cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Red cell distribution width to platelet ratio, a useful indicator of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis patients

We investigated the correlation between the red cell distribution width (RDW) and RDW-to-platelet ratio (RPR) with the degree of inflammation and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis patients with different etiologies and in native and transplanted liver. Between 2010 and 2013, patients from the MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University Hospital with chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, alcoholic hepatitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis who had a biopsy of the liver done in this time period were included. The correlation among the RDW, RPR, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score with the degree of liver inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis in separate groups of native and transplanted liver was calculated. A total of 152 cases with native liver and 70 cases with transplanted liver were included. The majority of patients had hepatitis C in both groups. None of the investigated variables showed significant correlation with the degree of inflammation in either group. The strongest correlation with the degree of fibrosis in the native liver group was for the RPR with 0.51 (p < 0.001) and then the RDW and MELD with 0.34 (p < 0.001) and 0.31 (p < 0.001), respectively. In the transplanted liver group, none of the variables showed significant correlation with the degree of fibrosis. The receiver-operator curve showed that only the RDW and RPR in the native liver group, with areas under the curve of 0.770 and 0.684, respectively, have significantly positive association with the risk of cirrhosis. In the transplanted group, none of the predictors were associated with risk of cirrhosis. In the native liver group, a cutoff value of 0.088 in the RPR led to 82.7 % sensitivity and 61.0 % specificity to predict cirrhosis. The RPR can be a strong predictor of the degree of fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis and native liver. It shows higher accuracy compared to the RDW and MELD score. However, its use in predicting inflammation is limited.
Multiagent-Based Fault Tolerance Management for Robustness

Despite the use of software engineering best practices and tools, it would be very risky to assume that the software that is developed today is fault-free. Moreover, we have to consider the fact that the software could face unexpected situations not considered during its design. Robustness is a highly desirable and sometimes indispensable software requirement, especially for critical systems, where the consequences of a system failure can be catastrophic. This chapter outlines existing fault tolerance techniques, followed by a discussion of the potential that multiagent systems have to enhance the design of robust, fault-tolerant systems, thereby improving large-scale, critical, and complex system reliability.
The Americans with 'Certain' Disabilities Act: Title I of the ADA and the Supreme Court's Result Oriented Jurisprudence

Part I of this Article provides a review of the Sutton, Murphy, and Kirkingburg decisions. Part II addresses the connections and conflicts between the Court's interpretation of the definition of "disability" and the legislative history of the ADA, agency interpretations, and prior cases. Part II also discusses the same conflicts concerning the Court's interpretation of the ADA's "regarded as" having a disability provision. Part III examines the Court's novel statutory construction in the trio of cases and compares it with generally applicable methods of statutory construction. Part III also analyzes the Court's approach in light of its previous decisions regarding deference to administrative agency interpretations. Parts II and III demonstrate the apparently result/policy oriented nature of the Court's approach. Finally, Part IV explores the options remaining for individuals who are no longer "disabled" under the Court's approach in Sutton, Murphy, and Kirkingburg.
Gene regulatory networks inference with recurrent neural network models

Large-scale time series gene expression data generated from DNA microarray experiments provide us a new means to reveal fundamental cellular processes, investigate functions of genes, and understand their relations and interactions. To infer gene regulatory networks from these data with effective computational tools has attracted intensive efforts from artificial intelligence and machine learning. Here, we use a recurrent neural network (RNN), trained with particle swarm optimization (PSO), to investigate the behaviors of regulatory networks. The experimental results, on a synthetic data set and a real data set, show that the proposed model and algorithm can effectively capture the dynamics of the gene expression time series and are capable of revealing regulatory interactions between genes.
Aerosol Drug Delivery

Aerosol drug delivery to the lungs has long been the route of choice for the treatment of respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive airway disease. Metered dose inhalers (MDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs), and nebulizers have been employed to successfully deliver a wide range of pharmaceuticals principally to the lungs for local action. This article focuses on aerosol drug delivery devices, their development, and future prospects for pulmonary administration. Keywords: aerosol drug delivery; metered dose inhalers (MDIs); dry powder inhalers (DPIs); nebulizers
Radiation therapy target volume reduction in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma: implications for patterns of disease recurrence and overall survival.

BACKGROUND: The use of radiation therapy (RT) “cone-down” boost to reduce high-dose treatment volumes according to tumor response to induction chemotherapy in patients with pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) may reduce treatment morbidity, yet the impact on tumor control is unknown. METHODS: Fifty-five children, including 18 (33%) with parameningeal (PM) RMS and 37 (67%) with non-PM RMS, who received definitive treatment with chemotherapy and RT from April 2000 through January 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: In total, 28 patients (51%) received a cone-down boost. The high-dose boost volume was reduced by a median of 56% of the initial target volume (range, 5%-91%). The median time to initiating RT was 3 weeks for patients with PM RMS and 16 weeks for patients with non-PM RMS (P < .001). After a median follow-up of 41 months, local failure occurred in 5 patients (9%), including 2 patients who received a cone-down boost, and there were no marginal failures. Twelve patients (67%) with PM RMS had intracranial tumor extension. In this subgroup, 4 patients (30%) who received a cone-down boost and had ≥ 3 weeks between chemotherapy and RT initiation experienced leptomeningeal failure as their first site of disease progression, and a delayed time to RT initiation was associated with decreased survival (P = .055) CONCLUSIONS: A cone-down boost allowed for significant reductions in high-dose RT treatment volume while maintaining excellent tumor control in most patients. However, in the subset of patients with PM RMS and intracranial tumor extension, early RT initiation and wider margin RT to cover adjacent areas at high risk for meningeal extension may be more important for adequate disease control. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Speed of Light from Direct Laser Frequency and Wavelength Measurements: Emergence of a Laser Standard of Length

Recent frequency and wavelength measurements of a methane stabilized laser yield a value of the speed of light 100 times less uncertain than the previously accepted value. Various possibilities using lasers as radiation sources for a new length standard are discussed. One possibility is to fix the value of the speed of light in the redefinition of the meter.
Rewards and retention of technical staff

Retention of technical staff is a major issue in today's robust economy, and reward systems are frequently used by companies to try to retain staff. The reward, recognition, and award systems of thirty companies were investigated using questionnaire survey data from 1109 technical employees. Twenty-five rewards and recognition events were divided into seven types: salary, individual financial awards, group financial rewards, nonfinancial company recognition, professional recognition, promotions and intrinsic rewards. Each was then related to the individual's self-reported likelihood of leaving the current company within five years. Those most likely to leave reported receiving fewer merit increases, noncash awards, or promotions to corporate fellow status but more one-time individual cash awards, more cash bonuses based on company profits, more team cash awards, and more opportunities to present their work. These results were interpreted to mean that one-time recognition awards are not effective in preventing turnover; rather, small, noncash awards and good old fashioned permanent salary increases and promotion were most effective in reducing the reported likelihood of turnover. One-time awards are no substitute for permanent rewards when it comes to retention.
Hemispherectomy in the treatment of seizures: a review

The term hemispherectomy refers to the complete removal or functional disconnection of a cerebral hemisphere. The technique was initially developed over 85 years ago to treat infiltrating brain tumors but is now used exclusively for medically refractory epilepsy. Hemispherectomy surgery has progressed from an extremely morbid procedure fraught with complications to a fairly routine one performed at most pediatric epilepsy centers with relatively low risk and great efficacy. The author reviews the history and evolution of hemispherectomy surgery, the relevant pathological conditions, as well as outcomes and complications.
Economic Theory, Statistical Inference, and Economic History*

This paper is an attempt to examine critically the function of theory in historical research and particularly in economic history. the function of We shall take as our starting point the assertion that the historian is not interested simply in collecting facts or true statements about some segment of previous experience. He wants to find causes and to explain what happened. The purpose of this paper is to introduce some of the problems attached to the concepts of historical causality and explanation in a stochastic universe and to suggest how the analytic tools of scientific inference can be applied in economic historiography.
Characteristics of Detected and Missed Prostate Cancer Foci on 3-T Multiparametric MRI Using an Endorectal Coil Correlated With Whole-Mount Thin-Section Histopathology

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine the characteristics of prostate cancer foci missed on 3-T multiparametric MRI performed with an endorectal coil. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The MRI examinations of 122 patients who underwent 3-T multiparametric MRI of the prostate with an endorectal coil were compared with whole-mount histopathology obtained after radical prostatectomy. The mean age of the patients was 60.6 years (SD, 7.6 years), and the mean prostate-specific antigen value was 7.2 ng/mL (SD, 5.9 ng/mL). The clinical, multiparametric MRI (i.e., T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging), and histopathologic features were obtained. After an independent review, two blinded genitourinary radiologists matched each case with a genitourinary pathologist. A structured reporting system was used to classify the multiparametric MRI features of each MRI-detected lesion. A chi-square analysis was performed for categoric variables, and the t test was perfo...
Chronic Inflammation and Angiogenic Signaling Axis Impairs Differentiation of Dental-Pulp Stem Cells

Dental-pulp tissue is often exposed to inflammatory injury. Sequested growth factors or angiogenic signaling proteins that are released following inflammatory injury play a pivotal role in the formation of reparative dentin. While limited or moderate angiogenesis may be helpful for dental pulp maintenance, the induction of significant level of angiogenesis is probably highly detrimental. Hitherto, several studies have addressed the effects of proinflammatory stimuli on the survival and differentiation of dental-pulp stem cells (DPSC), in vitro. However, the mechanisms communal to the inflammatory and angiogenic signaling involved in DPSC survival and differentiation remain unknown. Our studies observed that short-term exposure to TNF-α (6 and 12 hours [hrs]) induced apoptosis with an upregulation of VEGF expression and NF-κB signaling. However, long-term (chronic) exposure (14 days) to TNF-α resulted in an increased proliferation with a concomitant shortening of the telomere length. Interestingly, DPSC pretreated with Nemo binding domain (NBD) peptide (a cell permeable NF-κB inhibitor) significantly ameliorated TNF-α- and/or VEGF-induced proliferation and the shortening of telomere length. NBD peptide pretreatment significantly improved TNF-α-induced downregulation of proteins essential for differentiation, such as bone morphogenic proteins (BMP)-1 & 2, BMP receptor isoforms-1&2, trasnforming growth factor (TGF), osteoactivin and osteocalcin. Additionally, inhibition of NF-κB signaling markedly increased the mineralization potential, a process abrogated by chronic exposure to TNF-α. Thus, our studies demonstrated that chronic inflammation mediates telomere shortening via NF-κB signaling in human DPSC. Resultant chromosomal instability leads to an emergence of increased proliferation of DPSC, while negatively regulating the differentiation of DPSC, in vitro.
Computerized image analysis of cell-cell interactions in human renal tissue by using multi-channel immunoflourescent confocal microscopy

Analysis of interactions between B and T cells in tubulointerstitial inflammation is important for understanding human lupus nephritis. We developed a computer technique to perform this analysis, and compared it with manual analysis. Multi-channel immunoflourescent-microscopy images were acquired from 207 regions of interest in 40 renal tissue sections of 19 patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis. Fresh-frozen renal tissue sections were stained with combinations of immunoflourescent antibodies to membrane proteins and counter-stained with a cell nuclear marker. Manual delineation of the antibodies was considered as the reference standard. We first segmented cell nuclei and cell membrane markers, and then determined corresponding cell types based on the distances between cell nuclei and specific cell-membrane marker combinations. Subsequently, the distribution of the shortest distance from T cell nuclei to B cell nuclei was obtained and used as a surrogate indicator of cell-cell interactions. The computer and manual analyses results were concordant. The average absolute difference was 1.1±1.2% between the computer and manual analysis results in the number of cell-cell distances of 3 μm or less as a percentage of the total number of cell-cell distances. Our computerized analysis of cell-cell distances could be used as a surrogate for quantifying cell-cell interactions as either an automated and quantitative analysis or for independent confirmation of manual analysis.
Natural Right and the American Imagination: Political Philosophy in Novel Form.

Named Outstanding Book in Philosophy and Religion for 1990 by the Association of American Publishers R.
A Streptococcal Collagen-like Protein Interacts with the α2β1 Integrin and Induces Intracellular Signaling

The streptococcal collagen-like proteins Scl1 and Scl2 are prokaryotic members of a large protein family with domains containing the repeating amino acid sequence (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)(n) that form a collagen-like triple-helical structure. Here, we test the hypothesis that Scl variant might interact with mammalian collagen-binding integrins. We show that the recombinant Scl protein p176 promotes adhesion and spreading of human lung fibroblast cells through an alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated interaction as shown in cell adhesion inhibition assays using anti-alpha2beta1 and anti-beta1 integrins monoclonal antibodies. Accordingly, C2C12 cells stably expressing alpha2beta1 integrin as the only collagen-binding integrin show productive cell adhesion activities on p176 that can be blocked by an anti-alpha2beta1 integrin antibody. In addition, p176 promotes tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) of C2C12 cells expressing alpha2beta1 integrin, whereas parental cells do not. Furthermore, C2C12 adhesion of human lung fibroblast cells to p176 induces phosphorylation of p125FAK, p130CAS, and p68Paxillin proteins. In a domain swapping experiment, we show that integrin binds to the collagenous domain of the Scl protein. Moreover, the recombinant inserted domain of the alpha2 integrin interacts with p176 with a relatively high affinity (K(D) = 17 nm). Attempts to identify the integrin sites in p176 suggest that more than one site may be involved. These studies, for the first time, suggest that the collagen-like proteins of prokaryotes retained not only structural but also functional characteristics of their eukaryotic counterparts.
Stability of spectra of Hodge-de Rham laplacians

In this paper we investigate the stability of eigenspaces of the Laplace operator acting on differential forms satisfying relative or absolute boundary conditions on a compact, oriented, Riemannian manifold with boundary (this includes, in particular, both Neumann and Dirichlet conditions for the Laplace-Beltrami operator on functions). More precisely, our main result is that the gap between corresponding eigenspaces (precise definition will be recalled below) measured using the L∞ norm, converges to zero when smooth metrics g converge to g0 in the C 1 topology. It is quite well known (cf. [3] or [14]) that the eigenvalues of the Laplacian vary continuously under C 0-continuous perturbations of the metric. It is perhaps less well known, but implicit in the work of Cheeger [3], that eigenspaces vary continuously as subspaces of L2 when the metric is perturbed C 0-continuously. We reprove this C 0 L2 stability in Sect. 4 for completeness and in order to be able to use certain notation, conventions and partial results in the proof of C 1 L∞ stability in Sect. 5. The second section of the paper contains a review of the Hodge theory for the Laplace operator with absolute and relative boundary conditions. We also state here the Sobolev embedding theorems and the basic a priori estimates for the square root d + δ of the Laplacian ∆. We need to work with d + δ rather than ∆ = (d + δ)2 since the coefficients of ∆ depend on the second derivatives of the metric tensor and we allow only C 1-continuous perturbations of the metric and do not assume any bounds on the second derivatives. In the third section we review following Kato [12] and Osborn [16] general results from functional analysis concerning perturbation theory for compact operators on Banach spaces, that reduce proving convergence of eigenvalues and eigenspaces
The change-of-variance function: a tool to explore the effects of dependencies in spatial statistics

Abstract This paper presents the computation of the change-of-variance function of M-estimators of scale under general contamination for dependent observations. In this context, several results of robustness are established, and the links between B -robustness, V -robustness and V ♢ -robustness are studied. Some more specific properties are derived for Gaussian distributions. These results are then applied to variogram estimation, which is a crucial stage of spatial prediction. The change-of-variance function is shown to be a tool to explore the effects of dependencies on the variance of variogram estimators. ARMA models are used in order to model unidirectional spatial dependencies. It is shown that the shape of the change-of-variance function under dependence is characteristic of the type of variogram estimator. However, this shape depends also on the underlying dependency structure, its intensity, as well as the lag distance of the variogram estimates. Therefore, statistical insight is provided into the sensitivity and the behavior of the variance of the variogram estimator at different spatial lags. For instance, this variance plays an important role when fitting a parametric variogram model by weighted or generalized least squares.
Development of a Device for Measurement of Multi-Directional Isometric Trunk Kinetics in a Seated Position

Trunk torque is typically quantified in a single plane. This is not ideal since any unmeasured coupled trunk kinetics in other directions, than the intended one, could affect the accuracy and reliability of the strength measurements as well as the ability to corroborate findings with electromyographic recordings. Therefore, an isometric device that simultaneously records trunk kinetics across planes has been developed to aid in the research of trunk control in both the healthy or impaired populations. This device utilizes a six degree-of-freedom load cell and custom designed frame to attach individuals while in the sitting position. The performance of the device was tested in six healthy controls and while using two protocols. The device was able to detect coupled trunk kinetics during maximum lateral flexion and axial twisting torque generation. It also allowed the implementation of a multi-axis isometric protocol showing that subjects were able to generate larger amounts of axial torque during sub-maximal trunk extension compared to sub-maximal trunk flexion. In conclusion, the device and mechanical transformations discussed in this article will aid in the interpretation of multi-directional isometric trunk kinetics in a wide range of populations.
The continuum of dental caries--evidence for a dynamic disease process.

The eventual outcome of dental caries is determined by the dynamic balance between pathological factors that lead to demineralization and protective factors that lead to remineralization. Pathological factors include acidogenic bacteria, inhibition of salivary function, and frequency of ingestion of fermentable carbohydrates. Protective factors include salivary flow, numerous salivary components, antibacterials (both natural and applied), fluoride from extrinsic sources, and selected dietary components. Intervention in the caries process can occur at any stage, either naturally or by the insertion of some procedure or treatment. Dental caries covers the continuum from the first atomic level of demineralization, through the initial enamel or root lesion, through dentinal involvement, to eventual cavitation. The dynamic balance between demineralization and remineralization determines the end result. The disease is reversible, if detected early enough. Since demineralization can be quantified at early stages...
Radiofrequency ablation of a cervical osteoid osteoma: a trans-thyroid approach

We present a 16-year-old girl with an osteoid osteoma in the vertebral body of C5. Given the difficulty of surgically treating the lesion, radiofrequency ablation was used. Percutaneous needle access to this lesion in the anterior aspect of the cervical vertebral body was limited by the many critical adjacent structures. We present our successful treatment of this lesion utilizing a transthyroid needle approach.
Polyadenylated RNA of mouse ova and loss of maternal RNA in early development.

Ovulated mouse ova containing RNA labeled during oocyte growth were analyzed for the distribution of label between poly(A)+ and poly(A)− RNA by chromatography on poly(U) Sepharose columns. A small correction was made for contamination of the poly(A)+ fraction by poly(A)− RNA. About 9.6% of the RNA label was found in the poly(A)+ fraction for RNA labeled at any point throughout the growth phase of the oocyte 19 to 7 days before ovulation. The labeled polyadenylated RNA displayed a heterogeneous profile from about 14 S to 30 S on sucrose gradients. The amount of maternal mRNA present in the mouse egg calculated from available evidence is 5–8% of the total egg RNA, sufficient to contribute substantially to early embryonic protein synthesis. Labeled maternal RNA followed during preimplantation development declined by 40% on the first day, was stable on the second day, and declined by an additional 30% on the third day of development to the blastocyst stage. The proportion of RNA label in poly(A)+ RNA remained approximately constant throughout. Degradation of specific maternal messages and ribosomes may accompany changes in the pattern of protein synthesis on the first day of development. In addition, a substantial proportion of maternal RNA is apparently used during formation of the blastocyst.
Propulsion of organelles isolated from Acanthamoeba along actin filaments by myosin-I

Eukaryotic cells are dependent on their ability to translocate membraneous elements about the cytoplasm. In many cells long translocations of organelles are associated with microtubules1–3. In other cases, such as the rapid cytoplasmic streaming in some algae, organelles appear to be propelled along actin filaments4. It has been assumed, but not proven, that myosin produces these movements. We have tested vesicles from another eukaryotic cell for their ability to move on the exposed actin bundles of Nitella5 as an indiction that actin-based organelle movements may be a general property of cells. We found that organelles from Acanthamoeba castellanii can move along Nitella actin filaments. Here, we report two different experiments indicating that the single-headed non-polymerizable myosin isozyme myosin-I (ref. 6) is responsible for this organelle motility. First, monoclonal antibodies to myosin-I inhibit movement, but antibodies that inhibit double-headed myosin-II do not. Second, ∼20% of the myosin-I in homogenates co-migrates with motile vesicles during Percoll density-gradient ultracentrifugation. This is the first indication of a role for myosin-I within the cell and supports the suggestion of Albanesi et al.7 that myosin-I moves vesicles in this way.
Strong coupling expansion of Baxter equation in N = 4 SYM

Abstract The anomalous dimensions of single-trace local Wilson operators with covariant derivatives in maximally supersymmetric gauge theory are believed to be generated from a deformed noncompact sl ( 2 ) Baxter equation. We perform a systematic expansion of this equation at strong coupling in the single-logarithmic limit of large conformal spin to overcome the limitation of the asymptotic nature of the equation. The analysis is reduced to Riemann–Hilbert problems for corresponding resolvents of Bethe roots in each order of the quasiclassical expansion. We explicitly construct the resolvents in the lowest two orders in strong coupling and find all local conserved charges of the underlying long-range spin chain.
Use of terrestrial arthropod prey by a stream-dwelling cyprinid fish

The spatio-temporal availability to, and use of terrestrial (allochthonous) prey by, a subset of the fish assemblage of a Virginia piedmont stream were investigated during spring and summer. Terrestrial invertebrates were most abundant in drift nets, but least common in fish stomachs, during April. In contrast, during August, terrestrial prey dominated the diet of the major cyprinid fish,Notropis ardens, even though terrestrial prey availability in the stream declined by an order of magnitude. Several other co-occurring fishes only rarely consumed prey of terrestrial origin. Drifting terrestrial invertebrates, were concentrated at the surface near the thalweg, compared to stream margin or substrate locations. This study suggests that morphologial and behavioral constraints of individual fish taxa, including predator avoidance responses, regulate the use of terrestrial prey within a given fish assemblage.
Self-Calibration of Cluster Dark Energy Studies: Observable-Mass Distribution

The exponential sensitivity of cluster number counts to the properties of the dark energy implies a comparable sensitivity to not only the mean but also the actual distribution of an observable-mass proxy given the true cluster mass. For example a 25% scatter in mass can provide a $\ensuremath{\sim}50%$ change in the number counts at $z\ensuremath{\sim}2$ for the upcoming SPT survey. Uncertainty in the scatter of this amount would degrade dark energy constraints to uninteresting levels. Given the shape of the actual mass function, the properties of the distribution may be internally monitored by the shape of the observable mass function. As a proof of principle, for a simple mass-independent Gaussian distribution the scatter may be self-calibrated to allow a measurement of the dark energy equation of state of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(w)\ensuremath{\sim}0.1$. External constraints on the mass variance of the distribution that are more accurate than $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{ln}﻿M}^{2}l0.01$ at $z\ensuremath{\sim}1$ can further improve constraints by up to a factor of 2. More generally, cluster counts and their sample variance measured as a function of the observable provide internal consistency checks on the assumed form of the observable-mass distribution that will protect against misinterpretation of the dark energy constraints.
Scheduling and IPC mechanisms for continuous media

Next-generation workstations will have hardware support for digital "continuous media" (CM) such as audio and video. CM applications handle data at high rates, with strict timing requirements, and often in small "chunks". If such applications are to run efficiently and predictably as user-level programs, an operating system must provide scheduling and IPC mechanisms that reflect these needs. We propose two such mechanisms: split-level CPU scheduling of lightweight processes in multiple address spaces, and memory-mapped streams for data movement between address spaces. These techniques reduce the the number of user/kernel interactions (system calls, signals, and preemptions). Compared with existing mechanisms, they can reduce scheduling and I/O overhead by a factor of 4 to 6.
The ultrastructure of a human glioblastoma multiforme-derived tumor heterologously transplanted to guinea pig eye and brain.

Studies with the light and the electron microscope were carried out on a human glioblastoma multiforme maintained for 17 years in heterologous growth in the guinea pig. Sublines of the tumor growing in the brain and in the eye were studied. With the light microscope the tumor had lost the morphological characteristics of glioblastoma and was composed almost entirely of spongioblasts as judged by metallic stains. The ultrastructure of the tumor cells was similar to that of astrocytes in astrocytomas as described by others. The elongated spindle-shaped cells contained a normal complement of the usual cytoplasmic organelles. They also contained prominent cytoplasmic fibrils, whose morphology suggested a repetitive structural subunit; and frequent cytoplasmic vacuoles and inclusions displaying considerable variation. The morphology of the tumor cells growing in the brain and eye was similar, but in the brain tumor the architecture was looser and there was a relative increase in extracellular space.
Critical role of IL-2 and TGF-β in generation, function and stabilization of Foxp3+CD4+ Treg

CD4+Foxp3+ Treg consist of two indistinguishable subsets induced in either the thymus or the periphery. In addition to their suppressive activities, IL-6 can convert natural Treg to pro-inflammatory IL-17-producing cells, but those induced with IL-2 and TGF-beta remain Treg. Unlike mouse CD4+CD25(-) cells, which rapidly become polyclonal Foxp3+CD25+ Treg when activated appropriately with IL-2 and TGF-beta, human T cells require multiple stimulations to become similar suppressor cells.
Uniparental inheritance in a homothallic alga

Uniparental inheritance of chloroplast genes is a phenomenon common to both higher plants and eukaryotic algae1. In the latter case, as exemplified by the heterothallic green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, chloroplast gene transmission is controlled by the nuclear mating-type locus2,3. When the stable opposite mating types are crossed, chloroplast markers carried by the mating-type plus (mt+) gamete are transmitted to the zygote progeny, while the markers (and chloroplast DNA) of the mating-type minus (mt−) gamete are not, in most cases4–7. Here we report the isolation of a uniparentally inherited erythromycin-resistant mutant (ery-u1) of the homothallic (self-mating) alga, Chlamydomonas monoica. The inheritance pattern of the ery-u1 mutant can be interpreted in terms of a general model for homothallism which assumes that each cell of a clonal population carries genetic information analogous to the mt+ and mt− alleles of heterothallic species, and that self-mating results from differential gene expression within the clonal population.
The interaction effects of CS intensity and CS-UCS interval in human eyelid conditioning.

The joint effects of low CS intensity and CS-UCS interval (ISI) on human eyelid conditioning performance were investigated. Five paid subjects were run in 36 test sessions, in a within-subjects design in which six CS intensities were varied orthogonally to three CS durations. Conditioning performance was measured by the percentage of conditioned responses corrected for spontaneous blinks, and by d'CR, a measure based upon a signal detection analysis. Both measures yielded similar results which showed a continued shift toward longer optimum ISIs with decreases in CS intensity, i.e. the optimum ISI shifted from 0·5 sec. to 2·0 sec. A partial explanation of this finding was based on a consideration of neurophysiological and reaction-time studies.
Structural phase transitions of interacting membranes

A thermodynamic model for phase transitions of multilamellar liquid crystals composed of phospholipid bilayers in water is developed. By means of a Landau theory of the thermally driven hydrocarbon chain-melting transition of an isolated membrane and a continuum model of the interactions between neutral phospholipid bilayers, the phenomenon of structural phase transitions induced by membrane interactions is described. The phenomenological parameters that appear in the theory may be readily determined by existing experimental techniques; an analysis of available data on several phospholipid systems is used here to estimate these quantities. Semiquantitative agreement is achieved with the experimental temperature-composition phase diagram as well as the variation of the characteristic dimensions of the lamellar crystals with water content. Possible origins of pseudocritical phenomena are suggested on the basis of the unusual topology of the phase diagram. The model highlights the central importance of the water-mediated ``hydration repulsion'' between membranes in the phase behavior of the lamellar systems.
Tailored Exchange in Binary Manganese—Noble Metal Alloys

A general phenomenological model is presented that predicts the evolution of magnetic order and transition temperatures found in binary noble metal (NM) alloys with high Mn content. The model is derived from magnetic measurements and analysis of rapidly solidified Ag1-xMnx (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) alloys, also describing the magnetic attributes of CuMn and AuMn alloys, as reported in the literature. Mn atomic substitution in the face-centered-cubic noble metal lattice results in a tunable average Mn-Mn characteristic interatomic distance estimated from the average Mn concentration that governs the evolution of the magnetic ordering temperature. This evolution is found to be a consequence of the competition between positive ferromagnetic (FM) and negative antiferromagnetic (AF) interatomic exchange coupling revealing a Bethe-Slater-type behavior. Considering the composition range analyzed in this letter and the previous literature ( x = 0.02-0.40), the ordering temperature is maximized at x ≈ 0.17 for Ag-Mn and Cu-Mn alloys, with a progressive decrease at higher Mn concentration that is indicative of an increasing AF character. These predictive results enable the development of potential pathways to manipulate and tailor magnetic attributes in Mn-based alloys that are of current interest for tunable exchange-biased systems.
Expanding the binding envelope of CYP51 inhibitors targeting Trypanosoma cruzi with 4-aminopyridyl-based sulfonamide derivatives.

Chagas disease is a chronic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, manifested in progressive cardiomyopathy and/or gastrointestinal dysfunction. Therapeutic options to prevent or treat Chagas disease are limited. CYP51, the enzyme key to the biosynthesis of eukaryotic membrane sterols, is a validated drug target in both fungi and T. cruzi. Sulfonamide derivatives of 4-aminopyridyl-based inhibitors of T. cruzi CYP51 (TcCYP51), including the sub-nanomolar compound 3, have molecular structures distinct from other validated CYP51 inhibitors. They augment the biologically relevant chemical space of molecules targeting TcCYP51. In a 2.08 A X-ray structure, TcCYP51 is in a conformation that has been influenced by compound 3 and is distinct from the previously characterized ground-state conformation of CYP51 drug-target complexes. That the binding site was modulated in response to an incoming inhibitor for the first time characterizes TcCYP51 as a flexible target rather than a rigid template.
The self-association of dicyclohexylarsinic acid and dicyclohexyldihydroxychloroarsane in chloroform at 37°

Abstract Molecular mass determinations on dicyclohexylarsinic acid (HDCAA) and dicyclohexyldihydroxychloroarsane (HDCAA·HCl) in chloroform solutions by vapor pressure osmometry at 37° indicated that the compounds were not present as monomers. Various models were tested to describe the observed self-associations. For HDCAA a monomer-dimer association with an equilibrium constant K1,2 = 1.60 kg/g and a second virial coefficient BM1 = 1.22 × 10−3 kg/g described the association best. The HDCAA·HCl data agreed best with a model of a sequential indefinite self-association with k = 5.51 + 10−2 kg/g and BM1 = 1.40 × 10−1 kg/g.
Effect of Binder Concentration and Method of Addition on Granule Growth in a High Intensity Mixer

AbstractA model system consisting of microcrystalline cellulose and povidone was used to study the effect of binder concentration and method of addition on granule growth in a high intensity mixer. The methods of binder addition include blending the dry binder with the excipient prior to granulating with water and granulation of the excipient with an aqueous solution of the binder. When the binder was dry-mixed with excipient prior to wetting, a good correlation was obtained between granule size and binder level. The growth of granules prepared by this method also appears to be related to the mechanical “resistance” encountered by the mixing blade during wet massing. In general, granules prepared by the addition of aqueous binder solutions are smaller than granules prepared with corresponding concentrations of dry binder and demonstrate a lesser degree of granule growth with respect to increasing binder level. For the wet addition method, the mechanical resistance was found to be essentially constant with...
The retrieval of scattering coefficient of marine particles from polarimetric observations

Polarized light in the oceans carries intrinsic information that can be utilized to estimate the optical and microphysical properties of the oceanic hydrosols. It is especially sensitive to the scattering coefficient, which cannot be retrieved from the unpolarized light used in current ocean color remote sensing algorithms. Through the unpolarized remote sensing reflectance (R rs ), these classical algorithms can only estimate backscattering coefficients b b , but the total scattering coefficient b could be solely retrieved based on the characteristics of polarized light. The correlation is quantified in this paper. Based on extensive simulations using the vector radiative transfer program RayXP, the attenuation-to-absorption ratio (c/a), from which b is readily computed, is shown to be closely related to the degree of linear polarization (DoLP). The relationship is investigated for the upwelling polarized light for several wavelengths in the visible part of the spectrum, for a complete set of viewing geometries, and for varying concentrations of phytoplankton, non-algal particles, and color dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the aquatic environment. It is shown that there is an excellent correlation between the DoLP and c/a for a wide range of viewing geometries. That correlation is investigated theoretically using fitting techniques, which show that it depends not only on the general composition of water but also on the particle size distribution (PSD) of the (mainly non-algal) particles. A large dataset of Stokes components for various water compositions, measured in the field with a hyperspectral and multi-angular polarimeter, then provides the opportunity to validate the parameterized relationship between DOLP and c/a. This study opens the possibility for the retrieval of additional inherent optical properties (IOPs) from air- or space-borne DoLP measurements of the ocean.
Timescale Halo: Average-Speed Targets Elicit More Positive and Less Negative Attributions than Slow or Fast Targets

Research on the timescale bias has found that observers perceive more capacity for mind in targets moving at an average speed, relative to slow or fast moving targets. The present research revisited the timescale bias as a type of halo effect, where normal-speed people elicit positive evaluations and abnormal-speed (slow and fast) people elicit negative evaluations. In two studies, participants viewed videos of people walking at a slow, average, or fast speed. We find evidence for a timescale halo effect: people walking at an average-speed were attributed more positive mental traits, but fewer negative mental traits, relative to slow or fast moving people. These effects held across both cognitive and emotional dimensions of mind and were mediated by overall positive/negative ratings of the person. These results suggest that, rather than eliciting greater perceptions of general mind, the timescale bias may reflect a generalized positivity toward average speed people relative to slow or fast moving people.
Speech disturbs face scanning in 6-month-old infants who develop autism spectrum disorder.

Background From birth, infants show a preference for the faces, gaze, and voices of others. In individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) these biases seem to be disturbed. The source of these disturbances is not well-understood, but recent efforts have shown that the spontaneous deployment of attention to social targets might be atypical as early as 6 months of age. The nature of this atypical behavior and the conditions under which it arises are currently unknown. Methods We used eye-tracking to examine the gaze patterns of 6-month-old infants ( n = 99) at high risk ( n = 57) and low risk ( n = 42) for developing ASD as they viewed faces that were: 1) still; 2) moving and expressing positive affect; or 3) speaking. Clinical outcomes were determined through a comprehensive assessment at the age of 3 years. The scanning patterns of infants later diagnosed with ASD were compared with infants without an ASD outcome. Results Infants who later developed ASD spent less time looking at the presented scenes in general than other infants. When these infants looked at faces, their looking toward the inner features of faces decreased compared with the other groups only when the presented face was speaking. Conclusions Our study suggests that infants later diagnosed with ASD have difficulties regulating attention to complex social scenes. It also suggests that the presence of speech might uniquely disturb the attention of infants who later develop ASD at a critical developmental point when other infants are acquiring language and learning about their social world.
Human placental cell surface antigens:expression by cultured cells of diverse phenotypic origin.

The present work examined the expression of cell surface glycoprotein antigens in cultured human cell lines. The set of glycoproteins studied was defined by their immunoreactivity with antiserum developed to Triton-solubilized extracts of placental brush border membranes. Studies were performed using cell lines of trophoblastic (BeWo, JEG-3) and nontrophoblastic (Chang liver cells) origin, as well as diploid fibroblast cell lines (WI-38, GM-38). Antiplacental brush border antiserum reacts with at least 19 distinct antigens present in placental membrane preparations, each of which can be resolved and identified in two-dimensional electrophoresis. The subunit molecular weight and isoelectric point for all components were defined by their positions in the two-dimensional matrix. Thirteen of these could be detected among the five cell lines examined by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed cell surface iodination. One of these 13 antigens has been identified as the placental isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (PAP). The expression of this component is limited to choriocarcinonia cells and Chang liver cells and it is not present in diploid fibroblasts. Under normal circumstances expression of PAP is unique to the differentiated placenta but has been frequently demonstrated in both trophoblastic and nontrophoblastic neoplasms. Two other antigens are variably expressed among the different cell types examined in the present study and their presence or absence was independent of the trophoblastic, epithelial nontrophoblastic, or fibroblastic origin of the cells. Ten surface antigens were expressed in all five cell lines. Six of these had previously been found common to membranes from three adult differentiated tissues, including liver and kidney, as well as placenta (Wada et al, J Supramol Struc 10(3):287–305, 1979). The presence of this set of antigens in cultured cells as well extends the possibility that these are ubiquitously expressed on human cell surfaces. Two other antigens observed in all cultured cells had been found in both placental and either kidney or liver membranes and may represent common functions shared by many tissues which are also necessary for growth in vitro. The two remaining placental antigens seen in all cultured cells have previously been shown to be absent in adult tissues. Their presence in cultured cells but not in the membranes of resting differentiated tissues may signify the expression of glycoproteins characteristic of trophoblasts in all cells adapted to growth in culture.