cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A lowering effect of a pharmacological dose of vitamin E on serum vitamin a in normal adults

Abstract We have studied the effects of oral vitamin E (vE) on serum vitamin A (vA) levels and vA transport proteins, retinol binding protein (RBP) and prealbumin (PA), in normal subjects taking and not taking pharmacological doses of vA and/or vE acetate. Nineteen subjects were given 9009 ug of oral vA acetate daily for one week. Ten of these continued on 9009 ug of vA daily for two weeks (group I), while nine received 147 mg of vE acetate in addition to vA (group II). A third group (group III) consisted of 10 subjects who received only 147 mg of vE daily for 3 weeks. Group IV represented control subjects not given either vA or vE pills over the 3 week study period. Groups I and II showed significant increases in serum vA levels after 1 week of vA treatment. Group I to week 3 (p
Studies on the Origin and Release of Somatostatin-Immunoreactivity in the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract

The somatostatin content of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) was regionally distributed within the nucleus and a calcium-dependent release of the neuropeptide was evoked by potassium-induced depolarization in vitro. The origin of the somatostatin in the NTS was studied with various denervation procedures. Unilateral NTS deafferentation decreased the concentration of somatostatin in the NTS. However, neither midbrain hemisection nor nodose ganglionectomy reduced the somatostatin content of the NTS. In addition, the nodose ganglion contained very low quantities of the peptide. These results suggest that (1) somatostatin may function as a neurotransmitter in the NTS and (2) the somatostatin-containing innervation of the NTS is at least in part from extrinsic neurons located in the lower brainstem and not from vagal afferent or forebrain neurons.
Tandem limiter optimization

The EZ-scan, an improved Z-scan technique, shows a sensitivity for measuring nonlinearly induced wavefront distortion of approximately equals (lambda) /104. We show that the nonlinear refraction and nonlinear absorption coefficients can be determined separately by a single EZ-scan measurement. We describe application of this technique to several organic thin films.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
BIO-SENSING SENSITIVITY OF A NANOPARTICLE BASED ULTRAVIOLET PHOTODETECTOR

Bio-sensing sensitivity of a spectrally selective nanoparticle based ultraviolet (UV) photodetector is characterized in comparison to a silicon photodiode and a photomultiplier tube (PMT). The nanoparticle based photodetector is comprised of poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) coated zinc-oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles deposited on an aluminum-gallium-nitride (AlGaN) epitaxially grown substrate. The sensitivity was determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity of the native fluorophore, tryptophan, in Escherichia coli (E-coli, ATCC-25922) cells. Tryptophan intrinsically fluoresces with a peak at 340 nm under 280 nm UV light illumination. It is shown that this detector can sense the concentration of E-coli to 2.5 × 108 cfu/mL while the silicon photodiode cannot detect the intrinsic fluorescence at all. Nevertheless, the PMT outperformed the ZnO nanoparticle-AlGaN substrate based photodetector with the ability to sense E-coli concentrations to 3.91 × 106 cfu/mL. However, because PMT based systems are commonly limited ...
A Conspiracy of Decency: The Rescue of the Danish Jews during World War II – By Emmy E. Werner

As is widely known, virtually all Danish Jews escaped persecution, deportation, and death at the hands of the Nazis, in stark contrast to the rest of German‐occupied Europe. Of Denmark's approximat...
Use of web analytics to estimate adoption of a novel web service for magazine self-publishing: MagCloud

In recent years, user-created content websites have gained extensive popularity. An example is provided by the HP Labs' website, MagCloud, a web service that enables anyone to publish his or her own magazine. In this paper, we explain how this novel platform works and how we can use a quantitative model to estimate the patterns of its adoption by publishers and consumers so far. The resulting multisided ecosystem captures non-trivial externalities between publishers, subscribers and potentially advertisers. Real world data was used to estimate the model and the results can be used to optimize marketing strategies to accelerate adoption as well as to forecast growth trajectories and opportunities. As a result of this work, we found that website visitors from different sources adopt its services with varying propensities. Our modeling framework allows us to identify whether increases in publications or orders originate from increases in website traffic or from past actions of publishers and consumers.
Nor-binaltorphimine decreases deprivation and opioid-induced feeding

Abstract We evaluated the effect of the κ antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) on deprivation and opioid-induced feeding in rats. Intracerebroventricular administration of nor-BNI (100 nmol) decreased deprivation-induced feeding for as long as 24 h, albeit in a fairly weak manner (maximum decrease of ≈28%). Nor-BNI (1, 10 and 100 nmol) decreased feeding induced by the κ ligand U-50,488H by as much as 85% during the first hour of the study. This κ antagonist also decreased feeding induced by the σ agonist DSLET and the μ agonist DAMGO. Based on previous studies indicating that nor-BNI is a selective κ antagonist, we conclude that not only U-50,488H (κ), but also DSLET (σ) and DAMGO (μ)-induced feeding are dependent upon an active κ receptor.
Schizophrenic and medical inpatients as informed drug consumers.

• Twenty-five schizophrenic inpatients receiving antipsychotic medications were evaluated as informed and/or consenting drug consumers by means of a structured interview, in comparison with a matched group of medical inpatients receiving nonpsychotropic drugs. Medical patients were better informed about positive aspects of medication, such as name, dose, and relationship of drug treatment to a specific diagnosis. Schizophrenic patients, however, were significantly better informed about both side effects and risks. Although both groups felt that their medication had helped them, 93% of the medical patients but only 56% of the schizophrenic patients said they would take the medication if they had the choice. The fact that schizophrenic inpatients readily shared their reluctance to take medication with an interviewer may offer an avenue for detection and intervention to improve prospects for outpatient compliance.
Shared knowledge and subgroup influence during decision-making discussions†

It was predicted that preference factions within decision-making groups would have greater influence to the extent that faction-member preferences are based on a common pool of decision-relevant information. Such factions are said to exhibit high informational commonality (IC). Four-person groups decided how much money to invest in each of two pharmaceutical companies developing new cholesterol-lowering drugs. Prior to discussion, information about these companies and drugs was distributed among members such that two would initially prefer investing in one company and two would initially prefer investing in the other company. Further, whereas half of the information held by members of one preference faction was held in common between them (high IC), almost none of the information held by those in the other faction was held in common between them (low IC). It was found that groups invested more money in a given company when that company was initially preferred by their high-IC faction. Additionally, high-IC factions exerted greater influence on members' private allocation preferences. These effects appear to have been due to the ability of members in the high-IC factions to work together in a more coordinated manner to argue their position. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrasonic studies of superconducting phase diagram of UPt3

We present a superconducting phase diagram of UPt3 for a field at 45° to the c-axis constructed from high-resolution ultrasonic velocity measurements. It is unambiguously determined that the HFL(T) line intersects the Hc2(T) line where a kink is observed. The available data favors the interpretation that the H(Tc∗) line terminates on the HFL(T) line at a different point.
Mafic magmatism and associated tectonism of the central high Cascade Range, Oregon

Results are presented on chemical analyses of basaltic core samples obtained from holes drilled at three locations in the mafic platform within the central region of the High Cascade Range (Oregon), as well as of some surface samples to enhance the original data base. Analyses were obtained using a variety of procedures; the most appropriate data commensurate with the technique were selected. The data illustrate the development of the mafic platform in terms of geochemical variations and tectonic configurations required to satisfy petrochemical associations.
Prediction of process-induced residual stresses in thermoplastic composites

Reference LTC-ARTICLE-1990-001 URL: http://jcm.sagepub.com/ Record created on 2006-06-26, modified on 2016-08-08
POLY((2-CHLOROETHYL) OXIRANE), POLY((3-CHLOROPROPYL)-OXIRANE) AND POLY((4-CHLOROBUTYL) OXIRANE): NEW POLYETHER ELASTOMERS OF IMPROVED CHEMICAL REACTIVITY

(2-Chloroethyl)oxirane, (3-chloropropyl)oxirane, and (4-chlorobutyl)oxirane were prepared from the corresponding alkenols and polymerized using a triethylaluminum-water-acetylacetone initiator system. Copolymerizations with propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin were also accomplished; the copolymerization activities of the (chloroalkyl)oxiranes were similar to the activity of epichlorohydrin. Poly[(2-chloroethyl)oxirane], poly[(3-chloropropyl)oxirane], and poly[(4-chlorobutyl)oxirane] exhibit elastomeric properties and are highly reactive in nucleophilic substitution reactions.
The effects of three-dimensional gap orientation on bridging performance and behavior of brown tree snakes ( Boiga irregularis )

Traversing gaps with different orientations within arboreal environments has ecological relevance and mechanical consequences for animals. For example, the orientation of the animal while crossing gaps determines whether the torques acting on the body tend to cause it to pitch or roll from the supporting perch or fail as a result of localized bending. The elongate bodies of snakes seem well suited for crossing gaps, but a long unsupported portion of the body can create large torques that make gap bridging demanding. We tested whether the three-dimensional orientation of substrates across a gap affected the performance and behavior of an arboreal snake (Boiga irregularis). The snakes crossed gaps 65% larger for vertical than for horizontal trajectories and 13% greater for straight trajectories than for those with a 90 deg turn within the horizontal plane. Our results suggest that failure due to the inability to keep the body rigid at the edge of the gap may be the primary constraint on performance for gaps with a large horizontal component. In addition, the decreased performance when the destination perch was oriented at an angle to the long axis of the initial perch was probably a result of the inability of snakes to maintain balance due to the large rolling torque. For some very large gaps the snakes enhanced their performance by using rapid lunges to cross otherwise impassable gaps. Perhaps such dynamic movements preceded the aerial behavior observed in other species of arboreal snakes.
Claudin-containing exosomes in the peripheral circulation of women with ovarian cancer

The absence of highly sensitive and specific serum biomarkers makes mass screening for ovarian cancer impossible. The claudin proteins are frequently overexpressed in ovarian cancers, but their potential as prognostic, diagnostic, or detection markers remains unclear. Here, we have explored the possible use of these proteins as screening biomarkers for ovarian cancer detection. Claudin protein shedding from cells was examined by immunoblotting of conditioned culture media. The presence of claudins in exosomes released from ovarian cancer cells was demonstrated by sucrose gradient separation and immunogold electron microscopy experiments. Claudin-4-containing exosomes in the plasma of ovarian cancer patients were evaluated in a pilot panel of 63 ovarian cancer patients and 50 healthy volunteers. The CA125 marker was also assessed in these samples and compared with claudin-4 positivity. We show that full-length claudins can be shed from ovarian cancer cells in culture and found in the media as part of small lipid vesicles known as exosomes. Moreover, 32 of 63 plasma samples from ovarian cancer patients exhibited the presence of claudin-4-containing exosomes. In contrast, only one of 50 samples from individuals without cancer exhibited claudin-4-positive exosomes. In our small panel, at a specificity of 98%, the claudin-4 and CA125 tests had sensitivities of 51% and 71%, respectively. The two tests did not appear to be independent and were strongly correlated. Our work shows for the first time that claudin-4 can be released from ovarian cancer cells and can be detected in the peripheral circulation of ovarian cancer patients. The development of sensitive assays for the detection of claudin-4 in blood will be crucial in determining whether this approach can be useful, alone or in combination with other screening methods, for the detection of ovarian cancer.
Robust Score Statistics for QTL Linkage Analysis

The traditional variance components approach for quantitative trait locus (QTL) linkage analysis is sensitive to violations of normality and fails for selected sampling schemes. Recently, a number of new methods have been developed for QTL mapping in humans. Most of the new methods are based on score statistics or regression-based statistics and are expected to be relatively robust to non-normality of the trait distribution and also to selected sampling, at least in terms of type I error. Whereas the theoretical development of these statistics is more or less complete, some practical issues concerning their implementation still need to be addressed. Here we study some of these issues such as the choice of denominator variance estimates, weighting of pedigrees, effect of parameter misspecification, effect of non-normality of the trait distribution, and effect of incorporating dominance. We present a comprehensive discussion of the theoretical properties of various denominator variance estimates and of the weighting issue and then perform simulation studies for nuclear families to compare the methods in terms of power and robustness. Based on our analytical and simulation results, we provide general guidelines regarding the choice of appropriate QTL mapping statistics in practical situations.
On Shapiro's Catalan convolution

L. Shapiro found an elegant formula for the self-convolution of the even subscripted terms in the Catalan sequence. This paper provides a natural q-analog of Shapiro?s formula together with three proofs, one of which is purely combinatorial.
Relationship between ventricular depolarization and electrocardiogram in myocardial infarction

The genesis of the electrocardiogram in patients with myocardial infarction is a subject which has stimulated extensive discussion as well as several excellent investigations. It is now recognized that initial, mid-temporal, and terminal QRS ab­ normalities occur in patients with chronic myo­ cardial infarction. Wilson and co-investigators' initially postulated the window theory to explain the abnormal Q wave in the electrocardiogram in myocardial infarction. Their studies were based on the experimental production of myocardial lesions in dogs. It was their conclusion that Q waves resulted from an electric al window in the depolarization wavefront wh ich resulted in the transmission of the left ventricular ca vity poten­ tial to the torso through this opening. Presently there me two theories which have been postulated to explain the mechanism of terminal QRS ab­ normalities in infarction. The se changes, variously referred to as peri-infarction, post-infarction, and parietal block, were ascribed to delayed excitation of the epicardium overlying sub-endocardial in­ farction by Bayley", and to abnormal conduction in the Purkinje network of the left ventricle with delayed onset ofendocardial activation by Grant". The recent ventricular activation studies by Durrer and co-workers! demonstrated that Q waves were present on the epicardium of dogs overlying regions of sub-endocardial infarction. Larger and longer Q waves were found on the epi­ cardium over a larger sub-endocardial infarct and QS complexes were observed over region s of trans­ mural infarction. In addition, Durrer's group noted delay in excitation of the epicardium re
Diazepam binding inhibitor is a paracrine/autocrine regulator of Leydig cell proliferation and steroidogenesis: action via peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor and independent mechanisms

Previous studies demonstrated that the polypeptide diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) and its receptor, the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), are involved in the regulation of steroid biosynthesis and that one site of PBR action resides in mitochondria. In the present investigation, evidence is presented that a functional form of PBR is also present at the cell surface. First, PBR was immunolocalized in the rat testis using biotin-streptavidin peroxidase immunocytochemistry, and results revealed that PBR was present exclusively in the interstitial Leydig cells. Next, the distribution of PBR in MA-10 Leydig cells was further examined using confocal microscopy. MA-10 cells were either fixed and immunostained or fixed/permeabilized and immunostained for PBR, followed by generation of confocal microscope optical sections, three-dimensional reconstructions of these sections, and then generation of vertical confocal sections of the three-dimensional reconstruction. In the fixed/unpermeabilized cells, PBR immunostaining at the cell surface was clearly evident, whereas in the fixed/permeabilized cells, intracellular PBR distribution was more robust. These results suggest that the plasma membrane fraction of the receptor could mediate the action of extracellular PBR ligands on Leydig cell function. Next, we examined whether DBI, the naturally occurring PBR ligand, is secreted by testicular cells and whether it could activate the cell surface PBR. Immunolocalization of DBI demonstrated that it was present in both Leydig and Sertoli cells. Further, using an immunoblot assay, we demonstrated that DBI is present in rat testicular interstitial fluid. Metabolic labeling of cultured immature rat Sertoli cells and MA-10 mouse tumor Leydig cells, followed by immunoprecipitation of the secreted proteins with an anti-DBI antiserum, demonstrated that both Leydig and Sertoli cells secrete DBI and could serve as a cell source for the interstitial fluid DBI. Then, we partially purified the DBI present in conditioned medium and interstitial fluid by reverse phase chromatography and demonstrated it to be bioactive, based on displacement of a radiolabeled benzodiazepine (Ro5-4864)-specific ligand for PBR; pronase treatment of different preparations eliminated all bioactivity. We then examined the effects of DBI on Leydig cell function. DBI added to MA-10 cells affected DNA synthesis and cell growth in a biphasic manner; at low concentrations (1 nM), DBI was mitogenic, increasing [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell numbers by 30-40%, while at high concentrations (1 microM), DBI inhibited cell growth (30-40%). Similar effects on cell growth were obtained using the benzodiazepine Ro5-4864.
Joint inversion for crustal and Pn velocities and Moho depth in Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract A classical problem in seismic tomography is the trade-off between a discontinuity location and the velocity of the medium. For that reason, crustal tomography and Pn tomography are typically done separately by isolating first-arriving Pg and Pn waves. Although this avoids the contamination of secondary arrivals because of the existence of the Moho, lots of good data are discarded and, as a result, the lower crust is particularly poorly constrained. Here we design an iterative scheme to invert jointly for the velocities of the whole crust and the Pn waves as well as the Moho depth. We use a spherical pseudo-bending ray tracing method for the heterogeneous crust and include secondary Pg waves at large distances. We applied the method to the eastern and southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, where this method is particularly useful because of the rapid variation of crustal structure and Moho depth. Our data include arrival times from Chinese provincial and national earthquake bulletins and our own hand picks. The results show significant features, including slow upper crust but fast lower crust under Sichuan Basin, rapid Moho variation, and slow Pn in the plateau and fast Pn in the borderland separated by major boundaries and faults. The mid–lower crust in the plateau is relatively slow compared to the average model and Sichuan Basin and Poisson's ratio is anomalous (exceeding 0.3), which is consistent with weak mid–lower crust in the plateau.
America Town: Planning the Outposts of Empire

Abstract The U. S. military is clearly a driving force in this era of American empire. Given this empire's global reach, what are its local impacts? Crimes and contamination are the most obvious and well-publicized ones. Less well known are the policies and projects that have contributed to the creation of sprawling bases scattered across the globe. Although there are obvious ideological critiques to the presence of overseas bases, this article offers a unique and particular spatial critique. Underlying superficial attempts at architectural compatibility are policies of fear and desires for identity that drastically increase the economic, cultural, and political costs of empire's reach.
Functional Tissue Engineering: The Role of Biomechanics

"Tissue engineering" uses implanted cells, scaffolds, DNA, protein, and/or protein fragments to replace or repair injured or diseased tissues and organs. Despite its early success, tissue engineers have faced challenges in repairing or replacing tissues that serve a predominantly biomechanical function. An evolving discipline called "functional tissue engineering" (FTE) seeks to address these challenges. In this paper, the authors present principles of functional tissue engineering that should be addressed when engineering repairs and replacements for load-bearing structures. First, in vivo stress/strain histories need to be measured for a variety of activities. These in vivo data provide mechanical thresholds that tissue repairs/replacements will likely encounter after surgery. Second, the mechanical properties of the native tissues must be established for subfailure and failure conditions. These "baseline data" provide parameters within the expected thresholds for different in vivo activities and beyond these levels if safety factors are to be incorporated. Third, a subset of these mechanical properties must be selected and prioritized. This subset is important, given that the mechanical properties of the designs are not expected to completely duplicate the properties of the native tissues. Fourth, standards must be set when evaluating the repairs/replacements after surgery so as to determine, "how good is good enough?" Some aspects of the repair outcome may be inferior, but other mechanical characteristics of the repairs and replacements might be suitable. New and improved methods must also be developed for assessing the function of engineered tissues. Fifth, the effects of physical factors on cellular activity must be determined in engineered tissues. Knowing these signals may shorten the iterations required to replace a tissue successfully and direct cellular activity and phenotype toward a desired end goal. Finally, to effect a better repair outcome, cell-matrix implants may benefit from being mechanically stimulated using in vitro "bioreactors" prior to implantation. Increasing evidence suggests that mechanical stress, as well as other physical factors, may significantly increase the biosynthetic activity of cells in bioartificial matrices. Incorporating each of these principles of functional tissue engineering should result in safer and more efficacious repairs and replacements for the surgeon and patient.
Amorphous InGaZnO logic gates for transparent electronics

InGaZnO is an amorphous oxide semiconductor with electron mobility an order of magnitude higher than that of amorphous silicon or organic semiconductors. The ability to control carrier concentration, the wide band gap and deposition at room temperature make it an excellent candidate for transparent electronic systems on glass or plastics. Thus far, most reports have focused on the performance of the performance of single discrete devices [1],[2] or simple ring oscillator circuits operating at 2 MHz [3]. While a OR gate has recently been published [4] operating at10 Hz, in general the basic building blocks for transparent digital logic has not been investigated. In this paper we present, transparent logic showing good performance from inverters, NAND and NOR gates, all deposited at room temperature. The significance of these results is that construction of these basic digital logic building blocks with high gain and fast response demonstrate the viability for amorphous oxide digital logic to be utilized in transparent, and flexible electronic systems.
Coupled-bunch instabilities in the APS ring

A study of coupled bunch instabilities for the APS storage ring is presented. The instabilities are driven by the higher-order modes of the fifteen 352-MHz single-cell RF cavities. These modes are modeled using the 2-D cavity program URMEL. The program ZAP is then used to estimate the growth time of the instabilities for an equally spaced bunch pattern. The cavity modes most responsible for the instabilities is singled out for damping. >
USES OF HUMOR IN PSYCHOTHERAPY

Given demonstrated usefulness in facilitating learning, aiding healing, and reducing stress, humor has gained recognition as a clinical tool. This article reviews some uses and potential misuses of humor in psychotherapy and suggests directions for practice and research.
Linkage-specific Action of Endogenous Sialic Acid O-Acetyltransferase in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

9-O-Acetylation of sialic acids shows cell type-specific and developmentally regulated expression in various systems. In a given cell type, O-acetylation can also be specific to a particular type of glycoconjugate. It is assumed that this regulation is achieved by control of expression of specific 9-O-acetyltransferases. However, it has been difficult to test this hypothesis, as these enzymes have so far proven intractable to purification or molecular cloning. During a cloning attempt, we discovered that while polyoma T antigen-positive Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-Tag cells) do not normally express cell-surface 9-O-acetylation, they do so when transiently transfected with a cDNA encoding the lactosamine-specific alpha2-6-sialyltransferase (Galbeta1-4GlcNAc:alpha2-6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I); formerly ST6N). This phenomenon is reproducible by stable expression of ST6Gal I in parental CHO cells, but not upon transfection of the competing lactosamine-specific alpha2-3-sialyltransferase (Galbeta1-(3)4GlcNAc:alpha2-3-sialyltransferase; (ST6Gal III) formerly ST3N) into either cell type. Further analyses of stably transfected parental CHO-K1 cells indicated that expression of the ST6Gal I gene causes selective 9-O-acetylation of alpha2-6-linked sialic acid residues on N-linked oligosaccharides. In a similar manner, while the alpha2-3-linked sialic acid residue of the endogenous GM3 ganglioside of CHO cells is not O-acetylated, transfection of an alpha2-8-sialyltransferase (GM3:alpha2-8-sialyltransferase (ST8Sia I); formerly GD3 synthase) caused expression of 9-O-acetylation of the alpha2-8-linked sialic acid residues of newly synthesized GD3. These data indicate either that linkage-specific sialic acid O-acetyltransferase(s) are constitutively expressed in CHO cells or that expression of these enzymes is secondarily induced upon expression of certain sialyltransferases. The former explanation is supported by a low level of background 9-O-acetylation found in parental CHO-K1 cells and by the finding that O-acetylation is not induced when the ST6Gal I or ST8Sia I cDNAs are overexpressed in SV40 T antigen-expressing primate (COS) cells. Taken together, these results indicate that expression of sialic acid 9-O-acetylation can be regulated by the action of specific sialyltransferases that alter the predominant linkage of the terminal sialic acids found on specific classes of glycoconjugates.
Gain calculations for L-shell X-ray lasers

Intense, short-pulse lasers that can be focused to irradiances exceeding 10/sup 20/ W/cm/sup 2/ are becoming readily available. Laser-matter interactions at these intensities generate intense, short X-ray pulses in the kiloelectronvolt photon energy range with radiances of a few 10/sup 16/ W/cm/sup 2/. Schemes that use these X-ray pulses to pump inner and outer shell laboratory X-ray lasers are nearer to reality. The author has calculated the threshold X-ray pump irradiance that is required to cause steady-state inversion in the L-M manifold for materials with 11 >
Combination therapy with adriamycin and interleukin 2 augments immunity against murine renal cell carcinoma.

The mechanism(s) through which combination treatment with Adriamycin and recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL2) affects murine renal cell carcinoma was investigated. A single dose of Adriamycin (ADM) administered 1 day after implantation of tumor cells s.c. delayed the formation of tumor and significantly extended the median survival time. About 40% of the treated mice remained tumor free for more than 6 months. Treating mice with a similar dose of ADM 12 to 16 days after implantation of tumor caused complete regression of established tumors within 10 to 12 days in more than 90% of the mice. However, after a transient tumor free period of 15 to 20 days recurrence of tumor was observed in all treated mice. In contrast, a regimen that included treating tumor bearing mice with a single dose of ADM followed by a daily i.p. injection of rIL2 5 × 104 units) for 10 days delayed the recurrence of tumors and significantly prolonged the survival time compared to the median survival time of mice treated with ADM alone. About 20 to 30% tumor bearing mice remained tumor free for 4 months following treatment with ADM and rIL2. Treatment with rIL2 alone produced no antitumor response. In addition, rIL2 itself was not inhibitory for tumor cell growth nor did it modulate the cytotoxic response of renal cell carcinoma cells to ADM in vitro. Mice that were cured following treatment with ADM and rIL2 were resistant to a rechallenge with viable tumor cells, and cured mice also expressed a tumor specific T-cell mediated delayed hypersensitivity reaction. The immune cells that mediate tumor rejection were identified as Thy-1.2+ T-cells. Taken together, these results indicate that antitumor activity of combined Adriamycin/rIL2 treatment is at least partly attributable to the production of tumor specific immunity.
Antifungal Agents: Mode of Action, Mechanisms of Resistance, and Correlation of These Mechanisms with Bacterial Resistance

The increased use of antibacterial and antifungal agents in recent years has resulted in the development of resistance to these drugs. The significant clinical implication of resistance has led to heightened interest in the study of antimicrobial resistance from different angles. Areas addressed include mechanisms underlying this resistance, improved methods to detect resistance when it occurs, alternate options for the treatment of infections caused by resistant organisms, and strategies to prevent and control the emergence and spread of resistance. In this review, the mode of action of antifungals and their mechanisms of resistance are discussed. Additionally, an attempt is made to discuss the correlation between fungal and bacterial resistance. Antifungals can be grouped into three classes based on their site of action: azoles, which inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol (the main fungal sterol); polyenes, which interact with fungal membrane sterols physicochemically; and 5-fluorocytosine, which inhibits macromolecular synthesis. Many different types of mechanisms contribute to the development of resistance to antifungals. These mechanisms include alteration in drug target, alteration in sterol biosynthesis, reduction in the intercellular concentration of target enzyme, and overexpression of the antifungal drug target. Although the comparison between the mechanisms of resistance to antifungals and antibacterials is necessarily limited by several factors defined in the review, a correlation between the two exists. For example, modification of enzymes which serve as targets for antimicrobial action and the involvement of membrane pumps in the extrusion of drugs are well characterized in both the eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
Funding Foci, Cost Effectiveness, and Recipients' Priorities for Global Health: Are US Foundations More Responsive than Official Development Assistance?

Adding to official development assistance (ODA), global health is also receiving increasing resources from US-based private foundations. Amid growing budgets and funder diversity, aid responsiveness to recipients’ priorities and needs are central concerns. Merging datasets on international health funding, disease burden, cost-effectiveness and perceived priorities in 27 low- and middle-income countries, this study offers the first national-level snapshot of global health aid allocation. The analysis shows that ODA in 2006 was only marginally more responsive to disease burden than grants by the five most prominent US foundations yet both demonstrated geographic and disease-specific biases and both ignored local priorities.
Localization of Renin in Juxtaglomerular Cells of Rabbit and Dog Through the Use of the Fluorescent-Antibody Technique

Canine antisera to rabbit and hog renin were coupled to several fluorescein dyes. The antiserum was immunologically adsorbed once each with rabbit-liver and with bone-marrow powder, thereby removing excess dye and eliminating nonspecific staining. Mounted frozen-dried sections of kidneys from sodium- deficient rabbits (in which hyperplasia and hypergranulation of juxtaglomerular [JG] cells were present), from control rabbits, from a sodium-deficient dog, and from sodium-deficient rats were treated with the adsorbed labeled antiserum. Ultraviolet microscopy (direct technique) revealed an intense yel low-green fluorescence sharply limited to the granules of the juxtagloinerular cells in all sections studied from kidneys of rabbit and dog. JG granules in rats did not fluoresce, an observation in accord with the species spe cificity of renin. The indirect ("sandwich") method was also employed (with adsorbed, labeled, rabbit antiserum to canine globulin), and although slight staining of gloinerular epithelium resulted, that in the JG granules was far more intense. In our hands, the faint glornerular staining was not blocked by prior treatment with unlabeled renin. Staining of JG granules in any kidney paralleled the intensity of JG granulation by light microscopy and the amount of extractable renin in the same kidney. JG-granule staining (direct and indirect techniques) was blocked by neutralization of the antirenin with renin. Heterogenous anti sera (to insulin; to human gamma globulin) failed to stain. Other rabbit tissues (heart, lung, liver) similarly treated with labeled antirenin never stained. If this work can be repeated with immunologically pure renin, the evidence presented here, together with previously published studies from this and other laboratories, will establish beyond any reasonable doubt that the source of renin in the kidney is the juxtaglomerular cell, as postulated first by Goormagh tigh nearly a quarter of a century ago.
The many faces of oxytocin: Implications for psychiatry

Oxytocin is known as the 'love hormone' due its role in promoting mother-child and pair bonding. More recent research indicates that oxytocin may have broader pro-social effects on behavior and cognition, which points towards oxytocin's potential as an agent to help improve social cognition and functioning in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. However, new research on oxytocin has also uncovered a 'darker side', including oxytocin's possible role in social out-grouping and envy. Instead of a simple view of oxytocin as 'good' or 'bad', a more accurate depiction of oxytocin's role in social processing likely involves the presence of moderating factors. We review moderation effects in oxytocin and their implications for psychiatry. One implication is that, across diagnostic categories, oxytocin administration may have positive effects for patients with social cognitive deficits but negative effects for patients with social cognitive bias. We conclude that future intervention studies should use methods such as signal detection to measure both deficit and bias parameters of social cognition and to evaluate potential individual and contextual moderators both within and between psychiatric diagnoses in order to determine for whom oxytocin treatment may be beneficial and for whom it may actually be harmful.
La déplétion des protéines abondantes à la recherche de biomarqueurs protéiques

Using a simple two step procedure, we simultaneously removed the two most abundant components of serum, albumin and immunoglobulins, and enriched for a subset of glycoproteins. Protein profiles analyzed from treated samples were different in composition and abundance when compared to unprocessed serum. The complexity of the protein sample was reduced and the problems associated with the dynamic range were mitigated, allowing for a greater protein load to be applied to the gel. This resulted in the detection of a greater number and variety of proteins. We subsequently tested the suitability of this procedure for biomarker discovery using 12 samples from diseased and non-diseased patients. We found that protein profiles from this enriched fraction were different between the two groups, suggesting that such an approach can assist with new biomarker discovery efforts and the identification of biomarker candidates. Finally, considerations for the translation of biomarkers, identified in such a manner, to a clinically useful assay, are discussed.
Humoral regulation of blood flow to choroid plexus: role of arginine vasopressin.

The goal of this study was to examine humoral mechanisms that regulate blood flow to the choroid plexus. We determined the effects of arginine vasopressin on blood flow (microspheres) to the choroid plexus in anesthetized and awake rabbits. In anesthetized rabbits, blood flow to the choroid plexus was 342 +/- 31 (mean +/- SEM) ml/min/100 g under control conditions. Intravenous infusion of vasopressin at 4 and 40 mU/kg increased plasma vasopressin levels from 11 +/- 1 to 55 +/- 15 and 441 +/- 120 pg/ml, respectively, and blood flow to the choroid plexus decreased by 48 +/- 6% and 70 +/- 4%. Cerebral blood flow was not affected by infusion of vasopressin. Similar responses to infusion of vasopressin were observed in awake rabbits. The V1 antagonist [d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP] (10 micrograms/kg i.v.) had no effect on resting blood flow, but abolished the effect of vasopressin on blood flow to the choroid plexus. Vasoconstrictor responses of the choroid plexus to intravenous infusion of phenylephrine were not attenuated by the V1 antagonist. Thus, circulating vasopressin, at plasma levels that are observed under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, has marked effects on blood flow to the choroid plexus. These effects appear to be mediated through a V1 receptor. We speculate that vasopressin may play an important role in regulation of blood flow to the choroid plexus and perhaps in the regulation of cerebrospinal fluid production.
Human lupus inclusions and interferon

Raji cells, a human B lymphoblastoid cell line of Burkitt lymphoma origin, formed lupus inclusions when grown in a medium conditioned by the growth of Raji cells whose DNA thymidine residues had been unifilarly (single-strandedly) substituted with bromodeoxyuridine. Ultracentrifugation of this medium in excess of that required to remove Epstein-Barr virus and all other known mammalian viruses did not prevent the formation of the inclusions, and treatment of the conditioned medium with pronase destroyed the activity. These results demonstrate the presence of a protein that is secreted from bromodeoxyuridine-substituted Raji cells and is capable of inducing nonbromodeoxyuridine-substituted cells to form lupus inclusions. Interferon (100 units per milliliter) was found in the conditioned medium. Inclusions also formed in Raji cells grown in fresh medium supplemented with human leukocyte or fibroblast interferon (100 units per milliliter).
TRYPSIN IMMOBILIZATION ON DERIVATIZED CELLULOSE BEADS BY BIOSPECIFIC AVIDIN-BIOTIN INTERACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE IMMOBILIZED ACTIVITY1

Trypsin was immobilized on cellulose beads using the biospecific and high affinity avidin-biotin interaction. Trypsin and cellulose beads were biotinylated with sulfosuccinimidyl-6-(biotinamido) hexanoate (NHS-LC-biotin). Avidin and biotinylated trypsin were sequentially adsorbed to the biotinylated cellulose beads. A similar procedure was carried out using controlled-pore glass (CPG) beads. The properties of the two trypsin bioreactors were examined and compared. The substrate used for the assay of trypsin activity was p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester and the extent of biotinylation of biotinylated trypsin and of immobilized biotin on cellulose beads and on CPG beads were determined using the 2-[4'-hydroxyazobenzene]benzoic acid dye-binding method. Biotinylated trypsin in solution retained about 82% of the specific activity of native trypsin. Cellulose beads contained 0.184 μmol/mL (1.15 μmol/g) biotin and CPG beads, 0.329 μmol/mL (0.987 μmol/g). After regeneration, the biotin contents became slightly lower, namely, 0.159 μmol/mL for cellulose beads and 0.315 μmol/mL for CPG beads. The specific activities of trypsin immobilized on cellulose beads and CPG beads were 32 U/mL (202 U/g) and 43 U/mL (130 U/g), respectively. These studies indicate that cellulose beads can be biotinylated for use as bioselective support. Cette etude utilise l'interaction avidine-biotine comme modele pour l'adsorption selective et l'immobilisation de proteines de fusion enzyme-streptavidine recombinantes pour la preparation de bioreacteur. L'application de cette technologie permet de realiser la purification et l'immobilisation dans une seule etape. Cette etude caracterise enfin la trypsine immobilisee par cette methode en comparaison avec celle immobilisee sur des billes de verre.
What is Humanistic about Computers and Writing? Historical Patterns and Contemporary Possibilities for the Field

Abstract Given the status of Ellen W. Nold's “Fear and Trembling: The Humanist Approaches the Computer” (1975) as one of the first articles published in computers and writing, it may be said that the relationship between computers and the humanities has organized the field since its inception. In this article, I trace ways in which scholars have described that relationship in answering the implicit question of “what is humanistic about computers and writing?” from 1975 to present. The rhetorical positioning of the field vis-a-vis the question has evolved as shifts toward postmodern and social epistemologies in English studies, coupled with social and cultural trends catalyzed by new technologies, have challenged traditional humanities parameters. The resulting new spaces for humanistic argument have emboldened scholars in computers and writing to claim a more significant role in an emerging production-driven model of the humanities. This model is organized around an emphasis on electronic literacy, which has (1) disrupted the printed book's status as the central object of inquiry within the academy and, (2) importantly and concurrently, gained social and economic currency outside of it. In combination, these changes in social and academic contexts offer computers and writing an opportunity to embrace a more central role in the humanities than at any time in its history.
Communication-Optimal Parallel Recursive Rectangular Matrix Multiplication

Communication-optimal algorithms are known for square matrix multiplication. Here, we obtain the first communication-optimal algorithm for all dimensions of rectangular matrices. Combining the dimension-splitting technique of Frigo, Leiserson, Prokop and Ramachandran (1999) with the recursive BFS/DFS approach of Ballard, Demmel, Holtz, Lipshitz and Schwartz (2012) allows for a communication-optimal as well as cache and network-oblivious algorithm. Moreover, the implementation is simple: approximately 50 lines of code for the shared-memory version. Since the new algorithm minimizes communication across the network, between NUMA domains, and between levels of cache, it performs well in practice on both shared and distributed-memory machines. We show significant speedups over existing parallel linear algebra libraries both on a 32-core shared-memory machine and on a distributed-memory supercomputer.
Rapid environmental degradation in a subarctic ecosystem influences resource use of a keystone avian herbivore.

Summary 1. Environmental degradation can change resource use strategies of animals and thereby affect survival and fitness. Arctic herbivores may be especially susceptible to the effects of such environmental change because their rapid growth rates demand high-quality forage, which may be limited as environmental conditions deteriorate. We studied the consequences of a trophic cascade, driven by Lesser Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) overgrazing on the south-west coast of Hudson Bay, Canada, which has caused tidal marsh (TM) degradation and the reduction in highquality forage plants, on gosling growth and resource use. 2. We compared resource use and body size of goslings that inhabited tidal and freshwater marsh (FM) to determine how current foraging strategies influence growth and to test the hypothesis that during early growth goslings require and so consume high-quality TM plants, but that during later growth they may switch to foraging in lower-quality FM. 3. To investigate gosling resource use throughout growth, we measured once a week for 28 days the body size of goslings as well as stable isotope ratios (d 34 S, d 15 N and d 13 C) in multiple tissues of goslings that were collected from both TM and nearby FM. We also measured the stable isotope ratios in forage plants sampled along transects and from gosling foreguts. We used an isotopemixing model to determine the contribution of FM plants to gosling tissues. 4. Contrary to the proposed hypothesis, goslings inhabiting FM or TM primarily consumed FM plants during early growth. Furthermore, goslings that foraged extensively in FM had similar growth rates and grew to a similar size and body mass, as goslings that foraged in the degraded TM. However, goslings that currently inhabit freshwater or TM were significantly smaller than goslings that inhabited TM in the 1980s prior to habitat degradation. 5. Consequences of smaller overall body size include decreased survival and fecundity for arcticnesting geese. The ability of phenotypically plastic responses to sustain persistence is limited by reaction norms and the extent of environmental change. Current research is assessing whether those limits have been reached in this system.