cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thymoquinone Inhibits Autophagy and Induces Cathepsin-Mediated, Caspase-Independent Cell Death in Glioblastoma Cells

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and common type of malignant brain tumor in humans, with a median survival of 15 months. There is a great need for more therapies for the treatment of glioblastoma. Naturally occurring phytochemicals have received much scientific attention because many exhibit potent tumor killing action. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the bioactive compound of the Nigella sativa seed oil. TQ has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic actions with selective cytotoxicity for human cancer cells compared to normal cells. Here, we show that TQ selectively inhibits the clonogenicity of glioblastoma cells as compared to normal human astrocytes. Also, glioblastoma cell proliferation could be impaired by chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, suggesting that glioblastoma cells may be dependent on the autophagic pathway for survival. Exposure to TQ caused an increase in the recruitment and accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3-II). TQ also caused an accumulation of the LC3-associated protein p62, confirming the inhibition of autophagy. Furthermore, the levels of Beclin-1 protein expression were unchanged, indicating that TQ interferes with a later stage of autophagy. Finally, treatment with TQ induces lysosome membrane permeabilization, as determined by a specific loss of red acridine orange staining. Lysosome membrane permeabilization resulted in a leakage of cathepsin B into the cytosol, which mediates caspase-independent cell death that can be prevented by pre-treatment with a cathepsin B inhibitor. TQ induced apoptosis, as determined by an increase in PI and Annexin V positive cells. However, apoptosis appears to be caspase-independent due to failure of the caspase inhibitor z-VAD-FMK to prevent cell death and absence of the typical apoptosis related signature DNA fragmentation. Inhibition of autophagy is an exciting and emerging strategy in cancer therapy. In this vein, our results describe a novel mechanism of action for TQ as an autophagy inhibitor selectively targeting glioblastoma cells.
“Knowing” the World within the Skin: A Remark on Skinner's Behavioral Theory of Knowledge

Summmy.-Skinner argues that we know our private world less accurately than we know the world around us because the verbal communiw cannot directly reinforce knowledge (or discriminations) about private events. This paper examined Skinner's argument and suggcscs that it is true by necessity and that the argument is, probably, a case of verbal behavior in the forms of tacting and guessing. A consistent position in Skinner's radical behaviorism is that "a person cannot describe or otherwise 'know' events occurring within his own skin as subtly and precisely as he knows events in the world at large" (8. p. 753). Skinner argues that the inaccuracy of that type of knowledge (i.e., discriminative responses of private events) arises from the fact that the response of "knowing" the world within the skin cannot be reinforced directly and consistently by the verbal community. This argument has received the attention of several authors (3, 4, 9, 10). The present analysis suggests that Skinner's argument (a) is true by necessity and (b) that the argument is, probably, a case of tacting and guessing. Before discussing these points, a brief description of Skinner's argument is provided.
Structured Highlight Inspection Of Specular Surfaces Using Extended Gaussian Images

The structured highlight inspection method uses an array of point sources to illuminate a specular object surface. The point sources are scanned and highlights on the object surface resulting from each source are used to derive local surface orientation information. The Extended Gaussian Image (EGI) is obtained by placing at each point on a Gaussian sphere a mass proportional to the area of points on the object surface that have a specific orientation. The EGI summarizes shape properties of the object surface and may be efficiently calculated from structured highlight data without surface reconstruction. Features of the estimated EGI including areas, moments, principal axes, homogeneity measures, and polygonality may be used as the basis for classification and inspection. The SHINY Structured Highlight INspection sYstem has been implemented using a hemisphere of 127 point sources. The SHINY system uses a binary coding scheme to make the scanning of point sources efficient. Experiments have used the SHINY system and EGI features for the inspection and classification of surface mounted solder joints. These experiments show excellent consistency with visual inspection and demonstrate the feasibility of the approach for production line inspection systems.
Variation-aware placement for FPGAs with multi-cycle statistical timing analysis

Deep submicron processes have allowed FPGAs to grow in complexity and speed. However, such technology scaling has caused FPGAs to become more susceptible to the effects of process variation. In order to obtain sufficient yield values, it is now necessary to consider process variation during physical design. It is common for FPGAs to contain designs with multi-cycle paths to help increase the performance, but current SSTA techniques cannot support this type of timing constraint. We propose an extension to block-based SSTA to consider multi-cycle paths. We then use this new SSTA to optimize FPGA placement with our tool VMC-Place for designs with multi-cycle paths. Our experimental results show our multi-cycle SSTA is accurate to 0.59% for the mean and 0.0024% for the standard deviation. Our results also show that VMC-Place is able to improve the clock period by 9.42% or the performance yield by 68.51% compared to a single-cycle variation-aware placer.
Financial Market Liberalization in the People's Republic of China

This paper examines the process and challenges faced by China as it opens financial markets to foreigners. Since its entry into the World Trade Organization, China has become integrated into the global economy and achieved remarkable economic success. In negotiating its entry into the World Trade Organization, China agreed to ease restrictions on foreign financial institutions doing business in the country and to liberalize its financial market. However, the legacy of a central planned economy and strict financial repression may hamper financial sector development and China's efforts to move to a market-oriented financial system. In fact, many emerging market economies took a haphazard approach to financial liberalization leading to instability in their financial markets and a financial crisis. China should learn from these economies and be aware that successfully reforming its market, while simultaneously maintaining strong economic growth and avoiding the financial instability that may accrue from liberalization, will depend on careful and skillful implementation of economic reforms.
Organic Matter Stoichiometry, Flux, and Oxygen Control Nitrogen Loss in the Ocean

Biologically available nitrogen limits photosynthesis in much of the world ocean. Organic matter (OM) stoichiometry had been thought to control the balance between the two major nitrogen removal pathways-denitrification and anammox-but the expected proportion of 30% anammox derived from mean oceanic OM is rarely observed in the environment. With incubations designed to directly test the effects of stoichiometry, however, we showed that the ratio of anammox to denitrification depends on the stoichiometry of OM supply, as predicted. Furthermore, observed rates of nitrogen loss increase with the magnitude of OM supply. The variable ratios between denitrification and anammox previously observed in the ocean are thus attributable to localized variations in OM quality and quantity and do not necessitate a revision to the global nitrogen cycle.
Influenza Hemagglutinin (HA) Stem Region Mutations That Stabilize or Destabilize the Structure of Multiple HA Subtypes

ABSTRACT Influenza A viruses enter host cells through endosomes, where acidification induces irreversible conformational changes of the viral hemagglutinin (HA) that drive the membrane fusion process. The prefusion conformation of the HA is metastable, and the pH of fusion can vary significantly among HA strains and subtypes. Furthermore, an accumulating body of evidence implicates HA stability properties as partial determinants of influenza host range, transmission phenotype, and pathogenic potential. Although previous studies have identified HA mutations that can affect HA stability, these have been limited to a small selection of HA strains and subtypes. Here we report a mutational analysis of HA stability utilizing a panel of expressed HAs representing a broad range of HA subtypes and strains, including avian representatives across the phylogenetic spectrum and several human strains. We focused on two highly conserved residues in the HA stem region: HA2 position 58, located at the membrane distal tip of the short helix of the hairpin loop structure, and HA2 position 112, located in the long helix in proximity to the fusion peptide. We demonstrate that a K58I mutation confers an acid-stable phenotype for nearly all HAs examined, whereas a D112G mutation consistently leads to elevated fusion pH. The results enhance our understanding of HA stability across multiple subtypes and provide an additional tool for risk assessment for circulating strains that may have other hallmarks of human adaptation. Furthermore, the K58I mutants, in particular, may be of interest for potential use in the development of vaccines with improved stability profiles. IMPORTANCE The influenza A hemagglutinin glycoprotein (HA) mediates the receptor binding and membrane fusion functions that are essential for virus entry into host cells. While receptor binding has long been recognized for its role in host species specificity and transmission, membrane fusion and associated properties of HA stability have only recently been appreciated as potential determinants. We show here that mutations can be introduced at highly conserved positions to stabilize or destabilize the HA structure of multiple HA subtypes, expanding our knowledge base for this important phenotype. The practical implications of these findings extend to the field of vaccine design, since the HA mutations characterized here could potentially be utilized across a broad spectrum of influenza virus subtypes to improve the stability of vaccine strains or components.
Prevalence of Acanthamoeba spp. and other free-living amoebae in household water, Ohio, USA--1990-1992.

Knowledge of the prevalence of free-living amoebae (FLA) in US household water can provide a focus for prevention of amoeba-associated illnesses. Household water samples from two Ohio counties, collected and examined for amoebae during 1990–1992, were used to describe the prevalence of Acanthamoeba and other FLA in a household setting. Amoebae were isolated and identified by morphologic features. A total of 2,454 samples from 467 households were examined. Amoebae were found in water samples of 371 (79%) households. Sites most likely to contain amoeba were shower heads (52%) and kitchen sprayers (50%). Species of Hartmannella, Acanthamoeba, or Vahlkampfia were most common. Detection was higher in biofilm swab samples than in water samples. Detection of FLA and Acanthamoeba, at 79% and 51%, respectively, exceed estimates that have been published in previous surveys of household sources. We believe FLA are commonplace inhabitants of household water in this sample as they are in the environment.
Physical Association between the Adipocyte Fatty Acid-binding Protein and Hormone-sensitive Lipase A FLUORESCENCE RESONANCE ENERGY TRANSFER ANALYSIS

Abstract Previous in vitro studies have established that hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP) form a physical complex that presumably positions the FABP to accept a product fatty acid generated during catalysis. To assess AFABP-HSL interaction within a cellular context, we have used lipocytes derived from 293 cells (C8PA cells) and examined physical association using fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Transfection of C8PA cells with cyan fluorescent protein (CFP)-HSL, yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-adipocyte FABP, or YFP-liver FABP revealed that under basal conditions each protein was cytoplasmic. In the presence of 20 μm forskolin, CFP-HSL translocated to the triacylglycerol droplet, coincident with BODIPY-FA labeled depots. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis demonstrated that CFP-HSL associated with YFP-adipocyte FABP in both basal and forskolin-treated cells. In contrast, little if any fluorescence resonance energy transfer could be detected between CFP-HSL and YFP-liver FABP. These results suggest that a pre-lipolysis complex containing at least AFABP and HSL exists and that the complex translocates to the surface of the lipid droplet.
Optical reflectivity of liquid metals at their melting temperatures

Abstract We utilize the concept of electron-phonon dominated optical conductivity and the Drude theory of optical properties of metals, as applied by Ujihara1, and the theory of melting in simple metals of Omini,2 based on the Percus-Yevick3 collective coordinate (liquid phonon) theory of simple liquids, to calculate the optical reflectivity in a variety of liquid metals. We compare the reflectivity of the metals treated by Ujihara, and extended by Siegel4 (Ag, Au, Al, Cu, Fe, Ni, Co) at their melting temperatures in the solid and liquid phases to determine if the change in phonon spectrum and electronphonon collision frequency in the solid to the Percus-Yevick “liquid phonon spectrum” and electron-liquid phonon collision frequency in the liquid affects the optical properties. Later we extend the calculations of reflectivity in the liquid metals beyond their melting temperatures. This is a valid criterion of whether the Percus-Yevick liquid phonon approach to electron-disorder scattering in liquid metals ...
Evolution of a reconfigurable processing platform for a next generation Space Software Defined Radio

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) / Harris Ka-Band Software Defined Radio (SDR) is the first, fully reprogrammable space-qualified SDR operating in the Ka-Band frequency range. Providing exceptionally higher data communication rates than previously possible, this SDR offers in-orbit reconfiguration, multi-waveform operation, and fast deployment due to its highly modular hardware and software architecture. Currently in operation on the International Space Station (ISS), this new paradigm of reconfigurable technology is enabling experimenters to investigate navigation and networking in the space environment.
24-hydroxycholesterol levels in human brain.

24-Hydroxycholesterol (cerebrosterol, cholest-5-ene-3β;, 24ξ-diol) occurs at low levels in human (Di Frisco, De Ruggieri and Ercoli, 1953; Ercoli and De Ruggieri, 1953a, 19536; Schubert, Rose and Burger, 1961; Van Lier and Smith, 1969, 1970), equine (Ercoli, Di Frisco and De Ruggieri, 1953a; Ercoli and De Ruggieri, 1953a, 1953b; Fieser, Huang and Bhattacharyya, 1957) and bovine (Richter and Dannenberg, 1969) brain tissue. Only one of two possible C-24 epimeric alcohols appears to occur in human brain (Van Lier and Smith, 1970) and the sterol may be regarded as a true endogenous trace-level sterol and not as an artifact of autoxidation derived during isolation and analysis. As a phase of our continuing interests in the presence of trace-level polar sterols in human tissues (Van Lier and Smith, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971a; Smith and Van Lier, 1970), we sought to measure levels of 24-hydroxycholesterol in different parts of human brain by gas chromatographic means. The present report deals with our measurements of 24-hydroxycholesterol in human cortex, subcortical white matter, midbrain, pons, and cerebellum.
Review of the evidence on the closure of abdominal wall defects

Infants with congenital abdominal wall defects pose an interesting and challenging management issue for surgeons. We attempt to review the literature to define the current treatment modalities and their application in practice. In gastroschisis, the overall strategies for repair include immediate closure or delayed operative repair. The best level of data for gastroschisis is grade C and appears to support that there is no major difference in survival between immediate closure or delayed repair. In patients with omphalocele, the management techniques are more varied consisting of immediate closure, staged closure or delayed closure after epithelialization. The literature is less clear on when to use one technique over the other, consisting of mostly grade D and E data. In patients with omphalocele, a registry to collect information on patients with larger defects may help determine which of the management strategies is optimal.
Image-based histologic grade estimation using stochastic geometry analysis

Background: Low reproducibility of histologic grading of breast carcinoma due to its subjectivity has traditionally diminished the prognostic value of histologic breast cancer grading. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness and reproducibility of grading breast carcinomas with automated computer-based image processing that utilizes stochastic geometry shape analysis. Methods: We used histology images stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) from invasive mammary carcinoma, no special type cases as a source domain and study environment. We developed a customized hybrid semi-automated segmentation algorithm to cluster the raw image data and reduce the image domain complexity to a binary representation with the foreground representing regions of high density of malignant cells. A second algorithm was developed to apply stochastic geometry and texture analysis measurements to the segmented images and to produce shape distributions, transforming the original color images into a histogram representation that captures their distinguishing properties between various histological grades. Results: Computational results were compared against known histological grades assigned by the pathologist. The Earth Mover's Distance (EMD) similarity metric and the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) classification algorithm provided correlations between the high-dimensional set of shape distributions and a priori known histological grades. Conclusion: Computational pattern analysis of histology shows promise as an effective software tool in breast cancer histological grading.
Evaluations of Correlations for Two-Phase Flowmeters Three Current–One New

The two-phase flowmeter correlations of James, Marriott, and Murdock are evaluated using data for orifices and for venturi and nozzles previously reported. Further, a new correlation is proposed for the case where the phases may be treated as separated and this correlation is evaluated using the same data. (auth)
Reactions of Tp–Os nitrido complexes with the nucleophiles hydroxide and thiosulfate

Abstract The reaction between TpOs(N)Cl2 (1) [Tp = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate] and aqueous (nBu4N)(OH) in THF-d8 forms the nitrosyl complex TpOs(NO)Cl2 (5) among other products, suggesting an initial hydroxide attack at the nitrido ligand. In contrast, the reaction of the acetate complex TpOs(N)(OAc)2 (2) with NaOH in Me2CO/H2O yields the osmium bis-hydroxide complex TpOs(N)(OH)2 (3), which has been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Acetate for hydroxide exchange could occur by ligand substitution or by nucleophilic attack at the carbonyl carbon of the acetate ligands (saponification). Reacting 2 with Na18OH in H218O/CD3CN yields predominantly doubly 18O-labeled TpOs(N)(18OH)2 (3-18O2) and unlabeled acetate, by ESI/MS and 13C{1H} NMR. This indicates that hydroxide reacts by substitution rather than by attack at the ligand. The reaction of 2 with the softer nucleophile thiosulfate occurs at the nitrido ligand, giving the thionitrosyl complex TpOs(NS)(OAc)2 (4). Reacting 4 with NaOH in (CD3)2CO/D2O also generates the bis-hydroxide complex 3.
Mental layouts of concealed objects as a function of imagery type and experimental conditions

We examined whether concealed imagery was an effective mnemonic aid in the immediate recall of paired objects by conducting a study that contained explicitly worded instructions to conceal certain objects. Forty subjects were presented with counterbalanced verbal descriptions of concealed, pictorial, and separate object interactions; the descriptions were further categorized according to the type of image elicited, whether normal or bizarre. Results replicated Kerr and Neisser’s (1983) findings, with pictorial interactions being recalled better than were concealed or separate. Furthermore, the bizarre effects obtained suggested these types of images had poorer recall and elicited lower vividness ratings than did normal types across the three conditions, with bizarre concealed images generating the lowest ratings of all. It remains to be determined whether these images can be mnemonically effective over delayed recall periods.
Hypoxic and metabolic regulation of voltage-gated K+ channels in rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Inhibition of voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) depolarizes pulmonary artery (PA) smooth muscle cells, induces Ca(2+)-dependent action potentials and increases [Ca2+]i. Neither charybdotoxin, which blocks Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels, nor glibenclamide, which blocks ATP-sensitive K+ channels, has such effects on membrane potential (Em) and [Ca2+]i. Hypoxia reversibly decreases the 4-AP-sensitive KV currents (IK(V)) in PA myocytes. The resulting membrane depolarization caused by decreased IK(V) induces Ca(2+)-dependent action potentials and thereby raises [Ca2+]i. Thus, KV channel activity plays a critical role in: (a) regulating Em and [Ca2+]i under physiological conditions; and (b) sensing O2 alteration and transducing the hypoxic stimulus to changes of Em and [Ca2+]i. The metabolic inhibitors 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DOG; 10 mM) and carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-hydrazone (FCCP; 3-5 microM), the reducing agent reduced glutathione and inhibitors of cytochrome P-450, all mimic the effects of hypoxia on IK(V) and Em in PA myocytes. Furthermore, hypoxia and 2-DOG negligibly affect IK(V) and Em in mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells. These results suggest that hypoxia, perhaps via a localized reduction of ATP, triggers the block of KV channels and depolarizes PA myocytes. This blockade may also be mediated by a change in cellular redox status, perhaps via a conformational change of a haem- (or metal-) containing regulatory moiety that is attached to the channel protein.
Comb-based radiofrequency photonic filters with rapid tunability and high selectivity

Using electro-optically generated frequency combs, scientists demonstrate radiofrequency photonic filters that can potentially provide simultaneous high stopband attenuation, fast tunability and bandwidth reconfiguration.
SPIDER AND WEB : PROCESSING AND VISUALIZATION OF IMAGES IN 3D ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND RELATED FIELDS

The SPIDER system has evolved into a comprehensive tool set for image processing, making use of modern graphics interfacing in the VMS and UNIX environment. SPIDER and WEB handle the complementary tasks of batch processing and visualization of the results. The emphasis of the SPIDER system remains in the area of single particle averaging and reconstruction, although a variety of other application areas have been added. Novel features are a suite of operations relating to the determination, modeling, and correction of the contrast transfer function and the availability of the entire documentation in hypertext format.
Bloch Oscillations of an Electron in a Crystal under the Action of an Electric Field

The dynamical localization problem of an electron in a ID crystal under the action of a uniform de electric field E is solved. Starting with a determined state at t = 0, it is solved for the Wannier amplitudes (propagator) and shown that they oscillate in time with the Bloch frequency. Moreover, it is shown the behaviour of the optical absorption coefficient as a function of the photon frequency ω which shows jumps whenever the photon energies equal multiples of eEa. Es wird das dynamische Lokalisierungsproblem eines Elektrons in einem ID-Kristall unter der Einwirkung eines elektrischen Gleichfeldes E gelost. Beginnend mit einem bei t = 0 bestimmten Zustand wird es fur die Wannier-Amplituden (Propagator) gelost und gezeigt, das sie zeitlich mit der Blochfrequenz oszillieren. Daruber hinaus wird das Verhalten des optischen Absorptionskoeffizienten als Funktion der Photonenfrequenz ω angegeben, der Sprunge zeigt, wenn die Photonenenergien Vielfache von eEa betragen.
The Supreme Court Shuffle: What It Means for Social Work

ABSTRACT Although social workers often focus on policy made by the legislative branch, it is undeniable that the courts―particularly the U.S. Supreme Court―wield enormous influence over the life chances and opportunities of all Americans. As predicted, President Bush had the first opportunity in more than a decade to alter the composition of the Supreme Court. This article examines the records of the Court's new members, Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito; summarizes selected cases decided during the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 terms; and discusses implications of these recent changes for policies of importance to social work. Policy practitioners are urged to engage in efforts to influence judicial policy making.
Human recombinant interleukin-1α protection against the lethality of endotoxin and experimental sepsis in mice

Human recombinant interleukin-1α (IL-1) has a diverse range of physiological activities which may be beneficial or deleterious to the host. Pretreatment with doses of IL-1 has been shown to protect mice against a subsequent lethal bacterial injection; however, the protective effects of a single intravenous (iv) dose of IL-1 have not been well characterized. The current experiments were performed to determine the best dose, timing, and duration of action of a single iv dose of IL-1 against a subsequent lethal challenge with intraperitoneal endotoxin (LPS) or experimental sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Female C57B1/6 mice treated with iv IL-1 24 hr prior to 30 mg/kg LPS ip had improved survival compared to saline-treated controls (P < 0.01). IL-1 was also protective when given 6 to 72 hr, but not 2 or 96 hr, prior to LPS. IL-1 protection against LPS lethality was similar to protection seen with an iv dose of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). After CLP, survival was improved with IL-1 versus saline pretreatment (P = 0.02). Unlike previous work with TNF, no toxicity or lethality was observed at any dose of IL-1 administered. A single iv dose of IL-1 protects against the lethality of LPS and CLP in mice. IL-1 may be a useful treatment strategy in patients at risk for the development of life-threatening sepsis.
Locating multiple targets in complex images

A new algorithm called the flying window locator algorithm (FWLA) is presented for locating multiple targets in complex images, in which the illumination is not uniform, the sizes of targets are small, and the colors of targets and their background are similar. The FWLA divides a complex image into subimages, called windows. To guarantee that a target of interest is completely in one of the windows, neighboring windows are overlapped so that each overlapped area is bigger than that of a target. Since a window defined in the FWLA is small, a scene component in a window is considered as having a similar shading or color. Hence, a window is composed of a mixture of component distributions, stemming from the different background and target regions in the window. A gradient clustering algorithm (GCA) is developed to separate a mixture in each window and segment a window. After segmentation, a `hole' concept is used to find the targets of interest based upon a priori knowledge of the target size, shape, and color. The FWLA is a non-iterative clustering algorithm and uses only fixed- point numbers to analyze an image. Consequently, it is fast and computationally efficient. Results of applying the FWLA to two different computer vision problems are presented.
Transcriptional Regulators and Myelopoiesis: The Role of Serum Response Factor and CREB as Targets of Cytokine Signaling

Hematopoiesis is a complex process in which mature myeloid and lymphoid cells are produced from a small population of pluripotent stem cells within the bone marrow. Blood cell formation occurs, in part, by progenitor cell exposure to humoral growth regulators, known as hematopoietic cytokines, as well as by the regulated expression of genes by transcription factors. In this paper, we review two important nuclear proteins, the serum response factor and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein, as downstream targets of mitogens, with a specific focus on hematopoietic cytokine signaling and the role these proteins play in gene regulation.
A Prospective, Randomized, Clinical Trial of Heparin Therapy for Postoperative Intraocular Fibrin

The authors undertook a study to investigate the ability of systemic or heparin supplementation of the vitrectomy infusion solution to prevent formation of postoperative intraocular fibrin membranes. A total of 73 eyes were randomized; 26 served as the control group, 23 received 10,000 IU of intravenous bolus of heparin, and 12 eyes each underwent the vitrectomy with an infusion solution containing 10 or 5 IU/cc of heparin. Intraoperative bleeding, postoperative bleeding, and postoperative fibrin formation were graded. A 10-IU/cc heparin infusion resulted in a statistically significant reduction in postoperative fibrin formation (P = 0.04) but increased intraoperative bleeding (P = 0.02). A trend toward reduced postoperative fibrin formation was noted in the intravenous heparin and 5 IU/cc infusion groups.
Initial stabilization preceding enhanced hemolysis in autoimmune hemolytic anemia treated with intravenous gammaglobulin

Testicular volumes of adolescents. J PEDIATR 1982;100:1010. 3. Lambert B. The frequency of mumps and mumps orchitis, and the consequences for sexuality and fertility. Acta Genet [Suppl] 1951;2:1. 4. Rundle AT, Sylvester PE. Measurement of testicular volume: its application to assessment of maturation and its use in diagnosis of hypogonadism. Arch Dis Child 1962;37:514. 5. Hurxthal LM. Hypogenitalism during the time of puberty. JAMA 1948;136:12. 6. Cassorla FG, Golden SM, Jonsonbaugh RE, et al. Testicular volume during early infancy. J PEDIATR 1981;99:742. 7. Takihara H , Sakatoky J, Fujji M, et al. Significance of testicular size measurement in andrology. I. A new orchidometer and its clinical application. Fertil Steril 1983;39:836. 8. Schonfeld WA, Bebe GW. Normal growth and variation in male genitalia from birth to maturity. J Urol 1942;48:759. 9. Schonfeld WA. Primary and secondary sexual characteristics. Am J Dis Child 1943;65:535. 10. Prader A. Testicular size: assessment and clinical importance. Triangle 1966;7:240. 11. Marshall WA, Falkner F, Tanner JM, eds. Human growth. New York: Plenum, 1978:150.
Galanin attenuates retention of one-trial reward learning.

Abstract Galanin is a neuropetide that coexists with acetylcholine in the septohippocampal pathway. Galanin appears to have a negative modulating influence on cholinergic transmission, suggesting that it might interfere with memory formation on a one-trial discriminative reward learning task. The apparatus was a starburst maze with five radiating alleys, one an ascending baited alley. The subjects were 38 two to three month old Sprague-Dawley rats cannulated in the body of the lateral ventricles and deprived to 80% of initial weight. Ten rats were infused i.c.v. over six mins. with 8 μg galanin in 24 μl saline and 10 with saline alone. Twenty mins. after completion of infusion, each rat was placed in the maze and observed under “blind” conditions for number of errors (blind alleys entered) and latency to reach reward. Each rat's speed score was 100 sec./latency. One day later, each rat was retested in the maze. Each rat's retention scores were its decrease in errors and increase in speed between the single training trial and the retention trial. Galanin infused rats showed significantly less retention by both measures. In a second experiment, either the same dose of galanin or saline alone was infused 20 mins. before the retention trial. There was no significant effect, suggesting that galanin may interfere with memory formation rather than memory retrieval or task performance.
Polarographic maxima and dipole repulsion forces

Abstract Strong dipole repulsion forces at the mercury interface can give rise to polarographic maxima of the first kind even in the absence of net free surface charge. The dipole energy and forces yield an expression for the surface velocity of the mercury droplet. It is shown that movement of the mercury surface should cease when the dipole concentration is uniformly depleted by electrolytic action even though the potential increases. Maxima of the first kind may be interpreted in terms of dipole repulsion forces. The force is given by the product of the dipole moment and the tangential derivative of the electric intensity field. The force appears to be substantial because of the size of the tangential derivatives of the field. The field arises from the dipoles and quadrupoles created by “bond” formation between the electrode site and adsorbed species. Non-uniform surface concentration of the adsorbed species is responsible for the non-uniform fields and large tangential field derivatives. Non-uniform surface concentrations occur whenever the current distribution is asymmetric as in polarographic systems. Here the dipole repulsion forces bring about the migration of matter at the interface. An expression for the velocity of the migration has been derived. The velocity may be determined from reasonable assumptions about the hydrodynamic boundary layer thickness. The expression for the velocity indicates an association of polarographic maxima with electrocapillary maxima and it predicts the cessation of polarographic maxima with increasing potential because of dipole depletion.
Perceived Severity: Do They Experience Illness Severity As We Conceive It?

This essay examines the concept of perceived severity of illness and argues that careful translation and appropriate operationalization of constructs is important to the validity and reliability of its study. Current methods of measuring illness severity cross-culturally are found lacking in their neglect of local interpretations of this dimension of illness. The implications of an analysis of data from an illness recall survey conducted among the Ngawbere of western Panama are discussed and alternative considerations are proposed for the study of perceived severity of illness cross-culturally.
Use of time as a determinant of family market behavior

Abstract An attempt is made to represent the concept of life style in terms of the use of time. The variables obtained are used to test their effectiveness, in conjunction with socioeconomic and attitudinal variables, for explaining certain types of consumer financial behavior, using data from two panels of young married couples, one of 130 couples in Decatur-Peoria, Illinois, and the other of 185 couples in Chicago. The results indicate that use-of-time variables are significant in helping to explain purchase of durables, ownership of credit cards, and amount of insurance.
Suicidal ideation in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Turner AP, Williams RM, Bowen JD, Kivlahan DR, Haselkorn JK. Suicidal ideation in multiple sclerosis. Objective To examine risk factors for suicidal ideation among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design Cohort study linking computerized medical records with a mailed self-report survey. Setting Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) region covering the northwestern United States. Participants VHA patients with MS (N=445) who returned mailed surveys. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure Suicidal ideation is assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) suicide item with suicidal ideation more than half the days considered persistent. Results One hundred thirty-one (29.4%) of 445 respondents (95% confidence interval [CI], 25.4%–33.9%) endorsed suicidal ideation, and 35 (7.9%; 95% CI, 5.7%–10.8%) endorsed persistent suicidal ideation over the last 2 weeks. In bivariate analyses, suicidal ideation was associated with younger age, earlier disease course, progressive disease subtype, lower income, not being married, lower social support, not driving, higher levels of physical disability (mobility, bowel, bladder), and depression. Analyses on persistent suicidal ideation yielded similar results. In fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression, only depression severity and bowel disability were independently associated with suicidal ideation. Only depression severity was independently associated with persistent suicidal ideation. By using the 2-question depression screen (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) consisting of the depression and anhedonia items from the PHQ-9, sensitivity and specificity were marginal for suicidal ideation (65.6% and 79.9%) but acceptable for persistent suicidal ideation (88.6% and 71.2%). Conclusions Suicidal ideation is common among VHA patients with MS, and depression severity is the best risk marker. Brief screening for depression in MS should include the assessment of suicidal ideation.
In vivo immunostaining demonstrates macrophages associate with growing and regressing vessels.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify ways to improve qualitative and quantitative assessments of retinal vessels and neovascularization (NV). Methods At postnatal day (P) 17, mice with oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy were injected intravitreously with one of a variety of FITC-labeled or unlabeled antibodies and humanely killed 12 hours later. Retinas were flat mounted (retinas from eyes injected with labeled antibodies) or incubated with secondary antibody and then flat mounted (retinas from eyes injected with unlabeled antibodies). Results Retinas from eyes injected with labeled anti-platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM1) showed good resolution of the fine structure of retinal NV, including filopodia at the tips of sprouts. New vessels originated from superficial retinal vessels, something that is widely recognized, but they also arose from deep retinal capillaries and from large retinal vessels, which is not generally known. Retinas from eyes injected with unlabeled anti-PECAM1 antibody and then incubated with labeled secondary antibody showed selective staining of retinal NV with little or no background, greatly facilitating identification and quantification of the NV by image analysis software. Double labeling with anti-PECAM1 antibody and one of three other antibodies--anti-CD45, F4/80, or anti-CXCR4--showed exquisite localization of various populations of bone marrow-derived cells with respect to the vasculature and demonstrated close association of macrophages with NV and regressing vessels. Double labeling with anti-PECAM1 antibody and anti-placental growth factor (PlGF) showed high levels of PlGF in growing and regressing vessels but no detectable signal elsewhere in the retina. Conclusions This study describes techniques that facilitate measurements and detailed structural analysis of retinal NV and that allow identification and quantification of populations of bone marrow-derived cells and support the view that macrophages contribute to the growth and regression of vessels in the eye.
The theory of recombination of gaseous ions

Abstract The bearing of the recent results of Marshall on the theory of recombination of gaseous ions is discussed. It is shown, by solution of the Brownian movement equation for two ions of opposite sign, in a gas, that the average relative displacement in a time π is little influenced by the attractive forces, except for distances of the order of magnitude of 10−5 cm. or less, at ordinary temperatures. This conclusion, that in general the motion of the ions relative to each other is largely one of random diffusion, is in good agreement with the interpretation forced by Marshall's study of the variation of the coefficient of recombination α with time and concentration of ions. This also indicates that the theoretical approach of Langevin to the solution of the recombination problem is untenable, while that of Thomson is justified. The theory, of Thomson is discussed and, is compared with observation. It appears to fit qualitatively as accurately as the facts are known.It is then shown how the success of any theoretical treatment is limited due to our ignorance of the nature of the mass of the ion, a condition which, however, enables us to understand the very small range of variation of α among the different gases.
The heuristic‐systemic model of sustainability stewardship: facilitating sustainability values, beliefs and practices with corporate social responsibility drives and eco‐labels/indices

Using a framework from the heuristic-systematic model and the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, this study tests consumers’ systematic conjunction of sustainability values, beliefs and practices, and examines the heuristic influence of sustainability stewardship on the consumers’ VBN framework. In this study, sustainability stewardship within the textile and apparel industry refers to approaches that can facilitate the corporate social responsible (CSR) drive and eco-labels/indices in corporate sustainability practices. Data from 239 US college students were analyzed using a structural equation modeling method. The findings confirmed that only the CSR drive is significant as heuristic sustainability stewardship in facilitating the consumer's systematic process in the VBN framework, while eco-labels/indices do not moderate consumers’ sustainable practices. In particular, the current CSR drives in the textile and apparel industry strengthen consumers’ values in the altruistic, self-enhancement and biospheric dimensions, and, further, lead to the sustainability practices of eco-citizenship, green consumption and green product purchasing, through the mediation of proenvironmental belief. Comprehending these dynamics can empower marketers and researchers to devise pertinent ideas and practical applications of sustainability stewardship to academia and to the textiles and apparel industry.
Wormholes in spacetime and the constants of nature

The proposal that wormholes in spacetime cause the cosmological constant A to vanish is reviewed, and its implications are studied. Wormholes also drive Newton's constant G to the lowest possible value. The requirement that G is at its minimum determines, in principle, all other constants of Nature. In practice, the values of fundamental constants other than A cannot be predicted without a detailed knowledge of Planck-scale physics.
Refined Models for Hydrodynamic Lubrication in Axisymmetric Stretch Forming

Two mathematical models for axisymmetric stretch forming with a spherical punch are developed. The models combine a finite element representation of the sheet deformation with a hydrodynamic lubrication model. In one model the influence of sheet bending shiffness is taken into account while in the other only the membrane stiffness is considered. Comparison of the predictions of the models with the film thickness measurements of Hector and Wilson indicates that the inclusion of elastic effects is important in predicting lubricant film thickness. The results of model are in particularly good agreement with the experimental data
Igf2-H19, an imprinted tandem gene, is an important regulator of embryonic development, a guardian of proliferation of adult pluripotent stem cells, a regulator of longevity, and a 'passkey' to cancerogenesis.

The insulin-like growth factor-2 (Igf2)-H19 locus encodes important paternally imprinted genes that govern normal embryonic development. While Igf-2 encodes IGF2, which is an autocrine/paracrine mitogen, transcription of H19 gives rise to non-coding mRNA that is a precursor of several microRNAs (miRNAs) that negatively affect cell proliferation. The proper imprinting of a differentially methylated region (DMR) within this locus, with methylation of the paternal chromosome and a lack of methylation on the maternal chromosome, regulates expression of both of these genes so that Igf2 is transcribed only from the paternal chromosome and H19 only from the maternal chromosome. There is growing evidence that this ‘Yin-Yang’ locus regulates embryonic development. Furthermore, recent evidence indicates that erasure of imprinting (hypomethylation) of the Igf2-H19 locus on both chromosomes, which leads to downregulation of Igf2 and upregulation of H19 expression, plays an important role in regulating quiescence of pluripotent stem cells in adult organisms, and may be involved in the regulation of lifespan. In contrast, hypermethylation of this locus on both chromosomes (loss of imprinting) results in Igf2 overexpression and is observed in several malignancies. In this review, we will discuss the biological consequences of changes in Igf2-H19 expression.
Autologous immune complex nephritis induced with renal tubular antigen. II. The pathogenetic mechanism.

The pathogenetic mechanism involved in a form of experimental allergic glomerulonephritis induced by immunization of rats with renal tubular antigen has been investigated. A single immunization with less than a milligram of a crude renal tubular preparation, probably containing less than 25 µg of the specific nephritogenic antigen, is effective in the induction of this form of chronic membranous glomerulonephritis. In the nephritic kidney autologous nephritogenic tubular antigen is found in the glomerular deposits along with γ-globulin and complement. When large amounts of antigen are injected during induction of the disease the exogenous immunizing antigen can also be detected in the glomerular deposits. It appears that this disease results from the formation of circulating antibodies capable of reacting with autologous renal tubular antigen(s) and the deposition of these antibodies and antigen(s) plus complement apparently as immune complexes in the glomeruli. This pathogenetic system has been termed an autologous immune complex disease and the resultant glomerulonephritis has been similarly designated.
Glycan Microarrays for Decoding the Glycome

In the last decade glycan microarrays have revolutionized the analysis of the specificity of glycan binding proteins, providing information that simultaneously illuminates the biology mediated by them and decodes the information content of the glycome. Numerous methods have emerged for arraying glycans in a ‘chip’ format, and glycan libraries have been assembled that address the diversity of the human glycome. Such arrays have been successfully used for analysis of glycan binding proteins that mediate mammalian biology, host-pathogen interactions, immune recognition of glycans relevant to vaccine production and cancer antigens. This review covers the development of glycan microarrays and applications that have provided insights into the roles of mammalian and microbial glycan binding proteins.