cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2538: The dietary isoflavone biochanin-A in combination with atorvastatin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a poor prognosis. The American Cancer Society9s estimates for pancreatic cancer in the United States for 2014 are about 46,420 new cases of pancreatic cancer and about 39,590 deaths from pancreatic cancer. There remains a clear need for effective mechanism-based approaches that can achieve long-term improvements in the management pancreatic cancer. While natural products are well recognized as sources of drugs for various diseases including cancer, very few studies systematically explored the role of natural products for their potential preventive/therapeutic benefit in pancreatic cancer. Although several studies have examined the effect of flavonoids, there are no studies examining how biochanin-A or atorvastatin regulates pancreatic cancer cells. We investigated the cell proliferation studies in pancreatic cancer cell lines, AsPC-1 and MiaPaCa-2. Interestingly, we observed that by combination of treatment of Biochanin-A and atorvastatin significantly decreased the viability of AsPC-1 and MiaPaCa-2 cells. Several studies have been demonstrated the STAT3 play an important roll in the progression cancer pathogenesis in various cancers. We examined the STAT3 expression in pancreatic cell line, PANC-1 in biochanin-A or atorvastatin or in combination treatments and observed 95% decrease in the phosphorylation of STAT3 observed. Similarly the combination drug treatment employing biochanin A and atorvastatin decreased activation of Akt in AsPC-1 cell line. The decreased cell viability in AsPC-1 cell line involved increased induction of apoptosis with combination treatment and this evidence was further strengthened by increased PARP cleavage in combination treated cells. Further studies will delineate the mechanism of signaling arrested by the combination of drugs, Biochanin-A and atorvastatin in pancreatic cells with the possibility for uncovering improved therapeutic strategies to overcome the effectiveness to treat pancreatic cancer patients. Citation Format: Alok Bhushan, Ponniah Selvakumar, Satya Murthy Tadinada, James C.K. Lai. The dietary isoflavone biochanin-A in combination with atorvastatin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. [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 2538. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2538
INTEGRATED CONTROL AND RESPONSE OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM | Hormone Metabolism in the Circulation

The effect of a hormone is dependent in part on the concentration of the hormone in the blood. Beyond its major role in the delivery of hormones to various organs and tissues, the cardiovascular system plays an important role in hormone inactivation by delivering hormones to inactivation sites, often the vascular endothelium. Inactivation sites enzymatically degrade, or selectively take up hormones for intracellular processing. A number of studies have modeled these inactivation processes and the fish gill emerges as ideally suited to decrease hormone titers in blood. This article summarizes the role of the cardiovascular system in hormone inactivation and describes methods used to mathematically model the inactivation process.
Initial relative-orbit determination using heterogeneous TDOA

This paper presents a solution for the initial orbit determination of a space-based RF transmitter using time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurements obtained from space-based receivers in known orbits. Orbit determination requires six independent TDOA measurements spread over time. The TDOA measurement can be expressed as a quadratic equation for the instantaneous transmitter position. The orbital motion of the transmitter is linearized relative to a reference orbit, which allows the TDOA measurement to be transformed to a quadratic equation for the relative position and velocity components at a chosen initial time. The system of six quadratic equations are solved using homotopy continuation.
Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Individuals with NVLD

Although limited research addresses the impact of nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD) on employment, the challenges that individuals with NVLD encounter in educational contexts are also likely to be encountered in work settings. Despite the fact that individuals with NVLD have the potential to work in occupations of their choosing, the negative impact of this disorder on multiple functional domains (e.g., neuropsychological, academic, adaptive, social) can lead to unemployment or underemployment. Exacerbating the problem, long-term exposure to the negative attitudes, and actions of others (e.g., stigmatization, prejudice, bullying, teasing) can result in a restriction of early social and vocational experiences, career decision-making difficulties, negative self-appraisals, and poor worker self-concepts (Kosciulek, 2002). The negative attitudes and actions that children and adolescents with NVLD encounter in the classroom are likely to be encountered to an even greater degree by adults with NVLD in the workplace (Koch, Rumrill, & Conyers, in press). In fact, Kosciulek’s observation that “social attitudes toward disability may be as important as the disability itself in that the negative attitude of others plays a part in shaping the life role of the individual with a disability” (p. 41) certainly holds true for individuals with NVLD. Consequently, approaches to eradicating employment barriers must target both the individual’s functional limitations and work environment barriers such as negative attitudes and discrimination.
Pilot study of the prevalence of binge eating disorder in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the United States. Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common form of eating disorder. NAFLD and BED have similar risk factors, including obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. The aim of our study was to examine prevalence of BED in NAFLD patients. Methods We administered the Binge Eating Scale (BES), a questionnaire validated to screen for BED, to NAFLD patients at our Fatty Liver Center. Demographics were retrieved retrospectively from our electronic medical record. Results Of the total 95 NAFLD patients screened, 22 (23.1%) had binge eating tendencies; 6 of the 22 (6.3%) scored 27 or more points, suggestive of severe binge eating. Patient demographics included 59 females and 36 males (14 females and 8 males positive for BED). Liver disease severity and of metabolic syndrome presence were similar in both groups: 45 patients had steatosis, 25 steatohepatitis, and 24 cirrhosis, of which 10 steatosis, 5 steatohepatitis, and 7 cirrhosis patients screened positive for BED. Of the NAFLD patients with BED, 50.0% had insulin resistance, 68.2% hypertension, and 50.0% hyperlipidemia, whereas among non-BED NAFLD patients 58.9% had insulin resistance, 63.0% hypertension, and 67.1% hyperlipidemia. Conclusions This pilot study suggests that BED may have a higher prevalence among NAFLD patients than in the general population. Based on these preliminary results, further study into the prevalence of BED is recommended. More data is need to identify effects of BED on the progression of NAFLD and role of BED treatment. Keywords Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, binge eating disorder, metabolic syndrome Ann Gastroenterol 2017; 30 (6): 664-669
Deep learning for multisensor image resolution enhancement

We describe a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) for enhancing low resolution multispectral satellite imagery without the use of a panchromatic image. For training, low resolution images are used as input and corresponding high resolution images are used as the target output (label). The CNN learns to automatically extract hierarchical features that can be used to enhance low resolution imagery. The trained network can then be effectively used for super-resolution enhancement of low resolution multispectral images where no corresponding high resolution image is available. The CNN enhances all four spectral bands of the low resolution image simultaneously and adjusts pixel values of the low resolution to match the dynamic range of the high resolution image. The CNN yields higher quality images than standard image resampling methods.
Combinatorial Problems in Multirobot Battery Exchange Systems

This paper addresses combinatorial problems that arise in multirobot battery exchange systems. The multirobot battery exchange system addressed herein is characterized by two types of robots: task robots that provide services at requested locations and delivery robots that deliver charged batteries to task robots when required. Combinatorial problems arising in these systems involve multiple aspects of resource scheduling and path planning that make them more complex than well-known combinatorial problems studied in operations research. We present several heuristic algorithms for solving these combinatorial problems. Our algorithms are inspired by techniques used in artificial intelligence and the design of approximation algorithms. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithms in simulation and analyze how they scale with increasing size of the multirobot system. Note to Practitioners —This paper studies combinatorial problems arising in multirobot systems that intend to sustain themselves using mechanisms for battery exchange. The ideas developed in this paper are broadly applicable to resource delivery and scheduling, closed-loop product supply management, and pickup and delivery problems for transportation. Many of the problems studied in this paper are generalizations of the traveling salesman problem. Simpler variants of these have been studied in operations research with the aim of finding optimal solutions—albeit in exponential time. However, in this paper, we present heuristic algorithms for solving battery exchange problems based on techniques developed in artificial intelligence and the design of approximation algorithms. Our algorithms have polynomial execution times and, therefore, scale very well with increasing size of the system. More expressive variants of battery exchange problems, with a broader class of constraints, must be addressed in the future. In addition, future research should also emphasize decentralized algorithms in order to encourage parallelism and exploit the computing power available on each individual robot.
Fit für die Zukunft mit Diversity Management

„Diversity – also Vielfalt – ist eine Realitat. Und gerade als Versicherungsunternehmen ist es wichtig, sich mit dieser Heterogenitat auseinanderzusetzen – bezuglich unserer Mitarbeitenden wie auch hinsichtlich unserer Kundinnen und Kunden. Personlich bin ich davon uberzeugt: Vielfalt ist ein Gewinn, denn das Kombinieren unterschiedlicher Blickwinkel fuhrt zu besseren, weil umfassender durchdachteren Losungen.“
Transnational Representations: The State of Taiwan Film in the 1960s and 1970s by James Wicks

Wicks, James. Transnational Representations: The State of Taiwan Film in the 1960s and 1970s . Pokfulam: Hong Kong University Press, 2014.
Factors Influencing School Social Work Practice: A Latent Profile Analysis

The present study uses a national sample (N = 3769) and a latent profile framework to examine profiles of school social workers who engage in various levels of ecologically oriented practices at school and in the home and community. Three profiles emerged from the data that consisted of school social workers who reported engaging in low, medium and high levels of ecological practice behaviors across school, family, and community domains. Further examination revealed that school social workers fitting into the profile marked by high levels of self-reported practices at school, with families, and to facilitate community-school linkages were more likely to have a graduate degree, work in a state with certification standards, and have 10 or fewer years of experience compared to school social workers in the other two profiles. Additionally, school social workers who reported high levels of ecological practices were more likely to use evidence-based assessments, programs/practices, and engage in universal school-level prevention efforts more frequently compared to those in the low and medium profiles. Practical implications include the need for pre-service and targeted in-service training as well as policies that support minimum—if not lofty—competencies and state or national certification standards for school social work professionals.
Exploiting a networked game

Networked game: exploit the game by modifying the client code, or protect the server from nefarious clients.
Cell Division and the Determination Phase of Cytodifferentiation in Plants

The development of higher plants involves progressive cytodifferentiation and precisely regulated cell division and cell enlargement. The process of cytodifferentiation can be divided into two phases (Weiss, 1950; Helsop-Harrison, 1967). First, cells become committed or determined for particular developmental fates, often without showing overt signs of specialization. Once established, determination can persist even in the absence of the factors that initiated the event, thus providing for the stable and progressive character of differentiation. Second, determined cells eventually express their differentiated properties in response to inductive influences. Unlike determination, this phase of cytodifferentiation is not stable. Thus, the expression phase is, in a sense, a physiological response which provides the basis for the regulation and integration of cellular activities already established by an earlier event in development (Holtzer et al., 1972).
Abstract 272: Intralipid Protects Late Pregnant Mouse Heart Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury More Efficiently than Cyclosporine-A

Introduction Recently, we found that hearts of late pregnant (LP) mice have higher vulnerability to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury compared to hearts of non-pregnant mice. We also found intralipid (ITLD), a clinically safe compound protects the male rodent hearts against I/R injury if administrated at reperfusion. Here we explored whether ITLD can protect the function of LP mouse hearts against I/R injury, and compared its action with cyclosporine-A (CsA), a potent inhibitor of mithochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. Methods Isolated LP mouse hearts were subjected to 20 min ischemia followed by reperfusion with i) Krebs Henseleit buffer (CTRL), ii) additional 1% ITLD or iii) 1.5µM CsA. The duration of reperfusion was 40 min for heart functional measurements and infarct size assessment and 10 min for measurements of mitochondrial calcium retention capacity (CRC). Two way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. P Results The heart functional recovery of LP mice after ischemia was very poor. Postischemic administration of ITLD significantly improved the cardiac function of LP mice; the rate pressure product (RPP) at the end of reperfusion was improved from 1614±438 mmHg*beats/min (n=4) to 11556±784 mmHg*beats/min (n=3) with addition of ITLD. The infarct size was also significantly reduced by ITLD to 17±2% (n=3) from 59±5% (n=4) in CTRL (P Conclusion ITLD protects late pregnant mouse hearts against I/R injury more efficiently than CsA by inhibiting the mPTP opening.
The Role of Genotype in Behavioral Responses to Anesthetics

Research on the behavioral effects of anesthetics falls into two general categories: (1) studies which deal with the effects of anesthetics on memory, and (2) studies which are concerned with the more general question of the long term influence of anesthetics on a variety of behaviors. Memory studies typically involve descriptions of the anterograde or retrograde amnestic effects of anesthesia. These studies employ the pharmacological properties of various anesthetics as a tool for studying the input, consolidation and retrieval characteristics of learning and memory. Studies concerned with the more general effects of anesthesia on performance have been concerned with a wide range of behaviors, including those involving memory processes. Moreover, they deal with the long and short term behavioral effects of acute or chronic exposure to anesthetic vapors.
Longitudinal Studies of Personality and Intelligence

In 1882 Sir Francis Galton called for the creation of “anthropometric laboratories”: The leading ideas of such a laboratory is I have in view, were that its measurement should effectually “sample” a man with reasonable completeness. It should measure absolutely where it was possible, otherwise relatively among his close fellows, the quality of each selected faculty. The next step would be to estimate the combined effect of these separately measured faculties in any given proportion and ultimately to ascertain the degree with which the measurement of sample faculties in youth justifies a prophecy of further success in life, using the word “success” in its most literal meaning. (Galton, 1885, p. 206)
Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Gastrointestinal Toxicity

Humans swallow a great variety and often large amounts of chemicals as nutrients, incidental food additives and contaminants, drugs, and inhaled particles and chemicals, thus exposing the gastrointestinal tract to many potentially toxic substances. It serves as a barrier in many cases to protect other components of the body from such substances and infections. Fortunately, the gastrointestinal tract is remarkably robust and generally is able to withstand multiple daily assaults by the chemicals to which it is exposed. Some chemicals, however, can affect one or more aspects of the gastrointestinal tract to produce abnormal events that reflect toxicity. It is the purpose of this chapter to evaluate the mechanisms by which toxic chemicals produce their deleterious effects and to determine the consequences of the toxicity on integrity of gastrointestinal structure and function. Probably because of the intrinsic ability of the gastrointestinal tract to resist toxic chemicals, there is a paucity of data regarding gastrointestinal toxicology. It is therefore necessary in many cases to extrapolate toxic mechanisms from infectious processes, inflammatory conditions, ischemia, and other insults in addition to more conventional chemical sources of toxicity.
Irrelevance and conditioning in first-order probabilistic logic

First-order probabilistic logic is a powerful knowledge representation language. Unfortunately, deductive reasoning based on the standard semantics for this logic does not support certain desirable patterns of reasoning, such as indifference to irrelevant information or substitution of constants into universal rules. We show that both these patterns rely on a first-order version of probabilistic independence, and provide semantic conditions to capture them. The resulting insight enables us to understand the effect of conditioning on independence, and allows us to describe a procedure for determining when independencies are preserved under conditioning. We apply this procedure in the context of a sound and powerful inference algorithm for reasoning from statistical knowledge bases.
The Role of Ubiquitous Computing in Maintaining Work-Life Balance: Perspectives from Women in the Information Technology Workforce

Transformations in ubiquitous Computing and shifts in the domestic nature of home life are placing greater demands on men and women to balance work and life. Although work-life balance has been heavily investigated for many years, the majority of this research gives very little discussion to the role of technology. Thus, the question remains: Can ubiquitous computing address the issues raised by work-life balance? The purpose of this paper is to explore a particular instance of how ubiquitous computing is utilized to maintain work-life balance from the perspectives of women in the Information technology workforce.
Neuronal frequency selectivity in the inferior colliculus and cochlear nucleus of the awake behaving macaque monkey

Frequency selectivity relates to the ability to process complex signals and can be measured through auditory filters. Behavioral filters show broader tuning compared to cochlear and auditory nerve fiber tuning. To test whether filters evolve across the auditory pathway or if they are established in the periphery, we estimated neural filters in the cochlear nucleus (CN) and inferior colliculus (IC) and compared with simultaneously measured behavioral filters in macaques. Three macaques were trained to detect tones (signal = unit characteristic frequency (CF)) in spectrally notched maskers of varying width while single unit responses were recorded in the CN and IC. Filter shapes and bandwidths were estimated from the masked thresholds using the rounded exponential fit. Behavioral and neural filters increased in bandwidth with increasing CF. Behavioral and neural bandwidths were significantly correlated and not significantly different from each other for the CN and IC. Neural filter bandwidths were variable across units and structures, possibly reflecting heterogeneity of neuronal encoding strategies. These findings support a model in which behavioral frequency selectivity is established early in the auditory pathway. These data form the baseline for ongoing studies of macaques with noise-induced hearing loss and future studies of emerging hearing loss therapeutics.
The Psychosocial Evaluation of Transplant Candidates

Despite the exponential growth in the need for organs, the method by which the medical community selects transplant recipients has seen little in terms of definitive change or the establishment of recipient selection standards. When evaluating a patient’s candidacy as a potential transplant recipient, we must consider not only medical listing criteria but also the patient’s psychosocial makeup. Many pre-transplant psychosocial problems continue after transplantation. Unfortunately, psychosocial listing criteria lack standardization, both regarding tools and techniques used. Studies have demonstrated a strong association between pre-transplant psychosocial vulnerability markers and a number of both medical and psychosocial negative outcomes, which has been linked to the ultimate transplant success or failure. Psychosocial consultants can enhance the candidate selection process by fine-tuning the assessment of patients considered for transplantation. The use of objective psychosocial assessment tools, such as the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT), can assist transplant teams not only in eliminating the emotional factor from the assessment but also in presenting the facts of the case as they are. The role of psychosocial consultants should not be to make a determination regarding the patient’s worthiness as a candidate, but to assist the transplant selection committee in making the best clinical decision based on current available data.
On High-Dimensional Constrained Maximum Likelihood Inference.

Inference in a high-dimensional situation may involve regularization of a certain form to treat overparameterization, imposing challenges to inference. The common practice of inference uses either ...
Examining Acid Formation During the Selective Dehydration of Fructose to 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural in Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Water

Sustainable conversion of biomass, including fructose dehydration to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), remains a challenge. Fructose can be selectively dehydrated to HMF in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) without addition of an acid catalyst. The role of DMSO is examined starting with either fructose or HMF in DMSO/water. With increasing DMSO content, it is observed that fructose conversion, HMF selectivity, and post-reaction solution acidity increase. Although DMSO degradation to sulfuric acid is a potential source of acidity and reactivity, a barium chloride precipitation test demonstrates that sulfate ions are not detectable after reaction, suggesting that DMSO is stable during reaction at 120 °C and 150 °C with oxygen present. Instead, the majority of the acidic species produced are formic acid, levulinic acid, and humins. These acids have a minimal effect on fructose conversion in DMSO. These results suggest that DMSO promotes fructose conversion mainly through solvation effects and not as an origin of acid catalysis. For HMF stabilization, the optimal molar fraction of DMSO in water is 0.20-0.43. Overall, these results indicate that DMSO can promote fructose dehydration to HMF at 120 °C.
ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations on the structure and dynamics of electrolyte water systems at ambient temperature

Abstract ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to study the effect of cations Li+, Na+ and K+ and anion Cl− on the structural and dynamical properties of water, using the force field recently developed by Fedkin and co-workers. The structural relationship of ion and water has been analyzed from the radial distribution function and angular distribution. Comparisons of ReaxFF angle variation of ions and water within the first solvation shell were made and found to be in good agreement with literature. The disruption of hydrogen bond network of water by ions is elucidated by ion-water residence times, water-water hydrogen bond dynamics and reorientational dynamics. ReaxFF diffusion coefficient and residence times of electrolyte water system were compared with ab initio and non-reactive potentials to analyze the difference in dynamics. We gained insight into the ion interaction with water and how it can accelerate or decelerate water dynamics. ReaxFF outlines the formation and dissolution of metal hydroxides and metal chlorides over the course of simulation to explain the diffusion dynamics of water in salt solutions, allowing us to elucidate the impact of concentration on the self-diffusivity of water and ions in solutions, and to reveal that this effect always decreases the mobility and is not at all ion-specific. The obtained results have opened new opportunities to extend the ReaxFF methodology towards systems involving electrolytes.
Durable High Early Strength Concrete via Internal Curing Approach using Saturated Lightweight and Recycled Concrete Aggregates

Concrete pavements tend to degrade at joints when concrete gets exposed to freeze-thaw cycles in the presence of moisture. In Kansas, U.S., one common repair method for deteriorated concrete paveme...
Reducing COPD Readmission Rates Using an Interdisciplinary Collaborative Care Model

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. COPD is included in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), a Medicare value-based purchasing program that penalizes hospitals for 30-day readmissions. Implementation of cost effective care methods to prevent readmissions has become a greater challenge for many health care systems. Such challenges include identification of gaps between the inpatient and outpatient care settings; that would allow for continuity in respiratory care and other pulmonary rehabilitation modalities. In fiscal year 2018, the overall 30-day readmission rate for Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) patients with COPD was 26.4% with 52% of these readmissions being within 7 days of discharge. Continuity of care between the inpatient and outpatient care areas is imperative to achieving a successful HRRP, while improving quality of life for the patient. Methods: We implemented COPD Transitional Care Coordination (TCC) as a strategic model of promoting efficient collaboration between the inpatient and outpatient care settings. For in-patient care, the model includes, a COPD Action Plan and interdisciplinary collaboration to formulate efficient care, with appropriate outpatient referrals (i.e., smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation). For out-patient care we established post-discharge follow up telephone calls, via a health care navigator (HCN), per inpatient respiratory care practitioners (RCPs) assessments and recommendations. The HCN provided continual information sharing between outpatient practitioners to allow for further referrals and collaboration of care; reinforcement of the COPD Action plan and inhaler reconciliation. Results: A total of 177 patients were seen for COPD Action Plan as part of our COPD TCC model. Between August 2018 and May 2019, 13% of the COPD TCC patients seen were successfully enrolled with the ambulatory palliative care program for additional layer support, 8% of patients were referred for pulmonary rehabilitation. Conclusions: Active collaboration between all patient care areas plays an important role in promoting efficient patient care. Utilization of tools such as a COPD Action Plan allows for better patient engagement, leading to a better patient outcome.
A Blockchain and Defensive Deception Co-design for Webcam Spyware Detection

Recently there have been rapid developments in the progression of advanced malware attacks, requiring the need for robust malware detection methods. We show that the integration of access control with defensive deception is more efficient than approaches from those categories of tools running alone, since malware operate under the heavy influence of deception mechanisms while trying to evade access control. We facilitate the identification of second-order webcam spyware through an approach that is larger than ever in terms of behavior. We propose to integrate defensive deception mechanisms in a series of interactions that lead to the use of a decoy I/O device and decoy server, in this case, a decoy smart contract and decoy key management server case study. Our approach combines blockchain concepts, such as smart contracts, with key management methods, to create confusion in malware’s operations to benefit their detection.
A critical role for Musashi in photoreceptor morphogenesis and Vision

ABSTRACT Musashi family of RNA-binding proteins are known for their role in stem-cell renewal and are negative regulators of cell differentiation. Interestingly, in the retina, Musashi proteins, MSI1 and MSI2 are differentially expressed throughout the cycle of retinal development including robust expression in the adult retinal tissue. To study the role of Musashi proteins in the retina, we generated a pan-retinal and rod photoreceptor neuron specific conditional knockout mouse lacking MSI1 and MSI2. Independent of sex, photoreceptor neurons with simultaneous deletion of Msi1 and Msi2 were unable to respond to light and displayed severely disrupted OS morphology and ciliary defects. The retina lacking Musashi exhibited neuronal degeneration with complete loss of photoreceptors by six months. In concordance with our earlier studies that proposed a role for Musashi in regulating alternative splicing, the loss of Musashi prevented the use of photoreceptor-specific exons in transcripts critical for OS morphogenesis, ciliogenesis and synaptic transmission. Overall, we demonstrate a critical role for Musashi in the morphogenesis of terminally differentiated photoreceptor neurons. This role is in stark contrast with the canonical function of these two proteins in maintenance and renewal of stem cells.
Deutsche Mark–Dollar Volatility: Intraday Activity Patterns, Macroeconomic Announcements, and Longer Run Dependencies

This paper provides a detailed characterization of the volatility in the deutsche mark-dollar foreign exchange market using an annual sample of five-minute returns. The approach captures the intraday activity patterns, the macroeconomic announcements, and the volatility persistence (ARCH) known from daily returns. The different features are separately quantified and shown to account for a substantial fraction of return variability, both at the intraday and daily level. The implications of the results for the interpretation of the fundamental "driving forces" behind the volatility process is also discussed. THE EFFICIENT MARKET HYPOTHESIS contends that financial asset prices provide rational assessments of fundamental values and future payoffs. By implication, price changes should reflect the arrival and processing of all relevant new information. However, the proportion of return variability that can be ascribed to public news announcements is low. For example, Cutler, Poterba, and Summers (1989) find that even the largest daily price changes in the stock market generally cannot be associated with any significant economic news.1 Moreover, proxies for the flow of public information, e.g., the number of news items released by Reuter's News Service (Berry and HIowe (1994)) or Dow Jones & Company (Mitchell and Mulherin (1994)) explain little of the overall variation. Thus, if private information is ruled out, proponents of rational price formation have to assert the existence of important news items
Targeting Immunometabolism in Glioblastoma

We have only recently begun to understand how cancer metabolism affects antitumor responses and immunotherapy outcomes. Certain immunometabolic targets have been actively pursued in other tumor types, however, glioblastoma research has been slow to exploit the therapeutic vulnerabilities of immunometabolism. In this review, we highlight the pathways that are most relevant to glioblastoma and focus on how these immunometabolic pathways influence tumor growth and immune suppression. We discuss hypoxia, glycolysis, tryptophan metabolism, arginine metabolism, 2-Hydroxyglutarate (2HG) metabolism, adenosine metabolism, and altered phospholipid metabolism, in order to provide an analysis and overview of the field of glioblastoma immunometabolism.
Modeling the behavior of a coal pillar rib using Bonded Block Models with emphasis on ground-support interaction

Abstract Rib spalling is a major hazard in the mining industry and in absence of coal rib support guidelines, accidents have continued to occur in recent years. Developing effective support guidelines requires a complete understanding of pillar damage mechanisms as well as the rock-support interaction mechanism. Bonded Block Models (BBMs) represent a convenient tool for this purpose, as they can reproduce the rock fracturing process reasonably well, but it is not known whether this modeling technique can quantitatively replicate the impact of reinforcement (bolts) on otherwise unsupported ground. To bridge this gap in research, we employed the BBM approach to simulate the behavior of a supported coal pillar rib located in a longwall mine in Australia. This case study presents a unique opportunity in that two otherwise identical chain pillars with different support densities adjacent to one another were instrumented. After calibrating a model against displacement and stress measurements made over the course of mining in one pillar, the support in the calibrated BBM was modified to match that of the adjacent chain pillar. This model could predict the rib displacement to within 6 mm of what was measured in-situ. Given the ability of the BBM to match field-measured displacements and stresses and also field observations for varying support densities, it seems that such a model has the potential to aid in the development of a support design tool. Lastly, the effect of block shape was investigated by replacing the elongated blocks with isotropic polygonal blocks. This model could not reproduce the ground-support interaction very well, likely due to the inaccurate geometric representation of an anisotropic rock like coal.
Addition of hypotaurine can reactivate immotile golden hamster spermatozoa

Hamster epididymal spermatozoa became virtually immotile following washing and dilution in chemically defined medium (TLP-PVA). The sperm motility factors (penicillamine, hypotaurine, and epinephrine: PHE) were examined for their ability to reactivate immotile sperm. Sperm could be reactivated by addition of PHE at 1 h of incubation. Hypotaurine alone was capable of reactivating sperm motility, but epinephrine and penicillamine together were not. However, overall sperm motility and percentage of motile sperm during incubation were higher when PHE components were used in combination than when hypotaurine was used alone. Addition of hypotaurine to immotile sperm suspensions could be postponed for up to 6 h with subsequent recovery of sperm motility, although the degree of recovery of motility declined progressively with each hour that addition of hypotaurine was delayed. The rescuing effect of hypotaurine was due to an increase both in the percentage of motile sperm and in the quality (grade) of sperm motility. The data show that hypotaurine is required for expression of sperm motility in the hamster, and support the concept that the loss of hypotaurine from sperm following washing and dilution is responsible for the sperm-immobilizing effect of these procedures. Additionally, the data demonstrate that hamster sperm can remain viable for several hours after becoming immotile, and that many of the immotile sperm are capable of being reactivated.
Tinkering with Minds from the Past

Cognitive scientists argue that in the absence of language, non-human animal conceptual representations are either impoverished or completely absent. One might make comparable claims about human infants, who enter the world with different conceptual representations from adults. Nonetheless, we often treat human infants like miniature adults. This is a mistake. I argue that research on human cognition, and in particular its domain specific knowledge systems, can only succeed if it adopts a comparative perspective. To carry out this agenda, however, we require methods that can be used across species. Focusing on how numerical abilities evolved, I describe experiments on two non-human primates, representing different phylogenetic branches. Our experimental procedure--the preferential looking time technique--was designed to assess what prelinguistic human infants know about the physical and psychological world, but it is ideal for non-human animals, especially when one wishes to explore spontaneous cognitive capacities in the absence of training. Results reveal that up to a certain age, human infants and non-human primates are indistinguishable in terms of numerical competence. We must now focus on how language, together with other cognitive facilities, bring the human child to a level of numerical sophistication that exceeds non-human animals, and why non-human animal capacities stop where they do.
Bromocresol Purple and Ethyl Red as Indicators of Events Linked to Changes in the Energization of Chloroplast Membranes

Abstract 1. Two dyes, bromocresol purple and ethyl red, were tested for their ability to register solution and membrane changes resulting from the illumination of suspensions of isolated chloroplasts. 2. Bromocresol purple can measure the external (suspension) pH both rapidly and accurately if the following precautions are observed: (a) since bromocresol purple stimulates electron flow to oxygen, either low concentrations (≤ 2 µm) of bromocresol purple or conditions for noncyclic electron transport must be used; (b) the absorbance shifts must be converted by formula to yield changes in proton concentration. 3. The disappearance of protons from the medium when the light is turned on is bi-exponential with half-times of about 0.7 s and 8 s. The release of protons into the medium when the light is turned off is exponential with a decay half-time of about 30 s. 4. A brief initial lag (l0.2 s) in the uptake of protons follows the onset of illumination, and there is a lag of up to 1 s in the release of protons at the end of illumination. These data suggest the presence of an intermediate pool between electron flow and proton movement. 5. One of the major components of the ethyl red response in buffered suspensions is a band shift, which is thought to represent a change in the position of ethyl red within the membrane resulting from illumination. These responses seem related to the state of coupling of the photosynthetic membrane and could serve as a sensitive indicator thereof. 6. The time relationship between ethyl red and bromocresol purple responses shows that changes in the membrane (ethyl red response) continue after the establishment of the steady state pH shift in the light. 7. Bromocresol purple and ethyl red offer promise as investigative tools for events linked to energy transduction in thylakoids.
Subtraction Imaging and MR Co-Registration To Increase Diagnostic Yield Of Ictal And Interictal SPECT In Localization Of Epileptogenic Foci In Patients With Intractable Seizures (P6.191)

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the diagnostic yield of ictal-interictal subtraction imaging and MRI co-registration at a single institution. BACKGROUND: SPECT perfusion imaging is an important tool in identifying epileptogenic foci in patients with intractable seizures, however analysis has typically been performed subjectively. DESIGN/METHODS: All patients who underwent HMPAO-SPECT perfusion imaging for the evaluation of intractable seizures at a single tertiary care pediatric neuroscience institute over a 2.5 year period were retrospectively reviewed. For patients with ictal SPECT (IS) and interictal SPECT (IIS), subtraction imaging was performed. Images were co-registered to volumetric T1-weighted MR images using a FDA approved software package (MIM-Vista, MIM Software, Cleveland, OH). Abnormal results were defined as visual hypoperfusion on interictal SPECT and/or statistically significant hyperperfusion on ictal SPECT with post-processing subtraction. RESULTS: 81 patients with intractable epilepsy underwent SPECT imaging as part of their evaluation, including 44 (54.3%) with IS-IIS subtraction imaging, and 37 (45.7%) with IIS only 67/81 (83%) had an abnormality identified on SPECT. 36 of 44 patients (82%) with IS-IIS showed abnormalities, including 24 (55%) with abnormalities on IS and IIS, 9 (20%) with abnormalities on IS only, and 3 (7%) with abnormality on IIS only. Thirty-seven patients (46%) had only inter-ictal scans performed, of which 29 (78%) demonstrated an abnormality. Eight patients (18%) showed no abnormality on ictal or interictal SPECT imaging. Of patients with abnormal SPECT scans (IS and/or IIS), 31 of 67 (43%) had a corresponding abnormality on MRI. Twenty patients proceeded to intracranial grid electrode placement to further assist in localization. In total, twenty-six patients have undergone resection of the identified seizure focus to date. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with intractable epilepsy, SPECT perfusion imaging employing IS-IIS subtraction with MRI co-registration identifies likely seizure foci in a majority of patients, with a diagnostic yield higher than historical reports of qualitative analysis. Study Supported by: Disclosure: Dr. Abramson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Choudhri has nothing to disclose. Dr. Magill has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wheless has received personal compensation for activities with Lundbeck, Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Cyberonics, Eisai Inc., Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Supernus, and Upsher-Smith Laboratories Inc. Dr. Wheless has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, the Shainberg Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline Inc., Pfizer Inc., and Eisai Inc.
Use of sirolimus to facilitate steroid withdrawal from a cyclosporine regimen.

Abstract Objective Chronic steroid therapy has been associated with many comorbidities of transplant immunosuppression. Because sirolimus blocks one of the sites affected by steroids, we sought to examine whether substituting this drug mitigated these toxicities. Methods We used intent-to-treat methodology to compare the clinical outcomes and laboratory results between 30 renal transplant recipients converted from steroids to sirolimus with a cohort of demographically matched subjects who were transplanted concurrently with the study group and maintained on steroids. All patients received ongoing cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. To compensate for pharmacokinetic interactions with sirolimus, the cyclosporine exposure was markedly reduced in the study group. Statistical comparisons utilized analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and log rank evaluation of Kaplan–Meier curves. Results Conversion from prednisone to sirolimus was accomplished without difficulty in 27 of 30 patients. Treatment failures among the converted patients were due to chronic allograft nephropathy ( n = 1), recurrence of original disease ( n = 1), or chronic rejection ( n = 2). By intent-to-treat analysis, the outcomes were similar in the study versus concurrent control groups. Laboratory values showed triglyceridemia as an adverse reaction to sirolimus, and reduced leukocytes, to steroid withdrawal. The observed clinical benefits solely reflected the markedly reduced cyclosporine exposure. Based on responses to a questionnaire administered prior to versus 12 and 24 months after steroid withdrawal, several domains revealed improvements in subjective complaints. Conclusion Conversion from prednisone to sirolimus in combination with cyclosporine was easily accomplished in most renal transplant recipients. Although a 2-year follow-up failed to reveal objective benefits of the maneuver (other than those consequent to reduced cyclosporine exposure), most patients reported a subjectively improved health status.
Chordae tendineae rupture complicating the systolic click-late systolic murmur syndrome.

Abstract In a patient with a documented nonejection systolic click and late systolic murmur, acute mitral insufficiency developed as a result of spontaneous rupture of mitral chordae tendineae. There was no evidence of previous endocarditis, rheumatic fever or congenital heart disease. The ballooning mitral valve syndrome has previously been considered relatively benign. Chordal rupture has been predicted, and presumptive cases have been alluded to by several investigators. This well documented report of such a complication casts further doubt on the benignity of the syndrome.
Interaction and band structure effects for He on graphite derived from scattering data

Abstract Boato, Cantini and Tatarek have derived the surface bound state spectrum from measurements of 4He scattering by graphite. We fit their results to a potential V(r) obtained by pairwise summation of Lennard-Jones 6–12 interactions, with the optimal parameters ϵ = 1.34 meV, σ = 2.75 A. The maximum-to-minimum wall corrugation Δz = 0.21 A characteristic of V(r) agrees with the value obtained from diffraction intensity measurements. Predictions are made for the band structure matrix elements for 4He and 3He, and for the selective adsorption eigen-values for 3He.
Role of the A chain in thrombin function

The A chain of thrombin is covalently linked to the catalytic B chain but is separate from any known epitope for substrate recognition. In this study we present the results of the Ala replacement of 12 charged residues controlling the stability of the A chain and its interaction with the B chain. Residues Arg4 and Glu8 play a significant role in substrate recognition, even though they are located > 20 A away from residues of the catalytic triad, the primary specificity pocket and the Na+ site. The R4A mutation causes significant perturbation of Na+ binding, fibrinogen clotting and PAR1 cleavage, but modest reduction of protein C activation in the presence of thrombomodulin. These findings challenge our current paradigm of thrombin structure-function relations focused exclusively on the properties of the catalytic B chain, and explain why certain naturally occurring mutations of the A chain cause serious bleeding.
On a theorem of de Bruijn and Erdös

Abstract A theorem of de Bruijn and Erdos [2] asserts that every finite geometry (see section 1 for definition) has at least as many lines as points. The present paper uses linear algebra as a technique to establish the de Bruijn-Erdos result and a particular higher dimensional generalization. These results are special cases of theorems due to Basterfield and Kelly [1] and Green [3].