cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Whole cell currents and mechanical responses of isolated outer hair cells

Outer hair cells (OHCs) exhibit electrically induced cell movements which are considered to enhance the frequency selectivity and sensitivity of basilar membrane vibration. Using simultaneous whole cell voltage clamp and video analysis, we demonstrate that the mechanical response of OHCs is not altered by agents which alter membrane currents under voltage clamp. Thus the underlying mechanism of OHC movements appears to be dependent upon membrane potential, rather than transmembrane currents.
Abstract LB-154: COX-2 as a mediator of oncogenic PKCε in prostate cancer.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Protein kinase C epsilon (PKCe), a member of the PKC family of phorbol ester/diacylglycerol receptors, is up-regulated in many human cancers, including prostate cancer. We recently demonstrated that PKCe is an essential mediator of NF-κB activation in prostate cancer (Garg et al. , JBC, 287 (44), 37570–37582, 2012). Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a well-known NF-κB regulated gene, has been reported to be up-regulated in a number of human cancers, including metastatic prostate cancer. As PKCe plays an important role in prostate cancer cell survival and cooperates with other oncogenic insults, herein we aim to determine if PKCe regulates COX-2 activation during prostate tumorigenesis. PKCe RNAi depletion diminishes TNFα- or LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression in LNCaP prostate cancer cells and constitutive COX-2 levels from PC3 cells. Conversely, PKCe overexpression by adenoviral means potentiates TNFα or LPS-induced COX-2 expression in LNCaP cells. Notably, transgenic overexpression of PKCe in the mouse prostate causes preneoplastic lesions with elevated COX-2 levels. Interestingly, when we intercrossed the prostate-specific PKCe transgenic mice with mice haploinsufficient for Pten, a common genetic alteration in human prostate cancer, the resulting compound mutant mice (PB-PKCe; Pten +/− mice) developed fully invasive adenocarcinoma with NF-κB hyperactivation and high COX-2 levels. Likewise, stable overexpression of PKCe in mouse prostate epithelial cell lines that are either heterozygous (P8) or homozygous (CaP8) for Pten deletion, led to significant enhancements in cell proliferation, motility and invasiveness as well as in LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression compared to the respective control cells, and this effect is more pronounced in CaP8 cells. Studies using human prostate tumors revealed a co-existence of PKCe overexpression, NF-κB hyperactivation, and COX-2 up-regulation. Lastly, treatment of PKCe overexpressing P8 or CaP8 cells with the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS398 caused a pronounced growth inhibition. Overall, our study identified COX-2 as a PKCe-regulated gene. Our results suggest that COX-2 as a potential mediator of PKCe oncogenesis in prostate cancer, particularly in the context of Pten loss. Citation Format: Rachana Garg, Priti Lal, Jorge Blando, Fernando J. Benavides, Michael D. Feldman, Emer M. Smyth, Marcelo G. Kazanietz. COX-2 as a mediator of oncogenic PKCe in prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-154. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-154
Quenching of Cadmium Resonance Radiation by Foreign Gases

Measurements have been made on the quenching of the cadmium resonance line 3261 by ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$, CO, N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and C${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$. The experiment was carried out by comparing the intensity of 3261 emitted from a cell containing Cd vapor and foreign gas with that from a cell containing Cd vapor only. The cells were illuminated simultaneously and the results obtained by the method of photographic photometry. The experiments were performed under conditions (low vapor pressure, short light path through the vapor and small foreign gas pressure) which warrant the application of the Stern-Volmer formula. The quenching cross sections obtained therefrom are: ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, 0.67; ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$, 0.19; CO, 0.14; N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$, 0.041; ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, 0.021; C${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$, 0.012\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$.
Modeling temperature acclimation effects on carbon dynamics of forest ecosystems in the conterminous United States

The projected rise in temperature in the 21st century will alter forest ecosystem functioning and carbon dynamics. To date, the acclimation of plant photosynthesis to rising temperature has not been adequately considered in earth system models. Here we present a study on regional ecosystem carbon dynamics under future climate scenarios incorporating temperature acclimation effects into a large-scale ecosystem model, the terrestrial ecosystem model (TEM). We first incorporate a general formulation of the temperature acclimation of plant photosynthesis into TEM, and then apply the revised model to the forest ecosystems of the conterminous United States for the 21st century under the future Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) climate scenarios A1FI, A2, B1 and B2. We find that there are significant differences between the estimates of carbon dynamics from the previous and the revised models. The largest differences occur under the A1FI scenario, in which the model that considers acclimation effects predicts that the region will act as a carbon sink, and that cumulative carbon in the 21st century will be 35 Pg C higher than the estimates from the model that does not consider acclimation effects. Our results further indicate that in the region there are spatially different responses to temperature acclimation effects. This study suggests that terrestrial ecosystem models should take temperature acclimation effects into account so as to more accurately quantify ecosystem carbon dynamics at regional scales. Keywords: climate change, temperature acclimation, forest ecosystem, photosynthesis, carbon dynamics, TEM (Published: 14 January 2013) Citation: Tellus B 2013, 65 , 19156, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v65i0.19156
Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 and oxygen cost of walking.

Abstract Background The 12-item multiple sclerosis walking scale (MSWS-12) has been validated against self-report and clinical markers, but has not been validated with a physiological marker of locomotor impairment. Objective This study further validates the MSWS-12 based on its correlation with the oxygen cost (O2 cost) of walking as a physiological marker of locomotor impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods Participants (N = 24) with MS completed the MSWS-12 and then wore a portable metabolic unit for measuring the O2 cost of walking during three 6-min walk (6MW) tests. The first 6MW test involved the participant's comfortable walking speed (CWS), whereas the second and third 6MW tests were undertaken above (faster walking speed, FWS) and below (slower walking speed, SWS) the participant's CWS (i.e., ±5 mph CWS). Results MSWS-12 scores correlated strongly with O2 cost of walking during the 6MW tests undertaken at CWS (r = .641, p = .001), FWS (r = .616, p = .001), and SWS (r = .639, p = .001). Interpretation We provide evidence that further confirms the validity of the MSWS-12 as a measure of the impact of MS on walking.
New results and prospects for harmonic generation in storage ring FELs

Abstract In this paper we review new results and prospects for harmonic generation in storage ring (SR) FELs. Traditionally, high harmonics were generated in SR FELs using conventional (IR or visible) pulsed lasers as a driver. Discovery of super-pulses with GW levels of intra-cavity peak power provided for new ways of generating coherent harmonics in the VUV and X-ray ranges. Super-pulses are generated in the OK-4/Duke SR FEL using gain modulation technique. As we reported at the previous FEL conference, the intra-cavity power on the OK-4 FEL was sufficient for effective generation of third and higher harmonics in the fundamental FEL wavelength. Recently, the OK-4/Duke SR FEL generated second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh coherent harmonics in the range from 37 to 135 nm. The tunability of the FEL wavelength provided for natural wavelength tunability of the harmonic radiation. Recent experimental results of the UV and VUV harmonic generation in the OK-4/Duke SR FEL demonstrated peak spectral brightness comparable with VUV SASE FELs. We discuss the prospects of the intra-cavity short-wavelength harmonic generation in SR FEL.
Do 401k plan advisors take their own advice

Sponsors of defined contribution plans often hire financial advisors to help them design and monitor their plans. I find that advisors have a significant impact on the menu of investment options of their clients’ plans. Clients of the same advisor tend to hold the same funds and fund families. They also tend to delete and add the same funds. Advisors’ plans are similar to their clients’ plans in that they tend to hold identical funds, use the same fund families, and fund categories. Thus, to a large extent, advisors take their own advice. However, funds that are in clients’ plans but not in their advisors’ plans have higher expense ratios than the funds held by advisors. Since advisors’ compensation is often tied to the expense ratio of their clients’ funds, this pattern is consistent with misaligned incentives on the part of advisors and their clients.
Reduced-complexity bandwidth efficient multitone direct sequence spread spectrum

We consider modifications to conventional MT-DS-SS signaling to both improve spectral efficiency and reduce receiver RF complexity. The first modification to the conventional MT scheme is a simple reduction in subcarrier frequency spacing, which provides a small improvement in bandwidth efficiency at no cost in complexity or performance. The second modification entails the use of fewer receiver local oscillators (LOs) than the number of subcarriers, in addition to reduced subcarrier spacing. We employ known (training) symbols to completely recover the performance loss inherent in this approach, using a single stage of inter-subcarrier interference cancellation (ISIC). This ISIC requires a very modest number of baseband processing operations. We provide the relationships between the amount of training required and the number of subcarriers and receiver LOs. Via both analysis and computer simulations, we provide example performance results, and also provide a second example reduced-RF-complexity receiver with higher data throughput, which employs an additional stage of ISIC.
Charge injection into low density polyethylene by aqueous electrolyte contacts

Using an aqueous electrolyte of 1M H2SO4 + 1M and 0.5M FeCl3 as one electrode and aqueous 1M NaCl as the other electrode, electrical charge is passed through 25 μm thick sheets of low density polyethylene (LDPE). Measurements of current decay with time following voltage steps, the influence of cell voltage on cell current, and the effect of the concentration of Feaq+2 on the plot of cell voltage vs cell current indicate Feaq+2 is oxidized to Feaq+3 at the surface of LDPE and electrons are injected into localized deep levels (-5.2 to -6.2 eV) under the influence of a high dc voltage.
Improvement in aphasia scores after stroke is well predicted by initial severity.

Background and Purpose— Most improvement from poststroke aphasia occurs within the first 3 months, but there remains unexplained variability in recovery. Recently, we reported a strong correlation ...
Using MazeSuite and Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Study Learning in Spatial Navigation

MazeSuite is a complete toolset to prepare, present and analyze navigational and spatial experiments1. MazeSuite can be used to design and edit adapted virtual 3D environments, track a participants' behavioral performance within the virtual environment and synchronize with external devices for physiological and neuroimaging measures, including electroencephalogram and eye tracking. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) is an optical brain imaging technique that enables continuous, noninvasive, and portable monitoring of changes in cerebral blood oxygenation related to human brain functions2-7. Over the last decade fNIR is used to effectively monitor cognitive tasks such as attention, working memory and problem solving7-11. fNIR can be implemented in the form of a wearable and minimally intrusive device; it has the capacity to monitor brain activity in ecologically valid environments. Cognitive functions assessed through task performance involve patterns of brain activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that vary from the initial novel task performance, after practice and during retention12. Using positron emission tomography (PET), Van Horn and colleagues found that regional cerebral blood flow was activated in the right frontal lobe during the encoding (i.e., initial naive performance) of spatial navigation of virtual mazes while there was little to no activation of the frontal regions after practice and during retention tests. Furthermore, the effects of contextual interference, a learning phenomenon related to organization of practice, are evident when individuals acquire multiple tasks under different practice schedules13,14. High contextual interference (random practice schedule) is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a non-sequential, unpredictable order. Low contextual interference (blocked practice schedule) is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a predictable order. Our goal here is twofold: first to illustrate the experimental protocol design process and the use of MazeSuite, and second, to demonstrate the setup and deployment of the fNIR brain activity monitoring system using Cognitive Optical Brain Imaging (COBI) Studio software15. To illustrate our goals, a subsample from a study is reported to show the use of both MazeSuite and COBI Studio in a single experiment. The study involves the assessment of cognitive activity of the PFC during the acquisition and learning of computer maze tasks for blocked and random orders. Two right-handed adults (one male, one female) performed 315 acquisition, 30 retention and 20 transfer trials across four days. Design, implementation, data acquisition and analysis phases of the study were explained with the intention to provide a guideline for future studies.
Open faults in BiCMOS gates

Opens in BiCMOS structures are analyzed here. It is shown that some opens cannot be detected by stuck-fault or other functional tests, since some transistors in BiCMOS gates do not affect the logical function of the gate. A switch-level model for CMOS circuits is extended to include bipolar devices. With this switch-level model, opens that cannot be detected by stuck-faults or other functional tests are easily identified. It is also shown that, in BiCMOS circuits, an open defect in one transistor can accelerate the wearout of another nondefective transistor. >
A New mite, Zwickia gibsoni n.sp., Fam. Anoetidae, from the pitchers of Sarracenia purpurea L.

When in 1948 I first made the acquaintance of the mite about to be described I was intrigued with the idea that a form morphologically so similar to those described by Oudemans, 1915 and Hirst 1928 should come from such a different habitat. Whilst recognizing the totally different geographical areas, sphagnum bogs of boreal Canada as opposed to humid forests of tropical Ceylon and Malaya, the question arises as to whether the micro-habitat in which these three species live is so totally different. From the published material available (vide Thienemann 1928-29), which I admit is not very extensive, there does not seem to be much chemical difference between the waters of Nepenthes and those of Sarracenia . The similarity of these two micro-habitats is further substantiated by the fact that copepods of the genus Parastenocaris have been found in the pitchers of Sarracenia which closely resemble those described by Menzel 1921, Chappius 1931 and Thienemann 1928-29 (quoting from Ghosh, no reference given) from the water of Nepenthes . The question of distribution over such great distances and over what must be long ages poses certain difficulties which can only be answered when we know more about the past history and distribution of pitcher plants and mites. The possession of an hypopial stage by all three species does offer some help in the problem but the further question of how the Canadian mites have adapted themselves to the rigours of a northern winter is difficult to understand.
Preference elicitation using the time trade-off method in patients with 1 to 3 newly diagnosed brain metastases in a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing radiosurgery with and without whole brain radiation

Materials/Methods: A time trade-off instrument was developed to directly elicit preferences from patients on the trial. The elicitation instrument included a written script, data collection form, and visual aid to facilitate the understanding of trading time. The instrument was administered face-to-face during patient clinic visits at baseline, 1, 2, 4, 6 months, and every 3 months thereafter. Patients traded time based on their preference for a fixed amount of time in their current state of health (reference period) versus a reduced amount of time in optimal health. The elicitation procedure was framed using three different reference periods - 10-year, 5-year, and 1-year. Mean utilities were evaluated between treatment groups (SRS vs. SRS WBRT), demographic variables, and within subjects over time. Results: The mean age of patients in the trial was 61 years (range 32‐80). Twenty-four patients received SRS and 17 received SRS and WBRT. The majority of patients had lung cancer as their primary tumor (61%) and most had only one metastatic lesion to the brain (68.3%). Of the 43 patients enrolled in the trial, 41 participated in the elicitation exercise. The mean baseline utility over all reference periods was 0.87 and the mean 6-month follow-up utility over all reference periods was 0.82. There were no significant differences in mean utilities from baseline to six-month follow-up between treatment groups or demographic variables. There were significant differences in mean utilities for all patients across different reference periods. Utilities were significantly higher when using the1yr reference period (1yr reference period mean 0.91, 5yr reference period mean 0.88, 10yr reference period mean 0.84; adj. F 4.2, p 0.049). The same effect was observed for one-month follow-up utilities (1yr reference period mean 0.97, 5yr reference period mean 0.87, 10yr reference period mean 0.85; adj. F 5.3, p 0.03). At the one-month follow-up, mean utilities were significantly higher for those receiving SRS without WBRT using the 1yr reference period (SRS group mean 1.0; SRSWBRT group mean 0.93; F 4.7, p 0.042). At the two-month follow-up, mean utilities were significantly higher for patients having their primary tumor site in the lung versus all other primary tumor sites (lung primary mean utilities 0.93, other primary mean utilities 0.71; F 5.0, p 0.037). Conclusions: Utilities for patients in this trial were relatively stable and remained high suggesting reasonable preference for their current health state at the time of elicitation. Most patients did not trade time in their current health state for less time in a more optimal health state when the trade-off was presented with a short 1-year reference period. This utility analysis will provide data needed to perform cost-utility analysis of SRS vs. SRS and WBRT in the future.
Five New and Three Improved Mutual Orbits of Transneptunian Binaries

Abstract We present three improved and five new mutual orbits of transneptunian binary systems (58534) Logos-Zoe, (66652) Borasisi-Pabu, (88611) Teharonhiawako-Sawiskera, (123509) 2000 WK183, (149780) Altjira, 2001 QY297, 2003 QW111, and 2003 QY90 based on Hubble Space Telescope and Keck II laser guide star adaptive optics observations. Combining the five new orbit solutions with 17 previously known orbits yields a sample of 22 mutual orbits for which the period P, semimajor axis a, and eccentricity e have been determined. These orbits have mutual periods ranging from 5 to over 800 days, semimajor axes ranging from 1600 to 37,000 km, eccentricities ranging from 0 to 0.8, and system masses ranging from 2 × 1017 to 2 × 1022 kg. Based on the relative brightnesses of primaries and secondaries, most of these systems consist of near equal-sized pairs, although a few of the most massive systems are more lopsided. The observed distribution of orbital properties suggests that the most loosely-bound transneptunian binary systems are only found on dynamically cold heliocentric orbits. Of the 22 known binary mutual orbits, orientation ambiguities are now resolved for 9, of which 7 are prograde and 2 are retrograde, consistent with a random distribution of orbital orientations, but not with models predicting a strong preference for retrograde orbits. To the extent that other perturbations are not dominant, the binary systems undergo Kozai oscillations of their eccentricities and inclinations with periods of the order of tens of thousands to millions of years, some with strikingly high amplitudes.
The Herschel view of the Galactic center

The 3.5 meter diameter Herschel Space Observatory conducted a ∼720 square-degree survey of the Galactic plane, the Herschel Galactic plane survey (Hi-GAL). These data provide the most sensitive and highest resolution observations of the far-IR to sub-mm continuum from the central molecular zone (CMZ) at λ = 70, 160, 250, 350, and 500 μm obtained to date. Hi-GAL can be used to map the distributions of temperature and column density of dust in CMZ clouds, warm dust in Hii regions, and identify highly embedded massive protostars and clusters and the dusty shells ejected by supergiant stars. These data enable classification of sources and re-evaluation of the current and recent star-formation rate in the CMZ. The outer CMZ beyond |l| = 0.9 degrees (Rgal > 130 pc) contains most of the dense (n > 104 cm−3 gas in the Galaxy but supports very little star formation. The Hi-GAL and Spitzer data show that almost all star formation occurs in clouds moving on x2 orbits at Rgal < 100 pc. While the 106 M⊙ Sgr B2 complex, the 50 km s−1 cloud near Sgr A, and the Sgr C region are forming clusters of massive stars, other clouds are relatively inactive star formers, despite their high densities, large masses, and compact sizes. The asymmetric distribution of dense gas about Sgr A* on degree scales (most dense CMZ gas and dust is at positive Galactic longitudes and positive VLSR) and compact 24 μm sources (most are at negative longitudes) may indicate that eposidic mini-starbursts occasionally ‘blow-out’ a portion of the gas on these x2 orbits. The resulting massive-star feedback may fuel the compact 30 pc scale Galactic center bubble associated with the Arches and Quintuplet clusters, the several hundred pc scale Sofue-Handa lobe, and the kpc-scale Fermi/LAT bubble, making it the largest ‘superbubble’ in the Galaxy. A consequence of this model is that in our Galaxy, instead of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) limiting star formation, star formation may limit the growth of the SMBH.
Transition of Care for Inpatient Hematology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Development of Hospital Discharge Huddle Process and Effects of Implementation.

Developing a systematic approach to hospital discharges can lead to improvements and serve a model for other inpatient wards.
Matthew Calbraith Perry: Antebellum Sailor and Diplomat

Matthew Calbraith Perry: Antebellum Sailor and Diplomat. By John H. Schroeder. (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2001. Pp. xx, 326. Illustrations. $36.95.) Matthew Calbraith Perry is arguably one of the best-known officers of the antebellum United States Navy. Throughout a long career that spanned from 1809 until his death in the spring of 1858, he fought against the British in the War of 1812, pirates in the Caribbean, slave traders along the coast of Africa, and Mexicans during the war of 1846. Yet despite the variety of enemies he faced, Perry is not known for his exploits in war. Instead, he is best remembered for leading a sizable naval and diplomatic expedition to Japan during the early 1850s that resulted in formal diplomatic relations between Japan and the United States and that opened the oriental country to the West. In ten detailed chapters, naval historian John H. Schroeder-author of Shaping a Maritime Empire: The Commercial and Diplomatic Role of the American Navy, 1829-1861 (1985)-places Perry into his proper historical context as an aspiring officer in the American navy during the first half of the nineteenth century. Using a wealth of manuscript and primary sources as well as a substantial amount of new material on antebellum naval, maritime, and diplomatic history, Schroeder examines Perry's attempt to distinguish himself as a sailor, diplomat, and naval reformer. Perry came from one of the young country's most distinguished naval families. He was the son of Revolutionary War naval officer Christopher Raymond Perry and the younger brother of War of 1812 hero Oliver Hazard Perry. His marriage to Jane Slidell in 1814 linked him to the important Slidell and Rodgers families; the couple also had three sons who later served in the navy and marine corps during the Mexican and Civil Wars. Despite his pedigree and lineage, Calbraith, as his family called him, had the most distinguished career of them all. During the second war with Britain, Perry served with distinction aboard the President, commanded by John Rodgers; he demonstrated competence in handling challenging assignments and ever-increasing responsibilities. During the 1820s and 1840s he sailed the waters off the coast of west Africa, working to end the slave trade while also assisting the fledgling African-American communities developing there; in 1843 he became the first commander of the navy's African Squadron, holding that diplomatically sensitive position for more than two years. Perry commanded the Gulf Squadron during the last year of the Mexican War, and, in doing so, showed that he was an aggressive, brave, and resourceful officer. He personally led amphibious operations-such as the capture of Tabasco-that unquestionably demonstrated his courage but had little bearing on the outcome of the conflict; the war was fought mainly on land and army officers garnered most of the accolades and attention. By the early 1850s, Perry had gained a reputation as the most distinguished officer of his generation, and this afforded him the opportunity to command the naval expedition to Japan. …
Shape Optimization of Potentially Slender Structures

Shape optimization lies at the heart of modern engineering design. Through shape optimization, computers can, in theory, ‘synthesize’ engineering artifacts in a fully automated fashion. However, a serious limitation today is that the evolving geometry (during optimization) may become slender, i.e., beam or plate-like. Under such circumstances, modern 3-D computational methods, such as finite element analysis (FEA), will fail miserably, and so will the shape optimization process. Indeed, the recommended method for analyzing slender artifacts is to replace them with 1-D beams/ 2-D plates, prior to discretization and computational analysis, a process referred to as geometric dimensional reduction. Unfortunately explicit geometric reduction is impractical and hard to automate during optimization since one cannot predict a priori when an artifact will become slender. In this paper, we develop an implicit dimensional reduction method where the reduction is achieved through an algebraic process. The proposed method of reduction is computationally equivalent to explicit geometric reduction for comparable computational cost. However, the proposed method can be easily automated and integrated within a shape optimization process, and standard off-the-shelf 3-D finite element packages can be used to implement the proposed methodology.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Suppression of Antibody-Forming Cells to Serratia Marcescens Lipopolysaccharide After a Large Dose of Antigen

SummaryThe number of specific antibody plaque-forming cells appearing in spleens of mice immunized with various concentrations of the lipopolysaccharide somatic antigen derived from Serratia marcescens was studied in detail. Maximum numbers of antibody-forming cells appeared 4–5 days after intraperitoneal injection of 50 μg of antigen. Fewer plaque-forming cells appeared in spleens of mice treated with a lower concentrations of antigen. Furthermore, mice injected with 500 μg of the lipopolysaccharide also had relatively few plaque-forming cells, indicative of a marked depression of the immune response.The “nonspecific” response to sheep erythrocytes was enhanced in spleens of mice injected with the highest concentrations of antigen, as compared to animals receiving smaller amounts. The specificity of the antibody-plaque response was readily demonstrated by inhibition experiments using either specific antigen or anti-mouse globulin in the test agar plates. Plaques were inhibited when 10-100 μg of Serratia ...
A New Method for Total Internal Reflection Microscopy (TIRM)

An intracavity TIRM (iTIRM) that incorporates the evanescent wave scattering region within a laser cavity is described. Its advantages and applications including the observation of particles too small for the traditional TIRM are described.
Colorimetric estimation of penicillin in aqueous solutions.

SummaryA colorimetric technic for analysis of 9 μg or less of crystalline penicillin is described.
Transmitting boundaries: A closed-form comparison

Several transmitting boundaries which have been proposed for the numerical analysis of problems of wave propagation in continua of infinite extent are reviewed. They are grouped into three broad classes: (1) elementary boundaries (Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions); (2) highly absorbing local boundaries; and (3) consistent transmitting boundaries. A closed-form comparison for the problem of time-harmonic antiplane line load on a stratum shows that elementary boundaries produce strong reflections, local boundaries have good absorption characteristics, and consistent transmitting boundaries are perfect absorbers.
49 THE ROLE OF CARDIOMYOCYTE APOPTOSIS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARDIAC FIBROSIS.

Objective Cardiomyocyte (CM) apoptosis is elevated in end-stage heart failure. Cardiac fibrosis is a common phenotype of heart failure. In previous studies we have shown that in SR-uPA transgenic (SR-uPA+/o) mice there is an increase in plasmin-dependent cardiac fibrosis. We hypothesize that in these mice, plasmin causes the pericellular proteolysis of laminin, an extracellular adhesive glycoprotein that acts as a bridge between proteins attached to the cell membrane and the basal lamina. Consequently, due to the loss of cell-matrix contact, apoptosis is induced. Apoptosis of CM then leads to replacement fibrosis. To test this hypothesis we measured apoptosis in the hearts of SR-uPA+/o and nontransgenic (SR-uPAo/o) littermates. Methods We measured apoptosis in the hearts of SR-uPA+/o and SR-uPAo/o mice using TUNEL (Roche) staining of apoptotic nuclei in situ with a hematoxylin counterstain. In addition, since caspases are known mediators in the apoptotic pathway, we performed immunostaining and immunoblotting for cleaved caspase 3 (Cell Signaling Technology), a downstream effector caspase, in SR-uPA+/o and SR-uPAo/o heart sections. Mouse thymus served as a positive control for both experiments. Additionally, lysates of camptothecin-treated and nontreated 293 cells were positive and negative controls, respectively, for the immunoblotting. Results Increased numbers of TUNEL-positive cells were seen in 6-week-old SR-uPA+/o hearts compared with SR-uPAo/o littermates (51.5 [33-67] vs 17.5 [12-28] TUNEL positive cells per 400× field, n = 8, p = .003). Preliminary analysis of counterstained sections reveals TUNEL-positive cells are not CM. In our cleaved caspase-3 studies two SR-uPA+/o hearts had increased numbers of staining cells compared with SR-uPAo/o littermate controls. Furthermore, the immunoblotting was suggestive of greater cleaved caspase-3 activity in 6-week-old SR-uPA+/o versus SR-uPAo/o mice. Conclusions In SR-uPA+/o mice we found an increase in TUNEL-positive cells and increased cleaved caspase-3 activity. These data indicate that apoptosis may be an important mediator of cardiac fibrosis. However, contrary to our hypothesis, the cells undergoing apoptosis do not appear to be CM and, instead, could be macrophages. Further immunostaining will be needed to conclusively identify the cell type. Additionally, we will increase our sample size in our cleaved caspase-3 immunostaining experiment.
Angiogenic Factor in Multiple Myeloma

Objective To determinate the concentrations of angiognic factors of bone marrow (BM) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients at different clinical stage,to analyze the relationships between angiogenesis and clinical status.Methods Sixty-six MM patients and 7 monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) patients we~ studied.Five milliliter bone marrows,anticoagulation with heparin,were gained from all the patients.The plasma were separeted.The concentrations of angiogenic factors (IL-6、VEGF、bFGF、MMP-2、MMP-9) in BM plasma were detected by ELISA.Resuits The levels of angiogenic factors in newly diagnosed and refractory/relapsed MM patients were statistically higher than in MM at remission and in MGUS.There was no statistic difference of angiogenic factors except MMP-9 between MM at remission and MGUS.The angiogenic factors decreased in BM of the MM patients who were sensitive to therapy and did not statistically change in the other patients.Conclusion Angiogenesis is proated by pro-angiogenic factors,it may play an important role in the MM pathogenesises. Anti-angiogenesis or angiogenic factors antigonist thearapy could be a useful pathway for MM.
Sound Bounce: Physical Metaphors in Designing Mobile Music Performance

use of metaphor has a prominent role in HCI, both as a device to help users understand unfamiliar technologies, and as a tool to guide the design process. Creators of new computer- based instruments face similar design challenges as those in HCI. In the course of creating a new piece for Mobile Phone Orchestra we propose the metaphor of a sound as a ball and explore the interactions and sound mappings it suggests. These lead to the design of a gesture-controlled instrument that allows players to "bounce" sounds, "throw" them to other players, and compete in a game to "knock out" others' sounds. We composed the piece SoundBounce based on these interactions, and note that audiences seem to find performances of the piece accessible and engaging, perhaps due to the visibility of the metaphor.
Evaluation of image noise in prospectively respiratory gated PET

The aim of this study was to quantify image noise and signal recovery in respiratory gated PET. A Jaszczak phantom filled with 18F was placed on a platform moving sinusoidally. Two source to background activity ratios were used: 5:1 and 3:1 (sphere:background). An Anzai belt, a surface tension monitoring device, was strapped around the phantom to track the motion and to trigger the gated PET cycle. Data were acquired into 12 bins throughout one gating cycle. The binned data were also summed to produce image sets representing acquisitions with different numbers of gates, including a non-gated image set. The image noise was estimated using the bootstrap method. Images were generated from 100 sinogram replicates, reconstructed using OSEM, and filtered to a final image resolution of 6 mm. From the reconstructed image replicates, mean and standard deviation images were created, from which the average image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of each sphere were calculated. The SNR and CNR were evaluated as a function of the number of gates. The SNR and CNR result in the expected Poisson limited correlation with the number of gates for the larger lesions. Because of the motion, the CNR calculated from the images produced with no or few gates is nearly a factor of 2 less than the expected value for the 3 smallest spheres. As the number of gates increases, the CNR correlates with the expected values. Beyond 4 gates, image noise dominates over any signal improvement, which is reflected in the low CNR values of the smallest spheres. The results of this study show that gating can provide significant improvement in signal recovery with minimal loss of CNR for small, moving lesions
Synthesis of Briarane Diterpenoids: Biomimetic Transannular Oxa-6π electrocyclization Induced by a UVA/UVC Photoswitch

A biomimetic synthesis of briareolate ester B (3) from briareolate ester L (1) via the intermediate briareolate ester G (2) has been achieved through a unique transannular oxa-6π electrocyclization induced by UVA light. UVC irradiation of 3 triggered a rapid retro-6π electrocyclization to establish an unprecedented photochromic switch. In the ground state, reaction of 1 led to the formation of a polycyclic γ-spiroketal γ-lactone 5, architecturally related to the ether-bridged cembranoids of the cladiellin class.
Association Between Years of Competition and Shoulder Function in Collegiate Swimmers

Background:Shoulder injuries are common among competitive swimmers, and the progression of shoulder pathology is not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which years of competitive swim training were associated with physical properties of the supraspinatus muscle and tendon, shoulder strength, and self-reported assessments of shoulder pain and function.Hypothesis:Increasing years of competition will be associated with declining physical properties of the supraspinatus muscle/tendon and declining self-reported assessments of pain and function.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Level of Evidence:Level 4.Methods:After institutional approval, 18 collegiate female swimmers enrolled in the study. For each swimmer, supraspinatus tendon thickness was measured; tendinosis was assessed using ultrasound imaging, supraspinatus muscle shear wave velocity was assessed using shear wave elastography, isometric shoulder strength was measured using a Biodex system, and self-repo...
Late effects of 1 H irradiation on hippocampal physiology

Abstract NASA’s Missions to Mars and beyond will expose flight crews to potentially dangerous levels of charged-particle radiation. Of all charged nuclei, 1H is the most abundant charged particle in both the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) and solar particle event (SPE) spectra. There are currently no functional spacecraft shielding materials that are able to mitigate the charged-particle radiation encountered in space. Recent studies have demonstrated cognitive injuries due to high-dose 1H exposures in rodents. Our study investigated the effects of 1H irradiation on neuronal morphology in the hippocampus of adult male mice. 6-month-old mice received whole-body exposure to 1H at 0.5 and 1 Gy (150 MeV/n; 0.35–0.55 Gy/min) at NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory in Upton, NY. At 9-months post-irradiation, we tested each animal's open-field exploratory performance. After sacrifice, we dissected the brains along the midsagittal plane, and then either fixed or dissected further and snap-froze them. Our data showed that exposure to 0.5 Gy or 1 Gy 1H significantly increased animals’ anxiety behavior in open-field testing. Our micromorphometric analyses revealed significant decreases in mushroom spine density and dendrite morphology in the Dentate Gyrus, Cornu Ammonis 3 and 1 of the hippocampus, and lowered expression of synaptic markers. Our data suggest 1H radiation significantly increased exploration anxiety and modulated the dendritic spine and dendrite morphology of hippocampal neurons at a dose of 0.5 or 1 Gy.
Stromal Gli signaling regulates the activity and differentiation of prostate stem and progenitor cells

Interactions between cells in the stroma and epithelium facilitate prostate stem cell activity and tissue regeneration capacity. Numerous molecular signal transduction pathways, including the induction of sonic hedgehog (Shh) to activate the Gli transcription factors, are known to mediate the cross-talk of these two cellular compartments. However, the details of how these signaling pathways regulate prostate stem and progenitor cell activity remain elusive. Here we demonstrate that, although cell-autonomous epithelial Shh-Gli signaling is essential to determine the expression levels of basal cell markers and the renewal potential of epithelial stem and progenitor cells, stromal Gli signaling regulates prostate stem and progenitor cell activity by increasing the number and size of prostate spheroids in vitro Blockade of stromal Gli signaling also inhibited prostate tissue regeneration in vivo The inhibition of stromal Gli signaling suppressed the differentiation of basal and progenitor cells to luminal cells and limited prostate tubule secretory capability. Additionally, stromal cells were able to compensate for the deficiency of epithelial Shh signaling in prostate tissue regeneration. Mechanistically, suppression of Gli signaling increased the signaling factor transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) in stromal cells. Elevation of exogenous TGFβ1 levels inhibited prostate spheroid formation, suggesting that a stromal Gli-TGFβ signaling axis regulates the activity of epithelial progenitor cells. Our study illustrates that Gli signaling regulates epithelial stem cell activity and renewal potential in both epithelial and stromal compartments.
Control of Paper Industry Wastewaters by in-process Measures

Abstract In order ro develop strategies to control intermittent spills associated with the production of chemical wood pulp, examinations of process effluents from kraft pulp mills and investigations of existing loss control systems were conducted. Dynamic computer modelling, using data from process effluent monitoring, was employed to illustrate the utility of this technique to arrive at various loss control strategies for particular process configurations. Examples were presented, using the monitoring data, of the economic benefit possible from recovery of chemicals and organic solids. A loss control strategy for pulping, pulp washing, and chemical recovery areas was implemented in the existing spill control system of a large kraft pulp mill. Control was successfully effected utilizing a digital computer. In addition to managing process losses, the direct digital control system allowed gathering, processing and managing data obtained from the sensors monitoring the system.
Muller’s Ratchet

In my opinion, this idea ranks close to natural selection as a major contribution to explaining evolution, genetic adaptation, and the nature of life. It explains how natural selection limits genome size and may explain why genetic recombination became more prominent as biological complexity and genome sizes increased.
The Collagen Folding Machinery: Biosynthesis and Post-Translational Modifications of Collagens

The complex biosynthesis of type I procollagen involves a large number of post-translational modifications and a highly choreographed folding mechanism. This folding machinery resides primarily in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and consists of many enzymes and molecular chaperones which act as interacting cogs in this process. The importance of this machinery for normal bone formation has recently been demonstrated by the discovery of recessive forms of osteogenesis imperfecta that are due to mutations in the proteins that are part of this machinery. In this chapter we present the current knowledge of the folding machinery and the consequences of the absence of some of these cogs on the structure and function of type I procollagen.
Dynamic pricing mechanisms for the airline industry: a definitional framework

The phrase “dynamic pricing” has entered the airline revenue management lexicon in recent years with the emergence of new distribution capabilities that could allow airlines to adjust ticket prices more frequently. Yet each airline, vendor, and academic has a unique (and often incongruous) view of what dynamic pricing encompasses. To date, there has not been a definition of dynamic pricing proposed in the literature that clearly delineates how these mechanisms are different from traditional airline pricing and revenue management. In this paper, we propose a definitional framework for dynamic pricing for the airline industry. After providing a general definition of dynamic pricing, we describe three mechanisms for price selection—assortment optimization, dynamic price adjustment, and continuous pricing. Depending on the implementation and the information available to the airline at the time of pricing, each of these mechanisms could be used to adjust prices relatively infrequently or, at the limit, on a transaction-by-transaction basis. We close by linking recent technological developments in airline pricing, revenue management, and distribution to the three mechanisms introduced in the framework.
Treatment with TLR4 agonists protect against infection after severe burn injury.

Infection is the leading cause of death in severely burned patients. Prophylactic treatment with the TLR4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) induces resistance to subsequent bacterial challenge. Treatment of mice with MPLA enhances bacterial clearance, leading to improved survival in a model of P. aeruginosa burn wound infection. The current study was aimed to define the mechanisms responsible for improved bacterial clearance and survival in MPLA-treated burn-infected mice, and to determine if MPLA could protect against clinically relevant Gram positive and fungal pathogens. Mice underwent severe burn injury, followed by systemic treatment with MPLA or vehicle control for 2 days. Mice were then inoculated with P. aeruginosa topically or intraperitoneally, and responding neutrophils were measured in bone marrow, blood, burn wound and peritoneal cavity. In later experiments, burned mice were challenged systemically with S. aureus or C. albicans . MPLA treatment induced G-CSF production, decreased bone marrow neutrophil numbers and increased neutrophil numbers in the blood, peritoneal cavity and burn wound site. G-CSF was essential for MPLA-mediated survival, bacterial clearance and neutrophil trafficking. MPLA also improved survival against S. aureus and C. albicans systemic infections after burn. This suggests that G-CSF facilitates MPLA-induced trafficking of neutrophils, allowing for a more rapid response to sites of infection. The ability of MPLA to enhance antimicrobial responses and its ability to protect against a variety of clinically relevant pathogens make it an attractive therapeutic candidate for use in burn patients for the prevention of post-burn infections.
HISTONE 2A-2B-4 INTERACTIONS WITHIN CHROMATIN

Cyanogen bromide peptide analyses of crosslinked histones show that histone 2B possesses separate binding sites for histones 2A and 4. Various polymorphic forms of H2A and H4 in chromatin are bound to H2B through these binding sites. These interactions are thus a fundamental structural feature of chromatin. Additional data strongly suggest that H2B is bound to H2A and H4 simultaneously in vivo.
Sources of information and portfolio allocation

Abstract This research investigates the relationship between how a household receives financial information and the degree to which investment portfolios are diversified. Diversification is measured as allocation across asset classes and share of assets held in each asset class. Propensity score-based techniques incorporating stratification and weighting are employed to better isolate causal links, while also controlling for objective and subjective financial literacy and overconfidence. Results indicate that the use of financial planners and brokers is associated with an increase in asset class diversification. Households that consult with financial planners and bankers allocate their wealth systematically different from those who do not. These results highlight the role that financial professionals play in helping households make investment decisions.