cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Presence of stromal cells in a bioengineered tumor microenvironment alters glioblastoma migration and response to STAT3 inhibition

Despite the increasingly recognized importance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) as a regulator of tumor progression, only few in vitro models have been developed to systematically study the effects of TME on tumor behavior in a controlled manner. Here we developed a three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model that recapitulates the physical and compositional characteristics of Glioblastoma (GBM) extracellular matrix (ECM) and incorporates brain stromal cells such as astrocytes and endothelial cell precursors. The model was used to evaluate the effect of TME components on migration and survival of various patient-derived GBM cell lines (GBM10, GBM43 and GBAM1) in the context of STAT3 inhibition. Migration analysis of GBM within the 3D in vitro model demonstrated that the presence of astrocytes significantly increases the migration of GBM, while presence of endothelial precursors has varied effects on the migration of different GBM cell lines. Given the role of the tumor microenvironment as a regulator of STAT3 activity, we tested the effect of the STAT3 inhibitor SH-4-54 on GBM migration and survival. SH-4-54 inhibited STAT3 activity and reduced 3D migration and survival of GBM43 but had no effect on GBM10. SH-4-54 treatment drastically reduced the viability of the stem-like line GBAM1 in liquid culture, but its effect lessened in presence of a 3D ECM and stromal cells. Our results highlight the interplay between the ECM and stromal cells in the microenvironment with the cancer cells and indicate that the impact of these relationships may differ for GBM cells of varying genetic and clinical histories.
Exploring rainfall impacts on the crash risk on Texas roadways: A crash-based matched-pairs analysis approach.

Abstract Interaction between adverse weather conditions and motor vehicle crashes is an important topic for traffic engineers and hydrometeorologists. With the recent availability of high resolution precipitation products (hourly, 4 × 4 km), it is possible to evaluate crash risk during rainfall events more accurately. Texas, the second largest state in the U.S., with a relatively high population density in its eastern part that receives significant rainfall from tropical events, experiences many hazardous traffic conditions every year. This study investigates temporal and spatial variability of the Relative Accident Risk (RAR) due to rainy conditions across Texas during the year 2015 using a Crash-Based Matched Pairs Analysis (CB-MPA) approach for every 4 × 4 km grid using an hourly time scale. The overall findings show that rainfall increases crash risk across the state by about 57%, while seasonal-based analysis confirms the role of precipitation patterns on crash rates. Although eastern and central counties (wetter and more urbanized) have remarkably higher rates of crash occurrence, the western counties (mainly rural and dry) show higher RAR values. Moreover, higher rainfall intensity can increase RAR up to three-fold while directly having an adverse effect on crash injury type. There is a relatively high correlation between rainfall intensity and RAR values (R2 = 0.76). The analysis also shows higher RAR values on high-speed interstate highways and tollways compared to urban local streets. RAR values also vary according to the gender and age of drivers. The study findings shed light on future paths toward more detailed applications of high-resolution environmental data in crash risk analysis.
Sharp Inequalities for Ratios of Partition Functions of Schrödinger Operators

This paper derives inequalities for multiple integrals from which inequalities for ratios of integrals of heat kernels of certain Schrodinger operators follows. Such ratio inequalities imply inequalities for the partition functions of these operators which extend the spectral gap results proved by R. Banuelos and P. Mendez-Hernandez and B. Davis.
Mitochondrial Structure and Compartmentalization

The average mitochondrion, whether in a mammalian or in a lower eucaryotic cell (e.g., yeast), has approximately the same dimensions as the bacterium Escherichia coli. It is most commonly observed as an oval particle, 1–2 µm long and 0.5–1 µm wide. Mitochondria, therefore, are sufficiently large to be seen in the light microscope, and the earliest descriptions of this organelle were based on observations of fixed and stained tissues. For a more detailed description of the internal organization of mitochondria, investigators had to make use of the more highly resolving electron microscope. These studies began with the pioneering work of Claude and Palade whose electron micrographs of mitochondria in situ were of such excellence that they compare favorably with micrographs seen in journals today.
Aunt Sammy’s radio recipes: the original 1927 cookbook and housekeeper’s chat

The University of Arkansas Press produces the Food and Foodways Series that strives to “tell lesser known stories … that use food as a critical lens to examine broader cultural, environmental, and ...
Recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: restaging performance of 18F-choline hybrid PET/MRI

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a whole-body 18F-choline (FCH) hybrid PET/MRI for prostate cancer patients at biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy (RP) compared to pelvic multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), one of the standard imaging modality for this patient population. From 2010 to 2016, 58 whole-body FCH PET/MRI studies with mpMRI acquisitions were performed in 53 prostate cancer patients relapsing after curative RP. Median PSA and PSA doubling time (PSA DT) at PET study were 1.5 ng/ml and 6.5 months, respectively. The overall positivity rate of FCH PET/MRI was 58.6% (n = 34), dropping to 44% in patients with a PSA ≤ 2 ng/ml (n = 36). Median PSA values in positive and negative PET/MRI studies were 2.2 ng/ml and 0.8 ng/ml, respectively, with no differences in PSA DT (6.5 vs. 6.6 months). A PSA value ≥ 1.5 ng/ml was a significant predictor of positivity on PET/MRI studies. Compared to PET, mpMRI identified more local relapses (17 vs. 14, p = 0.453) while PET outperformed whole-body Dixon MRI for regional (16 vs. 9, p = 0.016) and distant (12 vs. 6, p = 0.031) metastases. Compared to pelvic mpMRI, the treatment approach turned out to be influenced more frequently using whole-body FCH hybrid PET/MRI studies (58.6% vs. 38%). In prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence after RP, whole-body FCH PET/MRI achieved a higher detection rate of nodal/distant metastases compared to pelvic mpMRI alone, increasing the change of treatment strategy by more than 20%.
Crawling Complex Networks: An Experimental Evaluation of Data Collection Algorithms and Network Structural Properties

In recent years, researchers and data analysts have increasingly used online social network data to study human behavior. Before such study can begin, one must first obtain appropriate data. This process poses many challenges: e.g. a this platform may provide a public API for accessing data, but such APIs are often rate limited, restricting the amount of data that an individual collect in a given amount of time. Thus, in order for the data collector to efficiently collect data, she needs to make intelligent use of her limited API queries. The network science literature has proposed numerous network crawling methods, but it is not always easy for the data collector to select an appropriate method: methods that are successful on one network may fail on other networks.In this work, we demonstrate that the performance of network crawling methods is highly dependent on the structural properties of the network. To do that, we perform a detailed, hypothesis-driven analysis of the performance of eight popular crawling methods with respect to the task of maximizing node coverage. We perform experiments on both directed and undirected networks, under five different query response models: complete, paginated, partial, in-out, and out responses. We identify three important network properties: community separation, average community size, and average node degree. We begin by performing controlled experiments on synthetic networks, and then verify our observations on real networks. Finally, we provide guidelines to data collectors on how to select an appropriate crawling method for a particular network.
Assessment of anisotropic mechanical properties of a 3D printed carbon whisker reinforced composite

A commercial carbon whisker reinforced polylactic acid composite made by a type of three-dimensional (3D) printing known as material extrusion additive manufacturing is investigated. The primary ob...
Time-Constrained Exploration Using Toposemantic Spatial Models: A Reproducible Approach to Measurable Robotics

As robots become ubiquitous in our everyday lives, they are more and more often assigned complex tasks involving multiple, simultaneous objectives. Moreover, efficiency, envisioned as the ability to complete more tasks in a given amount of time, is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, spurred by progress in machine learning, there is a tendency to explore novel designs in which robots rely more on visual sensors and less on traditional sensors like range finders.
Fungi Are Capable of Mycoremediation of River Water Contaminated by E. coli

Wastewater pollution results in detrimental effects on ecosystems and poses human health hazards. As the human population and urbanization rates increase, so do abiotic and biotic contaminants such as Escherichia coli within natural waterways. For example, the Chicago River has been degraded by contaminants and untreated sewage from city occupants since the late 1700s. Surprisingly, water treatment of the Chicago River has not met EPA freshwater river standards for some time, creating a need for remediation alternatives. Such an alternative is mycoremediation, where fungi are used to degrade and remove water contaminants. To explore this alternative for bioremediation of contaminated waterways, this two-part study focused on the feasibility and time efficiency of mycoremediation of polluted waters through mycofiltration. In the lab-based experiment, known amounts of E. coli–inoculated water were processed through organic wheat straw with mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) to assess if these fungi were capable of E. coli removal and at what rates. The second part of the study replicated the lab-based experiment with water samples from the Chicago River. Results showed that mycelia treatments were able to remove significant amounts of E. coli in lab- and field-sampling-based settings (99.25% and 99.74% over 96 h respectively), and did so at higher rates within the initial 48 h. With a substantial E. coli reduction by fungal mycelia from initial colony counts over 96 h, our study demonstrated that mycoremediation may be a feasible and possible option for natural contaminant remediation.
A 23-year-old with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Treat Me Like a Child

Case Report: A 23-year-old male with no medical history presented to the adult emergency department with epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, dark stools, and an unintentional 40-lb weight loss. His physical exam was notable only for tachycardia to 131 and pallor. Lab work showed a white blood cell count of 17.4x109 with greater than 60% blasts, hemoglobin 10.3 g/dL, platelets 20x109, uric acid of 11.4, and LDH of 1700. He was admitted to the medicine service and underwent a bone marrow biopsy that confirmed a diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. …
Behavioral and neuroendocrine consequences of disrupting a long-term monogamous social bond in aging prairie voles.

Social support from a spouse, long-term partner, or someone who provides emotional or instrumental support may protect against consequences of aging, including mediating behavioral stress reactivit...
Artificial intelligence in human in vitro fertilization and embryology

Embryo evaluation and selection embody the aggregate manifestation of the entire in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. It aims to choose the "best" embryos from the larger cohort of fertilized oocytes, the majority of which will be determined to be not viable either as a result of abnormal development or due to chromosomal imbalances. Indeed, it is generally acknowledged that even after embryo selection based on morphology, time-lapse microscopic photography, or embryo biopsy with preimplantation genetic testing, implantation rates in the human are difficult to predict. Our pursuit of enhancing embryo evaluation and selection, as well as increasing live birth rates, will require the adoption of novel technologies. Recently, several artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods have emerged as objective, standardized, and efficient tools for evaluating human embryos. Moreover, AI-based methods can be implemented for other clinical aspects of IVF, such as assessing patient reproductive potential and individualizing gonadotropin stimulation protocols. As AI has the capability to analyze "big" data, the ultimate goal will be to apply AI tools to the analysis of all embryological, clinical, and genetic data in an effort to provide patient-tailored treatments. In this chapter, we present an overview of existing AI technologies in reproductive medicine and envision their potential future applications in the field.
Nutritional quality of retail food purchases is not associated with participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for nutrition-oriented households

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides millions of low-income Americans food benefits and other forms of nutrition assistance. Evidence indicates that SNAP reduces food insecurity. However, there is a concern that the food benefit may increase the demand for less healthy foods more than healthier foods, thereby reducing the overall nutritional quality of the participant's food basket. This paper aims to examine the association of SNAP participation with the nutritional quality of food-at-home purchases of low-income households and to investigate the potential heterogeneity among consumers with different levels of nutrition attitude. This analysis used food purchase data from the USDA National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS). Our study sample included 2,218 low-income households, of which 1,184 are SNAP participants, and 1,034 are income-eligible nonparticipants. Multivariate regressions were performed to explore the SNAP-nutritional quality association. A household's nutrition attitude was measured using its response to a question on whether the household searched for nutrition information online in the last 2 months. Households that affirmed they had an online nutrition search were treated as nutrition-oriented households (21.2% of the low-income sample), and households that did not were considered less nutrition-oriented households (78.8%). For robustness, we also created an alternative nutrition attitude measure based on reported use of the nutrition facts label. We found that among less nutrition-oriented households, SNAP participants had a statistically significant 0.097 points (p = 0.018) lower Guiding Stars rating than low-income nonparticipants. However, there was no significant SNAP-nutritional quality association among nutrition-oriented households. In conclusion, SNAP participation was associated with lower nutritional quality of food purchases among less nutrition-oriented households, but not among nutrition-oriented households. The results suggest that the intended nutritional benefits of restrictions on purchases of healthy foods may not reach the subgroup of nutrition-oriented SNAP participants.
Homonymous thinning on macular optical coherence tomography indicating retrograde trans-synaptic degeneration from occipital infarctions

Inner retinal thinning on optical coherence tomography (OCT) occurring through retrograde trans-synaptic degeneration is an increasingly recognized phenomenon, even in acquired retro-chiasmal brain lesions. We describe a man with stable visual field defects from multiple bilateral posterior circulation infarctions, who had ganglion cell complex (GCC) thinning on macular OCT that corresponded precisely with his visual field defects. In contrast to previous reports indicating that peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) changes are important in detecting this phenomenon, the peripapillary RFNL thickness and the optic disc appearance of our patient were relatively unaffected. Our case contributes to the growing body of evidence that retrograde trans-synaptic degeneration can manifest as isolated macular OCT findings.
The influence of adaptability for uncertainty on turnover intention and the serial multiple mediating effect of role ambiguity and job satisfaction: 역할모호와 직무만족의 매개효과

The purpose of this study was to find the meaning of psychological adaptability in uncertain work environment. At first, we verified mediating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between role ambiguity and turnover intention. To this mediating effect model, then, we added adaptability for uncertainty as an antecedent variable: a serial multiple mediating effect of role ambiguity and job satisfaction. The mediating effect of job satisfaction was verified and the serial multiple mediation effect of role ambiguity and job satisfaction was significant as well as the direct effect of adaptability for uncertainty on turnover intention. In addition, role ambiguity had mediation effect between adaptability and turnover intention, but job satisfaction did not mediate the relationship between adaptability for uncertainty and turnover intention. These results mean that, on the one hand, adaptability for uncertainty reduces turnover intention directly, and on the other hand, indirectly through role ambiguity alone or role ambiguity and job satisfaction in serial. The implication and limitations of this study were discussed.
Effect of boundaries on noninteracting weakly active particles in different geometries

We study analytically how noninteracting weakly active particles, for which passive Brownian diffusion cannot be neglected and activity can be treated perturbatively, distribute and behave near boundaries in various geometries. In particular, we develop a perturbative approach for the model of active particles driven by an exponentially correlated random force (active Ornstein-Uhlenbeck particles). This approach involves a relatively simple expansion of the distribution in powers of the P\'eclet number and in terms of Hermite polynomials. We use this approach to cleanly formulate boundary conditions, which allows us to study weakly active particles in several geometries: confinement by a single wall or between two walls in 1D, confinement in a circular or wedge-shaped region in 2D, motion near a corrugated boundary, and, finally, absorption onto a sphere. We consider how quantities such as the density, pressure, and flow of the active particles change as we gradually increase the activity away from a purely passive system. These results for the limit of weak activity help us gain insight into how active particles behave in the presence of various types of boundaries.
Prenatal environmental conditions underlie alternative reproductive tactics that drive the formation of a mixed-kin cooperative society

Although animal societies often evolve due to limited natal dispersal that results in kin clustering and facilitates cooperation among relatives, many species form cooperative groups with low and variable kin structure. Groups in such mixed-kin societies often comprise residents and immigrants of the same sex that compete for breeding opportunities. To understand how such mixed-kin societies form despite their potential for social conflict, we investigated the environmental causes and subsequent fitness consequences of dispersal decisions in male cooperatively breeding superb starlings (Lamprotornis superbus) that live in a climatically unpredictable environment. We show that the two alternative reproductive tactics - natal dispersal or philopatry - exhibit reproductive tradeoffs resulting in equal lifetime inclusive fitness. The tactic an individual adopts is governed by the environment its parents experience prior to laying rather than the environment it experiences during its juvenile stage. When individuals adopt the tactic not predicted by early life environmental conditions, their fitness is reduced. Ultimately, climate-driven oscillating selection may help stabilize mixed-kin animal societies, despite their reduced kin structure and potential for social conflict.
A Fast and Accurate Myocardial Infarction Detector

We propose a novel pipeline for the real-time detection of myocardial infarction from a single heartbeat of a 12-lead electrocardiograms. We do so by merging a real-time R-spike detection algorithm with a deep learning Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) network-based classifier. A comparative assessment of the classification performance of the resulting system is performed and provided. The proposed algorithm achieves an inter-patient classification accuracy of 95.76% (with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of ±2.4%), a recall of 96.67% (±2.4% 95% CI), specificity of 93.64% (±5.7% 95% CI), and the average J-Score is 90.31% (±6.2% 95% CI). These state-of-the-art myocardial infarction detection metrics are extremely promising and could pave the wave for the early detection of myocardial infarctions. This high accuracy is achieved with a processing time of 40 milliseconds, which is most appropriate for online classification as the time between fast heartbeats is around 300 milliseconds.
Production, reproduction, veterinarian

Veterinary services for greatest effectivity must be programmed as an integral part of monitoring reproductive performance. Paper presented at the Xth World Association for Buiatrics Congress, Mexico City, August 16-19, 1978.
Minimally Invasive Total Extraperitoneal Varicocele Repair: First Description in Children.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to report the first pediatric case series treated with minimally invasive total extraperitoneal varicocele (MITEV) repair using the total extraperitoneal (TEP) approach. Materials and Methods: Five male adolescents (12-17 years) were included in this study, all with left-sided Grade III varicoceles. A 5 mm camera port was inserted just below the umbilicus and two 5 mm working ports were used, one above the symphysis in the midline and the other in the left lateral hemiabdomen just below the arcuate line. Results: Operation time ranged from 47 to 61 minutes (mean: 53 minutes). There were no intra- or postoperative complications. The peritoneum was not perforated, and the abdominal cavity was not entered. Two patients had resolution from varicoceles on follow-up clinical examination and ultrasonography was performed 6 months after surgery. In 3 patients, long-term follow-up was pending. Conclusion: MITEV repair reflects a new minimally invasive access to the retroperitoneum in children with varicocele.
Improving Obstuctive Sleep Apnea Care in the Postanesthesia Care Unit

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve care of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients through increased staff recognition of OSA in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Design Retrospective chart review with implementation of best practice guideline form to front of patient's chart. Methods Baseline data were collected during June 2020. Staff education was provided on current hospital policy of OSA patients. Implementation of a care guideline sheet was added to the front of patient charts for patients meeting inclusion criteria; it consisted of continuous pulse oximetry, 30-degree head of bed elevation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, 1 hour minimum postoperative observation, nonopioid analgesics, and referral to polysomnography. A retrospective chart review was performed following the OSA guideline intervention. Findings Both pre- (N = 413) and postintervention (N = 420) groups had statistically similar demographics. CPAP use increased from 16 to 22 (t = 0.890; P = .336). The number of patients experiencing dyspnea decreased from 10 to 8 (t = 0.263; P = .608). The number of patients experiencing acute respiratory events (AREs) decreased from 24 to 18 (t = 1.012; P = .314). Conclusion There were no significant statistical findings. However, increased recognition of OSA patients by PACU staff can lead to improved care alterations.
Global Financial Regulatory Reform : Implications for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region has weathered the global financial crisis reasonably well so far, although tighter global financial conditions began to take their toll on trade, capital flows and economic growth in late 2008. This resilience reflects the reforms put in place by many countries over the past decade to strengthen financial supervision and adopt sound macroeconomic policies. Building on this progress, the region’s financial sector reform agenda now aims at further improvements, including steps aiming to improve compliance with the Basel Core Principles of Banking Supervision and to broaden and deepen domestic financial markets.
A family of constitutive C/EBP-like DNA binding proteins attenuate the IL-1 alpha induced, NF kappa B mediated trans-activation of the angiotensinogen gene acute-phase response element.

Abstract The gene encoding angiotensinogen, the glycoprotein precursor of the potent vasopressor peptide angiotensin II, is transcriptionally activated in hepatocytes during the acute-phase response through interactions of mutually cooperative glucocorticoid receptors and proteins that bind to an acute-phase response element (APRE) 5'-AGTTGGGATTTCCCAACC-3'. The APRE binds a family of constitutive proteins (BPcs) and a cytokine inducible protein (BPi) that is indistinguishable from nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B). The interactions of purified proteins with the APRE were studied by in vitro binding and in vivo transcriptional trans-activation assays. BPc is a family of heat-stable DNA binding proteins, the different sized members of which are capable of forming heterodimers. BPcs are recognized by anti-C/EBP antiserum and produce a footprint similar to bacterially expressed C/EBP on the APRE. BPi has a 4- to 5-fold greater affinity for the APRE than the BPcs, and contacts guanosine residues distinct from those contacted by the BPcs, demonstrating that these two classes of proteins contain functionally distinct DNA binding domains. Assays of APRE-luciferase reporter plasmids transfected into HepG2 cells show that a mutated APRE that binds only BPi functions as an IL-1 alpha inducible enhancer, whereas a mutated APRE that binds only BPc does not. The APRE mutant that binds the C/EBP-like BPcs to the exclusion of BPi functions as an uninducible basal enhancer both in the native context of the angiotensinogen gene and when multimerized and placed upstream of a minimal angiotensinogen promoter. The wild-type APRE that binds both BPi and BPc is less inducible by IL-1 alpha than the mutated APRE that binds only BPi. Gel shift competition assays demonstrate in vitro that the mechanism of transcriptional regulation by the APRE involves a competition between BPc and the inducible BPi for binding to the APRE. IL-1 alpha stimulation of hepatocytes leads to nuclear translocation of the NF kappa B-like BPi which competes with the constitutive C/EBP-like BPcs for overlapping binding sites on the APRE and thereby replaces weak transcriptional activators with a stronger one.
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Economic sanctions have become an increasingly popular method of punishing nations that do not behave according to international standards. But sometimes sanctions are imposed on allies and trading partners as well. The United States currently imposes sanctions on 90 countries, including Canada and Mexico. This paper examines U.S. sanctions policy and the effects it has had on international relations. The paper concludes by offering a set of guidelines to assist in determining when sanctions should be imposed and when other options would be more effective.
Detecting protein posttranslational modifications using small molecule probes and multiwavelength imaging devices

Though there are alternatives to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, such as solution-phase capillary electrophoresis, multidimensional chromatography, and microfluidic separations, the simplicity, reliability, and ready accessibility of the polyacrylamide gel ensures that it will remain a vital tool in proteomics endeavors for the foreseeable future. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) remains the single most powerful analytical tool in the proteomics arsenal for global analysis of protein posttranslational modifications. Recently, the capabilities of 2-DE have been dramatically enhanced through the introduction of fluorescence- and chemiluminescence-based detection technologies, as well as complementary advanced imaging instrumentation, that permit routine detection of protein modifications such as phosphorylation, glycosylation, and S-nitrosylation. These detection reagents are also applicable to the analysis of subproteomes on simple one-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gels, permitting rapid, higher throughput screening of fractionated proteins for the identification of potentially interesting samples that may subsequently be evaluated in greater detail by 2-DE. Small-molecule probes and multiwavelength imaging devices together greatly extend the capacity of gel electrophoresis with respect to the investigation of proteome-wide changes in protein posttranslational modification levels without resorting to the use of radiolabeling. Keywords: posttranslational modifications; imaging devices; phosphorylation; glycosylation; S-nitrosylation
Selected comparison of immune and nervous system development

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses neural development for an immunological audience, with an aim of selecting a few comparative examples in which immunological information may provide insight into neurobiological developmental mechanisms, and perhaps vice versa. The developing mammalian nervous system shares many similarities with the formation of the immune system. Many of these similarities are at the level of homology or analogy, such as the concept of “memory,” but others extend into actual identity, as is the case for a number of different molecules, possibly reflecting their use in related functions. Two aspects of current interest receive particular attention in the chapter: programmed cell death (PCD, or apoptosis) and the hypothesis that some form of DNA rearrangement occurs within the nervous system, especially in light of recent studies on nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) molecules. In each particular segment, a neurobiological feature is discussed, and germane aspects of immunological development are also considered.
On the semantics of rules in database programming languages

The tension between the notion of ‘type’ as found in programming languages and ‘class’ as found in semantic and object-oriented database models is examined. A class includes structural and behavioral information as does a type, and also an extent, i.e., set of members, associated with the class by the current database state. The membership of extents can change over time, but they are nevertheless used in a manner analogous to programming language types. As a result, verifying “type correctness” in this realm is centered around integrity constraints rather than traditional typing paradigms. The notion of dytype (‘dynamic type’) is introduced to capture this phenomenon of using mutable sets as types.
From Miami to Moscow: Critical Dialogue in Global Education

This edited keynote address was delivered at the Fourth Global Learning Conference at Florida International University, April 4, 2014, by Dr. Toni Fuss Kirkwood-Tucker, retired Associate Professor of Social Studies and Global Education, Florida State University. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
4th year medical student elective in multidisciplinary thoracic oncology

Content description This month-long elective employs a flipped classroom approach with didactic teaching materials that are delivered on an interactive online platform. Materials include recorded videolectures with pre-lecture, post-lecture and embedded multiple choice questions (MCQs); case studies with a sequential, question and answer learning approach and embedded MCQs; a pre-course quiz and a post-course exam. These didactic materials are viewed by students at their own time and pace, typically during off hours. During daytime hours, the students rotate through relevant clinics, seeing patients and reviewing their cases with attending faculty, and occasionally assisting in surgical/interventional procedures. The areas covered include Medical Oncology, Pathology, Pulmonology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology and Thoracic Surgery, focusing on patients with lung, esophageal and other thoracic neoplasms. Each student presents one or more patients at the weekly Thoracic Tumour Board meeting. The capstone project is a written case study or an oral presentation based on a relevant topic. Comments from students who took this elective during the past year indicated enjoyment of: “full engagement in the learning process and the patient care team” and “obtaining a wellrounded, multidisciplinary understanding of the presentation and treatment of these patients.” Published: 2 October 2015
The Traveling Salesman Problem in the Natural Environment

Is it possible for humans to navigate in the natural environment wherein the path taken between various destinations is 'optimal' in some way? In the domain of optimization this challenge is traditionally framed as the "Traveling Salesman Problem" (TSP). What strategies and ecological considerations are plausible for human navigation? When given a two-dimensional map-like presentation of the destinations, participants solve this optimization exceptionally well (only 2-3% longer than optimum)^1, 2^. In the following experiments we investigate the effect of effort and its environmental affordance on navigation decisions when humans solve the TSP in the natural environment. Fifteen locations were marked on two outdoor landscapes with flat and varied terrains respectively. Performance in the flat-field condition was excellent (&8764;6% error) and was worse but still quite good in the variable-terrain condition (&8764;20% error), suggesting participants do not globally pre-plan routes but rather develop them on the fly. We suggest that perceived effort guides participant solutions due to the dynamic constraints of effortful locomotion and obstacle avoidance.
Enhancement of susceptibility of CB-17 mice to systemic candidiasis by poly(I . C)-induced interferon.

Poly(I . C) enhanced the susceptibility of CB-17 (BALB/c) mice to acute systemic candidiasis. Poly(I . C), supernatants from poly(I . C)-treated macrophages, or alpha and beta interferons suppressed macrophage candidacidal activity in vitro. Thus, poly(I . C)-induced interferons may enhance the susceptibility of CB-17 mice to candidiasis by suppressing macrophage candidacidal activity in an autocrine fashion.
How practical are adaptive designs likely to be for confirmatory trials

This is a discussion of the following papers appearing in this special issue on adaptive designs: 'Confirmatory Seamless Phase II/III Clinical trials with Hypotheses Selection at Interim: General Concepts' by Frank Bretz, Heinz Schmidli, Franz Konig, Amy Racine and Willi Maurer; and 'Confirmatory Seamless Phase II/III Clinical Trials with Hypotheses Selection at Interim: Applications and Practical Considerations' by Heinz Schmidli, Frank Bretz, Amy Racine and Willi Maurer.
Bispecific monoclonal antibody therapy (anti HER‐2/neu × anti CD 64) for human breast cancers that overexpress HER‐2/neu

A Phase I clinical trial with a bispecific monoclonal antibody (BsAb) (anti HER-2/neu × anti CD 64) is currently being conducted in patients with Stage IV breast carcinoma or Stage III/IV ovarian carcinoma who are refractory to standard therapy and who overexpress the HER-2/neu antigen as determined by immunohistochemistry. The trial is a hybrid Phase Ia/Ib trial in which the principal endpoints are toxicity, determination of the maximum tolerated dose, biological efficacy, and BsAb pharmacokinetics. Clinical efficacy will be assessed employing standard cancer and leukemia group B (CALGB) criteria to categorize tumor responses. The BsAb, designated MDX-210, is a Fab′ × Fab′ construct which is designed to enhance tumor penetration owing to its relatively small molecular size (approximately 100 kD). CD 64 (FcγRI) is a high affinity Fc receptor for IgG and potent cytotoxic trigger molecule for monocytes, macrophages, IFN-γ-activated neutrophils, and G-CSF-activated neutrophils. The anti CD 64 employed in this study is uniquely constructed to bind to an epitope outside the normal ligand binding site and thus should not be blocked in vivo by the relatively high levels of human IgG. Her-2/neu is overexpressed in human bresat carcinomas with poor prognosis. In vitro studies with MDX-210 have shown effective killing of tumor cell lines that express the HER-2/neu antigen. Eight patients have been treated to date. The dosage levels tested to date are 0.35, 1.0, and 3.5 mg/m2 infused intravenously at 6.0 mg/hour. Infusion of MDX-210 has been well-tolerated by all patients. The principal toxicities have been Grade I/II fevers and malaise that have fully resolved by 12 hours post infusion. Evidence of immunological activity has been observed even at the lowest dose tested. Plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) increased to as high as 500 picogram/ml in 5 of 6 patients tested. Peripheral blood monocytopenia, either preceding or concurrent with elevations of plasma TNFα, is consistent with binding of MDX-210 to both immune effector cells and target breast tumor cells. Significant dose-dependent in vivo binding of MDX-210 to CD 64 has been observed for more than 24 hours post infusion. It has been demonstrated in cell culture studies that MDX-210 triggers release of TNFα from immune effector cells in the presence, but not in the absence, of target tumor cells. The observation that MDX-210 is immunologically active at non-toxic doses forms the basis for considering MDX-210 as a candidate chemotherapeutic drug for recurrent or secondary breast cancers.
Still searching for principles: a response to Goodman et al. (2015).

The authors reply to a comment on their article "How robust are probabilistic models of higher-level cognition?," by G. F. Marcus, et al. The authors debated that multiple, equally probable, Bayesian models could be made for the tasks under consideration, and that Bayesian theories do not restrict which model applies in any given case.
Complex-band method for calculating the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction in magnetic superlattices.

We present a theoretical study of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction in magnetic superlattices within a one-band tight-binding model. An accurate and efficient integration scheme in momentum space is introduced to calculate the RKKY exchange interaction in superlattices. This is accomplished by writing the superlattice states in terms of linear combinations of complex-band solutions in analytic form, and dividing the integration domain into many subregions according to the shape of the superlattice Fermi surface in order to take into account the singularities in one-dimensional density of states. The results are compared to those obtained from using the bulk wave functions of the spacer layer and apparent deviations due to the superlattice effect are noted.
Polarization measurements in the green coronal line.

Linear polarization up to 15 percent in the Fe XIV 5303-A line has been measured photoelectrically in the solar corona. The polarization deviates only slightly from the radial direction and increases with increasing height.
Two novel apolipoprotein A‐IV variants in individuals with familial combined hyperlipidemia and diminished levels of lipoprotein lipase activity

It has been suggested that apo A-IV may play a role in modulating the activation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) by apo C-II (Goldberg et al., 1990). Therefore, the role of genetic variation at the apolipoprotein A-IV locus in familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) was investigated. A subset of FCHL patients with half the level of plasma LPL activity was screened by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) for variants in the apolipoprotein A-IV gene. Two of 20 such individuals were found to be heterozygous carriers of previously undescribed amino acid substitutions: S158L and R 244Q substitutions, designated A-IV-Seattle-1 and A-IV-Seattle-2, respectively. These substitutions were not detected among 20 other FCHL patients with normal LPL levels and among 97 unselected medical students. The finding of these two alleles among only the 20 patients with FCHL with reduced levels of LPL suggests an association with this phenotype. It is hypothesized that these two alleles may contribute, along with alleles of other genes or environmental factors, to the development of FCHL. A third previously undescribed variant (A141S) was observed in four (two homozygotes and two heterozygotes) of the 97 medical students. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inhibitory effects of Hoe 140 on vasodilator responses to bradykinin in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat.

Abstract The effect of Hoe 140, a bradykinin B 2 receptor antagonist, on vasodilator responses to bradykinin was investigated in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat under constant flow conditions. Injections of bradykinin into the mesenteric vascular bed induced dose-related decreases in perfusion pressure which were reduced significantly following administration of Hoe 140 (D-Arg-[Hyp 3 ,Thi 5 ,D-Tic 7 ,Oic 8 ]bradykinin) (100 μg/kg i.v.). The inhibitory effects of Hoe 140 were longer than 3 h in duration and vasodilator responses to acetylcholine and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and the thromboxane mimic, U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-11α, 9α-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F 2α ) were unchanged by the B 2 receptor antagonist. Hoe 140 had little effect on baseline systemic arterial and mesenteric arterial perfusion pressures. These results suggest that Hoe 140 is a potent, highly selective, long-acting bradykinin B 2 receptor antagonist with little agonistic activity in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat.
Ocular findings in a kindred with Kyrle disease. Hyperkeratosis follicularis et parafollicularis in cutem penetrans.

Kyrie disease, a follicular keratosis which may develop at any age in either sex and occur anywhere on the body except the palms, soles, and mucous membranes, is characterized by the penetration of a keratotic plug into the dermis, initiating an inflammatory reaction. Members of a family with Kyrie disease, were examined. The skin disease in this family was relatively benign. However, posterior subcapsular cataracts were present in three young adult members. Two of these patients had multiple tiny yellow-brown anterior stromal corneal opacities. Analysis of more cases of Kyrie disease is required in order to determine whether or not the ocular findings in this family are coincidental or may indeed be part of the spectrum of Kyrie disease.
Potentially semi-stable deformation rings

Let K/Qp be a finite extension and Gk = Gal(K/K) the Galois group of an alge braic closure K. Let F be a finite field of characteristic p, and Vf a finite dimensional F-vector space equipped with a continuous action of GkThe study of the defor mation theory of Galois representations was initiated by Mazur [Ma], who showed that if Vf has no non-trivial endomorphisms, then it admits a universal deformation ring Ryw. After the work of Wiles [Wi] and the conjectures of Fontaine-Mazur [FM] it became clear that for arithmetic applications it was important to understand cer tain quotients of Ry? corresponding to deformations satisfying certain conditions. For example Wiles uses deformations which arise from finite flat group schemes, and the corresponding quotient of Ryw was constructed by Ramakrishna [Ra]. Suppose that L/K is a finite extension and let a ^ b be integers. It seems to be a kind of folklore conjecture that there should be a quotient of Ry? whose points in finite extensions of W(F)[l/p] correspond to deformations of Vf which become semi-stable over L and have Hodge-Tate weights in the interval [a, b]. This is closely related to the final conjecture of [Fo 3]. Special cases of this, when Vf is 2-dimensional, are conjectured in the papers of Fontaine-Mazur [FM, p. 191], Breuil Conrad-Diamond-Taylor [BCDT, Conj. 1.1.1] and Breuil-M?zard [BM, 2.2.2.4]. The purpose of this paper is to prove such a result.
Direct photolytic route to trans-Cr(CO)4(AsPh3)2 and crystal structures of cis-Mo(CO)4(AsPh3)2 and cis-W(CO)4(AsPh3)2

Abstract The preparation of trans-Cr(CO)4(AsPh3)2 is accomplished in reasonable yield by the direct photolysis of a solution of Cr(CO)6 and an excess of AsPh3 in heptane. The structures of cis-Mo(CO)4(AsPh3)2 and cis-W(CO)4(AsPh3)2 are reported. These are found to be isostructural and consist of distorted octahedral geometries with AsMAs angles of 102.56(2) and 102.62(2)° for M=Mo and W, respectively. The MoAs distances of 2.6428(9) and 2.6489(9) A are significantly longer than those in the W analogue at 2.6384(6) and 2.6361(6) A. On the basis of a comparison to literature data, the AsPh3 ligands in these molecules can be described as extremely compressed.
The use of d-ribonolactone in organic synthesis. I. total synthesis of (−)-litsenolides C1 and C2.

Abstract D-Ribonolactone, an inexpensive, commercially available sugar, has been transformed stereoselectively into naturally occurring lactones, the litsenolides C 1 and C 2 .