cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engineered Nanoparticles for Cancer Vaccination and Immunotherapy

The immune system has evolved over time to protect the host from foreign microorganisms. Activation of the immune system is predicated on a distinction between self and nonself. Unfortunately, cancer is characterized by genetic alterations in the host's cells, leading to uncontrolled cellular proliferation and evasion of immune surveillance. Cancer immunotherapy aims to educate the host's immune system to not only recognize but also attack and kill mutated cancer cells. While immune checkpoint blockers have been proven to be effective against multiple types of advanced cancer, the overall patient response rate still remains below 30%. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve current cancer immunotherapies. In this Account, we present an overview of our recent progress on nanoparticle-based strategies for improving cancer vaccines and immunotherapies. We also present other complementary strategies to give a well-rounded snapshot of the field of combination cancer immunotherapy. The versatility and tunability of nanoparticles make them promising platforms for addressing individual challenges posed by various cancers. For example, nanoparticles can deliver cargo materials to specific cells, such as vaccines delivered to antigen-presenting cells for strong immune activation. Nanoparticles also allow for stimuli-responsive delivery of various therapeutics to cancer cells, thus forming the basis for combination cancer immunotherapy. Here, we focus on nanoparticle platforms engineered to deliver tumor antigens, whole tumor cells, and chemotherapeutic or phototherapeutic agents in a manner to effectively and safely trigger the host's immune system against tumor cells. For each work, we discuss the nanoparticle platform developed, synthesis chemistry, and in vivo applications. Nanovaccines offer a unique platform for codelivery of personalized tumor neoantigens and adjuvants and elicitation of robust immune responses against aggressive tumors. Nanovaccines either delivering whole tumor cell lysate or formed from tumor cell lysate may increase the repertoire of tumor antigens as immune targets while exploiting immunogenic cell death to prime antitumor immune responses. We also discuss how antigen- and whole tumor cell-based approaches may open the door for personalized cancer vaccination and immunotherapy. On the other hand, chemotherapy, phototherapy, and radiotherapy are more standardized cancer therapies, and nanoparticle-based approaches may promote their ability to initiate T cell activation against tumor cells and improve antitumor efficacy with minimal toxicity. Finally, building on the recent progress in nanoparticle-based cancer immunotherapy, the field should set the ultimate goal to be clinical translation and clinical efficacy. We will discuss regulatory, analytical, and manufacturing hurdles that should be addressed to expedite the clinical translation of nanomedicine-based cancer immunotherapy.
Increased Prevalence and Associated Costs of Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients Undergoing Sports Medicine Operative Procedures.

Purpose To evaluate the prevalence of preoperatively diagnosed psychiatric comorbidities and the impact of these comorbidities on the healthcare costs of ten common orthopaedic sports medicine procedures. Methods Patients undergoing 10 common sports medicine procedures from 2007 to 2017q1 were identified using the Humana claims database. These procedures included anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; medial collateral ligament repair/reconstruction; Achilles repair/reconstruction; Rotator cuff repair; meniscectomy/meniscus repair; hip arthroscopy; arthroscopic shoulder labral repair; patellofemoral instability procedures; and shoulder instability repair. Patients were stratified by preoperative diagnoses of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Cohorts included patients with ≥1 psychiatric comorbidity (psychiatric) versus those without psychiatric comorbidities (no psychiatric). Differences in costs across groups were compared using Mann–Whitney U tests, with significance defined as P Results In total, 226,402 patients (57.7% male) from 2007 to 2017q1 were assessed. The prevalence of ≥1 psychiatric comorbidity within the entire database was 10.31% (reference) versus 21.21% in those patients undergoing the 10 investigated procedures. Patients with psychiatric comorbidity most frequently underwent rotator cuff repair (28%), hip labral repair (26.3%) and meniscectomy/meniscus repair (25.0%%) had ≥1 psychiatric comorbidity. Compared with the no psychiatric cohort, diagnosis of ≥1 psychiatric comorbidity was associated with increased health care costs for all 10 sports medicine procedures ($9678.81 vs $6436.20, P Conclusions The prevalence of preoperatively diagnosed psychiatric comorbidities among patients undergoing orthopaedic sports medicine procedures is high. The presence of psychiatric comorbidities preoperatively was associated with increased postoperative costs following all investigated orthopaedic sports medicine procedures. Level of Evidence Level III; retrospective comparative study.
Meier, Reimarus and Kant on Animal Minds

Close attention to Kant’s comments on animal minds has resulted in radically different readings of key passages in Kant. A major disputed text for understanding Kant on animals is his criticism of G. F. Meier’s view in the 1762 ‘False Subtlety of the Four Syllogistic Figures’. In this article, I argue that Kant’s criticism of Meier should be read as an intervention into an ongoing debate between Meier and H. S. Reimarus on animal minds. Specifically, while broadly aligning himself with Reimarus, Kant distinguishes himself from both Meier and Reimarus on the role of judgement in human consciousness.
Explicit Elastic Curves

The equilibria of thin rods are given by curves which are critical points of the modified total squared curvature. The critical curves are known as elastic curves. It is shown how all the elastic curves are given explicitly in terms of elliptic functions as soon as a certain set of three parameters is known. Every regular curve can be parametrized to have a constant speed but the parametrization is rarely known explicitly. Remarkably, all the elastic curves are here explicitly parametrized to have a constant speed. Curves with fixed distinct endpoints as well as closed curves are admitted. The tangent direction may be constrained at one, both, or neither of the endpoints. There are three major strands of formulas corresponding to: fixed length L, variable length without tension, and variable length with tension (let ν > 0 and add a term νL to the total squared curvature). In the most complicated cases the three parameters are given as solutions to a non-linear system of three equations. In the least complicated case everything is given explicitly in terms of elliptic functions. If the length is variable and there is no tension, at least one of the parameters is completely determined (the elliptic modulus m = 1/2). Using the same set of parameters explicit formulas are given for: the length when it is variable, the total squared curvature, and the tangent angle along the elastic curve. A number of examples are presented which illustrate the full range of constraints.
Chapter 6: Differentiation of Connective Tissues

Publisher Summary In considering the differentiation of connective tissues, considerable difficulty is encountered in defining cell types and in employing a nomenclature adequate from the point of view of embryology, morphology, and biochemistry. The differentiation of connective tissues may be regarded from two distinct points of view. The first considers the problem of differentiation of cell types to produce particular types of matrix materials; and the second considers the effect of matrix materials on the differentiation of cells, including the capacity to form specific tissues. Classifications of connective tissue cells are based on morphological characteristics, although localization within specific tissues has suggested specific biochemical potentialities. This chapter reviews the pertinent observations regarding the induction of differentiation of connective tissues primarily cartilage, as defined in a morphological context. The knowledge regarding the biosynthetic pathways of connective tissue components are considered in an attempt to define the enzymic steps involved in specific biosyntheses that characterize differentiated connective tissue cells.
Effective Charter and Traditional School Characteristics: Aligning Findings for Informed Policy Making

This literature review compares the current knowledge about the characteristics of effective charter schools to findings from the broader body of effective school research. We find that lists of effectiveness characteristics from the charter and traditional literatures are well aligned: good schools seem to look the same, regardless of governance model. This finding has meaningful implications. Charter authorizers, district portfolio managers, and funders should look for these critical elements in new school applications, grant applications, or school improvement plans, as well as a well thought-out theory of how they will work together coherently. In addition, knowing that effective school characteristics are consistent across sectors, scholars should now direct their attention to examining how to implement, sustain, and replicate these conditions through actions at the school and systems levels.
Poincaré’s Contributions to Chance and Chaos

In this paper a short and condensed biography of Henri Poincare is presented with detailed information concerning several biographical references. This is followed by a review of his publications emphasizing his work in celestial mechanics and on the problem of three bodies. His article “Le Hasard” is reviewed in detail discussing his contributions to chaos.
Nucleotide excision repair genes and lung cancer risk: A pathway-based approach

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 2560 Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is one of the major DNA repair pathways in mammalian cells, involved in the removal of a wide variety of DNA lesions including bulky carcinogen adducts from tobacco exposure. Polymorphisms in NER genes may influence DNA repair capacity and confer cancer susceptibility. To explore the association between these polymorphisms and lung cancer risk, we examined ten polymorphisms in six major NER genes in 1396 lung cancer patients and 1423 age-, gender- and smoking-matched controls. The specific polymorphic loci examined include: XPA (A/G at 5’ UTR), XPC (polyAT, Ala499Val, Lys939Gln), XPD (Asp312Asn, Lys751Gln), XPF (Ser662Pro), XPG (His1104Asp), ERCC6 (Met1097Val, Arg1230Pro). For main effects of the individual polymorphisms, only the variant XPA alleles had a significant impact on lung cancer risk (OR=0.80, 95%: 0.64-0.99). There were no statistically significant differences in the distributions of the other polymorphisms between the cases and the controls. However, there was a significant trend for an increased risk of lung cancer with an increasing number of putative high-risk alleles. Using individuals with less than 3 putative high-risk alleles as the reference group, individuals with 3, 4 and more than 4 risk alleles had adjusted ORs of 1.14 (0.87-1.49), 1.40 (1.08-1.81) and 1.68 (1.32-2.12), respectively, ( P for trend < 0.000). When we dichotoimized the subjects at ≥4 or <4 putative risk alleles, individuals with ≥4 risk alleles had a significantly elevated lung cancer risk (OR=1.46, 95%: 1.24-1.73) as compared to those with <4 risk alleles. The risk was more evident in men (OR=1.72, 95%: 1.35-2.18) compared to women (OR=1.25, 95%: 0.98-1.58); in younger individuals (OR=1.63, 95%: 1.27-2.09) compared to older individuals (OR=1.31, 95%: 1.04-1.65); in ever smokers (OR=1.52, 95%: 1.27-1.81) compared to never smokers (OR=1.11, 95%: 0.74-1.81); and in heavy smokers (OR=1.88, 95%: 1.48-2.39) compared to light smokers (OR=1.14, 95%: 0.90-1.45). This large study offers a pathway-based analysis of multiple polymorphic genes and the data suggest that individuals with higher number of genetic variations in DNA repair genes in a common pathway are at increased risk for lung cancer, confirming the importance of taking a pathway-based approach to risk assessment. Supported by NCI grants CA 55769, CA 70907 and CA 86390 .
Relationship of Pneumothorax to Occurrence of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in the Premature Newborn

The relationship of pneumothorax to the occurrence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) has been studied in the premature newborn. The major objective of the study was to determine whether the systemic hemodynamic changes that occur with pneumothorax are reflected in the cerebral circulation and whether these changes play a role in pathogenesis of IVH. Blood flow velocity was measured in the anterior cerebral arteries by a transcutaneous Doppler technique in nine infants who developed pneumothorax in the first 3 days of life. At the time of pneumothorax there was a marked increase in flow velocity, especially during diastole, and, with resolution of pneumothorax, flow velocity returned to normal levels over the ensuing hours. The changes in flow velocity correlated closely with systemic hemodynamic changes that occurred with pneumothorax, ie, an increase in mean systemic blood pressure, especially diastolic pressure. IVH, documented by serial ultrasound scans, was observed shortly after pneumothorax in the nine infants. The data thus demonstrate a marked increase in flow velocity in the cerebral circulation at the time of pneumothorax. This increase is of importance in the genesis of IVH as is suggested further by the occurrence of IVH soon after the cerebral hemodynamic changes.
El significado de la compra. Deseo, demanda y comercio de sexo

Se dieron debates que abordan la pregunta acerca de que se compra cuando se realiza una transaccion en el negocio de la prostitucion. Sin embargo, no se fundamento de manera empirica la respuesta a estos interrogantes. A fin de indagar en los sentidos otorgados a los diferentes tipos de intercambio comercial de sexo, el presente articulo recurre a observaciones realizadas durante el trabajo de campo, cuando se realizaron entrevistas a varones, clientes de trabajadores de sexo comercial, y a funcionarios publicos encargados de regular dicho comercio. El desarrollo de proyectos para problematizar la sexualidad masculina se evidencia por el arresto de clientes y los programas de reeducacion, la confiscacion de vehiculos y leyes mas estrictas sobre la prostitucion de menores y sobre la posesion de pornografia infantil. Simultaneamente, la etica del consumo de sexo se volvio cada vez mas desenfrenada, lo que se rastrea en el despegue de la demanda de pornografia, clubes de estripers, bailes eroticos y “turismo sexual” en los paises en desarrollo. Al insertar el intercambio comercial de sexo en un contexto mas amplio de transformaciones postindustriales de la cultura y de la sexualidad podemos comenzar a desentranar esta paradoja.
The Role of Histidine in the Anemia of Folate Deficiency

The amino acid histidine is metabolized to glutamic acid in mammalian tissue. Formiminoglutamic acid (FIGLU) is an intermediary in this reaction, and tetrahydrofolic acid is the coenzyme that converts it to glutamic acid. A test for folate deficiency concerns the measurement of urinary FIGLU excretion after a histidine load. It was observed that folate-deficient individuals receiving the histidine for the FIGLU test made hematological response that alleviated the anemia associated with this deficiency. This was unusual in that a biochemical test to determine the deficiency results in a beneficial effect for one aspect of the deficiency. The studies reported in this paper give a metabolic explanation for this phenomenon. Urine was collected for 24 hr from 25 folate-deficient subjects, 10 vitamin B(12)-deficient subjects, and 15 normal controls. Urinary excretion of histidine was a mean of 203 mg with a range of 130-360 mg for the folate-deficient subjects; 51.5 mg with a range of 30-76.6 mg for normal subjects; and 60.0 mg with a range of 32.3-93.0 mg for the vitamin B(12)-deficient subjects. All the folate-deficient subjects subsequently made a hematological response to the histidine administered for the FIGLU test. No hematological response was observed in the vitamin B(12)-deficient individuals. When folic acid was given to folate-deficient subjects who received no histidine, urinary histidine levels returned to normal levels rapidly and this was followed by a hematological response. Others have shown that volunteers fed a histidine-free diet developed anemia. In normal subjects, histidine is excreted much more in the urine than other essential amino acids are. Hemoglobin protein contains 10% histidine. Under normal conditions, dietary histidine can supply sufficient histidine to prevent anemia. When the dietary intake is diminished or the urinary excretion is greatly increased, anemia results. It is concluded that folate deficiency causes histidine depletion through increased urinary excretion of this amino acid. Feeding histidine replenishes tissue levels of histidine, resulting in hemoglobin regeneration. Folic acid administration results in return of histidine to normal urinary levels. Thus, a combination of folic acid histidine would be beneficial for folate deficient individuals.
Interactive 3D terrain exploration and visualization

The CECA VisLab is currently investigating the educational uses of a GeoWall 3D Stereo Rendering system. Many commercial and non-commercial programs are currently available for geographic virtual reality. We have explored the uses of one of these programs, Walkabout (under development by the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago), a program that allows the user to move in relationship to the data in X-Y-Z directions to explore the terrain. We discuss several enhancements for this 3D stereo terrain visualization tool: the ability to directly load Digital Elevation Model (DEM) files and the implementation of a Level of Detail Algorithm (LOD) that optimizes the data in order to increase rendering performance. We discuss the performance of the enhanced program with a data set of particular interest to us, the Tennessee River Gorge including nearby mountains and the Chattanooga, Tennessee metropolitan area.
Polydipsia in the pigeon

Overdrinking was demonstrated in a single pigeon when session water intake under a number of relatively long intermittent schedules of reinforcement was compared with levels of drinking in several control conditions. Overdrinking was found to be specifically related to certain reinforcement conditions (2-min fixed and variable-interval schedules) as well as to the location of the water source in the experimental chamber. Moreover, drinking increased considerably following 3 days of interpolated extinction.
Digitalis allergy with demonstrable antibody.

Abstract A case of allergy to digitalis is presented which reacted with a severe urticarial response, and which demonstrated specific skin-sensitizing antibody to digitalis glycosides.
Size Matters: Erythromelalgia Mutation S241T in Nav1.7 Alters Channel Gating

The Nav1.7 sodium channel is preferentially expressed in most nociceptive dorsal root ganglion neurons and in sympathetic neurons. Inherited erythromelalgia (IEM, also known as erythermalgia), an autosomal dominant neuropathy characterized by burning pain in the extremities in response to mild warmth, has been linked to mutations in Nav1.7. Recently, a substitution of Ser-241 by threonine (S241T) in the domain I S4-S5 linker of Nav1.7 was identified in a family with IEM. To investigate the possible causative role of this mutation in the pathophysiology of IEM, we used whole-cell voltage-clamp analysis to study the effects of S241T on Nav1.7 gating in HEK293 cells. We found a hyperpolarizing shift of activation midpoint by 8.4 mV, an accelerated time to peak, slowing of deactivation, and an increase in the current in response to small, slow depolarizations. Additionally, S241T produced an enhancement of slow inactivation, shifting the midpoint by -12.3 mV. Because serine and threonine have similar biochemical properties, the S241T substitution suggested that the size of the side chain at this position affected channel gating. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of S241A and S241L substitutions on the gating properties of Nav1.7. Although S241A did not alter the properties of the channel, S241L mimicked the effects of S241T. We conclude that the linker between S4 and S5 in domain I of Nav1.7 modulates gating of this channel, and that a larger side chain at position 241 interferes with its gating mechanisms.
The p53-induced gene-6 (proline oxidase) mediates apoptosis through a calcineurin-dependent pathway

Proline oxidase is a p53-induced redox gene that can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mediate apoptosis in tumor cells. We report that proline oxidase is a downstream effector in p53-mediated activation of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin in lung, renal, colon, and ovarian carcinoma cells. The activation of calcineurin by p53 and proline oxidase was detected by activation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), an established indicator of activated calcineurin. Both proline oxidase- and p53-induced activation of NFAT were sensitive to the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A and FK-506, to scavengers of ROS, and to inhibitors of calcium mobilization. A proline oxidase antisense vector suppressed the ability of p53 to up-regulate proline oxidase, activate calcineurin, and induce apoptosis. Moreover, two renal carcinoma-derived mutant p53 proteins were deficient in inducing proline oxidase expression and in activating calcineurin. Inhibitors of calcineurin and calcium mobilization abolished proline oxidase-mediated apoptosis and reduced p53-induced apoptosis. Treatment of colon and ovarian carcinoma cells with the anticancer genotoxic agent etoposide up-regulated both p53 and proline oxidase, activated calcineurin, and induced apoptosis. The etoposide-mediated activation of calcineurin and induction of apoptosis was markedly suppressed by FK-506 calcineurin inhibitor. We propose that proline oxidase mediates apoptosis through the generation of proline-dependent ROS, which then mobilize calcium and activate calcineurin. The activation of calcineurin-regulated transcription factor pathways by proline oxidase might affect gene expression events important to p53 regulation of cell growth and apoptosis.
FEVS: A Functional Equivalence Verification Suite for High-Performance Scientific Computing

Scientific computing poses many challenges to formal verification, including the facts that typical programs: (1) are numerically-intensive, (2) are highly-optimized (often by hand), and (3) often employ parallelism in complex ways. Another challenge is specifying correctness. One approach is to provide a very simple, sequential version of an algorithm together with the optimized (possibly parallel) version. The goal is to show the two versions are functionally equivalent, or provide useful feedback when they are not. We present a new verification suite consisting of pairs of programs of this form. The suite can be used to evaluate and compare tools that verify functional equivalence. The programs are all in C and the parallel versions use the Message Passing Interface. They are simpler than codes used in practice, but are representative of real coding patterns (e.g., manager-worker parallelism, loop tiling) and present realistic challenges to current verification tools. The suite includes solvers for the 1-d and 2-d diffusion equations, Jacobi iteration schemes, Gaussian elimination, and N-body simulation.
Human Factors Information System: A Tool to Assess Error Related to Human Performance in U.S. Nuclear Power Plants:

Nuclear power plant safety is dependent upon human performance related to plant operations. To provide improvements in human performance, data collection and assessment play key roles. To address these concerns, the Human Factors Information System (HFIS) is designed to meet the needs of the human factors specialists of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). These specialists identify personnel errors and provide guidance designed to prevent such errors. HFIS is a simple and modular system designed for use on a personal computer. It is designed to contain four separate modules that provide information indicative of program or function effectiveness as well as safety-related human performance based on programmatic and performance data. These modules include the Human Factors Status module; the Regulatory Programs module; the Licensee Event Report (LER) module; and the Operator Requalification Performance module. Information from these modules can either be used separately or can be combined...
Influence of Hydrophobic Surface Modification of Chitosan Based Methotrexate (MTX) Micro Implants to Treat Intraocular Lymphoma

Primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) is a rare form of lymphoma which is encountered in ocular oncology practice. Most preferred treatment has been intravitreal MTX injections which do not have a long lasting chemotherapeutic effect due to rapid elimination of the drug. In this study, chitosan (CS) and polylactic acid (PLA) based intraocular implants are fabricated for different MTX loadings (10%, 25% and 40% w/w). The implants administer a therapeutic dosage of 0.2–2.0 μg/day of MTX over a period of a month. PLA coated CS-MTX implants can be used for sustained release of MTX, thereby improving the treatment of PIOL.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE STATE-BUILDING PROCESS IN EASTERN EUROPE

This article examines the institutionalization of the Romanian parliament since 1990. The authors present a criteria for analyzing organizational institutionalization which incorporates notions of political culture, external influences and organizational structure. This criteria is then applied to a case study of the Romanian parliament. Based on the current structure of the Romanian parliament and MP survey data, the authors find that it has a low level of organizational institutionalization.
The maintenance of sex: host–parasite coevolution with density‐dependent virulence

Why don’t asexual females replace sexual females in most natural populations of eukaryotes? One promising explanation is that parasites could counter the reproductive advantages of asexual reproduction by exerting frequency-dependent selection against common clones (the Red Queen hypothesis). One apparent limitation of the Red Queen theory, however, is that parasites would seem to be required by theory to be highly virulent. In the present study, I present a population-dynamic view of competition between sexual females and asexual females that interact with co-evolving parasites. The results show that asexual populations have higher carrying capacities, and more unstable population dynamics, than sexual populations. The results also suggest that the spread of a clone into a sexual population could increase the effective parasite virulence as population density increases. This combination of parasite-mediated frequency-dependent selection, and density-dependent virulence, could lead to the coexistence of sexual and asexual reproductive strategies and the long-term persistence of sex.
GPU implementation of a scalable non-linear congruential generator for cryptography applications

Fast key generation algorithms which can generate random sequences of varying atomic lengths and throughput are important for secure data communication. In this paper, we present a non-linear congruential method for generating high quality random numbers at flexible throughput rates of upto 66 Gbps, on a GPU platform. Each random number can have up to 4096 key bits. The method can be easily extended for implementation on hardware platforms like FPGAs and ASICs as well. Our key generator is comprised of N Linear Congruential Generators (LCGs) running in parallel; we have chosen N=4096 for the GPU implementation. The outputs of the LCGs are combined using N encoded majority functions. The encoded majority function used for any bit is changed in every generation iteration. In our GPU implementation of the Non-Linear Congruential Generator (GPU-NLCG), it is possible to alter the LCG functions on the fly by changing the primes periodically without interrupting the generation. Our GPU-NLCG can be used for high speed cryptographic key generation for rates up to 66 Gbps and can be easily integrated into multi-threaded applications in cryptography and Monte Carlo methods. The GPU-NLCG passes the NIST, Diehard and Dieharder battery of tests of randomness, which ensure the quality of our ciphers.
Mechanism of bilirubin toxicity on tissue culture cells: factors that affect toxicity, reversibility by albumin, and comparison with other respiratory poisons and surfactants.

Abstract Various factors that influence the cytotoxic effects of bilirubin, a known electron-transport poison, on mammalian cells in culture have been studied. The cellular uptake of free bilirubin is rapid, being complete in 10 minutes or less following its addition to a cell suspension. Increasing bilirubin concentration increased cell death; there is a lag phase at all concentrations tested, inversely proportional to the concentration of the bile pigment seen with this effect on viability. Cytotoxicity increased at pH 7.6 and below. Albumin-bound bilirubin was nontoxic to tissue culture cells. Albumin added to bilirubin-treated cells resulted in extraction of significant quantities of the cellular-bound bilirubin. However, even when the albumin was added as rapidly as 1 minute after the bilirubin to cells there was still some loss in cell viability. Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation and inhibitors of NADH oxidase activity, unlike bilirubin, neither decreased cell viability nor brought about the loss of soluble proteins from cells. Bilirubin more closely resembled agents such as deoxycholate that affect cell membranes in bringing about the loss of cellular proteins. The suggestion is made that the electron-transport lesion induced by bilirubin may not in itself bring about cell death, but that the primary lethal lesion may be on multiple cell membrane systems, perhaps brought about by some alteration of membrane lipids.
Effect of Radium on the Spinal Coed: Report of Two Cases of Myeloma

In the following pages there are reported two eases of myeloma in which interstitial radium therapy was used. One of the eases was unifocal; both produced a paraplegia. Since there was little exact information available as to how much radium could be used with safety around the spinal cord, a rather conservative dosage was employed, and it was decided to discover, if possible, experimentally, the exact effect of radiation on the spinal cord, to determine the amount required to produce paralysis. The literature contains little definite information as to the effect of radium on the nervous system. Such statements as the following are typical: “Not much is known concerning radiosensitivity of the central nervous system,” “Very large doses produce changes which cause immediate death of the animal” (Witzleben, 1), “Clinical observations have given the impression that the central nervous system is quite resistant to radiation.” “The spinal cord appears to be very resistant to radiation, and the peripheral nerves show a remarkable resistance” (Jungling, 2). There appear to have been few attempts to determine what changes occur in the spinal cord following radiation, or how much radiation is necessary to produce paralysis. The results reported by those who have made investigations are somewhat contradictory.
Modeling of heat conduction in elliptical cross section: I. Development and testing of the model

Abstract A finite difference procedure for heat conduction in elliptical cylinders using heat flow lines was developed. This method reduces the elliptical heat transfer problem from 3 to 2-dimensional for finite length, and from 2 to 1-dimensional for infinite length. Temperature predictions were very close to experimental results. Conditions in which elliptical cross section can be approximated by circular cross-section were determined. For this, an equal cross-sectional area, and an equal surface area-to-volume ratio of the elliptical and circular cross sections were considered. The equal circular cross-sectional area approach closely predicted the center temperature only at low ellipse eccentricities (e
Occlusion Balloon Catheter-Assisted Removal of a Wedged Catheter Fragment Without a Free End from a Pulmonary Artery

Inadvertent embolization of guide wires and catheter fragments are relatively common due to the widespread usage of central venous catheters. A variety of percutaneous techniques has been proposed to retrieve intravascular foreign bodies. The majority of described methods have been dependent on a free end or exposed portion of the foreign body to grasp, snare, or hook. We report the simple use of a balloon catheter to relocate a catheter fragment without a free end that was wedged into a small pulmonary branch to a larger branch. In the larger branch, the fragment was then easily engaged with a standard snare device.
Long-term effects and recovery from surgical implantation of dummy transmitters in two marine fishes

Abstract We surgically implanted black sea bass and summer flounder with dummy transmitters and monitored recovery, survival, and growth during an 11-month post-operative period. We also examined transmitter retention rates as neither species had been previously implanted with transmitters. Recovery time from surgery and anesthesia was significantly greater than recovery time from anesthesia alone for black sea bass, but this relation was not observed for summer flounder. Summer flounder recovery times were highly variable, but in general, smaller fish had longer recovery times. All black sea bass and summer flounder retained their surgically implanted transmitter at least 11 months and had high survival rates in laboratory trials (black sea bass survival, 97.9%; summer flounder survival, 94.6%). Nonparametric analyses of covariance using initial size as the covariate indicated that black sea bass exhibited no significant detrimental growth effects after 11 months, but significantly slower growth was observed for summer flounder (this was especially pronounced in the larger [> 800 g] fish). Surgical implantation of acoustic transmitters in these species can be used to conduct long-term field studies of habitat use and movements because fish exhibited high survival rates and 100% retention of transmitters.
Does political knowledge erode party attachments?: A review of the cognitive mobilization thesis

Abstract This article re-examines one of the most prominent theories explaining partisan dealignment in the advanced democracies: cognitive mobilization. Utilizing a diverse collection of cross-sectional and longitudinal data from a variety of countries, it is shown that measures of cognitive skills and access to mass media consistently predict an increase in the probability that a citizen will express an attachment to a party. What is more, this positive relationship is not diminishing over time. The essay concludes with a summary of key questions that remain about the relationship between political knowledge and party identification.
Novel thermooxidatively stable poly(ether‐imide‐benzoxazole) and poly(ester‐imide‐benzoxazole)

4-Hydroxy-5-nitrophthalimides were produced via nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS) of 4,5-dichloro phthalimide substituents by potassium nitrite. The use of a N-phenyl-phthalimide having a protected 4′-hydroxyl group allows concurrent deprotection and nitro reduction to amine to give the 4-hydroxy-5-amino-N-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimide. This key intermediate is the precursor to a poly (ether-imide-benzoxazole), and is the condensable monomer for a poly (ester-imide-benzoxazole). Benzoxazole monomer formation via condensation with p-fluorobenzoyl chloride afforded 2-(4′-fluorophenyl)-5,6,-N-[4′(-hydroxyphenyl) imide]-benzoxazole, which was polymerized under NAS conditions to produce a poly(ether-imide-benzoxazole) having an endothermic transition at 454°C with weight retention of 90% at 500°C in both air and nitrogen. Solution polycondensation of the 4-hydroxy-5-amino-N-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimide monomer with isophthaloyl chloride afforded a poly(ester-amide-imide) which was isolated and thermally cyclodehydrated in the solid state under vacuum to give a poly(ester-imide-benzoxazole) having 95% weight retention at 500°C in both air and nitrogen, with no detectable DSC transitions up to 500°C. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Toolkit support for multiuser audio/video applications

Abstract Comet is a Unix/C++ toolkit for writing programs that involve multiple users, and which use digital audio and video. Comet provides a simple programming interface: the application builds a graph of objects representing speakers and microphones, mixers, files, and so on. Comet then realizes the graph by creating processes to handle mixing and file I/O if needed, and linking them by network connections to audio/video I/O servers. In addition, Comet addresses the interrelated issues of client requirements and resource management. It determines delay and throughput requirements, process placement, and data type conversion; it deals with resource managers on the application's behalf. These mechanisms are based on a negotiation protocol among the components of the object graph.
Foreign exchange volatility and stock returns

Abstract This paper explores whether foreign exchange volatility is a priced factor in the US stock market. Our investigation is motivated by a number of empirical as well as theoretical considerations. Empirically, Menkhoff et al. (2012) find that foreign exchange volatility is a pervasive factor across a variety of test assets. Theoretically, Shapiro (1974) , Dumas (1978) , and Levi (1990) imply that foreign exchange volatility can influence firms’ cash flow volatility therefore the discount rate. In terms of empirical implementation, we employ the cross-sectional regression methodology of Fama and MacBeth (1973) as well as the time-series regression approach of Fama and French (1996) . For robustness, we also use the mimicking portfolio approach of Fama and French (1993) . We find that foreign exchange volatility has no power to explain either the time-series or the cross-section of stock returns, which calls for more research on foreign exchange risk. Bartov et al. (1996) and Adrian and Rosenberg (2008) suggest an alternative and maybe promising direction.
Detection of aflatoxin M1 in milk by dynamic light scattering coupled with superparamagnetic beads and gold nanoprobes.

This study aimed to develop a rapid and sensitive method for detection of aflatoxin M1 (AFM) by dynamic light scattering (DLS) coupled with superparamagnetic beads and gold nanoprobes. The nanoprobes were synthesized by the conjugate of AFM and bovine serum albumin (AFM-BSA), BSA, and gold nanoparticles. Magnetic beads-based immunosorbent assay (MBISA) was used to measure the concentration of AFM by direct competition between AFM and nanoprobes. DLS was used to determine the concentration of unattached nanoprobes that was positively proportional to the concentration of AFM in the sample. TEM images prove that the as-prepared nanoprobes were able to attach on the magnetic beads through the antibody–antigen reaction. Compared to conventional ELISA, MBISA could effectively reduce the incubation time to 15 min in buffer solution and completely eliminate the color development step, thus simplifying the analysis of AFM. A linear relationship was observed between the inhibition values and the concentrations of A...
X and Y spermatozoa.

READING Dr. Shettles's first communication1 leaves one with a variety of disturbing thoughts. Should one be able to hurdle the compounded artefacts of air-dried shrinkage and phase-contrast optical aberration, there still remain the matters of interpretation and communication. Agreeing, but only for the moment, with Dr. Shettles that his Fig. 1 shows “no intermediate types”, wherein lies his evidence for specifying the “most central chromosome”, either in theory or in Fig. 3 ? Furthermore, in the light of considerable recent disagreement concerning even the extent and outline of the sperm nucleus, based on cytochemical and electron-micrographic preparations, the description of the ultrastructural pattern of nuclear arrangement seems fragile indeed. Finally, one would hope that some additional technique and confirming evidence might be supplied before assuming too hopefully that “discrete chromosomes” and the “X and Y chromosomes” can, by this method, be unequivocally recognized. I presume Fig. 3 lost some detail in reproduction.
Is Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension A Reproducible Phenotype

BACKGROUND Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH), defined as nocturnal without daytime hypertension on ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM), has been observed to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the short-term reproducibility of INH. METHODS The Improving the Detection of Hypertension Study enrolled a community-based sample of adults (N = 282) in upper Manhattan without CVD, renal failure, or treated hypertension. Each participant completed two 24-hour ABPM recordings (ABPM1: first recording and ABPM2: second recording) with a mean ± SD time interval of 33 ± 17 days between recordings. Daytime hypertension was defined as mean awake systolic/diastolic BP ≥ 135/85 mm Hg; nocturnal hypertension as mean sleep systolic/diastolic BP ≥ 120/70 mm Hg; INH as nocturnal without daytime hypertension; isolated daytime hypertension (IDH) as daytime without nocturnal hypertension; day and night hypertension (DNH) as daytime and nocturnal hypertension, and any ambulatory hypertension as having daytime and/or nocturnal hypertension. RESULTS On ABPM1, 26 (9.2%), 21 (7.4%), and 50 (17.7%) participants had INH, IDH, and DNH, respectively. On ABPM2, 24 (8.5%), 19 (6.7%), and 54 (19.1%) had INH, IDH, and DNH, respectively. The kappa statistics were 0.21 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.38), 0.25 (95% CI 0.06-0.44), and 0.65 (95% CI 0.53-0.77) for INH, IDH, and DNH respectively; and 0.72 (95% CI 0.63-0.81) for having any ambulatory hypertension. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that INH and IDH are poorly reproducible phenotypes, and that ABPM should be primarily used to identify individuals with daytime hypertension and/or nocturnal hypertension.
EVALUATION OF OLEIC SAFFLOWER OIL IN FRYING OF POTATO CHIPS

SUMMARY– A recently introduced variety of safflower, UC-1, produces an oil in which oleic:linoleic acid ratios of ordinary safflower oil are reversed, giving an oil with iodine value 90. This oil was compared with cottonseed oil and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVD) for frying potato chips. After accelerated storage at ambient temperature under fluorescent light, the quality of chips fried in oleic safflower oil was ranked equal to that of chips fried in hydrogenated oil, Chips fried in either oil were more stable than those fried in cottonseed oil. Effect of propyl gallate antioxidant was negligible.
The structural basis of direct glucocorticoid-mediated transrepression

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transactivates genes containing the response element GRE. GR can also mediate transrepression of genes by binding to the so-called negative GRE (nGRE). The interaction between GR and nGRE is now revealed by structural and functional approaches, showing that two GR monomers bind nGRE in a unique conformation and with strong negative cooperativity.
Nitric oxide and wound repair

NO produced by both iNOS and eNOS plays many important roles in wound healing, from the inflammatory phase through to scar remodeling. NO has cytostatic, chemotactic, and vasodilatory effects during early wound repair, regulates proliferation and differentiation of several cell types, modulates collagen deposition and angiogenesis, and affects wound contraction. The data accumulated thus far indicates that the timing, level, and site of NO production are highly coordinated in normal wound repair. Defining states resulting from either inadequate substrate or depressed enzyme expression appear to contribute to impaired wound repair; however, NO represents only one factor in the complex process of wound healing. Approaches to improve NO availability may be of therapeutic value.
Identification of New Pathogenic Races of Common Bunt and Dwarf Bunt Fungi, and Evaluation of Known Races Using an Expanded Set of Differential Wheat Lines.

Goates, B. J. 2012. Identification of new pathogenic races of common bunt and dwarf bunt fungi, and evaluation of known races using an expanded set of differential wheat lines. Plant Dis. 96:361-369. Pathogenic races of Tilletia caries and T. foetida, which cause common bunt of wheat (Triticum aestivum), and Tilletia contraversa, which causes dwarf bunt of wheat, have been identified previously by their reaction to 10 differential wheat lines, each containing single bunt resistance genes Bt1 through Bt10. The reactions of races to the differential wheat lines follow the classic gene-for gene system for host– pathogen interactions. The pathogens are closely related and resistance to both diseases in wheat is controlled by the same genes. To better define pathogenic races, six additional wheat lines containing the genes Bt11 through Bt15 and a wheat line with a resistance factor designated as Btp were added to the set of 10 differentials and tested with all named U.S. races of common bunt and dwarf bunt. In addition, new isolates of dwarf bunt, and common bunt from hybrids and field collections, were tested with all 16 differentials for race identification. Six new races of T. caries, five new races of T. foetida, and two new races of T. contraversa were identified. Races of common bunt virulent to Bt8 or Bt12, and dwarf bunt races virulent to the combinations of Bt11 and Bt12, and Bt8, Bt9, Bt10, Bt11, and Bt12, were identified for the first time. Comparison of the reactions of the common bunt races with the Bt14 and Bt15 differentials grown in different environments after initial infection showed that these genes are temperature sensitive, indicating they should be excluded from the set of differential lines to avoid ambiguity in determining virulent or avirulent reactions. In the previous list of bunt races, there were races that had the same reaction to the set of 10 differentials but were designated as different races. These races were not differentiated further with the six additional differentials, indicating that the duplicate races should be dropped from the list of pathogenic races. The new races of common bunt and dwarf bunt identified have unique patterns of virulence that allow specific targeting and elucidation of bunt resistance genes in wheat and will aid the development of bunt-resistant wheat cultivars.
New approaches to the risk of Candida in the intensive care unit.

Purpose of reviewCandidemia is the fourth most common bloodstream infection in the United States with similar trends reported worldwide. This infection is particularly relevant in the intensive care setting, and is independently associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Identification of pa