cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function in pediatric sickle cell disease patients

Although cardiac involvement is common in adult sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, it is unknown when cardiac dysfunction appears in the course of SCD. Diastolic function has not been comprehensively analyzed in children with SCD. Thus, our aim was to evaluate diastolic function in pediatric SCD patients. Echocardiograms were performed in 156 (73 SC and 81 control) patients. Left ventricular and left atrial volumes, left ventricular mass, mitral inflow, and tissue Doppler indices (TDI) were obtained. The right ventricular pressures (RVP) were calculated. For each SCD patient, mean hemoglobin (Hb), fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels, and blood transfusion encounters were recorded. Data were analyzed using t-test, univariate and multivariate regression, and Spearman correlation analyses. SCD patients had significantly larger left ventricular and atrial volumes than controls. Mitral inflow velocities were significantly higher in the SCD group. Of 73 SCD subjects, 32 had left ventricular dilatation, 11 had hypertrophy, and 25 had elevated RVP. Left ventricular size was inversely related to Hb, but unrelated to HbF or age. The early mitral inflow velocity was correlated negatively with Hb and positively with left ventricular sizes. TDI indices did not differ between the SCD and control groups. They were unrelated to Hg, HgF, transfusion history, or ventricular size; however, Doppler indices of left ventricular stiffness were increased in SCD patients. Pediatric SCD patients demonstrate increased left ventricular stiffness, and a significant percentage of them have left ventricular hypertrophy. There are strong positive relations between left ventricular hypertrophy and right ventricular pressure in these patients. TDI should be employed in the evaluation of SCD patients.
Structural basis for the functional switch of the E. coli Ada protein.

The Escherichia coli protein Ada specifically repairs the Sp diastereomer of DNA methyl phosphotriesters in DNA by direct and irreversible transfer of the methyl group to its own Cys 69 which is part of a zinc-thiolate center. The methyl transfer converts Ada into a transcriptional activator that binds sequence-specifically to promoter regions of its own gene and other methylation resistance genes. Ada thus acts as a chemosensor to activate repair mechanisms in situations of methylation damage. Here we present a highly refined solution structure of the 10 kDa N-terminal domain, N-Ada10, which reveals structural details of the nonspecific DNA interaction of N-Ada10 during the repair process and provides a basis for understanding the mechanism of the conformational switch triggered by methyl transfer. To further elucidate this, EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) data were acquired, which confirmed that the zinc-thiolate center is maintained when N-Ada is methylated. Thus, ligand exchange is not the mechanism that enhances sequence-specific DNA binding and transcriptional activation upon methylation of N-Ada. The mechanism of the switch was further elucidated by recording NOESY spectra of specifically labeled methylated-Ada/DNA complexes, which showed that the transferred methyl group makes many contacts within N-Ada but none with the DNA. This implies that methylation of N-Ada induces a structural change, which enhances the promoter affinity of a remodeled surface region that does not include the transferred methyl group. All living organisms have developed complex systems to protect cells from the toxic effects of mutagenic chemicals and radiation. The regulation and function of DNA repair mechanisms have been characterized extensively in Escheri- chia coli. The E. coli protein Ada, a key player in the adaptive response of bacteria to alkylating agents, repairs the frequently occurring aberrant alkylation, especially methylation, of DNA (1).
Long-term calcitonin therapy in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Results are presented from a 2-year controlled study evaluating the efficacy of 100 units synthetic salmon calcitonin/d in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. All patients received 400 units D2 po qd and 1200 mg CaCO3 po qd. The 21 control and 24 treated patients (mean age 65) were not statistically different at baseline. Although mean total body calcium (TBCa) was not significantly different between treated and control patients throughout the study, mean differences in the change in TBCa from baseline (treated minus control) were significant at 12, 18, and 26 months. The mean slope of TBCa for treated patients, but not for controls, was significantly positive through 18 months. Iliac crest bone biopsies showed (1) a significantly greater percent total bone area in treated compared to control patients at 2 years, and (2) a significantly decreased percent resorbing surface in treated patients when evaluated by paired difference from baseline. At 4 months, serum calcium values were significantly lower in treated patients than in controls (mean difference, treated minus controls), but were not statistically different from controls at study completion. Urine calcium increased significantly for the first 4 months in treated subjects and then declined to baseline levels. Since urinary calcium increased, the increase in TBCa was probably associated with an increase in net intestinal calcium absorption.
High-resolution carbon budgets on a Palau back-reef modulated by interactions between hydrodynamics and reef metabolism

Diel trends in carbon chemistry and hydrodynamic regimes were measured on a coral-dominated back-reef community in the Republic of Palau, western Pacific. Observed diel ranges over 5 d were pH 7.92–8.09, partial pressure of carbon dioxide 33.4–52.7 Pa, measured total alkalinity 2080–2272 mmol kg21, total dissolved inorganic carbon 1763–1939 mmol kg21, aragonite saturation state 2.84–3.98, and calcite saturation state 4.44–5.67. The combination of reef metabolism and hydrodynamic regimes drives this variability. We report net community calcification (NCC) and net community production (NCP) rates of 220.4 (6 7.8) to 41.2 (6 37.7) mmol CaCO3 m22 h21 and 77.3 (6 95) to 64 (6 22) mmol C m22 h21, respectively. Using a control volume approach, we show that NCC and NCP rate estimates are quite sensitive to the effective control volume dimensions. At this site, tracking vertical mixing of water masses within the control volume shows that active water mixing is often confined to a region 2–3 m above the corals. Vertical carbon mass fluxes into and out of the benthic environment were unexpectedly large for the slow current flow rates observed, suggesting that coral morphology or reef rugosity may affect mass transport of carbon and nutrients. The ranges of NCC and NCP values highlight the need for additional field work on various reefs to tune and optimize the control volume approach to achieve its full potential for reef metabolism monitoring.
Sleep and physical functioning in family caregivers of older adults with memory impairment

Background Sleep disturbance is common in caregivers of older adults with memory disorders. Little is known, however, about the implications of caregivers' poor sleep with regard to their physical functioning. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between objectively measured sleep and self-reported physical functioning in 45 caregivers (mean age = 68.6 years) who completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, and the Mini-mental State Examination, and wore an actigraph for at least three days. Our primary predictors were actigraphic sleep parameters, and our outcome was the SF-36 Physical Functioning subscale. Results In multivariate-adjusted linear regression analyses, each 30-minute increase in caregivers' total sleep time was associated with a 2.2-point improvement in their Physical Functioning subscale scores (unstandardized regression coefficient (B) = 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-3.4, p = 0.001). In addition, each 10-minute increase in time awake after initial sleep onset was associated with a 0.5-point decrease on the Physical Functioning subscale, although this was not statistically significant (B = -0.5, 95% CI -1.1, 0.1, p = 0.09). Conclusions Our findings suggest that shorter sleep duration is associated with worse self-reported physical functioning in caregivers. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether poor sleep predicts functional decline in caregivers.
Are We “Waiting for Godot”? [Microwave Surfing]

Over the last three centuries, there have been many advances in optical telescopes. To find planets that may support life like our own planet, astronomers have to search for planets that orbit stars at the “Goldilocks” distance, not so close that they will be unbearably hot Jupiters and not so far away that they will be frozen Plutos. Locating objects within the bright glare of a host star is no easy task. But, as reported in a recent paper [1], [2] in Nature by a Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) group, scientists have made tremendous progress in the field. The JPL group used wavefront correction techniques applied to coronagraphs to observe optically a planet orbiting its host 33 light years away with a relatively small (1.5 m) earth-based telescope.
Fused array preforms for the fabrication of photonic crystal fibers

A new approach for the fabrication of preforms used in drawing photonic crystal fibers is described. A multi-step process is used that involves stacking a bundle of rods and tubes of dissimilar glasses, fusing the bundle, and then etching the fused bundle to remove one of the two glasses.
Transition of mode II cracks from sub-Rayleigh to intersonic speeds in the presence of favorable heterogeneity

Understanding sub-Rayleigh-to-intersonic transition of mode II cracks is a fundamental problem in fracture mechanics with important practical implications for earthquake dynamics and seismic radiation. In the Burridge–Andrews mechanism, an intersonic daughter crack nucleates, for sufficiently high prestress, at the shear stress peak traveling with the shear wave speed in front of the main crack. We find that sub-Rayleigh-to-intersonic transition and sustained intersonic propagation occurs in a number of other models that subject developing cracks to intersonic loading fields. We consider a spontaneously expanding sub-Rayleigh crack (or main crack) which advances, along a planar interface with linear slip-weakening friction, towards a place of favorable heterogeneity, such as a preexisting subcritical crack or a small patch of higher prestress (similar behavior is expected for a small patch of lower static strength). For a range of model parameters, a secondary dynamic crack nucleates at the heterogeneity and acquires intersonic speeds due to the intersonic stress field propagating in front of the main crack. Transition to intersonic speeds occurs directly at the tip of the secondary crack, with the tip accelerating rapidly to values numerically equal to the Rayleigh wave speed and then abruptly jumping to an intersonic speed. Models with favorable heterogeneity achieve intersonic transition and propagation for much lower prestress levels than the ones implied by the Burridge–Andrews mechanism and have transition distances that depend on the position of heterogeneity. We investigate the dependence of intersonic transition and subsequent crack propagation on model parameters and discuss implications for earthquake dynamics.
Handling-induced enhancement of alcohol's acute physiological effects

A mild stressor (handling) exacerbated the acute effects of ethanol on heart rate and body temperature in rats. Although the tachycardia produced by the combination of ethanol and handling appeared to be due to a simple summation of the separate tachycardic effects of each condition, the thermal change represented a nonadditive combination of the separate effects. Specifically, although handling alone produced hyperthermia, it enhanced the hypothermia induced by ethanol. Blood and brain levels of ethanol were not altered by handling. Stress-induced enhancement of critical responses to ethanol may have important implications for the development of tolerance to and dependence on alcohol.
Development of the brain stem reticular core: an assessment of dendritic state and configuration in the perinatal rat

The brain stems of normal newborn, 11- and 20-day-old rats were examined using Golgi techniques in the light and electron microscope. Patterns of dendritic branching and growth of brain stem reticular core neurons were analyzed by projection drawing and quantitative methods. The number of protospines and dendritic varicosities was counted on proximal and distal dendritic segments. The amount of DNA and protein in the brain stem was determined using colorimetric methods. During the course of early development, the sparsely branched reticular core dendrites extend rapidly into the neuropil. The dendritic branching of these neurons increases slightly but the number of primary dendrites remains constant. Protospine development follows a regular progression increasing in number to 11 days, then declining to 20 days as protospines are resorbed onto the dendritic surface. Dendritic varicosities often contain additional vesicles as a source of dendritic membrane and subsequent preterminal dendritic growth. The gradual decline of dendritic varicosities, first proximally then distally, indicates a shift of growth toward the distal extreme of the dendrite.
Richtmyer-Meshkov experiments on the Nova laser at high compression.

We investigate the shock induced Richtmyer-Meshkov instability at high compression using the Nova laser. The instability and shock characteristics are measured radiographically in planar two-fluid targets with Atwood number 0. The growth of imposed interfacial perturbations \ensuremath{\eta}=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}}_{0}$ sinkx agrees with linear theory if the pre- and postshock initial amplitudes are averaged. When k\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\sim}2, the fundamental mode saturates and harmonics emerge producing a slowly developing bubble and spike.
Promoting and protecting mental health as flourishing: A complementary strategy for improving national mental health.

This article summarizes the conception and diagnosis of the mental health continuum, the findings supporting the two continua model of mental health and illness, and the benefits of flourishing to individuals and society. Completely mentally healthy adults--individuals free of a 12-month mental disorder and flourishing--reported the fewest missed days of work, the fewest half-day or greater work cutbacks, the healthiest psychosocial functioning (i.e., low helplessness, clear goals in life, high resilience, and high intimacy), the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease, the lowest number of chronic physical diseases with age, the fewest health limitations of activities of daily living, and lower health care utilization. However, the prevalence of flourishing is barely 20% in the adult population, indicating the need for a national program on mental health promotion to complement ongoing efforts to prevent and treat mental illness. Findings reveal a Black advantage in mental health as flourishing and no gender disparity in flourishing among Whites.
Rapid activation analysis of trace copper in tissue using 5.1-minute copper-66.

Abstract Microgram amounts of copper have been analyzed by rapid activation analysis in rat kidney tissue. An 8-min radiochemical separation coupled with gamma-ray spectrometry permitted utilization of the 5.1-min copper-66 radioisotope. With this procedure, the lower limit of detection at a thermal neutron flux of 1012n cm−2 sec−1 was about 3 × 10−7 gm of copper.
A Theoretical γ Doradus Instability Strip

In this paper, we present the first theoretical γ Doradus instability strip. We find that our model instability strip agrees very well with the previously established, observationally based, instability strip of Handler & Shobbrook. We stress, as do Guzik et al., that the convection zone depth plays the major role in the determination of our instability strip. Once this depth becomes too deep or too shallow, the convection zone no longer allows for pulsational instability. Our theoretical γ Dor instability strip is bounded by ~6850 and 7360 K at the red and blue edge, respectively, on the zero-age main sequence and by ~6560 and 7000 K at the red and blue edge, respectively, approximately 2 mag more luminous. This theoretical strip, transformed to the observer's color-magnitude diagram, overlays the region where most of the 30 bona fide γ Dor stars are found.
Product Placement in Social Games: Consumer Experiences in China

A phenomenological study reveals the meanings of product placement in social games on social network sites (SNSs) among Chinese urban, white-collar professional users through an investigation of a newly launched SNS, Happy Network. In total, 26 face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted. Through inductive analysis, a theoretical model was proposed to catch the rich meanings of product placement in the context of an SNS. Specifically, the study reveals four interpretive themes regarding the meanings of product placements in an SNS: (1) embracing product placement in the SNS, (2) bridging virtual and real-world branding, (3) referencing the framework of product placement, and (4) influencing real-world consumption.
Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in adulthood on CT and MRI.

4Department of Family Practice, Virtua Memorial Hospital of Burlington County, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060. e report the clinical, CT, and MRI findings of an intermittently symptomatic elderly woman with the rare congenital syndrome of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) with marked intercoronary collateral arteries and retrograde filling of the left coronary arterial system. To our knowledge, this finding as seen on MRI has not been reported in the literature.
Reduced endocytosis and altered lysosome function in cisplatin-resistant cell lines

We isolated human KB adenocarcinoma cisplatin-resistant (CP-r) cell lines with multidrug-resistance phenotypes because of reduced accumulation of cisplatin and other cytotoxic compounds such as methotrexate and heavy metals. The uptake of horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) and Texas Red dextran was decreased several-fold in KB-CP-r cells, indicating a general defect in fluid-phase endocytosis. In contrast, although EGF receptors were decreased in amount, the kinetics of EGF uptake, a marker of receptor-mediated endocytosis, was similar in sensitive and resistant cells. However, 40–60% of the 125I-EGF released into the medium after uptake into lysosomes of KB-CP-r cells was TCA precipitable as compared to only 10% released by sensitive cells. These results indicate inefficient degradation of internalised 125I-EGF in the lysosomes of KB-CP-r cells, consistent with slower processing of cathepsin L, a lysosomal cysteine protease. Treatment of KB cells by bafilomycin A1, a known inhibitor of the vacuolar proton pump, mimicked the phenotype seen in KB-CP-r cells with reduced uptake of HRPO, 125I-EGF, 14C-carboplatin, and release of TCA precipitable 125I-EGF. KB-CP-r cells also had less acidic lysosomes. KB-CP-r cells were crossresistant to Pseudomonas exotoxin, and Pseudomonas exotoxin-resistant KB cells were crossresistant to cisplatin. Since cells with endosomal acidification defects are known to be resistant to Pseudomonas exotoxin and blocking of endosomal acidification mimics the CP-r phenotype, we conclude that defective endosomal acidification may contribute to acquired cisplatin resistance.
A perspective on secondary access services in the humanities

Secondary access services for the humanities have been in existence since 1910 and six of these indexes are also now available for online searching. Profiles of these services are drawn from information supplied either by their editors or from available literature. The evolution of some of these services from print to online availability is discussed as are the user and database characteristics which make humanists reluctant to use these services in their machine-readable forms. The resulting lack of use of humanities databases is discussed as are the marketing responsibilities of both vendors and producers. The current state of the humanities database producers' view of themselves as a unique group with unique problems and concerns and current trends toward standardization in humanities databases are reviewed.
The role of BETA2/NeuroD1 in the development of the nervous system

BETA2/NeuroD1 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor family, which has been shown to play a major role in development of the nervous system and formation of the endocrine system. Gain-of-function studies have indicated that BETA2/NeuroD1 is important for the neurogenesis of Xenopus embryos and several neurogenic cell lines. Disruption of the gene encoding BETA2/NeuroD1 leads to severe abnormalities of the developing mouse central nervous system as well as the peripheral nervous system. The focus of this article is on the recent progress in understanding the role of BETA2/NeuroD1 in the development of the nervous system.
Applications of TGA in quality control of SWCNTs

Carbon nanotubes exhibit a range of chemistries, including mixtures of different nanotube diameters, lengths, and chiralities coupled with various concentrations of metallic and non-nanotube-carbon impurities. The performance of a given material for a specific application depends on the chemistry, which is dictated in large part by the manufacturing process. Here, thermogravimetric analysis is utilized as a bulk characterization method for determining nanotube quality after manufacturing. The application of thermogravimetric analysis for quantifying basic nanotube chemistry is described (e.g., carbon-to-metal content, homogeneity). In addition, extension of the method to analyze specific nanotube properties (i.e., length and diameter) is reported. Results indicate that thermogravimetric analysis is sufficiently sensitive to enable quality control at both the macro-scale (carbon-to-metal ratio) and nano-scale (single-walled to multi-walled) and can detect subtle modifications in manufacturing processes.
Photosensing Fungi: Phytochrome in the Spotlight

Red light triggers asexual development and represses sexual development in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. This response has been shown to require a phytochrome red/far-red light photoreceptor, FphA, which is cytoplasmic and binds a tetrapyrrole chromophore. FphA exhibits similarities to both plant and bacterial phytochromes.
The GSK3 Signaling Pathway Is Activated by Cocaine and Is Critical for Cocaine Conditioned Reward in Mice

The Akt - GSK3 signaling pathway has been recently implicated in psychostimulant-induced behavioral and cellular effects. Here, the ability of cocaine to regulate the activity of Akt and GSK3 was investigated by measuring the phosphorylation states of the two kinases. The anatomical specificity of the response was determined, as was the contributions of dopamine and NMDA receptors to the actions of cocaine. As GSK3 activity was found to be increased by cocaine, subsequent experiments investigated the importance of GSK3 activation in cocaine conditioned reward. Adult male CD-1 mice were injected with cocaine or saline, and levels of phosphorylated Akt and GSK3α/β were measured 30 minutes later. Acute administration of cocaine significantly decreased the phosphorylation of Akt-Thr308 (pAkt-Thr308) and GSK3β in the caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens core, without altering pAkt-Ser473 and pGSK3α. To investigate the role of dopamine and NMDA receptors in the regulation of Akt and GSK3 by cocaine, specific receptor antagonists were administered prior to cocaine. Blockade of dopamine D2 receptors with eticlopride prevented the reduction of pAkt-Thr308 produced by cocaine, whereas antagonists at dopamine D1, dopamine D2 or glutamatergic NMDA receptors each blocked cocaine-induced reductions in pGSK3β. The potential importance of GSK3 activity in the rewarding actions of cocaine was determined using a cocaine conditioned place preference procedure. Administration of the selective GSK3 inhibitor, SB 216763, prior to cocaine conditioning sessions blocked the development of cocaine place preference. In contrast, SB 216763 did not alter the acquisition of a contextual fear conditioning response, demonstrating that SB 216763 did not globally inhibit contextual learning processes. The results of this study indicate that phosphorylation of GSK3β is reduced, hence GSK3β activity is increased following acute cocaine, an effect that is contingent upon both dopaminergic and glutamatergic receptors. Further, GSK3 activity is required for the development of cocaine conditioned reward.
A conformal mapping example

Abstract An example is constructed of two Riemann maps φ and ψ of the unit disk onto the same domain such that φ ′ / ψ ′ is bounded but not bounded away from zero. This is shown by producing explicit analytic expressions of φ and ψ .
Texts Of Power: Emerging Disciplines in Colonial Bengal

The disciplines in colonial Bengal, Partha Chatterjee Disciplining the printed text - colonial and nationalist surveillance of Bengali literature, Tapti Roy Recovering the nation's art, Tapati Guha-Thakurta A modern science of politics for the colonized, Partha Chatterjee Sons of the nation - child rearing in the new family, Pradip Kumar Bose A city away from home - the mapping of Calcutta, Keya Dasgupta Territory and people - the disciplining of historical memory, Ranabir Samaddar.
Hands on the elephant: IQ, preschool programs, and the rhetoric of inoculation—a reply to commentaries

Abstract Buddhist teachers use the story of four blind men who fell into an argument about what an elephant was like. To settle the matter the four men had themselves led up to an elephant, and each man put forth his hands to feel the animal. The first man got hold of one of the beast's huge legs and said that an elephant must be like the trunk of a giant tree. Another man climbed up on the back of the elephant and found the animal to be like a little hill. The third took hold of the tail and insisted that the elephant was like a hossu , a duster made of hair. The fourth felt the trunk and concluded that the elephant must be much like a snake. (adapted from Ferguson & Anesaki, 1928, pp. 354–356)
Determination of sialic acid using 2-thiobarbituric acid in the absence of hazardous sodium arsenite.

Sialic acid (SA) is a component of many glycoproteins and glycolipids. Unusual levels of SA have been observed in a variety of cancerous tissues. Recent evidence indicates that serum SA can be an indicator of tumour burden and prognosis [l-4]. The commonly used thiobarbituric acid (TBA) calorimetric [5,6] and fluorometric [7] assays for SA employ sodium arsenite as a reducing agent. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration [8] and the State of California Occupational Safety and Health Act [9] have classified all inorganic arsenic salts as carcinogens, and the latter has established rigid standards for their use. This ban on the use of sodium arsenite without special facilities had led us to find an alternative reducing agent for the TBA assay of SA.
Metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma to the bone marrow mimicking acute leukemia

![Figure][1] A 17-year-old female with history of a left cheek alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) status after 14 cycles of vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide presented 2 months after the last drug cycle with bruising, thrombocytopenia, and anemia (white blood cell count 3.4 × 109
Performance measures for control computers

As real-time systems become more complex, the problem of controlling them safely becomes more difficult. When computers are in control of time-critical systems such as aircraft, nuclear reactors, and life-support systems, they must meet stringent performance requirements. However, these requirements cannot be properly stated without appropriate performance measures. We review and analyze such measures in this paper.
Endothelin receptor A antagonism reduces the extent of diffuse axonal injury in a rodent model of traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Objectives: While endothelin-1 and its receptors have traditionally been associated with mediating vasoreactivity, we have recently shown that the vast majority of endothelin receptor A expression following traumatic brain injury is localized within the neuron. While it has been suggested that endothelin receptor A plays a role in influencing neuronal integrity, the significance of neuronally expressed endothelin receptor A remains unclear. One report suggests that endothelin-1 signaling mediates diffuse axonal injury. Therefore, this work sought to determine whether treatment with BQ-123, a selective endothelin receptor A antagonist, diminishes the extent of diffuse axonal injury following trauma. Methods: A total of 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats (350-400 g) were used in this study. Two groups (n = 6 per group) were generated as follows: sham operation and traumatic brain injury+1·0 mg/kg BQ-123 delivered intravenously 30 minutes prior to the injury. Trauma was induced using a weight accel...
Characterization of Protective Human CD4+CD25+ FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells Generated with IL-2, TGF-β and Retinoic Acid

Competing Interests: The authors have read the journal's policy and have the following conflicts: Dr. Horwitz is the Founder of ExCell Therapeutics and a consultant for Becton Dickinson Biosciences. Funding: Dr. Horwitz has used personal funds to support this research and has had an essential role in the study design, data analysis, the preparation of the manuscript, and the decision to publish.
His to Stake, Hers to Lose: Women and The Male Gambling Culture of Nineteenth–Century Russia

My grandfather had a large estate, as did my grandmother, but unfortunately one piece of property after another went into settling card debts. ... His passion for the game was so strong that even his wife, who had considerable influence over him ... was unable to restrain him from gambling. Every time he set off for the city, [she] knew that he would gamble and his losses, which gradually brought about their ruin, introduced worry and grief into their family life. ... It really would happen, and not so rarely, that my grandfather would lose and win back in one night his entire fortune. He bet on cards grandmother's diamonds, serfs, beautiful girls, borzoi hounds, and thoroughbred horses.'
Temporal changes in brain and organ contents of norepinephrine in estrogen-treated rats after 6-hydroxydopamine.

Abstract 1. 1. Temporal changes one month after 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)—4 mg/rat—in norepinephrine (NE) levels in the adrenals, cerebellum, and medial lower brainstem of estrogen-treated rats differed from those in control (vehicle-treated) rats. 2. 2. Increases in adrenal NE after 6-OHDA were found only in estrogen-treated rats. 3. 3. After chemical sympathectomy reductions in cardiac and splenic NE were found in estrogen-treated as well as in control rats, while a decrease in cerebellar NE was found only in control rats.
High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy in the Analysis of Liquids and Solutions

Careful examination of organic liquids and solutions at very narrow spectral slit widths indicates that many compounds exhibit several absorptions of half band width narrower than 5 cm−1, particularly at the medium and long wavelengths. This suggests that sodium chloride prism spectrophotometers are currently being operated under conditions which produce rather significant errors in intensity and band width on some narrow bands. In order that this "finite slit error ' be 3% or less in measuring peak absorbance, a spectral slit width about ⅕ of the natural half band width must be employed, e.g., a resolution of 1 cm−1 for a band of 5 cm−1 half band width. The high resolution afforded by the grating instrument allows accurate intensity measurements on the typically narrow bands of such materials as indene at 1018 cm−1, cyclohexane at 861 and 903 cm−1 and acetonitrile at 2255 cm−1. Other advantages of the high resolution grating spectrophotometer for solution spectroscopy are discussed.
Herpes simplex virus vector‐mediated dystrophin gene transfer and expression in MDX mouse skeletal muscle

Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) results from mutations that prevent the expression of functional dystrophin in muscle fibers. Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) represents a potentially useful vector for treatment of DMD because it has the capacity to accommodate the 14-kb full-length dystrophin cDNA and can efficiently transduce muscle cells. We have tested the ability of first- and second-generation replication-defective HSV vectors to deliver full-length dystrophin to dystrophin-deficient mdx muscle cells in vitro and in vivo. Methods First-generation replication-defective HSV vectors harboring full-length or truncated (Becker) dystrophin expression cassettes and lacking a single viral immediate-early (IE) gene were constructed and tested by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting for their ability to direct dystrophin expression in infected mdx cells in culture. To reduce vector cytotoxicity and safety concerns, a second-generation dystrophin vector missing additional IE genes was constructed and tested in vitro and in vivo. Results Dystrophin expression was observed in infected mdx myotubes in vitro in all cases. Confocal microscopy showed exclusive localization of full-length dystrophin to the cell membrane whereas the Becker variant was also found abundantly throughout the cytoplasm. Dystrophin expression in mdx mice was restored in muscle cells near the site of vector injection. Conclusion Highly defective HSV-1 vectors which lack the ability to spread systemically and are greatly reduced in toxicity for infected cells, thus removing an impediment to prolonged transgene expression, can direct the delivery and proper expression of full-length dystrophin whose considerable size is compatible with few other modes of delivery. These vectors may offer a legitimate opportunity toward the development of effective gene therapy treatments for DMD. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CORRELATION OF DISPERSION STABILITY WITH SURFACTANT CONCENTRATION AND ABRASIVE PARTICLE SIZE FOR CHEMICAL MECHANICAL POLISHING (CMP) SLURRIES

ABSTRACT The preparation of stable colloidal slurries is often difficult in industries where many chemical components are added into the slurries. A critically acclaimed example of such an industry is the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) industry which involves polishing slurries with several chemical additives. In the present work, the stabilization of a slurry used for CMP of metals is investigated in detail. This high ionic strength slurry has been stabilized using an optimaJ combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate (anionic surfactant) and Tween 80 (nonionic surfactant). The amount of surfactant needed to impart stability has been investigated in this study for two different sizes of abrasive particles. It has been found that the amount of surfactant needed to stabilize the slurry increases as the total surface area per gram of panicles increases. Slurry stabilization has been correlated with particle size measurements. It has been found that the average panicle size of the slurry decreases as the sta...
The latest in ethical naturalism: the natural goodness approach

In this paper I consider a naturalistic account of what makes a character trait a virtue. After clarifying the account in some detail, I offer replies to several objections to it. I argue that although the account has promise, it also has limitations and areas in need of development that its proponents must address.
Intrusions of Gulf Stream waters onto the South Atlantic Bight shelf

[1] Intrusions of Gulf Stream waters onto the South Atlantic Bight continental shelf are analyzed using historical observations spanning several decades. Intrusions of dense water near the bottom occur predominantly during summer, when they are observed 30% of the time at the middle and outer shelf, but less frequently (<10%) inshore of the 20 m isobath, where they are found predominantly following periods of strong upwelling favorable winds. Bottom intrusions can have an important effect on stratification, especially on the outer shelf, where the average near-bottom temperature is 2°C lower when bottom intrusions are present. Surface intrusions, on the other hand, occur more evenly distributed throughout the year, although they are more frequent during summer, when they also tend to reach farther onshore. Surface intrusions occur slightly more frequently during times when winds are downwelling favorable. Both surface and bottom intrusions are more frequently observed in the northern and southern South Atlantic Bight, where the shelf is narrowest, and less frequently in the wider central region.
Isolation of a Bacterium That Reductively Dechlorinates Tetrachloroethene to Ethene

Tetrachloroethene is a prominent groundwater pollutant that can be reductively dechlorinated by mixed anaerobic microbial populations to the nontoxic product ethene. Strain 195, a coccoid bacterium that dechlorinates tetrachloroethene to ethene, was isolated and characterized. Growth of strain 195 with H2 and tetrachloroethene as the electron donor and acceptor pair required extracts from mixed microbial cultures. Growth of strain 195 was resistant to ampicillin and vancomycin; its cell wall did not react with a peptidoglycan-specific lectin and its ultrastructure resembled S-layers of Archaea. Analysis of the 16S ribosomal DNA sequence of strain 195 indicated that it is a eubacterium without close affiliation to any known groups.
Involvement of a homolog of Drosophila trithorax by 11q23 chromosomal translocations in acute leukemias.

Abstract We have identified a human homolog of the Drosophila trithorax protein that is structurally altered by 11q23 translocations in acute leukemias. Human trithorax (HRX) is a predicted 431 kd protein containing two potential DNA-binding motifs consisting of zinc fingers conserved with the fly protein and nonconserved amino-terminal "AT hook" motifs related to the DNA-binding motifs in HMG proteins. 11q23 transloctions disrupt the HRX gene between these two motifs, and in a t(11;19)-carrying cell line fusion transcripts are expressed from both derivative chromosomes. The more abundant derivative 11 transcript codes for a chimeric protein containing the AT hook motifs fused to a previously undescribed protein (ENL) from chromosome 19. These data suggest a novel role for a trithorax-homologous protein in multilineage human leukemias that may be mediated by DNA binding within the minor groove at AT-rich sites, implicated to play an important role in bacterial IHF-, yeast datin-, and mammalian HMG-mediated gene activation.
Robust Watermarking in the Wigner Domain

In this paper, a new watermarking scheme in the joint time-frequency domain is introduced. Wigner distribution is used to transform an image into the spatial-spectral domain. The proposed method selects the time-frequency cells to be watermarked based on the particular image's energy distribution in the joint domain. This approach ensures the imperceptibility of the embedded watermark. It is shown that embedding in the time-frequency domain is equivalent to a nonlinear embedding function in the spatial domain. A corresponding watermark detection algorithm is also introduced. The performance of the proposed watermarking algorithm under possible attacks, such as noise, re-sampling, rotation, filtering, and JPEG compression is illustrated.
Lymph node-positive prostate cancer: evaluation of the results of the combination of androgen deprivation therapy and radiation therapy.

Objective To evaluate the outcome of patients with pathologic stage IV prostate cancer treated with androgen ablation plus external-beam radiation therapy. Patients and Methods Sixty consecutive patients treated between August 1986 and February 1995 with androgen ablation plus radiation therapy for stage IV (T1–4 N1 M0) adenocarcinoma of the prostate were selected for outcome analysis in this retrospective study. Bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in 56 patients (93%). The 4 remaining patients had pelvic adenopathy on computed tomography, which was confirmed histologically in all patients. The median pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 28.8 ng/mL (mean, 55 ng/mL; range, 0.1–428 ng/mL). All patients received radiation therapy to the prostate, and 29 (48%) had pelvic node radiation. Biochemical failure was defined according to the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology criteria of 3 successive increases in the PSA level. Results The median follow-up duration for surviving patients was 101.1 months (range, 20–134 months). Biochemical failure with (in 2 patients) or without (in 10 patients) clinically evident disease relapse was noted in 12 patients (20%). Four additional patients (7%) had clinical relapse without biochemical failure. Local recurrences were observed in 6 patients (10%), and this clinical impression was confirmed by biopsy in 4 patients. Thirteen patients (22%) died of causes related to prostate cancer. The biochemical relapse-free, clinical disease-free, overall, and cause-specific survival rates at 5 years were 82%, 84%, 76%, and 80%, respectively. Conclusions This observational case series of patients treated with the combination of external-beam radiation therapy and permanent androgen ablation for pathologic stage IV prostate cancer suggests that the addition of androgen deprivation therapy to radiation therapy may improve disease outcome. In the absence of randomized trial results, these observations may be beneficial in clinical decision making.
Protection and administration of information networks with partial orderings

In this paper, we combine and generalize integrity and security lattices to a simpler flow model, demonstrate some common pitfalls in administration under this model, and show that the most general structure required for representing information flow in a general purpose transitive information network is a partial ordering. We show means for calculating information and time effects under this model, and show the design of a provably correct automate administrative assistant for protection administration in networks under this model.
The microbial loop in flowing waters

The microbial loop in flowing waters is dependent on allochthonous sources of carbon, which vary in quality. The proportion of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) that can be degraded ranges from <1 to over 50%, and the bioavailability of DOC (micrograms bacterial biomass produced per milligram DOC present) ranges over two orders of magnitude. Bioavailability of DOC is predictable from the ratio of H/C and O/C of the DOC, but further work is needed to develop simple predictors of bioavailability of DOC in a range of environments. Consumers of bacteria in streams range in size from protists to insect larvae, with highest rates of bacterial consumption found among the meiofauna and certain filter feeders and grazers. Because there appear to be fewer trophic transfers in the lotic microbial loop, it functions more as a link in flowing waters than it appears to do in the marine plankton.
Ego-dystonic pregnancy and prenatal consumption of alcohol among first-time mothers.

This study examines predictors of drinking during pregnancy among first-time mothers, in order to distinguish those in need of targeted screening and intervention. Data from the prenatal panel of the Parenting for the First Time study were used in hierarchical linear regressions to determine likelihood of prenatal alcohol consumption among a sample of 645 women. African-American women and those of race/ethnicities other than White were less likely to drink, regardless of age or level of education. Among all women, being in school was associated with abstention (P = 0.05). Among teens, endorsing a perception of feeling “pushed around” was a significant indicator of prenatal alcohol consumption (P = 0.05), as was not having plans for infant feeding shortly before delivery (P = 0.05). Among adults with some level of college education, having a first prenatal visit after the fourth month of pregnancy was a significant predictor of drinking (P = 0.01). This study indicates that women who evidence behaviors or attitudes indicating an ego-dystonic pregnancy (one that is psychologically or emotionally uncomfortable), may be more likely to self-medicate and cope via avoidance through drinking. These behaviors and attitudes may be indicators of the need for targeted screening and intervention, as well as indicators of underlying problems to be targeted in treatment. Further, among all women for whom continued education is a possibility, retaining the ability to attend school during the pregnancy can be protective.
Monocyte recruitment and macrophage proliferation in atherosclerosis

Copyright © Polskie Towarzystwo Kardiologiczne INTRODUCTION In the famous ‘Atlas of atherosclerosis: progression and regression’, Herbert Stary [1] outlines in remarkable detail the development of human atherosclerosis. The photographs depicting lesions at all stages of development, from newborns to the elderly, capture in stunning detail the complexity of an evolving disease. Type I lesions develop, Stary explains, at sites of non-laminar flow and low shear stress, which disturbs endothelial function. Type II lesions are defined by macrophage foam cells, and type III preatheromas feature small pools of extracellular lipids. As the disease worsens, an easily discernible core of extracellular lipid marks a type IV atheroma, fibrous thickening corresponds to a type V atheroma, the appearance of fissures, haematoma, and thrombi denote type VI atheroma, and finally, calcification is a type VII complicated atheroma [1]. Each of these histological observations reflect a biological process; each has its corresponding cluster of scientists and clinicians devoted to understanding how it can be harnessed to prevent or treat disease. As the underlying pathology causing most myocardial infarctions and strokes, atherosclerosis is, after all, the deadliest disease in the world [2]. Among the many mechanisms that contribute to the development and complications of atherosclerosis, macrophage accumulation occurs early and persists throughout most of a lesion’s evolution. The best evidence that macrophages are functionally important — rather than simply markers — can be found in animal studies. The most widely-used murine models of atherosclerosis, the Apoe–/– and Ldlr–/– mice, though far from perfect reflections of human disease, are nevertheless fair approximations to show how lesions develop. In both models, macrophages are prominent in early and advanced lesions, where they ingest oxidised lipoproteins via scavenger receptors and, as lipid-rich foam cells, become part of the disease’s physical bulk [3]. Although many of the functions by which macrophages influence atherosclerosis have been deciphered, their ontogeny has continued to perplex. On the one extreme, lesional macrophages may be developing from resident precursors or stem cells through local differentiation and proliferation, requiring no input from the circulation. At the other extreme, macrophage accumulation may be the exclusive consequence of replenishment from blood monocytes, requiring no input from resident cells. Identifying the mechanisms can be therapeutically relevant. If macrophages are harmful to disease and originate only from local precursors, then approaches targeting the vessel wall and its environment should be explored. If, however, macrophages originate exclusively from blood monocytes, then targeting environments where monocytes arise, such as the bone marrow or spleen, may be the more effective strategy.