cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What is the best definition of the term “hyperventilation”?

to the editor: In the context of a discussion about a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a second-year medical student recently asked: What is the definition of hyperventilation? My initial response was that, when the CO2 production rate is constant, an individual who is
Frame-Changing Experiences and the Freshman Year: Catalyzing A Commitment to Service-Work and Social Action

Interviews with college students committed to volunteer work reveal that a majority of these students can point to a single academic experience that deeply influenced their commitment. These experiences typically occur during the freshman year of college and alter the ‘frame’ through which these students view their community and/or their role within the community. Here, I offer a model demonstrating the role of these ‘frame-changing experiences’ in catalyzing a young adult’s commitment to service-work and social action.
Increased urinary excretion of angiotensinogen is associated with risk of chronic kidney disease

Background The effect of intrarenal renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activity on risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been well studied in human subjects.
Expression and Localization of the Contractile Prostaglandin F Receptor in Pregnant Rat Myometrium in Late Gestation, Labor, and Postpartum

A polyclonal antibody was raised against amino acids 7-18 in the first extracellular loop of rat prostaglandin F (FP) receptor to monitor expression and localization in pregnant rat myometrium at Gestational Days 16, 18, 20, 21, 21.5, 22 (delivery), and 23 (1-day postpartum; n = 5 per group). The antibody recognized a protein of approximately 43 kDa on Western blot analysis in both membrane (soluble and nonsoluble) and cytosolic fractions of myometrium on each day of gestation. Expression of FP protein increased significantly (P < 0.05) during late gestation in both soluble membrane and cytosolic fractions, being significantly greater at Day 21.5 than at Day 20 of gestation in the soluble membrane fraction and in the cytosolic fraction of tissues collected during labor compared with those obtained before labor. The total concentration of FP receptor in the membrane (soluble plus nonsoluble) remained high throughout late gestation and fell significantly (P < 0.05) in the postpartum period. The FP receptor in the soluble membrane fraction (compared to the total membrane FP receptor) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in late gestation than earlier, whereas the ratio of FP protein in cytosolic to that in the total membrane was significantly (P < 0.05) higher on Day 23 than earlier in gestation, suggesting a dynamic movement of FP with advancing gestational age. Immunoreactive FP receptor localized to circular and longitudinal smooth muscle at all gestational ages, but changes in intracellular localization were observed in late gestation with a staining pattern similar to alpha-actin, suggesting an association with myofibrils. Our study suggests an increase in FP-receptor protein in myometrium with advancing gestation and a marked elevation at term. This supports a role for uterine FP receptors in mediation of uterine contractility at term.
Myocardial Nucleotide Synthesis from Purine Bases and Nucleosides: Comparison of the Rates of Formation of Purine Nucleotides from Various Precursors and Identification of the Enzymatic Routes for Nucleotide Formation in the Isolated Rat Heart

14C-Labeled adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, and adenine were extracted by the isolated rat heart in amounts proportional to their concentration in the perfusion medium between 0.05 and 5 µM. With each of the precursor materials, nearly all of the radioactivity retained by the heart was identified as acid-soluble nucleotide. Nucleotide formation from the four isotopic precursors occurred at similar rates when the concentration of the precursors was below 1 µM. Above this concentration, the heart appeared to utilize adenosine for nucleotide synthesis at rates three to five times those for the other purines. Several experimental approaches were employed to determine the predominant enzymatic routes in the rat heart for the conversion of the nucleosides adenosine and inosine to nucleotides. The results indicated that adenosine was directly phosphorylated to 5'-adenosine monophosphate by a nucleoside kinase. Inosine appeared to proceed to the nucleotide, at least partially, through an initial conversion to h...
Aberrant External Jugular Vein Phlebectasia With Tongue Pain

We have not encountered any other report of phlebectasia with tongue pain in the literature. The pain disappeared after the anomalous venous communication was excised.
Effect of supplemental tracemineral source on bull semen quality

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of tracemineral supplementation on bull semen quality, as measured by computer-assisted sperm analysis. Angus and Gelbvieh × Angus bulls assigned to inorganic (n = 9) and organic (n = 10) trace-mineral treatments were maintained in drylot pens and fed mixed grass hay. Three times weekly bulls were individually fed rations containing either inorganic or a mixture of inorganic and organic Zn, Cu, Co, and Mn trace mineral for 123 d (mid-May to early September). Starting on d 60, semen was collected by electroejaculation weekly for a 9-wk period (mid-July until early September) and evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis for motility parameters within 5 min of collection. Data were analyzed by treatment, week, and their interaction using SAS PROC Mixed for repeated measures. Bulls supplemented with organic trace minerals had a greater (P = 0.02) percentage of motile sperm than those supplemented with inorganic trace minerals (65.5 vs. 56.1%, respectively). Likewise, percentage of progressive sperm was greater (P = 0.01) for bulls receiving organic (47.0%) versus only inorganic (38.4%) trace mineral. Sperm with rapid motility (path velocity > 50 μm/s) was also greater (P = 0.03) for bulls supplemented with organic compared with bulls receiving inorganic trace mineral (62.3 vs. 52.8%, respectively). Sperm motility is the single most important semen quality parameter influencing bull fertility. Results suggest organic trace-mineral supplementation may improve bull semen quality. Additional studies are needed to determine whether this improvement in semen quality translates into improved pregnancy rates.
Systematic inference of highways of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes

Motivation: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a crucial role in the evolution of prokaryotic species. Typically, no more than a few genes are horizontally transferred between any two species. However, several studies identified pairs of species (or linages) between which many different genes were horizontally transferred. Such a pair is said to be linked by a highway of gene sharing. Inferring such highways is crucial to understanding the evolution of prokaryotes and for inferring past symbiotic and ecological associations among different species. Results: We present a new improved method for systematically detecting highways of gene sharing. As we demonstrate using a variety of simulated datasets, our method is highly accurate and efficient, and robust to noise and high rates of HGT. We further validate our method by applying it to a published dataset of >22 000 gene trees from 144 prokaryotic species. Our method makes it practical, for the first time, to perform accurate highway analysis quickly and easily even on large datasets with high rates of HGT. Availability and implementation: An implementation of the method can be freely downloaded from: http://acgt.cs.tau.ac.il/hide. Contact: rshamir@tau.ac.il Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Variability in the Response of Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to the Tomato Resistance Gene Mi

Abstract Mi is a dominant locus in tomato that confers resistance to both root knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., and potato aphids, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas). The goal of this study was to investigate the breadth of Mi-mediated aphid resistance. To examine variability in potato aphid response, the effect of Mi on seven isolates of the potato aphid from California, New Jersey, North Carolina, France, and The Netherlands was measured in greenhouse bioassays. Assays were also performed to determine if Mi impacted another aphid species that attacks tomato, Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Tomato varieties carrying Mi had a profound negative impact on the potato aphid isolates from France and The Netherlands. In contrast, other potato aphid isolates from New Jersey, North Carolina, and California proved to be virulent, or capable of overcoming Mi. Mi-mediated resistance also did not extend to the green peach aphid isolates tested. These results demonstrate that Mi-mediated aphid resistance is isolate-specific, a...
Cost-Effectiveness of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Surgery at 2-Year Follow-up

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the cost/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of the operative treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis and identify factors associated with cost-effectiveness at 2 years. Methods We evaluated patients who underwent surgery for spondylolisthesis. The QALY was determined from the EQ5D. Outcomes were also assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Surgical, neuromonitoring, and anesthesia Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes as well as hospital Diagnosis-Related Group codes were used to determine the Medicare direct care costs of surgery. Indirect costs were modeled based on existing literature. A discounting rate of 3% was applied. Analysis was performed to determine which factors were associated with a cost/QALY less than $100,000. Results There were 44 patients who underwent surgery for either degenerative (30) or isthmic spondylolisthesis (14). There were 27 women and 17 men, with an average age at surgery of 59.7 years (standard deviation [SD] = 14.69) and an average follow-up of 2 years (SD = 0.82). The average postoperative improvement in ODI was 24.77 (SD = 23.9), and change in QALY was 0.43 (SD = 0.30). The average cost/QALY at 2 years for direct care costs was $89,065. The average cost/QALY at 2 years for direct plus indirect costs was $112,588. Higher preoperative leg pain and greater leg pain change was associated with a cost/QALY Conclusions Spondylolisthesis surgery is cost-effective at 2 years, with a QALY change of 0.43 and a direct cost/QALY of $89,065. Higher preoperative leg pain and larger extent of disease was associated with cost-effectiveness. Level of Evidence IV.
Spotlight on Rolf Hagedorn

I describe several events that characterize my work with and my personal relationship with Rolf Hagedorn himself, closing with biographical remarks.
Design of a Low-Cost Vision System for Laser Profilometry Aiding Smart Vehicles Movement

We present a fast and accurate method to derive the pose of a mobile vehicle moving within bounded paths. A triangulation-based vision system made of a laser source, able to generate a line pattern, and a high speed camera is applied on the front side of an autonomous vehicle, namely the Smoov ASRV platform, which is able to store and retrieve pallets in smart warehouses. The presented system extracts the properties of the emitted laser line on the camera plane and transfers these information to the vehicle reference system. Then, the presence of constitutive landmarks along the path, i.e., holes and bends, permit the estimation of other parameters, such as vehicle speed, enabling the exact control of the vehicle. Further validations have returned accuracies lower than 2 and 3.2 % in distance and tilt measurements with respect to the rail border, respectively.
AG-024322 is a potent and selective multi-targeted CDK inhibitor with broad spectrum anti-proliferative activity

4415 Uncontrolled cell proliferation is the hallmark of cancer, and is typically manifested by a de-regulation of the cell-division cycle. Cyclin-dependent-kinases (CDKs) play critical roles in regulating the cell cycle by phosphorylating several cellular proteins. The CDKs are de-regulated and activated in most (if not all) human cancers in a variety of ways, including down-regulation or inactivation of the endogenous CDK inhibitory proteins, overexpression of the essential cyclin subunits of the CDKs, and activating mutations in CDK substrates such as the Retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. The activation of CDKs in tumors highlights these enzymes as important cancer targets for novel therapeutic intervention. An integrated strategy of structure-based drug design and combinatorial chemistry efforts was used to optimize compounds with potent and selective inhibition of the major cell cycle kinases CDK1, CDK2 and CDK4. AG-024322 displays potent inhibition of these CDKs, with Ki’s in the 1-3 nM range and selectivity over a number of other kinases. This potent enzymatic inhibition translates to cellular activity, in that AG-024322 also inhibits Rb phosphorylation in cells. Potent antiproliferative activity was demonstrated in multiple human tumor cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 30 to 200 nM. As expected for a multi-targeted (pan)-CDK inhibitor, AG-024322 causes arrest at multiple stages of the cell cycle. In addition, AG-024322 is cytotoxic and induces cell death by apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These results identify AG-024322 as a potent, multi-targeted CDK inhibitor with broad spectrum anti-proliferative activity.
The Management of Organization Design, Volume I: Strategies and Implementation

The article reviews two books edited by Ralph H. Kilmann, Louis R. Pondy, and Dennis Slevin: “The Management of Organizational Design,” Volume 1, “Strategies and Implementation,” and Volume 2, “Research and Methodology.”
Myocardial salvage by the free radical scavenging actions of xanthine oxidase inhibitors.

It is well established that oxygen-derived free radicals play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ischemic-reperfusion injury.1 However, the source of these radicals remains unknown. McCord2 has proposed that oxygen radicals are generated during reoxygenation of ischemic myocardium by the action of xanthine oxidase on hypoxanthine. A number of investigators supported this hypothesis based on their observations of allopurinol-mediated reduction of reperfusion injury.3 Recently, the beneficial action of allopurinol to salvage ischemic-reperfused myocardium has been challenged by Reimer et al.4 In addition, most of the mammalian hearts, with the exception of rat heart, have been found to contain negligible or no xanthine oxidase activity at all.5 The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the role of two xanthine oxidase inhibitors, allopurinol and oxypurinol, on the ischemic-reperfused heart and to explore their mechanisms of action. Our results suggest that these xanthine oxidase inhibitors salvage the ischemic-reperfused myocardium by scavenging the free radicals.
Zinc Deprivation and the Nervous System.

This review is concerned with the role of zinc in the function of the nervous system with emphasis on the effects of dietary zinc deprivation. Zinc deficiency leads to several pathological signs, some of which occur within a few days in growing animals deprived of zinc. Depletion eventually leads progressively to more severe behavioral changes, to abnormal stance, and to peripheral neuropathy. The nervous system contains many essential zinc metalloproteins that are highly stable, i.e. have high zinc association constants. These proteins, which include enzymes, transcription factors and storage proteins, do not become limiting during incipient zinc deficiency. It is likely that other, yet unidentified, zinc dependent proteins become limiting within a few days after animals are deprived of dietary zinc and lead to behavioral changes such as decreased and cyclic feeding. One candidate for the first limiting zinc component of nerve tissue is the "chelatable" zinc pool. Another is the plasma membrane zinc pool; the latter pool is decreased in zinc deficient rat erythrocytes, leading to oxidation of protein thiol groups and malfunction of that membrane. While the defective biochemical mechanism(s) that leads to the signs of deficiency is not entirely clear, there is evidence that synaptosomes from zinc deficient guinea pigs do not take up calcium normally when stimulated. It is postulated that the most vulnerable zinc pool serves a protective role against oxidative damage to plasma membrane proteins including the proteins involved with calcium channels. If so, the first limiting role of zinc is protective rather than catalytic or that of a neurotransmitter.
Factors Influencing Head and Neck Surgical Oncologists' Transition from Curative to Palliative Treatment Goals.

ObjectiveThe factors influencing head and neck surgical oncologists’ goals of care and decisions to initiate conversations about transitioning to palliative-intent treatment for patients with limit...
Valproate-Induced Lupus Erythematosus

A mentally retarded 30-year-old woman with partial trisomy of chromosome 9, suffering from epilepsy since age 11 months, developed systemic lupus erythematosus after one year of treatment with valproate (VPA) and ethosuximide (ESM) at the Clinica Neurologica, Universita di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus During Pregnancy

Reproductive issues including contraception, fertility, and pregnancy are important components of the comprehensive care of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE pregnancies are complicated due to risk for maternal disease exacerbation and potential for fetal and neonatal complications. Pre-pregnancy assessment is important to identify patients with severe disease-related damage who should avoid pregnancy, counsel patients to conceive when disease has been stable and inactive on appropriate medications, and assess relevant risk factors including renal disease, antiphospholipid antibody, and anti-Ro/SS-A and anti-La/SS-B antibodies. With careful planning, monitoring, and care, most women with SLE can anticipate a successful pregnancy.
Evaluation of Methods to Estimate Salmon Harvest Using Angler Harvest Permits Available on a Smartphone Application

AbstractChinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha harvest in Oregon is currently estimated using voluntary returns of angler harvest permits. However, estimates are potentially biased due to nonresponse. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of a new method for estimating harvest in which anglers were given the option to record harvest on a smartphone application in addition to traditional paper harvest permits. Estimates were evaluated via simulation using eight basins along the mid- and north coast of Oregon as a theoretical case study. Simulated harvest was estimated using data from supplemental on-site surveys in conjunction with hypothetical harvest data recorded on smartphones. Confidence intervals varied from 1.2% to 24.7% of actual harvest at the aggregate scale and from 2.6% to 104.1% at the individual-fishery scale when smartphone recording rates were consistent among fisheries. Precision increased as the percentage of anglers recording harvest on a smartphone increased. Based on...
The incidence of concha bullosa, unusual anatomic variation and its relationship to nasal septal deviation: A retrospective radiologic study☆

Abstract Objective Identifying anatomical variations associated with pathological findings is very useful for diagnoses and therapeutics. We conducted a study to detect various anatomical variations (superior, middle, inferior turbinate concha bullosa, uncinate bulla and nasal swell body [NSB]) in connection with nasal septal deviation. Methods This study used a retrospective radiological design to analyze 594 (1188 sides) osteomeatal computed tomography scans from 494 male patients and 100 female patients aged between 17 and 75 years. We randomly selected 100 male and 100 female patients as controls; we compared the groups and performed a statistical analysis. All patients in the control group had sinusitis only (i.e., they lacked nasal septal deviations). Results Left-sided septal deviation was found to be slightly more prevalent than right-sided deviation (43.9% and 36.4%, respectively). The incidence of S-curved septal deviation was 18.5%, that of dorso-ventral deviation was 10.9%, and that of caudal-rostral deviation was 7.6%. The incidence of only septal spur was 1.2%. In the case of middle turbinate concha bullosa, the incidence of the unilateral type was 17.3% and that of the bilateral type was 36.4%. In superior turbinate concha bullosa, the incidence of the unilateral type was 11.3% and that of the bilateral type was 27.4%. The incidence of inferior turbinate concha bullosa was 1.0% and that of uncinate bulla was 1.7%. NSB was found in 25.1% of patients, 24.7% of males and 27.0% of females. The frequencies of middle and superior concha bullosa were about 10–12 fold higher on the concave side. The nasal septal deviation group exhibited a higher incidence of most anatomical variants than the non-deviated group; differences in the middle turbinate concha bullosa attained statistical significance. Conclusion The radiologist must focus on anatomical variants in the preoperative evaluation. It is important for surgeons to be aware of these variations.
A Fast k-Nearest Neighbor Classifier Using Unsupervised Clustering

In this paper we propose a fast method to classify patterns when using a k-nearest neighbor (kNN) classifier. The kNN classifier is one of the most popular supervised classification strategies. It is easy to implement, and easy to use. However, for large training data sets, the process can be time consuming due to the distance calculation of each test sample to the training samples. Our goal is to provide a generic method to use the same classification strategy, but considerably speed up the distance calculation process. First, the training data is clustered in an unsupervised manner to find the ideal cluster setup to minimize the intra-class dispersion, using the so-called “jump” method. Once the clusters are defined, an iterative method is applied to select some percentage of the data closest to the cluster centers and furthest from the cluster centers, respectively. Beside some interesting property discovered by altering the different selection criteria, we proved the efficiency of the method by reducing by up to 71% the classification speed, while keeping the classification performance in the same range.
Adipocyte lipid synthesis coupled to neuronal control of thermogenic programming.

Abstract Background The de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids (DNL) through fatty acid synthase (FASN) in adipocytes is exquisitely regulated by nutrients, hormones, fasting, and obesity in mice and humans. However, the functions of DNL in adipocyte biology and in the regulation of systemic glucose homeostasis are not fully understood. Methods & results Here we show adipocyte DNL controls crosstalk to localized sympathetic neurons that mediate expansion of beige/brite adipocytes within inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT). Induced deletion of FASN in white and brown adipocytes of mature mice (iAdFASNKO mice) enhanced glucose tolerance, UCP1 expression, and cAMP signaling in iWAT. Consistent with induction of adipose sympathetic nerve activity, iAdFASNKO mice displayed markedly increased neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) content in iWAT. In contrast, brown adipose tissue (BAT) of iAdFASNKO mice showed no increase in TH or NPY, nor did FASN deletion selectively in brown adipocytes (UCP1-FASNKO mice) cause these effects in iWAT. Conclusions These results demonstrate that downregulation of fatty acid synthesis via FASN depletion in white adipocytes of mature mice can stimulate neuronal signaling to control thermogenic programming in iWAT.
Mobile bodies of meaning: city life and the horizons of possibility*

Despite their centrality to the rhythm and practice of everyday urban life, there are, surprisingly, few studies on commercial minibus-taxis as a microcosm of city life in Africa, especially its precarious materiality. Using the trademark yellow minibus-taxis (danfos) in Lagos as a frame of reference, this paper explores what an interpretative analysis of the slogans that danfo workers paint on their vehicles can tell us about the city in which they weave their routine existence, especially the hopes, fears and actual material circumstances which informed their unique choice of slogans. Foregrounding the danfos as mobile bodies of meaning, the article finds that slogans not only reflect the lived realities of danfo workers, but are themselves vital means through which these workers get by, define their identity and expand their horizons of possibility.
Null effects of boot camps and short-format training for PhD students in life sciences.

Many PhD programs incorporate boot camps and summer bridge programs to accelerate the development of doctoral students’ research skills and acculturation into their respective disciplines. These brief, high-intensity experiences span no more than several weeks and are typically designed to expose graduate students to data analysis techniques, to develop scientific writing skills, and to better embed incoming students into the scholarly community. However, there is no previous study that directly measures the outcomes of PhD students who participate in such programs and compares them to the outcomes of students who did not participate. Likewise, no previous study has used a longitudinal design to assess these outcomes over time. Here we show that participation in such programs is not associated with detectable benefits related to skill development, socialization into the academic community, or scholarly productivity for students in our sample. Analyzing data from 294 PhD students in the life sciences from 53 US institutions, we found no statistically significant differences in outcomes between participants and nonparticipants across 115 variables. These results stand in contrast to prior studies presenting boot camps as effective interventions based on participant satisfaction and perceived value. Many universities and government agencies (e.g., National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation) invest substantial resources in boot camp and summer bridge activities in the hopes of better supporting scientific workforce development. Our findings do not reveal any measurable benefits to students, indicating that an allocation of limited resources to alternative strategies with stronger empirical foundations warrants consideration.
Efficient Hexahedral Mesh Generation for Complex Geometries Using an Improved Set of Refinement Templates

We proposed a new, easy-to-implement, easy-to-understand set of refinement templates in our previous paper to create geometry-adapted all-hexahedral meshes easily [Ito et al., “Octree-Based Reasonable-Quality Hexahedral Mesh Generation Using a New Set of Refinement Templates,” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 77, Issue 13, March 2009, pp. 1809-1833, DOI: 10.1002/nme.2470]. This paper offers an extension of the template set to refine concave domains more efficiently. In addition, two new options, temporal rotation and temporal local inflation, are introduced to create hexahedral meshes with fewer elements for long objects or objects with thin regions. Several examples are shown to discuss the improvements of the mesh generation method.
Negotiation, Governance, and Regime Building

Most of the growing literature on international regimes focuses on why states cooperate, neglecting the exploration of how states cooperate in conceptual terms. Such crucial topics as the creation of regimes, the role of how multilateral negotiation, the nature of power, the determination of regime forms, regime evolution and success and regime relations to domestic events are largely left out of the discussion or are treated unsatisfactorily. The neglect of the regime-building process goes hand in hand with the general neglect of the conceptual study of multilateral negotiation, but it also relates to the problems of conceptualizing the paths and phases — longitudinal and latitudinal alternatives — in the integration process. This chapter seeks to address these lacunae, in the hopes of opening further discussion and without any illusions that the holes will be filled.
Nonlinear output feedback control

It is shown that the performance of a globally bounded (possibly dynamic) partial state feedback control of an input-output linearizable system can be recovered by a sufficiently fast high-gain observer. The performance recovery includes recovery of boundedness of trajectories, recovery of the property that the trajectories reach a certain set in finite time, and recovery of convergence to a positively invariant set.
CD4+ T-cell induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis in Burkitt's lymphoma B cells

Cytotoxic function of CD4+ Th1 cells is mediated by Fas (CD95, APO-1) and its ligand (Fas ligand). Recent studies using nontransformed B cells and the Ramos Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) B-cell line cells show that CD40 ligation at the B-cell surface by activated, CD40 ligand (CD40L)-bearing, CD4+ T cells upregulates Fas expression on B cells and primes B cells for Fas-mediated death signals. In this work, we examine whether this CD4+ T-cell-dependent molecular pathway for Fas upregulation and B-cell apoptosis reflects a peculiarity of the Ramos B-cell line or is applicable to other Burkitt's tumors as well. In 5 of the 6 Epstein-Barr virus-negative BL cell lines examined, the cells constitutively express undetectable or low levels of Fas and are resistant to Fas-mediated signals induced by monoclonal anti-Fas antibody. All 6 of the BL cell line B cells upregulate Fas in response to CD40 ligation, and in 4 of the cases they become sensitive to Fas-mediated death signals. In one BL cell line, the cells are constitutively sensitive to Fas-mediated cytolysis and are unaffected by CD40 signals. Next, we applied these immunologic manipulations to cells from a refractory clinical sample and observed that the tumor cells could be induced to express Fas and undergo apoptosis in our system. These results establish CD4+ T cells and the Fas-Fas ligand system as important immune regulators of Burkitt's lymphoma B cells and indicate that the susceptibility of tumor cells to Fas-mediated death signals can be modulated by specific activation events at the cell surface.
Approximate Local Sums and Their Applications in Radio Networks

Although any problem in a radio network can be solved using broadcast algorithms, some problems can be solved substantially more efficiently by more specialized algorithms. This paper presents two new approximate algorithms for the local sum problem, in which each node computes a (1±e)-approximation to the sum of the values held by its incoming neighbors (nodes that have outgoing edges to the node). We propose algorithms both with and without collision detection, as well as for the beeping model, with round complexity \(O({\log^{2} n + \log n\log m \over \epsilon^2})\), where n is the number of nodes and the value held by each node is a real number in {0} ∪ [1,m]. We then show how these algorithms can be used as building blocks to construct applications such as approximate random walk distribution, PageRank, and global sum.
Global Burden of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

Cancer and Cardiovascular disease [CVD] are an unholy matrimony, being inexorably linked to each other and fostering a substantial global health burden of our time.
New insights into the development of B cell responses: Implications for solid organ transplantation

A resurgent interest in the role of B cells following solid organ transplantation is being driven by clinical data suggesting that antibody mediated rejection (AMR) is a major cause of dysfunction and organ transplant failure. These observations suggest that, in a subset of patients, current immunotherapies are failing to control the development of alloantibody responses, and/or failing to reverse the production or the effects of alloantibodies. Quantification of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) has proven to be an imperfect predictor of AMR, and efforts to improve DSA quantification anticipate that this will result in improved predictive power. At the same time, attempts to control of ABMR have focused on the non-specific elimination of B cells, plasma cells (PCs) or circulating antibodies. In the past decade, there has been an improvement in our understanding of the processes that drive B cell differentiation into germinal center (GC)-dependent or GC-independent memory B cells and antibody-secreting PC. These insights are suggesting new ways to more specifically target the DSA response, which may lead to better long-term allograft survival outcomes while preserving protective immunity. In this review, new insights into processes that lead to antibody production upon primary and secondary antigen encounter are discussed, and the potential implications to DSA production as well as future areas of investigation to control AMR are discussed.
Seeking a Structure–Function Relationship for γ-Al2O3 Surfaces

The surface of γ-Al2O3 is perhaps the most exploited surface in chemistry. It is used as a catalyst and as a catalyst support. Its porosity is often evoked as the key quality of this material. Howe...
Holographic deflection imaging measurement of electric charge on aerosol particles

We propose a simple noninvasive technique called holographic deflection imaging (HDI) to measure electric charge on individual aerosol particles. Particles in many flows such as atmospheric turbulence can carry electric charges, which add forces that compete with turbulence and affect particle dynamics. To measure particle charges, we devised a novel technique for polydispersed particles with bipolar charge distributions. The technique uses common optical hardware and a novel particle sizing algorithm for polydispersed size distributions. A charged particle sample is introduced into a vertical channel air flow and a horizontal electric field. For each particle, In-line digital holography is used to simultaneously track particle positions over successive holograms and decode size information from hologram interference fringes. This enables measurement of the electric-force-induced horizontal component of terminal velocity and the particle size. From velocity and size, particle charge is calculated using a force balance, assuming Stokes drag on spherical particles. Two experiments were conducted, one to validate HDI measurements of a bipolarly charged particle sample against an electrometer, and the other to demonstrate particle size effect on triboelectric charging of aerosols in a fan-driven isotropic turbulence chamber. The HDI setup was configured for each experiment, and measurement uncertainty was estimated. Experiment 1 found good agreement (< 5%) in mean charge between measurements by HDI and the electrometer. Experiment 2 found nearly symmetric bipolar charge distributions, which broadened with increasing particle surface area, as expected for triboelectric charging by the symmetrically installed fans.
Nanosecond laser coupling for increased filament ablation

Laser filaments can project intensities sufficient to ablate materials at long ranges, but the clamping of a filament’s intensity to ∼1014 W/cm2 limits the effective ablation of targets with which the laser pulses interact. We seek to identify regimes in which auxiliary radiation can be used to augment the ablation created by single filaments. In this work, the combination of an 800 nm, 50 fs beam at single filament intensity and a 1064 nm, 8 ns laser pulse is studied. The ablation of GaAs is quantitatively evaluated for varying interpulse delays. Under optimum conditions, an ∼threefold increase in the ablation is observed. The metrology and surface features of the resultant ablation craters are examined to gain insight on the mechanisms of ablation in the dual-pulse cases.
3 key elements for globalization

Throughout the years, the American Chemical Society has fulfilled its mission to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. However, changes have occurred worldwide that present new challenges and opportunities. One change can be seen in the society’s demographics. ACS is becoming increasingly global and includes more than 20,000 members who live outside the US and represent more than 140 countries. ACS has 23 international chemical sciences chapters and 66 international student chapters. Chemistry Enterprise Partnerships (CEPs) have been established with our sister societies to strengthen our international collaborations. As the ACS Board of Directors’ liaison to the society programs’ globalization effort, I firmly believe that when we think about globalization, we should focus on the three Cs: communication, collaboration, and cooperation. Communication is essential to promoting an environment of confidence and trust. Once efficient communicat...
The geochemistry of produced waters from the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, USA

Abstract Produced water is a byproduct of oil and gas production. The chemistry of produced water may provide information about the source of the fluid and its evolution, leading to an improved understanding of the hydrology of petroleum systems. In this study, samples from 19 wells from the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana, USA were analyzed for their major and trace element compositions. Data obtained from produced waters from the TMS were compared to existing chemical data from produced waters collected from nearby hydrocarbon reservoir rocks within the Gulf Coast Basin. The results show that produced waters from the TMS are highly saline, with a mean concentration of 15.9 g/L of total dissolved solids. Comparison of the chemistry of produced water from the TMS to early flowback waters demonstrated a rapid shift from the more dilute fracturing fluid to the formation water endmember composition. Most of the trace metals showed a moderate to strong correlation with the overall salinity of the waters. Concentrations of Cu and V showed a moderate correlation with the amount of oil produced from the TMS wells, suggesting that these elements are strongly affiliated with the kerogen and subsequent dissolved (
Chapter 10 – Fiber Facts

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a sample list of “fiber facts”. Fiber optic networks played an important role in disaster recovery. To better appreciate the role played by optical networks, the chapter provides some facts that have been considered. It discusses the use of fibers for illumination. Fiber lighting systems offer several advantages; the light source can be placed in a convenient location for access and maintenance, and one source can be used to light several areas. Fiber optic lighting is used for various decorative effects, including lighting walkways, landscaping, countertops, and stairways. Fibers can also be used for backlighting liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The chapter mentions some unusual applications of fiber such as fiber optic cable being used for flight control in an anti-tank missile.
A class of Langevin equations with Markov switching involving strong damping and fast switching

This work is devoted to a class of Langevin equations involving strong damping and fast Markov switching. Modeling using continuous dynamics and discrete events together with their interactions much enlarged the applicability of Langevin equations in a random environment. Strong damping and fast switching are characterized by the use of multiple small parameters, resulting in singularly perturbed systems. The motivation of our work stems from the reduction of complexity for complex systems. Under suitable conditions, it is established that the solutions of the Langevin equations satisfy a large deviations principle. Then, we apply our results to statistical physics problems of a small particle in time-inhomogeneous environment and low temperature. Some connections to other fields in physics are also given.
White Matter Microstructure of the Cerebellar Peduncles Is Associated with Balance Performance during Sensory Re-Weighting in People with Multiple Sclerosis

People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) exhibit impaired balance during different sensory environments and poor cerebellar peduncle microstructure. We aimed to examine associations between microstructures of the superior, middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles (CP) with visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive-based balance in PwMS. Twenty-seven PwMS and twenty-nine healthy controls (HC) underwent MRI and balance assessments. We assessed CP microstructure with radial diffusivity (RD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) and balance with center of pressure-derived measures of path length and root mean square of sway during proprioceptive (C2), visual (C3), and vestibular (C4) balance conditions of the modified clinical test of sensory integration on balance (mCTSIB). PwMS exhibited significantly lower FA (p < 0.001) and greater RD (p < 0.001) across all CP and greater path length (p < 0.05) in the mCTSIB compared with HC. In PwMS, significant associations were detected between inferior CP white matter microstructure and proprioceptive-based balance control (rho = −0.43, p < 0.05) and middle CP white matter microstructure and visual-based balance control (rho = 0.39, p < 0.05). PwMS may rely more on cerebellar-regulated proprioceptive- and visual-based balance control than HC.
Habitat suitability and connectivity modeling reveal priority areas for Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis ) conservation in a complex habitat mosaic

Conservation for the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), a federally endangered species in the United States of America, is typically focused on local maternity sites; however, the species is a regional migrant, interacting with the environment at multiple spatial scales. Hierarchical levels of management may be necessary, but we have limited knowledge of landscape-level ecology, distribution, and connectivity of suitable areas in complex landscapes. We sought to (1) identify factors influencing M. sodalis maternity colony distribution in a mosaic landscape, (2) map suitable maternity habitat, and (3) quantify connectivity importance of patches to direct conservation action. Using 3 decades of occurrence data, we tested a priori, hypothesis-driven habitat suitability models. We mapped suitable areas and quantified connectivity importance of habitat patches with probabilistic habitat availability metrics. Factors improving landscape-scale suitability included limited agriculture, more forest cover, forest edge, proximity to medium-sized water bodies, lower elevations, and limited urban development. Areas closer to hibernacula and rivers were suitable. Binary maps showed that 30% of the study area was suitable for M. sodalis and 29% was important for connectivity. Most suitable patches were important for intra-patch connectivity and far fewer contributed to inter-patch connectivity. While simple models may be effective for small, homogenous landscapes, complex models are needed to explain habitat suitability in large, mixed landscapes. Suitability modeling identified factors that made sites attractive as maternity areas. Connectivity analysis improved our understanding of important areas for bats and prioritized areas to target for restoration.
Female Adolescents with Severe Substance and Conduct Problems Have Substantially Less Brain Gray Matter Volume

OBJECTIVE: Structural neuroimaging studies have demonstrated lower regional gray matter volume in adolescents with severe substance and conduct problems. These research studies, including ours, have generally focused on male-only or mixed-sex samples of adolescents with conduct and/or substance problems. Here we compare gray matter volume between female adolescents with severe substance and conduct problems and female healthy controls of similar ages. HYPOTHESES: Female adolescents with severe substance and conduct problems will show significantly less gray matter volume in frontal regions critical to inhibition (i.e. dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex), conflict processing (i.e., anterior cingulate), valuation of expected outcomes (i.e., medial orbitofrontal cortex) and the dopamine reward system (i.e. striatum). METHODS: We conducted whole-brain voxel-based morphometric comparison of structural MR images of 22 patients (14-18 years) with severe substance and conduct problems and 21 controls of similar age using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and voxel-based morphometric (VBM8) toolbox. We tested group differences in regional gray matter volume with analyses of covariance, adjusting for age and IQ at pRESULTS: Female adolescents with severe substance and conduct problems compared to controls showed significantly less gray matter volume in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, medial orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, bilateral somatosensory cortex, left supramarginal gyrus, and bilateral angular gyrus. Considering the entire brain, patients had 9.5% less overall gray matter volume compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Female adolescents with severe substance and conduct problems in comparison to similarly aged female healthy controls showed substantially lower gray matter volume in brain regions involved in inhibition, conflict processing, valuation of outcomes, decision-making, reward, risk-taking, and rule-breaking antisocial behavior. Language: en
Who Gets a Second Chance? Effectiveness and Equity in Supervision of Criminal Offenders

Most convicted offenders serve their sentences under “community supervision” at home instead of in prison. Under supervision, however, a technical rule violation, such as not paying fees, can result in incarceration. Rule violations account for 25% of prison admissions nationally and are significantly more common among black offenders. I test whether technical rules are effective tools for identifying likely reoffenders and deterring crime and examine their disparate racial impacts using administrative data from North Carolina. Analysis of a 2011 reform reducing prison punishments for technical violations on probation reveals that 40% of rule breakers would go on to commit crimes if spared harsh punishment. The same reform also closed a 33% black-white gap in incarceration rates without substantially increasing the black-white reoffending gap. These effects combined imply that technical rules target riskier probationers overall but disproportionately affect low-risk black offenders. To justify black probationers’ higher violation rate on efficiency grounds, their crimes must be roughly twice as socially costly as that of white probationers. Exploiting the repeat spell nature of the North Carolina data, I estimate a semiparametric competing risks model that allows me to distinguish the effects of particular types of technical rules from unobserved probationer heterogeneity. Rules related to the payment of fees and fines, which are common in many states, are ineffective in tagging likely reoffenders and drive differential effects by race. These findings illustrate the potentially large influence of ostensibly race-neutral policies on racial disparities in the justice system.