cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chondrocyte terminal differentiation, apoptosis, and type X collagen expression are downregulated by parathyroid hormone.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates calcium and phosphate homeostasis through the endocrine system. Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is a heterogeneous polypeptide with sequence homology to PTH in its first 13 amino acid residues. Both bind and activate a common receptor, the type 1 PTH/PTHrP receptor (PTH1R). Activation of this G-protein-coupled receptor by PTHrP has been shown to regulate chondrogenesis in a manner that attenuates chondrocyte hypertrophy. Here, we report the dose-response (10−7 to 10−15 M) effects of PTH on chondrogenesis using an avian sternal organ culture model. PTH increased cartilaginous tissue length and downregulated the deposition of type X collagen and its mRNA expression. In addition, PTH increased chondrocyte cell diameter in prehypertrophic and proliferative regions while decreasing chondrocyte apoptosis in the hypertrophic zone. In conclusion, these experiments demonstrate that PTH regulates cartilage growth, chondrocytic apoptosis, deposition of type X collagen protein, and expression of type X collagen mRNA. Type X collagen mRNA expression was downregulated by PTH in this organ culture model, but cell size, another marker for terminal differentiation, increased. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and bronchiolitis severity in Spanish infants.

This cross-sectional study was performed to examine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in infants with acute bronchiolitis compared with control subjects and to evaluate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) and the severity of bronchiolitis. Serum 25(OH) D levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 48 infants with acute bronchiolitis (2.5 ± 2.0 months) and in 30 healthy infants (3.2 ± 2.3 months). 25(OH) D levels (ng/ml) in children with acute bronchiolitis were significantly lower than in the control group (median 29.9 ng/ml (interquartile range (IQR) 21.4–37.5) versus median 38.2 ng/ml ((IQR 26.1–48.1), p = 0.022), mainly in infants with moderate–severe bronchiolitis (median 29.8 ng/ml, IQR 19.2–35.9). The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was remarkably greater among infants with bronchiolitis than in control subjects (52.1 versus 26.6 %). A significant inverse correlation was found between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and disease severity (rho = −0.457, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is high in Spanish infants with bronchiolitis. The severity of acute bronchiolitis increases with a decline in serum 25 (OH) D level.
Conceptual constraints on thinking about genocide.

(2001). Conceptual constraints on thinking about genocide. Journal of Genocide Research: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 431-450.
Changes in r-process abundances at late times

We explore changes in abundance patterns that occur late in the r process. As the neutrons available for capture begin to disappear, a quasiequilibrium funnel shifts material into the large peaks at $A=130$ and $A=195,$ and into the rare-earth ``bump'' at $A=160.$ A bit later, after the free-neutron abundance has dropped and beta decay has begun to compete seriously with neutron capture, the peaks can widen. The degree of widening depends largely on neutron-capture rates in a few nuclei near closed neutron shells and relatively close to stability. We identify particular nuclei whose capture rates should be examined experimentally, perhaps at a radioactive beam facility.
Nuclear Receptor CAR as a Regulatory Factor for the Sexually Dimorphic Induction of CYP2B1 Gene by Phenobarbital in Rat Livers

The nuclear receptor constitutive active receptor (CAR) translocates into liver nuclei after phenobarbital (PB) treatment, and activates the conserved enhancer called the PB-response element module (PBREM) found in CYP2B genes. We have examined whether CAR regulates the dimorphic induction by PB of the CYP2B1 gene in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Northern blot analysis showed that PB induced CYP2B1 mRNA in male WKY rats but not female rats. An in situ injected PBREM-luciferase reporter gene was activated by PB only in the male livers. Western blot analysis revealed extremely low levels of CAR in the cytosols of female livers compared with male counterparts. CAR was accumulated in the liver nucleus of male rats in response to PB treatment, whereas the receptor was barely detectable in the liver nuclei of PB-induced females. These sexually dimorphic responses of PBREM and CAR to PB treatment were not observed with Fisher 344 rats, in which CYP2B1 mRNA was induced in both sexes. Thus, these results indicate that CAR is a regulatory factor that leads to the sexual dimorphic induction of CYP2B1 gene in WKY rats.
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for atrial fibrillation recurrence: is the horse already out of the barn?

It is estimated that 2.3 million Americans experience atrial fibrillation (AF), and on the basis of documented increases in AF prevalence and incidence in U.S. population-based studies, this number may increase to anywhere from 5.6 million [(1)][1] to as much as 15.9 million by 2050 [(2)][2]. Recent
In Vivo Studies of Ethanol Interactions with N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Systems in Rat Brain

Several electrophysiological and biochemical studies have indicated that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor functions may be altered by ethanol (Gonzales, 1990). Many have suggested that ethanol potently and selectively inhibits the actions of agonists at the NMDA receptor (Hoffman et al., 1989; Lovinger et al., 1989; Gothert and Fink, 1989; Hoffman et al., 1990; Woodward and Gonzales, 1990). Others have implicated the involvement of the NMDA receptor in acute behavioral effects of ethanol such as memory dysfunction (Hoffman et al., 1990) and in certain aspects of ethanol withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures (Grant et al., 1990).
Out in the cold: the hypothermic heart response

We present an interesting case of a 49-year-old woman with hypothermia and associated Osborn waves (also called J waves) on ECG. She was found on the floor of her home and difficult to arouse. On arrival to the emergency department (ED), her rectal temperature was 87.5°F. ECG showed Osborn waves in diffuse leads. She was intubated in the ED and was started on vasopressor support for hypotension refractory to intravenous fluid boluses. She was transferred to the critical care unit for continued respiratory and cardiovascular support. With active external rewarming her core body temperature continued to improve. Blood pressure also improved and vasopressor was tapered off. She was extubated and was transferred to the medical floor for continued supportive care. Osborn waves on ECG resolved within 12 h of achieving normal range body temperature. The patient was eventually discharged home with medical follow-up.
Host response to primary chlamydia trachomatis infection of the fallopian tube in pig-tailed monkeys*

Experimental acute salpingitis was produced in four pig-tailed monkeys, Macaca nemestrina, by intratubal inoculation with Chlamydia trachomatis (serotypes E or F). The organisms were reisolated from both the endosalpinx and endocervix as early as 1 week after the original inoculation. Endosalpinx cellular responses to the infection were examined by light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy. A moderate lymphocyte infiltration was detected in the submucosa on day 7. By days 14 and 21 the lymphocytic infiltration was heavy and extended into both the submucosa and the mucosa; the infiltration subsided by day 35. Epithelial cell degeneration occurred in close approximation to lymphocytes, suggesting the immunologic basis of tissue destruction. Scanning electron microscopy revealed extensive deciliation and increased plasmalemmal alterations of nonciliated cells. The presence of C. trachomatis in frozen and deparaffinized tissues was demonstrated by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibody to C. trachomatis. Only secretory cells contained chlamydial inclusions. A humoral immune response to C. trachomatis was demonstrated by microimmunofluorescence. No histologic or immunologic evidence of infection was present in two control monkeys inoculated with HeLa cell material. The histopathologic and immunologic findings of this study establish the pig-tailed monkey as a useful model for further studies of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of chlamydial salpingitis.
Total Hip Arthroplasty in a Patient with a Left Ventricular Assist Device: A Case Report.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) augment the cardiac function of patients with severe left-sided cardiac disease. These devices are typically used as a bridge to transplantation and have proven effective at improving longevity and overall quality of life1. Improved longevity results in increased numbers of noncardiac surgical procedures for other medical conditions2. Although these procedures carry obvious risk, they have been performed with favorable outcomes1-6. Infection is of utmost concern with noncardiac surgery in a patient with an LVAD. While infection rates have improved with the use of second-generation LVADs, the infection rate remains at 30% to 50%, with 20% to 27% classified as bloodstream infections7. The concerns regarding infection are especially important with arthroplasty procedures because implants are susceptible to biofilms, and complications from infection can be devastating. Also of concern is the nonpulsatile flow that the LVADs deliver, which can have serious implications when a patient is under general anesthesia and placed in the lateral position because preload and systemic vascular resistance are affected. Despite these risks, a literature search revealed two total knee arthroplasties that were performed in patients with LVADs4. Both patients developed postoperative infections related to the LVAD, but neither total knee arthroplasty became infected. In terms of cardiac function, total hip arthroplasty has been shown to be extremely effective at playing a role in improving cardiac function, with postarthroplasty patients showing substantial improvements in exercise duration, maximum workload, peak oxygen consumption, and percentage of predicted maximum oxygen uptake achieved by six months postsurgery8. We present a case of a total hip arthroplasty in a patient with a HeartMate II LVAD (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, California). To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous reports in the literature of a …
Complexity of Inexact Proximal Newton methods.

Recently several methods were proposed for sparse optimization which make careful use of second-order information [10, 28, 16, 3] to improve local convergence rates. These methods construct a composite quadratic approximation using Hessian information, optimize this approximation using a first-order method, such as coordinate descent and employ a line search to ensure sufficient descent. Here we propose a general framework, which includes slightly modified versions of existing algorithms and also a new algorithm, and provide a global convergence rate analysis in the spirit of proximal gradient methods, which includes analysis of method based on coordinate descent.
Reduced Virulence of Azoxystrobin-Resistant Zymoseptoria tritici Populations in Greenhouse Assays

The development of resistance to multiple fungicide classes is currently limiting disease management options for many pathogens, while the discovery of new fungicide classes may become less frequen...
Gender and Health-Related Behavior

For this review, health-related behavior has been defined broadly to include any behavior that has a significant effect on health or is generally believed to have such an effect. Health-related behavior can be subdivided into risky behavior, preventive behavior, and treatment-seeking or self-treatment. The following paragraphs briefly summarize gender differences in each of these categories of health-related behavior.
Diffusion and decoupling in the world heritage movement: exploring global/local tensions in Africa

ABSTRACTA common critique of world society theory is that it overemphasises processes of institutional expansion and isomorphism, and underemphasises instances of decoupling and local variation. We address this concern head-on through an analysis of the world heritage movement. On the one hand, we detail how this movement has expanded into a global institution with highly standardised procedures for evaluating the ‘outstanding universal value’ of cultural and natural sites around the world. On the other hand, we detail how these procedures involve rational-scientific assumptions about evaluation that lead to regional inequality, hindering the ability of less developed countries to successfully nominate, inscribe and manage world heritage sites. With a specific focus on African countries, we identify how decoupling occurs in two distinct ways that hamper their participation in the world heritage movement: (1) a lack of scientific and technical expertise and (2) a cultural mismatch between local and global ...
Toward the Synthesis of Nuphar Sesquiterpene Thioalkaloids: Stereodivergent Rhodium-Catalyzed Synthesis of the Thiolane Subunit

A stereodivergent approach to the central thiolane subunit of Nuphar sesquiterpene thioalkaloids has been developed. This approach features a rhodium-catalyzed Stevens-type rearrangement in conjunction with an enzyme resolution reaction. Further elaboration into a polycyclic ring system via alcohol oxidation and ring-closing metathesis is also described.
Approximation of Higher Degree

The m wedge basis functions for a polycon of order m and products of these functions may be used to fit discrete data on polycon sides while maintaining continuity across polycon boundaries. The side between vertices i and i + 1 in Fig. 6.1 is a conic boundary component with side node p. Wedges Wi, Wp, and Wi+1 provide a basis for fitting data on this side. The number of basis functions must equal the number of data points. Referring to Sects. 1.3 and 3.4, we recall that on a conic side a linear function has three degrees of freedom and a quadratic function has five degrees of freedom. For each successive degree polynomial there are two more degrees of freedom. In terms of the wedges, a basis for fitting polynomials on the side in Fig. 6.1 is: $$\displaystyle{ \mathrm{\{W}_{\mathrm{i}}\mathrm{,W}_{\mathrm{i+1}}\mathrm{,W}_{\mathrm{p}}\mathrm{\},}\;\;\{\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{i}}\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{p}},\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{p}}\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{i+1}}\},\;\;\{\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{i}}\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{p}}\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{i+1}},\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{i}}^{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{W}_{\mathrm{ p}}\},\;.\;.\;. }$$ (6.1) where the first set suffices for linear fitting, the second set is appended for quadratic fitting, the third for cubic fitting, etc. Wedges Wi, Wp, and Wi+1 differ in the two polycons that share this boundary component. These functions, however, coincide on the boundary. If the basis in Eq. (6.1) is used in approximating data over both polycons, then continuity will be achieved across this boundary. The continuations into the respective polycons will of course differ in general. In Fig. 6.1b, for example, the six data points indicated by X may be fit by the five functions in the first two sets in (6.1) and any one of the functions in the third set.
Abstract 3251: Regulation of TNBC kinome by the metastasis suppressor Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP)

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer with very low survival rates. Metastatic progression of tumors is the major cause of death in TNBC patients. Metastatic spread of tumor cells is generally associated with resistance to therapy and poor prognosis. Therefore, there is a clinical need for understanding the molecular and cellular basis of metastasis and developing effective therapies against metastatic progression. However, since metastasis is a multi-step process, unraveling its complexity is a major challenge. One effective way of tackling this question is to study natural blockers of the metastatic process, metastasis suppressors, and identify the mechanisms by which they regulate metastasis. Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) is a metastasis suppressor in TNBC, which acts as a homeostatic factor that regulates kinase activity. RKIP blocks invasion in vitro and experimental metastasis in vivo. Therefore, RKIP constitutes a powerful tool for studying metastatic signaling pathways in cancer cells. RKIP is known to regulate the activity of certain kinases such as Raf-1, GRK2, NIK, and GSK3β, affecting major pathways such as MAPK, NFκB, and WNT. However, our preliminary data suggests that RKIP affects a much larger part of the TNBC kinome. Using proteomics approaches, we have identified putative novel kinase targets of RKIP, and used bioinformatics analysis to build RKIP-regulated signaling networks. Elucidating RKIP's function at a systems level will reveal the interplay between key metastatic signaling cascades and potentially identify novel anti-metastatic target combinations in TNBCs. Citation Format: Ali E. Yesilkanal, Casey Frankenberger, Daniel Rabe, Gary L. Johnson, Marsha R. Rosner. Regulation of TNBC kinome by the metastasis suppressor Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3251. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3251
Regional Water Quality Standards

The Delaware River Basin encompasses many clean streams and a major pollution problem in the 85 mile long Delaware estuary. Water quality management concepts applied in the development of regional water quality standards included protection of clean streams, abatement of polluted waters, a minimum required degree of wastewater treatment, and the equitable apportionment of stream assimilative capacity. The Delaware River Basin Commission adopted water quality standards and regulations setting forth water uses to be protected, water quality criteria necessary to protect water uses, effluent quality requirements, and allocations of stream assimilative capacity.
The correspondence of Sergei Eisenstein and Gavriil Popov, 1933–1939

AbstractThis article presents the correspondence of director Sergei Eisenstein and composer Gavriil Popov, with whom Eisenstein collaborated on three stage and film projects during the 1930s: the play The Second Moscow (Moskva vtoraia), and two films, MMM and Bezhin Meadow (Bezhin lug). The correspondence is particularly revealing concerning Eisenstein’s practical approach to music, aspects of which shaped his later and more well-known work with composer Sergei Prokofiev.
Dr. Janow, et al reply.

To the Editor: We appreciate the reporting of the cases … Address correspondence to Dr. G. Janow, Section of Pediatric Rheumatology, Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Ave., WFAN Building, 3rd Floor, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601, USA. E-mail: ginger.janow{at}hackensackmeridian.org
Mean Girls End Up Dead: The Dismal Fate of Teen Queen Bees in Popular Culture

Representations of mean girls who face the ultimate punishment for their “girl-on-girl crimes” abound in popular works such as Jennifer’s Body, Pretty Little Liars, and The Lying Game. While the death of the queen bee suggests the possibility of empowerment for her victims, I argue that the dead mean girl actually functions as a warning intended to police the interpersonal behaviors of all adolescent women. However, as works such as Lauren Oliver’s novel Before I Fall illustrate, we may be seeing the beginning of a productive shift in this formula that more clearly acknowledges the social systems that inform social aggression among young women.
Pharmacological Applications of Biocompatible Carbon Nanotubes and Their Emerging Toxicology Issues

Since their discovery in 1991, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied for their application as diagnostic tools, chemical sensors, and vectors for drug delivery. Carbon nanotubes are of great interest because of their unique array of physical and chemical properties, including their high aspect ratio, ultralight weight, high mechanical strength, high electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, and high surface area. The unique properties of carbon nanotubes also raise substantial concern about their potentially toxic effects on the environment and human health. This review focuses on the current pharmacological applications and emerging toxicology issues of biocompatible carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes as agents for drug delivery, cancer therapeutics, along with their in vivo challenges and potential toxicity are discussed.
Electromagnetic theory at Sandia National Laboratories

The purpose of this paper is to provide a broad overview of the types of electromagnetic research, development, and applications that occur within the Electrical Sciences group at Sandia National Laboratories. By presenting a few examples of ongoing projects, the goal is to feature a selection of the opportunities, as well as the technical challenges, for applied electromagnetics in a national laboratory setting.
Using cellular fitness to map the structure and function of a major facilitator superfamily effluxer.

The major facilitator superfamily (MFS) effluxers are prominent mediators of antimicrobial resistance. The biochemical characterization of MFS proteins is hindered by their complex membrane environment that makes in vitro biochemical analysis challenging. Since the physicochemical properties of proteins drive the fitness of an organism, we posed the question of whether we could reverse that relationship and derive meaningful biochemical parameters for a single protein simply from fitness changes it confers under varying strengths of selection. Here, we present a physiological model that uses cellular fitness as a proxy to predict the biochemical properties of the MFS tetracycline efflux pump, TetB, and a family of single amino acid variants. We determined two lumped biochemical parameters roughly describing Km and Vmax for TetB and variants. Including in vivo protein levels into our model allowed for more specified prediction of pump parameters relating to substrate binding affinity and pumping efficiency for TetB and variants. We further demonstrated the general utility of our model by solely using fitness to assay a library of tet(B) variants and estimate their biochemical properties.
African voices on slavery and the slave trade, volume 2: essays on sources and methods

Histories of slavery in Africa have much to reveal not only about Africa’s social and economic past but also about slavery itself as an ancient and global institution. An exemplar on this score is ...
Comparison of biliary brush biopsy and fine needle biopsy in the diagnosis of biliary strictures

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of percutaneous fine needle biopsy (FNB) and brush biopsy (BB) at a cancer center.Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of all ...
Acoustic micro-tapping (AuT) for non-contact optical coherence elastography (Conference Presentation)

Optical coherence elastography (OCE) holds great promise for quantitative characterization of corneal elasticity including robust measurements of the intraocular pressure (IOP) independent of corneal mechanical properties. To translate this method into a viable clinical tool, however, requires wideband, highly accurate mechanical wave measurements using mechanical stimulation requiring no physical contact with the cornea. We have developed a method of non-contact mechanical stimulation of soft media with precise spatial and temporal shaping. We call it acoustic micro-tapping (AuT) because it employs focused, air-coupled ultrasound (US) to induce significant mechanical displacement at the boundary of a soft material using reflection-based radiation force. Combining it with high-speed, four-dimensional (three space dimensions plus time) phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PhS-OCT) creates a non-contact tool for high-resolution and quantitative dynamic elastography of soft tissue at near real-time imaging rates. To demonstrate this approach, we present OCE results on a porcine cornea using a homemade, focused 1 MHz air-coupled piezoelectric transducer with a matching layer to launch an US wave through air onto the sample surface. To provide an acoustic line source approximating a 1-D excitation, the transducer was made from a cylindrical segment of a piezoelectric tube. A high-speed (1.6 MHz A-Scan rate) PhS-OCT system was utilized to measure acoustic wave propagation in the cornea at different intraocular pressures (IOPs). Results from this OCE study demonstrate that an air-coupled US wave reflected from an air/tissue interface provides significant radiation force to generate displacement for elasticity imaging for full mechanical characterization of the cornea.
An Examination of an Inland-Penetrating Atmospheric River Flood Event under Potential Future Thermodynamic Conditions

AbstractAtmospheric rivers (ARs) are well-known producers of precipitation along the U.S. West Coast. Depending on their intensity, orientation, and location of landfall, some ARs penetrate inland ...
Hamilton’s Principle

While it is in principle possible to solve any mechanical problem by integration of the equations d p/dt = F for each constituent of the system, in many cases this task can be quite complicated. The use of Cartesian coordinates can also be cumbersome, as can be taking into account the reaction forces of objects limiting the motion of the dynamical systems, like planes or strings introducing constraints on the motion.
Monte Carlo simulation of neuro-transmitter release using MCell, a general simulator of cellular physiological processes

Issues surrounding synaptic current efficacy, variability, plasticity, and possible crosstalk are presently of great interest and lend themselves well to computational investigations. One important factor that impacts on all of these issues is the time course of neurotransmitter exocytosis from a synaptic vesicle.1 We have recently reported excellent quantitative agreement between highly accurate recordings of the fast rising phase of miniature endplate currents (mEPCs), and Monte Carlo simulations of vesicular acetylcholine release and postsynaptic mEPC generation.2 The simulations were performed using an early version of our program MCell, * a generalized and highly optimized outgrowth of our original Monte Carlo programs specifically tailored to simulation of mEPC generation.3,4 In this paper we first briefly introduce the present version of MCell and its capabilities, and then next discuss simulation of neurotransmitter exocytosis. We focus on: (1) the theoretical and computational factors underlying simulation accuracy: (2) how inadvertent use of seemingly appropriate input parameters can lead to orders-of- magnitude errors; and (3) how some of MCell’s features can reduce the computation time required for simulations by orders of magnitude.
Nuclear Power Plants

The building of more nuclear power plants is one of the proposed solutions to the increasing production of anthropogenic CO2 and the mitigation of the global warming threat. Had the USA constructed an additional 56 nuclear power plants in the 1990s, the country would have been in compliance with the Kyoto protocol. Nuclear power plants are typically very large (1,000 MW) and very complex power producing units. The nuclear reactor itself contains large amounts of radioactive materials, which if released in the environment, may cause large-scale environmental accidents. For this reason, a nuclear reactor must have multiple levels of safety systems and its controls must be designed to shut down the reactor within a very short time. All nuclear reactors have six basic components, which are described in detail in this chapter. Several types of nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants have been developed by different countries. The special design characteristics and the operation of these plants are summarized. Because accidents in nuclear power plants are feared the most by the public, the three accidents that received the highest notoriety, at the Three-Mile Island in the U.S.A., at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union and at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant in Japan are described in detail. The causes of the accidents are examined and early actions that could have been taken by the operators are presented. Finally, it is apparent that, if the world is to rely on nuclear energy in the long-term, the more abundant uranium-238 and other fertile nuclear materials must be utilized. This makes necessary the use of breeder reactors, which may become the next generation of nuclear reactors.
Genetic Considerations in Plasmacytomas of BALB/c, NZB, and (BALB/c X NZB) F1 Mice

Publisher Summary BALB/c and NZB mice have been compared for a wide variety of characteristics, but this chapter discusses only those parameters of apparent importance to plasmacytoma development that have been explored genetically, namely, susceptibility of plasmacytoma induction, expression of murine leukemia viruses (MuLV), and autoimmune disease. In a recent review, it was suggested that certain autoimmune characteristics of BALB/c and NZB mice might be important to the pathogenesis of plasmacytomas in these strains. This view was founded on the following basis: (1) the well-publicized autoimmune disease of NZB mice, (2) a report that BALB/c, like NZB, was not susceptible to tolerance induction with soluble human gamma-globulin and may, therefore, share some autoimmune characteristics with NZB, (2) certain myeloma proteins have autoantibody-like specificities. Since the time of that review, a considerable amount of information has been obtained on various elements of NZB autoimmune disease, particularly with respect to genetically determined abnormalities of T and B lymphocytes. As none of these abnormalities have been detected in normal BALB/c cells, it is extremely unlikely that the genetic factors governing autoimmune disease in NZB represent the common link to plasmacytomagenesis in these two strains. It currently appears that NZB B cells are polyclonally activated from birth and that this abnormality is independent of T cell effects.
Genes, Hormones, and Family Behavior: What Makes Adolescence Unique?

Many of the most devastating mental illnesses typically have their onset during adolescence. This chapter discusses the ways in which the interplay of genetic and environmental vulnerabilities revealed in Neiderhiser’s work may be specific to adolescence and therefore have critical relevance to psychological outcomes first expressed in adolescence. The particular functions of family conflict, gender, and epigenetic regulation in adolescence are emphasized. A second focus of the chapter is to discuss the potential value of integrating neuroscience approaches to link gene/environment relationships to adolescent mental health outcomes through mediating neuroendocrine processes. Illustrations focus on studies of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning as an endophenotype linking genes, submissive behavior during family conflicts, and adolescent depression.
Local structural connectivity directs seizure spread in focal epilepsy

How does the human brain9s structural scaffold give rise to its intricate functional dynamics? This is a central challenge in translational neuroscience, particularly in epilepsy, a disorder that affects over 50 million people worldwide. Treatment for medication-resistant focal epilepsy is often structural - through surgery, devices or focal laser ablation - but structural targets, particularly in patients without clear lesions, are largely based on functional mapping via intracranial EEG (iEEG). Unfortunately, the relationship between structural and functional connectivity in the seizing brain is poorly understood. In this study, we quantify structure-function coupling, specifically between white matter connections and iEEG, across preictal and ictal periods in 45 seizures from 9 patients with unilateral drug-resistant focal epilepsy. We use High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging (HARDI) tractography to construct structural connectivity networks and correlate these networks with time-varying broadband and frequency-specific functional networks derived from coregistered iEEG. Across all frequency bands, we find significant increases in structure-function coupling from preictal to ictal periods. We demonstrate that short-range structural connections are primarily responsible for this increase in coupling. Finally, we find that spatiotemporal patterns of structure-function coupling are stereotyped, and a function of each patient9s individual anatomy. These results suggest that seizures harness the underlying structural connectome as they propagate. Our findings suggest that the relationship between structural and functional connectivity in epilepsy may inform current and new therapies to map and alter seizure spread, and pave the way for better-targeted, patient-specific interventions.
Hydroentanglement of Polymer Nonwovens 2: Simulation of multiple polymer fibers and prediction of entanglement

Abstract The dynamic model of polymer fibers in hydroentanglement process developed in Part 1 (G. Li, C. Staszel, A.L. Yarin, B. Pourdeyhimi. Hydroentanglement of Polymer Nonwovens. 1: Experimental and theoretical/numerical framework) is generalized here to simulate simultaneous evolution and entanglement of multiple fibers. The fiber-fiber entanglement morphologies are established and the number of entanglements predicted as a function of time. The results of the experiments of Part 1 are compared with the numerical predictions based on the present model. It is shown that the model can successfully be used to describe hydroentanglement of nonwovens. The thickness reduction and the increase in the number of entanglements are predicted for different velocities of water jets.
A familial germline mutation in KIT associated with achalasia, mastocytosis and gastrointestinal stromal tumors shows response to kinase inhibitors.

Abstract Background Activating mutations of the tyrosine kinase receptor KIT have been described in both mastocytosis and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), but are usually found in separate domains and often respond differently to signal transduction inhibitors. We describe here a large family with both GIST, mastocytosis, and achalasia. Affected family members have a unique activating mutation in exon 9 of KIT which show promise to a novel signal transduction inhibitor. Methods Clinical data was collected from 15 family members, 7 of whom were variably affected with GIST, achalasia and mastocytosis. DNA was prepared from WBC of 12 subjects (6 affected and 6 unaffected) and exons 9, 11, 13 and 17 of KIT were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. Results A unique activating single base pair mutation in the extracellular domain of KIT was found in all 6 affected subjects resulting in a K>I amino acid change at codon 509. Conclusions In the family reported here, a unique mutation in the extracellular domain leads to receptor activation resulting in GIST and mastocytosis as well as achalasia. Initial data suggests that this activation can be suppressed by signal transduction inhibitors and these patients may benefit from such therapy.
New insights into Romanian Chilopoda: Redescription of Clinopodes intermedius Dărăbanţu and Matic, 1969 (Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae)

The discovery of new Clinopodes intermedius specimens prompted the investigation regarding the validity of this species. Clinopodes intermedius is morphologically re-described with updated illustrations based on the newly-collected specimens, including the first description of a male specimen and the first molecular data for this species; a complete overview of important taxonomic characters is also given, which includes hitherto unknown details about the mouthparts and last leg-bearing segment. A table with comparative characters of Clinopodes species from Romania is also provided. The species’ distribution in Romania and ecological, as well as phenological data are provided, along with a map of known localities. A molecular description of two specimens (male and female) of C. intermedius has been obtained using a widely employed DNA barcode. The genetic distance between the obtained sequences for C. intermedius was calculated in order to prove their conspecificity.
Argument from Arbitrary Limits

In this piece, Rasmussen takes a step back to see some of the larger issues at stake. He begins by separating certain versions of theism from a more fundamental, core ontology. By seeing this core, Rasmussen hopes to remove unnecessary barriers to a more unifying vision of the foundation of existence, a vision that sets the stage for the rest of the inquiry. Rasmussen also addresses Leon’s worry about the limits of the problem of arbitrary limits. Here, Rasmussen proposes a non-arbitrary terminus for explanation seeking. To conclude the chapter, Rasmussen reviews some things he has learned from this first section of the exchange. Here, Rasmussen displays some of the fruits of a peaceful, productive inquiry into the deepest part of existence.
Strategies for Multivariate Data Analysis: Case Studies

Much of what we do in data analysis today is not formalized. We have been able to describe and implement in computer software many powerful technical tools. What is required is a way to formulate, describe, analyze and evaluate strategies for doing data analysis. A start in this direction is to describe case studies in such a way as to make explicit the rationale for the choices open to the data analyst.
Distinguishing benign from malignant adrenal masses

The approach to the radiological and clinical evaluation of adrenal masses in the oncologic and non-oncologic patient is discussed. In addition, the value of unenhanced and enhanced CT densitometry with emphasis on the washout features to distinguish between lipid-rich and lipid-poor adenomas and malignant lesions is detailed. The roles of magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography in distinguishing benign from malignant adrenal masses will also be discussed.
Working With People With Disabilities: An Interactive Video/Lecture Session for First- and Second-Year Medical Students.

Introduction Negative physician attitudes toward people with disabilities create barriers to health care for these individuals. Barriers can include withholding of standard medical and preventive c...
Capitalist Magic and the Sacred Antidote in Carlos Vermut’s Magical Girl (2014)

Given the ongoing Spanish crisis brought about by zealous capitalistic speculation, this article examines the film Magical Girl (2014) by Carlos Vermut as an exploration of the properties of cultural production to serve as an antidote to the ‘magical’ properties of capitalism. Reading in Magical Girl a return to the theological concept of the sacred as proposed by Jean-Luc Nancy, it argues that this sacred is a secular one best seen through artistic production because of its ability to unveil the hidden workings of the capitalist project.
Allograft Necrosis in Liver Biopsy Is Predictive for Organ Outcome and Patient Survival.

Abstract Aim To evaluate if any association existed between the extent of allograft necrosis in liver biopsy and patient survival. Methods Sixty-nine patients who had 70 liver transplantations with allograft necrosis were included in the study. Correlations of necrosis, the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, and allograft survival were analyzed. Results Allograft failure rate within 1 month after index biopsy was worse in patients with a higher extent of necrosis (2.5%, 12.5%, 25%, and 40% in groups with allograft necrosis of 1-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, and >75%, respectively). Adequate biopsy with more than 50% necrosis is associated with significant allograft failure (P Conclusions Allograft necrosis demonstrates strong predictive power in organ and patient survival. Additionally, biopsy-proven allograft necrosis unequivocally pinpoints ischemia as the direct cause of allograft failure, which facilitates clinical management. Immediate retransplantation is crucial for patients with substantial allograft necrosis.
CD300lf Conditional Knockout Mouse Reveals Strain-Specific Cellular Tropism of Murine Norovirus.

Noroviruses are a leading cause of gastrointestinal infection in humans and mice. Understanding human norovirus (HuNoV) cell tropism has important implications for our understanding of viral pathogenesis. Murine norovirus (MNoV) is extensively used as a surrogate model for HuNoV. We previously identified CD300lf as the receptor for MNoV. Here, we generated a Cd300lf conditional knockout (CD300lfF/F ) mouse to elucidate the cell tropism of persistent and nonpersistent strains of murine norovirus. Using this mouse model, we demonstrated that CD300lf expression on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), and on tuft cells in particular, is essential for transmission of the persistent MNoV strain CR6 (MNoVCR6) in vivo In contrast, the nonpersistent MNoV strain CW3 (MNoVCW3) does not require CD300lf expression on IECs for infection. However, deletion of CD300lf in myelomonocytic cells (LysM Cre+) partially reduces CW3 viral load in lymphoid and intestinal tissues. Disruption of CD300lf expression on B cells (CD19 Cre), neutrophils (Mrp8 Cre), and dendritic cells (CD11c Cre) did not affect MNoVCW3 viral RNA levels. Finally, we show that the transcription factor STAT1, which is critical for the innate immune response, partially restricts the cell tropism of MNoVCW3 to LysM+ cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that CD300lf expression on tuft cells is essential for MNoVCR6; that myelomonocytic cells are a major, but not exclusive, target cell of MNoVCW3; and that STAT1 signaling restricts the cellular tropism of MNoVCW3 This study provides the first genetic system for studying the cell type-specific role of CD300lf in norovirus pathogenesis.IMPORTANCE Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are a leading cause of gastroenteritis resulting in up to 200,000 deaths each year. The receptor and cell tropism of HuNoV in immunocompetent humans are unclear. We use murine norovirus (MNoV) as a model for HuNoV. We recently identified CD300lf as the sole physiologic receptor for MNoV. Here, we leverage this finding to generate a Cd300lf conditional knockout mouse to decipher the contributions of specific cell types to MNoV infection. We demonstrate that persistent MNoVCR6 requires CD300lf expression on tuft cells. In contrast, multiple CD300lf+ cell types, dominated by myelomonocytic cells, are sufficient for nonpersistent MNoVCW3 infection. CD300lf expression on epithelial cells, B cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells is not critical for MNoVCW3 infection. Mortality associated with the MNoVCW3 strain in Stat1-/- mice does not require CD300lf expression on LysM+ cells, highlighting that both CD300lf receptor expression and innate immunity regulate MNoV cell tropism in vivo.
Pico’s Intellectual Foundations: Aristotelianism, Platonism, and Pico’s Syncretism

Aristotelianism or more specifically Aristotelian logic and theory of causality provide Pico’s primary mode of argumentation. Pico applies this logic to both the act of concordance (to draw together the disparate threads of different traditions), and his attempts to describe the deep structure. Sometimes the religion or theology dominates, at other times, Aristotle leads. At the macro level, Pico’s universe is predominantly a Platonic universe inflected by Aristotle. Platonism also provides the ‘divine something’ linking the more scientific Aristotelianism to religious revelation. This chapter explores Pico’s Aristotelianism in the context of his time, and his Platonism through an ongoing debate with Marsilio Ficino. It also explores Pico’s relationship to the Renaissance tradition of humanism and syncretism and finally, Pico’s use of other thinkers in the prisca theologia, particularly his fascination with the mathematical-mysticism of Pythagoras.
Abstract PO-079: COVID-19 in relation to hematologic events and mortality in subset of inpatient cancer patients

COVID-19 is a newly diagnosed entity that has been identified for about 6 months. With the US now being the prevalent nation affected, we aimed to identify factors that were relevant to survival and hematologic events in COVID patients. Our group had primarily been assessing COVID-19-confirmed patients as per PCR at Ochsner Medical Center in Louisiana; we primarily studied patients who were admitted between January 2020 to May 2020. Main events that are currently being studied include factors such as mortality, length of stay, and bleeding or thrombotic events. Secondary endpoints included factors such as influence on blood type and also amount of transfusions required by these patients. Our overall analysis of 1,773 patients yielded a number of 60 patients whom we were able to identify as having an active cancer diagnosis. This disproportionate number of patients may be related to factors such as reluctance to visit the hospital among cancer patients, a phenomenon noted similarly in Cardiology, where the number of admissions for cardiac causes had declined suddenly during this pandemic timeline. One half of our population was African American and included an even proportion of males and females. The age range of patients was between 35-93 years. The most common malignancies that were noted to co-occur with COVID-19 in our population seemed to be lung, prostate, and hematologic malignancies. Although final analyses regarding mortality are to be completed, the proportion of patients who had died with a diagnosis of cancer was around 50% per collection of our current data. Twenty three out of 60 (38%) patients required blood transfusions. In comparison to other reports that had reported bleeding events and thrombotic events, our report revealed a much lower rate of bleeding events (5/60) and thrombotic events (5/60). We plan to repeat our analysis to assess for any confounders in identifying these events, as noted, since some earlier literature had reported between one quarter to two thirds of patients having a thrombotic event. Our analysis also looks at other descriptive variables such as use of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents, absolute counts of neutrophils and lymphocytes, platelets, and coagulation markers. Also, our assessment includes a study in assessment of any delays noted in chemotherapy dates for these patients. Citation Format: Saikrishna Gadde, Ambuga Badari, John Cole, Nikhil Manjunath. COVID-19 in relation to hematologic events and mortality in subset of inpatient cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-079.