cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel conjugable translocator protein ligand labeled with a fluorescence dye for in vitro imaging.

A conjugable analogue of the benzodiazepine 4"-chlorodiazepam (Ro5-4864), C 6 Ro5-4864 was synthesized to probe the binding sites of translocator protein (18 kDa; TSPO), previously known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor for molecular imaging. The amino group in this analogue allows universal conjugation to signaling molecules. Lissamine-C6Ro5-4864, synthesized from C 6 Ro5-4864 and a lissamine fluorescence dye, was investigated in this study. This imaging agent exhibited micromolar binding affinity (K i = 2.6 μM) to TSPO and was successfully imaged in TSPO rich glioma and breast cancer cell lines. These findings suggest that C 6 Ro5-4864 may provide opportunities in imaging disease states where TSPO levels are affected, such as cancer and neurologic diseases.
Chlorosilanes: development and application of MM2 force field parameters

The geometries, relative conformational energies, and dipole moments of mono and polychlorosilanes have been calculated using ab initio molecular orbital (MO) theory. Calculations at the HF/3–21G(*) level, with the exception of dipole moments, give reasonable agreement with experimental data. A new MM2 force field for chlorosilanes, which includes terms for bond length shortening and bond angle compression due to the attachment of electronegative Cl atoms, has been developed on the basis of experimental and ab initio results. The new force field is generally successful in predicting structural parameters, but is unable to reproduce the dipole moments of several model systems. While dipole moment predictions are not the authors' main interest, this failure defines a shortcoming in the MM2 method. The new parameters have been applied to problems in the prediction of stereochemistries of cyclic systems, and compared with experimental results where data are available.
Police Decision Making in Sexual Assault Cases: Predictors of Suspect Identification and Arrest

As the initial gatekeepers of the criminal justice system, police officers hold considerable discretion in the investigation of offenses and in the decision to make an arrest. This is particularly true with sexual assault given the unique nature of these cases. Yet most research in this area has focused on prosecutors’ charging decisions rather than police outcomes for reports of sexual assaults. In an effort to address this gap in the literature, we rely on official records collected from all sexual assaults reported to police in a large Arizona city in 2003 (N = 220) to examine the effects of crime seriousness, evidentiary strength, victim blame, and believablity factors on suspect identification and arrest. Results revealed that both legal and extralegal factors influenced whether police identify and arrest a suspect. These findings raise questions surrounding the role that police play in securing victim cooperation and the extent to which stereotypes of “legitimate” victims shape police officers’ will...
Multipoint correlations of concentration fluctuations in a turbulent passive scalar field

This study experimentally analyzes a turbulent passive scalar field using two-point and three-point correlation functions of the concentration fluctuations. The scalar field was created by the iso-kinetic release of a high Schmidt number dye into a fully developed turbulent boundary layer of an open channel flow. Concentration data at spatially separated measurement points were collected via the planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique. The current study complements previous research efforts by examining three-point correlations for several configurations in a turbulent shear flow. In the case of two streamwise-aligned points combined with one transversely separated point, contours of the three-point correlation function exhibit the symmetric properties reported in an earlier study of non-shear flow. In a second set of three-point configurations consisting of isosceles and collinear geometries, the influence of the orientation angle between the three-point configuration and the mean concentration gradient varies depending on the specified three-point geometry. The results also suggest that the scaling exponent in the inertial-convective regime is dependent on the injection length scale with weak dependence on the Reynolds number.
Identification of α- and β-Amanitin by Thin-Layer Chromatography

A thin-layer chromatographic method using Silica Gel G plates developed in methanol-methyl ethyl ketone (1:1) proved suitable for the rapid detection of α - and β -amanitin in mushroom extracts. Application of the procedure to Lepiota cepaestipes and Lepiota clypeolaria indicated the amanitins were not present in these species.
Effects of current and discontinued estrogen replacement therapy on hip structural geometry: The study of osteoporotic fractures

It is assumed that estrogen influences bone strength and risk of fractures by affecting bone mineral density (BMD). However, estrogen may influence the mechanical strength of bones by altering the structural geometry in ways that may not be apparent in the density. Repeated dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) hip scan data were analyzed for bone density and structural geometry in elderly women participating in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF). Scans were studied with a hip structural analysis program for the effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on BMD and structural geometry. Of the 3964 women with ERT-use data, 588 used ERT at both the start and end of the ∼3.5-year study, 1203 had past use which was discontinued by clinic visit 4, and 2163 women had never used ERT. All groups lost BMD at the femoral neck, but the reduced BMD among users of ERT was entirely due to subperiosteal expansion and not bone loss, whereas both bone loss and expansion occurred in past or nonusers. BMD increased 0.8%/year at the femoral shaft among ERT users but decreased 0.8%/year among nonusers. Section moduli increased at both the neck and shaft among ERT users but remained unchanged in past and nonusers. Current, but not past, use of estrogen therapy in elderly women seems to increase mechanical strength of the proximal femur by improving its geometric properties. These effects are not evident from changes in femoral neck BMD.
Catecholamine-secreting extra-adrenal pelvic ganglioneuroma in a child presenting with diaphoresis: A case report and review of literature☆

Abstract Diaphoresis is an uncommon presenting symptom in children. We present a 4 year old boy, with a history of increased sweating of 2 years duration. Review of systems was negative for diarrhea, flushing, or abdominal pain. On exam, the child had normal blood pressure and heart rate. An abdominal mass could not be appreciated. Laboratory studies were significant for modestly elevated serum, and urinary dopamine and norepinephrine levels. Computerized tomography scan showed a 31 × 39 × 51 mm pelvic mass. The patient underwent laparoscopic resection of the mass. After resection, catecholamine levels normalized, and sweating stopped. Pathologic evaluation of the surgical specimen revealed a maturing ganglioneuroma (GN). Health-care providers might easily overlook excessive sweating in a child, which can be a presenting symptom of catecholamine-secreting tumors.
Effect of surface tension and surfactant administration on Eustachian tube mechanics.

Development of otitis media has been related to abnormal Eustachian tube (ET) mechanics. ET is a collapsible tube that is periodically opened to regulate middle ear pressure and to clear middle ear...
Variation in the Hepatic Gene Expression in Individual Male Fischer Rats

A new tool beginning to have wider application in toxicology studies is transcript profiling using microarrays. Microarrays provide an opportunity to directly compare transcript populations in the tissues of chemical-exposed and unexposed animals. While several studies have addressed variation between microarray platforms and between different laboratories, much less effort has been directed toward individual animal differences especially among control animals where RNA samples are usually pooled. Estimation of the variation in gene expression in tissues from untreated animals is essential for the recognition and interpretation of subtle changes associated with chemical exposure. In this study hepatic gene expression as well as standard toxicological parameters were evaluated in 24 rats receiving vehicle only in 2 independent experiments. Unsupervised clustering demonstrated some individual variation but supervised clustering suggested that differentially expressed genes were generally random. The level of hepatic gene expression under carefully controlled study conditions is less than 1.5-fold for most genes. The impact of individual animal variability on microarray data can be minimized through experimental design.
Étapes vers un monde sans schizophrénie

Cet article presente des arguments selon lesquels le concept de schizophrenie est un stereotype prejudiciable qu’il vaudrait mieux eliminer de la recherche et de la pratique clinique. Les obstacles a une telle elimination sont reperes, et nous discutons des strategies pour les surmonter.
The Ca2+-sensing receptor: a target for polyamines

The Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaR) is activated at physiological levels of external Ca2+(Cao) but is expressed in a number of tissues that do not have well-established roles in the control of Cao, inc...
Transgenic overexpression of human IL-17E results in eosinophilia, B-lymphocyte hyperplasia, and altered antibody production.

We have identified and cloned a novel human cytokine with homology to cytokines of the interleukin-17 (IL-17) family, which we have termed human IL-17E (hIL-17E). With the identification of several IL-17 family members, it is critical to understand the in vivo function of these molecules. We have generated transgenic mice overexpressing hIL-17E using an apolipoprotein E (ApoE) hepatic promoter. These mice displayed changes in the peripheral blood, particularly, a 3-fold increase in total leukocytes consisting of increases in eosinophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophils. Splenomegaly and lymphoadenopathy were predominant and included marked eosinophil infiltrates and lymphoid hyperplasia. CCR3+ eosinophils increased in the blood and lymph nodes of the transgenic mice by 50- and 300-fold, respectively. Eosinophils also increased 8- to 18-fold in the bone marrow and spleen, respectively. In the bone marrow, most of the eosinophils had an immature appearance. CD19+ B cells increased 2- to 5-fold in the peripheral blood, 2-fold in the spleen, and 10-fold in the lymph nodes of transgenic mice, whereas CD4+ T lymphocytes increased 2-fold in both blood and spleen. High serum levels of the cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, eotaxin, and interferon γ were observed. Consistent with B-lymphocyte increases, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgG, and IgE were significantly elevated. Antigenic challenge of the transgenic mice with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) resulted in a decrease in anti-KLH IgG accompanied by increases of anti-KLH IgA and IgE. In situ hybridization of transgenic tissues revealed that IL-17Rh1 (IL-17BR/Evi27), a receptor that binds IL-17E, is up-regulated. Taken together, these data indicate that IL-17E regulates hematopoietic and immune functions, stimulating the development of eosinophils and B lymphocytes. The fact that hIL-17E overexpression results in high levels of circulating eosinophils, IL-4, IL-5, eotaxin, and IgE suggests that IL-17E may be a proinflammatory cytokine favoring Th2-type immune responses.
Mechanical design of a second generation LHC IR quadrupole

One of the proposed options to increase the LHC luminosity is the replacement of the existing inner triplets at the interaction regions with new low-beta larger aperture quadrupoles operating at the same gradient. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is carrying out preliminary studies of a large-bore Nb/sub 3/Sn quadrupole. The mechanical design presents a support structure based on the use of keys and bladders without self-supporting collars. This technology has been proven effective in several successful common coil Nb/sub 3/Sn dipoles built at LBNL, and it is for the first time applied to a cos(2/spl thetav/) design. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the quadrupole mechanical behavior, demonstrating the possibility of delivering, through this method, well-controlled coil pre-compression during assembly, cool-down and excitation. The study has been performed with the finite element program ANSYS.
Study of the Wake of a Circular Cylinder under Spatially and Temporally Modulated Plasma Actuation

The wake of a circular cylinder was forced with a temporally-modulated, spatiallysegmented dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator. The buried electrode was located at only certain spanwise locations along the cylinder such that spatially-modulated plasma was created. Along with this, the supply signal was amplitude-modulated with a square wave of twice the vortex shedding frequency. It was found that significant changes in wake properties occurred based on the modulation frequency and the power of actuation. When high-power, modulated forcing was employed with the segmented actuator, vortex shedding was significantly attenuated. A clear difference in the most prominent frequency peak was observed in the spectra between locations on the cylinder where plasma formed and where it did not. In the near-wake of the cylinder, the sub-harmonic mode was found to be stronger behind the non-plasma-forming region compared to the plasma-forming region. The high-power, modulated forcing also resulted in less drag compared to the unforced case as calculated by numerically integrating the velocity profile at a streamwise distance of x/d=40, where d is the cylinder diameter. In the case of low-power, modulated forcing, the unsteadiness in the wake increased. The unsteadiness was caused by sudden attenuation of the shedding peak caused by the emergence of a secondary peak in the spectra. The lowpower, modulated forcing also increased the velocity defect and consequently resulted in higher drag. The performance of the segmented actuator was compared with a straight actuator where the buried electrode covered the whole span of the cylinder. It was found that for the same induced velocity, a ‘W’-shaped velocity profile was obtained in the cylinder wake with a straight actuator and modulated forcing at both low and high power. Modulated forcing with the straight actuator increased the drag compared to the unforced case.
CYCLOTRON RESONANCE VANISHING EFFECT AND THz DETECTION

Experimental measurements of photoresistivity under terahertz (THz) radiation in low magnetic fields at conditions of cyclotron resonance (CR) in two-dimensional electron system (2DES) of GaAs/AlGaAs nanostructures are presented and discussed. We report the experimental discovery of "CR-vanishing effect" (CRV) in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures with high mobility as a well-defined gap on CR-line that is independent on incident THz power. Our analysis shows that the CRV may appear in systems with well correlated state of 2D electrons such as plasma waves and others. Fundamental nature of these correlated states of electrons in 2DES is discussed. Future THz detectors utilizing the new correlated states in 2DES may expand horizons for supersensitive detection in sub-THz and THz frequencies ranges.
Near-infrared wavelength intersubband transitions in high indium content InGaAs/AlAs quantum wells grown on GaAs

The authors report intersubband transitions shorter than 2 /spl mu/m in square and coupled InGaAs/AlAs quantum wells (QWs) grown on GaAs substrates. The linearly graded buffer technique is used to facilitate the growth of quantum wells with indium contents of 50 and 60%. E/sub 12/ of 720 meV (1.72 /spl mu/m) is achieved in six mono-layer (ML) wide In/sub 0.6/Ga/sub 0.4/As/AlAs QWs. Asymmetrically coupled In/sub 0.5/Ga/sub 0.5/As/AlAs QWs exhibit intersubband transition as high as 780 meV (1.59 /spl mu/m) for the 1-4 transition.
Influences on the global structure of cortical maps

Cortical maps often contain global spatial structure: however, theoretical accounts for their development have generally concentrated on reproducing only local structure. We show that the elastic net model of cortical map formation can closely approximate the global structure of the ocular dominance column map observed in macaque primary visual cortex. A key component is the assumption of spatially non-uniform and anisotropic correlations in the retina. This work shows how genetic and epigenetic effects could combine to establish characteristic global structure in cortical maps.
Characterizing a neurodegenerative syndrome: primary progressive apraxia of speech

Apraxia of speech is a disorder of speech motor planning and/or programming that is distinguishable from aphasia and dysarthria. It most commonly results from vascular insults but can occur in degenerative diseases where it has typically been subsumed under aphasia, or it occurs in the context of more widespread neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to determine whether apraxia of speech can present as an isolated sign of neurodegenerative disease. Between July 2010 and July 2011, 37 subjects with a neurodegenerative speech and language disorder were prospectively recruited and underwent detailed speech and language, neurological, neuropsychological and neuroimaging testing. The neuroimaging battery included 3.0 tesla volumetric head magnetic resonance imaging, [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose and [(11)C] Pittsburg compound B positron emission tomography scanning. Twelve subjects were identified as having apraxia of speech without any signs of aphasia based on a comprehensive battery of language tests; hence, none met criteria for primary progressive aphasia. These subjects with primary progressive apraxia of speech included eight females and four males, with a mean age of onset of 73 years (range: 49-82). There were no specific additional shared patterns of neurological or neuropsychological impairment in the subjects with primary progressive apraxia of speech, but there was individual variability. Some subjects, for example, had mild features of behavioural change, executive dysfunction, limb apraxia or Parkinsonism. Voxel-based morphometry of grey matter revealed focal atrophy of superior lateral premotor cortex and supplementary motor area. Voxel-based morphometry of white matter showed volume loss in these same regions but with extension of loss involving the inferior premotor cortex and body of the corpus callosum. These same areas of white matter loss were observed with diffusion tensor imaging analysis, which also demonstrated reduced fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, particularly the premotor components. Statistical parametric mapping of the [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans revealed focal hypometabolism of superior lateral premotor cortex and supplementary motor area, although there was some variability across subjects noted with CortexID analysis. [(11)C]-Pittsburg compound B positron emission tomography binding was increased in only one of the 12 subjects, although it was unclear whether the increase was actually related to the primary progressive apraxia of speech. A syndrome characterized by progressive pure apraxia of speech clearly exists, with a neuroanatomic correlate of superior lateral premotor and supplementary motor atrophy, making this syndrome distinct from primary progressive aphasia.
A parametric model for the distribution of the angle of arrival and the associated correlation function and power spectrum at the mobile station

One of the main assumptions in Clarke's classic channel model is isotropic scattering, i.e., uniform distribution for the angle of arrival (AOA) of multipath components at the mobile station. However, in many mobile radio channels we encounter nonisotropic scattering, which strongly affects the correlation function and power spectrum of the complex envelope at the mobile receiver. We propose the use of the versatile von Mises (1918) angular distribution, which includes and/or closely approximates important distributions like uniform, impulse, cardioid, Gaussian, and wrapped Gaussian, for modeling the nonuniform AOAs at the mobile. Based on this distribution, the associated correlation function and. power spectrum of the complex envelope at the mobile receiver are derived. The utility of the new results is demonstrated by comparison with the correlation function estimates of measured data.
Fabrication of Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers via Local Oxidation and Direct Wafer Bonding

We present the successful fabrication of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) with an improved insulation layer structure. The goal is to improve device reliability (electrical breakdown) and device performance (reduced parasitic capacitance). The fabrication is based on consecutive thermal oxidation steps, on local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS), and on direct wafer bonding. No chemical-mechanical polishing step is required during the device fabrication. Aside from the advantages associated with direct wafer bonding for CMUT fabrication (simple fabrication, cell shape flexibility, wide gap height range, good uniformity, well-known material properties of single-crystal materials, and low intrinsic stress), the main vertical dimension (electrode separation) is determined by thermal oxidation only, which provides excellent vertical tolerance control ( <;10 nm) and unprecedented uniformity across the wafer. Thus, we successfully fabricated CMUTs with gap heights as small as 40 nm with a uniformity of ±2 nm over the entire wafer. This paper demonstrates that reliable parallel-plate electrostatic actuators and sensors with gap heights in the tens of nanometer range can be realized via consecutive thermal oxidation steps, LOCOS, and direct wafer bonding without chemical-mechanical polishing steps.
Fundamental design issues for the future Internet

The Internet has been a startling and dramatic success. Originally designed to link together a small group of researchers, the Internet is now used by many millions of people. However, multimedia applications, with their novel traffic characteristics and service requirements, pose an interesting challenge to the technical foundations of the Internet. We address some of the fundamental architectural design issues facing the future Internet. In particular, we discuss whether the Internet should adopt a new service model, how this service model should be invoked, and whether this service model should include admission control. These architectural issues are discussed in a nonrigorous manner, through the use of a utility function formulation and some simple models. While we do advocate some design choices over others, the main purpose here is to provide a framework for discussing the various architectural alternatives. >
Quantitative versus Qualitative is a Distraction: Variations on a Theme by Brewer and Hunter (2006)

Much thinking about the nature of research problems today uses the quant-qual distinction as a master category. This can do more harm than good. The emergence of so-called mixed methods has not alleviated the problem of overemphasizing the differences between quant and qual. This paper discusses how the quant-qual distinction distracts us from consideration of more important issues, and tends to constrain opportunities for innovation. It is written following the analogy of variations on a simple musical theme. The simple theme is: focusing on the distinction between quantitative and qualitative, and on methods of mixing them, ‘ignores a wider range of methodological problems and opportunities to solve them’. I have written 10 variations on this theme of how the quantitative-qualitative division distracts from more important methodological problems and solutions. I will first quickly introduce the variations, as a sort of overture, and then return to each and elaborate on it.
Visualizing the Coronaries in Patients Presenting With Heart Failure of Unknown Etiology

While earlier in the past century hypertension and rheumatic heart disease were the most common causes of congestive heart failure in the U.S. ([1,2][1]), by the 1970s coronary artery disease (CAD) had taken the lead as the most common cause of chronic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and
Pagan and Christian: Sociological Euhemerism Versus American Sociology of Religion

Human knowledge is such that understanding of religion is inevitably disconsolate and pagan--specifically , Euhemeristic. So it was with classical sociological interpretations of religion, for which sociological accounts were alternatives to realist accounts or religious self-images. In guise of briefs for "detente" or against "reductionism," American sociology of religion has converged upon a realist theory which reendorses religious self-images. Euhemeristic and realist accounts are compared in order to argue that realist theories of religion are not only bad general theories, they are actually anti-sociological theories. Realism has effectively impeded Euhemeristic accounts within American sociology of religion, although they are being given elsewhere.
Handling Awkward Usability Testing Situations

You are half way through a usability test session, and the participant s cell phone rings. She answers it and says it s her child calling and she has to leave immediately, but she ll be back in 45 minutes to finish the test What should you do? In the course of running hundreds of product evaluations, we have encountered some awkward and unusual situations. These situations involve issues with participants, with the software or product being tested, and with the test protocol. Among the factors that we consider when resolving these issues include the participant s rights and psychological well-being, the cost to replace the participant s test session, the importance of adhering strictly to the recruiting criteria, and how eliminating the test session might affect the integrity of the protocol or data. In this paper, we describe some real-life sticky testing situations and discuss the factors we considered in resolving each issue.
Comparing echocardiographic assessment of systolic function with catheterization data in patients with single right ventricles.

Purpose Echocardiographic evaluation of systolic function in patients with single right ventricles (SRV) is important but remains challenging. Minimal data exist correlating echocardiographic indices with catheterization data in this population. The goal of this study was to evaluate which echocardiographic measurement correlated best with dP/dt (max) obtained by cardiac catheterization in SRV patients. Methods Patients with SRV physiology who underwent simultaneous echocardiography and cardiac catheterization were evaluated. Echocardiographic data included fractional area change % (FAC), displacement, TDI s'wave, myocardial performance index (MPI), global systolic strain, and global SR s wave. Maximum positive rate of ventricular pressure change measured as dP/dt (max) was obtained from the cardiac catheterization report. Correlations of echocardiographic and catheterization variables were examined using the Pearson correlation. Results Twenty-seven SRV patients were studied. Median age at the time of the catheterization was 11.4 months (range 0 - 132 months). dP/dt (max) values ranged from 337-1860 mmHg/s with a median of 994 mmHg/s. Mean FAC was 27.15 +/- 7.13%, displacement was 7.35 +/- 2.88 mm, TDI s' was 4.98 +/- 1.93 cm/sec, MPI was 0.41 +/- 0.17, global strain was-14.85 +/- 4.32%, and global SR s wave was -1.03 +/- 0.34 sec(-1). There were no significant correlations between dP/dt (max) and any of the echocardiographic measurements of systolic function in SRV patients. Conclusion In patients with SRV physiology, catheterization-derived dP/dt (max) did not correlate with echocardiographic measurements of systolic function. Larger studies are needed to determine which non-invasive parameter best describes systolic function in patients with SRV.
Crowdsourcing interactive fiction games.

Procedural generation of games has become an active research field. We present a system that automatically generates an interactive fiction (IF) by learning from crowdsourced corpora of example stories. We ask crowd workers from Amazon Mechanical Turk to write short stories about a given situation with simple language, from which a plot graph is learned, containing plot events, temporal precedence and mutual exclusion relations between the events. The plot graph describes an IF where players and non-player characters choose from executable events as determined by the plot graph. We demonstrate an IF learned from the domain of bank robbery.
Taste acuity and zinc status in chronic renal disease

The malnutrition often associated with progressive renal failure may be related to a progressive deterioration of taste acuity. To determine the relationships between taste acuity, zinc status, and progressive renal failure, 27 subjects were divided into three groups and classified as having mild, moderate, or severe renal failure, with creatinine clearance of 41 to 75,15 to 40, and 5 to 14 ml/minute, respectively. The subjects were evaluated for recognition taste thresholds for sour and sweet by the Cornsweet method. Serum, urinary, and salivary levels for zinc were determined by atomic absorption techniques. Food diaries were kept for two days; intakes of protein and zinc were calculated from the diaries. There was a significant (p
Capitalism, Fraud, and Moving Forward in a Crisis

Over the past three decades, there have been an increasing number of emerging markets and capitalist economies worldwide. This growing capitalistic global economy has proven to be sensitive and vulnerable due to the interdependence of many local economies. The most recent global economic crisis was exacerbated by the U.S. housing market crash as well as hedge fund and banking scandals. Cases of fraud and unethical corporate conduct by financiers have called into question the American financial institution as well as capitalism itself (Hart, 2010). Some have even argued that ‘capitalism is defunct’ (Abel, 2010).
Effects of Curcumin on Neuroinflammation in Animal Models and in Patients with Alzheimer Disease

Neuroinflammation is a well coordinated and protective mechanism, which is characterized by redness, pain, swelling and temperature. Low neuroinflammation for a short duration produces neuroprotective effects in the brain, but both acute and long term chronic neuroinflammation produces neurodegenerative effects. At the cellular level, neuroinflammation is accompanied by activation of microglia and astrocytes. At the molecular level, neuroinflammation is companied by the generation of high levels of PGs, LTs, and TXs and increased expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 IL-8, CXC, and chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). These mediators along with ROS, and NO impair mitochondrial function by inducing the accumulation of mtDNA mutations and inhibiting mitochondrial respiratory chain and energy production. Neuroinflammation is an early event in the amyloid pathology and precedes plaque deposition in human subjects and experimental models of AD. Curcumin is an excellent antioxidant antiinflammatory agent. It can cross BBB and inhibits cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities leading to decrease in generation of PGs, LTs, and TXs. It also inhibits the production of NO, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Curcumin mediates its beneficial effect not only by modulating APP processing and downregulating gene expression of proteins associated by apoptosis and neuroinflammation, but also by increasing Aβ uptake by macrophages. Curcumin also induces heat shock proteins and reduces protein misfolding and aggregation.
A Multidimensional design for Multi-user communications

In this paper, we propose a Multi-user (Mu)-Multidimensional system in a wireless communication scenario. This design uses precoding and reordering of data in multiple dimensions. Hence it produces an embedded diversity due to the linear combination of all input elements. However, because of this precoding, there is a constellation expansion that needs to be controlled. It is widely known that constellation design is a complex and systematic process. We propose two sub-optimum methods aimed at reducing the constellation expansion and the implementation burden.
An Anatomical Feasibility Study on the Use of the Hypoglossal and Hemi–Hypoglossal Nerve as a Donor Motor Nerve for Free Functioning Muscle Transfer in Upper Extremity Reconstruction:

Objective/Hypothesis: Reconstruction of adult brachial plexus injuries remains a clinical challenge. The advent of nerve transfers and free functioning muscle transfers has increased the available ...
Use of Concanavalin A for Structural Studies

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the use of Concanavalin A for structural studies. Concanavalin A is the carbohydrate-binding protein of the jack bean. This protein is one of a class of carbohydrate-binding globulin proteins that are found in the seeds of a wide variety of leguminous plants. Each of these proteins is species-specific and poses an individual problem in isolation and characterization. Each protein also binds a specific monosaccharide and usually exhibits anomeric specificity for the sugar it binds. Numerous studies indicate that Concanavalin A interacts with terminal, nonreducing glycosyl residues of polysaccharide chain ends by means of noncovalent, secondary forces, principally hydrogen bonds.
Germline Genetic Biomarkers of Sunitinib Efficacy in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results From the RENAL EFFECT Trial.

Abstract Background Sunitinib, the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway inhibitor, is an established standard-of-care for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study aimed to assess correlations between candidate germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and sunitinib efficacy in patients from the RENAL EFFECT trial ( NCT00267748 ), a randomized phase II study in patients with metastatic RCC comparing the 4-weeks-on/2-weeks-off schedule and a continuous daily dosing schedule. Patients and Methods Informed consent for pharmacogenetics research was obtained from 202 out of 289 treated patients in the trial. Associations between 9 SNP variants (CXCL8, LOXL2, CCDC26, SH3GL2, CLLU1, IL2RA, AURKB, and 2 SNPs on Chromosomes 7 and 12) and progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, and overall survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazard model, and the Fisher exact test. Results CXCL8 rs1126647 A/A versus A/T (P = .004) or T/T (P Conclusion Germline variants in CLLU1, IL2RA, CXCL8, and SH3GL2 warrant further retrospective study in independent cohorts of patients with metastatic RCC treated with vascular endothelial growth factor-class inhibitors, to test their biological significance and potential clinical fitness as biomarkers to guide treatment.
Sustaining police officers’ motivation in aviation security

The focus of the present study is airport police officers. The aim of this study is to examine factors that determine and shape airport police officers’ work motivation in the context of goal-setting theory advanced by Locke and Latham (1990a) to improve the effectiveness of airport security. More specifically, we ask whether goal difficulty and goal specificity influence officers’ motivation. Additionally, we seek to determine if goal commitment, task significance, self-efficacy, feedback, rewards, and participatively set goals have a positive effect on police officers’ motivation. The results indicate that goal difficulty, goal specificity, task significance, commitment, self-efficacy, and rewards are related to police officers’ sense of motivation. That is, the goal-setting model is a practical tool that increases motivational skills of airport police officers to bolster aviation security. Thus, this model is a good starting point for assisting airport police officers in their work context and offering important insights and implications, theoretically and practically, in the field of aviation security.
Endothelial Cell Phenotypes are Maintained During Angiogenesis in Cultured Microvascular Networks

A challenge in tissue engineering biomimetic models for studying angiogenesis is building the physiological complexity of real microvascular networks. Our laboratory recently introduced the rat mesentery culture model as an ex vivo experimental platform for investigating multicellular dynamics involved in angiogenesis within intact microvascular networks. The objective of this study was to compare endothelial cell phenotypes along capillary sprouts in cultured ex vivo rat mesentery microvascular networks to in vivo endothelial cell phenotypes. For Day 3 (Ex Vivo) tissues, adult rat mesentery tissues were cultured for three days in media supplemented with 10% serum. For Day 3 (In Vivo) tissues, adult rats were anesthetized and the mesentery was exteriorized for twenty minutes to induce angiogenesis. Microvascular networks from Day 3 (Ex Vivo) and Day 3 (In Vivo) groups were angiogenic, characterized by an increase in vessel density, capillary sprouting, and identification of similar BrdU-positive endothelial cell distributions along sprouts. Endothelial cells in both groups extended pseudopodia at the distal edge of capillary sprouts and displayed similar endothelial cell UNC5b, VEGFR-2, and CD36 labeling patterns. The results from this study support the physiological relevance of the rat mesentery culture model and highlight its novelty as a biomimetic tool for angiogenesis research.
Quality versus quantity: do weak bonds enhance the fitness of female baboons?

There is growing evidence that social bonds have adaptive consequences for individuals in many mammalian species, including savannah baboons. While the majority of studies have shown that the strength of social bonds and the extent of social integration enhance female fitness, several other investigations have suggested that the number of social bonds may sometimes may be more important than the strength or quality of females' social relationships. Here, we examine the impact of the number of strong and weak social bonds on female fertility and longevity in a population of chacma baboons,Papio ursinus. We find no evidence that the number of social bonds consistently affects fertility or infant survival to 1 year, but offspring of females with more weak social bonds lived longer than offspring of other females. After discussing several methodological issues that may influence the analyses of the effects of the number of social bonds, we re-examine the relationship between the number of weak and strong social bonds and reproductive performance using procedures that avoid these problems. Again, we find no evidence that the number of weak or strong social bonds affects females' fertility, survival to 1 year. The effects of the number of weak social bonds on infant longevity disappear, and appear to be an artefact of the relationship between the number of weak social bonds and the number of females in the group.
Distinguishing between positive and negative reinforcement: Responses to Nakajima (2006) and Staats (2006)

In a previous issue of The Behavior Analyst, we discussed the ambiguities that surround the distinction between positive and negative reinforcement (Baron & Galizio, 2005; see also Michael, 1975). Seven distinguished behavior analysts commented on our article, and their comments and our response to them are already in print (Baron & Galizio, 2006; Chase, 2006; Iwata, 2006; Lattal & Lattal, 2006; Marr, 2006; Michael, 2006; Sidman, 2006). We believe that this dialogue represented a constructive step toward clarification of an important concept within behavior analysis. Most notably, the discussion showed how difficult it is to arrive at a set of rules that can identify a reinforcer as positive or negative. Since then, the journal has received two more thoughtful contributions that appear in this issue (Nakajima, 2006; Staats, 2006). A rereading of our original article and our previous response to our critics will reveal that much of the ground has already been covered. However, both Nakajima and Staats rephrase the issues in ways that call for a further response. We thank them for further broadening the discussion.
Evaluating Preparation Programs for School Library Media Specialists

School library media centers provide the facilities and professional expertise needed to form a solid base for the curriculum. School librarians, now more commonly known as school library media specialists, not only handle typical library operations (e. g., circulate books, answer reference questions, and conduct story hour), they also act as resource persons to faculty members by aiding in expanding the curriculum and developing in-service training for teachers. These many expectations demand a thorough and extensive preparation program.
Kernel k-Groups via Hartigan’s Method

Energy statistics was proposed by Szekely in the 80’s inspired by Newton’s gravitational potential in classical mechanics and it provides a model-free hypothesis test for equality of distributions. In its original form, energy statistics was formulated in euclidean spaces. More recently, it was generalized to metric spaces of negative type. In this paper, we consider a formulation for the clustering problem using a weighted version of energy statistics in spaces of negative type. We show that this approach leads to a quadratically constrained quadratic program in the associated kernel space, establishing connections with graph partitioning problems and kernel methods in machine learning. To find local solutions of such an optimization problem, we propose kernel k-groups, which is an extension of Hartigan’s method to kernel spaces. Kernel k-groups is cheaper than spectral clustering and has the same computational cost as kernel k-means (which is based on Lloyd’s heuristic) but our numerical results show an improved performance, especially in higher dimensions. Moreover, we verify the efficiency of kernel k-groups in community detection in sparse stochastic block models which has fascinating applications in several areas of science.
From Unwatchable Life to Consumable Spectacle: On History and the Black-Korean Conflict

This article considers the immigrant store owner as spectacle, signifier, and actor in Korean-Black relations in Los Angeles during the late twentieth century, arguing that the “Black-Korean conflict” was an historical and cultural phenomenon in which events and their representations built upon each other. Members of these groups sometimes resisted and interrogated the framework of interethnic conflict which was projected onto them, but also incorporated it into their outlooks and organizing strategies. The article also reflects upon efforts to address intergroup tensions and conflict against a backdrop of widespread racial injustice and economic inequality in Los Angeles and the United States.
Interactive Religious Accommodations

This Article argues employers should be required to engage in the same interactive process with employees seeking religious accommodations as they are with employees seeking disability accommodations. The interactive process generally obligates the employer and employee to work together in good faith to determine whether the employee can be reasonably accommodated. Neither the Americans with Disability Act nor Title VII of the Civil Rights Act explicitly mandates the interactive process, yet courts routinely read this requirement into the former statute but not the latter. The practical effect of this distinction is that religious accommodations generally are more difficult to obtain, and employees seeking such accommodations have less control over the process and outcome. Consequently, employees may be forced to choose between their jobs and their religious beliefs—the very conundrum Title VII seeks to avoid. The legal justification for mandating the interactive process for disability accommodations but not religious accommodations is uncompelling, prompting a handful of courts to require the interactive process for both types of accommodations. More courts should follow suit. There is considerable upside, and virtually no downside, to extending the interactive-process requirement to religious accommodations. It benefits employees and employers alike by increasing the odds of a mutually agreeable accommodation, which in turn reduces the risk of litigation. Moreover, good-faith participation in the interactive process better positions a party to prevail when litigation does ensue. The interactive process also benefits courts, not only by lightening dockets through reduced litigation, but also by providing a straightforward, highly adaptable, and familiar framework through which to more effectively evaluate accommodation claims. As religious-accommodation requests increase, both in number and types, the interactive process can help reduce conflict by ensuring employers and employees work together to determine whether a reasonable accommodation is possible.
Observations on Miguel Cabrera after the Conservation of One of His Casta Paintings

In 1763, the highly regarded Mexican painter Miguel Cabrera (c. 1715–1768) created sixteen paintings of castas (castes) in the New World. Signed by the artist on the first and the sixteenth canvas “Mich. Cabrera pinxit, Mexici, Anno 1763,” the set surfaced in Spain in the twentieth century,
Activation of delta-globin gene expression by erythroid Krupple-like factor: a potential approach for gene therapy of sickle cell disease.

Hemoglobin A2 (HbA2; alpha 2 delta 2) is a powerful inhibitor of HbS (alpha 2 beta 2(3)) polymerization. However, HbA2 levels are normally low in sickle cell patients. We show that a major reason for low delta- globin gene expression is the defective CACCC box at -90 in the delta-globin promoter. When the CACCC box defect in delta is corrected, expression of an HS2 delta /Luciferase reporter is equivalent to HS2 beta/Luciferase. Erythroid Krupple-like factor (EKLF), which binds to the CACCC box of the beta-globin gene and activates high-level expression, does not bind to the normal delta-globin promoter. Our goal is to design a modified EKLF that binds to the defective delta-globin promoter and enhances delta-globin gene expression. To test the feasibility of this strategy, we inserted the beta-globin CACCC box at - 90 of the delta-globin gene promoter to produce an HS2 delta CAC-beta construct and quantitated human delta-and beta-globin mRNA in stably transformed murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. delta-Globin mRNA in these cells was 22.0% +/- 9.0% of total human globin mRNA (delta/delta + beta) as compared with 3.0% +/- 1.3% in the HS2 delta-beta control. In a second set of experiments a GAL4 DNA-binding site was inserted at - 90 of the delta-globin gene to produce an HS2 delta GAL4-beta construct. This construct and a GAL4(1–147)/EKLF expression vector were stably transfected into MEL cells. delta-Globin mRNA in these cells was 27.8% +/- 7.1% of total human globin mRNA as compared with 9.9% +/- 2.5% in the HS2 delta GAL4-beta plus GAL4(1–147) control. These results show that delta-globin gene expression can be significantly increased by a modified EKLF. Based on these results, we suggest that modified EKLFs, which contain zinc fingers designed to bind specifically to the defective delta-globin CACCC box, may be useful in gene therapy approaches to increase HbA2 levels and inhibit HbS polymerization.