cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional activators YAP/TAZ and AXL orchestrate dedifferentiation, cell fate, and metastasis in human osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a molecularly heterogeneous, aggressive, poorly differentiated pediatric bone cancer that frequently spreads to the lung. Relatively little is known about phenotypic and epigenetic changes that promote lung metastases. To identify key drivers of metastasis, we studied human CCH-OS-D OS cells within a previously described rat acellular lung (ACL) model that preserves the native lung architecture, extracellular matrix, and capillary network. This system identified a subset of cells-termed derived circulating tumor cells (dCTCs)-that can migrate, intravasate, and spread within a bioreactor-perfused capillary network. Remarkably, dCTCs highly expressed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated transcription factors (EMT-TFs), such as ZEB1, TWIST, and SOX9, which suggests that they undergo cellular reprogramming toward a less differentiated state by coopting the same epigenetic machinery used by carcinomas. Since YAP/TAZ and AXL tightly regulate the fate and plasticity of normal mesenchymal cells in response to microenvironmental cues, we explored whether these proteins contributed to OS metastatic potential using an isogenic pair of human OS cell lines that differ in AXL expression. We show that AXL inhibition significantly reduced the number of MG63.2 pulmonary metastases in murine models. Collectively, we present a laboratory-based method to detect and characterize a pure population of dCTCs, which provides a unique opportunity to study how OS cell fate and differentiation contributes to metastatic potential. Though the important step of clinical validation remains, our identification of AXL, ZEB1, and TWIST upregulation raises the tantalizing prospect that EMT-TF-directed therapies might expand the arsenal of therapies used to combat advanced-stage OS.
Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much stress and anxiety among children, adolescents, and young adults in the United States. Our pediatric nursing expert, Dr. Beal, reviews the latest literature and offers suggestions that nurses can use in clinical pediatric care.
Drake on Galileo: Science vs. Philosophy, Methodology vs. Metaphysics

This is a critical examination of two books by Stillman Drake, Galileo Against the Philosophers (1976) and Galileo at Work (1978). Drake argues that Galileo’s science was deeply experimental and importantly anti-philosophical. I appreciate Drake’s argument for the experimental nature of Galileo’s science; but I criticize his anti-philosophical interpretation by pointing out that, although Galileo avoided metaphysical discussions, his scientific work is full of explicit argumentation and methodological analyses.
Down Syndrome: Neuropsychological Phenotype across the Lifespan

Down syndrome (DS), caused by triplication of chromosome 21, is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID), with an estimated incidence of one in 700 live births [...].
Controlled flexibility in technical editing - The levels-of-edit concept at JPL

The levels-of-edit concept, which can be used to specify the amount of editorial effort involved in the preparation of a manuscript for publication, is discussed. Nine types of editing are identified and described. These include coordination edit (preparing estimates, gathering cost data, monitoring production processes), policy edit, integrity edit (making sure that parts of a publication match in a physical or numerical sense), screening edit (ensuring that the quality of camera-ready copy is sufficient for external publication), copy clarification edit, format edit, mechanical style edit, language edit, and substantive edit (reviewing the manuscript for content coherence, emphasis, subordination and parallelism). These functions are grouped into five levels of edit. An edit-level number is assigned to each manuscript, providing a quantitative and qualitative indicator of the editing to be done which is clearly understood by authors, managers, and editors alike. In addition, clear boundaries are drawn between normal and extraordinary editing tasks. Individual organizations will group various edits in different ways to reflect their needs and priorities; the essential element of the system is unambiguous definition and coding of the types and amount of work to be done.
The Cellular Immunological Aspects of the Granulomatous Response

This chapter discusses relevant recent advances made in innate immunity, the complexity of lymphocyte participation, the mechanistic basis of granuloma formation/regulation, and the protective/destructive roles of the granulomatous responses through the presentation of various diseases and disease models. Advances made during the past decade revealed an extensive complexity in the granulomatous cellular response. A protective organized granulomatous response against intracellular pathogens encompasses the functional cell-mediated immunity (CMI) activity of several lymphocyte subsets; endothelial cell activation; participation of adhesion molecules; secretion of the necessary cytokines and chemokines; lymphocyte and macrophage homing; and macrophage-mediated microbicidal effects. The inefficient granulomatous response generates only loose cellular infiltration, without extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and intimate cell-cell contact that prevent cellular activation. Virtually all granulomatous responses are accompanied by variable degrees of tissue damage. A large body of evidence indicates that most of the granulomatous inflammatory diseases (such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease) are induced and maintained by the Th1 subset of lymphocytes. Though in chronic granulomatous diseases the inflammatory response is continuous, there occur cases of spontaneous recovery or periods of remission and downmodulation. It is likely that apoptotic mechanisms may also be active in regulating granulomatous sarcoidosis. The concerted efforts of basic and applied research will provide new and better tools in the treatment of granulomatous diseases.
Abstract 18830: Sodium Nitrate Recapitulates Sarcolemmal nNOS and Alleviates Functional Muscle Ischemia in Patients With Becker Muscular Dystrophy

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is a progressive X-linked muscle wasting disease for which there is currently no treatment. Most BMD mutations disrupt sarcolemmal targeting of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), causing functional muscle ischemia. In the mouse model of dystrophinopathy, chronic treatment with a nitric oxide (NO)-donating non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) alleviates this ischemia and improves many features of the dystrophic phenotype. As a first step toward clinical translation, we tested whether acute treatment with sodium nitrat--a simple inorganic NO donor without a NSIAD moiety-- will alleviate functional muscle ischemia in patients with BMD. In 11 men with BMD we first performed an open-label and then a placebo-controlled acute treatment trial. Reflex sympathetic vasoconstriction was measured as a decrease in muscle oxygenation by near infrared spectroscopy, evoked by lower-body negative pressure at rest and during rhythmic handgrip exercise. Without treatment, reflex va...
Academic Self‐Efficacy and Performance of Underrepresented STEM Majors: Gender, Ethnic, and Social Class Patterns

This longitudinal study examined academic self-efficacy and performance among Science/Technology/Engineering/Math (STEM) majors who are underrepresented in STEM education and occupations; i.e., women, specific ethnic minorities, and low-socioeconomic status (SES) individuals. Performance on academic tests and self-perceptions of academic skills were assessed at admission and graduation from a STEM mentoring program. At admission, women perceived themselves as academically weaker than men despite similar academic performance. However, by graduation, women’s academic self-efficacy was equivalent to men’s. In addition, students with double STEM-minority statuses, by ethnicity and SES, had lower academic self-efficacy and performance than d id students with single STEM-minority status. Exploratory analyses of change over time by ethnic/SES groups showed varying patterns of change that depended on the outcome variable. This study’s finding of an increase in academic self-efficacy for women and students with STEM-minority status by both ethnicity and SES at graduation from a mentoring program is perhaps an indication of the positive impact of mentoring. The mixed findings at program completion for students with single versus double STEM-minoritystatuscallforattentiontothecomplexrelationshipbetweensocial disadvantage, academic self-efficacy, and academic performance.
Cellular and humoral immune responses to a recombinant P. falciparum CS protein in sporozoite-immunized rodents and human volunteers

The immune responses of sporozoite-immunized rodents and of human volunteers exposed to multiple bites of irradiated Plasmodium falciparum infected mosquitos have been investigated using a yeast-derived recombinant P. falciparum circumsporozoite (rPfCS) protein. The murine immune response to immunization with rPfCS was not genetically restricted. Nine different murine haplotypes, when immunized with rPfCS, developed high levels of antisporozoite antibodies detectable by IFA and RIA. In addition, injection of rPfCS induced a secondary antibody response in P. falciparum sporozoite-primed mice. Murine T-cell epitopes were mapped in the C terminus of the rPfCS protein using overlapping synthetic peptides. The human T-cell response was investigated using T-cell clones derived from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of a P. falciparum sporozoite-immunized volunteer. A total of 40 CD4+ T-cell clones were obtained. Stimulation indices ranged from 2.5 to 103.4 following challenge with rPfCS in the presence, but not in the absence, of antigen-presenting cells. The clones were specific for rPfCs and did not proliferate or secrete lymphokines when challenged with yeast-derived recombinant P. vivax or P. berghei CS protein or with a yeast-extract control. The clones also recognized the native CS protein in extracts of P. falciparum, but not P. berghei or P. cynomolgi, sporozoites.
Translanguaging in an Infant Classroom: Using Multiple Languages to Make Meaning

Numerous theories of development position infants as inherently driven to make sense of the world around them, and the acquisition of language is a fundamental developmental milestone of this period. The purpose of this study was to document the first year of implementation of a Spanish/English dual language program in an infant classroom, using a descriptive, phenomenological research design and qualitative methodology. Translanguaging emerged as a powerful construct that helped us make sense of our particular context, giving meaning to the data and providing a cogent framework to help us explicate our findings. As “social novices,” the infants in our study were not bound by implicit or explicit rules about what language to use when, with whom, or in what context, and our data highlighted the reality of a multilingual infant classroom in which both children and teachers used language fluidly as they went about their daily lives.
Sexuality, Migration, and Tourism in the 20th Century U.S.-Mexico Borderlands

The United States-Mexico border is a site in which ethnic and sexual boundaries are constructed and contested. Spatial mobility has profound effects on perceptions and expressions of sexuality. Recent scholarship on the U.S.-Mexico borderlands has illuminated the ways in which migration and tourism influence sexual identities, sexual behavior, and state efforts to monitor sexuality. Further research is essential to understanding these intercultural and cross-class interactions. Furthermore, this is a topic of study that would result in productive interdisciplinary collaboration.
Abstract 369: Protein Kinase C Epsilon-dependent Nox Activation Mediates Resistin-induced Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Adipokine resistin induces vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction, implying a vital role in cardiovascular disease. In this study, we examined the in vivo and in vitro effects of resisin and investigated the underlying mechanisms involving protein kinase C epsilon (PKCe) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Methods: After guide-wire injury of distal left common carotid artery, ApoE-/- mice fed with a western diet were treated with or without subcutaneous infusion of resistin in the presence or absence of PKCe inhibitor for 4 weeks. The progress of intimal hyperplasia was monitored using an ultrasound micro-image system. NADPH oxidase (Nox) activity in the mouse coronary arteries was measured using a chemiluminescence assay. Additionally, we treated human coronary artery smooth muscle with resistin in the presence or absence of PKCe and Nox-specific inhibitors to determine mechanistic and functional effects of resistin in VSMCs functions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was analy...
Diffusion of bovine serum albumin in a neutral polymer solution.

The diffusion coefficient D of bovine serum albumin through various solutions (pH 7.0, 0.5M NaCl) of polyethylene oxide (M, - 1 x lo5, 3 x lo5) was studied with quasielastic light scattering. In solutions of the 1 x lo5 polymer solution at polymer concentrations above 0.5 g/L, D is considerably greater than would have been expected from the viscosity of water:polymer mixtures, the deviations being larger at low protein concentration than at high protein concentration. With either polymer, D falls with increasing protein concentration.
Process reflection during Japanese lesson study experiences by prospective secondary mathematics teachers

Although potentially powerful for educators, the construct of teacher reflection has become diluted, rendering teacher engagement with meaningful reflection problematic. This article presents a theoretical framework that divides teacher reflection into two broad categories. The first and most common incident reflection occurs as specific incidents or episodes unconnected to future activity. The second process reflection—based on the work of John Dewey and Donald Schon—connects reflective incidents into a cyclic progression that refines ideas through experimental action. I examined the reflective activity of a group of prospective secondary mathematics teachers as they jointly planned a public school lesson to illustrate how incidents of reflection can be refined and linked into more powerful and purposeful progressions of ideas. I conclude with implications for mathematics teacher development.
The impact of 3d virtual haptics in marketing

Tactile input plays a key role in consumers' evaluation of products' substance properties. Utilization of haptic interfaces and force feedback devices that enable consumers to feel and manipulate three-dimensional (3D) virtual products is a promising but under-explored area in marketing and consumer behavior research. This study investigated 3D virtual touch created by Novint Falcon haptic interfaces and its impacts on consumer behavior in the interactive marketing of automobiles. It was hypothesized that consumers' instrumental Need for Touch (NFT) plays a significant moderating role in haptic interfaces. Results from a 2 (nature of tactile stimuli: haptic input with force feedback versus no force feedback) × 2 (haptic orientation: high NFT versus low NFT) full factorial between-subjects experiment indicated that consumers high in instrumental NFT evaluate products more positively, enjoy the test-driving experience more, and show stronger brand–self connection when there are force feedback haptic stimuli as opposed to when there is no force feedback. Theoretical and managerial implications of the study are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Equilibrium superradiance in a Bose gas

A model of free4He atoms interacting with radiation exhibits an equilibrium phase transition in which the atomic ground-state Bose condensation is coupled to condensations of virtual photons and virtually excited atoms of the same macroscopic wavelength. The condensed phase has a twofold polarization degeneracy. It is suggested that this might furnish a mechanism for a discrete symmetry-related phase degeneracy of superfluid liquid4He required to explain the λ transition according to Tisza's generalized Gibbsian thermodynamics. A more realistic model would require inclusion of repulsive interactions.
Sex prevalence of pediatric kidney stone disease in the United States: an epidemiologic investigation.

OBJECTIVES To define the sex prevalence of inpatient hospital discharges for pediatric patients diagnosed with upper urinary tract stone disease. METHODS The study examined inpatient admissions for pediatric urolithiasis in 2003, using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database. We used the International Classification of Disease, 9th edition, Clinical Modification codes, to identify patients with a principal diagnosis of renal (592.0) or ureteral (592.1) calculi. Sex prevalence was assessed, and the results were stratified by age group. RESULTS In the 2003 Kids' Inpatient Database, the sex distribution among pediatric patients with stone formation varied significantly by age. In the first decade of age, a male predominance was found that had shifted to a female predominance in the second decade. Overall, however, girls in the pediatric population were more commonly affected by stones than were boys. CONCLUSIONS In this nationally representative sample, the sex distribution of pediatric urolithiasis varied with age, with boys more commonly affected in the first decade of age and girls in the second decade. Although the reason for this unique epidemiologic finding is not readily apparent, additional studies can build on this hypothesis-generating work.
Spirituality and Religiosity in a Sample of African American Elders: A Life Story Approach

The purpose of this study was to examine reserve capacity in minority elderly and to identify the protective factors that promoted more optimal outcomes even in the face of a life filled with adversity. These notions were examined using life stories or personal accounts of the important events and experiences that shape an individual's development. Life story interviews were conducted with 10 African American elders (aged 58–88). Tape-recorded interviews were examined for thematic content. One of the themes that emerged as being important to participants' reserve potential comprised spirituality and religiosity. As described by the respondents, spirituality and religiosity were used as a reserve resource from which they were able to draw in times of stress, thus allowing them to grow as a result of their hardships. Overall, this research has important implications. For example, the methodology provided the opportunity to assess the process by which spirituality and religiosity contribute to well-being, either indirectly as a coping mechanism or as means of garnering social support, or more directly, via enhancing a sense of self. Descriptive accounts of this type can help to elucidate how protective factors promote more optimal outcomes and ultimately inform intervention strategies.
Is the professional satisfaction of general internists associated with patient satisfaction

BACKGROUND: The growth of managed care has raised a number of concerns about patient and physician satisfaction. An association between physicians’ professional satisfaction and the satisfaction of their patients could suggest new types of organizational interventions to improve the satisfaction of both.
Calcium upregulated survivin expression and associated osteogenesis of normal human osteoblasts.

Survivin is an antiapoptotic protein expressed in all phases of the normal cell cycle but is at its highest level during the G2/M interphase. This protein has been recently identified in normal human osteoblasts and has raised questions about the regulation of its expression. This study intends to verify if survivin expression could be manipulated by external factors such as calcium ions. Normal human alveolar bone explants recovered from six healthy donors were cultured to 2nd passage. Cells were cultured with essential medium as a control and with medium containing supplemental calcium ions at a concentration of 30 parts per million as a study group. Vitamin D3 was added to all culture groups at the 5th and 18th days to promote differentiation. Differentiation markers were confirmed by performing mineralization, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin assays at 7 and 21 days. Cell attachment was measured at 16 h and used as a reference for cell proliferation at 7 days and 21 days. Survivin levels were measured at 16 h, 7 and 21 days. Compared with the control group, the study group presented a significant increase of survivin expression at 16 h (p < 0.01), at 7 days (p < 0.01), and at 21 days (p < 0.05), a significant increase of cell proliferation, ALP activity and mineralization at 7 days (p < 0.05) and 21 days (p < 0.05), and a significant increase in osteocalcin expression only at 21 days (p < 0.01). This study demonstrated that survivin expression could be significantly upregulated by calcium-enhanced normal human osteoblast cultures, which might correlate to subsequent upregulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Enhanced space-bandwidth product in lensfree on-chip microscopy

We demonstrate a numerical aperture improvement of ~3 fold using pixel-super-resolution in lensfree on-chip microscopy. This improvement was confirmed using both a CCD and a CMOS imager chip, empirically pointing to the same space-bandwidth improvement factor, leading to giga-pixel range reconstructed lensfree holographic images.
Compact, light-weight and cost-effective microscope based on lensless incoherent holography for telemedicine applications

Despite the rapid progress in optical imaging, most of the advanced microscopy modalities still require complex and costly set-ups that unfortunately limit their use beyond well equipped laboratories. In the meantime, microscopy in resource-limited settings has requirements significantly different from those encountered in advanced laboratories, and such imaging devices should be cost-effective, compact, light-weight and appropriately accurate and simple to be usable by minimally trained personnel. Furthermore, these portable microscopes should ideally be digitally integrated as part of a telemedicine network that connects various mobile health-care providers to a central laboratory or hospital. Toward this end, here we demonstrate a lensless on-chip microscope weighing ∼46 grams with dimensions smaller than 4.2 cm × 4.2 cm × 5.8 cm that achieves sub-cellular resolution over a large field of view of ∼24 mm2. This compact and light-weight microscope is based on digital in-line holography and does not need any lenses, bulky optical/mechanical components or coherent sources such as lasers. Instead, it utilizes a simple light-emitting-diode (LED) and a compact opto-electronic sensor-array to record lensless holograms of the objects, which then permits rapid digital reconstruction of regular transmission or differential interference contrast (DIC) images of the objects. Because this lensless incoherent holographic microscope has orders-of-magnitude improved light collection efficiency and is very robust to mechanical misalignments it may offer a cost-effective tool especially for telemedicine applications involving various global health problems in resource limited settings.
Intrauterine therapy for homozygous alpha-thalassemia.

Background: Alpha-thalassemia is one of the most common genetic disorders in the world and is becoming more common in the United States with the increase in immigration of susceptible populations. This disease has been stated previously to be incompatible with extrauterine life. Case: A Filipino woman with a prior loss due to hemoglobin Bart's underwent prenatal diagnosis that confirmed recurrence in the index pregnancy. Intravascular intrauterine exchange transfusions maintained appropriate fetal growth. A cesarean delivery yielded a 2190-g male infant with minor malformations. The postnatal course was characterized by mild respiratory insufficiency. Postnatal chronic transfusion therapy is underway pending consideration for bone marrow transplantation. Conclusion: Antenatal diagnosis and therapy of homozygous a-thalassemia can prevent the prenatal consequences of hydrops and fetal death. New technologies such as stem cell transplantation may help to avert both prenatal and postnatal consequences.
The effects of rapid saline infusion on sodium excretion, renal function, and blood pressure at different sodium intakes in man.

To examine the effects of increasing dietary sodium intake on natriuresis, filtration rate, and renal blood flow following rapid volume expansion, we infused 2-liter normal saline over 2 hr into normal men in balance at 10, 300, 600, and 800 mEq/day sodium intake. Natriuresis and kaliuresis were related to prior sodium intake. Fractional excretion of sodium (6%–7%) was maximal at the 600 mEq/day sodium intake and increased no further at the 800 mEq/day sodium intake. Although blood pressure increased with rapid saline infusion, natriuresis and blood pressure were not associated. Creatinine clearance decreased or remained constant, while PAH clearance decreased during saline infusion at each level. The data suggest that although natriuresis following rapid saline infusion is dependent upon prior sodium intake, under given circumstances it may be independent of glomerular filtration rate, renal blood flow, or blood pressure.
Software piracy and responsibilities of educational institutions

Abstract Use of microcomputers for educational purposes has increased enormously, but heavy dependency on microcomputers exposes several issues to educational institutions. One of them is legal responsibility for software piracy by faculty, staff, and students. This paper addresses the current situation of software piracy in educational institutions, laws for software protection, and responsibilities of educational institutions.
Familial hyperinsulinism and pancreatic β-cell ATP-sensitive potassium channels

Familial hyperinsulinism and pancreatic β-cell ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Familial hyperinsulinism, also known as persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI), is a genetic disease characterized by mild to severe hypoglycemia in the presence of inappropriately high levels of insulin. The recessive form is caused by mutations in the adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K + channel (K ATP channel) present in the plasma membrane of pancreatic β-cells. This channel is formed by two subunits, the high-affinity sulfonylurea receptor, SUR1, and K IR 6.2, a member of the inwardly rectifying family of K + channels. K ATP channels regulate insulin secretion by linking membrane excitability with glucose metabolism. Approximately 50 mutations, in both channel subunits, that abolish or alter the regulation of β-cell K ATP channels have been identified in patients with the recessive form of PHHI.
3D Wavefront Image Formation for NIITEK GPR

The U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining (HD) Research and Development Program focuses on developing, testing, demonstrating, and validating new technology for immediate use in humanitarian demining operations around the globe. Beginning in the late 1990's, the U.S. Army Countermine Division funded the development of the NIITEK ground penetrating radar (GPR) for detection of anti-tank (AT) landmines. This work is concerned with signal processing algorithms to suppress sources of artifacts in the NIITEK GPR, and formation of three-dimensional (3D) imagery from the resultant data. We first show that the NIITEK GPR data correspond to a 3D Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) database. An adaptive filtering method is utilized to suppress ground return and self-induced resonance (SIR) signals that are generated by the interaction of the radar-carrying platform and the transmitted radar signal. We examine signal processing methods to improve the fidelity of imagery for this 3D SAR system using pre-processing methods that suppress Doppler aliasing as well as other side lobe leakage artifacts that are introduced by the radar radiation pattern. The algorithm, known as digital spotlighting, imposes a filtering scheme on the azimuth-compressed SAR data, and manipulates the resultant spectral data to achieve a higher PRF to suppress the Doppler aliasing. We also present the 3D version of the Fourier-based wavefront reconstruction, a computationally-efficient and approximation-free SAR imaging method, for image formation with the NIITEK 3D SAR database.
Comparison of different versions of the Boston naming test

Abstract This study compared a series of 49 clinical patients' performance on the different versions of the Boston Naming Test (BNT). Specifically, items were scored according to the criteria for the 85-item experimental version, for the 60-item published version, and for two 42-item short forms developed for test-retest purposes. Pearson correlations revealed high correlations among the different versions, and between BNT scores and other language measures such as WAIS-R Verbal IQ and the WAIS-R Vocabulary subtest score. Education correlated more highly with the BNT scores than did age. Comparisons of the 85- and 60-item versions revealed significant differences between the percentage correct, and that currently published norms for the 60-item version are more likely to classify a subject's score as impaired. Finally, the two short forms were found to be very similar.
Full cardiac cycle strain measurement using hyperelastic warping, application to detecting myocardial dysfunction in rat microPET images

Assessments of regional heart wall deformation (wall motion, thickening, strain) are commonly used to evaluate left ventricular wall function in the clinical setting. Nuclear based imaging modalities such as PET and SPECT are commonly used to localize ischemic myocardial disease, and can identify impairment of cardiac function due to hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathies. Regional wall motion analysis in conjunction with global left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction is commonly used to assess systolic and diastolic function. The quantification of ventricular strains throughout the entire cardiac cycle provides valuable information that could be used to more effectively differentiate between diastolic and systolic dysfunction, as well as a more complete picture of overall cardiac performance.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
A phase 2 trial of sequential temozolomide chemotherapy followed by high‐dose interleukin 2 immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma

BACKGROUND. Previous biochemotherapy regimens for metastatic melanoma have required attenuated dosages of interleukin 2 (IL-2) that may have compromised efficacy. METHODS. In a phase 2 study, the authors tested sequential temozolomide (75 mg/m2 per day orally for 3 weeks) followed by high-dose, IL-2 (600,000 U/kg per dose intravenously; maximum, 14 doses over 5 days). RESULTS. Thirty-eight patients with treatment-naive American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IV melanoma (8 patients with M1a disease, 6 patients with M1b disease, and 24 patients with M1c disease) were enrolled. Ten patients had a history of treated brain metastases. Thirty-one patients who received at least 2 cycles of IL-2 were evaluable for response. Grade 3 toxicities included hyperbilirubinemia (9 patients), hematologic toxicities (leukopenia in 5 patients, thrombocytopenia in 3 patients), diarrhea (2 patients), and oliguria (1 patient). One patient had grade 4 nausea. The overall response rate (ORR) was 16% and included 3 complete responses that lasted 10.8 months, ≥32 months, and ≥36 months and 2 partial responses that lasted 13 months and 14 months. Responses were observed in patients with M1a disease and in patients with M1c disease. Sixteen patients had stable disease (15 patients progressed). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7-7.5 months). The probability of PFS at 6 months was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.33-0.67). Among 38 enrolled patients, 16 patients remained alive at a median follow-up of 6.7 months (range, 1.9-36.1 months). The median overall survival (OS) was 12.1 months (95% CI, 9.1-16.4 months), and the probability of 12-month OS was 0.54 (95% CI, 0.34-0.70 months). CONCLUSIONS. The current results indicated that it is safe to administer HD IL-2 sequentially with temozolomide and that this combination has lower toxicity than previously used concurrent biochemotherapy regimens. However, The ORR and the durability of responses with this combination did not exceed those of single-agent HD IL-2. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Dynamical behavior of an ultrafast OPO near degeneracy

In an OPO near degeneracy, intensity and spectral oscillations at sub rep-rate frequencies are investigated numerically and verified experimentally. These oscillations are explained by the existence of two coherent frequency combs with different offset frequencies.
Of lasers, mutants, and see-through brains: Functional neuroanatomy in zebrafish

Behavioral functions are carried out by localized circuits in the brain. Although this modular principle is clearly established, the boundaries of modules, and sometimes even their existence, are still debated. Zebrafish might offer distinct advantages in localizing behaviors to discrete brain regions because of the ability to visualize, record from, and lesion precisely identified populations of neurons in the brain. In addition, genetic screens in zebrafish enable the isolation of mutations that disrupt neural pathways and/or behaviors, as an alternative lesioning technique with complementary strengths to laser ablations. For example, the Mauthner cell, a large identified neuron in the hindbrain, has been postulated to be both necessary and sufficient for the execution of escapes. We discuss in this review how experiments, using laser ablations, calcium imaging, and mutants have eroded this notion. Even in a simple behavior, such as escape, many parallel pathways appear to be involved with no single one being absolutely necessary. Lesion studies and the analysis of behavioral mutants are now also beginning to elucidate the functional architecture of the zebrafish visual system. Although still in an embryonic stage, the neuroanatomy of behaviors in zebrafish has a bright future.
A proteomic approach to characterize protein shedding.

Shedding (i.e., proteolysis of ectodomains of membrane proteins) plays an important pathophysiological role. In order to study the feasibility of identifying shed proteins, we analyzed serum-free media of human mammary epithelial cells by mass spectrometry following induction of shedding by the phorbol ester, 4β-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Different means of sample preparation, including biotinylation of cell surface proteins, isolation of glycosylated proteins, and preparation of crude protein fraction, were carried out to develop the optimal method of sample processing. The collected proteins were digested with trypsin and analyzed by reversed-phase capillary liquid chromatography interfaced to an ion-trap mass spectrometer. The resulting peptide spectra were interpreted using the program SEQUEST. Analyzing the sample containing the crude protein mixture without chemical modification or separation resulted in the greatest number of identifications, including putatively shed proteins. Overall, 93 membrane-associated proteins were identified including 57 that contain at least one transmembrane domain and 36 that indirectly associate with the extracellular surface of the plasma membrane. Of the 57 transmembrane proteins, 43 were identified by extracellular peptides providing strong evidence for them originating from regulated proteolysis or shedding processes. We combined results from the different experiments and used a peptide count method to estimate changesmore » in protein abundance. Using this approach, we identified 2 proteins, syndecan-4 and hepatoma-derived growth factor, whose abundances increased in media of cells treated with PMA. We also detected proteins whose abundances decreased after PMA treatment such as 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein and calreticulin. Further analysis using immunoblotting validated the abundance changes for syndecan-4 and 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein as a result of PMA treatment. These results demonstrate that mass spectrometry can be used to identify low-abundance shed proteins and to estimate changes in protein abundances.« less
Sexual dimorphism in the canines and skulls of carnivores: effects of size, phylogency, and behavioural ecology

Sexual dimorphism in craniodental features is investigated in a sample of 45 carnivore species in relation to allometry, phylogeny, and behavioural ecology. Dimorphism is more pronounced in both upper and lower canine size and strength than in carnassial size, skull dimensions and biomechanical features, but all dimorphism indices covary. As with most morphological characters, differences in canine sexual dimorphism are significantly related to phylogeny, estimated from either taxonomic rankings or a limited matrix of molecular distances; in particular, mustelids, felids and procyonids are more dimorphic than other carnivore families. Thus, because of problems related to species dependence in comparative data, remaining analyses are based on phylogenetically transformed values using a spatial autoregressive method. In contrast to other mammals, sexual dimorphism in carnivore canines is not correlated with differences in body weight, skull length or basicranial axis length. Nor is it correlated with categorical variables of activity pattern, habitat, or diet. In our Carnivore sample, canine dimorphism is related only to breeding system: uni-male, group-living (harem) species have significantly greater canine dimorphism than multi-male, multi-female groups and monogamous pair-bonding species. By contrast, dimorphism in carnassial size is related to dietary differences, specifically greater dimorphism in meat-eating species, and not breeding patterns. Dimorphism in estimates of jaw muscle size suggest functional demands from both diet and breeding type. It is concluded that, befitting patterns of heterodont dentition, sexual selection influences variation in canine dimorphism while feeding ecology is related to carnassial dimorphism.
Interactions Between Lattice Partial Dislocations and Grain Boundaries

Abstract The possible reactions between lattice partial dislocations and coincidence-related grain boundaries for f.c.c. crystals are detailed, and it is shown that dislocation absorption and/or transmission reactions have smaller energy barriers when the incident dislocation or the residue of the reaction respectively are DSC dislocations. A survey of possible reactions in low Σ boundaries indicates that significant differences might exist between the behaviors of boundaries for which Σ is an integer multiple of 3 and those for which it is not; this may explain some of the special properties exhibited by these boundaries.
Thermal Transport in Rough Silicon Nanowires for Thermoelectric Applications

The coefficient of merit, ZT of nanostructured thermoelectric materials increases with reduction in thermal conductivity through phonon scattering. The ideal thermoelectric is considered to be an electron crystal and a phonon glass. This paper explores such a material concept by developing a theory for phonon localization in rough nanowires with crystalline cores. Results based on this theory suggest that the reported hundredfold decrease in thermal conductivity of rough silicon nanowires arises due to multiply scattered and localized phonons. Phonon localization presents a new direction to further enhance ZT through nanostructuring.
Vectored Injection into Isobaric Laminar Boundary Layer Flows

The results of a systematic study of self-similar solutions of the Blasius equation are presented for a wide range of both normal and tangential surface injection velocities. Only flows with non-vanishing shear are considered; however, an arbitrary orientation of the injection vector is allowed. It is found that a positive tangential component of injection (downstream vectoring) significantly increases the mass transfer rate required to blow off the boundary layer. For upstream vectoring, a new group of solutions is found over a certain range of the tangential wall velocity wherein the wall shear is doublevalued.
Gender, Perceptions of Incentive Value, and Cardiovascular Response to a Performance Challenge

One hundred fifteen US undergraduates primarily of African and European heritage were presented an easy or difficult memory challenge and led to believe they could secure a traditionally feminine incentive by meeting it. As expected, heart rate responses during the work period were stronger under difficult- than easy conditions among women, but low under both difficulty conditions among men. Systolic- and diastolic blood pressure responses during the period were similar except that they were relatively elevated in men under both difficulty conditions. Findings support the suggestion that gender effects in studies of cardiovascular response to performance challenge may be partially understood in terms of effort processes occurring where men and women place different value on available performance incentives.
Disturbance-generated bifurcation in a prototype adaptive system with e/sub 1/-modification law

The e/sub 1/-modification law has been proposed by K.S. Narendra and A.M. Annaswamy (ibid., vol.32, no.2, pp.134-5, 1987) for robust model reference adaptive control in the presence of bounded disturbances. Using this law, it is shown by the present authors that, in the case of regulation, a prototype adaptive control system with a single unknown pole and an unknown constant disturbance at its input possesses multiple equilibria and undergoes various bifurcations. Simulations and local analysis give a complete characterization of the possible dynamics exhibited by the disturbance adaptive system. As the constant disturbance is varied, saddle-node bifurcation, (subcritical) Hopf bifurcation, and saddle-connection bifurcation occur in that order. Consequently, in this case, the e/sub 1/-modification law is qualitatively equivalent to the sigma -modification law. >
Fluid mechanics and fractal aggregates

Abstract The disturbances in uniform creeping flow in the presence of an isolated porous floc are investigated theoretically. Using the Carman-Kozeny equation, the floc permeability is related to its fractal dimension, D . Fluid streamlines, drag coefficient and the fluid collection efficiency of porous aggregates are expressed in terms of D . As D increases, for a fixed packing factor and ratio of primary particle radius to floc radius, the permeability is found to decrease and the fluid mechanics resembles more closely that of an isolated impermeable sphere. As a simplification, it is suggested that a rectilinear model for flow up to an impervious sphere may be a reasonable approximation for aggregate-aggregate and particle-aggregate interactions if D ≲ 2 . Curvilinear models for flow up to an impervious sphere may be accurate approximations for interactions involving aggregates with higher fractal dimensions D ≳ 2.3 .
Geopshysical Studies in the Greenland Sea

Magnetic, gravity, and seismic sub–bottom profiles are used to contribute to the structural interpretation of the Greenland Sea and environs. The most anomalous feature of the magnetic survey is the subdued magnetic expression of the Mid–Atlantic Ridge north of the Jan Mayen fracture zone. Over the median rift valley magnetic anomalies are an order of magnitude smaller than those recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. A suggested explanation, supported by seismic data, is that crustal tension decreases northward along the ridge. The inferred structural consequence is that the tensional mid-oceanic ridge merges into the compressional Verkhoyansk Range beneath the Arctic Ocean. Gravity data suggest an abrupt increase in crustal thickness under the Greenland continental shelf. Maximum seismic penetration into the sediments of the ocean floor was 1.2 sec. Due to masking by strong bottom reflection multiples, poor sub–bottom resolution was obtained on the continental shelf. The steep and jagged continental slope off Kronprins Christian Land, the occurrence of seamounts, and the proximity of earthquake epicenters support the thesis that the Lena Trough is the medial rift of a northern extension of the Mid–Atlantic Ridge. The sub–bottom profile oft the east coast of Greenland reveals three widely separated faults. These correlate with projections of known tectonic features and suggest: (1) The thrust fault of the main Caledonian orogeny of northeastern Greenland extends to a depth in excess of 3 km and continues into the ocean floor at least 85 km from the coast; (2) the Jan Mayen fracture zone, which offsets the Mid–Atlantic Ridge, extends into Greenland at approximately 72° N.; and (3) the Caledonian fold belt may correlate directly between eastern Greenland and northern Britain.
Ethics and the student computer lab

This article discusses the role of ethics as it relates to a student computer lab in a college setting. The use of the computer as a necessity for education provides the background for a sample case study involving a breach of ethical conduct. The technical and administrative solutions to the sample case are described. Proposed solutions to prevent future breaches of ethical conduct are presented along with justification for the proposed solutions.
Determination of Occupancies of the SPH and GT-IIC Transcription Factor Binding Motifs in SV40: Evidence for Two Forms of Transcription Elongation Complex

Occupancies of the SPH and GT-IIC sequence motifs in the native SV40 late transcription elongation complex were determined by assessing blockage to restriction enzyme cleavage. Cleavages specific to the transcription elongation complex were quantified by radioactive extension labeling and polymerase run-off analysis. The SPH motif was assayed by Sphl digestion and found to be unoccupied. In contrast, digestion with Pvull at the GT-IIC site was blocked in 36% of the complexes, indicating that approximately a third of the complexes are occupied by factor. This fractional occupancy indicates that there are at least two forms of SV40 late transcription elongation complexes, one form with the GT-IIC site occupied by a factor and another with the site vacant.
VEGF is an important mediator of tumor angiogenesis in malignant lesions in a genetically engineered mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma.

Background VEGF is one of the key drivers of physiological or pathological angiogenesis hence several VEGF inhibitors are in different stages of clinical development. To further dissect the role of VEGF in different stages of tumor progression in lung tumors, we utilized KrasG12D-LSL GEMMs (genetically engineered mouse models).
Leggendo Henry James e guardando il Pincio… le città e gli amori in due romanzi di Angela Bianchini:

Le citta sono un insieme di tante cose: di memoria, di desideri, di segni d'un linguaggio; le citta sono luoghi di scambio, come spiegano tutti i libri dell'economia, ma questi scambi non sono soltanto scambi di merci, sono scambi di parole, di desideri, di ricordi.1