cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Update on Kawasaki Disease Vasculitis and Myocarditis

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a childhood systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that causes coronary artery aneurysms (CAA), and if left undiagnosed can result in long-term cardiovascular complications and adult cardiac disease. Up to 20% of KD children fail to respond to IVIG, the mainstay of therapy, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Here we review the latest findings in the field regarding specific etiology, genetic associations, and advancements in treatment strategies to prevent coronary aneurysms. Recent discoveries using the Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE)-induced KD vasculitis mouse model have accelerated the study of KD pathophysiology and have advanced treatment strategies including clinical trials for IL-1R antagonist, Anakinra. KD remains an elusive pediatric vasculitis syndrome and is the leading cause of acquired heart disease among children in the USA and developed countries. Advancements in combination treatment for refractory KD with further understanding of novel genetic risk factors serve as a solid foundation for future research endeavors in the field.
Enhancing catalytic alkane hydroxylation by tuning the outer coordination sphere in a heme-containing metal-organic framework.

Catalytic heme active sites of enzymes are sequestered by the protein superstructure and are regulated by precisely defined outer coordination spheres. Here, we emulate these protective functions in the porphyrinic metal–organic framework PCN-224 by post-synthetic acetylation and subsequent hydroxylation of the Zr6 nodes. A suite of physical methods demonstrates that both transformations preserve framework structure, crystallinity, and porosity without modifying the inner coordination spheres of the iron sites. Single-crystal X-ray analyses establish that acetylation replaces the mixture of formate, benzoate, aqua, and terminal hydroxo ligands at the Zr6 nodes with acetate ligands, and hydroxylation affords nodes with seven-coordinate, hydroxo-terminated Zr4+ ions. The chemical influence of these reactions is probed with heme-catalyzed cyclohexane hydroxylation as a model reaction. By virtue of passivated reactive sites at the Zr6 nodes, the acetylated framework oxidizes cyclohexane with a yield of 68(8)%, 2.6-fold higher than in the hydroxylated framework, and an alcohol/ketone ratio of 5.6(3).
Effect of Fenestrated Pedicle Screws with Cement Augmentation in Osteoporotic Patients Undergoing Spinal Fusion.

Objective Osteoporosis is a well-known risk factor for instrumentation failure and subsequent pseudoarthrosis after spinal fusion. In the present systematic review, we analyzed the biomechanical properties, clinical efficacy, and complications of cement augmentation via fenestrated pedicle screws in spinal fusion. Methods We conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Reports appearing in the PubMed database up to March 31, 2020 were queried using the key words “cement,” “pedicle screw,” and “osteoporosis.” We excluded non-English language studies, studies reported before 2000, studies that had involved use of cement without fenestrated pedicle screws, nonhuman studies, technical reports, and individual case reports. Results Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies had tested the biomechanics of cement-augmented fenestrated pedicle screws. The magnitude of improvement achieved by cement augmentation of pedicle screws increased with the degree of osteoporosis. The cement-augmented fenestrated pedicle screw was superior biomechanically to the alternative “solid-fill” technique. Fourteen studies had evaluated complications. Cement extravasation with fenestrated screw usage was highly variable, ranging from 0% to 79.7%. However, cement extravasation was largely asymptomatic. Thirteen studies had assessed the outcomes. The use of cement-augmented fenestrated pedicles decreased screw pull out and improved fusion rates; however, the clinical outcomes were similar to those with traditional pedicle screw placement. Conclusions The use of cement-augmented fenestrated pedicle screws can be an effective strategy for achieving improved pedicle screw fixation in patients with osteoporosis. A potential risk is cement extravasation; however, this complication will typically be asymptomatic. Larger comparative studies are needed to better delineate the clinical efficacy.
Caputo–Fabrizio fractional Hermite–Hadamard type and associated results for strongly convex functions

The study of fractional integral inequalities has attracted the interests of many researchers due to their potential applications in various fields. Estimates obtained via strongly convex functions produce better and sharper bounds when compared to convex functions. To this end, we establish some new Hermite–Hadamard and Fejer types inequalities by means of the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional integral operators for strongly convex functions. In particular, we prove among other things that if $$\omega :\mathfrak {I}\rightarrow {\mathbb {R}}$$ is a strongly convex function with modulus $$c>0$$ and $$\alpha ,\beta \in \mathfrak {I}$$ with $$\alpha <\beta $$ , then $$\begin{aligned} \begin{aligned}&\omega \left( \frac{\alpha +\beta }{2}\right) +\frac{c}{12}(\beta -\alpha )^2\\&\quad \le \frac{B(\mu )}{\mu (\beta -\alpha )}\left[ {^{cf}{\mathcal {I}}}_{\alpha }^{\mu }\omega (s)+^{cf}{\mathcal {I}}_{\beta }^{\mu }\omega (s)-\frac{2(1-\mu )}{B(\mu )}\omega (s)\right] \\&\quad \le \frac{\omega (\alpha )+\omega (\beta )}{2}-\frac{c}{6}(\beta -\alpha )^2, \end{aligned} \end{aligned}$$ where $$\mu \in (0,1]$$ , $$s\in \mathfrak {I}$$ and $$B(\mu )>0$$ is a normalization function. Some applications to special means have also been investigated.
Penile sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma: A case report.

Abstract A 74-year-old man with a penile mass was diagnosed with sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Further workup did not show any other lesions or metastases. He was treated with a total penectomy, bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection, and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Following surgery, he received six cycles of cisplatin and gemcitabine. Sarcomatoid carcinoma and carcinosarcoma of the urethra are rare; six prior cases have been reported in the literature, with this being the first urothelial with sarcomatoid component. Survival in patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma or carcinosarcoma of the urinary tract is poor, with the limited data supporting a multimodal approach to improve survival.
Symptom Trajectory among Formerly Abused Women: An Exploratory Study.

Women who have experienced intimate partner violence suffer from symptoms that persist long after the abuse has ended. However, the patterns and trajectory of these symptoms are poorly understood. ...
A Review of “The Year Book of Pathology and Clinical Pathology—1975”

The Year Book series was originated around the turn of the century to make available to the practicing physician a digest of the best of the then-current medical literature. In the intervening years the series has expanded to cover every major medical specialty, several subspecialties, and dentistry. The apparent goal of the Year Book series is to make available to the reader the largest amount of significant medical literature in a particular area with a minimum of reading time investment. The success of the series would seem to indicate that this goal has largely been accomplished.
Women scientists in academia: Geographically constrained to big cities, college clusters, or the coasts?

Women scientists in academia have been shown to be less geographically mobile than their male counterparts, a factor that may exacerbate gender inequities in faculty representation, tenure, and salary. This study examines the extent to which the jobs of academic women scientists are disproportionately concentrated in large cities, areas with many colleges and universities, and regions where most doctorates are granted. We also investigate whether jobs in these locations affect salary, tenure, full-time faculty status, and employment outside one's field of training in ways that differ for women and men. Our analysis is guided by arguments that geographic constraints on women's mobility are rooted in social factors, such as gender roles and mate selection patterns. Data are drawn from over 13,000 faculty respondents in the national Survey of Doctoral Recipients, representing 22 science and engineering disciplines and over 1,000 4-year colleges or universities. Regression analysis reveals that, irrespective of their family status, women faculty are more likely than their male counterparts to reside in doctoral production centers, areas with large clusters of colleges, and large cities. Responsibility for children intensifies women's geographic concentration more than marriage does and in ways that differ from men. Geographic concentration also appears generally more harmful to women's careers than to men's. Women in doctoral production centers are less likely to have tenure and more likely to work part time; those in larger cities are more likely to be in jobs off the tenure track. Locales with many colleges appear to present somewhat better career prospects for women.
Increasing Physicians’ Awareness of the Impact of Statistics on Research Outcomes: Comparative Power of the t-test and Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test in Small Samples Applied Research

To effectively evaluate medical literature, practicing physicians and medical researchers must understand the impact of statistical tests on research outcomes. Applying inefficient statistics not only increases the need for resources, but more importantly increases the probability of committing a Type I or Type II error. The t-test is one of the most prevalent tests used in the medical field and is the uniformally most powerful unbiased test (UMPU) under normal curve theory. But does it maintain its UMPU properties when assumptions of normality are violated? A Monte Carlo investigation evaluates the comparative power of the independent samples t-test and its nonparametric counterpart, the Wilcoxon Rank-Sum (WRS) test, to violations from population normality, using three commonly occurring distributions and small sample sizes. The t-test was more powerful under relatively symmetric distributions, although the magnitude of the differences was moderate. Under distributions with extreme skews, the WRS held large power advantages. When distributions consist of heavier tails or extreme skews, the WRS should be the test of choice. In turn, when population characteristics are unknown, the WRS is recommended, based on the magnitude of these power differences in extreme skews, and the modest variation in symmetric distributions.
Effects of Angiotensin II Antagonists in Comparison to ACE Inhibitors in Patients with Heart Failure due to Systolic Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in pa- tients with heart failure due to systolic left ventricular dysfunction and are indicated in all patients unless contra- indicated or not tolerated. Despite their ef~cacy, a rela- tively large percentage of patients in whom these agents are indicated do not receive them, and the patients who do are often given doses less than those shown to be effective in the major morbidity-mortality trials. The failure to use ACE inhibitors appears to be in large part due to their perceived side effects, many of which are related to bra- dykinin accumulation. The introduction of angiotensin II antagonists such as losartan provides an opportunity to block the effect of angiotensin II without many of the bra- dykinin-mediated side effects. Emerging data suggest that losartan may have an advantage compared to ACE inhibi- tors in reducing mortality, which appears to be due primar- ily to a reduction in sudden cardiac death. The potential mechanisms whereby an angiotensin II antagonist might reduce mortality in comparison to an ACE inhibitor include 1) a possible direct antiarrhythmic effect of the antagonist, 2) the fact that bradykinin, which may promote ventricular ~brillation by causing the prejunctional release of norepi- nephrine from sympathetic neurons, does not accumulate with use of angiotensin II antagonists as opposed to ACE inhibitors, 3) blockade of effects of angiotensin II produced in the vascular wall and myocardium by non-ACE-depend- ent mechanisms, and 4) the fact that angiotensin II antago- nists increase angiotensin II levels, which may stimulate angiotensin II type 2 and/or other angiotensin receptors with bene~cial effects. Large-scale clinical trials are cur- rently under way comparing the effectiveness of angioten- sin II antagonists alone and in combination with ACE in- hibitors to ACE inhibitors alone in reducing total mortality. These trials will clearly establish whether angiotensin II antagonists are superior to ACE inhibitors in reducing mor- tality in patients with heart failure due to systolic left ventricular dysfunction, as has been observed with losartan versus captopril in the ELITE study.
Evaluation of hypotensive drug therapy in chronic hypertensive disease in pregnancy

D URING the past five and a half years we have been evaluating the beneficial or detrimental effects of long-term hypotensive drug therapy on the mother and/or the fetus in cases of chronic hypertensive disease complicated by pregnancy. During this period the diagnosis of toxemia of some degree and type has been made in 1,100 patienm at the Chicago Lying-in Hospital. As can be seen from Table I, 118 of these patients had chronic hypertension with a systolic blood pressure in excess of 180. Our control period, insufficient time, etc., eliminated all but 20 who were suitable candidates for hypotensive drug therapy.
Introduction: anti-adhesion therapy in sickle cell disease.

In this issue of Blood , Kaul et al[1][1] report that stimulation by platelet-activating factor (PAF) of artificially perfused rat mesocecum ex vivo promotes the adhesion of human sickle red blood cells (SS RBC) to postcapillary endothelium. Notably, this adhesive interaction was blocked by two
Factors Influencing Elastic Stresses in Double Cantilever Beam Specimens

An elastic stress analysis was conducted for a double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen using finite-element methods. The purpose of this study was to identify the important parameters that influence stresses ahead of the delamination front. The study focused on an aluminum DCB specimen, typical of adhesively-bonded joints, and on a graphite/epoxy specimen representing a cocured composite. Opening mode sigma sub y stresses ahead of the crack tip were calculated and compared with those for a monolithic reference specimen. Beyond the singularity-dominated region very near the crack tip, the sigma sub y distribution was elevated compared to the monolithic case. Both the adhesive thickness and the adherend transverse (thickness-direction) stiffness were found to influence the elevation of sigma sub y. In contrast, adherend thickness and longitudinal stiffness has very little effect on this stress distribution. Estimates for adhesive yielding beyond the aluminum DCB crack tip showed that both the area and height of the plastic zone increased to a peak value for increasing adhesive thicknesses. Results from this study would provide insight for comparing data from different DCB specimens and for designing new DCB specimens.
Microfabrication process for high-frequency power-conversion transformers

A process for microfabrication of transformers for high-frequency power conversion applications is described. The process uses multilayer films of NiFe/SiO/sub 2/ magnetic material and copper coils deposited on a silicon substrate. Transformers less than 100 /spl mu/m thick are designed to handle 1.7 W each in an area 1.5 by 5.4 mm. Coil measurements confirm predicted DC and AC resistance. Applications to a 10 W, 10 MHz DC-DC power converter are discussed. >
Focus: Irish Traditional Music

This is an introduction not only to the instrumental and vocal traditions of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but also to Irish music in the context of the Irish diaspora.
Consequences of error

Although misclassification errors are among the most ubiquitous elements of any gene mapping study, their consequences are often omitted or ignored. These errors, however, can cause deleterious results for the analysis of genetic data. Here we review the consequences of misclassification error in genetic linkage and association analysis. We also present recent methodological advances to estimate error rates and to incorporate errors into statistical tests of gene mapping. Computations for many of these advances may be performed through freely available software. Keywords: statistical genetics; misclassification; genotyping error; diagnostic or diagnosis error; pedigree error; phenotype error; sample size; linkage; association
Stabilization energies of extensively conjugated propargylic radicals.

G3(MP2) and other model chemistry calculations indicate that stabilization energies of extensively conjugated allylic radicals H2(CC)nCH2•, n = 1−4, increase monotonically as the number of repeating CC units increase. In contrast, stabilization energies of the analogous propargylic radicals, H(C⋮C)nCH2•, decrease beyond n = 2. Breaking up the number of contiguous conjugated C⋮C units in conjugation with the odd electron enhances rather than diminishes stability. These results complement previous findings of significant differences in the stabilization of conjugated ground-state polyenes vs polyynes.
Digital Simulation of an Adaptive System for Long-Term Ventilation of the Lungs

Digital simulation of a model reference adaptive control scheme for long-term ventilation of the lungs is presented. This adaptive scheme is capable of bringing the instantaneous alveolar pressure of the patient to its normal level within one inspiration period, following a possible change in the patient's respiratory parameters (i.e., airway resistances or lung and chest wall compliances).
Self-assembling peptide nanotubes with antiviral activity against hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects chronically 3% of the world population and the current therapy against this pathogen is only partially effective. With the aim of developing novel antiviral strategies against HCV, we screened a D,L-α-peptide library using an unbiased methodology based on a cell culture infection system for HCV. We found a family of highly active amphiphilic eight-residue cyclic D,L-α-peptides that specifically blocked entry of all tested HCV genotypes into target cells at a postbinding step without affecting infection by other enveloped RNA viruses. Structure-activity relationship studies indicate that antiviral activity was dependent on cyclic D,L-α-peptide self-assembly processes and that, although they possess a net neutral charge, they display a characteristic charge distribution. Our results indicate that supramolecular amphiphilic peptide structures constitute a class of highly selective HCV entry inhibitors.
Aberration-corrected X-ray spectrum imaging and Fresnel contrast to differentiate nanoclusters and cavities in helium-irradiated alloy 14YWT

Helium accumulation negatively impacts structural materials used in neutron-irradiated environments, such as fission and fusion reactors. Next-generation fission and fusion reactors will require structural materials, such as steels, that are resistant to large neutron doses yet see service temperatures in the range most affected by helium embrittlement. Previous work has indicated the difficulty of experimentally differentiating nanometer-sized cavities such as helium bubbles from the Ti-Y-O rich nanoclusters (NCs) in radiation-tolerant nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs). Because the NCs are expected to sequester helium away from grain boundaries and reduce embrittlement, experimental methods to study simultaneously the NC and bubble populations are needed. In this study, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) results combining high-collection-efficiency X-ray spectrum images (SIs), multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA), and Fresnel-contrast bright-field STEM imaging, have been used for such a purpose. Fresnel-contrast imaging, with careful attention to TEM-STEM reciprocity, differentiates bubbles from NCs. MVSA of X-ray SIs unambiguously identifies NCs. Therefore, combined Fresnel-contrast STEM and X-ray SI is an effective STEM-based method to characterize helium-bearing NFAs.
Dystrophic calcification and infraclavicular brachial plexopathy: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Dystrophic calcification refers to heterotopic formation of calcium in soft tissue. There have been few reports that describe dystrophic calcification causing brachial plexopathies. We describe a unique case ofdystrophic calcification that caused entrapment of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, something not previously described in the literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 43-year-old woman with a medical history of congenital lymphangiomas of the left chest wall and axilla, for which she had undergone multiple surgeries and radioactive seed implantation. She presented 41 years later with progressive left arm paresthesias, pain, and weakness. Neurological findings were confined to the distribution of the posterior cord of the plexus. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated a 3 x 3 x 4-cm calcified mass in the axilla and proximal arm. INTERVENTION: A careful neurolysis and mass resection was performed. At exploration, the posterior cord, proximal radial nerve, and brachial artery were found to be densely adherent to a calcified mass. Reconstruction of the brachial artery and free tissue transfer were required for healing of the severely scarred wound. Pathological examination revealed dense, calcified connective tissue consistent with dystrophic calcification. She made an excellent recovery. CONCLUSION: We describe a rare case of dystrophic calcification of the proximal arm causing symptomatic brachial plexopathy, with onset many years after surgery and radiation. Diagnostic evaluation and surgical management are discussed.
PolicyGlobe: a framework for integrating network and operating system security policies

In modern networked systems with many machines and traffic control devices (such as firewalls), it is difficult to determine the overall effect of the security policies and configurations implemented inside the operating system and network devices. This paper describes PolicyGlobe, a framework to integrate operating system and network security policies. Using the idea of accessibility sets, PolicyGlobe integrates the Security Enhanced Linux (SE-Linux) access control policies with firewall configurations and traffic control policies. Using this framework, it is possible to construct a global accessibility set for each process in the system. PolicyGlobe makes it possible to determine the global effect of the local security policies and firewall configurations and answer the basic questions "can a subject in one machine access an object in another machine?" We have developed the integration algorithms, optimized the algorithms, implemented the entire framework, and conducted empirical studies on it. The studies show that in a network of 10 densely connected machines each with a large SE-Linux policy (~275,000 lines of rules), PolicyGlobe can build the global accessibility sets in about 10 minutes. In a system with a more limited connectivity, the analysis takes a much shorter amount of time.
Effect OF pH and iodide on the adsorption of mercury(II) by illite

The effect of I concentration on the mobility of Hg(II) in clay suspensions was studied over an environmentally-significant pH range. The addition of I decreased the adsorption of Hg(H), except at very low (50 µg/L) I concentrations. In suspensions of greater I concentration (1.5 and 50 mg/L), Hg(II) adsorption was independant of pH; at low concentrations, Hg(H) adsorption decreased with increasing pH, presumably due to competition from hydroxycomplexes for surface adsorption sites. I was an effective extractant for Hg, outperforming all other halides in extraction efficiency.
Performance and reliability of DSRC vehicular safety communication: a formal analysis

IEEE- and ASTM-adopted dedicated short range communications (DSRC) standard toward 802.11p is a key enabling technology for the next generation of vehicular safety communication. Broadcasting of safety messages is one of the fundamental services in DSRC. There have been numerous publications addressing design and analysis of such broadcast ad hoc system based on the simulations. For the first time, an analytical model is proposed in this paper to evaluate performance and reliability of IEEE 802.11a-based vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) safety-related broadcast services in DSRC system on highway. The proposed model takes two safety services with different priorities, nonsaturated message arrival, hidden terminal problem, fading transmission channel, transmission range, IEEE 802.11 backoff counter process, and highly mobile vehicles on highway into account. Based on the solutions to the proposed analytic model, closed-form expressions of channel throughput, transmission delay, and packet reception rates are derived. From the obtained numerical results under various offered traffic and network parameters, new insights and enhancement suggestions are given.
Crystal stability and mechanical properties of drawn polymers: A statistical-mechanical approach

The partition function is formulated by the generating function method for a stacked lamellar model of alternating crystalline and amorphous layers. The random-walk problem of enumerating statistical weights for conformations of amorphous chains confined by two parallel walls is solved for the body-centered cubic lattice as a generalization of the one-wall model treated by Roe. The mean lengths of loop, tie, and cilia chains and the free energy of the system are calculated for the random-reentry and-bridge model as a function of the distance h of separation between crystal layers and as a function of the number N of loop chains in a crystal block as the basic structural element of the system. The mean length of amorphous chains decreases at a given thickness l of the crystal layers with decreasing h or with increasing N. The free energy of the system exhibits no minimum with respect to N, showing that the folded-chain crystal is thermodynamically stable, especially for relatively small l. Additionally, it is shown that another requirement for stabilizing relatively small crystals (small l) is the formation of an aggregate structure of crystals, whereas a large single-crystal (large l) is relatively stable, irrespective of h and N. Furthermore, a theoretical model is developed to calculate the force and elastic modulus of a highly deformed stacked system, assuming that the only change in the configurations of amorphous chains within the interlamellar regions is due to deformation, except for scission of tie chains having fewer segments than are needed to span the interlamellar distance of the deformed system. It becomes evident that taut tie chains are effective in increasing the modulus of the stacked system.
Photoresist thickness measurements using energy dispersive x -ray spectroscopy

Energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDS) is used for non-destructive measurement of photoresist thickness on integrated circuit geometries as small as 2 microns. The technique is based on the principle that the characteristic x-ray emission intensity from the underlying material varies with the photoresist coating thickness. Calibration curves are used to relate this intensity to the photoresist thickness. The method is applied to I. C .structures to acquire data which was inaccessable to optical methods and which previously would have required destructive SEM cross-sections. Data can be collected from any location on a wafer, making this a technique attractive for process development. Mathematical estimates of the electron-solid interactions are used to investigate the ultimate resolution of the technique. The validity of the method is demonstrated by comparison to SEM cross-sections. Both test structures and real integrated circuit device patterns are examined. The test structure results include measurements on small aluminum lines over 1 and 2 micron high steps. Real device results include resist thickness on the severe toography found on the second level metal layer in a double layer metal interconnect structure.
Simultaneous reflection and impossible ideals

We prove that if holds for a singular cardinal μ , then any collection of fewer than cf( μ ) stationary subsets of μ + must reflect simultaneously.
Plasma vitamin C and uterine cervical dysplasia.

Abstract Plasma concentrations of vitamin C were determined in a case-control study of women (n = 80) who had sought a Papanicolaou test in the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, Controls (n = 34) were women having negative cytologic tests, negative colposcopic findings, and no known gynecologic dysfunction. Cases (n = 46) were defined as women who had either one positive or two consecutive suspicious Papanicolaou smears in a 12-month period. The mean concentration of vitamin C in the plasma was significantly lower in the cases than in the controls (0.36 versus 0.75 mg/dl, p
Systemic Immune Activation in HIV Infection Is Associated with Decreased MDC Responsiveness to TLR Ligand and Inability to Activate Naive CD4 T-Cells

Background: HIV infection is characterized by ineffective anti-viral T-cell responses and impaired dendritic cell (DC) functions, including response to Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) ligands. Because TLR responsiveness may affect a host’s response to virus, we examined TLR ligand induced Myeloid and Plasmacytoid DC (MDC and PDC) activation of nao ¨ve T-cells in HIV+ subjects. Methods: Freshly purified MDC and PDC obtained from HIV+ subjects and healthy controls were cultured in the presence and absence of TLR ligands (poly I:C or R-848). We evaluated indices of maturation/activation (CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR expression), cytokine secretion (IFN-alpha and IL-6), and ability to activate allogeneic nao ¨ve CD4 T-cells to secrete IFNgamma and IL-2. Results: MDC from HIV+ subjects had increased spontaneous IL-6 production and increased CD83 and CD86 expression when compared to MDC of controls. MDC IL-6 expression was associated with plasma HIV level. At the same time, poly I:C induced HLA-DR up-regulation on MDC was reduced in HIV+ persons when compared to controls. The latter finding was associated with impaired ability of MDC from HIV+ subjects to activate allogeneic nao ¨ve CD4 T-cells. PDC from HIV+ persons had increased spontaneous and TLR ligand induced IL-6 expression, and increased HLA-DR expression at baseline. The latter was associated with an intact ability of HIV PDC to activate allogeneic nao ¨ve CD4 T-cells. Conclusion: These results have implications for the ability of the HIV+ host to form innate and adaptive responses to HIV and other pathogens.
Academia and industry: Companies on campus

Housing industry labs in academic settings benefits all parties, say Jana J. Watson-Capps and Thomas R. Cech.
M ‐plane InGaN/GaN light emitting diodes fabricated by MOCVD regrowth on c ‐plane patterned templates

In this work we demonstrate a light emitting diode (LED) with m -plane quantum wells fabricated on a (000) template. N-polar, n-type GaN was grown by MOCVD on vicinal sapphire substrates. Stripes, measuring 500 nm wide, 500 nm tall and spaced 2 μm apart, were etched parallel to the 〈110〉 direction leading to sidewalls that are approximately {100}. Sputtered AlN was used as a regrowth mask on the c -plane surfaces. An active region consisting of 5 InGaN quantum wells and GaN barriers followed by p-type was grown. The regrowth occurred mostly on the exposed m -plane sidewalls, leading to lateral growth in the 〈100〉 direction. The LED was processed using conventional methods. A thick metal contact was used to connect the p-regions together. Current vs. voltage measurements showed good rectifying behavior with a turn on of about 6 volts. On-wafer electroluminescence measurements revealed a peak wavelength of 422 nm. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Gender, sexual orientation, and truth-of-consensus in studies of physical attractiveness.

Truth‐of‐consensus methodology presently holds that sex differences in perceptions of physical attractiveness are negligible and may be routinely ignored during prescaling. No determination has been made in the literature of the effects of sexual orientation on this perceptual process. The data presented herein suggest that while sex and sexual orientation of judge are largely irrelevant to prescaling of female stimuli, these variables are important when judging male stimuli. In particular, male homosexuals and male heterosexuals differ significantly in ranking male facial photographs. Thus, experimenters wishing to treat attractiveness levels as known quantities should control for this difference, especially when using a small number of judges for prescaling.
Reassessment of the prognostic significance of hypodiploidy in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the cytogenetic features of the hypodiploid leukemic cells of pediatric patients with this rare subgroup of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In addition, the authors determined whether subdivision of the hypodiploid category served a prognostic purpose for these patients. METHODS The authors evaluated the cytogenetic records of 979 patients with ALL admitted to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, TN) between 1984 and 1999. RESULTS Of 67 patients (6.8%) whose leukemic cells contained a modal number (MN) of chromosomes less than or equal to 45 (i.e., hypodiploid leukemic cells), 57 had an MN of 45 and 10 had an MN of less than 45. In 19 patients, cells with an MN of 45 had a whole chromosome missing (42%), which was a sex chromosome in 12 patients (63%). Leukemic cells with an MN of 45 contained dicentric chromosomes (n = 33) formed from chromosome 9p (55%), 12p (18%), or both (21%). The ETV6-CBFA2 fusion was present in 39% of 28 evaluable B-lineage cases with an MN of 45. The event-free survival rate (EFS) for patients with hypodiploid leukemic cells of MN less than 45 (5-year EFS = 20.0% ± 10.3%) was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that for patients with leukemic cells of MN greater than or equal to 45 (5-year EFS = 74.9% ± 1.6%). CONCLUSIONS Low hypodiploidy (MN < 45) should be recognized as a high-risk feature in pediatric ALL. Only two hypodiploid groups (MN < 45 and MN = 45) may be necessary in prognostic assessments. Cancer 2003;98:2715–22. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Metabolic labeling of rod outer segment phospholipids in miniature poodles with progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd).

Abstract The recessive genetic defect in miniature poodles which results in progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd) has been investigated in an attempt to determine the biochemical abnormality involved. In the present study, the rod outer segments of young prcd affected miniature poodles and normal dogs have been compared with respect to the incorporation of intravitreally injected [3H]palmitic acid, [14C]linolenic acid, and [14C]docosahexaenoic acid into neutral lipids and phospholipids as well as [3H]palmitate and [14C]leucine into rhodopsin. In addition, 3 mm trephined punches of retinas were incubated with [3H]palmitic acid. [3H]arachidonic acid, [14C]linolenic acid, [3H]serine, [14C]glycerol and [14C]leucine. No difference in incorporation of labeled precursors into lipids or rhodopsin was noted between prcd affected and normal retinas. Phosphatidyl choline appeared to function as a carrier of fatty acids to the rod outer segment where they were redistributed to other phospholipids. An interesting lack of conversion of the essential fatty acid linolenic acid to docosahexaenoic acid was noted in both normal and affected retinas. This conversion involves elongation and desaturation of linolenic acid and may take place primarily in extraretinal tissues such as the liver. This finding, in conjunction with a parallel study of plasma fatty acids which has shown significantly lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid in prcd affected poodles, points to a possible systemic defect in the metabolism or transport of docosahexaenoic acid, a fatty acid uniquely enriched in the photoreceptor outer segments.
Ionochromic Effects and Structures of Metalated Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) Polymers Incorporating 2,2‘-Bipyridines

The effects of metal ion chelation to the 2,2‘-bipyridine (bpy) groups on the photophysics and exciton dynamics of two conjugated polymers 1 and 2 in solution are investigated. The structures of polymers 1 and 2 have 2,2‘-bipyridyl-5-vinylene units that alternate with one and three 2,5-bis(n-decyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene monomer units, respectively. The photophysics and exciton dynamics of metalated polymers 1 and 2 are compared to those of the metal-free polymers (Chen et al. J. Phys. Chem. A 1999, 103, 4341−4351). The origins of ionochromic effects due the metal ion chelation were studied using both steady-state and transient optical spectroscopy, and the results indicate that both conformational flattening and participation of π electrons from the metal in the π-conjugation of the polymer backbone play important roles in metal ion binding induced red shifts in absorption and photoluminescence spectra. The photoluminescence properties of the metalated polymers are determined by the metal ion electroni...
Osteopontin: Role in immune regulation and stress responses

Recent research has led to a better but as yet incomplete understanding of the complex roles osteopontin plays in mammalian physiology. A soluble protein found in all body fluids, it stimulates signal transduction pathways (via integrins and CD44 variants) similar to those stimulated by components of the extracellular matrix. This appears to promote the survival of cells exposed to potentially lethal insults such as ischemia/reperfusion or physical/chemical trauma. OPN is chemotactic for many cell types including macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells; it enhances B lymphocyte immunoglobulin production and proliferation. In inflammatory situations it stimulates both pro- and anti-inflammatory processes, which on balance can be either beneficial or harmful depending on what other inputs the cell is receiving. OPN influences cell-mediated immunity and has been shown to have Th1-cytokine functions. OPN deficiency is linked to a reduced Th1 immune response in infectious diseases, autoimmunity and delayed type hypersensitivity. OPN's role in the central nervous system and in stress responses has also emerged as an important aspect related to its cytoprotective and immune functions. Evidence suggests that either OPN or anti-OPN monoclonal antibodies (depending on the circumstances) might be clinically useful in modulating OPN function. Manipulation of plasma OPN levels may be useful in the treatment of autoimmune disease, cancer metastasis, osteoporosis and some forms of stress.
A modification of the fluorescence method for micro-inulin determinations

The fluorescence method of Vurek and Pegram [1] is one of the most commonly used techniques to measure tubular fluid inulin concentration in micro-puncture studies [2–5]. This method has the advantages of relative simplicity and low cost. However, we recently discovered an inherent, systematic error in this method when employed in the setting of prolonged experiments. A consistent decrease in the background fluorescence of the dimedone-phosphoric acid blanks, inulin standards and tubular fluid samples was discovered when transferring into reagent-filled micro-cuvettes was carried out over several hours. The following report describes the manner in which the error was defined and outlines a technical modification which results in its correction.
Adjunctive pharmacological management of persistent, nonmalignant pain in older individuals

Chronic or persistent pain is a common comorbidity of aging, primarily due to the relatively high frequency of pain-associated disorders in this population (e.g., inflammatory and noninflammatory musculoskeletal disease, zoster infection, diabetes, stroke, and peripheral and central neurological diseases). Acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids are important long-term analgesics in this age group. However, adjunctive agents are also important in the management of persistent pain in the elderly, especially neuropathic pain. Oral antiepileptic drugs, mexiletine, baclofen, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin–norepinephrine dual reuptake inhibitors and intranasal/injectable calcitonin are the subjects of this review of the management of persistent, nonmalignant pain in the elderly. While some of these agents are considered narrow-spectrum analgesics (e.g., baclofen in trigeminal neuralgia and calcitonin in bone pain), most are broad-spectrum analgesics, useful in neuropathi...
Two-dimensional electron gas effects in the electromodulation spectra from a pseudomorphic GaAlAs/InGaAs/GaAs modulation-doped quantum well structure

The two-dimensional electron gas in a GaAlAs/InGaAs/GaAs modulation-doped quantum well was studied using contactless electroreflectance (17 K <T < 351 K) and photoluminescence (300 K). A many-body calculation of the electromodulation line shape, including observation of the Fermi edge transition up to 152 K, is in excellent agreement with experiment.
Sarcoplasmic masses in equine skeletal muscle

Sarcoplasmic masses in humans have been associated with various myopathies, although the significance remains elusive. Similar structures have also been observed in equine muscle. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of such structures in normal and abnormal equine muscle, and to characterize these structures using histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and morphometric analyses. The histological and histochemical appearance was similar to that of human sarcoplasmic masses with a central or subsarcolemmal distribution. Of interest was a predilection for the gluteus medius muscle in younger horses and type 2B fibers. Ultrastructurally they contained disorganized myofibrils and other cellular components that were not membrane bound and were present in both normal and abnormal equine muscle without a specific disease association, suggesting they are a non-pathological degenerative structure. The relatively frequent occurrence of sarcoplasmic masses in horses may make this species a good model for studying the pathogenesis of these structures.
A Further Extension of the Routh-Hurwitz Stability Criteria for Quintic and Sextic Equations

Recently, Duncan ' 4 applied these test functions to the sextic and octic equations in determining their stability. I t is immediately apparent that after reducing the complexity of the stability problem, there still remains a tedious amount of necessary work in solving higher order equations. In a further effort at simplification, Higgins and Hogan employ the Hurwitz determinants in conjunction with algebraic manipulation to reduce the necessary number of parameters for a quintic equation to four. Even then, an innumerable number of graphs must be plotted in order to determine the stability of the quintic equations. Duncan derived simple relations between certain expressed polynomials and determinantal forms and tended to further minimize the number of effective parameters. Since there are no general parameters which hold for all degrees of polynomials, the stability determination becomes more difficult as the power of the polynomial increases. In Eq. (1), let
Certified wood markets in the US: implications for tropical deforestation

Abstract Ecological certification is touted as a market based incentive for improved tropical forest management and has generated considerable debate in development programs, academia, industry and environmental circles. The fundamental belief is that consumers will be willing to pay a premium for wood products produced in well managed or ‘sustainable’ forest operations. The true test of willingness to pay comes from the results of actual market transactions and the most accurate estimation will come from the people who, for the past few years, have been directly involved in the certified wood market. This paper focuses on merchants who have been actively involved in US markets for certified wood products. Survey results indicate an active and growing market. However, there is little evidence of a ‘green’ premium being applied to final products. Further, merchants who purchase from international sources face significantly more problems than do merchants who purchase from domestic sources. The result is that new entrants into the market are purchasing from domestic, not international sources. Thus, the potential of ecological certification as a market based incentive to reduce tropical deforestation from the US perspective is questionable.
Structural Studies of Lithium Intercalation in a Nanocrystalline α-Fe2O3 Compound

A nanocrystalline Fe2O3, synthesized via a low-temperature aqueous synthesis route, is reported as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries. This compound possesses a structure similar to that of hematite or α-Fe2O3 with crystallites ca. 5 nm in size. The electrochemical properties of this compound are seen to be dramatically superior to those of microcrystalline α-Fe2O3, with specific capacities of 200−250 mA·h/g and energy densities of 425−500 mW·h/g at different current rates. The compound also shows excellent reversibility upon discharge/charge cycling, much improved over that reported for most microcrystalline iron oxides. Detailed structural analysis of the compound and its lithium intercalation process has been conducted via X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS), and unique features associated with the nanocrystalline compound have been observed. First, owing to the very small crystallite size and the associated structural disorder, deviations in the...
MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF MULTILAYER LAMINATED PLATES

A dynamic model for a multilayered laminated plate is developed. The laminated plate consists of 2n plate layers and 2n-1 adhesive layers. The layers (both plate and adhesive layers) are assumed to be homogeneous, transversely isotropic and perfectly bonded to one another. In the initial modeling, the Reissner-Mindlin theory of shear deformable plates is applied to each layer, resulting in a high-order plate theory in which the shear motions of the layers are completely independent. Simpler, lower-order models are obtained from the initial model from asymptotic limits based upon the assumptions that (i) the adhesive layers are very thin, (ii) the elastic modulii of the adhesive layers are small compared to those of the plate layers, (iii) the shear stiffnesses of the plate layers are very large.
Investigation of the Influence of Hydrophobic Ions as Mobile Phase Additives on the Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Amino Acids and Peptides

Abstract Tetraalkylammonium, R4N+, and alkylsulfonate, RSO3 −, salts were evaluated as mobile phase additives for the separation of amino acids and peptides. The former were used in a basic mobile phase and the latter in an acidic one, conditions which convert the terminal carboxyl or amine groups in amino acids and peptides and the acidic or basic side chains if present into anionic or cationic forms, respectively. Because of the required strongly basic or acidic mobile phase pH, a polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer, PRP-1, was used as the reversed stationary phase. The retention is suggested to follow a dynamic interaction involving two major equilibria, namely retention of the hydrophobic ion and an ion exchange between the co-ion accompanying the hydrophobic ion and the amino acid or peptide ion of opposite charge. The effect of amino acid and peptide structure on retention is discussed. Key mobile phase variables are identified; a major one is the optimization of the hydrophobic ion concentration-m...