cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Law and Legality of Smart Contracts

A new technology called “smart contracts” has emerged and is designed to change the nature of legal agreements. These smart contracts are agreements where execution is made automatic through the use of computers. This article examines smart contracts from a legal perspective, both their operation and place in existing contract law. The article concludes that smart contracts are simply a new form of preemptive self-help that should not be discouraged by the legislatures or courts. While certain egregious examples of their use may need to be policed, judges and policymakers should foster a climate that treats smart contracts as another form of more traditional agreements.
Abstract B023: Antibody blockade of Semaphorin 4D enhances infiltration of APC and CD8 T cells and reduces immune suppression to facilitate immune-mediated tumor rejection

Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D, CD100) and its receptor plexin-B1 are broadly expressed in cancer and expression correlates with invasive disease in several human tumors. We have reported a novel role for SEMA4D in modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) to exclude activated antigen presenting cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes so as to promote tumor growth; this effect can be reversed by antibody blockade. Purpose: Characterize immune-related anti-tumor activity mediated by antibody neutralization of SEMA4D, as a single agent and in combination with other immunomodulatory therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibition. Methods: Blockade of SEMA4D with monoclonal murine antibody was evaluated in murine melanoma and colon cancer models. Immune response in pre-clinical models was characterized by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, functional assays, as well as cytokine, chemokine and gene expression analysis. Therapeutic activity was evaluated in various preclinical models. A Phase I trial in patients with advanced solid tumors was completed. Results: SEMA4D restricts migration of macrophage cell lines and promotes expansion of suppressive tumor associated macrophage (TAM) and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in vitro. Strong expression of SEMA4D at the invasive margins of actively growing tumors in vivo modulates the infiltration and polarization of leukocytes in the TME. In preclinical models, antibody neutralization disrupted the SEMA4D gradient at the invasive margin, which correlated with recruitment of activated APCs and T lymphocytes into the TME. This was accompanied by a significant shift towards increased Th1 cytokines (IFNΓ, TNFA) and CTL-recruiting CXCL9 chemokine, with concurrent reduction in Treg-, MDSC- and M2-macrophage promoting chemokines (CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL5). Accordingly, an increase in Teff:Treg ratio (3x, p Conclusion: Inhibition of SEMA4D represents a novel mechanism and therapeutic strategy to promote functional immune infiltration into the tumor and inhibit tumor progression. Phase 1b/2a trials of combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibition are planned. Citation Format: Elizabeth E. Evans, Holm Bussler, Crystal Mallow, Christine Reilly, Sebold Torno, Ekaterina Klimatcheva, Maria Scrivens, Cathie Foster, Alan Howell, Leslie Balch, Alyssa Knapp, John E. Leonard, Mark J. Paris, Terrence L. Fisher, Siwen Hu-Lieskovan, Antoni Ribas, Ernest S. Smith, Maurice Zauderer. Antibody blockade of Semaphorin 4D enhances infiltration of APC and CD8 T cells and reduces immune suppression to facilitate immune-mediated tumor rejection [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B023.
Trastuzumab stimulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) predicts de novo trastuzumab resistance

Breast cancer is a complex disease with at least five different molecular subtypes identified. The breast tumor molecular subtypes guide stratification of patients for specific targeted therapy regimens and each subtype is associated with significantly different patient outcomes. For example, patients with the HER2 positive molecular subtype benefit from the HER2 targeted therapy trastuzumab. Unfortunately, women with the HER2 positive molecular subtype have the worst overall prognosis and nearly 70% of women with HER2 positive breast cancer exhibit de novo or acquired resistance to trastuzumab. Identification of tumor markers predicting trastuzumab response can be used to further stratify patients for life-saving personalized therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to identify clinically useful tumor markers predicting de novo tumor cell resistance to trastuzumab treatment. To identify oncogenic signaling pathways activated in response to trastuzumab treatment, we performed a Human Phospho-Kinase Proteome Profiler Array analysis comparing trastuzumab sensitive MCF-7/HER2.2 and trastuzumab resistant MCF-7/HER2Δ16H cells following acute treatment with 20 μg/ml of trastuzumab for 2 h. We found that of the 43 phosphorylation activated human kinases represented on the array, S6K1 was the only kinase altered greater than 1.5-fold in response to trastuzumab treatment of the trastuzumab resistant MCF-7/HER2Δ16H cells. Trastuzumab activation of S6K1 was confirmed in the two trastuzumab resistant SUM190 and SUM225 cell lines. Significantly, trastuzumab failed to stimulate S6K1 activation in the trastuzumab sensitive MCF-7/HER2.2, BT474, and SKBR3 cell lines suggesting that trastuzumab activation of S6K1 is a tumor cell marker for trastuzumab resistance. Consistent with a role for mTORC1/S6K1 signaling promoting trastuzumab resistance, all cell lines were sensitive to S6K1 inactivation with significant growth inhibition following treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. In conclusion, characterizing rapid trastuzumab induced molecular alterations resulted in the identification of activated S6K1 as an early breast tumor cell marker for trastuzumab resistance. Our results further suggest that trastuzumab resistant breast tumor cells are addicted to mTORC1/S6K1 oncogenic signaling and targeting mTORC1 with rapamycin reverses trastuzumab resistance.
Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Ubiquitous Biological Redox Cofactors

Redox cofactors are utilized by a myriad of proteins, ranging from metabolic enzymes to those performing post-translational modifications. Labeled redox cofactors have served as a vital tool for a broad range of studies. This account describes chemoenzymatic syntheses of the isotopically labeled, biologically important redox cofactors: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, methylene tetrahydrofolate, and flavin nucleotides. An overview of the general strategy is presented. These examples demonstrate the utility of enzymatic synthesis. 1 Introduction 2 Nicotinamide Cofactors 2.1 Synthesis of Remote-Labeled 14C-NADPH 2.1.1 Synthesis of [Ad-14C]NADPH 2.1.2 Synthesis of [Carbonyl-14C]NADPH 2.2 Synthesis of S- and R-[4-3H]NADPH 2.2.1 One-Step S- and Three-Step R-[4-3H]NADPH Synthesis 2.2.2 One-Pot, One-Step R-[4-3H]NADPH Synthesis 2.3 Synthesis of S- and R-[Ad-14C, 4-2H]NADPH 2.3.1 One-Step S-, Three-Step R-[Ad-14C, 4-2H]NADPH Synthesis 2.3.2 One-Pot, One-Step R-[Ad-14C, 4-2H]NADPH Synthesis 3 Methylene Tetrahydrofolate 4 Flavin Nucleotides 5 Conclusions and Outlook
Vibration of Suspension Bridges under Moving Loads

The problem relates to the transient vibration of a single-span suspension bridge which is traversed by a constant force moving with constant velocity or a pulsating force moving with constant velocity. Damping is zero and there is no mass associated with the moving forces. Equations of motion are derived and solved. Solutions are obtained for the deflections and stresses of the truss and for the increase in horizontal component of cable tension. The theory is based on the deflection theory equations of suspension bridges. It is linearized by assuming that the increase in cable tension due to live load is small compared to the dead load cable tension. A numerical example illustrates the theory. The results of the example show large magnifications of stress (on the order of 2.70) when the moving pulsating force is driven at the frequency of the first symmetric mode. Also, in general, there is no appreciable dynamic effect associated with moving constant forces on long-span bridges. The dynamic effect of moving constant forces, however, becomes more pronounced on short-span bridges having a low frequency associated with the first asymmetric mode.
Improving Responsiveness to Patient Phone Calls: A Pilot Study

Optimal patient-physician communication in the outpatient clinical setting is critical for safe and effective patient care. Keeping track of multiple patient telephone messages can be difficult and hazardous if a structured system is not in place. A multidisciplinary group at Hershey Medical Center developed a standardized approach for addressing patient telephone calls at their outpatient surgical clinics. This program was designed to improve the patient experience by providing a realistic time frame for phone calls to be returned and requests fulfilled. Additionally, this system permitted phone calls to be tracked and documented appropriately and allowed for prioritization of urgent and emergent messages. Our intent for this program was to close potential gaps within the communication chain at our outpatient surgical clinics, improve overall communication between clinicians and their patients, and improve both patient and employee satisfaction.
Distribution of gene frequencies under the case of random genetic drift with and without selection.

Studies by computer simulation to determine applicability of the theory of the distribution of gene frequencies at the steady state of decay to small populations and the effect of linkage on the distribution revealed: 1. For random genetic drift with no selection theory and observations agree well for independent assortment and linkage. 2. For random genetic drift with selection theory and observations agree well for independent assortment and full dominance. Linkage with relatively large N s decreased the mean gene frequency of unfixed classes and the steady rate of fixation of the favorable allele. 3. With independent assortment and additive gene effects agreement between theory and observations for the rates of fixation and loss at the terminal classes was good only for effective population number of at least 42. Small effective population numbers increased variance and decreased the steady rate of fixation and loss at the terminal classes.
Unbraiding the Qu’ran: Wolofal and the Tafsīr Tradition of Senegambia

Thanks to the work of scholars on both sides of the Atlantic, the orthographic practice known as “ ʿajami ,” or the writing of non-Arabic languages in Arabic script, is better known today than ever before, expanding alongside scholarly efforts to understand it. This article contributes to this renewed interest by examining the first known commentary on the Qur’an written entirely in Wolofal, or Wolof in modified Arabic script. Contra the prevailing populist spirit of contemporary ʿajami scholarship, it argues that ʿajami texts were not always intended for an audience of non-Arabophones. In the case of Mawridu al-ẓamān fī tafsīr al-qurān , a Wolofal commentary written by the Murid scholar Muhammadu Dem (d. 1965), ʿajami techniques were employed to produce a text explicitly intended for a specialized audience already literate in Arabic. Dem’s commentary therefore qualifies the argument that ʿajami texts necessarily reached non-Arabophone audiences.
Self-Disclosure and Psychotherapy

Self-disclosure lies at the heart of psychotherapy, the talking cure. It can be defined, somewhat tautologically, as a process by which the self is revealed. That ambiguous definition does not state who is doing the revealing, to whom, or by what means. Each of these ambiguities is critical within the therapeutic relationship. Either the therapist or the patient may be self-revealing, the revelation may be to the other person or to the self, and the means may be verbal or nonverbal, conscious or unconscious.
Epidemiology and Natural History of Hepatitis C in Children

HCV is an RNA virus and while 4.1 million people in the USA are currently positive for antibody to HCV, the incidence of new infections is declining. Perinatal transmission is the most common mode of acquiring HCV infection in children. Screening of infants for antibody to HCV should be postponed until 18 months of age as maternal antibodies may persist until then. Evaluation of children with history of multiple transfusions in the decades before routine screening for HCV has provided useful natural history information. The majority of children infected with HCV will go on to develop chronic infection and liver disease of variable severity.
Regulation of glutamate synthase from Bacillussubtilis by Glutamine

Abstract Glutamate synthase, an important enzyme in the assimilation of ammonia, was measured in cultures of Bacillus subtilis grown with different nitrogen sources. An attempt was made to correlate the specific activity to the intracellular levels of five metabolites of glutamate metabolism: aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, alanine and NH 4 + . An inverse relationship was found between the activity of glutamate synthase and the pool level of glutamine. We propose that the intracellular concentration of glutamine is an important element in controlling the level of glutamate synthase.
Science with an ngVLA: Compact binary mergers as traced by gravitational waves

In light of the recent dazzling discovery of GW170817, we discuss several new scientific opportunities that would emerge in multi-messenger time-domain astrophysics if a facility like the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) were to work in tandem with ground-based gravitational wave (GW) detectors. These opportunities include probing wide-angle ejecta and off-axis afterglows of neutron star (NS)-NS mergers; enabling direct size measurements of radio ejecta from NS-NS mergers; and unraveling the physics behind the progenitors of compact binary mergers via host galaxy studies at radio wavelengths. Our results show that, thanks to its unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, the ngVLA will enable transformational results in the multi-messenger exploration of the transient radio sky.
Facing Opioids in the Shadow of the HIV Epidemic

Facing Opioids in the Shadow of the HIV Epidemic In combating the opioid epidemic, we can learn from failures in the response to HIV as well as from the successes. The failure of equity in prevention and treatment points to the importance of social factors in shaping who benefits from effective biomedical therapies.
Acoustofluidics: Merging acoustics and microfluidics for biomedical applications

The past two decades have witnessed an explosion in lab-on-a-chip research with applications in biology, chemistry, and medicine. Recently, a new lab-on-a-chip frontier has emerged, joining acoustics with microfluidics, termed acoustofluidics. Here, we summarize our recent progress in this exciting field and show the depth and breadth of acoustofluidic tools for biomedical applications through many unique examples, including exosome separation, cell-cell communication studies, three-dimensional bioprinting, circulating tumor cell isolation and detection, ultra-high-throughput blood cell separation, high-precision micro-flow cytometry, and portable fluid manipulation systems. These acoustofluidic technologies are capable of delivering high-precision, high-throughput, and high-efficiency cell/particle/fluid manipulation in a simple, inexpensive, cell-phone-sized device. More importantly, the acoustic power intensity and frequency used in these acoustofluidic devices are in a similar range as those used in ultrasonic imaging, which has proven to be extremely safe for health monitoring during various stages of pregnancy. As a result, these methods are extremely biocompatible, i.e., cells and other biospecimens can maintain their natural states without any adverse effects from the acoustic manipulation process. With these advantages, acoustofluidic technologies meet a crucial need for highly accurate disease diagnostics (e.g., early cancer detection and monitoring of prenatal health) and effective therapy (e.g., transfusion and immunotherapy).
The Place for Innovative Technology

The perioperative management of lower extremity total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients is constantly evolving. Several innovations have been developed to facilitate rapid recovery after these procedures. Some of the outcomes that are targeted for improvement include reducing perioperative complications, decreasing length of hospital stay, promoting early functional recovery, and improving patient satisfaction. Technology has been developed to address these objectives in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. The development of mobile health platforms and telehealth systems for preoperative education has shown to improve patient participation compared to in-person presurgical classes. Intraoperative innovations with robotic-assisted arthroplasty may effectively reduce postoperative pain and length of hospital stay. Postoperative technology with wearable technology and mobile applications has allowed closer monitoring of patient outcomes and functionality. These innovations may reduce cost of home care, physical therapy, and other services while maintaining or even improving patient outcomes. All of these new technologies for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care will be reviewed.
Initiating Palliative Care Referrals in Pediatric Oncology.

Abstract Context Early palliative care (PC) has been shown to improve the quality of life of children with cancer, yet referral practices by pediatric oncology providers remains inconsistent and few patients receive a formal PC consult. Objectives We sought to describe patient characteristics used by oncologists for PC referral and identify ways to improve PC integration into the care for children with cancer. Methods This mixed-methods study used semistructured audiotaped interviews to explore the patient or disease characteristics used by pediatric oncology providers to trigger PC referral. Conventional content analysis was applied to interview transcripts. Results About 77 participants with diverse experience were interviewed. More than 75% of participants reported that PC was consulted too late and cited communication and systems issues as the top barriers. Most participants (85%) stated that a screening tool would be helpful to standardize referral practices to PC. Characteristics such as poor prognosis (88%), symptom management (86%), comorbidities (65%), and psychosocial needs (65%) were commonly reported triggers that should initiate PC consultation. However, when presented with case scenarios that included these characteristics, participants did not consistently identify the PC triggers. Nearly 50% of participants stated they had received some formalized PC training; however, only one-third of these participants noted completing a PC rotation. Conclusion Our findings suggest that pediatric oncologists are committed to improving the integration of PC for their patients and that standardization of referral practices, through the use of a screening tool, would be of benefit. Additional PC education might reinforce pediatric oncologists' recognition of PC triggers.
Treatment of iatrogenic acute aortic type A aortic dissection complicating transcatheter aortic valve insertion: A case report

Abstract: Aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening complication of transcatheter aortic valve insertion. This paper presents the novel operative management of acute ascending aortic dissection during transcatheter valve insertion.
Alternative approach of hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance: abbreviated MRI

This review focuses on emerging abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging (AMRI) surveillance of patients with chronic liver disease for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This surveillance strategy has been proposed as a high-sensitivity alternative to ultrasound for identification of patients with early-stage HCC, particularly in patients with cirrhosis or obesity, in whom sonographic visualization of small tumors may be compromised. Three general AMRI approaches have been developed and studied in the literature - non-contrast AMRI, dynamic contrast-enhanced AMRI, and hepatobiliary phase contrast-enhanced AMRI - each comprising a small number of selected sequences specifically tailored for HCC detection. The rationale, general technique, advantages and disadvantages, and diagnostic performance of each AMRI approach is explained. Additionally, current gaps in knowledge and future directions are discussed. Based on emerging evidence, we cautiously recommend the use of AMRI for HCC surveillance in situations where ultrasound is compromised.
All types of inequality are not created equal: divergent impacts of inequality on economic growth *

Evidence of an increase in inequality since the 1970s has motivated research on its relationship to growth and development. The findings of that research are contradictory and inconclusive. One source of these divergent results is that researchers rely on different group measures of inequality. Inequality by gender, household, class, and ethnicity may produce divergent effects on growth since they operate on macroeconomic outcomes via alternative pathways. Further, even within groups, the effect of inequality on growth depends on the measure used. For example, inequalities in capabilities (such as education and health status) may operate differently on growth than inequality in wages and income. This paper explores the different conceptual approaches to measuring between-group and within-group inequality and delineates the sometimes-contradictory pathways by which these measures affect economic growth and development. The typology is applied to the case of East Asia and Latin America.
Dimensionless Model of Frost Roughness on Cold Flat Plate Under Forced Convection

Laboratory experiments were conducted to generate empirical dimensionless correlations for estimating surface roughness of frost formed on a cold flat plate under forced convection. Environmental v...
17-Month-Old Girl With Severe, Prolonged Lethargy and Somnolence.

A 17-month-old girl arrived at the pediatric ED with decreased responsiveness. She was lethargic, localizing only to noxious stimuli with vital signs significant for fever of 103.8 °F, heart rate of 185 beats/min, respiratory rate of 12 breaths/min, blood pressure of 100/59 mmHg, and oxygen saturation level of 88% on room air. She was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to concerns of septic meningitis with altered mental status and respiratory distress, and was treated with antibiotics. A respiratory viral panel (RVP) was positive for adenovirus, resulting in all antibiotics being discontinued. She remained lethargic until day nine of illness, when she had improved almost completely to her baseline. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of her cerebral spinal fluid returned positive for adenovirus serotype A, thus confirming our case of transient adenovirus encephalopathy. This case illustrates the importance of keeping adenovirus in the differential for encephalopathy versus a neurologic abnormality or other malignant or infectious etiology.
Inhibition of group B streptococci by amniotic fluid from patients with intra-amniotic infection and from control subjects

Abstract This study describes the inhibition of group B streptococci by amniotic fluid from 50 patients with intra-amniotic infection and 50 matched, noninfected control subjects. Patients were matched for gestational age, time from rupture of membranes to delivery, and time from rupture of membranes to collection of the sample of fluid. Study patients had the clinical diagnosis of intra-amniotic infection and ≥10 2 colony-forming units of a high-virulence organism per milliliter. None of the control patients became infected or received antibiotics. We collected the amniotic fluid in the study patients prior to antibiotic therapy. A comparison of bacterial growth in the amniotic fluid versus the amniotic fluid plus phosphate showed that only eight (16%) of the intra-amniotic infection samples of fluid were inhibitory, whereas 18 (36%) of the control samples of fluid were inhibitory ( χ 2 = 5.20, p
Effects of Fiber Length on Elastic Moduli of Randomly-Oriented Chopped-Fiber Composites

Based on a composite-cylinder model with a short cylindrical fiber embedded in the center of a cylindrical matrix, the longitudinal Young's modulus and major Poisson's ratio of a unidirectional, short-fiber composite are found in terms of the fiber volume fraction and the tip-to-tip spacing of the fibers. The expressions obtained are then modified to account for the influence of volume fraction and aspect ratio of the fibers. These results, together with Christensen and Waals' normalized expressions, are used to calculate the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of a randomly-oriented chopped-fiber composite in terms of the fiber volume fraction and its aspect ratio. The theory developed is then applied to examine numerically the effects of fiber length on the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of short glassfiber/polyester-resin composites. The results show that the Young's modulus of both unidirectional and randomly-oriented fiber composites are strongly dependent on the fiber length; so is the Poisson's ratio, though to a lesser degree.
Functional anatomy of macaque striate cortex. V. Spatial frequency

When macaque monkeys view achromatic, sinusoidal gratings of a single spatial frequency, the pattern of 14C-2-deoxy-d-glucose (DG) uptake produced by the gratings is shown to depend on the spatial frequency chosen. When a relatively high (5–7 cycles/deg) spatial frequency is shown binocularly at systematically varied orientations, uptake in parafoveal striate cortex is highest between the cytochrome oxidase blobs (that is, in the interblobs) in layers 1, 2, and 3. In layers 4B, 5, and 6, where the cytochrome oxidase blobs are faint or absent, DG uptake is highest in a periodic pattern that lies in register with the interblobs of layers 2 + 3. When the grating is, instead, of relatively low (1–1.5 cycles/deg) spatial frequency, DG uptake is highest in the blobs, in the blob-aligned portions of layers 1–4B, and in the lower- layer blobs as well. These variations in DG topography are confirmed in stimulus comparisons within a single hemisphere. Presumably, this shift in functional topography within the extra-granular layer is the primate homolog of “spatial frequency columns” shown earlier in the cat (Tootell et al., 1981; Silverman, 1984). In the well-differentiated architecture of primate striate cortex, laminar differences produced by high- versus low-spatial-frequency gratings are visible as well. Gratings of very high spatial frequency produce much higher uptake in 4Cb (which receives input from the parvocellular LGN layers) than in 4Ca (which gets its input from the magnocellular LGN layers). Gratings of low spatial frequency produce the converse result. Presumably, cells in the magnocellular LGN layers and/or in the magnocellular-dominated layer 4Ca have lower average spatial frequency tuning (larger receptive fields) than their counterparts in the parvocellular LGN and/or in striate layer 4Cb. The DG patterns produced by various spatial frequencies also vary with eccentricity, in a manner consistent with known, eccentricity-dependent variations of receptive-field size and spatial frequency tuning. Thus, gratings of a “middle”-spatial- frequency range (4–5 cycles/deg) produce high uptake in the blobs near the foveal representation and high uptake in the interblobs at more peripheral eccentricities, including 5 degrees. This shift in DG topography also includes the transition zone near 3 degrees, where the level of stimulus-driven uptake is as high in the blob regions as it is in interblob regions. Variations in uptake between layers 4Ca and 4Cb, as a function of eccentricity, shift in parallel with the changes in the upper-layer topography.
SerpinB2 Is Critical to Th2 Immunity against Enteric Nematode Infection

SerpinB2, a member of the serine protease inhibitor family, is expressed by macrophages and is significantly upregulated by inflammation. Recent studies implicated a role for SerpinB2 in the control of Th1 and Th2 immune responses, but the mechanisms of these effects are unknown. In this study, we used mice deficient in SerpinB2 (SerpinB2 −/− ) to investigate its role in the host response to the enteric nematode, Heligmosomoides bakeri . Nematode infection induced a STAT6-dependent increase in intestinal SerpinB2 expression. The H. bakeri –induced upregulation of IL-4 and IL-13 expression was attenuated in SerpinB2 −/− mice coincident with an impaired worm clearance. In addition, lack of SerpinB2 in mice resulted in a loss of the H. bakeri –induced smooth muscle hypercontractility and a significant delay in infection-induced increase in mucosal permeability. Th2 immunity is generally linked to a CCL2-mediated increase in the infiltration of macrophages that develop into the alternatively activated phenotype (M2). In H. bakeri –infected SerpinB2 −/− mice, there was an impaired infiltration and alternative activation of macrophages accompanied by a decrease in the intestinal CCL2 expression. Studies in macrophages isolated from SerpinB2 −/− mice showed a reduced CCL2 expression, but normal M2 development, in response to stimulation of Th2 cytokines. These data demonstrate that the immune regulation of SerpinB2 expression plays a critical role in the development of Th2-mediated protective immunity against nematode infection by a mechanism involving CCL2 production and macrophage infiltration.
Marriage in a young adult mentally retarded population.

ABSTRACT. Marriage was examined in a total population of mentally retarded young adults born in a 5-year period. No one with severe retardation had married. Among the mildly retarded, significantly fewer young people had married by age 22 than in a nonretarded comparison population, and the retarded young people who had married had significantly higher IQs than the remainder of the mildly retarded population. The retarded females had significantly more problems in their marriages than nonretarded comparisons. Nevertheless, the marriages of almost half the mildly retarded young women appeared to be working out well. The retarded young men were not significantly different from nonretarded comparisons. Marriages in which both partners were retarded had many problems.
Whether and to What Extent Consumers Demand Fair Pricing Behavior for Its Own Sake

This article contributes to scholarly understanding of the significance of procedural fairness in pricing contexts. It has been widely recognized that price fairness judgments concern both the outcome (fair price) and the procedure leading to the outcome (fair pricing). However, extant research has traditionally viewed procedural fairness as a means to outcome fairness. According to this instrumental view, procedural fairness is a component or antecedent of outcome fairness, but has no direct effects on consumers’ responses to prices. Building on the relational perspective on fairness, we develop and test a model of price procedural fairness as an end in itself. In three lab studies, we show that (1) when information regarding outcome (an unfavorable price difference) and procedure (the pricing practice underlying the price difference) is available simultaneously and unambiguously, procedural fairness has direct and stronger effects than outcome fairness on consumers’ responses and (2) procedural fairness mediates the effects of pricing practices on these responses. In all three studies, adding procedural fairness as a direct predictor of consumers’ responses increases the explanatory power of a model of price fairness significantly. Our model can explain peculiar real-world cases in which consumers reacted very strongly over relatively small price differences. The research findings point to the significance of the non-instrumental aspect of consumer’s demand for ethical (fair pricing) behavior and the need for companies to assess the fairness of their pricing practices from the consumer perspective.
Transfusion and Bone Marrow Transplantation

Bone marrow transplantation has prolonged the lives of a significant percentage of patients with a variety of both malignant and nonmalignant disorders. However, the impact of this treatment on a transfusion service is substantial. Large numbers of often specialized blood products are required to support these patients, and the logistics of accomplishing this taxes the ingenuity and resources of even large regional blood programs.
Connexin-independent ganciclovir-mediated killing conferred on bystander effect-resistant cell lines by a herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase-expressing colon cell line.

A novel gap junction-independent mechanism for ganciclovir-mediated bystander effect killing by a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK)-expressing SW620 human colon tumor cell line has been characterized. The mechanism of the HSV-TK/GCV bystander effect for many tumor cell lines has been demonstrated to be due to connexin gap junction transfer of phosphorylated ganciclovir (GCV) metabolites; however, there may be as yet uncharacterized connexin-independent mechanisms for the effect. To address this, the bystander effect was further evaluated in a panel of cell lines mixed with homologous HSV-TK-expressing cell lines, a SW620.TK cell line, or a high connexin43-expressing PA-317.TK cell line. Of the 10 cell lines tested, 4 were found to be resistant to bystander effect killing by their homologous HSV-TK-expressing cell lines and the PA-317.TK cells, but all of the cell lines were sensitive to GCV killing when mixed with the SW620.TK cells. The SW620.TK cells were then further evaluated for any indication of extracellular GCV metabolite efflux. Culture medium from SW620.TK cells labeled with [3H]GCV was evaluated for the presence of GCV nucleotides by ion-exchange column separation and HPLC analysis. The presence of GCV mono-, di-, and triphosphate metabolites in the medium was detected. Inclusion in the medium of inhibitors of extracellular phosphatases and ecto-ATPases increased the proportion of GCV metabolites recovered. These results indicate that phosphorylated GCV metabolites can be effluxed from SW620.TK cells and that some type of cellular uptake mechanism independent of gap junctions exists for nucleotide entry into neighboring cells.
Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders: Immunohistologic Differential Diagnosis With Severe Allograft Rejection

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are an acknowledged complica tion of transplantation and immunosuppression that may be difficult to distinguish from severe rejection in small biopsy specimens. In this study we compared 19 exam ples of PTLD with 20 cases of severe rejection. Antibodies to CD20, CD43, CD45, CD45RO, MB2, Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein, bcl-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cytomegalovirus early antigen, and hepatitis B surface and core anti gens were employed. The results expressed as percentage of positive cases of PTLD/ rejection, were: CD20, 89/0; CD43, 63/100; CD45, 100/100; CD45RO, 5/85; MB2, 32/0; Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein, 79/0. Aberrant coexpression of CD20 and CD43 was seen in 11 cases of PTLD and no cases of severe rejection. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen index was 58% in PTLD cases, and 20% in rejection; stains for bcl-2 protein were nondiscriminatory. No examples of either process were reactive for cytomegalovirus or ...
Readers' reality-driven and plot-driven analyses in narrative comprehension.

We suggest that when readers experience narratives, their expectations about the likelihood of narrative events are informed by two types of analyses. Reality-driven analyses incorporate real-world constraints involving, for example, time and space; plot-driven analyses incorporate concerns about outcomes that emerge from the plot. We explored the interaction of these two types of analyses in the application of temporal situation models. Participants read stories in which the final episode occurred after a minute time shift (i.e., “A minute later …”) or hour time shift (i.e., “An hour later …”). Our experiments assessed participants’ judgments and reading times for statements describing the state of events (e.g., the possibility that characters could carry out particular behaviors) following each type of time shift. Experiments 1A and 1B demonstrated that readers are appropriately sensitive to the real concomitants of time shifts. Experiments 2A and 2B demonstrated, even so, that plot-driven preferences modify judgments and reading times away from reality-driven expectations. Our results have implications for the role of the reader in theories of narrative comprehension.
The Relative Involvement of Visual and Auditory Working Memory When Studying Adjunct Displays

In two experiments, students read a chapter-length text accompanied by seven outlines or graphic organizers. Students then performed 10 trials where they either viewed an image or listened to a sound, were tested on comprehension of the text, and then were tested on recognition of the image or sound. In both experiments, students who studied graphic organizers performed worse on the visual task, and in the second experiment, students who studied outlines performed worse on the auditory task. These results provide evidence that graphic organizers are encoded in a more visual format than outlines, whereas outlines are encoded in a more auditory format than graphic organizers. Results are also supportive of both conjoint retention (Kulhavy, Lee, & Caterino, 1985) and dual coding (Paivio, 1986) models of text learning and help to explain why graphic organizers are more effective than outlines in helping students learn concept relations in text.
Increasing daytime vascular resistance with progressive hypertension in ambulant patients

Abstract Twenty-four-hour recordings of intra-arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and calculation of the index of peripheral vascular resistance were obtained in 20 untreated ambulant hypertensive patients during their routine activities outside the hospital. Blood pressures and heart rates were higher during the day, with a mean night-to-day increase of 22%, 34%, and 26%, for systolic, diastolic, and mean pressures, respectively. The average increase in the heart rate was 32%. Overall, the index of resistance was lower (12%) during the day. However, eight patients (40%) demonstrated no change or an increase in the peripheral vascular resistance. Six of these eight patients had an average daytime mean pressure above 120 mm Hg. There was a significant decrease in the index of resistance during exercise in all but one of the 16 subjects. Hemodynamic parameters of 1 hour before and 1 hour after awakening were similar to the values obtained during the entire night and the rest of the day, respectively. Our data suggest that in patients with “progressive” hypertension, the ability to decrease vascular resistance from night to day is compromised.
Effects of assay medium composition on macrophage-mediated tumor cell binding and lysis.

Activated macrophages express selective, high avidity tumor binding and cytotoxicity for tumor targets. The reported macrophage-mediated tumor binding and killing activities vary considerably among studies. Whereas, some of these studies utilized identical tumor target cells and similar sources of macrophages, the composition of the assay media used by different groups varied with respect to: type of medium (Eagle's minimal essential medium (EMEM), RPMI-1640, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 1.0 g/l glucose (DMEMLG), or with 4.5 g/l, glucose (DMEMHG)), concentration of serum (0–20%), and the addition of certain reagents (amphotericin B, pyruvate, and Hepes). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of varying these parameters of medium composition on macrophage-mediated high (HA) and low avidity tumor binding and cytolysis. Tumor cytolysis was measured with an 18 h 51Cr release assay using peritoneal macrophages from C3H/HeN mice primed in vivo with pyran copolymer and further stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (10 ng/ml). P815 tumor cells were used as targets at a 10:1 effector: target ratio. Binding of targets to macrophages was termined by a method utilizing inverted centrifugation. Under optimal conditions, 2 × 105 macrophages bound as many as 17600 ± 3565 tumor cells and caused up to 50.4 ± 3.6% cytolysis. Assays performed in DMEMHG compared with the other three media tested resulted in HA tumor binding and cytolysis which were decreased by up to 42.5% (P < 0.05) and 64.3% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with the three other types of medium. The addition of pyruvate (1 mM) to EMEM with 5% fetal calf serum (FCS) stimulated 98.8% (P < 0.01) and 50.6% (P < 0.1) increases in tumor binding and cytolysis, respectively compared with EMEM/5% FCS alone, while Hepes (25 mM) stimulated 58.3% (P < 0.01) and 37.5% (P < 0.1) increases in these activities. Amphotericin B (2.5 μg/ml) completely abrogated tumor cytolysis, but it caused no change in tumor binding. Serum produced variable effects on macrophage-mediated tumor killing. Five of six lots of FCS inhibited tumor lysis, by 16 to 98% (32.6 ± 28.6%; mean ± SD). However, the same lot of FCS which inhibited cytolysis by 98% enhanced HA binding by 152% (P < 0.05). Finally, several commercially available serumless medium preparations supported macrophage-mediated tumor binding; however, none of the serumless media tested supported macrophage-mediated tumor cytolysis. We conclude that common differences in assay medium composition can markedly alter macrophage-mediated tumor cell binding and cytolysis.
Changing occupant characteristics in rural public housing in the Great Plains: 1977 to 1996

Abstract Housing quality and affordability are growing concerns in rural areas, particularly in regions affected by economic restructuring and population decline. This article uses data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assess changes in the characteristics of nonmetropolitan public housing residents in the Great Plains between 1977 and 1996. Results indicate that public housing occupants were younger and more racially diverse in 1996 than in 1977. Also, a larger proportion received welfare benefits in addition to housing supplements. (In 1977, few households received both types of assistance.) Regression models reveal a significant positive relationship between changes in county population, unemployment rates, and economic designation and minority representation in public housing. Implications include the need for flexible measures that meet the changing needs of subsidized households. The characteristics of these households in the Great Plains region indicate the need for both...
Hemodynamic Performance of Small Aortic Valve Bioprostheses: Is There a Difference?

Abstract Background . There is the potential for left ventricular outflow obstruction when small aortic valve bioprostheses are employed in normal-sized or large adults. It has been hoped that bovine pericardial valves would improve hemodynamic performance in the smaller tissue valve sizes. Methods . To determine in vivo hemodynamic performance of heterograft aortic valve prostheses, we analyzed echocardiographic data from patients receiving 21- or 23-mm Carpentier-Edwards pericardial, Medtronic Intact, and Carpentier-Edwards porcine bioprostheses. In addition, data from 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valves were included for comparison of hemodynamic performance between valve sizes. Doppler echocardiography was performed in 151 patients within 2 weeks of operation. Left ventricular outflow gradient was derived from continuous Doppler measurements of flow velocity, and effective orifice area was calculated by the continuity equation. Results . There were statistically significant differences in hemodynamic performance of different sized prostheses for each valve type (effective orifice area, p p Conclusions . The in vivo hemodynamic performance of these three different aortic valve heterograft bioprostheses is similar. Patient–prosthesis mismatch with heterograft prostheses, as demonstrated by the indexed effective orifice area can be avoided by appropriate sizing and use of annular enlarging techniques when necessary. (Ann Thorac Surg 1997;63:362–6)
Publication trends for articles related to the history of anesthesia: a 10-year analysis from six journals.

INTRODUCTION Anesthesia historians believe they have difficulty in getting their work published in peer reviewed journals devoted to anesthesiology. To test the hypothesis of whether such publication bias exists, we conducted a review of all articles published in six journals. METHODS We examined all articles published between January 2001 and December 2010. In order to enable comparison among journals, articles were categorized as major or minor. We also examined whether there were trends in publication over this period. RESULTS During this 10-year period, 30,600 articles were published in these journals (range, 2573 to 8563 articles). Of all articles published, only 382 (1.25%, range, 0.41% to 2.87%) were related to the history of anesthesia. The proportion of all articles related to history showed a significant difference with time (P<.001), primarily from differences in minor articles (P<.001). Analysis of the number of history-related articles published shows no obvious difference over the 10-year period (P=.25), but a significant difference among journals (P=.005). For major articles, there was a significant effect with time (P=.046) and journal (P<.001). Minor articles revealed no significant effect with time (P=.15), but significant differences among journals (P=.02). CONCLUSIONS Our analysis of 30,600 articles published in six mainstream journals devoted to anesthesiology found that considerable differences exist in the proportion and number of articles that were related to history of anesthesia.
Femtochemistry of organometallics: dynamics of metal-metal and metal-ligand bond cleavage in M2(CO)10

We report femtochemical studies of the organometallic dimetal decacarbonyl. By the use of mass spectrometry, we obtain the temporal dynamics in the channels for metal-metal and metal-ligand bond cleavage. The time scale observed for cleavage and for structural bridging indicates the nature of the repulsion along the two reaction coordinates and the interplay between the bond order and the femtosecond dynamics.
Donor management parameters and organ yield: single center results

Abstract Background Management of organ donors in the intensive care unit is an emerging subject in critical care and transplantation. This study evaluates organ yield outcomes for a large number of patients managed by the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization. Materials and methods This is a retrospective review of intensive care unit records from 2008–2012. Donor demographic information and seven donor management parameters (DMP) were recorded at admission, consent, 12 h after consent, and before procurement. Three study groups were created: donors meeting 0–3, 4, or 5–7 DMP. Active donor Organ Procurement Organization management began at consent; so, data analysis focuses on the 12-h postconsent time point. Outcomes included organs transplanted per donor (OTPD) and transplantation of individual solid organs. Results Complete records for 499 patients were reviewed. Organ yield was 1415 organs of 3992 possible (35%). At 12 h, donors meeting more DMP had more OTPD: 2.2 (0–3) versus 3.0 (4) versus 3.5 (5–7) (P Conclusions Initial DMP met does not appear to be a significant prognostic factor for OTPD. Aggregate DMP is associated with transplantation rates for most organs, with analysis of individual parameters suggesting that appropriate management of oxygenation, volume status, and vasopressor use could lead to more organs procured per donor.