cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3322: Phenotypic plasticity in the normal breast

Metaplasia is observed in almost all epithelial cancers. The origins of metaplasia are obscure although chronic inflammation is thought to be one etiology. We present data that suggests that an origin of metaplasia is the normal resident stem cell population. Methods: Starting from 10 gauge tissue cores of normal breast donated to the Komen Tissue Bank, 28 normal mammary epithelial (HME) and 33 normal stromal (HMS) cell lines were established using an organoid isolation method after digestion with enzymes for 24 hours. The HME cell lines were characterized by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Ploidy was assayed. Cellular morphology was observed both on two-dimensional and in three-dimensional culture systems. The HME cells were subjected to FACS analysis using multiple antibodies. Results: 96.9% of early passage cells are diploid. The HME cells express vimentin, CK 5/6, p63, CD 10, CK 18, and HER-1 when grown on two dimensional plastic surfaces. Cells placed in the center of a sandwich of Matrigel uniformly make spheres 37mm-325mm in diameter. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of the formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of these spheres reveal keratinized squamous differentiation. When the cells are grown on Laminin, Collagen Type IV, or Fibronectin surfaces multiple cell types are observed including osteoclasts, distinguished by the presence of Tartrate Resistant Acid Phospatase; and chondrocytes, confirmed by staining with Alcian Blue. Other cells with a spindle-shape and cytoplasmic vacuoles turn a dark reddish-brown color when stained with Oil Red O, characteristics of adipocytes. In other areas of the culture, the cells form a syncitium and they express the protein MyoD, a marker of immature muscle. Finally, there are numerous cells with long, dendritic processes. These cells express Nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and beta-III tubulin. Using FACS, the HME cells were found to be CD49f positive and EpCAM negative. Multiple nucleoli were confirmed using anti-Nucleostemin IHC. Conclusions: Phenotypic plasticity is common to all the HME cell lines characterized to date. Differentiation into cells of mesodermal and ectodermal origin, CD49+/EpCAM- by FACS, and the presence of multiple nucleoli suggest that the isolated cells are a multipotent/stem cell residing in the normal adult breast. These cells, through a series of yet to be elucidated events, may be the cells of origin of both benign and malignant metaplasia observed in breast lesions. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3322. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3322
Influence of Protein Concentration, Amino Acid Supplementation, and Daily Time of Access to High- or Low-Protein Diets on Egg Weight and Components in Laying Hens

Feeding a 13% CP diet based on corn and soybean meal and supplemented with methionine to laying hens results in reduced egg weight in comparison with hens fed a corn and soybean meal methionine-supplemented diet containing 16% CP. An experiment was conducted to determine whether the egg weight reduction could be eliminated by supplementing the low-protein diet with additional lysine, methionine, and tryptophan or by adding glycine and glutamic acid to increase the amino nitrogen to a level equivalent to 16% CP. The influence of the dietary treatments on the weight of the major egg components was also determined. In a second experiment, the influence of time of day of feeding the 13 or 16% CP diets on egg weight and egg components was determined. Adding additional amino nitrogen in the form of glycine and glutamic acid or increasing the levels of lysine, methionine, or tryptophan individually or in combination failed to prevent the depression in egg weight of hens fed the lower protein diet. Measurement of egg components demonstrated that the reduction in egg weight was primarily associated with a reduction in albumen content of the egg. Feeding a high-protein diet from 1400 to 0800 h and a low-protein diet from 0800 to 1400 h resulted in egg weight equivalent to that from hens continuously fed the high-protein diet. The lower weight of the albumen in eggs from hens fed a 13% CP diet may be due to a lower availability of amino acids for protein synthesis during the 3- to 4-h period when the ovum is in the magnum.
Spider Mites and Some Natural Control Agents Found on Cotton in the Delta Area of Mississippi

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, was identified as the mite pest attacking cotton in 194 of 195 samples taken from 10 counties in the Mississippi Delta. A pathogenic fungus, Entomophthora sp., was found attacking T. urticae (females only) in 92.8% of the samples. Four species of predaceous mites in the family Phytoseiidae were associated with 33 samples. These species were Amblyseius fallacis (Garman), Galendromus longipilis (Nesbitt), Galendromus pomi (Parrott), and Neoseiulus sp. The sex ratio of the tetranychid mites was 1.58 females to 1 male.
Intraoperative color transparencies: how to improve your results.

AbstractImprovements in film speed and the availability of 55 and 105mm. macro lenses used with appropriate lens filters have obviated the necessity for flash equipment to obtain high quality intraoperative color transparencies. We have had good results without flash, using only available operating room spotlights with a lens/film/filter combination readily available to the surgeon. We present this system and the rationale for its effectiveness.
A Statewide Study of the Public's Knowledge of Child Abuse Reporting Laws

This study conducted telephone interviews with a random sample of adults (N = 509) in a state with a universal child abuse reporting law. A substantial proportion of the interviewees (39%) were not aware of this law. Findings indicated that the public's understanding was mixed. Most respondents knew that reports could be made anonymously and that their identity could be kept private. However, most believed that children are automatically removed from the home if there is maltreatment and more than 50% were not aware they could be charged with a misdemeanor for failing to report a suspicion of child abuse. The respondents who had ever made a report (19%), had a greater knowledge of the laws than those who had not made a report. Older adults and those with less education had the least accurate perception of child abuse reporting policies. When asked about barriers to reporting, respondents cited worries that reporting would not help the child. Findings suggest that efforts to increase the public's comfort w...
Kinetics and Diffusion

This chapter presents various problem sets related to kinetics and diffusion such as the molecular weight of glucose when its empirical formula is C 6 H 12 O 6 ; the formula weight of magnesium chloride having a formula of MgCl 2 .6H 2 O; and the amount of MgCl 2 .6H 2 O required to make 1 L of 0.1 MgCl 2 solution.
Desiccation enhances rapid cold-hardening in the flesh fly Sarcophaga bullata: evidence for cross tolerance between rapid physiological responses

Many insects use rapid cold-hardening (RCH), a physiological response to sub-lethal exposure to stressors, such as chilling and desiccation, to enhance their cold tolerance within minutes. Recently, drought-induced RCH, triggered by brief, mild desiccation, was described in larvae of the freeze-tolerant gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis). However, its prevalence and ecological significance in other insects is not known. Consequently, we used a freeze-intolerant model, the flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata, to investigate the effects and mechanisms of drought-induced RCH. In addition, we investigated how drought- and cold-induced RCH interact by exposing flies to both desiccation and chilling. Desiccation for 3 h increased larval pupariation after cold shock from 28 to 40 %-the first example of drought-induced RCH in both a freeze-intolerant insect and in a non-overwintering life stage. We also found that desiccation and chilling together enhanced the cold hardiness of larvae and adults more than either did separately, suggesting that drought and cold trigger distinct physiological mechanisms that interact to afford greater cold tolerance. These results suggest that drought-induced RCH is a highly conserved response used by insects with diverse life history strategies. Furthermore, the protective interaction between drought- and cold-induced RCH suggests that, in nature, insects use multiple cues and physiological mechanisms to fine-tune their response to changing ambient conditions.
Science, Technology and the Environment

Most populations which have been relatively deprived for an extended period and then experience an opportunity to move up the economic ladder, place first priority, in their own scale of values, on taking advantage of the new opportunities for such advancement. They almost invariably have secondary concern for environmental contamination as long as it is not an immediate and severe impediment to economic development. This trend seems to be almost international. The pea soup fogs and river contamination which characterized the earlier phases of industrial development in England are typical blights that populations will accept when new opportunities for wealth appear. Taiwan emerged from World War II as a relatively poor, primarily agricultural land but has since become a significant industrial center. The people on the island were prepared to ignore environmental problems and inconvenient congestion of various kinds while building up the industrial base and associated facilities, such as the transportation system and the institutions of higher education needed to benefit their children. The turning point has finally set in, however, and the government is establishing corrective measures.
Readout of undoped CsI crystals using wavelength shifting scintillating fibers and bars

An investigation has been made of a readout technique for undoped cesium iodide crystals using wavelength shifting scintillating fibers and bars. The goals were to maximize the light output from the wavelength shifters in order to provide a convenient and cost effective means to read out very large crystal arrays with sufficient efficiency to operate in the energy range of /spl lsim/1 MeV. The method also provides a means for reading out crystals which may be located inside a magnetic field. A study is made for various types of fibers (BCF-10, BCF-12 and BCF-20) giving the dependence of the light output on fluor type, fiber diameter and the spacing between fibers. Similar studies are made for several types of bars (BC-404 and BC-408) which compare the light output for various bar thicknesses and fluor concentrations. >
Multimodality Therapy for Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent approximately 80 % of sarcomas that arise from the gastrointestinal tract. The primary tumor most commonly arises from the stomach (40–60 %), with small intestine and colon being the next two most common sites of primary disease. GISTs primarily metastasize to the liver and peritoneum. Rarer sites of metastasis include lymph nodes (usually in pediatric-type GIST), lung, and bone.
Development of medium throughput cell-based ELISAs to quantitate the activity of PI3K-AKT pathway inhibitors

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 290 PI3K/AKT signaling pathway controls cell survival, cell-cycle progression, cell growth and metabolism through a cascade phosphorylation of a number of key substrates. This pathway is regulated by three well characterized tumor suppressors; pten, tsc2, and lkb1 . Deletion of these genes results in activation of the AKT pathway and proliferative disorders. In fact, many human tumors show activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and therefore it has become an attractive pathway for modulation to develop targeted cancer therapies. This can be achieved by developing small molecule inhibitors that target PI3 Kinase, PDK1, AKT, mTOR, or S6K and assessed utilizing conventional biochemical assays. However, it is also necessary to understand the effects of these molecules on phosphorylation events in cell based systems. Currently a widely used method for evaluating these effects is by western blotting, a labour-intensive and limited capacity method which is not suitable for drug discovery. Therefore we developed a series of novel cell-based ELISAs to measure the extent of protein phosphorylation by employing phospho-specific antibodies in 96-well plate format in a number of different adherent cancer cell lines. These assays have been used to quantitate the inhibition of phosphorylated target proteins, including pGSK, pAKT, pmTOR and pS6 in several human tumor cell lines exposed to various stimuli and well characterized pathway inhibitors such as Rapamycin and LY294002. SARs can be developed utilizing these assays to evaluate inhibitors that are active on PI3K, PDK1, AKT, mTOR and p70S6K. These assays can also be utilized as primary screens in an automated high throughput setting to identify inhibitors that modulate the pathway by novel mechanisms.
Role of corpus callosum integrity in arm function differs based on motor severity after stroke.

While the corpus callosum (CC) is important to normal sensorimotor function, its role in motor function after stroke is less well understood. This study examined the relationship between structural integrity of the motor and sensory sections of the CC, as reflected by fractional anisotropy (FA), and motor function in individuals with a range of motor impairment level due to stroke. Fifty-five individuals with chronic stroke (Fugl-Meyer motor score range 14 to 61) and 18 healthy controls underwent diffusion tensor imaging and a set of motor behavior tests. Mean FA from the motor and sensory regions of the CC and from corticospinal tract (CST) were extracted and relationships with behavioral measures evaluated. Across all participants, FA in both CC regions was significantly decreased after stroke (p 39), motor status correlated with FA in the CC but not the CST, while in individuals with relatively greater motor impairment (Fugl-Meyer motor score ≤ 39), motor status correlated with FA in the CST but not the CC. The role interhemispheric motor connections play in motor function after stroke may differ based on level of motor impairment. These findings emphasize the heterogeneity of stroke, and suggest that biomarkers and treatment approaches targeting separate subgroups may be warranted.
Acceptance Or Rejection Of An Audit Client: Understanding Risk In The Auditing Environment

In this case, students are required to conduct an initial assessment of a potential audit client and provide a well-supported recommendation to the audit partner. Specifically, students are assigned a company and asked to gather and evaluate data on it and its upper management. Based on that information, students are to make an objective recommendation to the firm on whether to accept, accept and consider a risk-adjusted audit fee, or reject the client; they are also required to provide the reasoning or argument for the decision. This case has many learning objectives. First, students will demonstrate their research and critical thinking skills and apply those skills by evaluating the information to make a judgment similar to that required of audit professionals. Second, students will create a memorandum that concisely summarizes the obtained information and provide a well-supported recommendation. Third, students will understand and be able to communicate the various types of risk in the business environment. Finally, the case assists students in converting their perspective from that of an accountant to that of an evaluator or auditor. Moreover, the case can be used to introduce professional skepticism and the importance of maintaining objectivity when making a judgment.
The Impact of Acid Treatments and Electropolishing Stainless-Steel Surfaces on Tritium Inventories

The concentration of tritium in the adsorbed water layer on stainless-steel type 316 is notably higher than that present in the metal lattice. The absorbed waters play a key role in the migration o...
The Difference a Single Atom Can Make: Synthesis and Design at the Chemistry–Biology Interface

A Perspective of work in our laboratory on the examination of biologically active compounds, especially natural products, is presented. In the context of individual programs and along with a summary of our work, selected cases are presented that illustrate the impact single atom changes can have on the biological properties of the compounds. The examples were chosen to highlight single heavy atom changes that improve activity, rather than those that involve informative alterations that reduce or abolish activity. The examples were also chosen to illustrate that the impact of such single-atom changes can originate from steric, electronic, conformational, or H-bonding effects, from changes in functional reactivity, from fundamental intermolecular interactions with a biological target, from introduction of a new or altered functionalization site, or from features as simple as improvements in stability or physical properties. Nearly all the examples highlighted represent not only unusual instances of producti...
'The Ability to Pay' in Tax Law: Clarifying the Concept's Egalitarian and Utilitarian Justifications and the Interactions between the Two

A vast amount of tax literature appeals to the premise that a system of taxation should assign tax burdens according to taxpayers’ “ability to pay.” Despite the broad-based assent to the importance of “ability to pay,” however, there has been far from a consensus on why it is important, or even on what the term means. These confusions are frequently overlooked, though, because many of the characterizations of and justifications for “ability to pay” come out the same way on various issues—thus masking the differences among the viewpoints. In this Article, I attempt to unpack and shed much-needed light on the term “ability to pay.” It turns out that the notion of “ability to pay” is employed for two main reasons: Distributing the tax burden according to people’s ability to pay furthers both egalitarian and utilitarian ideals. In this Article, I begin by teasing these goals apart and by explaining how they are furthered by distributing the tax burden according to people’s “ability to pay.” I then proceed to explore in greater depth how successful the notion of “ability to pay” is at furthering each of these two goals, and I consider different ways of assigning the tax burden (and different collection methods) that could perhaps better further egalitarian and utilitarian goals. While many accounts further both goals somewhat well, and while many of these same accounts further one goal extremely well, it is difficult to identify an account that furthers both goals extremely well. Ultimately, I zero in on an account that, in my view, best satisfies the egalitarian goal and best satisfies the utilitarian goal. Further, because it best satisfies both individual goals, I argue that it is also the account that best satisfies the underlying ambition of an “ability to pay” tax system to further both goals. The account that I offer is a version of a utility tax—a version both according to which the tax is collected in terms of utility, and according to which the tax burden is determined in terms of utility. The account I offer, in various ways, could be described as an “ability to pay” tax in terms of utility. Thus, although I begin the Article by exploring the notion of an “ability to pay” tax and I then argue that an “ability to pay” tax, as it currently exists, is not the account that best furthers egalitarianism and efficiency, the account I defend does incorporate some key features of an “ability to pay” tax (despite being very different in other ways). Further, it is only in virtue of unpacking the notion of “ability to pay,” and exploring the rationales and justifications that underlie it, that I will be able to identify the account I defend, recognizing its unique ability to simultaneously further egalitarian and utilitarian goals.
Mass Gauging and Thermometry on the Superfluid Helium on-Orbit Transfer Flight Demonstration

The Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) Flight Demonstration, launched in June, 1993 was a shuttle attached payload designed to demonstrate the technology needed to resupply superfluid helium dewars in space. One of the technology items demonstrated was the ability to determine the mass in either supply or receiver dewar. Liquid quantity was measured using heat pulse mass gauging. For SHOOT the algorithm used to compute the mass from temperature measurements has been improved and the resolution and accuracy of the thermometry has been increased. The resulting mass resolution is 1 to 3%. In orbit the heat pulse mass gauging result is compared to results obtained using liquid/vapor discriminators when the liquid is purposely settled to one end of the dewars. Mass gauging results are also be compared to integrated flow meter results. The electronics for thermometer readout are also be briefly described.
The Idea of “Technology” and Postmodern Pessimism

“Technological pessimism” may be a novel term, but most of us seem to understand what it means.2 It surely refers to that sense of disappointment, anxiety, even menace, that the idea of “technology” arouses in many people these days. As the editors of this volume note, however, there also is something paradoxical about the implication that technology is somehow responsible for today’s widespread social pessimism. The modern era, after all, has been marked by a series of “spectacular scientific and technological breakthroughs”; we are reminded of the astonishing technical innovations of the last century in, say, medicine, chemistry, aviation, electronics, atomic energy, space exploration, or genetic engineering. Isn’t it odd, then, to attribute today’s widespread gloom to the presumed means of achieving all those advances: an abstract entity called “technology”?
Complexity of Uranyl Peroxide Cluster Speciation from Alkali-Directed Oxidative Dissolution of Uranium Dioxide.

Solid UO2 dissolution and uranium speciation in aqueous solutions that promote formation of uranyl peroxide macroanions was examined, with a focus on the role of alkali metals. UO2 powders were dissolved in solutions containing XOH (X = Li, Na, K) and 30% H2O2. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurements of solutions revealed linear trends of uranium versus alkali concentration in solutions resulting from oxidative dissolution of UO2, with X:U molar ratios of 1.0, showing that alkali availability determines the U concentrations in solution. The maximum U concentration in solution was 4.20 × 105 parts per million (ppm), which is comparable to concentrations attained by dissolving UO2 in boiling nitric acid, and was achieved by lithium hydroxide promoted dissolution. Raman spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) of solutions indicate that dissolution is accompanied by the formation of various uranyl peroxide cluster species, the identity of whi...
Chlamydia ascites: a call for sexually transmitted infection testing.

A 26-year-old gravida 2, para 2-0-0-2 woman with a recent uncomplicated vaginal delivery 10 weeks prior presented to our hospital with 5 weeks of abdominal swelling and discomfort. Four weeks after delivery, the patient began having right upper quadrant pain and was found to have cholelithiasis. She underwent an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy 6 weeks prior to admission, but started to develop worsening abdominal swelling 1 week postoperatively. Abdominal distension and shifting dullness were present on examination. CT of the abdomen and pelvis was remarkable for moderate-volume ascites and mild enhancement of the pelvic peritoneum. Paracentesis removed 2.46 L of ascites fluid with 76% lymphocytic predominance. Results for Chlamydia trachomatis were positive in urine, cervical swab and ascitic fluid. Doxycycline was prescribed for a diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease exudative ascites. Since discharge, she has completed her antibiotic course and reports resolution of all symptoms without recurrence of ascites.
Selective hypersensitivity to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia hematopoietic progenitors

Juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML) is a good model for the study of myeloproliferation because JCML hematopoietic progenitor cells grow in vitro at very low cell densities without the addition of exogenous stimulus. Previous studies have demonstrated that this proliferation is dependent on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and that removal of monocytes from the cell population before culture eliminates this "spontaneous" myeloproliferation, suggesting a paracrine role of monocyte stimulation. However, subsequent studies have shown that increased GM-CSF production from the JCML monocytes is not a consistent finding and therefore not a plausible sole mechanism. In examining hematopoietic growth factor dose-response curves, both JCML GM and erythroid nonadherent progenitor cell populations displayed a marked and selective hypersensitivity to GM-CSF. Responses to interleukin-3 and G-CSF were identical to control dose-response curves. This is the first demonstration of a myeloid leukemia in which hypersensitivity to a specific growth factor appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Ischemic Bowel in the Post Cardiothoracic Patient

Bowel ischemia, although rare, is a grave diagnosis requiring prompt recognition and intervention. Early diagnosis is an independent risk factor in outcome. Critically ill patient populations, including those who are post cardiothoracic surgery, pose difficult challenges in the ability to diagnose and treat ischemia. Further, their predisposition towards nonocclusive ischemia creates room for debate in treatment approaches. Limited literature exists for this patient population. The chapter below addresses the best evidence based literature available for diagnosis and intervention within this unique population.
Physics-Based Regularizer for Joint Soft Segmentation and Reconstruction of Electron Microscopy Images of Polycrystalline Microstructures

For Bayesian image reconstruction applications in which the measured image follows from physical considerations, it is desirable to incorporate the corresponding physics into the prior model. In this paper, we use a phase-field as the physics-based prior model to implement the soft segmentation and reconstruction of noisy microstructural images of a polycrystalline, covalent material (SiC). The functional form of this prior is based on a coarse-grained Ginzburg–Landau free energy that embodies the underlying physics, and its phenomenological parameters are obtained from atomistic computer simulation. In particular, we compare an existing functional form developed by Fan and Chen for microstructural simulations with one developed here that is better suited to noise reduction in image reconstruction, and find that the latter form is indeed superior in this context. Numerical and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method performs successful soft segmentation and reconstruction of microscopy images, even at very low signal levels. In addition, the superior performance of the proposed model for several case studies in comparison with state-of-the-art methods, such as BM3D and one using a MRF-based prior, is demonstrated.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Heart Transplantation in DiGeorge Syndrome.

DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) is commonly associated with both congenital heart disease (CHD) and immunologic abnormalities. While CHD may prompt consideration for heart transplantation (HTx), little is known about HTx management or outcomes in this group. The aim of this study was to describe the spectrum of patients with DGS who undergo HTx and report post-HTx outcomes. All pediatric HTx recipients (2002–2016) with DGS were identified using ICD codes from a linked billing and clinical registry database. Patient characteristics and outcomes were described and compared to non-DGS HTx recipients with CHD. Kaplan–Meier methods were used to assess overall survival, freedom from infection, and freedom from rejection. A total of 17 patients with DGS who underwent HTx at 12 different centers were included. Median age at HTx was 5 years (IQR 0–13 years). Steroids were used for induction in all patients in addition to thymoglobulin in 13/17 (76%) and IL2R antagonists in 3/17 (18%). Maintenance immunosuppression was a combination of tacrolimus or cyclosporine and mycophenolate or azathioprine in 16/17 (94%). Half received steroids at the time of discharge. There were six deaths (35%). The median post-HTx survival was 5.4 years with no difference in freedom from rejection, infection, or overall survival between patients with and without DGS. Patients with DGS undergoing HTx received standard immunosuppression. We found no difference in freedom from infection, rejection, or overall post-HTx survival compared to non-DGS patients, although the small size of our study resulted in limited statistical power. Given the potential for favorable outcomes, patients with DGS may be considered for HTx in the appropriate clinical setting.
Knowledge retrieval needs of clinicians and the 'know how' index solution.

To meet the generic information retrieval needs of those working in healthcare, by the design, piloting, development and implementation of a ‘know how’ index. A collaborative index of prior knowledge. An information index for knowledge retrieval was designed and constructed for regional use with literature searches to identify alternative approaches. Blocks and solutions to wider collaborative usage were identified followed by application at regional level. The basic local index was started in 2004 using word-based bookmarks and hyperlinks. It was known as LLAMA (local linked addresses, management and advice). A literature search …
ZINC-SILICON INTERACTIONS INFLUENCING SPERM CHROMATIN INTEGRITY AND TESTICULAR CELL DEVELOPMENT IN THE RAT AS MEASURED BY FLOW CYTOMETRY

Flow-cytometric procedures were used to determine effects of dietary Zn and Si variations on rat testicular cell development, including integrity of caudal epididymal sperm chromatin structure defined as the susceptibility of DNA to denaturation in situ. Concentrations of 4 (deficient), 12 (adequate), and 500 (excessive) mg of Zn/kg of diet were used with Si concentrations of 0 (low), 540 (medium), and 2,700 (high) mg/kg of diet in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement. Three-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed the experimental diets for 8 wk. Rats fed the Zn-deficient/Si-low diet demonstrated significant deviations in the ratio of testicular cell types present, including a reduction of S phase and total haploid cells. Furthermore, approximately 50% of epididymal sperm had a significant decrease in resistance to DNA denaturation in situ. In the Zn-deficient/Si-medium treatment, the effects of Si on animal and testicular growth, distribution of testicular cell types, and sperm chromatin structure integrity were quite similar to the effects of the Zn-adequate diets. A toxic effect of Zn on sperm chromatin structure integrity observed in the Zn-excess/Si-medium treatment seemed to be counteracted by Si in the Zn-excess/Si-high treatment. Silicon at medium and high levels seems to affect Zn metabolism through potentiation and antagonistic reactions, respectively. Zinc deficiency likely disrupts the normal sperm chromatin quaternary structure in which Zn plays a role by providing stability and resistance to DNA denaturation in situ.
Abstract 641: Drosophila Adipogenesis Regulates Cardiac Function

High-calorie diets are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Recently, several investigators have proposed a model of "maximum adipose expandability," where the limi...
Family Circle & Play, Dreams, and Imitation in Childhood

Cornelia Otis Skinner, Family Circle (Houghton Mifflin, 1948).Jean Piaget, Play, Dreams, and Imitation in Childhood (Norton, 1962).One of my favorite mid-twentieth-century memoirs is Family Circle,...
Two Peas in a Pod? Understanding Cross-Cultural Similarities and Differences in Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety, like other psychological disorders, is shaped by culture with respect to meaning, experience, and expression. Although prevalence rates of anxiety vary across cultural groups, the rates of service utilization for anxiety disorders among cultural minority populations remain low. These findings suggest the need for culturally sensitive approaches to recognizing anxiety across cultures. Specifically, cross-cultural approaches to understanding anxiety require careful assessment of idioms of distress and syndromes that constitute locally meaningful cultural concepts of distress that can be assessed alongside transcultural and transdiagnostic constructs that underlie multiple anxiety disorders. For example, repetitive negative thinking (i.e., catastrophic cognitions regarding psychological and physical impact of such thinking), anxiety sensitivity (i.e., fear of anxiety sensations), and somatization (i.e., tendency to experience and express anxiety through somatic presentations) are transcultural and transdiagnostic targets relevant to anxiety disorders. This chapter explains local and transcultural approaches to holistic conceptualization of anxiety disorders. These approaches are then illustrated through case examples that explore culturally unique aspects of panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder across cultural groups.
Improving Allergy Documentation: A Retrospective Electronic Health Record System-Wide Patient Safety Initiative

Objectives Documentation of allergies in a coded, non-free-text format in the electronic health record (EHR) triggers clinical decision support to prevent adverse events. Health system-wide patient safety initiatives to improve EHR allergy documentation by specifically decreasing free-text allergy entries have not been reported. The goal of this initiative was to systematically reduce free-text allergen entries in the EHR allergy module. Methods We assessed free-text allergy entries in a commercial EHR used at a multihospital integrated health care system in the greater Boston area. Using both manual and automated methods, a multidisciplinary consensus group prioritized high-risk and frequently used free-text allergens for conversion to coded entries, added new allergen entries, and deleted duplicate allergen entries. Environmental allergies were moved to the patient problem list. Results We identified 242,330 free-text entries, which included a variety of environmental allergies (42%), food allergies (18%), contrast media allergies (13%), "no known allergy" (12%), drug allergies (2%), and "no contrast allergy" (2%). Most free-text entries were entered by medical assistants in ambulatory settings (34%) and registered nurses in perioperative settings (20%). We remediated a total of 52,206 free-text entries with automated methods and 79,578 free-text entries with manual methods. Conclusions Through this multidisciplinary intervention, we identified and remediated 131,784 free-text entries in our EHR to improve clinical decision support and patient safety. Additional strategies are required to completely eliminate free-text allergy entry, and establish systematic, consistent, and safe guidelines for documenting allergies.
Development and performance of a 2.9 Tesla dipole magnet using high-temperature superconducting CORC® wires

Author(s): Wang, X; Abraimov, D; Arbelaez, D; Bogdanof, TJ; Brouwer, L; Caspi, S; DIetderich, DR; DImarco, J; Francis, A; Garcia Fajardo, L; Ghiorso, WB; Gourlay, SA; Higley, HC; Marchevsky, M; Maruszewski, MA; Myers, CS; Prestemon, SO; Shen, T; Taylor, J; Teyber, R; Turqueti, M; Van Der Laan, D; Weiss, JD | Abstract: Although the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) REBa2Cu3O x (REBCO, RE-rare earth elements) material has a strong potential to enable dipole magnetic fields above 20 T in future circular particle colliders, the magnet and conductor technology needs to be developed. As part of an ongoing development to address this need, here we report on our CORC® canted cosθ magnet called C2 with a target dipole field of 3 T in a 65 mm aperture. The magnet was wound with 70 m of 3.8 mm diameter CORC® wire on machined metal mandrels. The wire had 30 commercial REBCO tapes from SuperPower Inc. each 2 mm wide with a 30 µm thick substrate. The magnet generated a peak dipole field of 2.91 T at 6.290 kA, 4.2 K. The magnet could be consistently driven into the flux-flow regime with reproducible voltage rise at an engineering current density between 400-550 A mm-2, allowing reliable quench detection and magnet protection. The C2 magnet represents another successful step towards the development of high-field accelerator magnet and CORC® conductor technologies. The test results highlighted two development needs: continue improving the performance and flexibility of CORC® wires and develop the capability to identify locations of first onset of flux-flow voltage.
Invisible women, data bias in a world designed for men

I knew of Caroline Cirado Perez as the person who got Jane Austen, or as a matter of principle, a woman, on to the £10 banknote issued by the bank of England in 2017, and as a result received horre...
Characterization of prairie pothole inundation using AnnAGNPS under varying management and drainage scenarios

Abstract Farmed prairie potholes are small, isolated depressions frequently classified as semi-permanent wetlands that make up a significant portion of land area in the Des Moines Lobe (DML) of the larger Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). Historically, these depressions have been subjected to significant drainage to improve their agricultural capacity. However, many assessments of the economic return of continuing to farm these depressions suggest that continued attempts to produce conventional row crops is not profitable and has other ecological consequences beyond crop drownout. This study expands the existing discussion of land use and drainage alternatives in a watershed modeling context. This study utilized the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) model to individually simulate the long-term hydrology of 6 prairie potholes using a matrix of land use and drainage modifications. Results suggest the presence of artificial drainage is the dominant factor in prairie pothole hydrology, while retirement and no-till practices can provide moderate reductions in flood inundation. Conservation tillage induces minimal change on flood metrics. Results show that average annual maximum inundated surface area is reduced by at most 50% across all simulations and the median annual days flooded could be reduced by 25 days, though this is less consistent when isolating high-precipitation years. Regardless of drainage status, in all scenarios there are, on average, more than two inundations events per year lasting 2–4 days. Longer events occur approximately once per year on average. Area inundation frequency curves suggest up to a 20% reduction in maximum pothole area inundated annually can be achieved at the 2-year return frequency. The availability of this data helps characterize the hydrology of farmed potholes more generally over a wide range of conditions, providing a reference for the prioritization of potholes for conservation or alternative management.
From Angstroms to Nanometers: Measuring Interatomic Distances by Solid-State NMR

Internuclear distances represent one of the main structural constraints in molecular structure determination using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, complementing chemical shifts and orientational restraints. Although a large number of magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR techniques have been available for distance measurements, traditional 13C and 15N NMR experiments are inherently limited to distances of a few angstroms due to the low gyromagnetic ratios of these nuclei. Recent development of fast MAS triple-resonance 19F and 1H NMR probes has stimulated the design of MAS NMR experiments that measure distances in the 1-2 nm range with high sensitivity. This review describes the principles and applications of these multiplexed multidimensional correlation distance NMR experiments, with an emphasis on 19F- and 1H-based distance experiments. Representative applications of these long-distance NMR methods to biological macromolecules as well as small molecules are reviewed.
Late-breaking abstract: Dietary flavonoids, ventilatory function and lung obstruction in adults across Europe – a GA2LEN study

Background Dietary flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which might protect the lungs, but epidemiological evidence is scant. We investigated the association between flavonoids and lung function in European adults. Methods A stratified random sample was drawn from the GA 2 LEN screening survey, in which 55,000 adults aged 15 to 75 answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Post-bronchodilator spirometry was obtained from 2,810 subjects. Forced vital capacity (FVC), the ratio between the forced exhaled volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) and FVC (FEV 1 /FVC), FVC below lower limit of normal (FVC 1 /FVC 2 LEN FFQ. Associations between outcomes and flavonoids were examined with regression and meta-analyses. Simes procedure was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. Results FVC (Lt) was associated with anthocyanin intake (Adjusted [a] b-coeffient of higher vs. lowest quintile intake 0.16; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.06 to 0.26) and with flavone intake (ab-coefficent 0.19; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.28). A lower risk of having an FVC 1 /FVC Conclusion This first epidemiological study on all major flavonoid subclasses and lung function and obstruction provides evidence for a protective effect of anthocyanins on lung function in adults.
The effect of starting powders on the giant dielectric properties of the perovskite CaCu3Ti4O12

Three different starting powders were used to test the effect of sintering time at 1100°C on the dielectric properties of CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 1 2 . Dielectric properties were correlated with the grain size microstructure using a standard IBLC model. The presence of excess CuO led to discontinuous grain growth with large flat porous grains, CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 1 2 when synthesized using anatase as a titania substitute for rutile showed signs of enhanced sintering which reduced the porosity of the large grains resulting in a significant drop in dielectric loss. Room temperature permittivity varied from 10,538 to 368,970 depending on sintering time and starting powder.
Heuristic search in infinite state spaces guided by Lyapunov analysis

In infinite state spaces, many standard heuristic search algorithms do not terminate if the problem is unsolvable. Under some conditions, they can fail to terminate even when there are solutions. We show how techniques from control theory, in particular Lyapunov stability analysis, can be employed to prove the existence of solution paths and provide guarantees that search algorithms will find those solutions. We study both optimal search algorithms, such as A*, and suboptimal/real-time search methods. A Lyapunov framework is useful for analyzing infinite-state search problems, and provides guidance for formulating search problems so that they become tractable for heuristic search. We illustrate these ideas with experiments using a simulated robot arm.
Protective antibodies develop, and murine Lyme arthritis regresses, in the absence of MHC class II and CD4+ T cells.

Murine Lyme borreliosis is characterized by arthritis and carditis that are most severe at 2 to 3 wk, then regress during the course of persistent infection. Borrelia burgdorferi-specific Abs and CD4+ T cells have been implicated in the resolution phase of arthritis. Therefore, MHC class II transactivator (CIITA)-deficient mice that do not express conventional class II molecules and lack the normal CD4 repertoire were used to investigate the role of MHC class II-mediated responses in Lyme disease. The development of arthritis and carditis, and the resolution of arthritis, were similar in CIITA-deficient and control C57/BL6 mice. In contrast, the resolution of carditis was delayed in CIITA-deficient animals compared with controls. Moreover, CIITA-deficient mice developed B. burgdorferi-specific IgG2b Abs, and sera from these animals passively protected naive C3H/HeN mice from challenge inoculation and cleared B. burgdorferi from 2 day-infected C.B.17 SCID mice. These data suggest that CD4+ T cells and MHC class II-mediated responses are not required for the generation of protective Abs or the regression of arthritis, but may be important in the resolution of Lyme carditis in mice.
Cryogenic Wind Tunnels

This paper opens with a brief review of cryogenic wind tunnels and their use for high Reynolds number testing. Emphasis is on operational and aerodynamic testing experience in the NASA Langley 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT). Since we built the 0.3-m TCT in 1973, it has logged over 8000 hours of running at cryogenic temperatures. We use the 0.3-m TCT for aerodynamic testing and to develop test techniques for cryogenic tunnels.
Selective Breeding for High and Low Alcohol Preference in Mice

High and low alcohol preference (HAP and LAP, respectively) mice were created by 10 generations of bidirectional selection for differences in two-bottle choice alcohol consumption. The progenitors used for selection were HS/lbg mice, which are a genetically defined, outbred stock. During selection, mice had 24-h, daily access to 10% alcohol (v/v) and water ad libitum for 30 days and were selected based on the alcohol (g/kg) consumed per day over the entire period. Food was available ad libitum. At S10, line means for alcohol consumption differed greatly, with consumption of over 12 g/kg per day in the HAP mice and less than 2 g/kg per day in the LAP mice. Realized heritability for bidirectional selection was approximately 0.2. Female mice consumed more alcohol than male mice. There were no differences between lines in alcohol elimination rate, nor were there line differences in intake of salt or quinine solutions. However, consumption of saccharin solutions was greater in HAP mice than LAP mice, consistent with previous findings of a genetic correlation between sweet preference and alcohol drinking. Because the mouse genome is relatively well characterized, these selected lines should prove a useful tool for assessment of the genetic basis of, and phenotypes that correlate with, alcohol drinking.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Editing of Human β-globin Gene in Human Cells: A Commentary on the Research Ethics

Recently, Chinese researchers published the results of their research using a gene-editing technology on abnormal human zygotes. The research team believes this research has prospective clinical application, viz., for gene therapy for β-thalassemia, a white blood cell disorder, and plan to persist with further studies, despite technical problems in this experiment. The research has elicited international criticism from both scientific and bioethics domains, because it innovates beyond the current global consensus against human germ line modification. This paper comments on some ethical issues presented by the research report and concludes that, under present circumstances, the Chinese research team did not meet a standard of scientific responsibility. Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2015 Vol.6 (1):22-26.
A new approach to business writing

Business writing can be effectively taught and created using examples drawn from the best modern literature and by borrowing analytical tools from the theory and practice of practical criticism. Looks at examples from Michener, Hemingway, Faulkner and Steinbeck to demonstrate this.