was positively correlated with stomatal area, but the cytotypes had similar total stomatal areas and did not differ significantly in mean water use/total stomatal area. Cytotype-specific water use responses through time were also not significantly different. Taken together, these results suggest that the cytotypes have similar water relationships, and possibly fitness outcomes, with respect to water use in common environments.
Using global expression changes to determine the function of menin in endocrine tumorigenesis

A42 Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, type 1 (MEN1) is a familial cancer syndrome characterized primarily by tumors of the parathyroid, anterior pituitary and enteropancreatic endocrine tissues. Inactivating mutations in the tumor suppressor gene MEN1, encoding the protein menin, are responsible for the syndrome. Mice with heterozygous deletion of MEN1 develop endocrine tumors resembling the human MEN1 condition. However, the homozygous loss of Men1 results in early embryonic lethality, with the null embryos displaying defects in the neural tube, heart, liver, cranial and/or facial regions, indicating the importance of menin in embryonic development. To begin to address the biological role of menin in these contexts, we chose a microarray approach to identify menin-regulated genes using RNAs from mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell lines established from wild-type and menin null embryos (E9.5). In addition, we expressed menin stable and transiently in menin-null MEFs, at different post infection time points (3h, 6h, 12h, 24h), to investigate gene expression changes caused by menin. Among the genes that were down regulated in the absence of menin (>2 fold; p
Concurrent validation of a pressure pain threshold scale for individuals with myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia

AbstractBackground: Manual pressure palpation is an examination technique used in the classification of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and fibromyalgia (FM). Currently, there are no validated systems for classifying results. A valid and reliable pressure pain threshold scale (PPTS) may provide a means for clinicians to grade, document, and report findings. The purpose of this investigation was to validate a PPTS in individuals diagnosed with MPS and FM. Intra-rater reliability, concurrent validity, minimum cut-off value, and patient responses were evaluated.Methods: Eighty-four participants who met the inclusion criteria were placed into three groups of 28 (N = 84): MPS, FM, and asymptomatic controls. All participants underwent a two-part testing session using the American College of Rheumatology criteria for classifying FM. Part-1 consisted of manual palpation with a digital pressure sensor for pressure consistency and part 2 consisted of algometry. For each tender point (18 total), participants graded t...
Coping with bullying: The moderating effects of self-reliance

ABSTRACTStudent responses to bullying have an effect on subsequent outcomes. Dichotomous theories of coping suggest that self-reliance plays a role in responding to stress. In order to investigate ...
The Barack Obama Presidency: Cuba

The joint US–Cuba announcement of 2014 was a surprise to most, but had been a long time coming. Obama’s philosophy was clear from the start of the process: He was willing to take the first step. And the focus of this eminently political step would be primarily economic. For Raul Castro and most Cubans, it was a historic step because it rewarded Havana what it long had wanted from the North: respect. That was due to the person of Barack Obama. However, whereas many observers looked at the historic nature of the improvement in ties, both Obama and Castro had the future very much in mind. Looking ahead, Cuba needs to get its legislation right in order to encourage foreign investment, while for the US the two outstanding issues are lifting the trade embargo and returning the Guantanamo Naval Base. But Obama laid a solid basis for future ties.
Interests in Conceptual Changes: A Frame Analysis

In this article, I analyze how interests affect the results of scientific change through concept representation and categorization. I first review two models offered by cognitive psychology, which use frames as the representational structure to account for how interests actually affect concept representation and categorization. I then use a historical case from nineteenth-century optics to illustrate how the interests of historical figures influenced their concept representations, then their classifications and finally the results of their theory appraisal. I conclude that the impact of interests on science is constrained by the states of the world and interests alone can never decide the results of scientific change.
A Little Bit About Games

In this chapter, we discuss several games; more along this line will follow in the next chapter. The first problem, solved by both Pascal and Fermat, goes back to the earliest days of probability as a formal theory. Suppose two people are playing a game with the winner receiving prize money at the end. If the game is forced to end before either player wins, how should the prize money be divided between the players? Pascal introduced the principle that the prize money should be divided in proportion to each player’s conditional probability of winning if the game were to be continued, given the score when the game is forced to end. Suppose, for example, that the plays of the game constitute a sequence of Bernoulli trials where A wins a point with probability p (success) and B wins a point with probability 1— p (failure), and n points are needed to win. We will not derive the general formula but will give the solution for the case where A has n — 1 points and B has n — 2 points. Then A needs one point to win and B needs two points. A can win in two ways if the game were to be continued at this moment: (1) A can win the next point, and (2) B can win the next point and A can win the succeeding point. This gives the value p + p(1 — p) for the conditional probability of A winning. If p = 1 — p =.5 and the purse is $100, then, according to Pascal’s principle, A should receive $75 and B $25.
The fatty acid oleate is required for innate immune activation and pathogen defense in Caenorhabditis elegans

Fatty acids affect a number of physiological processes, in addition to forming the building blocks of membranes and body fat stores. In this study, we uncover a role for the monounsaturated fatty acid oleate in the innate immune response of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. From an RNAi screen for regulators of innate immune defense genes, we identified the two stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturases that synthesize oleate in C. elegans. We show that the synthesis of oleate is necessary for the pathogen-mediated induction of immune defense genes. Accordingly, C. elegans deficient in oleate production are hypersusceptible to infection with diverse human pathogens, which can be rescued by the addition of exogenous oleate. However, oleate is not sufficient to drive protective immune activation. Together, these data add to the known health-promoting effects of monounsaturated fatty acids, and suggest an ancient link between nutrient stores, metabolism, and host susceptibility to bacterial infection.
Chronic Serratia marcescens sternal infection presenting 13 years after coronary artery surgery

Abstract Introduction Serratia marcescens is a facultative anaerobic bacillus that very rarely causes sternal infections. We describe a sternal abscess resulting from chronic S. marcescens infection that presented 13 years after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Presentation of case A 71-year-old diabetic man presented 13 years after CABG with a new distal sternal “mass” that intermittently drained purulent fluid. He was treated with oral antibiotics, but the symptoms persisted. Exploration revealed an abscess extending to the sternal body. A non-absorbable braided suture and a sternal wire were removed, but a sinus tract remained despite further antibiotics and conservative care. Subsequent computed tomography and bone scintigraphy revealed a substernal soft tissue density with bone involvement. An abscess cavity was excised from the substernal anterior mediastinum. Another non-absorbable braided suture was removed. Cultures grew carbapenem-resistant S. marcescens. Discussion Nosocomial or hospital-associated clusters of S. marcescens infection are known, but isolated infections seldom occur. S. marcescens infections in cardiac surgery patients are unusual. Only a single report described a chronic sternal infection resulting from S. marcescens that was identified 15 years after an initial episode caused by the same organism in a heart transplant recipient who was immunocompromised. Diabetes and non-absorbable braided sutures placed for hemostasis at the wire sites were probably contributing factors to our patient’s chronic infection. Conclusion This report described the presentation and treatment of a chronic S. marcescens sternal abscess that occurred 13 years after CABG. Chronic sternal infections due to this organism in cardiac surgery patients are exceeding rare.
Origami for the everyday

Origami engineering has long held the promise of complex and futuristic machines. A new foldable haptics system shows that this paradigm can be functional as well.
Recent advances in Wilms tumor predisposition.

Wilms' tumor (WT), the most common childhood kidney cancer, develops in association with an underlying germline predisposition in up to 15% of cases. Germline alterations affecting the WT1 gene and epigenetic alterations affecting the 11p15 locus are associated with a selective increase in WT risk. Nevertheless, WT also occurs in the context of more pleiotropic cancer predispositions, such as DICER1, Li-Fraumeni and Bloom syndrome, as well as Fanconi anemia. Recent germline genomic investigations have increased our understanding of the host genetic factors that influence WT risk, with sequencing of rare familial cases and large WT cohorts revealing an expanding array of predisposition genes and associated genetic conditions. Here, we describe evidence implicating WT1, the 11p15 locus, and the recently identified genes CTR9, REST and TRIM28 in WT predisposition. We discuss the clinical features, mode of inheritance and biological aspects of tumorigenesis, when known. Despite these described associations, many cases of familial WT remain unexplained. Continued investigations are needed to fully elucidate the landscape of germline genetic alterations in children with WT. Establishing a genetic diagnosis is imperative for WT families so that individuals harboring a predisposing germline variant can undergo surveillance, which should enable the early detection of tumors and use of less intensive treatments, thereby leading to improved overall outcomes.
Disparities Affect Developmental Risk for Head Start Preschoolers.

Abstract Purpose This paper presents an analysis of Head Start (HStart) preschooler data by severity of developmental concern, while considering socio-demographic and other factors that highlight racial and ethnic disparities in the early identification of developmental delay or disability (DD). Design and methods We conducted an analysis of 2014–2015 academic year data for preschool-aged children in HStart in both urban and suburban centers in a large Midwestern city. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of developmental concerns and compare characteristics of children with mild-to-moderate versus severe developmental concerns; differences between groups were compared using t-tests and chi-square tests. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent effect of each predictor of concern severity. Results Nearly one-third of HStart preschoolers were identified with developmental concern; 70% were mild-to-moderate risk for DD and the remaining severe risk. Neither group was routinely referred to healthcare for evaluation or treatment, and most of the severe risk group did not qualify nor receive treatment for DD with an Individualized Education Plan. Suburban and urban preschoolers with severe concern were less likely to be African American or Latinx, suggesting that racially and ethnically diverse preschoolers in HStart may be under-identified and under-treated. Conclusions Lags in the educational diagnosis of DD may mirror the disparities in diagnosis and treatment of DD among minority groups. Primary care is the first line for detection and treatment of DD, and offers a unique opportunity to act for racially and ethnically diverse HStart preschoolers disproportionately at-risk for DD.
Clinical Predictors of Facial Nerve Outcomes After Surgical Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma

ObjectiveTo identify clinical predictors of facial nerve (FN) outcomes after microsurgical resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS).Study DesignProspective cohort study.SettingAcademic medical cente...
The promises and limitations of n-acetylcysteine as a potentiator of first-line and second-line tuberculosis drugs

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is most commonly used for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose and acetaminophen-induced liver injury. In patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), NAC is given to treat hepatotoxicity induced by TB drugs. We had previously shown that cysteine, a derivative of NAC, potentiated the activity of isoniazid, a first-line TB drug, by preventing the emergence of INH resistance and persistence in M. tuberculosis in vitro. Herein, we demonstrate that in vitro, NAC has the same boosting activity with various combinations of first- and second-line TB drugs against drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Similar to cysteine, NAC increased M. tuberculosis respiration. However, in M. tuberculosis-infected mice, the addition of NAC did not augment the activity of first- or second-line TB drugs. A comparison of the activity of NAC combined with TB drugs in murine and human macrophage cell lines revealed that studies in mice might not be recapitulated during host infection in vivo.
Risk of occult spinal dysraphism based on lumbosacral cutaneous manifestations

Objectives:Occult spinal dysraphism is a congenital failure of fusion of the posterior vertebral arches with intact skin overlying the defect. Lumbosacral cutaneous manifestations are associated wi...
Industrial Applications of THz Imaging: Plastics, Food Industry, Moisture Detection, and Additive Manufacturing

While Terahertz imaging has shown promise, there have been relatively few implementations of Terahertz non-destructive evaluation in industry. Current industrial implementations of THz imaging are described as well as several highly promising applications.
Case Report: Successful Long-Term Management of a Low-Birth Weight Preterm Infant With Compound Heterozygous Protein C Deficiency With Subcutaneous Protein C Concentrate Up to Adolescence

Homozygous/compound heterozygous forms of congenital protein C deficiency are often associated with severe antenatal and postnatal thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications. Protein C deficiency frequently lead to severe adverse outcome like blindness and neurodevelopmental delay in children and may even lead to death. The most widely used long - term postnatal treatment consists of oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (e.g. warfarin), which is supplemented with protein C concentrate in acute phases. Subcutaneous infusions have been described in infants mostly from 2 months of age after severe postnatal thrombosis, but not in newborns or premature infants without thromboembolism. We report the first case of a compound heterozygous protein C deficient preterm infant, born at 31+5 weeks of gestation to parents with heterozygous protein C deficiency (protein C activity 0.9 % at birth). We focus on both prenatal und perinatal management including antithrombotic treatment during pregnancy, the caesarean section and continuous postnatal intravenous and consecutive subcutaneous therapy with protein C concentrate followed by a change of therapy to DOACs (direct oral anticoagulants) (apixaban). We report successful home treatment with subcutaneous protein C concentrate substitution overnight (target protein C activity > 25%) without complication up to 12.5 years of age. We propose that early planned caesarean section at 32 or preferably 34 weeks of gestation limit potential maternal side effects of anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists and reduces the fetal thromboembolic complications during late pregnancy. Intravenously administered protein C and early switch to subcutaneous infusions (reaching about 3 kg body weight) resulted in sufficient protein C activity and has guaranteed an excellent quality of life without any history of thrombosis for 13 years now. In older children with protein C deficiency, as in our case, DOACs could be a new therapeutic option.
Effects of Specimen Type on the Residual Strength of Clays and Clay Shales

This investigation was an examination of the effects of testing apparatus, specimen type and density, normal stress, and sequence of loading on the residual strength of various clays and clay shales. Annular shear and repeated direct shear tests were conducted on intact shale specimens with precut failure planes, while comparison rotational shear tests were conducted on the same shale material subjected to various degrees of remolding. Test results indicate that comparable residual strengths can be obtained, regardless of equipment type and procedure or degree of remolding. Supplemental annular shear tests on residual clay and silty sand show that precutting of the failure plane or the specimen density has no effect on the Φ r ' value. The residual friction angle is independent of stress history and normal load [when greater than 2 kg/cm 2 (1.96 X 10' Pa)].
Hydroxyproline-induced Helical Disruption in Conantokin Rl-B Affects Subunit-selective Antagonistic Activities toward Ion Channels of N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors *

Conantokins are ∼20-amino acid peptides present in predatory marine snail venoms that function as allosteric antagonists of ion channels of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). These peptides possess a high percentage of post-/co-translationally modified amino acids, particularly γ-carboxyglutamate (Gla). Appropriately spaced Gla residues allow binding of functional divalent cations, which induces end-to-end α-helices in many conantokins. A smaller number of these peptides additionally contain 4-hydroxyproline (Hyp). Hyp should prevent adoption of the metal ion-induced full α-helix, with unknown functional consequences. To address this disparity, as well as the role of Hyp in conantokins, we have solved the high resolution three-dimensional solution structure of a Gla/Hyp-containing 18-residue conantokin, conRl-B, by high field NMR spectroscopy. We show that Hyp10 disrupts only a small region of the α-helix of the Mn2+·peptide complex, which displays cation-induced α-helices on each terminus of the peptide. The function of conRl-B was examined by measuring its inhibition of NMDA/Gly-mediated current through NMDAR ion channels in mouse cortical neurons. The conRl-B displays high inhibitory selectivity for subclasses of NMDARs that contain the functionally important GluN2B subunit. Replacement of Hyp10 with N8Q results in a Mg2+-complexed end-to-end α-helix, accompanied by attenuation of NMDAR inhibitory activity. However, replacement of Hyp10 with Pro10 allowed the resulting peptide to retain its inhibitory property but diminished its GluN2B specificity. Thus, these modified amino acids, in specific peptide backbones, play critical roles in their subunit-selective inhibition of NMDAR ion channels, a finding that can be employed to design NMDAR antagonists that function at ion channels of distinct NMDAR subclasses.
Digital library development in the asia pacific

Over the past decade the development of digital library activities within Asia Pacific has been steadily increasing. Through a meta-analysis of the publications and content within International Conference on Asian Digital Libraries (ICADL) and other major regional digital library conferences over the past few years, we see an increase in the level of activity in Asian digital li brary research. This reflects high continuous interest among digital library re searchers and practitioners internationally. Digital library research in the Asia Pacific is uniquely positioned to help develop digital libraries of significant cul tural heritage and indigenous knowledge and advance cross-cultural and cross-lingual digital library research.
Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggressive Behavior, Helping Behavior, Aggressive Thoughts, Angry Feelings, and Physiological Arousal

Meta-analytic procedures were used to review the results from 85 studies on violent video game effects. Violent video games increase aggressive behavior, aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, and arousal levels, and decrease helpful behaviors. The effects occurred for both children and adults and for both males and females. The more violent the video game, the stronger the effects. Violent video game effects are also increasing over time.
Relative expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-9 protein in human basophils vs. plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC): Effects of CpG-ODN on FceRIa mRNA levels

Abstract Rationale To further characterize functional TLR9 expression in basophils, comparing the relative protein levels of this receptor to those found in PDC and to identify novel effects of immunomodulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) ligands on the expression of activation-linked markers found on both cell types. Methods Basophils and PDC were purified from blood using negative and positive selection, respectively. Flow cytometry and Western Blot analysis were used in assessing TLR9 protein levels. Real-Time RT-PCR quantified changes in FcϵRIα mRNA expression. Results Basophils constitutively expressed protein for TLR9 at levels exceeding those found in PDC. This was demonstrated by intracellular staining, with net MFI values of 6 ± 1 in basophils (n=7) compared to 1 ± 1 in PDC (n=6). Treatment with IL-3 (18h) markedly up-regulated TLR9 in PDC (net MFI=8 ± 2), with levels approaching those detected in basophils (10 ± 2) also receiving this treatment (n=6). These findings were confirmed using immunoblotting, which detected a prominent band (∼120 kd) that was quantitatively greater in basophils than in PDC (n=4). While previously reporting that CpG-ODN activate NFκB and inhibit IgE-mediated IL-4 and IL-13 secretion in basophils, these same oligos had no effect on FcϵRIα mRNA expression in these cells. In contrast, FcϵRIα mRNA was unexpectedly detected in PDC and treatment with CpG-ODN (16-18h) markedly down-regulated by more than 25-fold (n=3) the mRNA levels for this subunit in this cell type. Conclusions These data suggest that basophils are important cell targets for CpG-DNA and therapeutic ODN. Reduction of FcϵRIα in PDC may provide an additional mechanism by which CpG-ODN promotes Th1-like immunity.
Forecasting Stock Returns: New Out-of-Sample Evidence

This study examines the out-of-sample predictive power of fluctuations in the aggregate consumption wealth ratio in one-quarter-ahead forecasts of excess stock returns. We find that observations of the aggregate consumption wealth ratio would have consistently improved forecasts of excess stock returns in post-war data relative to a variety of alternative forecasting models. Furthermore, this improvement in out-of-sample predictive is found to be statistically significant according to a variety of statistical tests.
Towards a more practical hybrid probabilistic logic programming framework

The hybrid probabilistic programs framework [1] allows the user to explicitly encode both logical and statistical knowledge available about the dependency among the events in the program. In this paper, we extend the language of hybrid probabilistic programs by allowing disjunctive composition functions to be associated with heads of clauses, and we modify its semantics to make it more suitable to encode real-world applications. The new semantics is a natural extension of standard logic programming semantics. The new semantics of hybrid probabilistic programs also subsumes the implication-based probabilistic approach proposed by Lakshmanan and Sadri [12]. We provide also a sound and complete algorithm to compute the least fixpoint of hybrid probabilistic programs with annotated atomic formulas as rule heads.
The Educational Role of Small Telescopes in Radio Astronomy

Radio astronomy provides an excellent educational opportunity for students since it exposes them to multi-disciplinary principles found in engineering, physics and mathematics. Motivated by the potential for exciting discovery through astronomical observations, students learn through the process of making measurements, analyzing the data, and interpreting the observations. Observing tools in radio astronomy, however, have not been generally or easily accessible to students, particularly at the undergraduate or pre-college levels, since the number of radio telescopes and the availability of time on these telescopes have been limited. In order to resolve this problem, the MIT Haystack Observatory has developed a small radio telescope (SRT) that can be assembled as a kit by students and used in basic observations that help train them in the techniques of radio astronomy. The Haystack SRT and the experiments that can be conducted with it are described in this chapter, and its important role in training students in the use of larger telescopes for research is discussed.
Modeling of elastic-plastic behavior of LDF™ and continuous fiber reinforced AS-4/PEKK composites

Abstract The elastic-plastic property performance of an LDF™ AS-4/PEKK system employing aligned, long discontinuous fiber reinforced composites was studied in comparison with the continuous fiber reinforced counterpart. A dual-mode plastic potential function was successfully employed to model the plastic behavior of these composites at ambient and elevated temperatures up to 177°C. A one-parameter failure criterion was applied to predict the failure strength. Off-axis coupon specimens were used to measure the failure strength and generate stress/strain curves from which the elastic-plastic properties were extracted. It was observed that the elastic-plastic performance of LDF™ AS-4/PEKK composites is as good as that of the continuous fiber reinforced counterpart at ambient and elevated temperatures.
Mississippian Conodonts from Well Cores, Crossfield, Alberta: ABSTRACT

Cores from three wells drilled into the Elkton Member of the Turner Valley Formation at Crossfield, Alberta, yielded numerous conodonts. These conodonts permit interregional and intraregional correlation to other sections in western Canada, to strata in the upper Mississippian Valley region, and to sections in Europe. This material came from 300 to 500 g samples taken at 5 ft (1.52 m) intervals from 0.5 in (1.26 cm) slabs of well cores. Eotaphrus burlingtonensis and Polygnathus mehli are common and allow recognition of the Eotaphrus Subzone of the Eotaphrus-Bactrognathus Zone. This subzone can be recognized within the Turner Valley Formation at Cadomin and Moose Mountain and the lower Livingstone Formation in Bow Valley sections. This subzone also occurs in the upper part of the Burlington Formation within the type region of the Mississippian System and in the upper Tournaisian (Tn3c) of Belgium, Britain, and Germany. End_of_Article - Last_Page 546------------
Collet, Eckmann and Holder

We prove that Collet-Eckmann condition for rational functions, which requires exponential expansion only along the critical orbits, yields the Holder regularity of Fatou components. This implies geometric regularity of Julia sets with non-hyperbolic and critically-recurrent dynamics. In particular, polynomial Collet-Eckmann Julia sets are locally connected if connected, and their Hausdorff dimension is strictly less than 2. The same is true for rational Collet-Eckmann Julia sets with at least one non-empty fully invariant Fatou component.
Recurrence of primary (AL) amyloidosis in a transplanted heart with four-year survival

Cardiac amyloidosis has a poor prognosis, with a median survival of approximately 6 months once symptoms develop. This patient had a markedly improved quality of life with cardiac transplantation. We would suggest that with refinement of pretransplant chemotherapy, prolonged survival may be possible in carefully selected cases.
Enzymatic synthesis of trans-free structured margarine fat analogs with high stearate soybean oil and palm stearin and their characterization

Abstract High intake of trans fat is associated with several chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Enzymatic synthesis of trans-free structured margarine fat analogs from high stearate soybean oil (HSSO) and palm stearin (PS) was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The independent variables considered for the design were substrate molar ratio (SR, PS:HSSO, 2–5), temperature (50–65 °C), time (6–22 h), and enzymes (Lipozyme® TLIM and Novozym® 435). The response was stearic acid incorporation. All linear parameters had a negative effect on stearic acid incorporation except Novozym® 435. Time was not significant but its interaction terms with temperature and SR had significant effect on the response. Desirable structured lipids (SL) containing 11.2 and 8.9 g/100 g stearic acid were obtained at 50 °C, 20 h, 2:1 SR with Novozym 435 (SL1) and 57 °C, 6.5 h, 2:1 SR with Lipozyme TLIM (SL2), respectively. Using optimal conditions, SLs were synthesized in 1 L stir-batch reactor and characterized for fatty acid profile, triacylglycerol species, polymorphism, thermal behavior, and solid fat content. The yield for SL1 and SL2 were 87.3 and 94.8%, respectively. Novozym 435 catalyzed SL had desirable fatty acid profile, physical properties, and suitable β′ polymorph for margarine formulation.
Through the eyes of a family caregiver. Part 2: Strategies to manage caregiver problems.

With the ever-increasing number of U.S. senior citizens, maintaining the health of care-givers for the chronically ill has become a major public concern. About 20% of older Americans need help getting out of bed and bathing. Millions more need help with finances, meals, and transportation. Overwhelmingly, their families provide that help; only about 5% of elderly Americans live in nursing homes.
Concurrent Salmonella Typhimurium and Eimeria Necatrix Infections in Chicks

Abstract THE conditions which enable bacterial species normally confined to the intestinal tracts of chickens to invade the blood stream and internal organs have not been elucidated. Stafseth (1931) suggested that coccidia might indirectly cause leg weakness in chicks by opening avenues of entrance to bacteria normally confined to the small intestine. Tyzzer (1929) reported that the severity of coccidiosis in chickens may be increased if the birds are concurrently infected with Salmonella pullorum. Ott (1937) recovered Escherichia coli from the livers of chickens having cecal coccidiosis more frequently than from the livers of chickens not having coccidiosis, following oral administrations of this bacterium. The studies of Seidman and Arnold (1932) indicate that, in rats, degradation of the intestinal mucous membrane makes the intestine more permeable to bacteria. When the rats were sacrificed one-half hour and one hour after the administration of Salmonella typhimurium cells by stomach tube, the bacterium was…
The Toxaphene and Chlordane Content of Milk from Cows Receiving These Materials in their Feed

Summary Feeding tests were conducted in which toxaphene and chlordane as residues on alfalfa hay and in soybean oil solutions were included in the daily ration of milk cows. The toxaphene residues on the baled alfalfa as fed averaged 81.8 and 31.8 p.p.m, for the 1948 and 1949 crops, respectively, which had been sprayed with 1.5 lb. per acre. The chlordane residues on the baled alfalfa averaged 20.4and 20.8 p.p.m, for the 1948 and 1949 crops which had been treated with 1.0 lb. and 2.0 lb. per acre, respectively. The 1948 crop was fed from December 6, 1948, to May 4, 1949; the 1949 crop from September 2 to December 8, 1949.A daily intake of toxaphene for 150 days as a residue on alfalfa hay of 586 to 762 mg. (1.70 to 1.63 mg. per kilogram of body weight) resulted in an apparent toxaphene content in the milk of approximately 0.5 p.p.m. A daily intake for 100 days of 163 to 243 mg. (0.45 to 0.51 mg. per kilogram of body weight) resulted in an apparent toxaphene content of 0.1 p.p.m, in the milk.A daily intake of chlordane for 150 days as a residue on alfalfa hay of 118 to 201 mg. (0.36 to 0.42 mg. per kilogram of body weight) resulted in an apparent chlordane content of 0.1 to 0.2 p.p.m, in the milk. A daily intake for 100 days of 137 to 162 mg. (0.34 to 0.43 mg. per kilogram of body weight) did not result in a measurable amount of chlordane being eliminated in the milk.An intake up to 2,000 mg. daily of toxaphene in oil solution (2.7 to 4.4 mg.per kilogram of body weight) resulted in an apparent toxaphene content of less than 1.0 p.p.m, in the milk. A maximum apparent toxaphene content of 3.4 p.p.m, resulted from a daily intake of 5,000 mg. (9.3 mg. per kilogram).An intake up to 2,000 mg. daily of chlordane in oil solution (3.6 mg. per kilogram body weight in two cases) resulted in an apparent chlordane content of approximately 1.0 p.p.m, in the milk. An apparent chlordane content of 8 p.p.m.resulted from a daily intake of 4,000 mg. (9.8 mg. per kilogram of body weight) and of 7.0 p.p.m, from 5,000 mg. (9.0 mg. per kilogram of body weight).
Visuospatial deficits with preserved reading ability in a patient with posterior cortical atrophy.

Abstract Visuospatial deficits are characteristic of posterior cortical atrophy (PCA). A 58 year old woman had progressive dressing apraxia and environmental disorientation but continued to read voraciously. Positron emission tomography revealed hypometabolism of the occipitoparietal regions bilaterally, consistent with PCA. The symptoms suggested predominant dysfunction of the dorsal (“where”) stream with abnormalities in visual localization and visuospatial integration; however, the patient also had a less pronounced apperceptive object agnosia. Further analysis of her preserved reading ability was performed. Familiar irregular words were read rapidly, but nonsense words were read slowly in a letter-by-letter fashion. She had a word superiority effect for embedded words and words with obscured letters but had difficulty reading stylized script or printing in unusual fonts. These findings suggested a dissociation between reading routes. Although the patient had a phonological dyslexia, her visuospatial processing was sufficient for access to preserved visual word forms for efficient lexical reading.
Relative Computer Vision-Based Navigation for Small Inspection Spacecraft

W HEN a large spacecraft fails on orbit, the diagnostic and debugging process is challenging, time consuming, costly, and possibly dangerous. The ability to visually inspect a large spacecraft can be helpful because it provides a reliable source of independent data on the large spacecraft’s current state. Recent proposals by Henshaw et al. [1] have discussed launching large spacecraft with a small inspector satellite that is attached to the host. This inspector satellite could be deployed if an on-orbit anomaly were to occur. Henshaw et al. argued that, for this approach to be successful, the inspector spacecraft must minimize the requirements that are levied on the larger host spacecraft. Henshaw et al.’s approach implies that neither communications nor power systems should be sharedwith the host, and that a passive vision-based navigation system should be used with a single, small fiducial marker. It was also noted that it is important for the inspector to minimize the risk of colliding with the host spacecraft and causing further damage. This leads to an important design question: How should the relative state of the inspector be estimated in an accurate and reliable fashion? This Note presents a design for a relative state estimator based on a small fiducial target that is observed by a singlemonochrome camera. This design solves the exterior orientation problem [2] for four point features using a globally convergent nonlinear iterative algorithm. Note that four coplanar points are theminimum number of points that are required to solve for the relative posewithout ambiguity assuming perspective projection [3]. The relative pose is then filtered with the dynamics to estimate the 12-degrees-of-freedom relative state (i.e., three-dimensional position, orientation, and linear and angular velocity). This algorithm was tested on the Synchronized Position, Hold, Engage, and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) system [4] with a computer vision upgrade [5], and a summary of these results are presented in this Note. This Note is an expanded version of earlier publications by the first author [6,7]. II. Literature Review
AN IMMUNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF PORCINE PITUITARY GROWTH HORMONE.

Abstract Guinea pig antiserum to porcine pituitary growth hormone has been produced and characterized. The antiserum has been shown to cross react with the whale hormone by quantitative precipitin and immunoelectrophoretic procedures. The antiserum was also found to be capable of inhibiting the growth-promoting activity of the antigen in hypophysectomized rats.
Unsupervised formation of vocalization-sensitive neurons: A cortical model based on short-term and homeostatic plasticity

The discrimination of complex auditory stimuli relies on the spatiotemporal structure of spike patterns arriving in the cortex. While recordings from auditory areas reveal that many neurons are highly selective to specific spatiotemporal stimuli, the mechanisms underlying this selectivity are unknown. Using computer simulations, we show that selectivity can emerge in neurons in an entirely unsupervised manner. The model is based on recurrently connected spiking neurons and synapses that exhibit short-term synaptic plasticity. During a developmental stage, spoken digits were presented to the network; the only type of long-term plasticity present was a form of homeostatic synaptic plasticity. From an initially unresponsive state, training generated a high percentage of neurons that responded selectively to individual digits. Furthermore, units within the network exhibited a cardinal feature of vocalization-sensitive neurons in vivo: differential responses between forward and reverse stimulus presentations. Direction selectivity deteriorated significantly, however, if short-term synaptic plasticity was removed. These results establish that a simple form of homeostatic plasticity is capable of guiding recurrent networks into regimes in which complex stimuli can be discriminated. In addition, one computational function of short-term synaptic plasticity may be to provide an inherent temporal asymmetry, thus contributing to the characteristic forward-reverse selectivity.
Electromagnetic response of a thin layer

The detectability of a thin layer within a stratified medium is considered. The two limiting cases of a resistive and a conductive sheet are discussed for both TM (transverse magnetic) and TE (transverse electric) excitation. It is shown that the resistive sheet is only ‘visible’ for the TM excitation.