cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aptamer-mediated selective delivery of a cytotoxic cationic NHC-Au(I) complex to cancer cells

A novel cationic NHC-Au(I) complex was synthesized and studied for its antitumor activity. For all the cell lines tested, cationic NHC-Au(I) complex 2 shows much higher cytotoxicity than its neutral analogue 1. To achieve selective cancer cell targeting, complex 2 was covalently conjugated to aptamer AS1411, a DNA aptamer with strong binding affinity for nucleolin. The successful conjugation was confirmed by HPLC, gel electrophoresis, fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-Vis absorption. Conjugate AS1411-2 was then examined for its specific targeting and binding ability towards cancer cells over human normal cells using flow cytometry analysis and confocal microscopy. The cytotoxicity of AS1411-2 was then estimated by MTS assay. It was found that AS1411-2 exhibits higher activity than complex 2 towards targeted cells. Importantly, AS1411-2 exhibits much lower cytotoxicity towards healthy normal cell lines. Concurrently, the control groups without the AS1411 aptamer or without the NHC-Au(I) complex do have significant impact on cancer cell viability.
Resistance of Potato Breeding Clones and Cultivars to Three Species of Potato Cyst Nematode

In the United States, potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida are quarantined pests. A new cyst nematode species, Globodera ellingtonae, discovered in Oregon and Idaho, reproduces well on potato but is not currently a quarantine pest. Identifying resistance to all three Globodera spp. would provide a valuable management tool. Thirteen breeding clones and nine cultivars were evaluated in Oregon, Idaho, and New York laboratories where the nematode populations are maintained. Minitubers or tissue culture plants were planted into pots and inoculated with eggs in replicated experiments. Results indicated that five entries were partially resistant or resistant to all three species, while another five were resistant or partially resistant to G. rostochiensis and G. ellingtonae. Resistance to G. rostochiensis pathotypes Ro1 and Ro4 is controlled by the H1 gene and this study suggests that H1 may confer resistance to G. ellingtonae as well. Observed resistance to G. pallida was lower relative to the levels of resistance observed for G. rostochiensis and G. ellingtonae. Germplasm with G. pallida or G. ellingtonae resistance will be used in hybridizations to develop russet-skinned cultivars with long tubers which represent the predominant market class in western U.S. production, and to further explore the basis of potato resistance to Globodera spp.
The Single Electron Model in Photoionization

The single electron model serves three purposes: (a) it provides a “zeroth order” approximation for the direct calculation of cross sections for photoionization and for other atomic processes, (b) it provides physical insight into the mechanisms that control these processes and (c) it forms the basis for the development of theoretical methods dealing with many electron correlations. All of the above aspects will be treated in the following discussion, but first the appropriate formulas for photoionization will be developed in order to show the relationship between the model and many electron treatments.
Association Between Room Location and Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients

Objective:To investigate whether a patient’s proximity to the nurse’s station or ward entrance at time of admission was associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes.Method:We conducted a retr...
Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by symmetric proximal muscle weakness and elevated serum levels of enzymes derived from skeletal muscle. These include creatine phosphokinase (CPK), aldolase, aspartate, and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In addition, electromyography (EMG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and muscle histology show changes indicative of nonsupparative inflammation (Table 18A-1) (1).
The Embeddedness of Nonprofit Leadership in Civic Governance

This study examined how board chairs and executive directors of nonprofit civic engagement organizations interpreted their leadership roles. Leadership in nonprofit civic engagement organizations was characterized by study participants as representing constituents, facilitating participatory processes, engaging in civic governance, and organizing community and developing leaders. Therefore, I contend that how nonprofit civic engagement organizational leadership was conceptualized by board chairs and executive directors was embedded in the institutional field of civic governance. An exploratory and qualitative case study analysis approach was utilized and data methods included interviewing 34 board chairs and executive directors from the population of 17 nonprofit civic engagement organizations within a municipal civic participation system. I identify and discuss four major leadership themes, with eight sub-themes, that emerged from the analysis and present recommendations for professional practice and future research on nonprofit leadership within institutional fields.
Learning Spherical Convolution for Fast Features from 360° Imagery

While 360° cameras offer tremendous new possibilities in vision, graphics, and augmented reality, the spherical images they produce make core feature extraction non-trivial. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained on images from perspective cameras yield “flat" filters, yet 360° images cannot be projected to a single plane without significant distortion. A naive solution that repeatedly projects the viewing sphere to all tangent planes is accurate, but much too computationally intensive for real problems. We propose to learn a spherical convolutional network that translates a planar CNN to process 360° imagery directly in its equirectangular projection. Our approach learns to reproduce the flat filter outputs on 360° data, sensitive to the varying distortion effects across the viewing sphere. The key benefits are 1) efficient feature extraction for 360° images and video, and 2) the ability to leverage powerful pre-trained networks researchers have carefully honed (together with massive labeled image training sets) for perspective images. We validate our approach compared to several alternative methods in terms of both raw CNN output accuracy as well as applying a state-of-the-art “flat" object detector to 360° data. Our method yields the most accurate results while saving orders of magnitude in computation versus the existing exact reprojection solution.
Sex, blinking, and dry eye

All the elements controlling the corneal tear film are sexually dimorphic. Blinking, which smooths and maintains the tear film, also exhibits sex differences. Dry eye increases the sexual dimorphis...
Negotiating the 'buffet' of choice: advances in technology and end-of-life decision-making in the intensive care unit setting.

In recent years, increases in medical technologies in the critical care setting have advanced the practice of medicine, enabling patients to live longer while also creating dilemmas for end-of-life decision-making. Clinicians have increasingly been called on to involve patients and family members in decision-making through a process of shared decision-making (SDM), yet less is known about how SDM plays out in the critical care setting and the ways in which clinicians engage in SDM. Using observational data from 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork in two intensive care units and interviews with 33 family members of 25 critically ill patients and 51 clinicians, I explore how clinicians refer to the choices available in medical decision-making paradoxically as a 'buffet' of choice while they simultaneously recognise that such rhetoric is misaligned with complex and emotional decision-making, often involving pain and suffering. Lastly, this paper considers the role of SDM and the ways in which clinicians push back on the 'buffet' rhetoric and engage in practices to guide families in end-of-life decision-making by granting permission for families to make decisions and validating their decisions to decline treatment when there is an opportunity for more treatment.
Chapter 9 – Synthesis

Publisher Summary This chapter analyzes the biological synthesis of fish air breathing. Fish air breathing is an ancient trait, and a rich diversity of bimodal respiratory specialization is found throughout this group's entire phyletic succession. Air breathing has evolved independently in many fishes, and there are numerous instances where, in addition to serving a respiratory function, bimodal breathing has pervaded other facets of a species' natural history, such as reproductive behavior and buoyancy. The great significance of air breathing for the fishes is that it ensures a heightened survival capacity for species that naturally occur, or are temporarily trapped, in hypoxic waters. Rather than having tendencies toward invading land, most of these fishes remain tied to an exclusively aquatic existence. Air breathing permits a fish to have a high degree of immunity from ambient water O2 tension as well as some independence from dissolved toxins, both natural and anthropogenic. This chapter explores in detail the evolutionary relationships between air breathing and the origin of tetrapods. The chapter also examines the sequence leading from fish air breathing to tetrapod origins and the diverse physical and biological factors affecting this transition.
Factors that mold the nuclear landscape of HIV-1 integration.

The integration of retroviral reverse transcripts into the chromatin of the cells that they infect is required for virus replication. Retroviral integration has far-reaching consequences, from perpetuating deadly human diseases to molding metazoan evolution. The lentivirus human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), which is the causative agent of the AIDS pandemic, efficiently infects interphase cells due to the active nuclear import of its preintegration complex (PIC). To enable integration, the PIC must navigate the densely-packed nuclear environment where the genome is organized into different chromatin states of varying accessibility in accordance with cellular needs. The HIV-1 capsid protein interacts with specific host factors to facilitate PIC nuclear import, while additional interactions of viral integrase, the enzyme responsible for viral DNA integration, with cellular nuclear proteins and nucleobases guide integration to specific chromosomal sites. HIV-1 integration favors transcriptionally active chromatin such as speckle-associated domains and disfavors heterochromatin including lamina-associated domains. In this review, we describe virus-host interactions that facilitate HIV-1 PIC nuclear import and integration site targeting, highlighting commonalities among factors that participate in both of these steps. We moreover discuss how the nuclear landscape influences HIV-1 integration site selection as well as the establishment of active versus latent virus infection.
Putting the pieces together: critical service learning and social work education

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of students in a macro practice social work elective, which integrated critical service-learning and creative placemaking. In a community-univer...
Keratin Granulomas in the Peritoneum on Frozen Section: A Case Report with Multiple Suspects and the Search for the Culprit.

Keratin granulomas in the peritoneum are a rare finding with multiple etiologies and can be especially challenging for both the pathologist and the surgeon when these lesions are grossly visible. W...
CD8+ T cell differentiation and dysfunction in cancer

CD8+ T cells specific for cancer cells are detected within tumours. However, despite their presence, tumours progress. The clinical success of immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell therapy demonstrates the potential of CD8+ T cells to mediate antitumour responses; however, most patients with cancer fail to achieve long-term responses to immunotherapy. Here we review CD8+ T cell differentiation to dysfunctional states during tumorigenesis. We highlight similarities and differences between T cell dysfunction and other hyporesponsive T cell states and discuss the spatio-temporal factors contributing to T cell state heterogeneity in tumours. An important challenge is predicting which patients will respond to immunotherapeutic interventions and understanding which T cell subsets mediate the clinical response. We explore our current understanding of what determines T cell responsiveness and resistance to immunotherapy and point out the outstanding research questions. CD8+ T cells assume various dysfunctional states during tumorigenesis. Here, the authors describe mechanisms of T cell dysfunction in tumours, and what determines T cell responsiveness and resistance to immunotherapy.
The Present and Future of Mitochondrial-Based Therapeutics for Eye Disease.

Translational Relevance Mitochondria are viable therapeutic targets for a broad spectrum of ocular diseases.
Evaluating Educational Intervention Fidelity with TranscriptSim, A Replicable NLP Technique

Pedagogical implementation research at large identifies and addresses factors affecting adoption and sustainability of evidence-based practices. Part of this work is elaborating and testing implementation strategies which prescribe educator intervention techniques and processes to adopt and integrate into educational settings. However, in practice, implementation research is slowed and constrained by the temporal and monetary costs of conducting manual evaluations. In this study, we use an automated, low-cost, and scalable natural language processing (NLP) approach we call TranscriptSim to assess intervention fidelity in a teacher coaching study (TeachSIM). TranscriptSim quantifies similarity between the intervention protocol and intervention transcripts as an approximation of coaches’ fidelity to the intervention protocol.
Effects of Medicaid expansion on self-reported use of dental services in socioeconomically vulnerable subgroups.

OBJECTIVE Research suggests Medicaid expansion led to modest increases in the use of dental services among low-income adults, especially in states with more generous Medicaid dental benefits. We expand upon this research by examining whether the effect of Medicaid expansion differed across important socioeconomic subgroups. METHODS Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 2012 to 2016, we employed a difference-in-differences framework to estimate the effect of Medicaid expansion on annual use of dental services overall and by whether states offered more-than-emergency Medicaid dental benefits. We used generalized linear mixed-effects model trees to estimate effects across socioeconomic subgroups (e.g., age, education, race, income). RESULTS The effect of Medicaid expansion varied by state's generosity of Medicaid dental coverage and combinations of socioeconomic subgroups. Overall, there was no significant association between Medicaid expansion and probability of using dental services (-0.1 pp percentage points [pp], p = 0.914). Medicaid expansion was associated with a modest increase in the probability of using dental services in states with more-than-emergency Medicaid dental benefits (2.3 pp, p < 0.001) and with a modest decrease in states with no or emergency-only benefits (-4.3 pp, p < 0.001). Among adults aged 21-35 without a high school diploma, Medicaid expansion was associated with an 8.1 pp (p = 0.003) increase in dental use probability, but there were no associated effects of Medicaid expansion for other subgroups. CONCLUSIONS While Medicaid expansion alone is not sufficient to ensure adults receive recommended dental care, some vulnerable subgroups appear to have benefited. Efforts to mitigate barriers to dental care may be needed to increase uptake of dental services by low-income adults.
Analysis of Bovine Kappa-Casein Glycomacropeptide by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Caseinomacropeptide (CMP) is released from bovine kappa-casein after rennet treatment and is one of the major peptides in whey protein isolate. CMP has in vitro anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. CMP has two major amino acid sequences with different modifications, including glycosylation, phosphorylation and oxidation. However, no previous work has provided a comprehensive profile of intact CMP. Full characterization of CMP composition and structure is essential to understand the bioactivity of CMP. In this study, we developed a top-down glycopeptidomics-based analytical method to profile CMP and CMP-derived peptides using Orbitrap mass spectrometry combined with nano-liquid chromatography with electron-transfer/higher-energy collision dissociation. The liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) spectra of CMPs were annotated to confirm peptide sequence, glycan composition and other post-translational modifications using automatic data processing. Fifty-one intact CMPs and 159 CMP-derived peptides were identified in four samples (one CMP standard, two commercial CMP products and one whey protein isolate). Overall, this novel approach provides comprehensive characterization of CMP and CMP-derived peptides and glycopeptides, and it can be applied in future studies of product quality, digestive survival and bioactivity.
The Effect of Near-Term Policy Choices on Long-Term Greenhouse Gas Transformation Pathways

Abstract To successfully limit climate change, today’s greenhouse gas mitigation policies should encourage reductions that will continue for decades. History suggests, however, that some policy reforms lead to societal changes that persist over the long-term while others fade without long-term effect. Current climate policy literature provides little guidance on how today’s policy choices can successfully shape long-term emission reduction paths. To address such questions, this paper introduces a new agent-based, game theoretic model designed to compare how near-term choices regarding alternative policy architectures influence long-term emission reduction trajectories. Drawing on political science literature that identifies the characteristics of policies that persist over time, this simulation for the first time integrates the co-evolution of an industry sector, its technology base, and the shifting political coalitions that influence the future stringency of the government’s emission reduction policies—all as influenced by the initial choice of policy architecture. An exploratory modeling analysis that represents deeply uncertain phenomena such as the future potential for innovation and the behavior of future governments draws policy-relevant conclusions from this model. The analysis finds that near-term choices regarding the architecture of a carbon pricing policy may affect long-term decarbonization rates significantly. In particular, such rates are higher if program revenues are returned to firms in proportion to their market share, thus, creating a political constituency for continuing the carbon pricing policy. More generally, the analysis provides a framework for considering how near-term policy choices can affect long-term emission transformation pathways within integrated assessment models.
Unwound nature of MAR-capable AT-rich DNA domains (AT-islands) targeted by a highly AT-specific drug bizelesin

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4623 The human genome contains ∼3x103 of hypervariable minisatellites that consist of up to >3 kbp of 85-100% A/T-rich repeats. These unique domains, termed AT islands, tend to overlap with various sites of genomic instability, including cancer relevant fragile sites FRA16B and FRA16D. AT islands are preferentially targeted by an extremely potent DNA-alkylating antitumor drug bizelesin. Computational analysis suggested that DNA duplexes within AT islands are exceptionally destabilized. This property might underlie the unique potential of AT islands to serve as matrix attachment regions (MARs), the vital elements of nuclear organization. Here we use biochemical approaches and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to characterize the duplexes of cloned model AT islands, including a 1076 bp segment of FRA16B AT island. Partially single-stranded nature of AT-island containing plasmids was demonstrated using the single-strand specific P1 nuclease. P1-induced cleavage (resulting in disappearance of superhelical Form I) was profoundly facilitated in AT-island plasmids relative to control plasmids. For example, P1 at 0.2 Units /reaction converted 48% FRA16B AT island plasmid versus only 6% conversion of the vector plasmid. AFM experiments (conducted in dry mode at pH 7.0) revealed presumably single stranded sections in AT island-containing plasmids that were absent from control non-AT island plasmids. In addition, unusual structural features suggestive of hairpin loops (consistent with palindromic sequences present in the FRA16B domain) were observed in FRA16B plasmids. AFM determinations at elevated pH (to facilitate unwinding) further underscored the profound structural differences between AT island and non-AT island plasmids. Single-strand specific replication protein A (RPA) was used as an alternative way to identify DNA unwinding. AFM demonstrated that RPA formed large aggregates with the FRA16B plasmids but not with non-AT island plasmid. Also, RPA binding to AT island sequences was confirmed using electrophoretic mobility shift assay with linear FRA16B DNA and FRA16B supercoiled plasmid. AFM features indicative of single-stranded sections were markedly reduced in bizelesin-treated AT island plasmids. Likewise, pretreatment with bizelesin abrogated the plasmid’s ability to bind RPA. These observations demonstrate that bizelesin distorts the unusual structures of AT islands. While drug binding is expected to stabilize DNA duplex structure, bizelesin effects on AT island plasmids are probably more complex, as bizelesin-treated plasmids retain enhanced sensitivity to P1 nuclease. Demonstration that AT islands are indeed unwound under physiological conditions corroborates the in silico predictions and warrants further investigations on the role of these domains and their variability in chromatin organization in cancer versus normal cells. (Supported by CA80936)
A Quantum Associative Memory Based on Grover's Algorithm

Quantum computation uses microscopic quantum level effects to perform computational tasks and has produced results that in some cases are exponentially faster than their classical counterparts. The unique characteristics of quantum theory may also be used to create a quantum associative memory with a capacity exponential in the number of neurons. This paper combines two quantum computational algorithms to produce a quantum associative memory. The result is an exponential increase in the capacity of the memory when compared to traditional associative memories such as the Hopfield network. The paper covers necessary high-level quantum mechanical ideas and introduces a quantum associative memory, a small version of which should be physically realizable in the near future.
Orthogonal polynomials with exponentially decaying recursion coefficients

We review recent results on necessary and sufficient conditions for measures on R and ∂D to yield exponential decay of the recursion coefficients of the corresponding orthogonal polynomials. We include results on the relation of detailed asymptotics of the recursion coefficients to detailed analyticity of the measures. We present an analog of Carmona's formula for OPRL. A major role is played by the Szego and Jost functions.
A comparison of Brayton and Stirling space nuclear power systems for power levels from 1 kilowatt to 10 megawatts

An analytical study was conducted to assess the performance and mass of Brayton and Stirling nuclear power systems for a wide range of future NASA space exploration missions. The power levels and design concepts were based on three different mission classes. Isotope systems, with power levels from 1 to 10 kilowatts, were considered for planetary surface rovers and robotic science. Reactor power systems for planetary surface outposts and bases were evaluated from 10 to 500 kilowatts. Finally, reactor power systems in the range from 100 kilowatts to 10 megawatts were assessed for advanced propulsion applications. The analysis also examined the effect of advanced component technology on system performance. The advanced technologies included high temperature materials, lightweight radiators, and high voltage power management and distribution.
Light, Culture, and Humanism

Harold B. Barclay. Culture: The Human Way. Calgary, Alberta: Western Publishers, 1986. 130 pp. n.p. (paper). Dennison Nash. A Little Anthropology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1989. vi. 202 pp. $22.00 (paper). James L. Peacock. The Anthropological Lens: Harsh Light, Soft Focus. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1986. xii. 124 pp. $24.95 (cloth); $6.95 (paper).
Precoded V-BLAST for ISI MIMO channels

The V-BLAST (vertical Bell labs layered space-time) system is one of the MIMO systems designed to achieve a good multiplexing gain. In the recent literature, a V-BLAST precoder has been added in the transmitter which exploits channel information. This precoder forces each symbol stream to have identical MSE (mean square error). It can be viewed as an alternative to the bitloading method. In this paper, this precoded V-BLAST is extended to the case of ISI MIMO channels. Both the FIR and OFDM types of transceivers are derived.
Microbial growth patterns in intravenous fat emulsions.

Microbial growth patterns were studied in intravenous fat emulsions under conditions that simulated touch contamination before or during administration. Commercially available emulsions of 10% and 20% soybean oil and 10% safflower oil in 500-ml bottles were inoculated with two concentrations of each of four organisms: a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus isolated from a venipuncture site, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The bottles were kept at room temperature, and samples were taken by direct puncture of the i.v. port at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, diluted, and plated. Emulsions were visually inspected daily. Growth of the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was minimal for 48 hours. E. coli showed substantial growth within 12 hours in all three emulsions. Growth patterns for Ps. aeruginosa were similar in all emulsions, and growth approximated that of E. coli within 48 hours. The growth rate of C. albicans was intermediate between that of Staphylococcus and those of E. coli and Ps. aeruginosa. Growth of C. albicans was greater in 10% safflower oil emulsion than in the other emulsions. No physical changes were observed. The coagulase-negative Staphylococcus showed less growth than C. albicans, Ps. aeruginosa, and E. coli. Substantial growth within 12 hours was seen only with E. coli. C. albicans exhibited preferential growth in 10% safflower oil emulsion.
2-Aminoethylnitrate: pharmacological uses rediscovered and claimed as original

I am writing regarding an article I read recently which was published in your journal. The article, entitled ‘A new class of organic nitrates: investigations on bioactivation, tolerance and cross-tolerance phenomena’ was published by Schuhmacher et al. (2009). I happened to see this article while working as an undergraduate student researcher in a chemistry/biochemistry laboratory. The article presents the mononitrate compound 2-aminoethylnitrate as a modern marvel in the treatment of endothelial dysfunction that leads to cardiovascular disease(s). I was asked to synthesize this compound and as per my aspiration to understand the details and purpose of my assignment, I delved into a search for some useful references. During this process, I stumbled upon an article dating back to 1963 titled Anginal syndrome: Treatment with a long-acting nitrate (itramin tosylate) published by Batterman and Mouratoff (1963). This article addressed the use of 2-aminoethylnitrate in its p-toluenesulfonate salt form for the treatment of anginal syndrome. Not only had this idea been discussed in this article, but a number of clinical trials had also been performed relaying successful results. Also, some of the observations were confirmed by Kinnard et al., (1964). I found it quite intriguing that nearly the same information is presented in the article by Schuhmacher et al. (2009) who failed to mention, acknowledge or cite the earlier works which were published more than 40 years before their article. Upon discovering this, I brought this information to my mentor's attention who encouraged me to write to the editor to raise awareness of the issue. I was later surprised to also find a supportive and encouraging commentary written by Bauersachs (2009) in the same issue of British Journal of Pharmacology (BJP). Understandably, there was an attempt of undue, instant promotion of the use of 2-aminoethylnitrate as a modern breakthrough in which BJP became an inadvertent partner. I am concerned about the reputation of BJP and also the fact that this type of percolation of scientific errors must stop before they become a dogma and therefore have taken the initiative to bring this to your attention.
Effects and Interactions of Ozone and the Anti-ozonant EDU at Different Stages of Radish {Raphanus sativus L.) Development

The use of the anti-ozonant ethylenediurea (EDU) to assess crop losses due to atmospheric ozone (03), is controversial because of incomplete knowledge on the optimal dosage, the extent of protection provided and potential effects on plant performance of EDU per se. In a greenhouse experiment, radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. 'Cherry Belle' plants were treated with EDU as a soil drench (150 mg l-1, 60 ml plant-1) at three stages of development: early, maximum and late hypocotyl thickening. Two days later the plants were exposed to 03, mimicking an ambient pattern (70 ni l-1 03, 7 h d_1, 5 d, and up to 120 ni l-1 03 on 2 d), or remained in filtered air. Assessment of leaf injury showed complete protection from ozone-induced leaf damage at all stages of growth due to EDU. EDU did cause slight leaf margin necrosis and hyponastic leaf deformation irrespective of the atmospheric treatment, but biomass and relative growth rate (RGR) of the shoot and leaf number duration were not altered and leaf area duration was increased when compared to control plants. EDU did not affect dry weight accumulation nor RGR of the hypocotyl. Ozone-induced reductions in growth of below-ground organs (hypocotyl and root), which were most prominent in the intermediate and early stage of growth, were largely suppressed by the EDU-treatment. Decreases of hypocotyl biomass due to 03 were transient and significant increases in RGR of the hypocotyl during the post-exposure period indicated a substantial capability of compensation during the period of recovery.
Structural and electronic properties and possible superconductivity in simple cubic Fe

Abstract Results of studies of the structural and electronic properties of Fe in the simple cubic structure using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method within the local density approximation show that the metastable phase does not order magnetically. Instead, calculations based on the crude rigid ion approximation predict this system to become superconducting at Tc∼ 10 K. The possible effects of spin fluctuations on severely reducing Tc have been estimated.
Social support and stressful life events: age differences in their effects on health-related quality of life among the chronically ill.

There is substantial evidence of individual variation in health-related quality of life measures that is not accounted for by age or disease condition. An understanding of factors that determine good health is necessary for maintained function and improved quality of life. This study examines the extent to which social support and stressful life events were more or less beneficial for the long-term physical functioning and emotional well-being of 1402 chronically ill patients. Analyses, conducted separately in three age groups, showed that social support was beneficial for health over time regardless of age. In addition, low levels of support were particularly damaging for the physical functioning of older patients. Stressful life events impacted differentially on health-related quality of life: relationship events had an immediate effect on well-being which diminished with time; financial events had an immediate negative effect on functioning and well-being which persisted over time for middle-aged patients; bereavement had a delayed impact on quality of life, with the youngest patients especially vulnerable to its negative effects; work-related events had both negative and positive effects, depending on age group. Results reinforce the importance of identifying and dealing with psychosocial problems among patients with chronic disease.
A generalization of the phase relations in a forced harmonic oscillator

Abstract When a simple harmonic oscillator is subjected to a sinusoidally varying external force whose frequency is different from the natural frequency of the oscillator, there is a simple and well-known phase relation between the purely forced response and the forcing function. They will have the same or opposite signs (except when both functions vanish) according as the forcing frequency is less or greater than the natural frequency. It is shown here that when the sinusoidal forcing function is replaced by any member of a wide class of periodic functions, the relation between the signs of the forcing function and the forced response continues to hold when the forcing frequency is greater than the natural frequency, but no longer holds in the other case.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in vascular surgery: increasing prevalence.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a virulent organism that causes substantial infection-related morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. For example, MRSA i...
Epidermal Proliferation in The Defense Against Experimental Cutaneous Candidiasis

In previous studies we implicated scaling of the stratum corneum as being important in the clearance of experimental cutaneous Candida infections in guinea pigs. In this model the scaling response appeared to be intensified by delayed hypersensitivity reactions to Candida antigens and to be responsible for the more rapid clearance of infecting organisms by immune animals. The present studies were undertaken to quantitate the degree of epidermal proliferation in such Candida infections and to relate it to delayed hypersensitivity reactions as well as other types of inflammation. The two parameters of epidermal proliferation studied were incorporation of tritiated thymidine by basal cells and thickening of the malpighian layer; both were increased markedly in Candida -infected skin of immune animals and also to a lesser extent in Candida -infected skin of nonimmune animals. Positive delayed skin test responses to Candida antigens were associated with increased basal cell thymidine incorporation, but negative delayed responses were not. Inflammation caused by intradermal injection of irritants was also associated with increased basal cell thymidine incorporation. These results indicate that delayed hypersensitivity reactions in experimental cutaneous Candida infections act to increase the rate of basal cell turnover, primarily by producing increased inflammation in the lesions. The role of delayed hypersensitivity appears to be nonspecific, since other forms of inflammation are also capable of causing increased epidermal proliferation.
Essential steps in developing best practices to assess reflective skill: A comparison of two rubrics

AbstractPurpose: Medical education lacks best practices for evaluating reflective writing skill. Reflection assessment rubrics include the holistic, reflection theory-based Reflection-on-Action and the analytic REFLECT developed from both reflection and narrative-medicine literatures. To help educators move toward best practices, we evaluated these rubrics to determine (1) rater requirements; (2) score comparability; and (3) response to an intervention.Methods: One-hundred and forty-nine third-year medical students wrote reflections in response to identical prompts. Trained raters used each rubric to score 56 reflections, half written with structured guidelines and half without. We used Pearson’s correlation coefficients to associate overall rubric levels and independent t-tests to compare structured and unstructured reflections.Results: Reflection-on-Action training required for two hours; two raters attained an interrater-reliability = 0.91. REFLECT training required six hours; three raters achieved an ...
Is an elevated maternal serum uE3 MoM value in the second trimester associated with a poor pregnancy outcome

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a maternal serum uE3 value ≥ 5.00 multiples of the median (MoM) is a useful predictor of a poor pregnancy outcome. METHODS: Between 11/1/93 & 6/1/99, 78,575 women underwent 2nd trimester maternal serum screening using alpha fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) levels. After eliminating women who had an increased risk for Down syndrome, open neural tube defects, or Trisomy 18 from the study population, 58 women were identified with an uE3 value ≥ 5.00 MoM. Of these 58 women, 28 women were of more advanced gestational age and 5 women were found to be carrying a multiple gestation. Of the remaining 25 women, 11 women with a maternal serum uE3 value a 5.00 MoM had a normal pregnancy and outcome. Four women were lost to follow-up. Ten women were found to have an abnormal outcome. Abnormal outcomes included preterm delivery (≤ 37 weeks gestation) (n=7), fetal demise (n=2), and birth defects noted at delivery (n=1). The 10 women with abnormal outcomes were matched for race, gestation, and date of screening with women who had a normal 2nd trimester maternal serum screen. A relative risk (RR) for pregnancy complications was determined. RESULTS: A maternal serum uE3 value ≥ 5.00 MoM was associated with a poor pregnancy outcome (RR 53.6 [confidence interval 6.2-463] with a p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although our sample size is small, maternal serum uE3 values ≥ 5.00 MoM in the 2nd trimester appear to be associated with an increased risk for a poor pregnancy outcome. Due to the limited number of cases reported, this association between an uE3 MoM value ≥ 5.00 and poor pregnancy outcome warrants further investigation.
TIM-3 is expressed on activated human CD4+ T cells and regulates Th1 and Th17 cytokines

TIM-3 is a molecule selectively expressed on a subset of murine IFN-gamma-secreting T helper 1 (Th1) cells but not Th2 cells, and regulates Th1 immunity and tolerance in vivo. At this time little is known about the role of TIM-3 on human T cells. To determine if TIM-3 similarly identifies and regulates Th1 cells in humans, we generated a panel of mAb specific for human TIM-3. We report that TIM-3 is expressed by a subset of activated CD4(+) cells, and that anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulation increases both the level of expression as well as the number of TIM-3(+) T cells. We also find that TIM-3 is expressed at high levels on in vitro polarized Th1 cells, and is expressed at lower levels on Th17 cells. In addition, human CD4(+) T cells secreted elevated levels of IFN-gamma, IL-17, IL-2, and IL-6, but not IL-10, IL-4, or TNF-alpha, when stimulated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 in the presence of TIM-3-specific, putative antagonistic antibodies. This was not mediated by differences in proliferation or cell death, but rather by induction of cytokines at the transcriptional level. These results suggest that TIM-3 is a negative regulator of human T cells and regulates Th1 and Th17 cytokine secretion.
FAST observations of downward current regions: Effect of magnetospheric conditions on the parallel potential drop

[1] The effects of background plasma sheet boundary conditions on the downward current region potential structures are investigated using FAST observations of both ionospheric and plasma sheet populations. Precipitating plasma sheet electrons are observed to partially control the magnitude of the potential drop consistent with theories of charge-neutrality requirements throughout ionospheric and magnetospheric regions. This leads to a new empirical model of a downward current region (DCR) current-voltage relation for U-shaped events. Hot plasma sheet ions are observed to play an important role in reducing the variability of the potential drop, possibly by acting as a sink or buffer for free energy caused by the resulting energetic upward electron beams. The statistical studies of boundary conditions in the auroral downward current region in this and our companion paper show that both ionospheric and magnetospheric conditions appear to regulate the DCR potential structures observed at FAST altitudes. The initiation of downward current region potentials seems to be influenced mainly by low-altitude ionospheric conditions. Once the U-shaped potential structure is formed, the effects of the ionospheric influences may be relaxed and modulated by effects from magnetospheric conditions.
Building On-Track Indicators for High School Graduation and College Readiness: Evidence from New York City.

Students' engagement and performance in their first year of high school offer strong signals about their prospects for earning a diploma 4 years later. These performance measures can be used to construct on-track indicators to measure a school's performance and to identify needs of specific students who are at risk of dropping out. This article undertakes a systematic reanalysis of several on-track indicators that predicted the likelihood of graduating with a New York State Regents diploma in New York City. The analytic dataset contains comprehensive longitudinal information for first-time 9th graders who are enrolled in high school between 2001–2002 and 2010–2011. The results show that the current New York City Department of Education indicator (earning 10 or more course credits in the 9th grade) offers a reliable prediction of graduation with a Regents diploma. However, an indicator based on earning 10 or more credits and passing at least one Regents exam represents a substantial improvement on the curr...
Heterogeneity of Individuals with a History of Child Sexual Abuse: An Examination of Children Presenting to Treatment

The current study examined children and families who presented for treatment through Project SAFE (Sexual Abuse Family Education) following childhood sexual abuse. Pretreatment assessment data were used to develop clusters of participants with significantly differing presentation of symptom outcome following abuse. Four clusters were discovered: (a) a Highly Distressed group, whose members had clinically elevated scores on all self- and parent-report measures; (b) a Problem Behaviors group, whose members had scores within the normal range for self-report measures and elevated scores on all parent-report measures; (c) a Subclinical group, whose participants had scores below the mean and below cutoff scores for all self- and parent-report measures; and (d) a Self-reported Distress group, whose members had elevated scores on self-report measures and scores below clinical cutoffs for all parent-report measures.
Pantophysin is a phosphoprotein component of adipocyte transport vesicles and associates with GLUT4-containing vesicles.

Pantophysin, a protein related to the neuroendocrine-specific synaptophysin, recently has been identified in non-neuronal tissues. In the present study, Northern blots showed that pantophysin mRNA was abundant in adipose tissue and increased during adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. Immunoblot analysis of subcellular fractions showed pantophysin present exclusively in membrane fractions and relatively evenly distributed in the plasma membrane and internal membrane fractions. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation demonstrated that pantophysin and GLUT4 exhibited overlapping distribution profiles. Furthermore, immunopurified GLUT4 vesicles contained pantophysin, and both GLUT4 and pantophysin were depleted from this vesicle population following treatment with insulin. Additionally, a subpopulation of immunopurified pantophysin vesicles contained insulin-responsive GLUT4. Consistent with the interaction of synaptophysin with vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 in neuroendocrine tissues, pantophysin associated with vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 in adipocytes. Furthermore, in [32P]orthophosphate-labeled cells, pantophysin was phosphorylated in the basal state. This phosphorylation was unchanged in response to insulin; however, insulin stimulated the phosphorylation of a 77-kDa protein associated with α-pantophysin immunoprecipitates. Although the functional role of pantophysin in vesicle trafficking is unclear, its presence on GLUT4 vesicles is consistent with the emerging role of solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive protein receptor (SNARE) factor complex and related proteins in regulated vesicle transport in adipocytes. In addition, pantophysin may provide a marker for the analysis of other vesicles in adipocytes.
Three-Pion Decays of Unstable Particles

The properties of particles of arbitrary spin and parity that decay into three pseudoscalar mesons are surveyed, with primary attention to $3\ensuremath{\pi}$ decays, in order to find efficient means of detecting such particles. Among the topics considered are the general forms of amplitudes subject to invariance and symmetry requirements, the regions of vanishing density in the Dalitz plot, branching ratios, angular correlations among vectors normal to and lying in the production and decay planes, and special decay modes through two-particle resonances. The angular correlations are discussed in detail for processes independent of the intrinsic spin of the production particles, as is appropriate in coherent nuclear processes, and a framework of analysis is provided for more complex problems. A complete characterization of $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3\ensuremath{\pi}$ decays is given in terms of $\ensuremath{\Delta}I$ rules and final-state isospin. The suggestion is made that a second pion, with the same quantum numbers as the ordinary pion, should be found at an energy less than 2 BeV. This prediction is based on the possibility that the pion is primarily a nucleon-antinucleon bound $S$ state and that the force of binding is therefore so strong that it should produce more than one bound $S$ state.
Planning Note: Pruitt-Igoe and the Critique of Public Housing

Even before the 1973 implosion that brought one of the Pruitt-Igoe tower blocks crashing to the ground, scholars, journalists, and activists began to use the project as a lens through which to filt...
Turbulence simulation and multiple scale subgrid models

The problem of modelling turbulence in CFD is due to the wide range of length scales present in a turbulent flow. The physics of these scales is examined, and the need for models of the small scale motions is made clear. A review is given of methods of turbulence modelling. These methods can be divided into two classes: Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models, and large eddy simulation (LES). The Reproducing Kernel Particle method (RKPM) is then presented and proposed as a class of filters for LES of inhomogeneous turbulent flows. Important properties of the method are discussed, including the effectiveness of the RKPM reproduction as a low-pass filter. The commutation of the filtering operation with differentiation is demonstrated, showing that the commutation error can be made arbitrarily small. A one-dimensional non-linear example problem is solved using a Galerkin method in which a bi-scale constitutive model is used for the subgrid scale terms. The extension of the method to the three-dimensional equations of fluid dynamics is then outlined, where the method is used as a filter in a dynamic subgrid stress model. Emphasis is placed on the multi-scale properties of RKPM, which allow the reproduction of different scales of the solution using the same set of nodal parameters.