cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NK cells mediate costimulation blockade-resistant rejection of allogeneic stem cells during nonmyeloablative transplantation

Although T-cell CD28/CD40 costimulation blockade represents a powerful mechanism to promote immune tolerance during murine allotransplantation, it has not yet been successfully translated to clinical transplantation. We determined the impact of natural killer (NK) cells on costimulation blockade-resistant rejection of donor bone marrow. We found that NK cells represent a potent barrier to engraftment: host NK depletion led to increased donor stem cell survival, increased mixed hematopoietic chimerism and to engraftment of low doses of donor marrow (1 × 108/kg) that were otherwise rejected. To understand the mechanisms of NK alloreactivity, we employed an in vivo NK-specific cytotoxicity assay. We found that an increased proportion of target cells were killed between days 2 and 8 after cell transfer, and that NK killing of parental targets was inducible: NK cells preprimed with allotargets were more efficient at their elimination upon reexposure. Finally, both transplant and in vivo NK-killing models were used to determine the contribution of LFA-1 to NK alloreactivity. Blockade of LFA-1 led to decreased NK-mediated killing, and increased alloengraftment. These results identify NK alloreactivity as an integral component to costimulation blockade-resistant rejection, and suggest that its inhibition may represent an important target in the clinical translation of tolerance-induction transplantation.
Setting a new standard: Updating the vaginal distention translational model for stress urinary incontinence

Aims The vaginal distention (VD) translational model for postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is potentially biased for use in evaluating animals with increasing phenotypic size (obesity) due to a fixed VD volume. Our study had three principle and two secondary aims. First, to examine both ex vivo and in vivo catheter pressure changes during volume distention. Secondly, to determine mean pressure at current volume standard for use as target pressure (TP) for VD under isobaric (IB) conditions. Thirdly, to demonstrate feasibility and equivalence of VD at TP versus isovolumetric (IV) standard. Secondary aims were to demonstrate decreased variability (IB vs. IV) and to review the effect of weight. Methods Ten French modified Foley catheters were inflated sequentially to 3.0 ml while connected (both in vivo and ex vivo) to a pressure transducer. Mean result generated TP. Thirty Sprague–Dawley rats (280–300 g) were then randomized to one of three groups: IV, IB at TP, or sham VD. Student's t-test was used to compare groups' leak point pressures (LPP) and simple linear regression was used to evaluate the effect of weight as a continuous variable. Results Catheter pressure/volume responses were demonstrated. Calculated TP was 531 mm Hg. LPP under conditions of IB and IV were statistically equivalent and were statistically lower than Sham. Variability was not statistically different between IB and IV groups. When treated as a continuous variable, weight had no effect on LPP. Conclusions VD injury based on TP is feasible and reproducible. Understanding catheter pressure dynamics is valuable for investigating alternative rat phenotypes. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:190–194, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of thiol functional groups on bacteria and natural organic matter in environmental systems

Organic thiols (R-SH) are known to react and form complexes with some toxic soft metals such as mercury (Hg) in both biotic and abiotic systems. However, a clear understanding of these interactions is currently limited because quantifying thiols in environmental matrices is difficult due to their low abundance, susceptibility to oxidation, and measurement interference by non-thiol compounds in samples. Here, we report a fluorescence-labeling method using a maleimide containing probe, ThioGlo-1 (TG-1), to determine total thiols directly on bacterial cells and natural organic matter (NOM). We systematically evaluated the optimal thiol labeling conditions and interference from organic compounds such as disulfide, methionine, thiourea, and amine, and inorganic ions such as Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Fe(2+), Cl(-), SO4(2-), HCO3(-), and SCN(-), and found that the method is highly sensitive and selective. Only relatively high levels of sulfide (S(2-)) and sulfite (SO3(2-)) significantly interfere with the thiol analysis. The method was successful in determining thiols in a bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA and its mutants in a phosphate buffered saline solution. The measured value of ~2.1 × 10(4) thiols cell(-1) (or ~0.07 µmol g(-1) wet cells) is in good agreement with that observed during reactions between Hg and PCA cells. Using the standard addition, we determined the total thiols of two reference NOM samples, the reduced Elliot soil humic acid and Suwanee River NOM, to be 3.6 and 0.7 µmol g(-1), respectively, consistent with those obtained based on their reactions with Hg.
Comparison of three ultrasound guided approaches to the lumbar plexus in dogs: a cadaveric study.

Abstract Objective To assess the accuracy of contrast material injection and the dispersion of injectate following ultrasound guided injections at the level of L6 and L7, in canine cadavers. Study design Prospective, randomized, experimental study. Animals Twenty nine mixed breed canine cadavers (28.9 ± 6.0 kg). Methods Three ultrasound-guided approaches to the lumbar plexus (LP) were compared: 1) a dorsal pre-iliac approach at the level of L6; 2) a lateral paravertebral approach at mid-L6; and 3) a lateral paravertebral approach at mid-L7. An isovolumic mixture of iodine-based contrast with new methylene blue (0.1 mL kg−1) was injected bilaterally in the juxta-foraminal region along the L6 or L7 nerve root. Computed tomography was performed followed by segmentation and 3D reconstruction of the lumbar spine and contrast material volumes using dedicated software. Distances between contrast material and the fifth through seventh lumbar foraminae, and length of femoral (FN) and obturator (ON) nerve staining were measured and compared between approaches (p Results Injectate moved cranial and caudal to the site of injection, and dispersed into an ovoid shape between the quadratus lumborum, iliopsoas and psoas minor muscles. Injections at L7 resulted in significantly closer contrast proximity to the L6 and L7 foraminae (p Conclusion and clinical relevance An ultrasound-guided lateral paravertebral approach to the LP proved very practical and accurate, with easy visualization of the plexus and associated nerves. To ensure that the ON is covered by injectate, an approach at the level of L7 is recommended. Further studies are necessary to determine if this correlates with clinically effective local anesthesia.
Fungal and bacterial contributions to the decomposition of Cladium and Typha leaves in nutrient enriched and nutrient poor areas of the Everglades, with a note on ergosterol concentrations in Everglades soils

Fungal biomass was detected in peat soils from throughout the Everglades based on the presence of ergosterol. Ergosterol concentrations in soils were not detectably affected by the dominant plant, Cladium jamaicense or Typha domingensis , or phosphorus content of soils. In situ decomposition of decaying leaves, measured by respiration, was high (maximum 484 ul O 2 h −1 g −1 dry biomass). Approximately 30% of respiration was by bacteria, and the rest was by fungi and other eukaryotes. Respiration rates were essentially the same for decomposing leaves of both plant species, with higher rates early in the decomposition process. Respiration rates were relatively unaffected by the nutrient status of the site, except for eukaryotic respiration on Cladium , which was usually higher at a high nutrient site. Ergosterol concentration increased in decaying leaves through time and was unrelated to the nutrient level except for Cladium , where it was higher at the high nutrient site. Eukaryotic respiration was not correlated with ergosterol concentration in decomposing leaves of Typha , but was positively correlated with ergosterol for Cladium.
A comparison of the growth and nutrition of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus resinosa Ait. on a K-deficient site subjected to K fertilization.

On the oldest continuously studied forest fertilization trials in North America, at Pack Forest in New York State, a pronounced tree growth response has been attained with only K fertilization.
Experimental assessment of wireless coexistence for 802.15.4 in the presence of 802.11g/n

Wireless coexistence is a growing concern, given the ubiquity of wireless technology. Although IEEE Standards have started to address this problem in an analytical framework, a standard experimental setup and process to evaluate wireless coexistence is lacking. Literature that reports experimental assessment of wireless coexistence places little emphasis on separation distance of wireless nodes under test or the spectrum occupancy of the interfering network, making comparisons difficult. This paper provides an extensive literature survey of 802.15.4 and 802.11 b/g/n wireless coexistence and demonstrates that in a higher wireless channel occupancy environment, ZigBee coexists with 802.11n better than with 802.11g. A reproducible, versatile, and practical test setup is presented to serve as a starting point toward establishing standard practice for wireless coexistence testing of wireless systems in general and wireless medical devices in particular. Experimental evaluations demonstrated consistency with results reported in the literature.
Control of Reaction Pathway and the Nanostructure of Final Products through the Design of Modulated Elemental Reactants

This review focuses on the use of designed reactants, consisting of ultrathin elemental layers sequentially deposited in ultrahigh vacuum, to control reaction pathways and the structure of compounds formed. Two reaction pathways are discussed. The first uses controlled nucleation of an amorphous intermediate to kinetically access compounds under conditions where they may be thermodynamically unstable. The second approach takes advantage of the controlled diffusion lengths in elementally modulated reactants and slow diffusion rates at low temperatures to prepare superlattice and heterostructure compounds with controlled composition and structure.
The Invisible Turn to the Future: Commemorative Culture in Contemporary Shanghai

After decades of fierce political struggles in the Mao era, the People’s Republic of China has strived economically under the open-door policy since the end of the 1970s. However, the still firm national monuments that weathered the social vicissitudes are left open to the question of how they could be incorporated into the new national ideology. In comparison to Beijing, Shanghai’s overwhelmingly predominant image centers on its role as the economic dragonhead of China. This article argues that Shanghai, exactly because of this ostensibly apolitical profile, provides a rarely discussed but highly meaningful approach to examining the dynamics between contemporary Chinese commemorative culture and the postsocialist urban spatial order. Unlike the East European cases, the “critical juncture” of ideology in China is invisible in the official narratives of the monuments. In some circumstances, the renovation of old memorials seem to fulfill the task of glorifying a certain past but in effect, it leaves the place a self-enclosed venue that sheds the rest of the city from the ideological burden. In other cases, some monuments of the seemingly core nationalistic narratives are marginalized. What’s more, new attentions are now drawn to the memorials for the history of “others” in the name of cosmopolitanism. The invisibility of the commemorative narratives speaks directly to the perplexity of assuming national identity in contemporary China. In the light of Prasenjit Duara’s idea of “bifurcated history”, national memory culture in Shanghai suggests the multiple possibilities of deciphering the city’s past and its future.
The Primary Structures of Rat Ribosomal Proteins S3a (The V-Fos Transformation Effector) and of S3b

The amino acid sequence of the rat 40S ribosomal subunit protein S3a was deduced from the sequence of nucleotides in two recombinant cDNAs and confirmed by the determination of the NH2-terminal sequence by Edman degradation. Ribosomal protein S3a has 263 amino acids (the NH2-terminal methionine is removed after translation of the mRNA) and the molecular weight is 29,794. The protein designated S3b has the same amino acid sequence as S3a except that it lacks the carboxyl-terminal 12 residues. We are unable to determine whether there are separate genes for S3a and S3b, or whether there is a single gene and alternate splicing of the precursor to yield separate mRNAs for S3a and S3b, or whether there is a single gene and a single mRNA whose translation yields S3a which is converted by proteolysis, either physiological or fortuitous, to S3b. The mRNA for S3a is about 1000 nucleotides in length. Hybridization of cDNA to digests of nuclear DNA suggests that there are 8–13 copies of the S3a gene. Rat ribosomal protein S3a is identical to the product of the ratFte-1gene which encodes the V-Fos transformation effector; S3a is also related to the plant protein cyc07, which is encoded by a cell cycle S-phase specific gene.
AAAS Presidential Lecture: Voices from the Pipeline.

The number of white males of college age, who have been the dominant participants in the fields of science and engineering, is predicted to drop significantly in the future. Rapid increases in the participation of women offer some hope of filling anticipated vacancies in the ranks of scientifically trained personnel, although this rapid growth has reached a plateau in many fields. Most studies show that women enter graduate school at about the same rate as men; the dropoff in women's participation occurs sometime before the attainment of the Ph.D. Recent surveys of graduate students indicate that men and women respond differently to the pressures of graduate school and often have a different image of themselves and of their advisers' perceptions of them as graduate students. Some clues from these results may show how the environment can be made more supportive for all students, and for women and minority students in particular.
The impact of clinical trial protocols on patient care systems in a large city hospital : access for the socially disadvantaged

Some Americans suffer a higher cancer incidence and mortality than those in mainstream American society, and, in general, do not enjoy the same health status. Black Americans, for example, have higher cancer incidence and lower survival rates than do white Americans. To date, there is no known genetic basis to account for the disparities in cancer incidence and outcome between these races. Controlling for socioeconomic status greatly reduces, and sometimes nearly eliminates, the apparent contrast in cancer mortality and incidence between ethnic groups. Poverty clearly is associated with diminished access to health care, an increased incidence of cancer, and 10-15% lower 5-year survival rates
CORONAL DENSITIES AND MAGNETIC FIELDS FROM K-CORONAMETER AND TYPE IV RADIO BURST DATA

Coronal electron densities and magnetic fields determined from K-coronameter and type 4 radio burst data
Sum rule and classical limit for scattering in a low-frequency laser field

A previously derived low-frequency approximation for scattering in a laser field represents the amplitude for scattering with the absorption or emission of a specified number of photons in terms of the physical field-free scattering amplitude, a result which holds even with the inclusion of a correction term of first order in the frequency of the field. In the general case, where the polarization of the field is arbitrary and the dipole approximation is not assumed, the cross section depends on the phase as well as the magnitude of the field-free scattering amplitude. It is shown here that this phase dependence disappears when the cross section is summed over all possible final states of the field. The result of this summation is identical (within the limits set by the domain of validity of the low-frequency approximation itself) to that which would be predicted from a classical description of the motion of the electron in the field, the collision taking place instantaneously and without influence from the field. This sum rule and its classical interpretation, obtained here in a nonrelativistic potential scattering model, is of the form derived some time ago by Brown and Goble on the basis of general field-theoretic considerations.
Biotech is thrusting us into new political territory

Stem cells, embryo research and synthetic biology are just a few of the issues that will force strange new political alliances and changes
Flash Reduction and Patterning of Graphite Oxide and Its Polymer Composite

Graphite oxide (GO) is a promising precursor for the bulk production of graphene-based materials due to its relatively low cost of synthesis. The superior solvent processability of GO makes it particularly attractive for making composites by premixing with other materials. Typically, the reduction of GO has relied on either chemical agents or high temperature treatment. Here we report a room temperature, chemical-free flash reduction process where a photographic camera flash instantaneously triggers the deoxygenation reaction of GO by photothermal heating. Flash irradiation also rapidly creates a fused polymer composite from a random mixture of GO and polymer particles. Using a photomask, conducting patterns such as interdigitated electrode arrays can be readily made on flexible substrates.
The foldon universe: a survey of structural similarity and self-recognition of independently folding units

We have identified independently folding units, so called ‘‘foldons’’, from non-homologous proteins representing different folds. We applied simple statistical arguments in order to estimate the size of the foldon universe required to construct all foldable proteins. Various alignment procedures yield about 2600 foldons in the natural protein universe but this estimate is shown to be rather sensitive to the chosen cut-off value for structural similarity. We showed that foldon matching-modelling can reproduce the major part of the main chain of several proteins with a structural similarity measure Q-score of about 0.4 and an r.m.s. error of about 5 A ˚ , although the accuracy of structure prediction has been limited so far by the small size of foldon data set. The prediction score may be increased if one uses the set of protein fragments with optimized sequence-structure relationships, in other works, minimally frustrated segments. To quantify the degree of frustration of the structures of foldons from our database, we searched for those foldons which recognize their own sequence and structure upon threading. As a result we found that about half of the foldons from our data set recognize themselves as the best choice upon threading and therefore are individually minimally frustrated. We showed that there is a close connection between the Qscore of self recognition and the relative foldability () of the folding units. Foldons having high Q-score and values are expected to be formed in the early phase of the folding process and be observed as stable intermediates under appropriate experimental conditions. # 1997 Academic Press Limited
Vaccination of rhesus macaques with a vif-deleted simian immunodeficiency virus proviral DNA vaccine

Studies in non-human primates, with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) have demonstrated that live-attenuated viral vaccines are highly effective; however these vaccine viruses maintain a low level of pathogenicity. Lentivirus attenuation associated with deletion of the viral vif gene carries a significantly reduced risk for pathogenicity, while retaining the potential for virus replication of low magnitude in the host. This report describes a vif-deleted simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)mac239 provirus that was tested as an attenuated proviral DNA vaccine by inoculation of female rhesus macaques. SIV-specific interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot responses of low magnitude were observed after immunization with plasmid containing the vif-deleted SIV provirus. However, vaccinated animals displayed strong sustained virus-specific T cell proliferative responses and increasing antiviral antibody titers. These immune responses suggested either persistent vaccine plasmid expression or low level replication of vif-deleted SIV in the host. Immunized and unvaccinated macaques received a single high dose vaginal challenge with pathogenic SIVmac251. A transient suppression of challenge virus load and a greater median survival time was observed for vaccinated animals. However, virus loads for vaccinated and unvaccinated macaques were comparable by twenty weeks after challenge and overall survival curves for the two groups were not significantly different. Thus, a vif-deleted SIVmac239 proviral DNA vaccine is immunogenic and capable of inducing a transient suppression of pathogenic challenge virus, despite severe attenuation of the vaccine virus.
Stress transients at changes of electron drag during plastic deformation of metals

At low temperatures, the electronic state of a metal may influence its plastic deformation behavior. Many experiments show a pronounced decrease in the flow stress when superconductors enter the superconductive state. More recently stress changes in normal state metals were observed when the applied magnetic field was changed. The theory of Suenaga and Galligan and Granato explains these observations in terms of a dislocation inertial effect. In this theory the damping of dislocations between obstacles is taken to be very small and the mobile dislocations overshoot their static equilibrium position. According to this theory the dynamic interaction of a dislocation and a pinning point leads to a change in the effective instantaneous stress τ*, τ*≈τ(2-BL/2√AC) (1) where B is the viscosity coefficient, C the dislocation line tension, A the effective dislocation mass per unit length, and L the distance between pinning points. We note that only if the assumption, BL << 2√AC is valid, should an effect be observable.
Developing therapeutic approaches for metachromatic leukodystrophy

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal disorder caused by the deficiency of arylsulfatase A (ASA), resulting in impaired degradation of sulfatide, an essential sphingolipid of myelin. The clinical manifestations of MLD are characterized by progressive demyelination and subsequent neurological symptoms resulting in severe debilitation. The availability of therapeutic options for treating MLD is limited but expanding with a number of early stage clinical trials already in progress. In the development of therapeutic approaches for MLD, scientists have been facing a number of challenges including blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, safety issues concerning therapies targeting the central nervous system, uncertainty regarding the ideal timing for intervention in the disease course, and the lack of more in-depth understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of MLD. Here, we discuss the current status of the different approaches to developing therapies for MLD. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been used to treat MLD patients, utilizing both umbilical cord blood and bone marrow sources. Intrathecal enzyme replacement therapy and gene therapies, administered locally into the brain or by generating genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells, are emerging as novel strategies. In pre-clinical studies, different cell delivery systems including microencapsulated cells or selectively neural cells have shown encouraging results. Small molecules that are more likely to cross the BBB can be used as enzyme enhancers of diverse ASA mutants, either as pharmacological chaperones, or proteostasis regulators. Specific small molecules may also be used to reduce the biosynthesis of sulfatides, or target different affected downstream pathways secondary to the primary ASA deficiency. Given the progressive neurodegenerative aspects of MLD, also seen in other lysosomal diseases, current and future therapeutic strategies will be complementary, whether used in combination or separately at specific stages of the disease course, to produce better outcomes for patients afflicted with this devastating inherited disorder.
Characterization of digraphs with equal domination graphs and underlying graphs

A domination graph of a digraph D, dom(D), is created using the vertex set of D and edge {u,v}@?E[dom(D)] whenever (u,z)@?A(D) or (v,z)@?A(D) for every other vertex [email protected]?V(D). The underlying graph of a digraph D, UG(D), is the graph for which D is a biorientation. We completely characterize digraphs whose underlying graphs are identical to their domination graphs, UG(D)=dom(D). The maximum and minimum number of single arcs in these digraphs, and their characteristics, is given.
Substrate limitation of sediment methane flux, methane oxidation and use of stable isotopes for assessing methanogenesis pathways in a small arctic lake

Among predicted impacts of climate change in the Arctic are greater thaw depth and shifts in vegetation patterns and hydrology that are likely to increase organic carbon and nutrient loading to lakes. We measured substrate limitation of sediment methane (CH4) flux, examined pathways of methanogenesis, and potential CH4 oxidation using stable isotope labeled acetate in intact sediment cores from arctic lake GTH 112 (68°40′20″N, 149°14′57″W). We hypothesized that the acetoclastic pathway would dominate methanogenesis, reflecting dissolved organic carbon supply from the surrounding landscape, and that sediment CH4 flux would be stimulated by addition of acetate. Experiments demonstrated acetate limitation of sediment CH4 flux with short-term CH4 flux response to availability of acetate, high rates of CH4 oxidation, and strong dominance of the acetoclastic over the hydrogenotrophic methanogenic pathway. The experiments also indicated that isotopic fractionation effects during isotope enrichment experiments are large during methanogenesis and can alter the methanogenic pathways being investigated. Under oxic conditions, CH4 oxidation at the sediment–water interface or in the water column is likely to account for much of diffusive CH4 flux, but under anoxic hypolimnetic conditions and increased substrate availability, conditions that are likely to occur with climate change, sediment CH4 flux will likely increase, with oxidation utilizing a smaller portion of sediment CH4 production.
Flying High or Crashing Down: Girls' Accounts of Trying Out for Cheerleading and Dance.

>> Largely absent from the literature on adolescent girls’ extracurricular activities is exploration of the process and effects of vying for entry to extracurricular activities that are competitive and selective. This qualitative study contrasted the immediate and longer term effects of auditioning for two high school extracurricular activities (cheerleading, dance) on 18 girls who won admission and 18 who did not. One-on-one interviews collected immediately and 2 months following the selection decision reflected the significant impact of the decision on personal, social, and school identity. The findings supported the positive effects for those who were successful and illustrated the devastating and extended effects of not being selected on personal, social, and school identity.
Molecular Genetics of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is mainly a disease of childhood that arises from recurrent genetic insults that block precursor B and T cell differentiation and drive aberrant cell proliferation and survival. Recurrent defects including chromosomal translocations, aneuploidies, and gene-specific alterations generate molecular subgroups of B- and T-ALL with differing clinical courses and distinct responses to therapy. Recent discoveries arising from genome-wide surveys and adoptive transfer of leukemia-initiating cells have uncovered multiple gene copy number aberrations and have yielded new insight into at least one type of ALL-originating cell. Our understanding of the pathogenesis of ALL has benefited from genetically modified mouse models that recapitulate cellular transformation at specific developmental stages of lymphoid lineage cells. Here, we review the spectrum of genetic aberrations that promote acute B and T cell leukemias and the mechanisms of cell transformation and malignant progression that are reinforced by mouse models of human ALL.
The Type-Specific Neutralizing Antibody Response Elicited by a Dengue Vaccine Candidate Is Focused on Two Amino Acids of the Envelope Protein

Dengue viruses are mosquito-borne flaviviruses that circulate in nature as four distinct serotypes (DENV1-4). These emerging pathogens are responsible for more than 100 million human infections annually. Severe clinical manifestations of disease are predominantly associated with a secondary infection by a heterotypic DENV serotype. The increased risk of severe disease in DENV-sensitized populations significantly complicates vaccine development, as a vaccine must simultaneously confer protection against all four DENV serotypes. Eliciting a protective tetravalent neutralizing antibody response is a major goal of ongoing vaccine development efforts. However, a recent large clinical trial of a candidate live-attenuated DENV vaccine revealed low protective efficacy despite eliciting a neutralizing antibody response, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the humoral immune response against dengue infection. In this study, we sought to identify epitopes recognized by serotype-specific neutralizing antibodies elicited by monovalent DENV1 vaccination. We constructed a panel of over 50 DENV1 structural gene variants containing substitutions at surface-accessible residues of the envelope (E) protein to match the corresponding DENV2 sequence. Amino acids that contribute to recognition by serotype-specific neutralizing antibodies were identified as DENV mutants with reduced sensitivity to neutralization by DENV1 immune sera, but not cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies elicited by DENV2 vaccination. We identified two mutations (E126K and E157K) that contribute significantly to type-specific recognition by polyclonal DENV1 immune sera. Longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of sera from 24 participants of a phase I clinical study revealed a markedly reduced capacity to neutralize a E126K/E157K DENV1 variant. Sera from 77% of subjects recognized the E126K/E157K DENV1 variant and DENV2 equivalently (<3-fold difference). These data indicate the type-specific component of the DENV1 neutralizing antibody response to vaccination is strikingly focused on just two amino acids of the E protein. This study provides an important step towards deconvoluting the functional complexity of DENV serology following vaccination.
Optimal active suspension control based on a half-car model: an analytical solution

Simple yet, in practice, meaningful state-space formulations of the optimal suspension control problem for a half-car 2-D vehicle model are given. Using an efficient equivalent representation, a complete analytical solution of the related fourth-order linear quadratic problem was obtained. The problem structure and associated analytical results are used to deduce generic properties of the optimal solution, which in turn form a basis for global, centralized, and decentralized optimal suspension performance studies. >
A cytochrome P450-derived epoxygenated metabolite of anandamide is a potent cannabinoid receptor 2-selective agonist.

Oxidation of the endocannabinoid anandamide by cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes has the potential to affect signaling pathways within the endocannabinoid system and pharmacological responses to novel drug candidates targeting this system. We previously reported that the human cytochromes P450 2D6, 3A4, and 4F2 are high-affinity, high-turnover anandamide oxygenases in vitro, forming the novel metabolites hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid ethanolamides and epoxyeicosatrienoic acid ethanolamides. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible biological significance of these metabolic pathways. We report that the 5,6-epoxide of anandamide, 5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid ethanolamide (5,6-EET-EA), is a potent and selective cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonist. The Ki values for the binding of 5,6-EET-EA to membranes from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing either recombinant human CB1 or CB2 receptor were 11.4 μM and 8.9 nM, respectively. In addition, 5,6-EET-EA inhibited the forskolin-stimulated accumulation of cAMP in CHO cells stably expressing the CB2 receptor (IC50 = 9.8 ± 1.3 nM). Within the central nervous system, the CB2 receptor is expressed on activated microglia and is a potential therapeutic target for neuroinflammation. BV-2 microglial cells stimulated with low doses of interferon-γ exhibited an increased capacity for converting anandamide to 5,6-EET-EA, which correlated with increased protein expression of microglial P450 4F and 3A isoforms. Finally, we demonstrate that 5,6-EET-EA is more stable than anandamide in mouse brain homogenates and is primarily metabolized by epoxide hydrolase. Combined, our results suggest that epoxidation of anandamide by P450s to form 5,6-EET-EA represents an endocannabinoid bioactivation pathway in the context of immune cell function.
An Overview of the Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting elderly people. It is the fourth leading cause of death among adults in the United States, following heart disease, cancer, and stroke. The prevalence of AD increases with increasing age. An estimated 10% of people aged 65 years have this progressive, degenerative disease, and this percentage increases to 47.2% for people aged 85 years and older. An early-onset form of AD can affect individuals who are middle-aged, with the youngest documented case being that of a 28-year-old. In the Framingham cohort, women with AD outnumbered men by a ratio of 2.8:1 for those aged 75 years or older. Undoubtedly, as our population continues to age, the increasing prevalence of AD will have an even greater impact on society than it does today. Approximately 4 million Americans have AD, and it is projected that the number will rise to 14 million by the middle of the next century. The financial impact of AD is staggering, with the average lifetime cost for an individual with AD exceeding $170,000. Although the majority of individuals with AD are cared for by family and friends at home, individuals with AD constitute half of all nursing home residents. The average cost of a year of nursing home care for an individual with AD is $42,000, and this cost can exceed $70,000. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the etiology of AD, the tools used in the diagnosis of AD, and the treatment of individuals with AD. In addition, the clinical presentation of the various stages of AD is described, and the psychosocial implications of this disease are discussed.
Inflation Targeting: What Have We Learned?

Inflation targeting has been widely adopted in both developed and emerging economies. In this essay, I survey the evidence on the effects of inflation targeting on macroeconomic performance and assess what lessons this evidence provides for inflation targeting and the design of monetary policy. While macroeconomic experiences among both inflation targeting and non-targeting developed economies have been similar, inflation targeting has improved macroeconomic performance among developing economies. Importantly, inflation targeting has not been associated with greater real economic instability among either developed or developing economics. While cost shocks, such as the large rise in commodity prices that occurred in 2007 and early 2008, force central banks to make difficult short-run trade-offs, the ability to deal with demand shocks and financial crises can be enhanced by a commitment to an explicit target.
Sulfur geochemistry of hydrothermal waters in Yellowstone National Park: I. The origin of thiosulfate in hot spring waters

Thiosulfate (S{sub 2}O{sub 3}{sup 2{minus}}), polythionate (S{sub x}O{sub 6}{sup 2{minus}}), dissolved sulfide (H{sub 2}S), and sulfate (SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}}) concentrations in thirty-nine alkaline and acidic springs in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) were determined. The analyses were conducted on site, using ion chromatography for thiosulfate, polythionate, and sulfate, and using colorimetry for dissolved sulfide. Thiosulfate was detected at concentrations typically less than 2 {micro}mol/L in neutral and alkaline chloride springs with low sulfate concentrations (Cl{sup {minus}}/SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} > 25). The thiosulfate concentration levels are about one to two orders of magnitude lower than the concentration of dissolved sulfide in these springs. In most acid sulfate and acid sulfate-chloride springs (Cl{sup {minus}}/SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} < 10), thiosulfate concentrations were also typically lower than 2 {micro}mol/L. However, in some chloride springs enriched with sulfate (Cl{sup {minus}}/SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} between 10 and 25), thiosulfate was found at concentrations ranging from 9 to 95 {micro}mol/L, higher than the concentrations of dissolved sulfide in these waters. Polythionate was detected only in Cinder Pool, Norris Geyser basin, at concentrations up to 8 {micro}mol/L, with an average S-chain-length from 4.1 to 4.9 sulfur atoms. The results indicate that no thiosulfate occurs in the deeper parts of themore » hydrothermal system. Thiosulfate may form, however, from (1) hydrolysis of native sulfur by hydrothermal solutions in the shallower parts (<50 m) of the system, (2) oxidation of dissolved sulfide upon mixing of a deep hydrothermal water with aerated shallow groundwater, and (3) the oxidation of dissolved sulfide by dissolved oxygen upon discharge of the hot spring. Upon discharge of a sulfide-containing hydrothermal water, oxidation proceeds rapidly as atmospheric oxygen enters the water. The transfer of oxygen is particularly effective if the hydrothermal discharge is turbulent and has a large surface area.« less
Using Second-order Vectors in a Knowledge-based Method for Acronym Disambiguation

In this paper, we introduce a knowledge-based method to disambiguate biomedical acronyms using second-order co-occurrence vectors. We create these vectors using information about a long-form obtained from the Unified Medical Language System and Medline. We evaluate this method on a dataset of 18 acronyms found in biomedical text. Our method achieves an overall accuracy of 89%. The results show that using second-order features provide a distinct representation of the long-form and potentially enhances automated disambiguation.
Modulation Transfer Function of Sea Water

The modulation transfer function (MTF) of a simple submarine viewing situation is computed as a function of range and sea-water properties. For the cases considered, we found that the MTF follows the simple exponential law, exp(−ω/ω0), where ω is the spatial frequency in lines/deg and where ω0 is a complicated function of the range, scattering albedo, and shape of the scattering phase function. A set of graphs summarizes the dependence of ω0 on the inherent optical properties c and β(γ).
A neural network approach to cloud classification

It is shown that, using high-spatial-resolution data, very high cloud classification accuracies can be obtained with a neural network approach. A texture-based neural network classifier using only single-channel visible Landsat MSS imagery achieves an overall cloud identification accuracy of 93%. Cirrus can be distinguished from boundary layer cloudiness with an accuracy of 96%, without the use of an infrared channel. Stratocumulus is retrieved with an accuracy of 92%, cumulus at 90%. The use of the neural network does not improve cirrus classification accuracy. Rather, its main effect is in the improved separation between stratocumulus and cumulus cloudiness. The present study is based on a nonlinear, nonparametric four-layer neural network approach. A three-layer neural network architecture, the nonparametric K-nearest neighbor approach, and the linear stepwise discriminant analysis procedure are compared. >
Cyclosporine for severe ulcerative colitis

Objective:To evaluate evidence for the use of cyclosporine in treating patients with severe ulcerative colitis.Data Sources:A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, and ISI Web of Knowledge (1966–November 2005) with the search terms cyclosporine, cyclosporin A, CsA, ulcerative colitis, UC, inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, steroid-refractory, and immunosuppression. Additional papers were located by hand-searching relevant references. Only human studies in adults and literature published in English were included.Data Synthesis:Intravenous cyclosporine has been evaluated for the treatment of severe ulcerative colitis in 4 randomized, controlled trials, as well as in many open-label and retrospective studies. Studies that evaluated cyclosporine for severe ulcerative colitis were reviewed. All 4 controlled trials showed an initial positive clinical response as defined by the Crohn's Activity Index when intravenous cyclosporine 4 mg/kg/day was administered as monotherapy or co...
NMR solution structure and backbone dynamics of the CC chemokine eotaxin-3.

Eotaxin-3 is one of three related chemokines that specifically activate chemokine receptor CCR3. We report the 3D structure and backbone dynamics of eotaxin-3 determined by NMR spectroscopy. Eotaxin-3 is monomeric under the conditions in this study and consists of an unstructured N-terminus before the first two conserved cysteine residues, an irregularly structured N-loop following the second conserved cysteine, a single turn of 310-helix, a three-stranded antiparallel β-sheet, an α-helix, and an unstructured C-terminal tail. As in other chemokines, the α-helix packs against one face of the β-sheet. The average backbone and heavy atom rmsd values of the 20 structures (residues 9−65) are 0.44 and 1.01 A, respectively. A comparison between the structures of eotaxin-3 and related chemokines suggests that the electrostatic potential in the vicinity of a surface groove and the structure of the β2−β3 turn may be important for maintaining receptor specificity. The backbone dynamics of eotaxin-3 were determined f...
Theory and practice of ionosphere study by Thomson scatter radar

The application of Thomson (or incoherent) Scatter observations to the study of the earth's ionosphere is described. Those aspects of theory of Thomson Scatter that have been put to practical use in ionospheric investigations are reviewed briefly and the type of radar equipment constructed for these investigations is discussed. Methods of measuring electron density, electron and ion temperatures, and ionic composition are then reviewed. Other applications of the technique--to the study of the neutral density and temperature of the upper atmosphere, drift motions, the flux density of fast photoelectrons, and the orientation of the earth's magnetic field--are also described.
Replication of ketamine's antidepressant efficacy in bipolar depression: a randomized controlled add-on trial.

Background Currently, no pharmacological treatments for bipolar depression exist that exert rapid (within hours) antidepressant or antisuicidal effects. We previously reported that intravenous administration of the N -methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine produced rapid antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression. The present study sought to replicate this finding in an independent sample. Methods In this double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled study, 15 subjects with DSM-IV bipolar I or II depression maintained on therapeutic levels of lithium or valproate received a single intravenous infusion of either ketamine hydrochloride (.5 mg/kg) or placebo on 2 test days 2 weeks apart. The primary outcome measure was the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, which was used to rate overall depressive symptoms at baseline; at 40, 80, 110, and 230 minutes postinfusion; and on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 14 postinfusion. Results Within 40 minutes, depressive symptoms, as well as suicidal ideation, significantly improved in subjects receiving ketamine compared with placebo ( d = .89, 95% confidence interval=.61–1.16, and .98, 95% confidence interval=.64–1.33, respectively); this improvement remained significant through day 3. Seventy-nine percent of subjects responded to ketamine and 0% responded to placebo at some point during the trial. The most common side effect was dissociative symptoms, which occurred only at the 40-minute time point. Conclusions This study replicated our previous finding that patients with bipolar depression who received a single ketamine infusion experienced a rapid and robust antidepressant response. In addition, we found that ketamine rapidly improved suicidal ideation in these patients.
Brain Structures in Verbal Communication: A Focus on Prosody

AbstractHuman communication is made up of three domains: speech, language, and pragmatics, which can be fully specified as a set of rules, units, and practices. Prosodic function spans these domains. Neurolinguistic studies utilizing an array of disparate techniques reveal that many parts of the brain are required for normal communicative function. Speech and language are largely lateralized to the left cerebral hemisphere, while pragmatic competence appears to require an intact right hemisphere. Familiarity agnosias have been associated with right hemisphere dysfunction, leading to an explanation for preserved familiar proper noun recognition in severe aphasia. This model pertains to the adult brain; due to the poorly understood phenomenon of cerebral plasticity, laterality of function in children is established weakly and slowly. The basal ganglia may subserve well-known phrasal structures such as that seen in “automatic speech,” and some kinds of prosodic competence, both in production and perception. ...
Bringing Jesuit Bibliography into the Twenty-First Century: Boston College’s New Sommervogel Online

This article introduces The Boston College Jesuit Bibliography: The New Sommervogel Online ( NSO ) , an ongoing project of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies at Boston College in conjunction with the publisher Brill. Named for the famed nineteenth-century Jesuit bibliographer Carlos Sommervogel, the NSO is the modern incarnation of a long and distinctive tradition of Jesuit bibliography. It harnesses the capabilities of the digital age to create a comprehensive, searchable, and open-access database cataloging thousands of Jesuit-themed books, book chapters, articles, and book reviews. By consolidating and organizing existing scholarship on the Society of Jesus, the new resource will provide a valuable service to scholars around the world and facilitate additional development within the already dynamic and rapidly expanding field of Jesuit studies.