cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low levels of lipopolysaccharide modulate mitochondrial oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle.

Abstract Objective We have previously demonstrated that activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in skeletal muscle results in an increased reliance on glucose as an energy source and a concomitant decrease in fatty acid oxidation under basal conditions. Herein, we examined the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the primary ligand for TLR4, on mitochondrial oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle cell culture and mitochondria isolated from rodent skeletal muscle. Materials/methods Skeletal muscle cell cultures were exposed to LPS and oxygen consumption was assessed using a Seahorse Bioscience extracellular flux analyzer. Mice were also exposed to LPS and oxygen consumption was assessed in mitochondria isolated from skeletal muscle. Results Acute LPS exposure resulted in significant reductions in Carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP)-stimulated maximal respiration (state 3 u ) and increased oligomycin induced state 4 (state 4 O ) respiration in C2C12 and human primary myotubes. These findings were observed in conjunction with increased mRNA of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. The LPS-mediated changes in substrate oxidation and maximal mitochondrial respiration were prevented in the presence of the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and catalase, suggesting a potential role of reactive oxygen species in mediating these effects. Mitochondria isolated from red gastrocnemius and quadriceps femoris muscle from mice injected with LPS also demonstrated reduced respiratory control ratio (RCR), and ADP- and FCCP-stimulated respiration. Conclusion LPS exposure in skeletal muscle alters mitochondrial oxygen consumption and substrate preference, which is absent when antioxidants are present.
An SNP-Based Linkage Map for Zebrafish Reveals Sex Determination Loci

A surprising diversity of mechanisms controls sex determination of vertebrate organisms, even among closely related species. Both genetic and temperature-dependent systems of sex determination have been described in teleost fish. In the common zebrafish model organism, heteromorphic sex chromosomes are not observed, and the potential role of a genetic component of sex determination remains largely unknown. Here we report a genome-wide linkage study of sex determination in zebrafish using a novel SNP genetic map. We identified loci on zebrafish chromosomes 5 (LOD score 7.9) and 16 (LOD score 9.3) governing sex determination as a complex trait, rather than as an XY or ZW genetic system. Each of these loci contains a prominent candidate gene with a conserved role in sex determination across additional species that suggest potential mechanisms of sex determination in zebrafish. The chromosome 5 locus harbors dmrt1, a key gene in sex determination from fruit flies to humans; mutation of the human DMRT1 ortholog is a cause of complete sex reversal of XY individuals. The chromosome 16 locus harbors cyp21a2; mutation of the human CYP21A2 ortholog is one of the more common causes of pseudohermaphroditism. Mutation detection at each of these candidate genes within the zebrafish cross identified hypomorphic variants on the female-associated allele of each locus. The two loci together accounted for 16% of variance of the trait. Interacting environmental cues are likely to be an additional important component of sex determination in zebrafish.
The Metabolic State of Diabetic Monkeys Is Regulated by Fibroblast Growth Factor-21

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 has been recently characterized as a potent metabolic regulator. Systemic administration of FGF-21 reduced plasma glucose and triglycerides to near normal levels in genetically compromised diabetic rodents. Importantly, these effects were durable and did not come at the expense of weight gain, hypoglycemia, or mitogenicity. To explore the therapeutic properties of FGF-21 in a nongenetically modified primate species, and thus demonstrate the potential for efficacy in humans, we evaluated its bioactivity in diabetic nonhuman primates. When administered daily for 6 wk to diabetic rhesus monkeys, FGF-21 caused a dramatic decline in fasting plasma glucose, fructosamine, triglycerides, insulin, and glucagon. Of significant importance in regard to safety, hypoglycemia was not observed at any point during the study. FGF-21 administration also led to significant improvements in lipoprotein profiles, including lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and raising of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, beneficial changes in the circulating levels of several cardiovascular risk markers/factors, and the induction of a small but significant weight loss. These data support the development of FGF-21 for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
Implementation of CAN bus in an autonomous all-terrain vehicle

The main purpose of this effort is to design an autonomous all terrain vehicle which uses a CAN bus. The paper describes the operation and advantages of the CAN protocol in automobiles. The ATV used for this design is a Honda Four Trax Rancher AT and a brief explanation of the parts in the ATV is provided. The Renesas RX62N microcontroller is used as a CAN controller which creates a single two wire bus through which electronic control units (ECU) in the automobiles communicate. The working of the CAN protocol on the RX62N has been explained with the help of pseudo code.
A Putative Phosphatidylserine Binding Motif Is Not Involved in the Lipid Regulation of Protein Kinase C

Protein kinase C is specifically regulated by diacylglycerol and the amino phospholipid, phosphatidylserine. The molecular basis for the phosphatidylserine specificity was recently proposed to arise from the presence of a putative phosphatidylserine binding motif, FXFXLKXXXKXR, localized in the C2 domain of protein kinase C (Igarashi, K., Kaneda, M., Yamaji, A., Saido, T. C., Kikkawa, U., Ono, U., Inoue, K., and Umeda, M. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 29075–29078). To determine whether this motif mediates the interaction of protein kinase C with phosphatidylserine, the carboxyl-terminal basic residues were mutated to Ala in protein kinase C βII (K236A and R238A), and the phosphatidylserine regulation of the mutant enzyme was examined. Membrane binding and activity measurements revealed that the phosphatidylserine regulation for the mutant protein was indistinguishable from that of wild-type protein kinase C. Specifically, neither the apparent membrane affinity for phosphatidylserine-containing membranes in the presence or absence of diacylglycerol nor the phosphatidylserine-dependence for activation was affected by removal of the conserved basic residues at the carboxyl terminus of the consensus sequence. In addition, a synthetic peptide corresponding to the amino terminus of the consensus sequence (FTFNVK) had no effect on the concentration of phosphatidylserine resulting in half-maximal activation of protein kinase C. These results reveal that the carboxyl-terminal basic residues in the consensus motif FXFXLKXXXKXR are not responsible for the phosphatidylserine selectivity of protein kinase C and that, furthermore, the region of the C2 domain containing this motif is not involved in the membrane binding of protein kinase C.
Double Diffusive Convection in a Rotating Fluid

Double diffusive convection is investigated in a rotating fluid layer with nearly impermeable boundaries. The new results on the instability of the steady motion and the dependence of the various physical quantities (such as the horizontal cells' size and the heat and solute fluxes) on the Rayleigh number R and the rotation parameter τ are discussed.
Making Deduction More Effective in SAT Solvers

Satisfiability (SAT) solvers often benefit from transformations of the formula to be decided that allow them to do more through deduction and decrease their reliance on enumeration. For formulae in conjunctive normal form, subsumed clauses may be removed or partial resolution may be applied. The objectives of simplifying the formula and speeding up the solver are sometimes competing. We characterize existing transformations in terms of their impact on the deductive power of the formula and their effects on the sizes of the implication graphs. For example, we show that variable elimination works by improving implication graphs. We also present two new techniques that try to increase deductive power. The first is a check performed during the computation of resolvents. The second is a new preprocessing algorithm based on distillation that combines simplification and increase of deductive power. Most current SAT solvers apply resolution at various stages to derive new clauses or simplify existing ones. The former happens during conflict analysis, while the latter is usually done during preprocessing. We show how subsumption of the operands by the resolvent can be inexpensively detected during resolution; we then discuss how this detection is used to improve three stages of the SAT solver: variable elimination, clause distillation, and conflict analysis. The “on-the-fly” subsumption check is easily integrated in a SAT solver. In particular, it is compatible with strong conflict analysis and the generation of unsatisfiability proofs. Experiments show the effectiveness of the new techniques.
Design and demonstration of a high authority shape morphing structure

Abstract A concept for a high authority shape morphing plate is described and demonstrated. The design incorporates an active back-plane comprising a Kagome truss, capable of changing the shape of a solid face, connected to the back-plane by means of a tetrahedral truss core. The two shape deformations to be demonstrated consist of hinging and twisting. The design is performed by a combination of analytic estimation and numerical simulation, guided by previous assessments of the Kagome configuration. It is shown that, while the structure is capable of sustaining large passive loads at low weight, the demonstrable authority is actuator-limited. The full potential of the system can only be realized by developing and incorporating superior actuators. An optimization has been used to ascertain the largest displacements achievable within the force capability of the actuators. These displacements have been demonstrated and shown to correspond with values predicted by numerical simulation. The consistency between measured and calculated responses has allowed objectives to be set for alternative materials, as well as structural and actuator enhancements.
Apologies in International Politics

This article examines the growing conventional wisdom that apologies and other acts of contrition are necessary for international reconciliation. I create and test a theory that connects a country's remembrance with that country's image—threatening or benign—in the eyes of former adversaries. I evaluate the theory in two post-World War II case studies: South Korean relations with Japan and French relations with Germany. This article offers three major findings. First, it substantiates the claim that denials inhibit reconciliation. Japanese denials and history textbook omissions have elevated distrust and fear among Koreans (as well as Chinese and Australians). Second, although whitewashing and denials are indeed pernicious, the conventional wisdom about the healing power of contrition must be seriously reconsidered. Evidence from the Japanese and other cases suggests that contrition risks triggering a domestic backlash, which alarms former adversaries. Finally, there is good news for the prospects of inte...
The Reassociation of Ideas and Purposes: Racism, Liberalism, and the American Political Tradition

Racist and liberal ideals are said to anchor competing political traditions in America, but a juxtaposition of ideals obscures key processes of change in the cultural lexicon and misses much about how a political tradition comes to bear on the development of a polity. Attention to the reassociation of ideas and purposes over time points to a more intimate relationship between racism and liberalism in American political culture, to the conceptual interpenetration of these antithetical ends. Cuing off issues that have long surrounded the reassociation of John C. Calhoun's rule of the concurrent majority with pluralist democracy, this article examines another southerner, Woodrow Wilson, who, in the course of defending racial hierarchy, developed ideas that became formative of modern American liberalism. Analysis of the movement of ideas across purposes shifts the discussion of political traditions from set categories of thought to revealed qualities of thought, bringing to the fore aspects of this polity that are essentially and irreducibly “American.”
Speech, Prosody, and Voice Characteristics of a Mother and Daughter With a 7;13 Translocation Affecting FOXP2

Purpose The primary goal of this case study was to describe the speech, prosody, and voice characteristics of a mother and daughter with a breakpoint in a balanced 7;13 chromosomal translocation that disrupted the transcription gene, FOXP2 (cf. J. B. Tomblin et al., 2005). As with affected members of the widely cited KE family, whose communicative disorders have been associated with a point mutation in the FOXP2 gene, both mother and daughter had cognitive, language, and speech challenges. A 2nd goal of the study was to illustrate in detail, the types of speech, prosody, and voice metrics that can contribute to phenotype sharpening in speech-genetics research. Method A speech, prosody, and voice assessment protocol was administered twice within a 4-month period. Analyses were aided by comparing profiles from the present speakers (the TB family) with those from 2 groups of adult speakers: 7 speakers with acquired (with one exception) spastic or spastic-flaccid dysarthria and 14 speakers with acquired aprax...
The importance of being overheard: throughput gains in wireless mesh networks

A flurry of recent work has focused on the performance gains that may be achieved by leveraging the broadcast nature of the wireless channel. In particular, researchers have observed that nodes other than the intended recipient of a packet may overhear the transmission in certain settings. Systems have been proposed to leverage this so-called overhearing phenomena by opportunistically adjusting forwarding paths, suppressing similar transmissions, and superimposing packet transmissions using network coding. The effectiveness of such approaches in practice depends greatly on the empirical overhearing rate, which is a function not only of the particular network and its environment, but also upon individual nodes' transmission rates.Most existing opportunistic routing systems use a single, fixed bitrate throughout the network, leaving open significant opportunity for increased performance. We present modrate, a mechanism to jointly optimize rate selection and overhearing opportunities to maximize overall network throughput. We implement modrate in ExOR, an integrated routing and MAC protocol that leverages overhearing to improve bulk-data transfers, and compare its performance in a 48-node wireless mesh network testbed to ExOR, MORE, and traditional routing. While modrate increases the number of profitable overhearing instances in the network, we discover that ExOR extracts far less value from overhearing than might be expected. Instead, the majority of ExOR's performance improvement in many instances is due to its bulk-acknowledgment scheme.
THE COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF VARIOUS ANDROGENS AS DETERMINED BY THE RAT ASSAY METHOD12

In the course of the chemical characterization of androsterone, one of the androgens isolated from male urine, Butenandt (1) found that the acetate prolonged the effect on the capon’s comb. The oxime had a similar effect but was rather irregular in its action. Laqueur and his associates (2) found that testosterone, the crystalline androgen isolated from bulls’ testes, did not have so great an effect on the accessory sex glands of castrate rats as slightly impure extracts. Its activity could be increased greatly by the addition of an ‘x-substance,’ obtainable from testes extracts, which was shown later to be probably a fatty acid (3, 4). The present investigation was prompted by a desire to obtain more information concerning androgenic substances, with a view to selecting a product which would most nearly simulate the natural processes without too frequent injections. Such a product would greatly facilitate the clinical usage of androgenic materials.
Synthesis of hydroxy and methoxy perylene quinones, their spectroscopic and computational characterization, and their antiviral activity.

Abstract Hydroxy and methoxy perylene quinones are synthesized in an attempt to isolate the essential spectroscopic and biological features of light-induced antiviral agents such as hypericin and hypocrellin. Unlike their naturally occurring counterparts, these synthetic quinones bear the carbonyl, hydroxyl, and methoxy groups in the “bay region.” The hydroxy and methoxy compounds have rich absorption spectra with broad features in the visible (∼450–800 nm) and relatively more intense and narrow features at wavelengths ≤350 nm. High-level ab initio quantum mechanical calculations assign the features in the absorption spectra to electronic transitions from S0 to S2 and to higher-lying electronic states. The calculations indicate that in the ground state the trans dihydroxy isomer is 12.5 kcal/mol lower in energy than the cis dihydroxy isomer and is thus the only species present. The lowest-energy trans methoxy ground state isomer and the lowest-energy cis methoxy ground state isomer are found to be degener...
A testable static RAM structure for efficient coverage of pattern sensitive faults

The authors present a new SRAM test technique that can reduce the test complexity from O(n/sup 2/) to 5n for detecting pattern sensitive faults. A new design-for-test scheme is employed which makes possible the use of current monitoring techniques for detecting pattern sensitivity. A simple test sequence such as a cell stuck-at test can be employed to yield the same coverage of disturbs as complex test sequences such as Gallop. >
Phenology of cold hardiness in reproductive and migrant monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in southwest Ohio

Abstract We examined seasonal changes in the cold hardiness of summer reproductive and fall migrant cohorts of the monarch butterfly in southwest Ohio in 1994. Reproductive and migrant butterflies were distinguished on the basis of lipid content and whether the female had mated. We compared crystallization temperatures (the temperature at which ice forms inside the body) and the capacity to resist chilling injury (i.e. injury due to subzero chilling in animals which supercooled but did not freeze) between reproductives and migrants. Very low crystallization temperatures (
Single‐Participant Research Designs

Single-participant research designs involve the intensive study of one participant continuously or repeatedly across time. The participant may be a person or a single molar unit, such as an industrial organization or a political unit. As with conventional group designs based on reasonably large samples of subjects, single-participant designs are employed to determine whether different variables are related or whether a treatment or intervention causes some effect on relevant response measures. There are situations in which it is more meaningful, more convenient, more ethical, and/or less expensive to study one or very few participants intensively than to study many participants. A basic difference between group and single-participant designs is that one or very few observations are generally obtained from each participant with group designs, whereas many observations are usually obtained from a single participant across time in the case of single-participant designs. The design categories of correlational, quasi-experimental, and experimental, which are frequently used to classify different types of group designs, can also be used to classify various single-participant designs. Keywords: experimental design; research methodology; scientific method
Adsorption of small hydrocarbons on rutile TiO2(110)

Abstract Temperature programmed desorption and molecular beam scattering were used to study the adsorption and desorption of small hydrocarbons (n-alkanes, 1-alkenes and 1-alkynes of C1–C4) on rutile TiO2(110). We show that the sticking coefficients for all the hydrocarbons are close to unity (> 0.95) at an adsorption temperature of 60 K. The desorption energies for hydrocarbons of the same chain length increase from n-alkanes to 1-alkenes and to 1-alkynes. This trend is likely a consequence of additional dative bonding of the alkene and alkyne π system to the coordinatively unsaturated Ti5c sites. Similar to previous studies on the adsorption of n-alkanes on metal and metal oxide surfaces, we find that the desorption energies within each group (n-alkanes vs. 1-alkenes vs. 1-alkynes) from Ti5c sites increase linearly with the chain length. The absolute saturation coverages of each hydrocarbon on Ti5c sites were also determined. The saturation coverage of CH4, is found to be ~ 2/3 monolayer (ML). The saturation coverages of C2–C4 hydrocarbons are found nearly independent of the chain length with values of ~ 1/2 ML for n-alkanes and 1-alkenes and 2/3 ML for 1-alkynes. This result is surprising considering their similar sizes.
The effects of intravenous injections of ergonovine and methergine on the postpartum patient.

Abstract There were definite symptoms and signs associated with the intravenous administration of ergonovine and Methergine in 50 postpartum patients. The subjective symptoms in postpartum patients receiving either ergonovine or Methergine were transient and variable, but potentially distressing to the patients. Very few of these symptoms can be attributed to the psychic effect of an intravenous injection. Abdominal symptoms of cramping are the most common and were about equal with the two drugs (80 per cent and 78 per cent with ergonovine and Methergine, respectively). Cerebral symptoms of headache, tinnitus, dizziness, or perspiration are more common with Methergine (50 per cent) than with ergonovine (32 per cent). Thoracic symptoms of chest pain, palpitation, or dyspnea were also more common with Methergine (12 per cent) than with ergonovine (4 per cent), although the number of cases having these complaints is small. Comparisons of results in the present series with those in other series in Table II can be made although the drugs were given at a later time than in either Schade's or Sandin and Hardy's series. It is generally accepted that the more recent parturient reacts to oxytocies more strongly quantitatively than patients farther past their delivery date. In Dieckmann, Forman, and Phillips' series they injected 2 c.c. (0.4 mg.) of ergonovine which is twice the dose used in the present series. In any case, ergonovine seems to have a greater vasopressor action as one of its systemic reactions than Methergine. For this series 48 per cent and 22 per cent of patients receiving ergonovine had a rise in blood pressure greater than 10 mm, or 20 mm, of mercury, respectively. This can be compared with rises of 22 per cent and 10 per cent for Methergine under the same conditions. Ergonovine is more pronounced than Methergine in vasopressor effect on postpartum patients and it is suggested that perhaps the latter drug would be more desirable if patients already had elevated blood pressure. Bradycardia was seen in 36 per cent of the patients receiving ergonovine and in 10 per cent of the patients after Methergine was given. It is possible that these systemic reactions of vasopressor action and bradycardia could, in certain cases, mask symptoms of impending shock in the postpartum patient.
Studies of Mechanisms of Continence, Incontinence and Voiding

To understand continence and voiding, a number of problems of anatomy, forces, pressures and flows must be studied. These may be considered as the “static” and the “dynamic” states during continence and the events leading to initiation and cessation of voiding.
Freezing and fractionation: effects of preservation on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of some limnetic organisms.

Rationale Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen have become important natural tracers for studying food-web structure and function. Considerable research has demonstrated that chemical preservatives and fixatives shift the isotopic ratios of aquatic organisms. Much less is known about the effects of freezing as a preservation method although this technique is commonly used. Methods We conducted a controlled experiment to test the effects of freezing (–10 °C) and flash freezing (–79 °C) on the carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of zooplankton (Cladocera), Mysis diluviana and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Subsamples (~0.5 mg) of dried material were analyzed for percentage carbon, percentage nitrogen, and the relative abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13C and δ15N values) using a Carlo Erba NC2500 elemental analyzer interfaced to a ThermoFinnigan MAT Delta Plus isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Results The effects of freezing were taxon-dependent. Freezing had no effect on the isotopic or elemental values of Rainbow Trout muscle. Effects on the δ13C and δ15N values of zooplankton and Mysis were statistically significant but small relative to typical values of trophic fractionation. The treatment-control offsets had larger absolute values for Mysis (δ13C: ≤0.76 ± 0.41‰, δ15N: ≤0.37 ± 0.16‰) than for zooplankton (δ13C: ≤0.12 ± 0.06‰, δ15N: ≤0.30 ± 0.27‰). The effects of freezing were more variable for the δ13C values of Mysis, and more variable for the δ15N values of zooplankton. Generally, both freezing methods reduced the carbon content of zooplankton and Mysis, but freezing had a negative effect on the %N of zooplankton and a positive effect on the %N of Mysis. Conclusions The species-dependencies and variability of freezing effects on aquatic organisms suggest that more research is needed to understand the mechanisms responsible for freezing-related fractionation before standardized protocols for freezing as a preservation method can be adopted. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Further Comments on Nonparametric Multiple-Comparison Tests

A Monte Carlo study of four nonparametric multiple-comparison tests (the Ryan, Nemenyi, Steel, and Wilcoxon) for k independent groups indicated that the Wilcoxon rank-sum test performed optimally when it was used after a significant over-all Kruskal-Wallis H test.
Quo Vadis: Society for Business Ethics

MOST of you know that I spent Fail 1993 as a Fulbright Professor at Adam ickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland. My Fulbright has been renewed, so I return next month (September 16, 1994) to Poland. The Market Square in Poznan dates from the 10th Century. On the northwest corner of the Market Square stands a building, in fact a museum, which houses the memorabilia of the life and works of Henryk Sienkiewicz. In 1886, Sienkiewicz published his classic novel, Quo Vadis, which became a European best seller in 1900 and for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905.
Effect of Drying on Viscoelasticity and Permeability of Gel

The beam-bending method was used to measure the effect of partial drying on the viscoelastic relaxation behavior and permeability of a two-step acid-base catalyzed silica gel. Both the elastic modulus (E) and the permeability (D) showed a power-law dependence on density (ρ): E ∼ ρm,m ≈ 3.0; D ∼ ρ-n, n ≈ 2.5. The viscosity of the network rose from ∼1011 to ∼1013 Pa·s, and was strongly dependent on age as well as density of the gel. The viscoelastic relaxation function was well described by the stretched exponential function with an exponent of 0.3-0.5.
Bean Leaf Beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): Physical Factors Affecting Larval Movement in Soil

Bean leaf beetle larval movement in response to food and to soil moisture and texture (loamy sand, sandy clay loam, and organic) was studied in laboratory experiments. All larval instars of the bean leaf beetle have the capability for relatively large movements in the soil and will move from unfavorable to favorable food, texture, and moisture conditions. These studies suggest increased desiccation due to cuticle abrasion as one explanation for observed differences in survival among soils.
A glycoprotein inhibitor of in vitro granulopoiesis associated with AIDS.

Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often present with neutropenia. To elucidate the mechanism(s) of this HIV-related neutropenia, we assessed the proliferative capacity of the granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell (CFU-GM) from the bone marrow (BM) of 78 patients within the AIDS spectrum manifesting symptoms or signs related to HIV infection. Of these, 70 had a significant deficit in the growth of this committed progenitor when compared with normal controls (P less than .01). Further analysis revealed that the nucleated bone marrow cells from AIDS and AIDS-related complex (ARC) patients inhibited the growth of CFU-GMs from normal individuals when cocultured in agar (P less than .001). Control CFU-GMs were also inhibited when they were cultured over feeder layers containing patients' BM cells (P less than .001). Conditioned media obtained from the liquid culture of patients' BM cells did not inhibit normal control CFU-GM growth to a degree different from that of the cells themselves (P greater than .4). Analysis of these conditioned media by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) revealed a unique glycoprotein (gp) with a mol wt of 84 kd. Further studies revealed that this gp possessed the inhibitory activity. These data suggest that this gp may be an important factor in HIV-related neutropenia. The presence of gp84 was independent of drugs administered to the patients.
Cooperative effects of interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, and granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor: a new myeloid cell line inducible to eosinophils

The cytokines interleukin-3 (IL-3); IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are known to contribute to the proliferation and differentiation of eosinophil progenitors. Recently, it was determined that the cellular receptors for these three cytokines share a common beta-chain while having unique alpha-chains. Thus, there is considerable interest in how these cytokines and their receptors interact in promoting production of eosinophils. We have established a cell line (AML14) from a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia that will consistently exhibit eosinophilic differentiation in suspension in response to IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF. Proliferation with only modest differentiative effects was observed in response to a single cytokine. Combinations of two cytokines gave variable results, with GM-CSF + IL-3 and IL-3 + IL-5 causing more proliferation than a single cytokine but little more differentiation. The combination of GM-CSF + IL-5 caused marked enhancement of eosinophilic differentiation with only modest augmentation of proliferation. The combination of all three cytokines was most effective in stimulating both proliferation and eosinophilic differentiation (up to 70% of cells) of AML14 cells. Specific binding of GM-CSF and IL-5 to AML14 cells can be conveniently studied by flow cytometric methods, and cross-competition of these two cytokines for their respective receptors was demonstrated. IL-3 was shown to partially compete for IL-5 binding on AML14 cells. Although specific IL- 3 binding could not be demonstrated by flow cytometry, mRNA for the alpha-chains of the IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF receptors and the beta-chain common to all three receptors was detected in AML14 cells. The AML14 cell line may be a useful model for the study of cooperative interactions of IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, and their respective receptors in the promotion of eosinophil progenitor growth and differentiation.
Does Choosing Autograft Hamstring vs. Patellar Tendon by Gender, Sport, Level of Competition or Laxity in High School and College Aged Athletes Improve KOOS, IKDC or Marx?

Objectives:Physicians’ and patients’ decision-making process between autograft hamstring (HG) vs. patellar tendon (BTB) for ACL reconstruction (ACLR) may be influenced by patient gender, laxity level, sport played, and/or competition level in the young, active athlete. ACLR specific to high school and college-aged athletes with these aforementioned factors in mind has not been evaluated. Therefore, our objectives were twofold: first, to develop a simple web-based risk calculator as a decision-making aid to provide the best estimate of expected 2-year KOOS, IKDC, and Marx outcomes by gender, sport, level of competition, and knee laxity. Second, to identify whether autograft HG or BTB is the optimal graft choice given any combination of the aforementioned variables.Methods:Our inclusion criteria in the MOON cohort were patients aged 11-22 who were injured in sport (football, soccer, basketball, other), who were due to have a unilateral primary ACLR with either an autograft HG or BTB, and who had a contralat...
Guanylate-Binding Protein-1 protects ovarian cancer cell lines but not breast cancer cell lines from killing by paclitaxel.

Forced expression of the cytokine-induced large GTPase, human Guanylate-Binding Protein-1 (hGBP-1), in ovarian cancer cell lines increases resistance to paclitaxel. Elevated hGBP-1 RNA in ovarian tumors correlates with shorter recurrence-free survival. In contract, hGBP-1 is part of a gene signature predicting improved prognosis in all subtypes of breast cancers. hGBP-1 does not confer paclitaxel resistance on MCF-7 and TMX2-28 breast cancer cells. Expression of the isotype of the hGBP-1-interacting protein, PIM1, which may contribute to paclitaxel resistance when associated with hGBP-1, is different in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines. Breast cancer cell lines express the 44 kDa isoform of PIM-1, and ovarian cancer cell lines express the 33 kDa isoform.
Effect of amine-modified boron nitride (BN) on ammonium perchlorate decomposition

Solid propellant is an important material in space exploration. It is also used in the automobile and demolition industries as well as in ejection seats and airbags where precise control of burning rate is crucial. In the present work, a novel multiphase boron nitride (BN) material containing NH2 was synthesized and found to have a large impact on energetic materials. The reaction of the BN material with solid oxidizer ammonium perchlorate (AP) was characterized using DSC/TGA, SEM, XPS, and a high-pressure propellant strand burner. Primary amine groups on the BN material participates in a chemical reaction with the AP crystals causing a dramatic weight loss during low-temperature decomposition which is important for high-precision applications. While the burning rates of propellants containing 0.5% of the micron- and nano-sized BN materials increased by about 30% over the baseline formulation with no BN, similar propellants containing the synthesized BN material decreased the burning rate by as much 25%.
Reflection and transmission of obliquely incident light by chiral sculptured thin films fabricated using asymmetric serial-bideposition (ASBD) technique

Chiral sculptured thin films (STFs) were grown using the asymmetric serial-bideposition (ASBD) technique, whereby (i) two sub-deposits of unequal heights are made separated by a substrate rotation of 180° about the central normal axis, and (ii) consecutive subdeposit pairs are separated by a small substrate rotation δ on the order of a few degrees. Eight samples were prepared with sub-deposit heights in ratios of 1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1, 2.5:1, 3:1, 5:1, 7:1, and 9:1. A finely ambichiral STF was also grown. All nine samples were grown with the same vapor flux direction and to have 10 periods with the same thickness. The spectrums of all eight circular remittances of every sample were measured over a wide range of incidence angle θinc. Red-shifting and narrowing of the circular Bragg regime was observed with increasing sub-deposit-height ratio for all values of θinc, arriving at a limit with the 9:1 sample. The finely ambichiral sample has a circular Bragg regime similar to that of the 9:1 sample, but the latter exhibits much better discrimination between incident left circularly polarized light and right circularly polarized light than the former.
Leukemia Cell Differentiation upon Targeted Therapy Revealed By a Systems Biology Approach

Abstract Accurately determining the differentiation status of hematopoietic cells is crucial for understanding tumorigenesis and developing novel therapies for human leukemia. However, most current methods are subject to various biases. In this paper, we have developed a novel systems biology method, called the Lineage Maturation Index, to define the changes in differentiation state of hematopoietic cells based on comprehensive gene expression profiles. The changes in gene expression profiles of a specific hematopoietic lineage are shown asthe “lineage vector” from a point representing the gene expression of a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) to another point representing a mature cell. By projecting the gene expression profile of a specific hematopoietic cell type onto the “lineage vector”, we can compute the LMI and define the relative differentiation state of this cell type. A shift in LMI from HSCs towards mature cell types indicates differentiation. We have confirmed the LMI method can track the differentiation and transdifferentiation of normal hematopoietic cells. Applying this method, we have shown that differentiation is a major consequence of various targeted therapies against leukemia irrespective of the driving oncogenes. Furthermore, we have used the method to screen a drug response library and discovered several drugs currently in clinical use for other purposes have potent differentiation activities in leukemia cells. Therefore, the LMI method is a robust computational approach to characterize differentiation of the hematopoietic system and discover novel differentiation therapy for leukemia. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Making Sense of Space: Distributed Spatial Sensemaking in a Middle School Summer Engineering Camp

Spatial thinking is important for success in engineering. However, little is known about how students learn and apply spatial skills, particularly in kindergarten to Grade 12 engineering learning. The present study investigated the role of spatial thinking in engineering learning at a middle school summer camp. Participants were 26 students (13 female, 13 male), predominantly from underrepresented groups. We took a cognitive ethnographic approach, using observations of hands-on engineering learning activities to identify moments when spatial problems arose and how learners made sense of these problems. We describe these processes as distributed spatial sensemaking because they involved both internal (cognitive) processes and also interactions with other learners, materials, and representations. We identified 90 distributed spatial sensemaking episodes in our data set. These episodes facilitated important engineering practices such as hypothesis testing and design iteration. We also found that different ac...
Ceramide 1-Phosphate Increases P-Glycoprotein Transport Activity at the Blood-Brain Barrier via Prostaglandin E2 Signaling.

P-glycoprotein, an ATP-driven efflux pump, regulates permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Sphingolipids, endogenous to brain tissue, influence inflammatory responses and cell survival in vitro. Our laboratory has previously shown that sphingolipid signaling by sphingosine 1-phosphate decreases basal P-glycoprotein transport activity. Here, we investigated the potential for another sphingolipid, ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P), to modulate efflux pumps at the BBB. Using confocal microscopy and measuring luminal accumulation of fluorescent substrates, we assessed the transport activity of several efflux pumps in isolated rat brain capillaries. C1P treatment induced P-glycoprotein transport activity in brain capillaries rapidly and reversibly. In contrast, C1P did not affect transport activity of two other major efflux transporters, multidrug resistance protein 2 and breast cancer resistance protein. C1P induced P-glycoprotein transport activity without changing transporter protein expression. Inhibition of the key signaling components in the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/prostaglandin E2 signaling cascade (phospholipase A2, COX-2, multidrug resistance protein 4, and G-protein–coupled prostaglandin E2 receptors 1 and 2), abolished P-glycoprotein induction by C1P. We show that COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 are required for C1P-mediated increases in P-glycoprotein activity independent of transporter protein expression. This work describes how C1P activates a signaling cascade to dynamically regulate P-glycoprotein transport at the BBB and offers potential clinical targets to modulate neuroprotection and drug delivery to the CNS.
Abstract P180: Comparison of the Framingham Risk Score With Coronary Artery Disease Burden in Hispanics

Background: The Framingham risk score (FRS) predicts the 10-year risk of having a myocardial infarction (MI). However, the accuracy of the FRS in hispanics has not been throughly evaluated. We compared coronary artery disease (CAD) severity with FRS by ethnic groups in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 178 consecutive patients who were referred for elective coronary angiography at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. We measured the components of the FRS and evaluated ethnicity by self-report. We evaluated CAD severity based on the coronary angiography results. We defined severe CAD if the patients had >= 70% luminal obstruction in a vessel or >=50% in the left main coronary artery. We also evalauted severity as a continuos score of the number of vessels with narrowings>=50%. We calculated the median and interquartile range (IQR) of FRS and correlated with the CAD severity and the p-value for trend as well as analysis of variance to determine if FRS differed by ethnicity adjusted for confounders. Results: We identified 110 patients who identified as Hispanic and 68 patients identified as non-hispanics. At baseline, Hispanics had a mean FRS of 10.0±3.8 and non-Hispanics had a mean FRS of 10.3±5.9 (p=0.70). In Hispanics the median FRS for patients with >= 70% stenosis was 10% (IQR 8.5-13) compared to = 70% stenosis the median FRS was 12.5% (IQR 10-16) compared to those with =50% stenosis (table). Conclusions: The FRS does not correlate with coronary artery disease severity in Hispanics but does correlate with CAD severity in non-Hispanics.
Effects of Pruning on Root and Shoot Growth of Ilex crenata ‘Compacta’

In 2 experiments, shoot pruning at potting reduced root growth of transplanted rooted cuttings (liners). However, tip pruning of plants increased root growth compared to severe pruning (50% of shoots) and increased shoot numbers compared to nonpruned plants. In experiment 1 severe shoot pruning of transplanted liners in September resulted in increased shoot numbers compared to nonpruned plants, while in a second experiment, severe shoot pruning in May had no effect on shoot numbers.
Clothing as a transport vector for airborne particles: Chamber study.

Strong evidence suggests that clothing serves as a reservoir of chemical pollutants and particles, including bioaerosols, which may have health significance. However, little is known about the role that clothing may play as a transport vector for inhaled airborne particles. Here, we contribute toward bridging the knowledge gap by conducting experiments to investigate clothing release fraction (CRF), determined as the size-dependent ratio of released to deposited particulate matter in the diameter range 0.5-10 μm. In a fully controlled chamber with low background particle levels, we deployed a programmable robot to reproducibly quantify the size-dependent CRF as a function of motion type and intensity, dust loadings, and activity duration. On average, 0.3%-3% of deposited particles were subsequently released with fabric motion, confirming that clothing can act as a vehicle for transporting airborne particles. The CRF increased with the vigor of movement and with dust loading. Rubbing and shaking the fabric were more effective than fabric stretching in resuspending particles. We also found that most of the release happened quickly after the onset of the resuspension activity. Particle size substantially influenced the CRF, with larger particles exhibiting higher values.
Actomyosin-Mediated Tension Orchestrates Uncoupled Respiration in Adipose Tissues

Summary The activation of brown/beige adipose tissue (BAT) metabolism and the induction of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression are essential for BAT-based strategies to improve metabolic homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that BAT utilizes actomyosin machinery to generate tensional responses following adrenergic stimulation, similar to muscle tissues. The activation of actomyosin mechanics is critical for the acute induction of oxidative metabolism and uncoupled respiration in UCP1 + adipocytes. Moreover, we show that actomyosin-mediated elasticity regulates the thermogenic capacity of adipocytes via the mechanosensitive transcriptional co-activators YAP and TAZ, which are indispensable for normal BAT function. These biomechanical signaling mechanisms may inform future strategies to promote the expansion and activation of brown/beige adipocytes.
Helper-free Production of Laboratory Grade AAV and Purification by Iodixanol Density Gradient Centrifugation

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is one of the most promising gene therapy vectors and is widely used as a gene delivery vehicle for basic research. As AAV continues to become the vector of choice, it is increasingly important for new researchers to have access to a simplified production and purification protocol for laboratory grade recombinant AAV. Here we report a detailed protocol for serotype independent production of AAV using a helper-free HEK293 cell system followed by iodixanol gradient purification, a method described earlier.1 While the core principals of this mammalian AAV production system are unchanged, there have been significant advancements in the production and purification procedure that serve to boost yield, maximize efficiency, and increase the purity of AAV preps. Using this protocol, we are able to constantly obtain high quantities of laboratory grade AAV particles (>5 × 1012 vg) in a week's time, largely independent of serotype.