cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization and clustering of kinase isoform expression in metastatic melanoma

Mutations to the human kinome are known to play causal roles in cancer. The kinome regulates numerous cell processes including growth, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition to aberrant expression, aberrant alternative splicing of cancer-driver genes is receiving increased attention as it could create loss or gain of functional domains, altering a kinases downstream effects. The present study quantifies changes in gene expression and isoform ratios in the kinome of metastatic melanoma cells relative to primary tumors. We contrast 538 total kinases and 3042 known kinase isoforms between 103 primary tumor and 367 metastatic samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We find strong evidence of differential expression (DE) at the gene level in 123 genes (23%). Additionally, of the 468 genes with alternative isoforms, 60 (13%) had differential isoform ratios (DIR). Notably, DE and DIR have little correlation; for instance, although DE highlights enrichment in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), DIR identifies altered splicing in non-receptor tyrosine kinases (nRTKs). Using exon junction mapping, we identify five examples of splicing events favored in metastatic samples. We cluster isoform expression data and identify subgroups that correlate with genomic subtypes and anatomic tumor locations. Notably, distinct DE and DIR patterns separate samples with BRAF hotspot mutations and (N/K/H)RAS hotspot mutations, the latter of which lacks effective kinase inhibitor treatments. DE in RAS mutants concentrates in CMGC kinases (a group including cell cycle and splicing regulators) rather than RTKs as in BRAF mutants. Furthermore, isoforms in the RAS kinase subgroup show enrichment for cancer-related processes such as angiogenesis and cell migration. Our results reveal a new approach to therapeutic target identification and demonstrate how different mutational subtypes may respond differently to treatments highlighting possible new driver events in cancer.
Monomers of Glycine and Serine Have a Limited Ability to Hydrate in the Atmosphere.

The role of atmospheric aerosols on climate change is one of the biggest uncertainties in most global climate models. Organic aerosols have been identified as potential cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), and amino acids are organic molecules that could serve as CCN. Amino acids make up a significant portion of the total organic material in the atmosphere, and herein we present a systematic study of hydration for two of the most common atmospheric amino acids, glycine and serine. We compute DLPNO/CCSD(T)//M08-HX/MG3S thermodynamic properties and atmospheric concentrations of Gly(H2O)n and Ser(H2O)n, where n = 1-5. We predict that serine-water clusters have higher concentrations at n = 1 and 5, while glycine-water clusters have higher concentrations at n = 2-4. However, both glycine and serine are inferred to exist primarily in their nonhydrated monomer forms in the absence of other species such as sulfuric acid.
Sodium hypochlorite disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 spiked in water and municipal wastewater.

Infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential to be collected in wastewater from mucus, sputum, and feces of infected individuals, raising questions about the appropriate handling and treatment of the resulting wastewater. Current evidence indicates the likelihood of waterborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission is low; nonetheless, confirming the efficacy of disinfection against SARS-CoV-2 is prudent to ensure multiple barriers of protection for infectious SARS-CoV-2 that could be present in municipal and hospital wastewater. Sodium hypochlorite (free chlorine) is widely used for pathogen control in water disinfection applications. In the current study, we investigated the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in DI water and municipal wastewater primary influent by sodium hypochlorite (free chlorine) addition. Our results showed rapid disinfection of SARS-CoV-2, with less than 1 mg-min/L required for >3 log10 TCID50 reduction in DI water. More than 5 mg-min/L was required for 3 log10 TCID50 reduction in primary influent, suggesting potential shielding of the virus by suspended solids. These results are consistent with expected virus inactivation by free chlorine and suggest the adequacy of free chlorine disinfection for inactivation of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in water matrices.
Paraprofessional and Teacher Relationships in Working With Students With or At Risk of Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Limited research has been conducted examining the relationship between paraprofessionals and teacher supervisors. This study examined 175 paraprofessionals of students with or at risk of disruptive...
When a Trade Deficit Provides a Surplus: How Semi-finished and Finished Product Imports Yield Gains When Sold

In face of the continuation of America’s enormous trade and current account deficits each year, President Obama called for a 50% increase in the annual volume of United States exports and President Trump is calling for the replacement of foreign made with domestically made products. The goal of achieving these significant improvements in the country’s import-export performance is to curtail, if not eliminate, recurring trade deficits. It may be suggested that among many ways, trade deficits can be decreased through reductions in the volume and dollar value of imports. However, many semi-finished and finished product imports do become components of finished products and of commercial transactions that are usually designated as parts of the domestic contributions to the economy. By adding to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States these imports become sources for the country’s economic growth generating as well exporting processes. This paper examines the role of such imports as origins of positive economic values for the United States economy and then demonstrates the potentials of major benefits by providing a series of case examples.
The effects of azadirachtin on the parasitic mite, Varroa jacobsoni and its host honey bee (Apis mellifera)

SUMMARYWe conducted a series of experiments under laboratory conditions to evaluate the feasibility of using a neem-based (Azadirachta indica) insecticide to control varroa (Varroa jacobsoni). The experiments included studies of anti-feeding effects of azadirachtin, the active ingredient of neem-based insecticides, on adult worker honey bees (Apis mellifera); toxicity of azadirachtin to adult workers, worker larvae and associated mites; and the effects of azadirachtin on female V. jacobsoni reproduction. Both commercially formulated and purified azadirachtin were used in the experiments. The results of adult feeding experiments showed that azadirachtin significantly reduced syrup consumption by worker bees (P < 0.05) and exhibited a dose response in mortality: with an oral LC50 of 10.87 μg/ml in mite-free bees, 13.69 μg/ml in mite-infested bees, and 41.87 μg/ml for associated mites. The topical LC50 of azadirachtin was 12.53 μg/ml in mite-free bees, 12.31 μg/ml in mite-infested bees, and 35.43 μg/ml in th...
Interleukin-10 upregulates tumor necrosis factor receptor type-II (p75) gene expression in endotoxin-stimulated human monocytes

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) upregulates expression of certain genes in monocytes, including cell-surface molecules such as HLA class II, B7, and ICAM-1. IFN-gamma also potentiates production of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-12. Conversely, IL-10 downregulates expression of many of these same genes and often antagonizes the effects of IFN-gamma. IL-10 is known to inhibit TNF-alpha production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes; however, the effects of IL-10 on TNF receptor (TNF-R) expression are not well defined. We examined the effects of IL-10 on production of both membrane-associated (m) and soluble (s) TNF-R type II (sTNF-RII) by purified human CD14(+) monocytes. We also compared the effects of IFN-gamma and IL-10 on production of TNF-alpha and sTNF-RII by these cells. Monocytes constitutively expressed low levels of TNF-RII mRNA and mTNF-RII protein. LPS stimulation induced rapid, but transient loss (shedding) of mTNF-RII molecules and a delayed, but marked increase in TNF-RII mRNA levels. IL-10 increased expression of both mTNF-RII and sTNF-RII by LPS-stimulated monocytes, whereas IFN-gamma decreased their expression. The increased levels of sTNF-RII in cultures of IL-10-treated monocytes correlated directly with increased levels of TNF-RII mRNA and inversely with the levels of TNF-alpha mRNA. The ability of IL-10 to upregulate TNF-RII gene expression was transcriptionally mediated because actinomycin D blocked this effect. Furthermore, IL-10 treatment did not alter the half-life of TNF-RII mRNA transcripts in LPS-stimulated monocytes. To further examine the mechanism by which IL-10 potentiates TNF-RII gene expression, a 1.8-kb fragment of the human TNF-RII promoter cloned into a luciferase expression vector (pGL2-basic) was transfected into the IL-10-responsive macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. Although IL-10 alone induced only minimal promoter activity in these cells, it markedly increased the LPS-induced response, providing further evidence that the ability of IL-10 to amplify TNF-RII gene expression is transcriptionally controlled. Together, these findings demonstrate that IL-10 coordinately downregulates expression of TNF-alpha and upregulates expression of TNF-RII, particularly the soluble form of this receptor, in monocytes.
Limited proteolysis of DNA polymerases as probe of functional domains.

Abstract Various proteolytic enzymes have been used to probe for domains in DNA polymerases. Results with several DNA polymerases that have been subjected to partial proteolysis demonstrated that there is a modular organization with different activities located in separate domains. In the case of the Klenow fragment, these domains appear to be independent of each other. 21 With other DNA polymerases, the question of modular independence is not settled. Limited proteolysis for probing structure has been used with many other proteins in addition to DNA polymerases and the information obtained has been helpful in interpreting function-structure relationships. 22 It is a general approach and can be applied in situations where the existence of domains is suspected. The simplicity of the method and the ease of monitoring the outcome is probably the main reason for its widespread and increasing use in enzymology.
Autonomic configuration and recovery in a mobile agent-based distributed event monitoring system: Research Articles

In this paper we present a framework for building policy-based autonomic distributed agent systems. The autonomic mechanisms of configuration and recovery are supported through a distributed event processing model and a set of policy enforcement mechanisms embedded in an agent framework. Policies are event-driven rules derived from the system's functional and non-functional requirements. Agents in the network monitor the system state for policy violation conditions, generate appropriate events, and communicate them to other agents for cooperative filtering, aggregation, and handling. A set of agents perform policy enforcement actions whenever events signifying any policy violation conditions occur. Policies are defined using a specification framework based on XML. The policy enforcement agents interpret the policies given in XML. We illustrate the utility of this framework in the context of an agent-based distributed network monitoring application. We also present an experimental evaluation of our approach. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sperm Penetration of the Vitelline Envelope of Sicyonia ingentis Eggs is Mediated by a Trypsin-like Lysin of Acrosomal Vesicle Origin. (sperm/fertilization/shrimp/vitelline envelope/protease)

The sperm of the decapod crustacean Sicyonia ingentis are nonmotile, unistellate cells. At spawning, mated females release both stored sperm and eggs. The sperm bind, via the tip of their anterior appendage, to the egg's vitelline envelope (VE), rapidly undergo acrosomal exocytosis, and penetrate the VE. In the present study we used protease inhibitors to show that sperm penetration of the VE is due to the activity of a sperm trypsin-like protease(s). Sperm extracts contained several proteases when examined using gelatin-substrate SDS-PAGE, with two major bands of relative molecular weight 46 kD and 30 kD. Using fluorescent peptidyl-MCA substrates, sperm extract showed trypsin-like and aminopeptidase-like activities, but no chymotrypsin-like activity. Sperm extracts were found to degrade isolated VEs. Using soybean trypsin inhibitor and anti-inhibitor antibodies, protease was localized at the light and electron microscope levels to the acrosome remnants of reacted sperm.
The Role of Evaluation in Therapeutic Recreation Service

(1980). The Role of Evaluation in Therapeutic Recreation Service. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 51, Including Leisure Today, pp. 48-49.
From Annotated Multimodal Corpora to Simulated Human-Like Behaviors

Multimodal corpora prove useful at different stages of the development process of embodied conversational agents. Insights into human-human communicative behaviors can be drawn from such corpora. Rules for planning and generating such behavior in agents can be derived from this information. And even the evaluation of human-agent interactions can rely on corpus data from human-human communication. In this paper, we exemplify how corpora can be exploited at the different development steps, starting with the question of how corpora are annotated and on what level of granularity. The corpus data can be used either directly for imitating the human behavior recorded in the corpus or rules can be derived from the data which govern the behavior planning process. Corpora can even play a vital role in the evaluation of agent systems. Several studies are presented that make use of corpora for the evaluation task.
Age differences in resolving anaphoric expressions during reading

One crucial component of reading comprehension is the ability to bind current information to earlier text, which is often accomplished via anaphoric expressions (e.g., pronouns referring to previous nouns). Processing time for anaphors that violate expectations (e.g., 'The firefighter burned herself while rescuing victims from the building') provide a window into how the semantic representation of the referent is instantiated and retained up to the anaphor. We present data from three eye-tracking experiments examining older and younger adults' reading patterns for passages containing such local expectancy violations. Younger adults quickly registered and resolved the expectancy violation at the point at which it first occurred (as measured by increased gaze duration on the anaphor), regardless of whether sentences were read in isolation or embedded in a discourse context. Older adults, however, immediately noticed the violation only when sentences were embedded in discourse context, suggesting that they relied more on situational grounding to instantiate the referent. For neither young nor old did prior disambiguation within the context (e.g., stating the firefighter was a woman) reduce the effect of the local violation on early processing. For older readers, however, prior disambiguation facilitated anaphor resolution by reducing reprocessing. These results suggest that (a) anaphor resolution unfolds serially, such that prior disambiguating context does not 'inoculate' against local activation of salient (but contextually inappropriate) features, and that (b) older readers use the situational grounding of discourse context to support earlier access to the antecedent, and are more likely to reprocess the context for anaphor resolution.
Release of adenosine from anoxic hearts. Relationship to coronary flow.

In the presence of 8-azaguanine, an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, adenosine appears in the perfusate of isolated cat and guinea pig hearts subjected to anoxia or severe hypoxia. With graded hypoxia the increase in coronary flow is roughly proportional to the sum of adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine released from the hearts and inversely related to the oxygen tension of the perfusion fluid. Addition of epinephrine to oxygenated perfusion medium yields results similar to those obtained with hypoxia. These findings are compatible with the concept that vasodilation observed with hypoxia is due to adenosine formed from the breakdown of myocardial adenine nucleotides.
Link-functionalized polymers : An unusual macromolecular architecture through bifunctional initiation

Bimetallic complexes of the type (C5Me5)2Sm−R−Sm(C5Me5)2 were used for the living bis-initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate and e-caprolactone, giving polymers with discrete functionalities at the center of the backbone (“link-functionalized”). Poly(methyl methacrylate) containing olefin units was prepared from [(C5Me5)2Sm]2(μ-η3-CH2CHCH−)2 and related allyl compounds, although slow and/or inefficient initiation of polymerization is observed for complexes in which R is a bulky, heteroatom, or coordinating group. In contrast, the polymerization of e-caprolactone may be carried out with good control in the presence of both sterically hindering and electron-rich moieties. Polylactones incorporating aromatic, cumulene, and amine/imine groups were synthesized through one-step bimetallic initiation in this manner. Differences between lanthanide(III) methacrylate and lactone polymerizations, differences between lanthanide(III) and aluminum(III) lactone polymerizations, and the presence of transesterifi...
Corn Production with Kura Clover as a Living Mulch

Cropping systems that improve soil conservation are needed for mixed grain and forage enterprises in the upper Midwest. Our objective was to determine whether established kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) stands could serve as a living mulch for no-till corn (Zea mays L.) production, followed by a return to dover without replanting. Treatments included corn sown into established kura clover that was: (1) killed and sidedressed with N, (2) killed, (3) band-killed, leaving 15 cm of untreated kura dover between rows, (4) suppressed and sidedressed with N, and (5) suppressed and (6) untreated kura clover without corn. Corn whole-plant yield in 1996 ranged from 14.0 to 15.7 Mg ha -1 and was greatest in Treatments 2 and 4 and least in Treatment 5. Corn whole-plant yield in 1997 ranged from 9.5 to16.9 Mg ha -1 and was greatest in Treatments 1 and 2 and least in Treatment 5. Grain yields in 1996 were not different among treatments, while in 1997 yields ranged from 7.2 to 11.1 Mg ha -1 and were greatest in Treatments 1 and 2 and least in Treatment 5. Clover yield in 1997 following 1996 corn production was greatest in the untreated control, but there was no clover yield difference in 1998 following either 1996 or 1997 corn production. Kura clover can be managed as a living mulch in corn with little or no corn whole-plant or grain yield reduction and clover will recover to full production within 12 mo without replanting.
Distributed asynchronous relaxation methods for convex network flow problems

We consider the solution of the single commodity strictly convex network flow problem in a distributed asynchronous computation environment. The dual of this problem is unconstrained, differentiable, and well suited for solution via Gauss-Seidel relaxation. We show that the structure of the dual allows the successful application of a distributed asynchronous method whereby relaxation iterations are carried out in parallel by several processors in arbitrary order and with arbitrarily large interprocessor communication delays.
Amyloids and Yeast Prion Biology

The prions (infectious proteins) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are proteins acting as genes, by templating their conformation from one molecule to another in analogy to DNA templating its sequence. Most yeast prions are amyloid forms of normally soluble proteins, and a single protein sequence can have any of several self-propagating forms (called prion strains or variants), analogous to the different possible alleles of a DNA gene. A central issue in prion biology is the structural basis of this conformational templating process. The in-register parallel β sheet structure found for several infectious yeast prion amyloids naturally suggests an explanation for this conformational templating. While most prions are plainly diseases, the [Het-s] prion of Podospora anserina may be a functional amyloid, with important structural implications. Yeast prions are important models for human amyloid diseases in general, particularly because new evidence is showing infectious aspects of several human amyloidoses not prev...
Occupational risk factors associated with soft tissue disorders of the shoulder: a review of recent investigations in the literature

Cumulative trauma illness currently accounts for over half of all occupational illness in the United States. From 1987 to 1989 there was a 100% increase in the reported number of cases of cumulative trauma illness (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1990). Shoulder region pain ranks second only to low back and neck pain in clinical frequency, and the occurrence of occupational shoulder illness is on the rise. This paper summarizes findings of a subset of recent epidemiologic, laboratory, and field studies conducted in order to identify occupational risk factors for cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) of the shoulder region. These studies have identified the following risk factors as being associated with particular shoulder pain syndromes: awkward or static postures, heavy work, direct load bearing, repetitive arm movements, working with hands above shoulder height, and lack of rest. The paper begins with a discussion of several shoulder disorders, includes problems in studying cumulative trauma, presents results ...
Development of stable isotope and selenomethionine labeling methods for proteins expressed in Pseudomonas fluorescens

Pseudomonas fluorescens is a robust protein expression system that is very well suited for high throughput protein expression for structural genomics studies. Since NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography are both used by various investigators in structure elucidation studies, the availability of target proteins labeled with stable isotopes or selenomethionine is essential for the determination of protein structures. A completely defined medium for the expression and stable isotope labeling of proteins in P. fluorescens has been developed. The expression level of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry34 in the modified medium is comparable to that obtained in the original medium. In addition, more than 95% incorporation of 15N was obtained in Cry34 using 15N ammonium sulfate and the quality of the protein, as assessed by NMR analysis, is comparable to that made using commercial medium. High levels of selenomethionine (SeMet) incorporation in the Xenorhabdus nematophilus insecticidal protein XptA2 were also obtained in P. fluorescens using the defined medium, allowing development of a method for obtaining highly purified XptA2. The following observations were made when inhibitors of endogenous methionine biosynthesis were used in P. fluorescens culture when SeMet was substituted in XptA2: (I) there is little inhibition of cell growth or recombinant XptA2 expression in the presence of SeMet concentrations up to 300 mg/L in cell culture, (II) there was greater than 95% SeMet incorporation ratio in recombinant SeMet-labeled XptA2 (SeMet-XptA2) and the incorporation ratio is consistent and reproducible and (III) finally, purified SeMet-XptA2 possesses similar protein structure and insecticidal activity relative to the unlabeled counterpart XptA2 as shown by bioassay and differential scanning calorimetric analysis. The high SeMet incorporation should provide high accuracy and resolution in XptA2 phase determination by multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD), indicating that P. fluorescens is an excellent expression host to produce SeMet-labeled proteins for structural study.
Comparing computerized versus traditional psychological assessment

Abstract This study utilized a Latin Squares design to assess the equivalence of computerized testing methods compared to traditional pencil-and-paper formats in a clinical setting. Subjects were given an intake interview and three personality assessment instruments by either of the two administration formats at one week intervals. Subjects also completed a post-assessment evaluation instrument (semantic differential) to gauge their reactions to the testing experience. Data analysis indicated no significant differences between scores on measures of anxiety, depression, and psychological reactance, either across group or administration format. Importantly, while producing comparable results to the pencil-and-paper assessment, the computerized administration was preferred over the pencil-and-paper administration by 85% of the subjects. Discussion emphasizes the implications of this study as support for the use of computerized assessment in applied psychology.
Effect of Dry-Bulb Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Eggshell Conductance During Days 17 to 21 of Incubation on Egg Weight Loss and Chick Weight

Abstract Broiler hatching eggs of similar weight were incubated at 37.2 C dry-bulb (DB) temperature and a relative humidity (RH) of 59%. On Day 17 of incubation, the eggs were randomly divided into three groups. The eggs in Group 1 served as the control, the eggs in Group 2 were washed in sodium hypochlorite to disrupt the cuticle, and the eggs in Group 3 were partially dipped in a colloid solution to seal the pores in the pointed region of the eggshell. These treatments altered eggshell conductance. Eggs from all three groups were randomly placed in incubators operating at a DB temperature of 36.7, 37.2, or 37.8 C and at a 59% RH (Experiment 1), or at 51%, 59%, or 67% RH, and at a DB temperature of 37.2 C (Experiment 2). Individual egg weights were recorded on Day 17 (before and after shell treatment), Day 18, Day 19, and at external pipping. Chick weight at hatch, eggshell weight, and time of hatch were also recorded. A DB temperature of 37.8 C resulted in the least weight loss from Day 17 to Day 18 of incubation; a DB temperature of 36.7 C resulted in the least weight loss from Day 18 to Day 19 of incubation. Chick weight at hatch or the time of hatch was not affected by the DB temperature. An incubation RH of 67% resulted in the least weight loss from Day 17 of incubation to external pipping. Chick weight at hatch was not affected by the RH. However, the 67% RH resulted in a significantly longer incubation period. Colloid-treated eggs lost significantly less weight from Day 17 to external pipping than untreated eggs. Chick weight at hatch was unaffected by shell treatment; however, in Experiment 1, the colloid-treated eggs took longer to hatch.
Clustering cities with similar fine particulate matter exposure characteristics based on residential infiltration and in-vehicle commuting factors.

Abstract Epidemiological studies have observed between city heterogeneity in PM 2.5 -mortality risk estimates. These differences could potentially be due to the use of central-site monitors as a surrogate for exposure which do not account for an individual's activities or ambient pollutant infiltration to the indoor environment. Therefore, relying solely on central-site monitoring data introduces exposure error in the epidemiological analysis. The amount of exposure error produced by using the central-site monitoring data may differ by city. The objective of this analysis was to cluster cities with similar exposure distributions based on residential infiltration and in-vehicle commuting characteristics. Factors related to residential infiltration and commuting were developed from the American Housing Survey (AHS) from 2001 to 2005 for 94 Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). We conducted two separate cluster analyses using a k-means clustering algorithm to cluster CBSAs based on these factors. The first only included residential infiltration factors (i.e. percent of homes with central air conditioning (AC) mean year home was built, and mean home size) while the second incorporated both infiltration and commuting (i.e. mean in-vehicle commuting time and mean in-vehicle commuting distance) factors. Clustering on residential infiltration factors resulted in 5 clusters, with two having distinct exposure distributions. Cluster 1 consisted of cities with older, smaller homes with less central AC while homes in Cluster 2 cities were newer, larger, and more likely to have central AC. Including commuting factors resulted in 10 clusters. Clusters with shorter in-vehicle commuting times had shorter in-vehicle commuting distances. Cities with newer homes also tended to have longer commuting times and distances. This is the first study to employ cluster analysis to group cities based on exposure factors. Identifying cities with similar exposure distributions may help explain city-to-city heterogeneity in PM 2.5 mortality risk estimates.
Developing more effective price communications in services marketing

Claims that effective price communication for services requires understanding variables that mediate the effects of price and the cognitive systems consumers use to process price information. Presents a model which indicates that involvement and source credibility mediate the effects of price. Discusses the heuristic and analytic cognitive systems which consumers could use to process price information. The article also reports the results of an experiment which tested the model, and discusses the managerial implications of the model.
Differentiation of Nucleated Red Blood Cells during in vivo Culture of Mouse Spleen and Thymus Cell Suspensions

DIFFERENTIATION of nucleated, red blood cells has been observed when mouse bone marrow was cultivated in vivo in diffusion chambers1. Recently, during investigations of the survival of thymus and spleen cells similarly cultured, we found that differentiation of nucleated red blood cells also occurred. This was indicated by an increase in the number of erythrocytes after cultivation. The present report describes these findings.
Analytical wide-band modeling of high frequency resistance in integrated spiral inductors

For integrated spiral inductor synthesis, designers and design automation tools require efficient modeling techniques during the initial design space exploration process. In this paper, we introduce an analytical frequency-dependent resistance model for integrated spiral inductors. Based on our resistance formulation, we have developed a systematic technique for creating wide-band circuit models for accurate time domain simulation. The analytical resistance model provides a fast alternative to field solver-based approaches with typical errors of less than 2.6 percent while surpassing the accuracy of several other analytical modeling techniques by an order of magnitude. Furthermore, the wide-band circuit generation technique captures the frequency-dependent resistance of the inductor with typical errors of less than 3.2 percent.
Supporting parent-child interaction in divorced families

Divorce affects a significant number of children and parents. In this work, I discuss the challenges that these families may face and present two systems that may help address some of these challenges. Finally, I highlight the expected contributions of this work.
State Security and Elite Capture: The Implementation of Antiterrorist Legislation in India

In the wake of the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, India enacted new and tougher anti-terrorism laws that took effect in 2009—the Unlawful Activities (Prevention Amendment Act of 2008 (UAPA), and the National Investigation Agency Act of 2008 (NIA). This paper examines the current challenges facing the Indian Government in the implementation of these laws, in light of India's experience with the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002 (POTA).We analyze how POTA, a law originally designed to protect the Indian nation as a whole from extraordinary terrorist threats, was instead captured by state-level political elites and wielded as a weapon against rival political groups. We argue that this dynamic can be explained by the broader political transformation in the federalist structure of the Indian polity that occurred in the 1990s: the fragmentation and decline of Congress party control over the Central Government allowed state and regional parties, and state governments, to claim more and more powe...
Effects of temperature and mixing on polymer adjuvant migration to corn oil and water

The effect of mixing on the migration of Irganox 1010® antioxidant from polypropylene and high‐density polyethylene to water and corn oil was compared at 77,100, and 135°C. Irganox 1010 migration to water is enhanced almost five‐fold by mixing at 77°C, whereas at 135°C, mixing has only a nominal effect on migration. Irganox 1010 migration to corn oil is virtually unaffected by mixing at the temperatures studied. Migration data indicate a similar trend for Irganox 1076.
Role Conflict and Role Overload: Different Concepts, Different Consequences

The concepts of role conflict and role overload have been used, often interchangeably, to interpret sources of gender differences in role-related mental health among men and women who combine the roles of spouse, parent, and worker. However, these types of chronic role strains actually represent two distinct concepts. Definitions of the concepts suggest different contextual sources for these role difficulties as well as different mental health consequences of experiencing them. This paper analyzes some potential sources of feelings of role conflict and role overload, and estimates their effects in undermining psychological well-being among a sample of women who combine work and family roles. Results indicate that (a) different contextual factors influence individuals' feelings of role conflict and role overload, and (b) feelings of role conflict significantly undermine psychological well-being, while feelings of role overload do not
Temperature and dose dependence of ion-beam-induced amorphization in α-SiC

Abstract Single crystal α-SiC with [0001] orientation has been irradiated at 170, 300, and 370 K with 360 keV Ar2+ ions at an incident angle of 25° and the damage accumulation process followed in situ by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in channeling geometry (RBS/C) along [1 1 02]. At 170 and 300 K, the increase in relative disorder with ion fluence, as measured by RBS/C, is consistent with a multiple-cascade overlap process. There is a significant deviation from the cascade overlap model at 370 K. The RBS/C results indicate that below a critical damage level the relative disordering rate is nearly temperature independent. Post-irradiation characterization of the fully disordered samples indicate a significant loss in the intensity of the Raman modes and decreases of 47 and 24% in hardness and elastic modulus, respectively. Cross sectional transmission electron microscopy has confirmed the amorphous nature of the damaged surface layer irradiated at 170 K; however, at 370 K, some residual crystallinity was observed over the depth range from 10 to 160 nm. The decrease in density associated with amorphization at 170 K is estimated to be 22 ± 3%.
Automatic bone-free rendering of cerebral aneurysms via 3D-CTA

3D computed tomographic angiography (3D-CTA) has been described as an alternative to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the clinical evaluation of cerebrovascular diseases. A bone-free rendition of 3D-CTA facilitates a quick and accurate clinical evaluation of the disease. We propose a new bone removal process that is accomplished in three sequential steps - (1) primary delineation and removal of bones, (2) removing the effect of partial voluming around bone surfaces, and (3) removal of thin bones around nose, mouth and eyes. The bone removed image of vasculature and aneurysms is rendered via maximum intensity projection (MIP). The method has been tested on 10 patients' 3D-CTA images acquired on a general Electric Hi-Speed Spiral CT Scanner. The algorithm successfully subtracted bone showing the cerebral vasculature in all 10 patients' data. The method allows for a unique analysis of 3D-CTA data for near automatic removal of bones. This greatly reduces the need for manual removal of bones that is currently utilized and greatly facilitates the visualization of the anatomy of vascular lesions.
Collaboration and Performance in Foreign Markets: The Case of Young High-Technology Manufacturing Firms

This study employed transaction cost theory to explore factors moderating the relationship between collaboration and performance in foreign markets among a sample of international new ventures. Res...
Upper critical fields in liquid-quenched metastable superconductors

A systematic and quantitative study of upper critical fields in alloys with increasing atomic number is carried out. The alloys are prepared by the technique of liquid (splat) quenching. They include the metastable body-centered-cubic (..beta..) phase of Ti-Pd, Zr-Mo, Zr-Pd, and Hf-Mo, amorphous phase of Zr-Rh, and the stable ..beta.. phase of Ti-Mo and Ta-Hf. Measurements are made in magnetic fields up to 90 kG and in temperatures down to 0.5 K. The results are analyzed within the framework of the dirty-limit theory of Werthamer, Helfand, Hohenberg, and Maki (WHHM). A least-squares fitting routine is performed using all the data (weighted equally) for a given sample. It is emphasized that the visual critical-field gradient near the transition temperature cannot be taken as the actual gradient in the presence of Pauli paramagnetic limitation. The main findings are the following: (i) Even without including renormalization corrections due to electron-phonon and electron-electron interactions, very good fits to the WHHM theory are obtained; (ii) critical-field data for all our samples (with minor exceptions in Hf-Mo)= are found to fall below or on the Maki curve (i.e., when the spin-orbit scattering parameter lambda/sub s.o./ goes to infinity); (iii) values of lambda/sub s.o./ are observed tomore » range from 0.28 to 2.51 for the 3d and 4d alloys; (iv) the spin-orbit scattering rates 1/tau/sub s.o./ are found to compare well with theoretical estimation using results from band-structure calculation. The effect of sample inhomogeneity on the value of lambda/sub s.o./ in Zr-Mo alloys is also illustrated.« less
The Effect of Dialysate Calcium Levels on Blood Pressure During Hemodialysis

A controlled double-blind prospective study was undertaken of the effect of dialysate calcium levels on BP during hemodaayyses. Twenty patients and 240 dialyses were studied using a protocol in which patients underwent alternate hemodialyses with dialysate calcium of 2.5 and 3.5 mEq/L. Dialysate composition was otherwise the same. Mean BPs during dialysis were significantly lower at 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 hours of dialysis when the lower dialysate calcium was used ( P = .007 to .02). However, the difference in BP between the high and low dialysate calcium treatments was clinically minor, with a maximum mean difference (at 1.5 hours) of 4.6 mm Hg. Subgroups of patients with frequent hypotension and low or normal serum calcium did not appear more sensitive to the hypotensioe effect of low calcium dialysate. Dialysate calcium levels of 2.5 and 3.5 mEg/L thus differ in their effect on intradialytic BP in a statistically significant, but clinically minor, way. Low calcium dialysate thus may prove useful in the management of patients in whom large amounts of enteric calcium absorption are indicated or unavoidable.
Meconium inhibits the contraction of umbilical vessels induced by the thromboxane A2 analog U46619

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the direct effects of meconium on isolated umbilical artery and vein in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: Intact umbilical artery and vein rings were suspended in 5 ml organ baths containing Kreb's solution (pH 7.2, 37° C; bubbled with 2.5% oxygen and 8.07% carbon dioxide, balance nitrogen) for isometric tension recording. Meconium alone (final bath concentration 1%), centrifuged and filtered meconium, and meconium with the lipid fraction removed (separated into 30,000 kd) were added to the baths. Some vessels were also incubated in 1% meconium for 30 minutes, after which the meconium was washed out. Concentration-response curves to U46619 were obtained. The negative log of the concentration that evokes 50% of the maximal contraction was determined. RESULTS: Umbilical artery and vein had no sustained response to meconium. Tension that developed by rings exposed to meconium was significantly less than control at all concentrations of U46619. There was some loss of the efficacy of meconium after centrifugation-filtration and washing out. Meconium without the lipid fraction had less inhibitory effect than did native meconium. CONCLUSION: Meconium does not cause sustained contraction of umbilical artery and vein in vitro. It does, however, inhibit the contractile effect of U46619 in both umbilical artery and vein smooth muscle. The inhibitory activity of meconium appears to be concentrated in the lipid fraction.
DNA damage and checkpoint pathways: molecular anatomy and interactions with repair.

The molecular anatomy underlying many aspects of checkpoint controls, including binding and phosphorylation events, is now being uncovered. Descriptions of how the controls then mediate downstream responses of arrest and transcriptional regulation are also achieving definition. Why Mec1 and Rad53 are essential has a plausible explanation in their regulation of dNTP levels, related indirectly to chromosome replication and repair. Many questions remain unresolved, especially concerning how checkpoint proteins might interface directly with repair and replication proteins. The power of reductionist approaches together with interest in this field promises an ever more complete description of checkpoint pathways. Perhaps in another decade the understanding of a sufficient number of details may allow us to even manipulate them for medical benefit. Well, maybe two decades.
Effects of acute hypoxia on intracellular-pH regulation in astrocytes cultured from rat hippocampus

We used the pH-sensitive dye BCECF to evaluate the effect of acute (5-10 min) hypoxia (approximately 3% O(2)) on the regulation of intracellular pH (pH(i)) in astrocyte populations cultured from rat hippocampus. For cells in the nominal absence of CO(2)/HCO(3)(-) at an extracellular pH of 7.40 (37 degrees C), acute hypoxia caused a small (0.05) decrease in steady-state pH(i), but increased the pH(i) recovery rate from an acid load during all but the late phase of the pH(i) recovery. During such pH(i) recoveries, the total acid extrusion rate (phi(E), the product of dpH(i)/dt and proton buffering power) decreased with increasing pH(i). Hypoxia alkali shifted the plot of phi(E) vs. pH(i); over the upper approximately 85% of the phi(E) range, this shift was 0.15-0.30. Hypoxia also stimulated the pH(i) recovery rate from an alkali load. Under normoxic conditions, switching the extracellular buffer to 5% CO(2)/22 mM HCO(-)(3) also alkali shifted the phi(E)-pH(i) plot (upper approximately 85%) by 0.4-0.5. Superimposing hypoxia on CO(2)/HCO(-)(3) further alkali shifted the phi(E)-pH(i) plot (upper approximately 85% of the phi(E) range) by 0.05-0.15. The SITS-insensitive component of phi(E) was alkali shifted by 0.20-0.30, whereas the SITS-sensitive component of phi(E) was depressed in the low pH(i) range. Thus, in the nominal absence of CO(2)/HCO(3)(-), acute hypoxia has little effect on steady-state pH(i) but stimulates acid extrusion and acid loading, whereas in the presence of CO(2)/HCO(-)(3), hypoxia stimulates the SITS-insensitive but inhibits the SITS-sensitive acid extrusion.
Constructing the Uncertainty of Due Dates

By its nature, the date that a baby is predicted to be born, or the due date, is uncertain. How women construct the uncertainty of their due dates may have implications for when and how women give birth. In the United States as many as 15% of births occur before 39 weeks because of elective inductions or cesarean sections, putting these babies at risk for increased medical problems after birth and later in life. This qualitative study employs a grounded theory approach to understand the decisions women make on how and when to give birth. Thirty-three women who were pregnant or had given birth within the past 2 years participated in key informant or small-group interviews. The results suggest that women interpret the uncertainty of their due dates as a reason to wait for birth and as a reason to start the process early; however, information about a baby’s brain development in the final weeks of pregnancy may persuade women to remain pregnant longer. The uncertainties of due dates are analyzed using Babrow’...
A comparative study of nucleotide metabolism in fish liver.

Anion exchange chromatography has been used to separate the acid-soluble nucleotides of the livers of several species of fish including salmon taken in fresh and salt water. This technique has produced an elution pattern of nucleotides similar to that obtained from poultry and mammalian liver. Two of the uridine-containing areas eluted from the column have been investigated in detail using enzymatic, chromatographic, and colorimetric techniques. The first of these two adjacent peaks was found to contain N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine, whereas the second contained glucose and galactose. In both cases, the glucose moiety was the major constituent.Samples of liver taken from silver salmon were fractionated and two of the enzymes acting on UDP glucose were identified. The first of these enzymes, UDPG dehydrogenase, was partially purified and the product of the reaction with UDPG was identified as UDP glucuronic acid. The second enzyme, UDPGal-4-epimerase, was separated from the dehydrogenase an...
Arthroscopic management of massive rotator cuff tears

Massive, retracted tears of the rotator cuff are difficult to manage. They occur more commonly in older individuals with compromised tissues. The retracted, scarred rotator cuff tissues are not easily mobilized and repaired. The tears usually involve more than one tendon and are usually retracted to the level of the glenoid rim. Visualization of a massive tear is a challenge, even when extensile exposures are utilized. Additionally, exposure requires the release of the deltoid origin with associated morbidity and with potential detachment of the repaired deltoid. Once exposed, the torn rotator cuff tissue may not have sufficient length to be adequately mobilized and reduced anatomically. The bone and soft tissues may not be robust enough for repair. Once repaired, the damaged and weakened tissues may not withstand rigorous therapy and can tear once again. Fortunately, the management of massive, retracted rotator cuff tears continues to evolve as techniques for treatment improve. Management options are varied and include nonsurgical treatment, I open debridement with decompression.s arthroscopic debridement alone.t-" arthroscopic debridement with decompression," partial repair of the torn cuff," open repair." mini-open repair,8-14 arthroscopic repair,15-18 and options that combine management techniques.t'' For the past decade, tears of the rotator cuff have been treated more aggressively with arthroscopic surgery. Debridement with repair is reported to yield results that are superior to debridement alone.20-2 1 Mini-open and arthroscopic repairs of small and medium size tears have the advantage of decreased morbidity compared with