cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental Vitamin D Availability Impacts Hematopoietic Stem Cell Production.

Vitamin D insufficiency is a worldwide epidemic affecting billions of individuals, including pregnant women and children. Despite its high incidence, the impact of active vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)D3) on embryonic development beyond osteo-regulation remains largely undefined. Here, we demonstrate that 1,25(OH)D3 availability modulates zebrafish hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) production. Loss of Cyp27b1-mediated biosynthesis or vitamin D receptor (VDR) function by gene knockdown resulted in significantly reduced runx1 expression and Flk1+cMyb+ HSPC numbers. Selective modulation in vivo and in vitro in zebrafish indicated that vitamin D3 acts directly on HSPCs, independent of calcium regulation, to increase proliferation. Notably, ex vivo treatment of human HSPCs with 1,25(OH)D3 also enhanced hematopoietic colony numbers, illustrating conservation across species. Finally, gene expression and epistasis analysis indicated that CXCL8(IL-8) was a functional target of vitamin D3-mediated HSPC regulation. Together, these findings highlight the relevance of developmental 1,25(OH)D3 availability for definitive hematopoiesis and suggest potential therapeutic utility in HSPC expansion.
Ionic Liquids as Lubricant Additives: A Review.

In pursuit of energy efficiency and durability throughout human history, advances in lubricants have always played important roles. Ionic liquids (ILs) are room-temperature molten salts that possess unique physicochemical properties and have shown great potential in many applications with lubrication as one of the latest. While earlier work (2001–2011) primarily explored the feasibility of using ILs as neat or base lubricants, using ILs as lubricant additives has become the new focal research topic since the breakthrough in ILs’ miscibility in nonpolar hydrocarbon oils in early 2012. This work reviews the recent advances in developing ILs as additives for lubrication with an attempt to correlate among the cationic and anionic structures, oil-solubility, and other relevant physicochemical properties, and lubricating behavior. Effects of the concentration of ILs in lubricants and the compatibility between ILs and other additives in the lubricant formulation on the tribological performance are described foll...
Mast Cell-Specific Gene Targeting.

Abstract For years mast cell (MC) studies have relied on MC lines or bone marrow-derived MC. Regular knockout mice have some disadvantages such as early lethality and developmental defects. Also, the phenotype in MCs from these animals could not be a primary defect but secondary to other cell lines affected by the mutation. The Cre/loxP system allows us to target genetic deletions to specific tissues or cells. Cre, a recombinase from bacteriophage P1, recognizes a DNA sequence motif of 34 bases (loxP). If a DNA segment is flanked by two loxP sites in the same orientation, Cre excises that segment activating or silencing a gene. Many genes have been “floxed” (flanked by two loxP sites), but no MC-specific Cre mouse has been created. We are using promoter regions of MC-specific proteins to drive expression of Cre-recombinase. We produced transgenic mice using the promoter for human alpha-subunit and murine beta-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (hFceRIα and mFceRIβ), both expressed in MCs and basophils. We also used the promoter of the murine mast cell protease mMCP-5, a member of a family of cargo proteins expressed only in MCs. For even more controlled expression, we knocked-in Cre cDNA into the mMCP-5, mMCP-6 and Ras guanine releasing protein 4 (RasGRP4) loci, all of them proteins expressed exclusively in MCs, while knocking-out the respective gene. Heterozygotes will express Cre only in MCs, and homozygotes for mMCP-5, mMCP-6 or RasGRP4 deletions will be regular knockouts that will allow us to study the role of these proteins in mast cells. These three transgenic and three knock-out/knock-in lines have been created and are being crossed with reporter mice. We decided to use a double reporter mouse, the Bgeo/GFP (Jackson Laboratory). This mouse has “floxed” lacZ that is constitutively expressed under the control of the CMV enhancer/chicken actin promoter, and when crossed with our Cre recombinase-expressing mouse, lacZ is excised and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is expressed in cells expressing Cre. EGFP can be easily detected in MCs from peritoneal lavage by flow-cytometry, using antibodies against c-kit (CD117) and FceRI to label the MCs. Results of this screening will be presented at the meeting. After documenting the presence of functional Cre-recombinase in our reporter mice, we will cross them with our “floxed” mice to obtain conditional mast cell-specific knockouts.
Vascular disease in cocaine addiction

Cocaine, a powerful vasoconstrictor, induces immune responses including cytokine elevations. Chronic cocaine use is associated with functional brain impairments potentially mediated by vascular pathology. Although the Crack-Cocaine epidemic has declined, its vascular consequences are increasingly becoming evident among individuals with cocaine use disorder of that period, now aging. Paradoxically, during the period when prevention efforts could make a difference, this population receives psychosocial treatment at best. We review major postmortem and in vitro studies documenting cocaine-induced vascular toxicity. PubMed and Academic Search Complete were used with relevant terms. Findings consist of the major mechanisms of cocaine-induced vasoconstriction, endothelial dysfunction, and accelerated atherosclerosis, emphasizing acute, chronic, and secondary effects of cocaine. The etiology underlying cocaine's acute and chronic vascular effects is multifactorial, spanning hypertension, impaired homeostasis and platelet function, thrombosis, thromboembolism, and alterations in blood flow. Early detection of vascular disease in cocaine addiction by multimodality imaging is discussed. Treatment may be similar to indications in patients with traditional risk-factors, with few exceptions such as enhanced supportive care and use of benzodiazepines and phentolamine for sedation, and avoiding β-blockers. Given the vascular toxicity cocaine induces, further compounded by smoking and alcohol comorbidity, and interacting with aging of the crack generation, there is a public health imperative to identify pre-symptomatic markers of vascular impairments in cocaine addiction and employ preventive treatment to reduce silent disease progression.
P197 Cumulative weak HLA antibodies. relevant or not. A case study

Aim The relevance of cumulative, low MFI anti-HLA specificities on equivocal virtual crossmatch (VXM) results has been discussed in the Guidelines for the detection and characterization of clinically relevant antibodies in allotransplantation of the British Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Moreover, some labs take this phenomenon into consideration in their daily practice. However, no conclusive evidence has been published and no consensus has been reached about it. This case describes a 3 year old male awaiting cardiac transplant presenting with multiple HLA Class I and II antibodies (Ab). It demonstrates the relevance of weak HLA Ab cumulative effect on B lymphocyte flow crossmatch (FC XM) outcome. Methods Ab screening was performed according to manufacturer instructions using LabScreen Single Antigen Beads (SAB) (One Lambda). FC XM were acquired on BC FC500 and analyzed using MESF shift. MESF shift scoring validated in our lab are 100000 (strong positive). Results To assess potential for reactivity to lower MFI specificities, a mock crossmatch was performed against an individual for which the patient had Ab against 4 and 7 HLA Class I and Class II antigens, respectively. MFI for these specificities ranged between 1533 to 2908 MFI which are considered as weak positive according to the cut off stabilished in our lab for SAB test; >1500 (negative), 1500–3500 MFI (weak positive), 3500–8000 (positive), >8000 (strong positive). Cumulative MFI for Class I and Class II were 7935 and 15689 respectively. FC XM for T cells was negative (1309 ΔMESF) while it was positive for B cells (23098 ΔMESF). Conclusion In our experience, samples exhibiting specificities with MFI ranging from 1500 to 9000 detected in the SAB test remain in an uncertain zone when predicting FC XM results. The cumulative effect of specificities with weak positive MFI is not completely understood yet. This case study illustrates the contribution that this effect may have on positive B cell FC XM results, highlighting the potential for deleterious effect of multiple lower MFI HLA Ab in organ transplantation as well as the relevance of this phenomenon for VXM prediction.
Anglo-Saxon and Academic Opportunities for Women, Civil War-WWI

This chapter investigates the ways that three basic types of academically legitimate women’s colleges established themselves at this period: coordinate women’s colleges affiliated with men’s colleges, independently founded women’s colleges, and women’s colleges that developed from previously founded seminaries or academies. In all three types, Anglo-Saxon was an important part of their curriculum as they presented themselves as academic equivalents to the leading men’s colleges of the period. As undergraduate women learned Anglo-Saxon, some of them pursued graduate study and then became English and Anglo-Saxon professors themselves, serving in the first generations of female faculty at US colleges; the study of Anglo-Saxon thus provided women with professional opportunity throughout the growing college and university system.
On the Prevailing Direction of our Search into the Origin-of-Life — “Second thoughts”

A polymer and colloid chemist, I became a participant in the Search for a plausible physicochemical mechanism that potentially led to the Origin of Life on our Planet, when Ahron Katchalsky drew me into his efforts to find a catalyst that would prevent the ready hydrolysis of amino acid phospho-adenylates and instead assist in the formation of polypeptides. Settling on Na-montmorillonite, he and his co-workers could achieve self-polycondensation of amino acids, to yield, for the first time, a spectrum (rather than a continuous distribution) of homo-polypeptides up to 80-mers1. After considerable work, Dr. Paecht and I were able to suggest a likely mechanism for these findings, including for the order in di- and tri-copolymers2 though the corresponding polycondensation of nucleotides eluded us.
Effect of outside referrals to a tertiary care liver tumor board on diagnostic testing and initial curative therapy.

259Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex and unique cancer. Arriving at the optimal treatment plan is best accomplished by a multidisciplinary tumor board (MDTB). We hypothesized ...
Association between workplace harassment and occupational injury among adult workers in the United States

Abstract Objective Occupational injuries can be severe, with substantial consequences for involved adult workers, their families, employers, and society. Although the association between workplace harassment and occupational injury is widely recognized, nonsexual workplace harassment has not been independently investigated relative to occupational injury. Methods A total of 4629 adult workers who completed the 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 U.S. General Social Survey were included in the study to examine the association between workplace harassment (sexual and nonsexual) and occupational injury. The Holistic Model of Stress guided variable selection. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression was conducted to examine hypothesized associations between workplace harassment and occupational injury, controlling for work stressors and individual demographic factors. Results Nonsexual workplace harassment was associated with absence of occupational injury (OR = 0.36, p Conclusions Nonsexual workplace harassment, but not sexual workplace harassment, is associated with increased likelihood of occupational injury. Types of workplace harassment should be differentiated when studying the cause of occupational injury. Findings from this study provide new evidence to help policy makers and employers recognize and address nonsexual workplace harassment as a primary contributor to occupational injury among U.S. adult workers.
Regularization and Matrix Computation in Numerical Polynomial Algebra

Numerical polynomial algebra emerges as a growing field of study in recent years with a broad spectrum of applications and many robust algorithms. Among the challenges we must face when solving polynomial algebra problems with floating-point arithmetic, the most frequently encountered difficulties include the regularization of ill-posedness and the handling of large matrices. We develop regularization principles for reformulating the ill-posed algebraic problems, derive matrix computations arising in numerical polynomial algebra, as well as subspace strategies that substantially improve computational efficiency by reducing matrix sizes. Those strategies have been successfully applied to numerical polynomial algebra problems such as GCD, factorization, multiplicity structure and elimination.
Uptake and aminoacylation of exogenous Escherichia coli tRNA by mouse fibroblasts.

Abstract Mouse fibroblasts (L-cells) in suspension culture take up exogenous Escherichia coli tRNA in the presence of DEAE-Dextran. Tritium-labeled formylmethionine tRNA and valine tRNA are both taken up at very low levels. Tritium activity is associated solely with 4S material as judged by chromatography of cell extracts on Sephadex G-100. Further analysis of this material on a dihydroxyboryl-substituted cellulose indicates that a small portion of the tRNA taken up is acylated by the L-cells.
Noninvasive Cardiac Output Monitoring

Less invasive cardiac output monitors have been developed as alternative to thermodilution-based cardiac output measurements from pulmonary artery catheters. These include Doppler-based methods, bioimpedance and bioreactance, pulse contour analysis, partial rebreathing, and pulse wave velocity. Currently available technologies differ in their underlying physical principles but also in their risks and accuracy of measurements. While less invasive devices are appealing for clinical use and have clinical utility, further studies are needed to determine their ability to positively impact meaningful patient outcomes.
Diagnostiek van de ziekte van Alzheimer

De ziekte van Alzheimer is de meest voorkomende oorzaak van dementie. Problemen in het episodische geheugen vormen het opvallendste kenmerk van Alzheimer. In de loop van het ziekteproces is sprake van globale cognitieve achteruitgang, problemen in het dagelijks leven en verlies van zelfstandigheid. Dit artikel gaat over de stand van zaken op het gebied van diagnostiek van alzheimer, waaronder de resultaten van het ABIDE (Alzheimer Biomarkers in Daily Practice) project, dat subsidie kreeg in het kader van het Deltaplan Dementie en nieuwe ontwikkelingen, waaronder (nieuwe) diagnostische tests om het ziekteproces al tijdens het leven aan te tonen. Verder gaat het artikel in op neuropsychologisch onderzoek, MRI, eiwitten in het hersenvocht en amyloid PET. Ook worden de nieuwste criteria en het onderzoeksframework voor alzheimer besproken. Alzheimerhersenschade ontwikkelt zich decennia eerder dan het syndroom alzheimerdementie. Het wordt dan ook steeds duidelijker dat diagnostiek van dementie plaats moet vinden langs twee assen, die niet exact gelijk lopen: de as van etiologie ofwel hersenschade, en de as van syndroom ofwel cognitieve achteruitgang en beperkingen in het dagelijks leven. Het laatste woord is tenslotte aan de patient, die aangeeft graag meer informatie te willen krijgen over wat de specifieke uitslag van het diagnostisch onderzoek uitslag betekent voor zijn persoonlijke situatie.
Sleep-Related Practices, Behaviors, and Sleep-Related Difficulties in Deployed Active-Duty Service Members Performing Security Duties.

Objective: To assess sleep-related difficulties (e.g., trouble staying asleep, oversleeping, falling asleep while on duty, disturbing dreams, sleep paralysis) and behavioral patterns of active-duty...
Is grit worth the investment? How grit compares to other psychosocial factors in predicting achievement

In this study, I examined the internal consistency and structural validity of scores on the Short Grit scale, Academic Self-Concept scale, and Engagement scale in a sample of 1154 urban adolescent high school students. I also assessed how much of GPA’s variance is explained by grit, academic self-concept, and educational engagement. Results suggested that the scores on all three scales were structurally sound and internally consistent. However, grit and engagement explained considerably less of GPA’s variance in this urban sample than academic self-concept. Therefore, this study’s findings indicate that school improvement and intervention programs might be more effective if they are focused on increasing more established psychosocial factors like academic self-concept rather than grit.
Translating the science into practice: shaping rehabilitation practice to enhance recovery after brain damage

The revolution in neuroscience provided strong evidence for learning-dependent neuroplasticity and presaged the role of motor learning as essential for restorative therapies after stroke and other disabling neurological conditions. The scientific basis of motor learning has continued to evolve from a dominance of cognitive or information processing perspectives to a blend with neural science and contemporary social-cognitive-psychological science, which includes the neural and psychological underpinnings of motivation. This transformation and integration across traditionally separate domains is timely now that clinician scientists are developing novel, evidence-based therapies to maximize motor recovery in the place of suboptimal solutions. We will review recent evidence pertaining to therapeutic approaches that spring from an integrated framework of learning-dependent neuroplasticity along with the growing awareness of protocols that directly address the patient's fundamental psychological needs. Of importance, there is mounting evidence that when the individual's needs are considered in the context of instructions or expectations, the learning/rehabilitation process is accelerated.
Children unable to perform screening tests in vision in preschoolers study: proportion with ocular conditions and impact on measures of test accuracy.

PURPOSE To examine the relative prevalence of ocular conditions among children who are unable to perform preschool vision screening tests and the impact on measures of screening test performance. METHODS Trained nurse and lay screeners each administered a Lea Symbols visual acuity (VA) test (Good-Lite, Inc., Steamwood, IL), Stereo Smile II test (Stereo Optical, Inc., Chicago, IL), and Retinomax Autorefractor (Right Manufacturing, Virginia Beach, VA), and SureSight Vision Screener (Welch Allyn, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, NY) examinations to 1475 children who later received a comprehensive eye examination to identify amblyopia, strabismus, significant refractive error, and unexplained reduced VA. The outcomes of the examination for children for whom screeners were unable to obtain results (Unables) were compared to the outcomes of children who passed and children who failed each screening test. When estimating sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), Unables were classified as either screening failures or screening passers. RESULTS Less than 2% of children were classified as Unables for each test. The percentage with an ocular condition was at least two times higher for Unables than for screening passers for six of the eight modes of screening (P < 0.05). Considering Unables as screening failures, rather than screening passers, increased the estimate of sensitivity by 1% to 3% (depending on test) and decreased the estimate of specificity by 0% to 2%; PPV decreased by 0% to 4% for most tests, whereas NPV increased by <1%. CONCLUSIONS Preschool children who are unable to perform VIP screening tests are more likely to have vision disorders than are children who pass the tests. Because < or =2% of children were unable to do each test, referring these children for an eye examination had little impact on the PPV and NPV of the tests, as administered in VIP.
Perception and Cognition

From a general overview and summary of the mind–body problem to cutting-edge research in Cognitive, Computational, Sensory, Systems Neuroscience and related fields such as Neuroinformatics and Neurophysics, Chap. 5 provides a series of theoretical-mathematical analytical examinations of various solutions. Basic and elaborated monistic, dualistic and multiple-factor integrative views on the problem are discussed, re-analyzed and criticized to determine important structural and functional notions, including levels of subjectivity vs. objectivity vs. measurement, conceptual and (meta)linguistic parameters, new theories and models. This chapter thus verifies whether a neurotechnological basis for an understanding of human mind is warranted.
A multi-faceted approach to understanding individual differences in mind-wandering

Abstract The present study examined a multi-faceted approach to individual differences in mind-wandering. Further, the influence of task demands as a moderator of inter-individual relationships and the distinction between intentional and unintentional mind-wandering was also examined. A large sample (N = 332) of participants completed a battery of tasks during which mind-wandering was measured with periodic thought probes. One set of tasks placed relatively high demands on attention, whereas another set of tasks placed relatively low demands on attention. We also measured individual differences in working memory capacity and attention control, along with measures of state variables like motivation, alertness, and mood. Finally, participants completed a series of questionnaires to measure various personality traits. Overall, the results reinforced the importance of taking a multi-faceted approach to mind-wandering – one that address individual differences at the cognitive, contextual, and dispositional levels, as well as the distinction between intentional and unintentional mind-wandering.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Studies of the Integral Membrane Protein Phospholamban

Membrane proteins (which make up approximately one-third of the total number of known proteins) are responsible for many important properties and functions of biological systems: they transport ions and molecules across the membrane, they act as receptors, and they have roles in the assembly, fusion, and structure of cells and viruses. Despite the abundance and clear importance of membrane-associated molecules, very little information about these systems exists. A plethora of membrane proteins are intimately associated with cardiovascular function and disease. Structural studies of these membrane proteins represent one of the final frontiers in structural biology. X-ray crystallography is the premiere technique that is used to elucidate structural information of biologically significant protein systems. However, this technique has not been very successful in providing structural information about membrane protein systems. The hydrophobic surfaces associated with membrane-bound protein systems make the crystallization process extremely difficult. Although researchers are making progress with X-ray techniques, still only a handful of membrane protein structures have been obtained via X-ray crystallography [1–5]. Alternatively, solution NMR spectroscopy, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and EPR spectroscopy are powerful techniques that can be used to provide structural, orientational, and dynamic information about membrane protein systems in lipid bilayers [6–10]. This short review chapter will analyze some of the magnetic resonance techniques that have been used to investigate the integral membrane protein phospholamban (PLB).
In the Eye of the Hurricane: Strategies for Analyzing the Trump Presidency

This chapter discusses the issues associated with psychological analyses of a president “at a distance.” It takes up the issues of narratives as major explanatory vehicles, including conspiracy theories, and how they differ from real efforts at theory building based on considering a range of evidence. The nature and range of that evidence, including “events data,” is considered, as well as how it differs from the more ordinary varieties of anti-Trump analysis. It asks: is making use of more comprehensive consideration of information tantamount to “defending Trump”? The answer to that is: that is not the purpose of the analysis. The chapter ends by laying out the book’s strategy of analysis.
Discussion with Richard Findlay, Mark Hammond, Satoshi Tanaka, Wolfram Schoett, and John Topping

Mr. Jhirad: What plans, if any, are being made to address the long-term necessity for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels? To stabilize concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of the next century would require significant reductions beyond the goal for 2000. This gets into the whole realm of R&D policy for the long term, but it also gets into the short term. There are many areas: regulations, standards, taxes, physical incentives, voluntary measures and market measures. There are a whole host of these policy instruments, both regulatory and market-based, and some combinations.
Self-efficacy and human motivation

Abstract Self-efficacy refers to perceived capabilities to learn or perform actions at designated levels. Theory and research support the idea that self-efficacy is an important motivational construct that can affect choices, effort, persistence, and achievement. Situated in Bandura's social cognitive theory, self-efficacy is a personal construct that affects and is influenced by behaviors and social/environmental variables. Scientific investigation of self-efficacy began in clinical studies but since has expanded into diverse fields. In education, an important research extension was to contexts involving learning. This expanded research focus has suggested some adaptations to original theoretical predictions involving persistence, learning, maintenance and transfer, and context. Future research is recommended on methodology, goals, context, collective self-efficacy, diversity, and technology.
Irreversible Electroporation for the Treatment of Small Renal Masses: 5-Year Outcomes

Introduction: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a nonthermal ablative technology that applies high-voltage short-pulse electrical current to create cellular membrane nanopores and ultimately re...
An anionic iron-hydride superstar for the isomerization of terminal alkenes

In this issue of Chem Catalysis, de Ruiter and co-workers report a highly efficient and selective method for isomerization of a wide variety of terminal alkenes, employing the well-defined anionic complex [(PCNHCP)Fe(H)N2][Na]. This work also includes important insights about the structure and reactivity of the iron intermediates involved in the catalytic cycle.
Plasma and joint tissue pharmacokinetics of two doses of oral cannabidiol oil in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained widespread popularity as a treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) in pets; however, there is minimal scientific evidence regarding safe and effective dosing. This study determined plasma and tissue pharmacokinetics after oral CBD oil suspension administration in Hartley guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), which spontaneously develop OA at 3 months of age. Ten, 5-month-old, male guinea pigs were randomly assigned to receive 25 (n = 5) or 50 mg/kg (n = 5) CBD oil once orally. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h timepoints. Open-field enclosure monitoring revealed no adverse effects. After euthanasia, stifle cartilage and infrapatellar fat pads were collected to quantitate CBD. CBD concentrations were determined using a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. The area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve was 379.5 and 873.7 h*ng/mL, maximum plasma concentration was 42 and 96.8 ng/mL, time to maximum plasma concentration was 1.6 and 4.8 h, and terminal phase half-life was 8.1 and 10.8 h for the 25 and 50 mg/kg doses, respectively. CBD was detected in joint tissues of all animals. Further studies, including work in female guinea pigs, are needed to determine the efficacy of CBD for OA.
Potentials Accompany Eye Movement

In past years visual theory has attributed several important functions to the small saccadic movements of the eye; but more recently, a succession of experiments has challenged much of this. Stabilized image experiments have shown that no component of eye movement including microsaccades is responsible for the excellent acuity of the human eye (1). When the visual field is stabilized, it fades, but saccades are not essential to prevent this from happening furthermore, saccades may not be needed to restore the position of the eye when it has slipped off the target (2). They contribute to counting behavior only under restricted conditions (3). Thus, it now seems that the principal function of saccades may be merely that of scanning the visual field in the vicinity of fixation, and it has been suggested that microsaccades actually interfere with vision (4). Yet, despite all of these negative indications regarding specific roles for small saccadic eye movements, it remains true that they are accompanied by significant electrical activity at the brain and at the retina. This activity is the subject of the present discussion.
An in vitro model of epithelial cell neoplastic progression: growth properties and polypeptide composition of cell lines.

Publisher Summary An epithelial cell line—NMuLi—derived from mouse liver exhibits a spectrum of malignant progression from benign to malignant as a function of passage in culture. At low passage the cells induce benign cysts, whereas at higher passages the cells produce low-grade adenocarcinomas in syngeneic mice. A variant of NMuLi—Cl-A—produces aggressively invasive carcinomas that readily metastasize. This chapter compares the in vitro growth properties of these cell lines and analyzes their [ 35 S]methionine-labeled polypeptides by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. As markers of the transformed cell phenotype, the ability of cells to form colonies in soft agar and to multinucleate in response to cytochalasin B (CB) treatment is compared in the chapter. Low-passage NMuLi cells grew inefficiently in soft agar (0.04%), whereas high-passage NMuLi cells formed colonies in soft agar with increased efficiency (2.6%). NMuLi C1-A cells formed colonies rapidly in soft agar and at high efficiency (50%).
Synthesis and characterization of novel mesostructured tungsten sulfides

Abstract Three novel mesostructured tungsten sulfides, designated as MTS-W, MTS-M and MTS-C, were prepared by the condensation reaction of (NH 4 ) 2 W.S 2 in the presence of octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB) under refluxing conditions in water, methanol and carbon tetrachloride at 373 K, 338 K and 350 K, respectively. The three as-sjnthesized metal sulfides all have a layered structure with the d-spacing of 31 , 30 A or 37 . Partial removal of the organic surfactants from the layer galleries can be achieved by solvent extraction.
Quantitative assessment of the integrity of the blood-retinal barrier in mice.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize a quantitative assay of blood-retinal barrier (BRB) function in mice and to determine the effect of several purported vasopermeability factors on the BRB. Methods Adult C57BL/6J mice were treated with three regimens of increasingly extensive retinal cryopexy and subsequently were given an intraperitoneal injection of 1 microCi/g body weight of [(3)H]mannitol. At several time points, the amount of radioactivity per milligram tissue was compared in retina, lung, and kidney. Time points that maximize signal-to-background differential in the retina were identified, and the ratio of counts per minute (CPM) per milligram retina to CPM per milligram lung (retina-to-lung leakage ratio, RLLR) or kidney (retina-to-renal leakage ratio, RRLR) were calculated. This technique was then used to compare the amount of BRB breakdown that occurs after intravitreous injection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, prostaglandin (PG) E(1), PGE(2), interleukin (IL)-1beta, or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Results Twenty-four hours after retinal cryopexy, there was a higher level of radioactivity in treated than in control retinas, and the signal-to-background difference was optimal when measurements were obtained 1 hour after injection of [(3)H]mannitol. In untreated mice, the RLLR was 0.30 +/- 0.02 and the RRLR was 0.22 +/- 0.01. Twenty-four hours after one 5-second application of retinal cryopexy, the RLLR was 0.73 +/- 0.20 and the RRLR was 0.71 +/- 0.23. With increasing amounts of cryopexy, there was an increase in the RLLR and RRLR, so that after two 10-second applications, the RLLR was 1.66 +/- 0.31 and the RRLR was 1.47 +/- 0.20. Intravitreous injection of VEGF, IGF-1, PGE(1), PGE(2), IL-1beta, or TNF-alpha each caused significant increases in the RLLR and RRLR, but there were some differences in potency and time course. VEGF caused prominent BRB breakdown at 6 hours that returned to near normal by 24 hours. IL-1beta also caused relatively rapid breakdown of the BRB, but its effect was more prolonged than that caused by VEGF. There was delayed, but substantial breakdown of the BRB after injection of TNF-alpha. IGF-1, PGE(2), and PGE(1) caused less severe, relatively delayed, and more prolonged BRB breakdown. Conclusions Measurement of the RLLR or RRLR after intraperitoneal injection of [(3)H]mannitol in mice provides a quantitative assessment of BRB function that is normalized and can therefore be compared from assay to assay. Comparison of the extent and duration of BRB breakdown after intravitreous injection of vasoactive substances shows that agents can be grouped by resultant extent and time course of leakage. Additional studies are needed to determine whether this grouping has its basis in shared mechanisms of BRB disruption.
Epinephrine stimulation of Cl- secretion in the Calu-3 cell line (893.25)

In the lung, β2-adrenergic (β2-AR) stimulation enhances fluid absorption thereby aiding in resolution of pulmonary edema after birth or lung injury, an effect mediated, at least in part, by stimulation of the epithelial Na+ channel. In the submucosal glands of the airways, however, the response to adrenergic stimuli is quite different with increased cAMP resulting in stimulation of ion and fluid secretion thereby facilitating mucociliary clearance. The current studies used electrophysiological techniques to characterize the effect of epinephrine on electrolyte transport of the Calu-3 cell line, a well differentiated human bronchial cell line with the characteristics of the serous cells of submucosal glands. Interestingly epinephrine stimulated two anion secretory channels, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and a Ca2+-activated Cl- channel, thereby potentially altering mucociliary clearance via multiple channels. The data also indicate that the two anion channels are functionally link...
Recovery and Identification of West Nile Virus from a Hawk in Winter

West Nile virus was recovered from the brain of a red-tailed hawk that died in Westchester County, N.Y., in February 2000. Multiple foci of glial cells, lymphocytes, and a few pyknotic nuclei were observed in the brain. Three to 4 days after inoculation of Vero cells with brain homogenates, cytopathic changes were detected. The presence of West Nile virus antigen in fixed cells or cell lysates was revealed by fluorescent antibody testing or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Furthermore, Reverse transcriptase-PCR with primers specific for the NS3 gene of West Nile virus resulted in an amplicon of the expected size (470 bp). Electron microscopy of thin sections of infected Vero cells revealed the presence of viral particles approximately 40 nm in diameter, within cytoplasmic vesicles. The demonstration of infection with the West Nile virus in the dead of the winter, long after mosquitoes ceased to be active, is significant in that it testifies to the survival of the virus in the region beyond mosquito season and suggests another route of transmission: in this case, prey to predator.
Nitrate deficits by nitrification and denitrification processes in the Indian Ocean

Abstract The three-end-member mixing model of Li and Peng [Latitudinal change of remineralization ratios in the oceans and its implication for nutrient cycles. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 16, 1130–1145] was applied to the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) data from Indian Ocean to obtain additional estimates on the remineralization ratios ( P ⧹ N ⧹ C org ⧹ ‐ O 2 ) of organic matter in the oxygenated regions. The results show systematic changes of the remineralization ratios with latitude and depth in the Indian Ocean. The average remineralization ratios for Indian warm water masses (potential temperature θ > ∼ 10 ∘ C ) are P ⧹ N ⧹ C org ⧹ ‐ O 2 = 1 ⧹ ( 15.6 ± 0.7 ) ⧹ ( 110 ± 9 ) ⧹ ( 159 ± 8 ) . These are comparable to the traditional Redfield ratios ( P ⧹ N ⧹ C org ⧹ ‐ O 2 = 1 ⧹ 16 ⧹ 106 ⧹ 138 ) , and are in good agreement with Anderson's [On the hydrogen and oxygen content of marine phytoplankton. Deep-Sea Research I 42, 1675–1680.] values of P ⧹ N ⧹ C org ⧹ ‐ O 2 = 1 ⧹ 16 ⧹ 106 ⧹ 150 within the given uncertainties. Separation of nitrate deficits resulting from aerobic partial nitrification (dN) and anaerobic denitrification (dN″) processes using empirical equations is shown to be useful and consistent with other observations. The dN maximum coincides with the phosphate and nitrate maximums, lies within the oxycline below the oxygen minimum zone, and is in contact with the continental slope sediments. The dN″ maximum lies within the oxygen minimum zone with O2
Habla Ingles? The Effects of Language Translation on Simulated Juror Decisions1

Two studies were conducted in which college students, acting as simulated jurors, heard the testimony of a defendant in an assault case. The testimony was presented in English or in another language (Spanish in Study 1 and Thai in Study 2) which was translated into English by an interpreter. In Study 1, non-Hispanics judged the defendant to be more guilty than did Hispanics when the defendant's testimony was presented in Spanish than when it was presented in English. This bias was offset when the judge's instructions admonished the jurors to ignore the fact that the defendant's testimony was translated. Similarly, in Study 2, subjects (all non-Thai) judged the defendent more guilty when his testimony was presented in Thai than when it was presented in English. Again, this bias was eliminated by the judge's instructions to the jurors to ignore the fact that the testimony was translated. The increased guilty verdicts for defendants who did not testify in English appeared to be due to prejudice and language ethnocentrism, the belief that defendants in U.S. courts should speak English.
Determination of Ritodrine in Plasma Using HPLC

Abstract An HPLC instrument coupled with an electrochemical detector was used to determine ritodrine (erythro-p-hydroxy-α-[1-[(p-hydroxyphenethyl)-amino]ethyl] benzyl alcohol hydrochloride) at nanogram levels in serum. Extraction of ritodrine was accomplished using a multistep ethyl acetate procedure, and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile, ammonium acetate, glacial acetic acid, and a counterion. The stationary phase was a Biophase ODS 5 μm column at ambient temperature. Nalbuphine hydrochloride (Nubain®) was used as an internal standard to quantitate the ritodrine levels of pregnant patients receiving ritodrine. The procedure's linearity for both ritodrine standards and spiked plasma samples was demonstrated. The precision of the assay was found to be 3.4% at 20 ng/ml ritodrine. The minimum detectable concentration, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 6, was determined to be 0.31 ng per 50 μl injected, corresponding to a concentration of 0.6 ng/ml plasma. The sensitivity, precision, and reproducibili...
The dissolution of bovine and chicken bone collagens in concentrated formic acid

Bovine and chicken bone collagens have been solubilized and presumably denatured (gelatin) by treatment of demineralized, powdered tissue with 70% formic acid. Short periods of extraction such as four hours at 30°, conditions commonly used during cyanogen bromide cleavage of collagen, solubilized 50% and 15% of the chicken and bovine bone collagens respectively. Treatment of the tissues with sodium borohydride partially inhibited the extraction of collagen from chicken bone, but had little effect on the extraction of calf bone collagen. The heterogeneity of the bone gelatin from both species on disc electrophoretic analysis suggested that peptide bonds had been cleaved in some of the collagen chains during exposure to formic acid, thus facilitating the solubilization of the bone collagen as the gelatin. Analysis of the collagen extracted from chicken bone for reducible crosslinks indicated that a large proportion of these bonds had remained intact, in contrast to a previous finding that most of these crosslinks were destroyed in bone gelatin extracted by 4 M CaCl2, at pH 7.0. The stability of the major reducible crosslinks in bone collagen to severe acid conditions may explain in part some of its unique properties, such as its failure to swell or be solubilized in dilute acid, which distinguish it from soft tissue collagens.
The effects of shifts in delay of liquid sucrose reward in thirsty rats

In a two-shift experiment, four independent groups of thirsty rats received the following treatments: NNN, DDD, NDN, and DND, with each letter denoting the duration of the delay (0 or 30 sec) before receipt of the sucrose reward in each of the three phases of the experiment. While no reliable positive contrast effect was obtained in either shift phase, a significant negative contrast effect was obtained in both shift phases. The paucity of empirical data in this area hinders adequate explanatory attempts.
Three models of conceptual schemes

Despite widespread confusion over its meaning, the notion of a conceptual scheme is pervasive in Anglo‐American philosophy, particularly amongst those who call themselves ‘conceptual relativists’. In this paper, I identify three different ways to understand conceptual schemes. I argue that the two most common models, deriving from Kant and Quine, are flawed, and, in addition, useless for the relativist. Instead, I urge adoption of a ‘neo‐Kantian’, broadly Wittgensteinian model, which, it is ‘ argued, is immune from Davidsonian objections to the very idea of a scheme.
The thermal conductivity of mixed beryllia/li ceramic in sphere-pac forms

Lithium-containing ceramic tritium-breeder materials have been envisaged to be deployed within the blanket region of a fusion reactor in several possible configurations. One of these is the sphere-pac configuration. For this configuration an important material parameter is its thermal conductivity ( K sp ). It is well known that K sp demonstrates rather complex behavior as a function of temperature, gas pressure, gas composition, particle size, and packing fraction. The interrelationship of these parameters has been satisfactorily accounted for with a hierarchical effective media theory (HEMT). For tritium self sufficiency, most lithium ceramic breeder materials would require the presence of a neutron-multiplier (e.g., Be or BeO). Here, the influence of configuration on K sp (i.e., how one put the different solid components together in the sphere-pac bed) becomes important. Using a generalized HEMT (i.e., a model with capability to describe systems with more than one solid material component), we have analyzed in detail the configurational dependence of K sp for sphere-pac beds composed of lithium ceramic/BeO microspheres. Substantial improvements in K sp can be achieved if a configuration of lithium ceramic spheres coated with BeO is chosen. Increases in K sp would lead to enhanced mechanical and thermal performance of the breeder materials.
Coital debut: The role of religiosity and sex attitudes in the add health survey

Recent reviews suggest that religiosity is associated with the delay of adolescent coital debut (Rostosky, Wilcox, Wright, & Randall, in press; Wilcox, Rostosky, Randall, & Wright, 2001). Few studies, however, have examined this association using longitudinal data to test theoretically driven models. We analyzed data from 3,691 adolescents (ages 15–21), testing the hypothesis that adolescent religiosity and sex attitudes (at Wave 1) predict later coital debut (at Wave 2) and that these predictive relationships vary by gender. Findings indicated that beyond demographic factors and number of romantic partners, religiosity reduced the likelihood of coital debut for both males and females. After accounting for the effects of religiosity, anticipation of negative emotions after coital debut (sex attitude factor 1) further reduced its likelihood for females and males. Finally, adolescent girls—but not boys—who anticipated positive emotions following sexual intercourse (sex attitude factor 2) were more likely to...
Structure of the singularities produced by colliding plane waves

When gravitational plane waves propagating and colliding in an otherwise flat background interact, they produce spacetime singularities. If the colliding waves have parallel (linear) polarizations, the mathematical analysis of the field equations in the interaction region is especially simple. Using the formulation of these field equations previously given by Szekeres, we analyze the asymptotic structure of a general colliding parallel-polarized plane-wave solution near the singularity. We show that the metric is asymptotic to an inhomogeneous Kasner solution as the singularity is approached. We give explicit expressions which relate the asymptotic Kasner exponents along the singularity to the initial data posed along the wave fronts of the incoming, colliding plane waves. It becomes clear from these expressions that for specific choices of initial data the curvature singularity created by the colliding waves degenerates to a coordinate singularity, and that a nonsingular Killing-Cauchy horizon is thereby obtained. Our equations prove that these horizons are unstable in the full nonlinear theory against small but generic perturbations of the initial data, and that in a very precise sense, ''generic'' initial data always produce all-embracing, spacelike curvature singularities without Killing-Cauchy horizons. We give several examples of exact solutions which illustrate some of the asymptotic singularitymore » structures that are discussed in the paper. In particular, we construct a new family of exact colliding parallel-polarized plane-wave solutions, which create Killing-Cauchy horizons instead of a spacelike curvature singularity.« less
Thermal and mechanical aging of self-assembled monolayers as studied by near edge X-ray absorption fine structure.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) enable significant changes in the surface energy and/or specific interactions of surfaces, which are desirable for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), superhydro...