cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationships among MMPI Codetype, Gender, and Setting and the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale

Scores on the MacAndrew Alcoholism scale (MAC) were examined within specific Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) codetypes in three large samples: psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, medical outpatients referred for a psychiatric evaluation, and alcoholic inpatients. Mean MAC scores varied drastically as a function of MMPI codetype, gender, and the specific setting in which the MMPI was administered. These large variations in MAC scores suggest that the use of a single cutting score, typically a raw score of 24 or higher, may be inappropriate. Clinicians are cautioned about using the MAC to identify persons who abuse substances without considering the potential effects of MMPI codetype, gender, and the setting in which the MMPI is administered.
Can goal setting as a component of nutrition education effect behavior change among adolescents

We developed a nutrition education behavior change strategy for high school health classes, and we implemented and evaluated the strategy with 159 adolescents in 12 classes in 6 schools. We used a pre-/postassessment, treatment/ control group experimental design with two treatment groups—one received only the behavior change strategy and one received the strategy plus a traditional knowledge-oriented component. Based on an individualized nutrient intake analysis of a three-day food record, each adolescent in a treatment group selected improvement of one nutrient as a goal. The dependent variable was change in intake of the goal nutrient, analyzed with separate statistical models for each of 6 nutrients. Independent variables in each model were treatment, school, gender, goal, nutrition attitude scores, and nutrition knowledge scores. Although treatment and school were not significant variables, goal was related (p < .01) to behavior change for each of the 6 nutrients. Adolescents who set a goal related to calcium, vitamin A, or vitamin C increased intake and those with a sodium-related goal decreased sodium intake. Gender was related to change for calcium, vitamin A, and folic acid, with males making significant improvements. Nutrition attitudes and knowledge generally were not related to dietary change. Knowledge scores increased significantly in both treatment groups.
Expression of cytokines and activation of transcription factors in lipopolysaccharide-administered rats and their inhibition by phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN).

The spin-trapping compound phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) affords protection from the lethality of septic shock in rodents. Previous studies have shown that PBN elicits its protection by inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction. In the present study, using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) rat septic shock model, we determined the expression of various cytokine genes (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, TNF-beta, interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10) and the activation of transcription factors nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in the liver tissue, 30 min and 3 h after LPS administration. The effects of PBN preadministration on the production levels were also investigated. The results show that LPS (4 mg/kg, ip) induced the production of the cytokine genes and increased the nuclear protein level of NF-kappaB within 30 min after LPS administration. Preadministration of PBN (150 mg/kg, ip) significantly down-regulated the production of cytokine genes (TNF-alpha by 94%, IL-1 by 63%, and IL-1 by 70%) and reduced the nuclear protein level of NF-kappaB by 75% and AP-1 by 72% at 3 h after LPS injection. These results demonstrate that PBN, in addition to its iNOS induction inhibition, also has multiple anti-inflammatory effects in septic shock, via modulation of the production of the key inflammatory mediators.
The prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in an asymptomatic population of men 18 to 35 years old.

Purpose: Testicular microlithiasis is an imaging entity of the testicle thought to be a marker of testicular cancer. To our knowledge the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in an asymptomatic population at risk for testicular cancer is unknown. We report an ultrasound screening study done to establish the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in an asymptomatic population.Materials and Methods: Healthy men 18 to 35 years old from the annual Army Reserve Officer Training Corps training camp volunteered for study. A screening genitourinary history was obtained, and physical examination and screening scrotal ultrasound were performed. We defined testicular microlithiasis as more than 5 high intensity signals on ultrasound with each signal larger than 2 mm. We categorized testicular microlithiasis into microcalcifications that were scant—5 to 25 per side, moderate—greater than 25 per side but no areas of near confluence and too numerous to count. In all subjects with testicular microlithiasis tumor mar...
Charge Transfer in Photoelectrochemical Devices via Interface States: Unified Model and Comparison with Experimental Data

A simple, unified model is presented for the mediation of charge transfer across the semiconductor/electrolyte interface by states localized in the bandgap of the semiconductor. These states are interpreted to arise from specific adsorption of anionic species from the electrolyte. The adsorbed ions could be either one of the components of a regenerative redox couple or comprise the constituent ions of the supporting electrolyte. The role of the interphasial layer in photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices is examined in the light of the above model. The key factor in determining the efficacy of energy conversion in the PEC system is identified as the competition between tunneling of photogenerated holes across the interphasial layer and their recombination with the majority carriers in the semiconductor conduction band. The extent of matching between the interface state and the reduced (filled) energy levels in the electrolyte is shown to be important in this regard. Experimental data on the n-GaAs/room temperature molten salt electrolyte and the n-CdSe/polysulfide interfaces are discussed in the light of this model. 28 refs.
The influence of magma ascent path on the texture, mineralogy, and formation of hornblende reaction rims

Abstract Although hornblende reaction rims are widely used as a tool for evaluating magma ascent during volcanic eruptions, very few studies constrain the manner in which they form. This study investigates the influence of magma ascent path on the formation of hornblende reaction rims. To do this, we conducted isothermal (840 °C) decompression experiments using dacite pumice samples erupted in December 1989 from Redoubt volcano, Alaska. Experiments were first held within the hornblende stability field determined through phase equilibria experiments for 3 to 5 days before being decompressed to different pressures ranging from 100 to 2 MPa for 1 to 30 days before being quenched. Decompression was performed in either multiple, equal steps (constant rate) or in one single step. Results from multi-step experiments show that reaction rims form preferentially at pressures from 10 to 40 MPa, and that this favorable pressure range narrows and decreases with increased decompression duration. Hornblendes in multi-step experiments are tightly enclosed by fine-grained reaction rims composed of plagioclase and orthopyroxene crystals with high aspect ratios ranging from 1 to 12. For single-step experiments, reaction rims also form preferentially within a narrow pressure range (60–70 MPa), where they consist of medium-grained plagioclase, titanomagnetite, and orthopyroxene crystals with aspect ratios ranging from 1 to 6 that broadly surround subrounded hornblendes. Hornblendes from single-step experiments dropped to lower pressures (
C3 grasses have higher nutritional quality than C4 grasses under ambient and elevated atmospheric CO2

Grasses with the C3 photosynthetic pathway are commonly considered to be more nutritious host plants than C4 grasses, but the nutritional quality of C3 grasses is also more greatly impacted by elevated atmospheric CO2 than is that of C4 grasses; C3 grasses produce greater amounts of nonstructural carbohydrates and have greater declines in their nitrogen content than do C4 grasses under elevated CO2. Will C3 grasses remain nutritionally superior to C4 grasses under elevated CO2 levels? We addressed this question by determining whether levels of protein in C3 grasses decline to similar levels as in C4 grasses, and whether total carbohydrate : protein ratios become similar in C3 and C4 grasses under elevated CO2. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that, among the nonstructural carbohydrates in C3 grasses, levels of fructan respond most strongly to elevated CO2. Five C3 and five C4 grass species were grown from seed in outdoor open-top chambers at ambient (370 ppm) or elevated (740 ppm) CO2 for 2 months. As expected, a significant increase in sugars, starch and fructan in the C3 grasses under elevated CO2 was associated with a significant reduction in their protein levels, while protein levels in most C4 grasses were little affected by elevated CO2. However, this differential response of the two types of grasses was insufficient to reduce protein in C3 grasses to the levels in C4 grasses. Although levels of fructan in the C3 grasses tripled under elevated CO2, the amounts produced remained relatively low, both in absolute terms and as a fraction of the total nonstructural carbohydrates in the C3 grasses. We conclude that C3 grasses will generally remain more nutritious than C4 grasses at elevated CO2 concentrations, having higher levels of protein, nonstructural carbohydrates, and water, but lower levels of fiber and toughness, and lower total carbohydrate : protein ratios than C4 grasses.
Reflectance of metallic indium for solar energy applications

An investigation has been conducted in order to compile quantitative data on the reflective properties of metallic indium. The fabricated samples were of sufficiently high quality that differences from similar second-surface silvered mirrors were not apparent to the human eye. Three second-surface mirror samples were prepared by means of vacuum deposition techniques, yielding indium thicknesses of approximately 1000 A. Both hemispherical and specular measurements were made. It is concluded that metallic indium possesses a sufficiently high specular reflectance to be potentially useful in many solar energy applications.
Compensating Nondedicated Cross-Functional Teams

In today's ever-changing, competitive business environment, nondedicated cross-functional teams have become an important organizational work unit. This paper studies how the firm should optimally compensate such teams. Most previous studies on team compensation deal with dedicated work groups, where team members essentially allocate all their time and effort to team work. Little research has addressed issues related to compensating nondedicated teams, where team members perform tasks assigned by their home departments while also completing team work. In this paper, we provide analytical models to describe the unique decision-making processes engaged both by the firm and by such nondedicated team members. Our game-theoretic approach incorporates interdependency among team members into cross-functional team yield functions and takes into account the social benefits generated from team interactions for both firms and individual employees. The models also consider the technical and social skill differences am...
The onset of synapse formation in spinal cord cultures as studied by electron microscopy

Abstract The development of synapses in cultured nervous tissue was studied by explanting cross sections of fetal rat spinal cord prior to first synapse formation. Periodic electron microscopic examination confirmed that the initial explants were free of synapses and indicated that synapses first appeared regularly after 70 h of culture of 14 day fetal cord. Initial synaptic profiles cover a small area, contain few vesicles, lack mitochondria, and are exclusively axodendritic. These early synapses coexist with a number of forms of plasma membrane junctions; some but not all of the junctions may represent precursors of synapses. The time at which the first synapses are seen in the electron microscope correlates well with the appearance of bioelectric activity indicative of the presence of functioning synaptic networks7. The detection of this close correlation and the finding that synaptic networks form in tissue completely isolated from normal afferent and efferent connections are considered the most significant contributions of this communication.
A Profile Analysis Approach Using MMRM in Acute Schizophrenia: A Comparison to Some Traditional Approaches

The analysis of schizophrenia studies is plagued by inefficiency and bias due to much missing data. Mixed-effect models for repeated measures designs help address these problems, but to gain even more efficiency it is desirable to judiciously use additional longitudinal data in such designs by comparing treatment groups over multiple time points. Simulations were conducted to compare a profile analysis approach to other commonly used analysis methods in the presence of data missing at random. One gains efficiency by using a composite contrast over multiple time points when the treatment effect over the time points is not substantially different.
HEAT LABILE OPSONINS TO PNEUMOCOCCUS : I. PARTICIPATION OF COMPLEMENT

Heat labile opsonins (HLO) in normal rat serum to both encapsulated and unencapsulated pneumococci (a) have the same heat lability as complement (C); (b) are active at 37 degrees C but not at 0 degrees C; (c) are inactivated proportionately to hemolytic C by the addition of immune aggregates to the serum; (d) are adsorbed from serum nonspecifically by bacteria at 37 degrees C but not at 0 degrees C; (e) are Ca(++)- and/or Mg(++)-dependent in their action; and (f) are inactivated by zymosan and a purified cobra venom factor, and in the case of encapsulated pneumococci, at least, by NH(4)OH. Like other opsonins, HLO to pneumococci act primarily on the bacteria rather than on the phagocytes. Their combined properties indicate that they involve multiple components of the hemolytic C system. Since HLO are immunologically polyspecific, they presumably play a broad protective role in the early (preantibody) phase of acute bacterial infections.
Development of a liquid toner for electro-photographic solid freeform fabrication

Abstract Solid freeform fabrication is still a major challenge for ceramic materials. Here we discuss a novel solid freeform method, “Electro-photographic solid freeform fabrication” (ESFF) that needs specific qualities for solid (powder) and liquid (slurry) toner (electronic ink). The process is similar to photocopying using ceramic particles. Overall ESFF is based on slicing a 3D structure into 2D layers and depositing these layers one over the other by a photosensitive photoconductor drum. Here we present the development of a liquid toner based on submicron particles, a study of its flow behavior and electrophoretic tests confirming that the toner could be used for ESFF.
Identification of a de novo thymidylate biosynthesis pathway in mammalian mitochondria

The de novo and salvage dTTP pathways are essential for maintaining cellular dTTP pools to ensure the faithful replication of both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Disregulation of dTTP pools results in mitochondrial dysfunction and nuclear genome instability due to an increase in uracil misincorporation. In this study, we identified a de novo dTMP synthesis pathway in mammalian mitochondria. Mitochondria purified from wild-type Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and HepG2 cells converted dUMP to dTMP in the presence of NADPH and serine, through the activities of mitochondrial serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT2), thymidylate synthase (TYMS), and a novel human mitochondrial dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) previously thought to be a pseudogene known as dihydrofolate reductase-like protein 1 (DHFRL1). Human DHFRL1, SHMT2, and TYMS were localized to mitochondrial matrix and inner membrane, confirming the presence of this pathway in mitochondria. Knockdown of DHFRL1 using siRNA eliminated DHFR activity in mitochondria. DHFRL1 expression in CHO glyC, a previously uncharacterized mutant glycine auxotrophic cell line, rescued the glycine auxotrophy. De novo thymidylate synthesis activity was diminished in mitochondria isolated from glyA CHO cells that lack SHMT2 activity, as well as mitochondria isolated from wild-type CHO cells treated with methotrexate, a DHFR inhibitor. De novo thymidylate synthesis in mitochondria prevents uracil accumulation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), as uracil levels in mtDNA isolated from glyA CHO cells was 40% higher than observed in mtDNA isolated from wild-type CHO cells. These data indicate that unlike other nucleotides, de novo dTMP synthesis occurs within mitochondria and is essential for mtDNA integrity.
The mechanism of methanol decomposition on Fe(100): Comparison to methanethiol decomposition

Abstract The mechanism and rate determining step of the decomposition of methanol on Fe(100) is characterized by TPRS and HREELS. At low temperature (113 K) methanol undergoes facile O-H bond scission and forms an overlayer of adsorbed methoxy. At 450 K, the methoxy adsorbate bends, bringing one hydrogen atom close to the surface. This leads to C-H bond scission and the decomposition of methoxy to H 2 and CO. A comparison of this process to the decomposition of methanethiol on the same surface is presented.
Efficient communication algorithms for ring multicomputers

In this article, we study the various communication algorithms on bidirectional ring multicomputers. We show how the three important communication functions (data distribution, data collection, and data broadcast) can be efficiently designed and implemented by reducing the propagation delay under point-to-point routing and blocking message passing assumptions.
A practical approach to neurologic evaluation in the intensive care unit

Delirium and neurologic impairment are extremely common in the intensive care setting, and their delayed identification is an important contributor to patient morbidity. Even in comatose patients, the clinical neurologic examination remains the most accurate and effective tool in assessing nervous system function. Rapid identification of neurologic deficits with a practical and easily reproducible neurologic examination is a core skill for effectively caring for critically ill patients. The purpose of this tutorial is to discuss techniques of neurologic examination and localization with an emphasis on comatose patients. Commonly encountered cases of encephalopathy and coma along with clinical pearls are presented.
Chemistry in hydrogen fluoride V. Catalysts for reaction of HF with halogenated olefins

Abstract Tantalum pentafluoride, niobium pentafluoride, titanium tetrachloride, and molybdenum pentachloride catalyze the addition of hydrogen fluoride to tetra - and tri chloroethene and related compounds. Hydrogenation of tetrachloroethene to 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane was observed using hydrogen, methylcyclopentane, and TaF5 in HF.
An integrating matrix formulation for buckling of rotating beams including the effects of concentrated masses

The integrating matrix technique of computational mechanics is extended to include the effects of concentrated masses. The stability of a flexible rotating beam with discrete masses is analyzed to determine the critical rotational speeds for buckling in the inplane and out-of-plane directions. In this problem, the beam is subjected to compressive centrifugal forces arising from steady rotation about an axis which does not pass through the clamped end of the beam. To determine the eigenvalues from which stability is assessed, the differential equations of motion are solved numerically by combining the extended integrating matrix method with an eigenanalysis. Stability boundaries for a discrete mass representation of a uniform beam are shown to asymptotically approach the stability boundaries for the corresponding continuous mass beam as the number of concentrated masses is increased. An error in the literature is also noted for the discrete mass problem concerning the behavior of the critical rotational speed for inplane buckling as the radius of rotation of the clamped end of the beam is reduced.
Effect of stimulus repetition on positive and negative identity priming

Most negative-priming experiments have used a limited number of stimuli that are repeated many times throughout the experiment. We report five experiments that examine in greater detail the role of stimulus repetition in negative priming. Subjects were presented with displays consisting of two or more words, and were required to name the word printed in red. On attended repetition (AR) trials, the target word was the same as the target word on the preceding trial. On ignored repetition (IR) trials, the target word was the same as the distractor word on the preceding trial. Experiments 1 and 2 used novel words, and obtained positive priming on AR trials, but no negative priming on IR trials. Experiments 3 and 4 used repeated words, and obtained negative priming on IR trials, but no positive priming on AR trials. In Experiment 5, both novel and repeated words were intermixed, and negative priming was observed for repeated, but not novel, IR conditions, whereas positive priming was observed for novel, but not repeated, AR conditions. Together, Experiments 1-5 demonstrate that positive and negative identity priming are modulated by stimulus repetition and are stimulus specific.
Static uniaxial deformation of 15 rocks to 30 kb

Abstract Samples of 15 rocks with porosity ranging from nearly zero to 40 per cent were deformed under the constraint of uniaxial strain by stresses which reached 30 kb. No faults formed, although widespread small-scale fracturing accompanied the compaction of the more porous rocks. Rocks with porosity less than 2 per cent recovered from a cycle of loading with negligible permanent strain. Calcite twinned extensively in Bedford limestone and white marble, and in the latter there was indirect evidence of recoverable flow. Rocks loaded uniaxially reached very nearly the same stress-strain state as rocks loaded first hydrostatically and, then, in triaxial compression. The onset of dilatancy for granite, limestone and marble was close to the stress in a triaxial experiment at which strain was uniaxial.
Comparison of the effects of inoculation routes and viral preparations on leukemogenesis.

SummaryTwo preparations of Gross passage A virus (one from leukemic tissues and the other from cell-free peritoneal fluid from mice bearing transplantable Gross lymphoma in the ascites form) were used to compare the effectiveness of the intrathymic route of injection with that of the intraperitoneal route. With both preparations, the intrathymic route of inoculation produced a shorter latent period and a higher incidence of leukemia than did the intraperitoneal route. These findings further support the hypothesis that the thymus is a site of primary virus-cell interaction during leukemogenesis.Intraperitoneal injection of virus from peritoneal fluid was more effective in leukemogenesis than similarly administered virus derived from leukemic tssues. Several hypotheses are suggested to explain this phenomenon. It could be the result of the virus titer or a heightened infectivity of the virus in the ascites form. It might also result from the combination of the virus with a helper virus or tissue components ...
Mitochondrial Stress Signals Revise an Old Aging Theory

In this issue, Durieux et al. (2011) describe a tissue-specific signal, originating from mitochondria, that acts cell non-autonomously to regulate life span in the nematode, C. elegans. This new finding provides a first step toward resolving the relative contributions of mitochondrial free radical damage and signaling mechanisms in aging.
Venue Shopping and the Politics of Urban Development: Lessons from Chicago and Seattle

How does the new institutional ecology of city politics structure opportunities for urban growth? We draw on policy agendas theory to explore two central aspects of this question: the process by wh...
Lossless volumetric medical image compression

This paper focuses on lossless medical image compression methods for 3D volumetric medical images that operate on three-dimensional (3D) reversible integer wavelet transforms. We offer an application of the Set Partitioning in Hierarchical Trees (SPIHT) algorithm to volumetric medical images, using a 3D wavelet decomposition and a 3D spatial dependence tree. The wavelet decomposition is accomplished with integer wavelet filters implemented with the lifting method, where careful scaling and truncations keep the integer precision small and the transform unitary. We have tested our encoder on volumetric medical images using different integer filters and different coding unit sizes. The coding unit sizes of 16 and 8 slices save considerable memory and coding delay from full sequence coding units used in previous works. Results show that, even with these small coding units, our algorithm with certain filters performs as well and sometimes better in lossless coding than previously coding systems using 3D integer wavelet transforms on volumetric medical images.
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ inhibition with SB612111 ameliorates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis

Inflammatory bowel diseases, primarily Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with unknown etiology. The majority of current therapeutic agents focus on controlling proinflammatory molecules. The neuropeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) has been described as a potential immunomodulator for inflammatory bowel diseases. In this study, we asked whether the small molecule N/OFQ antagonist (-)-cis-1-methyl-7-[[4-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzocyclohepten-5-ol (SB612111) would inhibit the development of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice. Inhibition of the N/OFQ receptor (NOP) by SB612111 significantly ameliorated the clinical disease course in these animals, as indicated by reduced fecal bleeding, improved recovery from diarrhea and weight loss, and a reduction in histopathological alterations. In addition, the inflammatory response in the colon was diminished, as demonstrated by reduced cytokine protein and messenger RNA expression for CXCL1/keratinocyte-derived chemokine, interferon-γ, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, some of which are known targets for the treatment of this devastating disease. Our results strongly support a role for the receptor-ligand pair NOP-N/OFQ in the pathogenesis of colitis. We conclude that inhibition of NOP receptors with small molecule inhibitors may constitute a novel, urgently needed approach for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.
A geometric model for the dynamics of a fluvially dominated deltaic system under base-level change

Abstract We present a geometric model to study the role of base-level change in the dynamics of the alluvial-bedrock transition and shoreline positions in a fluvially dominated deltaic system. The domain of the problem is a sediment wedge in the long-profile cross-section. On assuming that the fluvial surface has a quadratic form, its evolution is determined by imposing an overall volume balance, and conditions for the elevations and slopes at the domain boundaries. This results in a coupled system, involving one ordinary differential equation and one non-linear equation. These equations are solved through an explicit Euler time stepping algorithm to predict the movement of the shoreline and alluvial-bedrock transition boundaries under a wide range of base-level change conditions. The mathematics of the approach are verified by comparing predictions from the geometric model with a closed form solution of a downslope gravity-driven transport model under the specific case of a square-root of time base-level change. Testing with more general base-level change scenarios reveals that this simple geometric mass balance is able to predict system dynamics that are fully consistent with both physical and numerical experiments. Moreover, model predictions under a base-level cycle (fall-rise) suggest a behavior where river incision occurs during the base-level rise stage, a predicted dynamic that has not been previously reported.
Inhibition of calcium hydroxyapatite formation by polyamines

— The lithogenic potential of bile depends not only on supersaturation of solutes but also on the presence of pro- and anti-nucleating factors. For example, glycine-conjugated dihydroxy bile salt dimers are potent inhibitors of calcium hydroxyapatite precipitation that function by “poisoning” the nascent crystal. Although most inhibitors of apatite formation are anions, theoretically polycations should also be effective, and because significant concentrations of polyamines are present in bile, we have investigated the ability of these molecules to inhibit apatite formation. In vitro, each polyamine (2–10 mmol/l) was able to inhibit apatite formation, and the inhibiting power was correlated with ionic charge. Thus putrescine (2+) was the weakest inhibitor and spermine (4+) was the strongest. Mixtures of polyamines were less effective than were the individual polyamines, except at higher concentrations. Although polyamines were effective over short periods of time (270 min), over longer times (3 days) spermine was unable to prevent apatite formation. Using infrared spectroscopy, we found no evidence for interaction between phosphate ions and spermine in solution. Taken together, these results suggest that polyamines are modest inhibitors of apatite formation that likely function by retarding the dissolution of the intermediate amorphous calcium phosphate phase.
The absence of invariant chain in MHC II cancer vaccines enhances the activation of tumor-reactive type 1 CD4+ T lymphocytes

Activation of tumor-reactive T lymphocytes is a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of patients with metastatic cancers. Strategies that activate CD8+ T cells are particularly promising because of the cytotoxicity and specificity of CD8+ T cells for tumor cells. Optimal CD8+ T cell activity requires the co-activation of CD4+ T cells, which are critical for immune memory and protection against latent metastatic disease. Therefore, we are developing “MHC II” vaccines that activate tumor-reactive CD4+ T cells. MHC II vaccines are MHC class I+ tumor cells that are transduced with costimulatory molecules and MHC II alleles syngeneic to the prospective recipient. Because the vaccine cells do not express the MHC II-associated invariant chain (Ii), we hypothesized that they will present endogenously synthesized tumor peptides that are not presented by professional Ii+ antigen presenting cells (APC) and will therefore overcome tolerance to activate CD4+ T cells. We now report that MHC II vaccines prepared from human MCF10 mammary carcinoma cells are more efficient than Ii+ APC for priming and boosting Type 1 CD4+ T cells. MHC II vaccines consistently induce greater expansion of CD4+ T cells which secrete more IFNγ and they activate an overlapping, but distinct repertoire of CD4+ T cells as measured by T cell receptor Vβ usage, compared to Ii+ APC. Therefore, the absence of Ii facilitates a robust CD4+ T cell response that includes the presentation of peptides that are presented by traditional APC, as well as peptides that are uniquely presented by the Ii− vaccine cells.
Energetics, bonding mechanism, and electronic structure of metal-ceramic interfaces: Ag/MgO(001)

Electronic-structure total-energy investigations for the metal-ceramic interface system Ag/MgO(001) show that the preferred adsorption site for the overlayer Ag atom is above the O site of the clean MgO(001) surface. The binding energy of the overlayer Ag atom on the MgO(001) surface is 0.3 eV/atom (0.64 J/${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$). No significant charge transfer is found between the overlayer Ag and the MgO(001) substrate, and the interface effect on the MgO(001) substrate is limited to the interface layer. The Ag overlayer shows typical metal features in the electronic band structure as well as in the charge distributions. The interface O atom is slightly metallized, i.e., the occupied states at the Fermi energy have hybridized O-Ag character. Compared with the O, the Mg is less influenced by the Ag.
On Learning and the Nonuniqueness of Equilibrium in an Overlapping Generations Model with Fiat Money

Abstract This paper examines disequilibrium adaptive learning behavior in an overlapping generations model with fiat money. Agents are concerned with forming correct forecasts of future inflation. If they use a disequilibrium, adaptive forecast rule, it is shown that they will eventually learn to believe in a nonstationary, nonunique perfect foresight equilibrium. The nonstationary equilibrium isolated by the adaptive learning process can be used to explain the sluggish adjustment of the price level to monetary disturbances as documented in the time series analysis of Sims (Amer. J. Agr. Econ.71 (1989), 489-494). Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D83, E31.
Rates of Allocation for Disability Items by Mode in the American Community Survey

Knowing the prevalence of disability in a population is seen as informative to policy and public health efforts. The American Community Survey (ACS), a yearly, large scale population-based survey administered by the United States (US) Census Bureau, is the predominant source for estimating disability prevalence in the US population. To provide complete data, procedures such as “allocations” are used by the bureau to fix illogical and missing responses to survey questions. This study investigates the rate of allocation in disability items by using the ACS Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) 3-year (2009-2011) file. Rates of allocation are interpreted as a measure of “within-person item-completeness” (WIPC)—where the presences of high allocation rates signal low levels of questionnaire completeness. The highest rates of allocations were in found in mail mode for: males (3.5%); those with no college (4.4%); households who only speak Spanish (5.9%); non-married family households (4.3%); and for Non-Latino-Blacks (6.5%). Researchers should continue to explore how the equilibrium of population estimates from ACS sample data vary as a function of demo- and geo-graphic characteristics.
An angle-distribution effect in mental rotation

Rossi and Collyer (1986) reported data suggesting a threshold for mental rotation. The threshold-like nonlinearity may have been caused by the skewed distribution of angles used in their mental rotation experiment. In the present study, skewing the angle distribution toward small angles (skewed condition) increased the overall slope of the mental rotation response time function, relative to that of an even-distribution condition. Visual inspection of the data suggests that if there is a threshold-like nonlinearity, it is present in both the skewed and the even conditions. However, it is difficult to draw a strong conclusion for logical and statistical reasons.
On Size and Formality in Business Organizations

Large corporations are invariably structured as formal institutions, and this formality is reflected in organizational charts. These charts depict a multilevel managerial hierarchy of authority within the organization typified, in the simplest case, by a pyramid. Many economic and business researchers attribute formality to a desire for greater efficiency, although I do not take this position in the present paper. Instead, I agree with researchers who connect formality with organizational legitimacy. I further argue that personal interests are at work in bigness and formalization. Top managers are motivated by desire for power and prestige. Formality furthers these objectives by rigidly fixing relations and ranks within the organization. Widespread belief in efficiency and legitimacy converge with personal motives to encourage and entrench formality. Corporate size and structure are seen as having deleterious effects on employees and society at large. But they also have some negative impacts on those at the top.
Performance Analysis of Request Migration in Video-on-Demand Systems

The random early migration (REM) scheme was proposed in our previous work to balance the load of multiple media servers to decrease the average service delay. When an user request arrives, it is randomly directed to a media server that has the designated video content cached on. When the load of this server exceeds a preset threshold, REM is executed by choosing one of its in-service requests and migrating it to another media server with a certain probability, where the exact probability is a function of the service load. We introduce a state matrix representation that stores the service load information of each media server and plays an important role in the determination of migration paths. All possible state matrices can be mapped to a vector space called the state matrix space (SMS). With SMS, we can analyze the performance of VoD systems such as the failure rate and service delay, and these derived results are verified by numerical experiments. It is demonstrated that REM outperforms the normal migration scheme with shorter service delay and lower failure rates.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hypothesis for the molecular physiology of the Romano-Ward long QT syndrome.

Objectives. The aim of this review was to develop a hypothesis for the molecular pathophysiology of the inherited long QT syndrome. Background. The pathophysiology of the long QT syndrome is unknown. An abnormality of the sympathetic nervous system has been suspected because of the slow heart rates observed and the common precipitation of syncope by adrenergic stimulation (exercise or fright), The characteristic QT prolongation and torsade de pointes arrhythmias suggest a potassium ion (K+) abnormality. Recent findings from molecular biology and genetic linkage analysis studies provide a basis for a new hypothesis that unifies these clinical manifestations. Methods. Several recent studies regarding rasproteins were evaluated and correlated. Associations between rasproteins, G protein function and the known features of the long QT syndrome were identified. Based on these associations, a hypothesis for the molecular pathophysiology was developed. Results. The Romano-Ward long QT phenotype is linked to the Harvey ras-1 gene on chromosome 11 in many, but not all, families. Rasgenes exhibit G protein properties, acting as intermediaries in transmembrane signaling pathways including K+and beta-adrenergtc channels. Mutation of rasp21 protein significantly reduces the G protein function of the rasprotein, thereby interfering with signal transduction. Conclusions. These various studies suggest that a mutation of the disease gene (not necessarily H-ras-1) alters the G protein function of the gene and interferes with delayed rectifier K+and beta-receptor channel signaling. This hypothesis appears to explain and unify the several characteristic features of the long QT syndrome.
Metabolism of Tetrahydrocannabinol in Frequent and Infrequent Marijuana Users

delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta 9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), and its O-ester glucuronide were measured in plasma by GC/MS and in urine by GC/MS and enzyme immunoassay after frequent and infrequent marijuana users were given 5 mg THC intravenously. Plasma THC concentrations were detectable 4-5 h after infusion using solid-phase columns for drug extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for detection and quantification. THC-COOH and its O-ester glucuronide were analyzed for 12 days. Concentrations were higher in the plasma and urine of frequent marijuana users. The ratio of THC-COOH to its O-ester glucuronide in plasma was greater than 2 in both frequent and infrequent users 2 to 30 min postinfusion. Ratios for the subsequent 12 days were less than 2. A ratio of less than 1 for total THC-COOH/THC occurred only before 45 min for both frequent and infrequent users. Physiological, psychological, and pharmacokinetic data revealed few differences between frequent and infrequent marijuana users.
Risk of dementia hospitalisation associated with cardiovascular risk factors in midlife and older age: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

Background: Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with a higher risk of developing dementia. Studies in older populations, however, have often failed to show this relationship. We assessed the association between cardiovascular risk factors measured in midlife and risk of being hospitalised with dementia and determined whether this association was modified by age and ethnicity. Methods: We studied 11 151 participants in the population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort, aged 46–70 (23% African–Americans) in 1990–2, when participants underwent a physical exam and cognitive testing. Hospitalisations with dementia were ascertained through December 2004. Results: During follow-up, 203 cases of hospitalisation with dementia were identified. Smoking (hazard ratio (HR), 95% CI 1.7, 1.2 to 2.5), hypertension (HR, 95% CI 1.6, 1.2 to 2.2) and diabetes (HR, 95% CI 2.2, 1.6 to 3.0) were strongly associated with dementia, in Caucasians and African–Americans. These associations were stronger when risk factors were measured at a younger age than at an older age. In analyses including updated information on risk factors during follow-up, the HR of dementia in hypertensive versus non-hypertensive participants was 1.8 at age ,55 years compared with 1.0 at age 70+ years. Parallel results were observed for diabetes (HR 3.4 in ,55, 2.0 in >70), smoking (4.8 in ,55, 0.5 in >70) and hypercholesterolaemia (HR 1.7 in ,55, 0.9 in >70) Conclusion: In this prospective study, smoking, hypertension and diabetes were strongly associated with subsequent risk of hospitalisation with dementia, particularly in middle-aged individuals. Our results emphasise the importance of early lifestyle modification and risk factor treatment to prevent dementia.
The biochemistry and fidelity of synthesis by the apicoplast genome replication DNA polymerase Pfprex from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum, the major causative agent of human malaria, contains three separate genomes. The apicoplast (an intracellular organelle) contains an ∼35-kb circular DNA genome of unusually high A/T content (>86%) that is replicated by the nuclear-encoded replication complex Pfprex. Herein, we have expressed and purified the DNA polymerase domain of Pfprex [KPom1 (Klenow-like polymerase of malaria 1)] and measured its fidelity using a LacZ-based forward mutation assay. In addition, we analyzed the kinetic parameters for the incorporation of both complementary and noncomplementary nucleotides using Kpom1 lacking 3'→5' exonucleolytic activity. KPom1 exhibits a strongly biased mutational spectrum in which T→C is the most frequent single-base substitution and differs significantly from the closely related Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I. Using E. coli harboring a temperature-sensitive polymerase I allele, we established that KPom1 can complement the growth-defective phenotype at an elevated temperature. We propose that the error bias of KPom1 may be exploited in the complementation assay to identify nucleoside analogs that mimic this base-mispairing and preferentially inhibit apicoplast DNA replication.
Anti-angiogenic therapy: Prospects for treatment of ocular tumors.

The growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) within tumors is essential for tumor growth, maintenance, and metastasis. Angiogenesis research has identified a host of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors that regulate an “angiogenic switch,” which when turned on, allows tumors to assume a more aggressive form. Angiogensis inhibitors that target this switch are in clinical trials for a wide array of tumor types. Although angiogenesis inhibitors are already widely used to treat ocular disease, only limited case reports are currently available for the use of angiogenesis inhibitors to treat ocular tumors. Evidence for angiogenesis in the growth and spread of uveal melanoma, retinoblastoma, and von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease exists. The very limited trials of angiogenesis inhibitors in the treatment of uveal melanoma and VHL are promising, although more extensive controlled trials will be needed to confirm their efficacy.
Definitive radiation therapy for elderly patients with stage III NSCLC not candidates for combined chemoradiation

Purpose: Combined chemoradiation is the treatment of choice for locally advanced (stage IIIA-IIIB), unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, elderly patients are frequently unable to tolerate this treatment; the benefit of radiation therapy (RT) alone for the management these patients is not well studied. Using population-based cancer data, we evaluated if use of RT alone is associated with improved survival of unresected stage III elderly NSCLC patients. Methods: Using the SEER registry linked to Medicare we identified 13,522 patients >65 years of age with unresected stage IIIA-B NSCLC diagnosed between 1992-2009. We excluded cases receiving chemotherapy as well as patients who could not be candidates for RT because they died within 4 weeks of cancer diagnosis. We determined propensity scores for patients receiving RT alone vs. no therapy based on their pre-treatment characteristics. Survival of patients treated with and without RT was compared using Cox regression adjusting for propensity scores. The odds for toxicity requiring hospitalization among patients treated with RT were also estimated, adjusting for propensity scores. Results: Overall, 7,703 (57%) patients received RT. RT alone was also associated with improved overall survival (HR: 0.76; 95% CI:0.74-0.79) in analyses adjusting for propensity scores. RT treated patients had an increased adjusted risk of hospitalization for pneumonitis (OR: 130; 95% CI:18-928) and esophagitis (OR: 8; 95% CI:4-17). Conclusions: These data suggest that definitive RT alone is associated with improved survival in elderly patients with unresected stage III NSCLC. RT was also associated with risk of severe toxicity.
The Demand for Community College Education.

Abstract This article describes a model of Community College (CC) enrollment which is tested using cross-sectional data for the 1969–1970 academic year. The sample consists of 126 relatively homogeneous CCs divided into sixty-two separate markets. Tuition, income, proximity of four-year schools, and the age of a CC are found to have significant influences on enrollment. An estimate is made of the marginal cost to a CC of attracting more students by lowering tuition.