cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing distributions of surface ozone and its impact on grain production in China, Japan and South Korea: 1990 and 2020

Abstract Using an integrated assessment approach, we evaluate the impact that surface O3 in East Asia had on agricultural production in 1990 and is projected to have in 2020. We also examine the effect that emission controls and the enforcement of environmental standards could have in increasing grain production in China. We find that given projected increases in O3 concentrations in the region, East Asian countries are presently on the cusp of substantial reductions in grain production. Our conservative estimates, based on 7- and 12-h mean (M7 or M12) exposure indices, show that due to O3 concentrations in 1990 China, Japan and South Korea lost 1–9% of their yield of wheat, rice and corn and 23–27% of their yield of soybeans, with an associated value of 1990US$ 3.5, 1.2 and 0.24 billion, respectively. In 2020, assuming no change in agricultural production practices and again using M7 and M12 exposure indices, grain loss due to increased levels of O3 pollution is projected to increase to 2–16% for wheat, rice and corn and 28–35% for soybeans; the associated economic costs are expected to increase by 82%, 33%, and 67% in 2020 over 1990 for China, Japan and South Korea, respectively. For most crops, the yield losses in 1990 based on SUM06 or W126 exposure indices are lower than yield losses estimated using M7 or M12 exposure indices in China and Japan but higher in South Korea; in 2020, the yield losses based on SUM06 or W126 exposure indices are substantially higher for all crops in all three countries. This is primarily due to the nature of the cumulative indices which weight elevated values of O3 more heavily than lower values. Chinese compliance with its ambient O3 standard in 1990 would have had a limited effect in reducing the grain yield loss caused by O3 exposure, resulting in only US$ 0.2 billion of additional grain revenues, but in 2020 compliance could reduce the yield loss by one third and lead to an increase of US$ 2.6 (M7 or M12) –27 (SUM06) billion in grain revenues. We conclude that East Asian countries may have tremendous losses of crop yields in the near future due to projected increases in O3 concentrations. They likely could achieve substantial increases in future agricultural production through reduction of surface O3 concentrations and/or use of O3 resistant crop cultivars.
Cord blood genomic analysis highlights the role of redox balance

Neonates are exposed to elevated levels of reactive oxygen species as they transition from a hypoxic intrauterine to a normoxic extrauterine environment at birth. This increased oxidative stress is associated with neonatal morbidity. Current antioxidant supplementation treatment strategies have yet to translate into improved neonatal outcomes. Our understanding of a newborn's intricate redox balance, particularly at the genomic level, remains limited. Here, we performed genomic microarray analyses (approximately 14,500 genes) on extracted mRNA from umbilical cord whole blood at term gestation (n=10). Bioinformatic analyses identified 282 genes (2.0%) that were consistently present within the highest quintile of expressed genes. These genes were highly associated with oxidant stress and included superoxide dismutase 1, catalase, peroxiredoxins, and uncoupling proteins. Pathway analyses identified statistically significantly overrepresented functional pathways including "oxidative stress," "oxidative stress response mediated by nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor," "hypoxia-inducible factor signaling," and "mitochondrial dysfunction" (p<0.05). These results suggest that neonates require high levels of antioxidants and an intricate cellular redox balance to ensure a successful transition to the extrauterine environment. Understanding the genes necessary to maintain this delicate redox balance may lead to the development of alternative treatment strategies.
Verification and application of a finite-difference model for quasi-electrostatic scanning impedance imaging

We have previously introduced liquid-contact scanning impedance imaging (SII) as a high resolution, high contrast method for imaging electrical impedance. This technique has shown its potential to measure the impedance distribution of biological tissues. In this paper, a numerical model is developed to describe the SII system based on the finite difference method. Good correspondence can be observed when comparing data simulated using the model with experimental data. The relationships between measurable resolution and system parameters such as height are shown in both simulation results and measurements. It is shown that the numerical model provides a good explanation for experimental results and can also assist in the design of the dual-conductor impedance probe used in this imaging method. Model predictions on both the conductor spacing and the resistor R used in the system have been made indicating their relationships to an empirical notion of resolution. The simulation result of the conductor spacing also gives an insight to the function of the dual-conductor probe. Based on this model, an optimum probe design can be obtained by balancing ultimate resolution with the signal-to-noise ratio by adjusting spacing and resistor values.
When and why is ease of retrieval informative

In two experiments, we examined when and why ease of retrieval of information from memory affects behavioral frequency and attitudinal judgments. Overall, the results suggest that when the subjective experience of ease of retrieval is consistent with the expected ease of retrieval, the content of the information retrieved is used to make judgments. However, when there is a discrepancy between experienced and expected ease of retrieval, the subjective experience of ease of retrieval is used to make judgments. Ease of retrieval is more informative when the discrepancy between experienced and expected ease of retrieval cannot be attributed to task contingencies; when it can, ease of retrieval ceases to be informative.
Of Boilers, Bit, and Bots

Parallels exist between the Industrial Revolution and our current computing revolution regarding risk, transparency, and responsibility. This article examines some of these parallels, the implications for society, and the individual developer's responsibility. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/9qfm9DDzLCc is an audio podcast of author Grady Booch reading his On Computing column, in which he discusses how parallels exist between the Industrial Revolution and our current computing revolution regarding risk, transparency, and responsibility. Grady then examines some of these parallels, their implications for society, and individual developer's responsibilities.
Temperature dependence of rheological behavior of a metallic automotive waterborne basecoat

Abstract The temperature dependence of the rheological behavior of a metallic automotive waterborne basecoat was studied with the temperature ranging from 10 to 45 °C. It is found that the paint exhibits both shear thinning and thixotropic behavior. The degree of shear thinning and thixotropy increases as the temperature increases. Small amplitude oscillatory shear tests show that the basecoat displays more elasticity at higher temperature. Both steady shear viscosity and dynamic properties indicate that the paint gradually develops a network structure as the temperature increases, which leads to increased viscosity. The viscosity at very low shear rate at 45 °C is about 500 times greater than that at 20 °C. The high shear viscosity decreases with the increase of temperature in the range of 10–35 °C, and then increases with temperature up to 45 °C. The Ford cup #4 measurements show good agreement with the steady-state viscosity at high shear rate.
Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: Patient Knowledge of Endocarditis Prophylaxis

Objective To determine whether adults with congenital heart disease have adequate knowledge of infective endocarditis and endocarditis prophylaxis and to ascertain whether an educational program effectively improves patient knowledge and compliance. Material and Methods We asked 102 consecutive patients to complete a 12-question survey to assess their knowledge of heart disease, infective endocarditis, and endocarditis prophylaxis. Results Of 102 patients, 100 (98%) completed the questionnaire. Sixty-eight patients knew the name of their heart disease. Fifty patients correctly defined endocarditis, but only 43 knew hygiene measures that could prevent endocarditis. Ninety-six patients knew that they needed to take "a medicine" before dental procedures, and 76 of those patients (79%) knew that an antibiotic was necessary. Patient use of cardiac medications and a history of endocarditis correlated significantly with knowledge of endocarditis. Patients who had been to the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic at least once knew endocarditis prevention measures and the importance of regular dental and cardiology follow-up significantly more frequently than did first-time attendees. Despite educational counseling, however, patient recall of endocarditis and its prevention is disappointing. Conclusion Many adults with congenital heart disease have inadequate knowledge of their cardiac lesion, endocarditis, and endocarditis prophylaxis. Educational efforts for adults with congenital heart disease need to be updated and reinforced regularly.
Image-based configuration and interaction for large neural network simulations

Background Large neural network simulations are becoming more complex to set up. They require modeling at multiple scales, include the effects of many interacting physical processes, encompass greater detail, and consume greater computational resources. The drive to solve problems that rely on increasingly complex codes will soon land us in the realm of petascale computing. How will we manage such simulations, configure them, and accurately aim them at the problems we're trying to solve? Simulation is an increasingly expensive process, with each run providing data to inform configuration and targeting of subsefrom Sixteenth Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting: CNS*2007 Toronto, Canada. 7–12 July 2007
Effect of kosmotropicity of ionic liquids on the enzyme stability in aqueous solutions

Abstract This paper examined the effect of several pyridinium and imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) on the protease stability in aqueous solutions. In general, the enzyme was found quite active at low concentrations of hydrophilic ILs. In aqueous environment, the enzyme was stabilized by the kosmotropic anions (such as CF3COO− and CH3COO−) and chaotropic cations (such as [BuPy]+ and [EMIM]+), but was destabilized by chaotropic anions (such as tosylate and BF4−) and kosmotropic cations (such as [BMIM]+).
What is a Seminar? Two Views of the Same Course

This article presents a methodology for a feminist theology of education based on reflection of women's educational experience in light of historical and contemporary theological works, especially the writing of Julian of Norwich. It argues for hospitality as a metaphor for theological education and suggests an understanding of the student, teacher, and environment of education that can create hospitality in the classroom.
IT-35cGMP MANUFACTURING OF EX VIVO EXPANDED TUMOR-SPECIFIC T CELLS AND AMPLIFIED TUMOR RNA-PULSED DC VACCINES TARGETING GLIOBLASTOMA AND MEDULLOBLASTOMA

BACKGROUND: Adoptive cellular therapy using transfer of tumor-specific lymphocytes has emerged as a potent strategy for treatment of advanced and refractory malignancies. We have employed the use of total tumor RNA (TTRNA)-pulsed DCs in the ex vivo expansion of tumor-specific lymphocytes for use in adoptive cellular therapy targeting pediatric and adult malignant brain tumors. METHODS: Total tumor RNA was extracted and amplified from resected brain tumor specimens using previously published methods. Efforts to improve recovery, fidelity of amplification, and integrity of RNA included comparative analysis of free extraction methods, SMART TM-based cDNA synthesis, and PCR primer modifications. DC generation and T cell expansion under varying culture conditions and cytokine milieus were evaluated to improve functional yields of autologous cellular products. Validation runs of multi-site collection of tumor cells and leukapheresis products for DC and T cell generation under GLP and GMP conditions were performed using standardized operating procedures. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We have optimized high quality (RNA integrity, RIN ≥ 8) TTRNA amplification from resected brain tumor specimens using as little as 1 ng of input TTRNA through incorporation of solid-phase paramagnetic bead technology for cDNA synthesis and optimized PCR conditions. We founded that TTRNA transfection up-regulates the expression of CD80, CD83, CD86, HLA-DR in mature DCs. The feasibility of external site collection and delivery of tumor cells and leukapheresis products for tumor RNA amplification, DC generation, and T cell expansion has been validated by our laboratory. We have recently demonstrated the safety and feasibility of this adoptive cellular therapy platform in a phase I trial of pediatric patients with relapsed medulloblastoma and PNETs in a single institutional setting. A multi-institutional phase 2 clinical trial is underway (Re-MATCH trial: FDA IND BB-14058, UF IRB 128-2013).
Licking Rates in Infant Albino Rats

Two groups of neonatal rats raised from birth without the opportunity to drink, and tested at different age levels, exhibited the same general characteristics of licking rate that adult rats do. This suggests that licking in the rat is organized on a genetic-maturational basis
Age-Dependent Fragility Models of Utility Wood Poles in Power Distribution Networks Against Extreme Wind Hazards

Wood poles comprise a portion of the power utility's aging infrastructure that make a significant impact on customer's reliability. A large number may fail under the influence of severe wind storms and hurricanes, sometimes resulting in millions of dollars in replacement costs per year to the utilities. A holistic approach to risk assessment of wood poles in power distribution networks would therefore consider the simultaneous effects of decay and natural hazards on the failure probability of the poles. Toward this goal, this paper presents a framework for the development of age-dependent fragility curves of utility wood poles that relies on age-dependent probabilistic capacity models of wood poles and wind induced demand models. The framework considers uncertainties in the initial fiber strength of the wood poles, the age-dependent capacity loss model, the geometric features of wood poles of different classes, and the applied wind loads. The results of this study show that the decay process in wood poles may increase the fragility of the poles significantly as the age of the poles increase. The fragility curves provided in this research may constitute a major component of risk assessment approaches of power distribution networks against hurricanes and strong winds.
Learning by Mimicking and Modifying: A Model of Policy Knowledge Diffusion with Evidence from Legal Implementation

I model learning from others’ policies when it is difficult to know what outcome a policy will produce. I adopt a recent formalization of partially invertible outcome signals to build a model of policy knowledge diffusion. The model merges variables, such as similarity\ and capacity that emerge from existing empirical research with previously unincorporated policy-making realities, such as continuous policy options and choices between mimicking and modifying another’s policy. Together, they produce an informational model of policy knowledge diffusion, which addresses "who," "how," and "when" questions. In addition to offering specific propositions, the model shifts the focus from the diffusion of specific policies to diffusion of information in policy areas. I provide initial empirical support by applying the model to questions of legal implementation within organizations. I summarize interviews with university attorneys describing how their institutions learn from each other when responding to the law (JEL C7, D81, D83, K20).
Nutritional management of severe acute pancreatitis.

In patients with moderate to severe pancreatitis, nasogastric feeding is no different than nasojejunal feeding in the outcomes of tolerance of feeding, acute phase inflammatory response, pain, duration of hospital stay, and mortality.
Evidence for Two States of Chemisorbed Oxygen on Ni(100)

Generalized valence-bond calculations suggest that atomic oxygen chemisorbed on Ni(100) leads to two distinct low-lying states: (1) the radical state with ${R}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=0.88$ \AA{} and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=55$ meV and (2) the surface oxide state with ${R}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=0.26$ \AA{} and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=38$ meV. We suggest that the radical state dominates for $p(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ and that the oxide state dominates for $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$. We find that atomic H, Cl, and S lead to only one low-lying state.
Nonlinear Shaping Regularization In Geophysical Inverse Problems

Shaping regularization is a general method for imposing constraints on the estimated model in the process of solving an inverse problem. In this paper, I extend the concept of shaping regularization to the case of nonlinear operators and show its connection to the nonlinear Landweber iteration and related iterative inversion methods. An example application is 1-D seismic inversion that extracts an interval velocity model from plane-wave (tau-p) moveout analysis. I develop a nonlinear inversion scheme that utilizes local seismic event slopes and apply it to a synthetic data example to demonstrate an application of nonlinear shaping regularization. Different regularization strategies produce smooth or blocky (layered) models.
Rapid polyacrylamide slab drying using a microwave gel dryer

Abstract A new gel dryer which uses microwave energy instead of radiant heat to dry slab electrophoresis gels has been designed. The use of microwaves results in substantial decreases in drying time. The potential utility of this instrument is discussed.
Standardizing ADOS domain scores: separating severity of social affect and restricted and repetitive behaviors.

Standardized Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores provide a measure of autism severity that is less influenced by child characteristics than raw totals (Gotham et al. in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(5), 693–705 2009). However, these scores combine symptoms from the Social Affect (SA) and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors (RRB) domains. Separate calibrations of each domain would provide a clearer picture of ASD dimensions. The current study separately calibrated raw totals from the ADOS SA and RRB domains. Standardized domain scores were less influenced by child characteristics than raw domain totals, thereby increasing their utility as indicators of Social-Communication and Repetitive Behavior severity. Calibrated domain scores should facilitate efforts to examine trajectories of ASD symptoms and links between neurobiological and behavioral dimensions.
Evoked Potential Correlates of Genetic Progressive Hearing Loss: Age-related Changes from the Ear to the Inferior Colliculus of C57BL/6 and CBA/J Mice

Volume-conducted auditory evoked potentials were simultaneously measured from the level of the ear to the inferior colliculus of mice. The C57BL/6 mouse, which displays genetic sensorineural progressive hearing loss, was compared with the CBA/J mouse. At 50 days post partum, amplitudes of the summating potential (SP) and cochlear microphonic (CM) were lower in the C57BL/6 genotype, and they decreased progressively with age. Fifty days later, changes were seen in responses from the auditory nerve and cochlear nucleus of this mouse. By 200 days of age, the C57BL/6 had a “recruitment” pattern at CNS regions, but not at the auditory nerve.
Dynamic urethral pressure/ profilometry pressure transmission ratio determinations in stress-incontinent and stress-continent subjects

Bladder-to-urethra pressure transmission ratios were calculated in each quarter (designated Q1 through Q4) of the dynamic urethral pressure profile in 110 subjects. Thirty-seven subjects had genuine stress urinary incontinence, whereas 73 were stress continent. Subjects with genuine stress incontinence had significantly lower mean (± SD) pressure transmission ratios in all four urethral quarters compared with stress-continent subjects: 71% ± 14% versus 94% ± 38% for 01 ( p = 0.004), 69% ± 16% versus 101% ± 42% for Q2 ( p = 0.00001), 79% ± 19% versus 113% ± 46% for Q3 ( p = 0.0001), and 90% ± 22% versus 117% ± 36% for 04 ( p = 0.001). A pressure transmission ratio value
Phosphoenolpyruvate synthesis by fetal guinea-pig liver mitochondria.

Abstract Liver mitochondria isolated from fetal and newborn guinea pigs synthesized phosphoenolpyruvate at 4–6 nmol/min per mg protein with 2 mM malate, succinate, and α-ketoglutarate as substrates. These rates were 90–110% of that by adult liver mitochondria and were not substantially altered in the second half of gestation or within 24 h after birth. Both palmitoyl- and octanoylcarnitine were inhibitory to phosphoenolpyruvate synthesis in adult and fetal preparations, but free octanoate was inhibitory only in adult liver mitochondria.
Posterior odds ratios for selected regression hypotheses

Bayesian posterior odds ratios for frequently encountered hypotheses about parameters of the normal linear multiple regression model are derived and discussed. For the particular prior distributions utilized, it is found that the posterior odds ratios can be well approximated by functions that are monotonic in usual sampling theoryF statistics. Some implications of this finding and the relation of our work to the pioneering work of Jeffreys and others are considered. Tabulations of odds ratios are provided and discussed.
Development of a quality improvement program in a department of ophthalmology

Objective To design and implement a quality improvement (QI) programme in an academic department of ophthalmology. Design The six core competencies of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education serve as the model for this programme in an institutional practice. The authors review departmental rates of postoperative infections, unplanned reoperations, intraoperative complications, specific subspecialty postoperative complications and successes, and patient and staff compliments and complaints. Results The authors describe the structure and evolution of the QI programme in our ophthalmology department. Conclusions It is possible to implement a structured QI programme in an academic department of ophthalmology. With healthcare oversight increasing, physician self-monitoring of quality of care measures will become even more important.
Prevention of Streptococcus mutans colonization by salivary IgA antibodies.

The levels of salivary and serum IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies to the seven serotypes (a–g) ofStreptococcus mutans were established in 12 laboratory volunteers using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Salivary IgA antibody levels to the serotypec organism were significantly lower (P<0.005) than antibody levels to the other six serotypes ofS. mutans. Similar results were found with a purifiedS. mutans serotypec carbohydrate. Serum IgG and IgM antibody titers to the serotypec whole cells were significantly higher (P<0.05) than to four otherS. mutans serotypes (a, e–g). The abilities ofS. mutans serotypesc andd to colonize molar tooth surfaces were examined in eight volunteers.S. mutans serotyped was cleared from the tooth surfaces within 24 hr of challenge, whereasS. mutans serotypec was detected in six of the eight volunteers after 2 weeks and in three of eight after 3 weeks. These results provide additional evidence for the role of salivary IgA antibodies in regulatingS. mutans infection and suggest that the low levels of salivary IgA antibodies toS. mutans serotypec may contribute to the predominance of this serotype in the U.S. population.
Gene-dependent flavonoid 3'-hydroxylation in maize.

The influence of the gene Pr on flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase activity in maize is described. Specific activities are presented for the hydroxylase in seedlings and aleurone tissue homozygous dominant and recessive and heterozygous for Pr. Specific activity levels in both tissues increased in a nearly direct proportion with the increase in Pr dosage, which is consistent with Pr being the structural gene for the hydroxylase. Regression analysis of the gene dosage:enzyme activity comparison yielded correlation coefficients of 0.979 and 0.959 for the seedlings and aleurone, respectively. Quantitative identification of the cyanidin and pelargonidin in the aleurone indicated that cyanidin increased with an increase in dominant Pr, while pelargonidin decreased, although the increases and decreases observed were not directly proportional to the gene dosage. Comparison of the cyanidin/pelargonidin ratio to the gene dosage ratio in the different tissues showed a strong correlation (0.998), which demonstrates that the dosage of Pr controls the ratio of cyanidin to pelargonidin. Cyanidin was found at a low concentration in aleurone homozygous for pr. Hydroxylase activity in maturing field plants reaches its peak concentration near anthesis and is present at an appreciable concentration in mature plant tissue homozygous for pr, as well as in seedlings homozygous for pr. Suggestion is made that pr could be a hypomorphic allele or that a duplicate gene for Pr could exist to account for the hydroxylase activity in homozygous pr tissue. Evidence for the hydroxylase in the aleurone and the seedlings and the pigment ratio data from the aleurone suggest that Pr is indeed a structural gene for NADPH:flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase.
Comprehensive evaluation of ESR2 variation and ovarian cancer risk.

Studies indicate that estrogen receptor β, encoded by the ESR2 gene on chromosome 14q, may play a role in ovarian carcinogenesis. Using the genetic structure data generated by the Breast and Prostate Cohort Consortium (BPC3), we have comprehensively characterized the role of haplotype diversity in ESR2 and risk of ovarian cancer. Five haplotypes with a frequency of ≥5% were observed in White subjects and five haplotype tagging SNPs (htSNP) were selected to capture the locus diversity with a minimum R h2 of 0.81. The htSNPs were genotyped in 574 White controls, 417 White invasive ovarian cancer cases, and 123 White borderline ovarian cancer cases from case-control studies carried out in Los Angeles County from 1994 through 2004. No statistically significant association was observed between the five htSNPs and related haplotypes and risk of ovarian cancer overall. Haplotype D was associated with a nonstatistically significant increased risk of invasive ovarian cancer overall (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.93-2.02; P = 0.11) relative to the most common haplotype and a statistically significant increased risk of invasive clear cell ovarian cancer (odds ratio, 3.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-11.73; P = 0.016). Haplotype D was also reported by the BPC3 to be associated with increased risk of breast cancer. This haplotype warrants further investigation to rule out any effect with invasive ovarian cancer risk. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(2):393–6)
Control of cell differentiation during proliferation. II. Myeloid differentiation and cell cycle arrest of HL-60 promyelocytes preceded by nuclear structural changes.

Abstract The time-dependent dynamics of nuclear structure, cell cycle transit and arrest, and cellular differentiation were studied using the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. Myeloid differentiation of HL-60 cells was induced by 10 −1 M β, all trans , retinoic acid (RA). During exponential growth the cells had G1, S, G2 and M durations of 9, 11, 0.5 and 0.5 h respectively. Significant growth arrest in the G1/0 phase of the cell cycle was apparent after 48 h of RA exposure or after two division cycles. Thereafter, cells arrested in G1/0 with wide dispersion in times of arrest which extended over several cell cycle generation times. The kinetics of phenotypic differentiation, detected by phorbol myristate acetate inducible superoxide production, paralleled those of G1/0 growth arrest with similar lag and dispersion. These kinetics are consistent with a model hypothesizing the existence of an S-phase differentiation control (DC) point regulating both terminal proliferation and differentiation. Before any cell differentiation or termination of cell proliferation occurred, the nuclei of RA-treated cells underwent a structural change detected by narrow-angle light scatter measured with flow cytometry. Narrow-angle light scatter was transiently reduced, reaching a nadir at 24–48 h and returning to control values at 96 h. This change was independent of cell cycle phase or total nuclear protein content. It was associated with a morphological change of the nuclear membrane from a smooth to dimpled or pitted structure. These findings focus attention on the potential significance of nuclear structural reorganization as an early event during cell differentiation.
PHAGOCYTOSIS OF IMMUNE COMPLEXES BY MACROPHAGES DIFFERENT ROLES OF THE MACROPHAGE RECEPTOR SITES FOR COMPLEMENT (C3) AND FOR IMMUNOGLOBULIN (IGG)

Sheep red cells (E) sensitized with IgG antibody (EA) or with antibody and complement (EAC) interact in vitro with mouse peritoneal macrophage monolayers. The role of IgG and of C3 in the attachment and ingestion of the erythrocytes was examined by means of quantitative technique utilizing (51)Cr-labeled E. Controlled osmotic lysis permitted the separate measurement of the radioactivity associated with bound or with ingested E. IgG-(125)I was used to estimate the number of IgG molecules bound per E as a function of the IgG concentration. Control experiments showed that iodination did not influence the extent of binding of IgG to E and that the binding of IgG prepared from immune serum could be essentially ascribed to its anti-E antibody content. Only between 10(3) and 10(4) rabbit anti-E IgG molecules per erythrocyte were needed for detectable attachment and ingestion of EA (a maximum number of 6 x 10(5) IgG antibody molecules could be accomodated on one erythrocyte). Evidence was obtained that C3 is primarily involved in particle attachment, whereas only IgG is able to markedly promote the ingestion of particles attached to macrophages: (a) Addition of complement to the EA substantially increased the binding to the macrophages, whereas ingestion was increased to a smaller extent. Both binding and ingestion of EAC were markedly inhibited by papain fragments of IgG obtained from a rabbit antiserum to mouse C3. (b) Low doses (2 microg/ml) of papain fragments of IgG from a rabbit antiserum to mouse IgG markedly reduced the ingestion of EAC, whereas attachment of EAC to macrophages was inhibited to a much smaller degree. The possible relevance of these findings for the in vivo fate of particulate immune complexes as they interact with macrophages is discussed. It is suggested that in the primary immune response, when the complexes are predominantly in the form of EA (IgM) or EA (IgM) C3, they would tend to remain on the surface of the macrophages and thus be in a position to stimulate immunocompetent cells. In the secondary response, when EA (IgG) or EA (IgG) C3 predominate, the complexes would tend to be more rapidly interiorized and degraded by the mononuclear phagocytes,
Atomic collisions with inhomogeneous solid surfaces: multiple scattering from surface defects and mixed overlayers

We employ the multiple-scattering expansion of the transition operator to evaluate the role of multiple collisions in elastic scattering of atoms from adsorbates on solid surfaces at superthermal energies (E ≳ 0.1 eV). The adsorbatesurface system is treated as a rigid-body model in the present work. Mixed-species periodic overlayers are considered as well as two-layer systems simultaneously involving periodic and non-periodic configurations. The calculated scattering patterns show rich structure due to the interference between waves scattered from different adsorbates. The enhanced sensitivity provided by wavevectors k ≳ 10 A−1 could be exploited for surface characterization by scattering experiments. We find that the single-collision approximation qualitatively reproduces the trends of the intensity with respect to final angles. Double-collision terms are evaluated with the pole approximation and found to play an important role in large transfers of parallel momentum.
Effects of peripheral nerve injury on alpha-2A and alpha-2C adrenergic receptor immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord.

Neuropathic pain resulting from peripheral nerve injury can often be relieved by administration of α-adrenergic receptor antagonists. Tonic activation of α-adrenergic receptors may therefore facilitate the hyperalgesia and allodynia associated with neuropathic pain. It is currently unclear whether α2A- or α2C-adrenergic receptor subtypes are involved in the pro-nociceptive actions of α-adrenergic receptors under neuropathic conditions. We therefore investigated the effects of peripheral nerve injury on the expression of these subtypes in rat spinal cord using immunohistochemical techniques. In addition, neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity was examined as an internal control because it has previously been shown to be up-regulated following nerve injury. We observed a decrease in α2A-adrenergic receptor immunoreactivity in the spinal cord ipsilateral to three models of neuropathic pain: complete sciatic nerve transection, chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve and L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation. The extent of this down-regulation was significantly correlated with the magnitude of injury-induced changes in mechanical sensitivity. In contrast, α2C-adrenergic receptor immunoreactivity was only increased in the spinal nerve ligation model; these increases did not correlate with changes in mechanical sensitivity. Neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity was up-regulated in all models examined. Increased expression of neuropeptide Y correlated with changes in mechanical sensitivity. The decrease in α2A-adrenergic receptor immunoreactivity and the lack of consistent changes in α2C-adrenergic receptor immunoreactivity suggest that neither of these receptor subtypes is likely to be responsible for the abnormal adrenergic sensitivity observed following nerve injury. On the contrary, the decrease in α2A-adrenergic receptor immunoreactivity following nerve injury may result in an attenuation of the influence of descending inhibitory noradrenergic input into the spinal cord resulting in increased excitatory transmitter release following peripheral stimuli.
Picking the Right Poison — Options for Funding Health Care Reform

The Clinton administration's ill-fated Health Security Act has at last become a model for health care reform — though not in the way its architects envisioned. Jonathan Oberlander writes that reformers are currently pursuing a strategy that, in key respects, does exactly the opposite of what the Clinton administration tried in 1993 and 1994.
Global features of nonlinear renormalization-group equations

The analysis of selected nonlinear problems in the renormalization group is found to show striking contrasts between the usual local linearized fixed-point analysis and the properties of global solutions of nonlinear equations derived from an approximation of the Wegner-Houghton differential formulation. The competition between various fixed points that is incorporated in general global solutions can upset the asymptotically valid critical behavior deduced from the local analysis. In general, the critical-point exponents of such a solution will not satisfy equalities, but rather the corresponding inequalities. However, these nonscaling solutions have extraneous singularities that are not related to the thermodynamic singularities of the system. If singularities of this type are excluded, then the global solution has the same critical-point exponents as the local solution derived by linearizing around the stablest fixed point. It is shown that in this case the critical surface in the Hamiltonian space is closely related to the surface of order-2 critical points in a thermodynamic field space. The boundaries of this surface are correspondingly related to the critical points of higher order in this thermodynamic space. The nonlinear global solution predicts multiple power scaling behavior from a single scaling equation deduced from the renormalization group. Previously such behavior was obtained by postulating the simultaneous validity of two of more "linear" scaling hypotheses.
Correlated muscle and nerve development in the bullfrog cutaneous pectoris

The development of the cutaneous pectoris muscle was studied and compared with the differentiation of its peripheral nerve in bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles and frogs by light and electron microscopic techniques. This muscle preparation was chosen for this study because it possesses a number of advantages for (and has become a model system for) the study of correlated nerve-muscle development. At the earliest stage examined (stage XI) the presumptive muscle did not contain any contractile or morphologically distinguishable myotubes, but was contacted by the well-defined cutaneous pectoris nerve trunk. Myotubes were present at stage XII, the same time that nerve-associated acetylcholine receptor aggregations and nerve-evoked muscle contractions were first observed. The adult number of axons was present in the cutaneous pectoris nerve at stage XII, but no axons were myelinated. Gradually thereafter, the number of muscle fibers increased and the cutaneous pectoris axons became myelinated. By stages XX and XXI, but prior to metamorphic climax (stage XXV), the adult numbers of cutaneous pectoris muscle fibers and myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers were present. These numbers did not change significantly between stages XX and XXI, through metamorphosis, and in the adult, even during the period of the most rapid loss of multiple innervation in the first 2 weeks after metamorphosis. These results show that the nerve was present and in contact with the cutaneous pectoris muscle from the earliest stages of development prior to muscle differentiation, at a time when the muscle was a disorganized mass of undifferentiated cells. Such early contact suggests that the nerve may have a significant influence on muscle maturation.
Formation of horny cells: The fate of cell organelles and differentiation products in ruminal epithelium

Epithelial cells changing from the granular stage of differentiation to the horny stage are more numerous, and reveal sequential events of transformation in finer detail in the rumen epithelium than in other keratinizing epithelia thus far studied in the electron microscope. Studies of such cells indicate that transformation is initiated by the release of hydrolytic enzymes, as evidenced by the appearance of lysosomes. As lysosomes increase in number, the nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and mucous granules are gradually degraded. Furthermore, marked changes occur in permeability of the plasma membrane as voluminous amounts of the lysed cell components pass through and accumulate in the intercellular space in the form of an amorphous mass. Filaments, keratohyalin granules, and the content of the ER (ER-protein) are not lysed, revealing the action of released enzymes to be specific. During transformation, filaments become displaced toward the cell periphery and keratohyalin granules disperse and mix with the ER-protein in the cell center. Subsequently, the keratohyalin-ER-protein complex infiltrates the filament network whereby a fibrous-amorphous cell content is formed. Loss of fluids through the plasma membrane leads to reduction of cell volume and consolidation of the remaining cell content. The deep interdigitations formed between the cells ultimately interlock the outer part of the epithelium into a cohesive and protective stratum corneum.
Monitoring a Supervolcano in Repose : Heat and Volatile Flux at the Yellowstone Caldera

Although giant calderas (“supervolcanoes”) may slumber for tens of thousands of years between eruptions, their abundant earthquakes and crustal deformation reveal the potential for future upheaval. Any eventual supereruption could devastate global human populations, so these systems must be carefully scrutinized. Insight into dormant but restless calderas can be gained by monitoring their output of heat and gas. At Yellowstone, the large thermal and CO2 fluxes require massive input of basaltic magma, which continues to invade the lower to mid-crust, sustains the overlying high-silica magma reservoir, and may result in volcanic hazard for millennia to come. The high flux of CO2 may contribute to the measured deformation of the caldera floor and can also modify the pressure, thermal, and chemical signals emitted from the magma. In order to recognize precursors to eruption, we must scrutinize the varied signals emerging from restless calderas with the goal of discriminating magmatic, hydrothermal, and hybrid phenomena.
Dermal Factors Affecting Epidermal Cells In Vitro

Collagen, acid mucopolysaccharides, and water soluble small molecular weight constituents from connective tissue were examined for their ability to affect epithelial cell growth in vitro . Collagen increased the plating efficiency of epithelial cells. Neither hyaluronic acid nor dermatan sulfate stimulated epithelial cells. Polar, small molecular weight materials extracted from connective tissue both markedly increased the survival time and stimulated the incorporation of 32 P into epithelial cells.
Smart gene therapy for the heart.

The ultimate goal in the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) is the delivery of therapeutic agents in a timely fashion that would be able to protect the heart from the deleterious effects of prolonged ischemia or the effects of repeated bouts of ischemia. The ideal agent would “know” when to become active, specifically in the affected area of the heart to limit side effects, and could be turned “off” after the ischemia is resolved. This “smart” approach would allow for treatment to protect the specific region of the heart most at risk for damage during ischemia while at the same time ending the therapy when the ischemic incident is resolved. This type of approach would foster rapid treatment with minimal outside intervention during the critical early phase of MI. In this issue of Hypertension , Tang et al describe a novel gene therapy system for ischemic heart injury using an ischemia-sensing biosensor to activate the expression of a therapeutic gene (heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1]), which acts to limit the extent of ischemic injury.1 Because expression of the HO-1 gene is under the control of the ischemia biosensor, its expression is then subsequently turned off after the tissue is adequately oxygenated when proper blood flow is restored to the heart. This permits gene expression to be controlled at an unprecedented level, driven specifically by the pathological stimulus and lasting only as long as the stimulus persists. The ischemic biosensor developed by Tang et al is composed of an oxygen-sensing transactivator (OST), which is a GAL4 DNA-binding domain fused to the oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODD) of the …
A Convincing Case—For the Psychologically Informed Physical Therapist

My message is simple: If you're not interested in low back pain and you're about to toss this issue aside, don't! As co-editors Chris Main and Steven George make clear, the purpose of the special issue published within these covers is “to persuade biomedically oriented physical therapists of the need for a shift in focus…[to include] consideration of psychosocial factors…as potential obstacles…and as worthwhile treatment targets in their own right.”1(p610) I urge everyone to read this issue and substitute a diagnosis that is relevant to your practice or research interest. This issue combines expertise from physical therapists and psychologists to define psychologically informed physical therapist practice, and the content is relevant regardless of clinical specialty. The authors recognize that physical therapists have been exposed to the importance of psychosocial factors both through their professional education and in the practice setting. It is quite easy, in fact, to find references to this topic in PTJ . I can develop an argument from articles published beginning in the late 1990s through today that we have recognized the importance of psychosocial factors but have not yet figured out what to do about them :
The Antennas and Propagation Society 1949-2004: a chronology

This paper discusses the chronology of the Antennas and Propagation Society from year 1949 to 2004. This chronology contains information for each year, which are presented in this paper. Each entry in the chronology is accompanied by a citation of the source of information. Some samples of newly compiled information about the society are given in the figures and tables that accompany this article
A virtual trial framework for quantifying the detectability of masses in breast tomosynthesis projection data.

Purpose: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a promising breast cancer screening tool that has already begun making inroads into clinical practice. However, there is ongoing debate over how to quantitatively evaluate and optimize these systems, because different definitions of image quality can lead to different optimal design strategies. Powerful and accurate tools are desired to extend our understanding of DBT system optimization and validate published design principles. Methods: The authors developed a virtual trial framework for task-specific DBT assessment that uses digital phantoms, open-source x-ray transport codes, and a projection-space, spatial-domain observer model for quantitative system evaluation. The authors considered evaluation of reconstruction algorithms as a separate problem and focused on the information content in the raw, unfiltered projection images. Specifically, the authors investigated the effects of scan angle and number of angular projections on detectability of a small (3 mm diameter) signal embedded in randomly-varying anatomical backgrounds. Detectability was measured by the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC). Experiments were repeated for three test cases where the detectability-limiting factor was anatomical variability, quantum noise, or electronic noise. The authors also juxtaposed the virtual trial framework with other published studies to illustrate its advantages and disadvantages. Results: The largemore » number of variables in a virtual DBT study make it difficult to directly compare different authors' results, so each result must be interpreted within the context of the specific virtual trial framework. The following results apply to 25% density phantoms with 5.15 cm compressed thickness and 500 {mu}m{sup 3} voxels (larger 500 {mu}m{sup 2} detector pixels were used to avoid voxel-edge artifacts): 1. For raw, unfiltered projection images in the anatomical-variability-limited regime, AUC appeared to remain constant or increase slightly with scan angle. 2. In the same regime, when the authors fixed the scan angle, AUC increased asymptotically with the number of projections. The threshold number of projections for asymptotic AUC performance depended on the scan angle. In the quantum- and electronic-noise dominant regimes, AUC behaviors as a function of scan angle and number of projections sometimes differed from the anatomy-limited regime. For example, with a fixed scan angle, AUC generally decreased with the number of projections in the electronic-noise dominant regime. These results are intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the virtual trial framework, not to be used as optimization rules for DBT. Conclusions: The authors have demonstrated a novel simulation framework and tools for evaluating DBT systems in an objective, task-specific manner. This framework facilitates further investigation of image quality tradeoffs in DBT.« less