cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TNP-470 Reduces Glioblastoma Angiogenesis in Three Dimensional GelMA Microwell Platform

Tumor angiogenesis is a promising target for cancer treatment, because severing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to tumors halts tumor growth. Unfortunately, many anticancer drugs, including angiogenesis inhibitors, fail in clinical trials, despite showing high efficiency during in vitro and in vivo experiments. This inconsistency from in vitro and in vivo experiments to clinical trials represents a major obstacle in drug development and cancer treatment. Therefore, we set out to demonstrate how our rapid, stable, easy-to-use three-dimensional (3-D) in vitro angiogenesis model can be used to investigate tumor formation and implement drug screening. In this study, we utilized a 3-D in vitro angiogenesis model, based on gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel microwells, to mimic the native microenvironment of tumor angiogenesis. Using this model, we were able to quantify the immigration of endothelial cells into a cancer spheroid during the angiogenic process. Next, we tested the anti-angiogenic effect of the angiogenesis inhibitor, TNP-470, on the cancer spheroids in the model. Based on our results, we believe that this novel in vitro system can be widely used for the high-throughput screening of other anti-angiogenic drugs, and could contribute to the development of personalized medicine in the future.
Diversity in Dermatology Residency Programs

Given the change in our population to one that is more racially and ethnically diverse, the topic of diversity in dermatology residency programs has gained attention. In a field that has become highly competitive, diversity is lagging behind. What are the reasons for this? The existing diversity among medical school matriculants is reflective of the applicant pool, and although modest, there has been an increase in applications and acceptances from minority populations. However, these proportions do not carry through to the population applying to dermatology residency. Making sense of this and planning how to recruit a more diverse applicant pool will improve the quality and cultural competency of future dermatologists.
Acute cholangitis - an update

Acute cholangitis is bacterial infection of the extra-hepatic biliary system. As it is caused by gallstones blocking the common bile duct in most of the cases, its prevalence is greater in ethnicities with high prevalence of gallstones. Biliary obstruction of any cause is the main predisposing factor. Diagnosis is established by the presence of clinical features, laboratory results and imaging studies. The treatment modalities include administration of intravenous fluid, antibiotics, and drainage of the bile duct. The outcome is good if the treatment is started early, otherwise it could be grave.
Gender Differences on SF-36 Patient-Reported Outcomes of Diabetic Foot Disease:

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of gender on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using a generic (Short Form-36 [SF-36]) and region-specific (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure [FAAM]) health measurement tool among a matched cohort of male and female patients with diabetes-related foot complications. The HRQOL of 240 patients with diabetic foot disease was measured using the SF-36 and the FAAM surveys. A total of 120 male patients were matched with 120 female patients with the same primary diagnosis, age, type, and duration of diabetes and insulin use. The SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were calculated using orthogonal and oblique rotation methods. The median age of the respondents was 54 years (interquartile range = 46-61). No differences in patient characteristics were found between genders. Among the SF-36 subscales, women reported significantly worse physical function ( P = .014) and bodily pain ( P = .021) scores with a trending decrease in general health score ( P = .067). Subsequently, women had worse orthogonal ( P = .009) and oblique PCS scores ( P = .036) than men. However, orthogonal ( P = .427) or oblique ( P = .140) MCS scores did not differ between groups. No significant differences in FAAM scores with respect to gender were appreciated. Our findings suggest that in patients with diabetic foot disease, women tend to report lower physical HRQOL compared with men. In efforts to increase compliance, providers should recognize the impact of gender on patients' perceptions of foot-related complications of diabetes. This knowledge may improve outcomes by adapting more individualized and gender-specific approaches to patients.
A Deflationist Approach to Indeterminacy and Vagueness

Deflationists cannot make sense ofthe notion of referential indeterminacybecause they deny the existence of substantivereference. One way for them to make sense ofthe objective existence of linguisticindeterminacy is by embracing theworldly (or objectual) view ofindeterminacy, the view that indeterminacyexists not in reference relations but in the(non-linguistic) world itself. On this view,the entire world is divided into precisified worlds, just as it is dividedinto temporal slices and (arguably) alethicpossible worlds. Supervaluationism proves tobe neutral with respect to the debate betweenthe worldly view and the referential view ofindeterminacy.
Study of the VSC-HVDC Black Start Strategy Improvement Based on RTDS Closed Loop Simulation

With the large scale VSC-HVDC project put into operation, the black start based on the VSC-HVDC has become the key consideration for the dispatching operation department to formulate the black start scheme of power grid. In this paper, the mechanism of the black start control strategy and the feasibility of the black start with the target network charging were studied. An improved control strategy was proposed to optimize the timing of the switch closing, that made the network voltage raising from zero to rated during VSC-HVDC system charging process. Meanwhile, a RTDS black start simulation model using Luxi Back-to-back VSC-HVDC system as power supply of Yunnan power grid/Guangxi power grid was built. With VSC-HVDC C & P system and the RTDS model, a closing loop simulation platform of power grid black-start system was built. Simulation results verified the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Familial risk in pediatric cancer and implications for practice.

9561 Background: Using a unique genealogical resource, the Utah Population Database, we examined risk of cancer in 1st- through 3rd-degree relatives of 4,482 pediatric cancer cases ≤18 years old di...
Sí o no, què penses? Catalonian Independence and Linguistic Identity on Social Media

Political identity is often manifested in language variation, but the relationship between the two is still relatively unexplored from a quantitative perspective. This study examines the use of Catalan, a language local to the semi-autonomous region of Catalonia in Spain, on Twitter in discourse related to the 2017 independence referendum. We corroborate prior findings that pro-independence tweets are more likely to include the local language than anti-independence tweets. We also find that Catalan is used more often in referendum-related discourse than in other contexts, contrary to prior findings on language variation. This suggests a strong role for the Catalan language in the expression of Catalonian political identity.
Extracellular heat shock proteins in neurodegenerative diseases: New perspectives

One pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases and CNS trauma is accumulation of insoluble, hydrophobic molecules and protein aggregations found both within and outside cells. These may be the consequences of an inadequate or overburdened cellular response to stresses resulting from potentially toxic changes in extra- and intracellular environments. The upregulated expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) is one example of a highly conserved cellular response to both internal and external stress. Intracellularly these proteins act as chaperones, playing vital roles in the folding of nascent polypeptides, the translocation of proteins between subcellular locations, and the disaggregation of misfolded or aggregated proteins in an attempt to maintain cellular proteostasis during both homeostatic and stressful conditions. While the predominant study of the HSPs has focused on their intracellular chaperone functions, it remains unclear if all neuronal populations can mount a complete stress response. Alternately, it is now well established that some members of this family of proteins can be secreted by nearby, non-neuronal cells to act in the extracellular environment. This review addresses the current literature detailing the use of exogenous and extracellular HSPs in the treatment of cellular and animal models of neurodegenerative disease. These findings offer a new measure of therapeutic potential to the HSPs, but obstacles must be overcome before they can be efficiently used in a clinical setting.
Systematic implications of flavonoids in Hazardia

Abstract The flavonoid patterns in Hazardia species support species delimitations and relationships based on morphology and geography. The compounds thus far elucidated are glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, luteolin, and apigenin, glycoflavones of apigenin, and methoxylated flavonol aglycones.
Recent evolutionary history predicts population but not ecosystem‐level patterns

In the face of rapid anthropogenic environmental change, it is increasingly important to understand how ecological and evolutionary interactions affect the persistence of natural populations. Augmented gene flow has emerged as a potentially effective management strategy to counteract negative consequences of genetic drift and inbreeding depression in small and isolated populations. However, questions remain about the long-term impacts of augmented gene flow and whether changes in individual and population fitness are reflected in ecosystem structure, potentiating eco-evolutionary feedbacks. In this study, we used Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) in experimental outdoor mesocosms to assess how populations with different recent evolutionary histories responded to a scenario of severe population size reduction followed by expansion in a high-quality environment. We also investigated how variation in evolutionary history of the focal species affected ecosystem dynamics. We found that evolutionary history (i.e., gene flow vs. no gene flow) consistently predicted variation in individual growth. In addition, gene flow led to faster population growth in populations from one of the two drainages, but did not have measurable impacts on the ecosystem variables we measured: zooplankton density, algal growth, and decomposition rates. Our results suggest that benefits of gene flow may be long-term and environment-dependent. Although small in replication and duration, our study highlights the importance of eco-evolutionary interactions in determining population persistence and sets the stage for future work in this area.
Signal Green Time Estimation Method for Connected Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Applications

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) are becoming more integrated with traffic signal infrastructure for V2I applications, such as traffic light indication and automated driving. However, modern traffic signal controllers allocate green time using vehicle sensors and therefore the anticipated green time has significant stochastic variation. This study develops a methodology to characterize green time stochastic variation for actuated-coordinated operation. During the peak hours where the demand was highly consistent, green intervals can be predicted with high certainty. In contrast, during midday and late evening, stochastic variation increased significantly due to the varying arrival patterns and associated real-time responsiveness of the traffic signal controller. The statistical characterization methods presented in this paper are important for green light optimized speed advisory (GLOSA) and eco-driving, technologies that rely on having an accurate estimate of the beginning of green (BOG) and end of green (EOG). Prior knowledge on typical values of how early to stop or shutdown the vehicles at a traffic signal approach can significantly improve efficiency and manage emissions for CAV. The paper concludes with a proposed graphical performance measure chart that can be used by traffic engineers and automotive vendors to frame the discussion on traffic signal operation.
The Trend of In-Hospital Epilepsy and Its Mortality in the USA: A National Analysis During 1997 - 2014

Background: This study focuses on the trend of prevalence of epilepsy hospital discharges in the USA, and the aim is to find any change in the trend of prevalence of epilepsy in the USA and its in-hospital mortality. Methods: A retrospective cohort study used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) national database to analyze trends of epilepsy outcomes between 1997 and 2014. Results: A total of 4,594,213 total epilepsy discharges were documented between 1997 and 2014 in the HCUP database. The prevalence of annual discharges increased significantly during the study period from 209,002 discharges in 1997 to 280,255 in 2014 (P < 0.0001). There were a total of 35,643 in-hospital deaths due to epilepsy within the cohort during the study period. Mortality of epilepsy decreased across the entire cohort and between genders. In 1997, there were 2,256 documented in-hospital deaths, while 1,759 were recorded in 2014 (P = 0.00157). Conclusions: Our data showed that the prevalence of hospital epilepsy discharges is increasing in recent years; however, the in-hospital mortality is decreasing. The increase in the prevalence could be due to better detection or increased population, while the improved mortality could be due to better available treatments in recent years. Focusing on designing more accurate and affordable screening tools, as well as targeting further pharmacology-based treatments are an area of research that requires further investigation. J Neurol Res. 2020;10(1):3-6 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr563
Ideals and Realities: An Examination of the Factors Shaping Newcomer Programming in Six U.S. School Districts

District and school leaders face the challenge of designing and implementing supports for immigrant newcomers who have recently arrived in the US, speak little English, and are unfamiliar with the ...
EASE: EM-Assisted Source Extraction from calcium imaging data

Abstract Combining two-photon calcium imaging (2PCI) and electron microscopy (EM) provides arguably the most powerful current approach for connecting function to structure in neural circuits. Recent years have seen dramatic advances in obtaining and processing CI and EM data separately. In addition, several joint CI-EM datasets (with CI performed in vivo, followed by EM reconstruction of the same volume) have been collected. However, no automated analysis tools yet exist that can match each signal extracted from the CI data to a cell segment extracted from EM; previous efforts have been largely manual and focused on analyzing calcium activity in cell bodies, neglecting potentially rich functional information from axons and dendrites. There are two major roadblocks to solving this matching problem: first, dense EM reconstruction extracts orders of magnitude more segments than are visible in the corresponding CI field of view, and second, due to optical constraints and non-uniform brightness of the calcium indicator in each cell, direct matching of EM and CI spatial components is nontrivial. In this work we develop a pipeline for fusing CI and densely-reconstructed EM data. We model the observed CI data using a constrained nonnegative matrix factorization (CNMF) framework, in which segments extracted from the EM reconstruction serve to initialize and constrain the spatial components of the matrix factorization. We develop an efficient iterative procedure for solving the resulting combined matching and matrix factorization problem and apply this procedure to joint CI-EM data from mouse visual cortex. The method recovers hundreds of dendritic components from the CI data, visible across multiple functional scans at different depths, matched with densely-reconstructed three-dimensional neural segments recovered from the EM volume. We publicly release the output of this analysis as a new gold standard dataset that can be used to score algorithms for demixing signals from 2PCI data. Finally, we show that this database can be exploited to (1) learn a mapping from 3d EM segmentations to predict the corresponding 2d spatial components estimated from CI data, and (2) train a neural network to denoise these estimated spatial components. This neural network denoiser is a stand-alone module that can be dropped in to enhance any existing 2PCI analysis pipeline.
Process and punishment: alleged alumbrados before the Mexican Holy Office, 1593–1603

On 14 March 1593 the Spanish Inquisition’s General Edict of Faith was read aloud from the pulpit of Mexico City’s main church. The assembled audience would have heard a catalog of heretical errors ...
The Impact of COVID-19 Proactive Outreach With Somali Seniors.

Despite Somali patients in Minnesota testing at a positivity rate of 23% for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is underutilization of testing and virtual health care technologies, creating disparities. Drawing on our knowledge of Somali patients’ preferences for verbal communication, we
15727 KATP channel prodrugs as therapeutics for chronic pain and substance abuse disorders

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Pharmacological activation of KATP channels may provide analgesia and attenuate opioid tolerance and withdrawal OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Our long term goal is to develop therapeutics for the treatment of the overuse of opioids. The objective of this application is to test novel KATP channel-targeting prodrugs in rodent models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain in addition to opioid tolerance after chronic morphine administration. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In one study, two different measures for chronic pain were implemented in mice. Male and female mice (n=10) were subjected to spinal nerve ligation (SNL) or intraplantar injection of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) to induce neuropathic and inflammatory pain, respectively. Administration of KATP channel prodrugs (60ug, it) attenuated mechanical hypersensitivity after SNL or CFA compared to vehicle (saline). In a separate study, changes in mechanical hypersensitivity were tested while mice undergo chronic morphine treatment (15mg/kg, 2x, 5 days) with administration of the prodrugs. Tolerance was measured as the loss of antinociception, and withdrawal is measured ˜24 hours after the final morphine injection. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Intrathecal administration of either KATP channel prodrugs significantly attenuated mechanical hypersensitivity after SNL and significantly attenuated mechanical hypersensitivity after CFA in mice. We predict that intrathecal administration of these prodrugs will also attenuate morphine tolerance and withdrawal in mice. This hypothesis is based off our previous data indicating non-water soluble KATP channel agonists produce analgesia and attenuate morphine tolerance in mice. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Pharmaceutical strategies to utilize KATP channels for therapeutics have been hindered due to the low solubility and low ability to cross the neurovascular unit. Newly developed, water-soluble KATP channel openers could be useful pharmaceutical strategy to reduce chronic pain, opioid tolerance, and withdrawal in human populations.
The newly emerging field of pediatric engineering: Innovation for our next generation

Neonates, infants, and children have unique physiology and body surface areas that dramatically change during growth and development, and the substantial diversity of complicated pediatric illnesses and rare childhood diseases are distinct from the adult sphere. Unfortunately, medical innovation is generally constrained to retrofitting adult treatment strategies for this heterogeneous population. This conventional, but limited, approach ignores the dynamic biopsychosocial, growth, and developmental complexities that abound, as one progresses through this life cycle from newborn onward toward early adulthood. Forward-thinking solutions are essential to advance the state-of-the-art to address the challenges and unmet clinical needs that are uniquely presented by the pediatric population, and it has become obvious that newly trained engineers are essential for success. These unmet clinical needs and the necessity of new technical skills and expertise give rise to the emergence of an entirely new field of engineering and applied science: Pediatric Engineering. The field of Pediatric Engineering flips conventional wisdom that adult therapies can simply be scaled or successfully modified for children. It commandeers design to suit the specific needs of the child, while anticipating the dynamic growth and development into adulthood. We are growing a new pipeline of educated scientists and engineers who will have developed a unique toolbox of skills that they can use to tackle unmet clinical needs in global pediatric healthcare for years to come.
A mixed-methods approach to understanding laptop-free zones in college classrooms

Abstract Laptop use within college courses has been a topic of debate for nearly two decades. Completely banning laptops from college classes may seem appealing given the potential drawbacks, but these policies may have unintended consequences. One seemingly successful intervention that can address these conflicting goals is the use of laptop zones and laptop-free zones which allows students who want to use their laptops to continue to do so, without hindering the performance of those who do not. We examine the efficacy of this intervention through the lens of the theory of self-regulated learning. We implemented laptop(-free) zones in two large college courses with a total of 168 students, 60 of whom reported sitting in a laptop-zone. Students sitting in the laptop-free zone performed better on objective measures of learning on the day of learning new material, but this difference was not significant five days later on a measure of retention. Further, there were no differences between these groups on self-rated performance at the point of retention. By examining open-ended responses regarding their motivation to sit in the laptop-free zone or the laptop-zone, we found students who sat in the laptop-free zone typically reported wanting to avoid distractions and enhance their memory of the material/class performance compared to those who sat in the laptop zone. Also, more individuals who sat in the laptop zone reported doing so to ensure completeness of their notes, to look up extra course-related material, and to complete non-course related tasks while listening to the lecture. Lastly, we pose a set of future directions aimed at learning more about the use of laptops in and outside of class, and how we can help students be successful using laptops for learning.
Complications associated with energy-based devices during thyroidectomy from 2010–2020

Abstract Objective Harmonic Focus (Ethicon, Johnson and Johnson, Cincinnati, OH, USA), LigaSure Small Jaw (Medtronic, Covidien Products, Minneapolis, MN, USA), and Thunderbeat Open Fine Jaw (Olympus, Japan) are electrosurgical instruments used widely in head and neck surgery. The study aims to compare device malfunctions, adverse events to patients, operative injuries, and interventions related to Harmonic, LigaSure, and Thunderbeat use during thyroidectomy. Methods The US Food and Drug Administration's Manufacture and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was queried for adverse events associated with Harmonic, LigaSure, and Thunderbeat from January 2005 to August 2020. Data were extracted from reports pertaining to thyroidectomy. Results Of the 620 adverse events extracted, 394 (63.5%) involved Harmonic, 134 (21.6%) LigaSure, and 92 (14.8%) Thunderbeat. The reported device malfunctions most frequently associated with Harmonic was damage to the blade (110 (27.9%)), LigaSure was inappropriate function (47 (43.1%)), Thunderbeat was damage to the tissue or Teflon pad (27 (30.7%)), respectively. Burn injury and incomplete hemostasis were the most commonly reported adverse events. The operative injury reported most frequently when using Harmonic and LigaSure was burn injury. No operator injuries were reported with Thunderbeat use. Conclusion The most frequently reported device malfunctions were damage to the blade, inappropriate function, and damage to the tissue or Teflon pad. The most frequently reported adverse events to patients was a burn injury and incomplete hemostasis. Interventions aimed at improving physician education may help reduce adverse events attributed to improper use.
The "Need to Knowledge" Model: An operational framework for knowledge translation and technology transfer

Despite substantial and sustained investment of public funds in research and development, the return in new or improved Assistive Technology devices or services has not met expectations. The paper asserts that the creation, translation and transfer of technology-based knowledge is hampered by assumptions regarding the primacy of research over development and production, and the accompanying dominance of academia over industry. Parity between methods and sectors is needed to transform ideas into inventions and on to innovations. The Need to Knowledge Model offers a framework for achieving this parity in practice.
Behavioral Portfolio Selection

Portfolios satisfy both financial needs and psychological needs. Behavioral portfolio selection is a framework for understanding how psychology impacts investors' portfolios. Whereas risk and return are the central variables in neoclassical portfolio selection, the behavioral approach emphasizes the roles of emotions such as hope and fear, aspirations, the framing of outcomes as gains or losses relative to reference points, regret aversion, self-control, and judgmental biases. Keywords: SP/A theory; prospect theory; narrow framing; regret; self-control; heuristics; biases, disposition effect; attention hypothesis; overreaction effect; lottery stocks; diversification
The Singularity: A Crucial Phase in Divine Self-Actualization?

Ray Kurzweil and others have posited that the confluence of nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and genetic engineering will soon produce posthuman beings that will far surpass us in power and intelligence. Just as black holes constitute a ldquo;singularityrdquo; from which no information can escape, posthumans will constitute a ldquo;singularity:rdquo; whose aims and capacities lie beyond our ken. I argue that technological posthumanists, whether wittingly or unwittingly, draw upon the long-standing Christian discourse of ldquo;theosis,rdquo; according to which humans are capable of being God or god-like. From St. Paul and Luther to Hegel and Kurzweil, the idea of human self-deification plays a prominent role. Hegel in particular emphasizes that God becomes wholly actualized only in the process by which humanity achieves absolute consciousness. Kurzweil agrees that God becomes fully actual only through historical processes that illuminate and thus transform the entire universe. The difference is that for Kurzweil and many other posthumanists, our offspringmdash;the posthumansmdash;will carry out this extraordinary process. What will happen to Home sapiens in the meantime is a daunting question.br /br /
Consul Gabriela Mistral in Portugal, 1935-1937: "Un policía en la esquina y dos o tres espías adentro del hotel"

Portugal marca un punto de inflexion en la carrera literaria y consular de Gabriela Mistral. Su convalecencia en Lisboa se vio transformada por el estallido de la Guerra Civil espanola. Trabajo para evacuar academicos, artistas, y medicos. Cuando las autoridades chilenas buscaron trasladarla, sus amigos le facilitaron invitaciones de Ginebra y Paris, algo que le permitio seguir colaborando en el trabajo humanitario desde Portugal, donde consiguio una reorientacion hacia America y una proyeccion mayor desde el reconocimiento europeo, que amplio la visibilidad de su trabajo y figura. Un analisis cuidadoso de sus acciones desde Lisboa revela el impacto que estas tuvieron mas alla de su propia vida, a traves de los emigrantes que contribuyeron a universidades y a otras instituciones en Mexico, EE.UU. y Argentina. La identificacion y secuenciacion de sus escritos revela como ella fracaso y se recupero del reves de sus dos primeras misiones consulares.
Transcriptional regulation by iron and role during plant pathogenesis of genes encoding iron- and manganese-superoxide dismutases of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a

Abstract The bean pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae B728a, may require iron-superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) and manganese–superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activities in protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in planta . Genes encoding FeSOD or MnSOD of P. syringae B728a were cloned by hybridization with specific PCR probes amplified from P. syringae genomic DNA. The sodB gene was monocistronic whereas the sodA gene was transcribed as part of a 1.4 kb polycistronic operon, consisting of orfX-sodA . A putative Fur consensus sequence was located upstream of the orfX-sodA operon. The sodB (FeSOD) gene was expressed throughout growth, but was down regulated under iron deficient conditions. In contrast, the sodA (MnSOD) gene was expressed only under iron deficient conditions. Mutants defective in sodA and sodB genes were generated by marker exchange mutagenesis. Unlike other bacterial SOD deficient mutants, the P. syringae B728a sodAsodB mutant was not impaired in growth on rich or minimal medium, but it was more sensitive to paraquat than wild-type. The P. syringae B728a SOD deficient mutants caused bacterial brown spot disease on bean pods or leaves to the same extent as wild-type. Thus, these superoxide dismutases may not be key enzymes for aerobic metabolism and pathogenicity in P. syringae B728a.
Histidine-rich glycoprotein blocks T cell rosette formation and modulates both T cell activation and immunoregulation.

Abstract Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) is a plasma and platelet protein with undefined function in vivo. It has been reported to inhibit rosette formation between murine T cells and erythrocytes. We have shown that HRGP binds specifically to human T lymphocytes but not sheep erythrocytes and have demonstrated a 56-kDa HRGP-binding protein on the T cell surface which is distinct from the CD2 sheep erythrocyte receptor. We have now investigated whether HRGP can inhibit human T cell-sheep erythrocyte rosette formation and whether HRGP can modulate T cell activation. HRGP at physiologic concentrations specifically inhibited rosette formation between human T lymphocytes and sheep erythrocytes. HRGP suppressed proliferation of antigen receptor (CD3)-triggered T cells induced by interleukin 2; this suppression was specifically reversed by prior incubation of HRGP with affinity-purified anti-HRGP IgG. Addition of HRGP 12-24 h after CD3 triggering no longer suppressed T cell proliferation, suggesting HRGP suppressed T cell division by interfering with one or more early events in the process of T cell activation. Human serum (containing 100-150 micrograms/ml HRGP) was also capable of suppressing T cell proliferation; serum which had been immunodepleted of HRGP no longer inhibited T cell proliferation. Furthermore, HRGP inhibited interleukin 2 receptor expression on activated T cells, causing decreased T cell interferon-gamma release and altered T cell-dependent inhibition of erythropoiesis. HRGP is thus capable of modulating T cell activation and T cell immunoregulation; HRGP may function as a natural suppressive regulator of human T lymphocyte activation.
Preserving software in history museums: a material culture approach

The development of computer software ranks among the major historical advances of the last century. Preserving a representative historical record of this achievement is an international cultural goal. Achieving the goal, however, must be the shared responsibility of many cultural institutions working together. These institutions include archives, libraries, and museums, in both the public and private sectors. What should be the specific role of history museums?
Infinite slope stability under steady unsaturated seepage conditions

[1] We present a generalized framework for the stability of infinite slopes under steady unsaturated seepage conditions. The analytical framework allows the water table to be located at any depth below the ground surface and variation of soil suction and moisture content above the water table under steady infiltration conditions. The framework also explicitly considers the effect of weathering and porosity increase near the ground surface on changes in the friction angle of the soil. The factor of safety is conceptualized as a function of the depth within the vadose zone and can be reduced to the classical analytical solution for subaerial infinite slopes in the saturated zone. Slope stability analyses with hypothetical sandy and silty soils are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the framework. These analyses indicate that for hillslopes of both sandy and silty soils, failure can occur above the water table under steady infiltration conditions, which is consistent with some field observations that cannot be predicted by the classical infinite slope theory. A case study of shallow slope failures of sandy colluvium on steep coastal hillslopes near Seattle, Washington, is presented to examine the predictive utility of the proposed framework.
Contraction mediated by Ca++ release in circular and Ca++ influx in longitudinal intestinal muscle cells.

The source of Ca++ responsible for contraction was examined in muscle cells isolated separately from the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of guinea pig and human intestine. Contraction was measured by scanning micrometry and cytosolic-free Ca++ ([Ca++]i) with the fluorescent indicator, quin2. In both species, contraction induced in circular muscle cells by cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) and acetylcholine was not affected by withdrawal of Ca++ from the medium or addition of the Ca++ channel blocker, methoxyverapamil, whereas contraction induced by both agonists in longitudinal muscle cells and by depolarizing concentrations of K+ in both cell types was abolished. Depletion of intracellular Ca++ stores with caffeine in Ca++-free medium abolished the response in circular muscle cells. Readdition of Ca++ to the medium for 30 sec restored the response in longitudinal but not circular muscle cells. [Ca++]i, measured in guinea pig muscle cells, increased 3- to 4-fold above resting levels (circular, 70.8 +/- 8.1 nM; longitudinal, 77.4 +/- 9.7 nM) in response to all three contractile agents. The increase in [Ca++]i induced by CCK-8 and acetylcholine in circular muscle cells was not affected by withdrawal of Ca++ from the medium or addition of methoxyverapamil, whereas the response to both agonists in longitudinal muscle cells and to 20 mM K+ in both cell types was abolished. It was concluded that cells from adjacent muscle layers of the intestine mobilize Ca++ differently during agonist-induced contraction, i.e., by Ca++ release in circular and Ca++ influx in longitudinal muscle cells.
A Proposal to Improve Taxpayer Heart Health

A proposal that the IRS adopt a color-coded, scratch and sniff system for correspondence with taxpayers so that taxpayers will not suffer unnecessary cardiac events upon receiving such correspondence from the IRS.
Definitions and sharpness of the extratropical tropopause: A trace gas perspective

[1] Definitions of the extratropical tropopause are examined from the perspective of chemical composition. Fine-scale measurements of temperature, ozone, carbon monoxide, and water vapor from approximately 70 aircraft flights, with ascending and descending tropopause crossings near 40°N and 65°N, are used in this analysis. Using the relationship of the stratospheric tracer O3 and the tropospheric tracer CO, we address the issues of tropopause sharpness and where the transitions from troposphere to stratosphere occur in terms of the chemical composition. Tracer relationships indicate that mixing of stratospheric and tropospheric air masses occurs in the vicinity of the tropopause to form a transition layer. Statistically, this transition layer is centered on the thermal tropopause. Furthermore, we show that the transition is much sharper near 65°N (a region away from the subtropical jet) but spans a larger altitude range near 40°N (in the vicinity of the subtropical jet). This latter feature is consistent with enhanced stratosphere-troposphere exchange and mixing activity near the tropopause break.
Effects of Picture Prompts Delivered by a Video iPod on Pedestrian Navigation

Transportation access is a major contributor to independence, productivity, and societal inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This study examined the effects of pedestrian navigation training using picture prompts displayed through a video iPod on travel route completion with 4 adults with IDD. Results indicated a functional relation between picture prompts on the video iPod and pedestrian navigation skills to and from various locations. Maintenance data indicated all participants continued navigating trained routes for up to 232 days using the video iPod. Generalization measures to untrained routes were positive. Social validity data suggested iPod training was useful and practical for teaching independent pedestrian navigation skills. Last, limitations, suggestions for future research, and implications for practice were provided.
Toxicity of chronic low level exposures to toluene diisocyanate in animals.

Abstract The toxicity of repeated inhalation exposures to 0.1 ppm of toluene diisocyanate was studied in rats, rabbits and guinea pigs. The experiment consisted of two parts: (A) 38 six-hour weekly exposures on rabbits and rats, (B) 58 six-hour daily exposures on rabbits, rats and guinea pigs. The development of bronchiolitis fibrosa obliterans in rats is the complication of primary interest. A description and illustrations of the lesion are given. Other biological effects of toluene diisocyanate are discussed.
The morphology and performance of suspension-feeding appendages☆☆☆

Abstract Many aquatic animals feed on small particles that they remove from the surrounding water using suspension-feeding appendages. Calanoid copepods are an ecologically important group of particle-feeding animals whose diverse second maxillae provide an ideal system for investigating how the structure and behavior of suspension-feeding appendages affect their performance. Questions about the selective particle capture and the cost of movement of such appendages are outlined, and theoretical approaches that might point to answers are suggested in this paper.
Gricean Charity: The Gricean Turn in Psychology

Psychologists' work on conversational pragmatics and judgment suggests a refreshing approach to charitable interpretation and theorizing. This charitable approach—what I call Gricean charity—recogn...
Problems of testing inclusive fitness claims among humans, with an example on sibship

Abstract Sociobiological theories of human behavior that are based on “inclusive fitness” are difficult to falsify. To improve this situation, it seems essential to select for testing those behaviors that are not already well recognized, and to base predictions on the most straight-forward line of reasoning from basic assumptions, avoiding auxiliary assumptions that are problematic. One such test, relating number of siblings to one's likelihood of marriage, produces a negative result, though it is still difficult to pin this down as a falsification.
Control of the Interface Between Electron‐Hole and Electron‐Ion Plasmas: Hybrid Semiconductor‐Gas Phase Devices as a Gateway for Plasma Science

Coupling electron-hole (e–- h+) and electron-ion plasmas across a narrow potential barrier with a strong electric field provides an interface between the two plasma genres and a pathway to electronic and photonic device functionality. The magnitude of the electric field present in the sheath of a low temperature, nonequilibrium microplasma is sufficient to influence the band structure of a semiconductor region in immediate proximity to the solid-gas phase interface. Optoelectronic devices demonstrated by leveraging this interaction are described here. A hybrid microplasma/semiconductor photodetector, having a Si cathode in the form of an inverted square pyramid encompassing a neon microplasma, exhibits a photosensitivity in the ∼420–1100 nm region as high as 3.5 A/W. Direct tunneling of electrons into the collector and the Auger neutralization of ions arriving at the Si surface appear to be facilitated by an n -type inversion layer at the cathode surface resulting from bandbending by the microplasma sheath electric field. Recently, an npn plasma bipolar junction transistor (PBJT), in which a low temperature plasma serves as the collector in an otherwise Si device, has also been demonstrated. Having a measured small signal current gain hfe as large as 10, this phototransistor is capable of modulat-ing and extinguishing the collector plasma with emitter-base bias voltages <1 V. Electrons injected into the base when the emitter-base junction is forward-biased serve primarily to replace conduction band electrons lost to the collector plasma by secondary emission and ion-enhanced field emission in which ions arriving at the base-collector junction deform the electrostatic potential near the base surface, narrowing the potential barrier and thereby facilitating the tunneling of electrons into the collector. Of greatest significance, therefore, are the implications of active, plasma/solid state interfaces as a new frontier for plasma science. Specifically, the PBJT provides the first opportunity to control the electronic properties of a material at the boundary of, and interacting with, a plasma. By specifying the relative number densities of free (conduction band) and bound (valence band) electrons at the base-collector interface, the PBJT's emitter-base junction is able to dictate the rates of secondary electron emission (including Auger neutralization) at the semiconductor-plasma interface, thereby offering the ability to vary at will the effective secondary electron emission coefficient for the base surface (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Biological Effects of Bacterial Endotoxins in Man

The studies reviewed in the present manuscript outline some of the biologic effects of endotoxins in man. The human being is the most sensitive animal to bacterial endotoxins. The sensitivity of the various parameters measured revealed that granulocytosis induced by endotoxin is the most sensitive (i.e., requires the smallest dose), fever the next most sensitive, an increase in plasma cortisol the third most sensitive, and the induction of a reproducible growth hormone response the least sensitive. Although many of our studies are descriptive, it is hoped that they will lead to better understanding of some of the pathophysiologic events that accompany gram-negative bacterial infections in man. Finally, when appropriately used, bacterial endotoxins can be useful tools in the diagnosis and management of certain hematologic and endocrinologic disorders of man.
Preserving the Identity of Small Settlements during Post‐Disaster Reconstruction in Italy

The nature of small, historic settlements in Apennine Italy is described and options for reconstructing them are discussed. Villages and towns are disproportionately vulnerable to damage by even small earthquakes, which can cause substantial changes to their distinctive character. Responses to such events are outlined, including various strategies of evacuation and the process of developing standardized methods for post-disaster architectural survey. Rationales for demolishing damaged buildings, and their role in causing decentralization of the settlements, are discussed. The effects of temporary shelter and contemporary reconstruction plans are evaluated in terms of their impact on the changing urban landscape of such towns. Finally, inconsistencies in government reconstruction funding are shown to be responsible for much of the variability of post-disaster recovery in Italy. Hence, existing theoretical models are of little use in predicting the course of reconstruction.
Toward a broader vision for Information Systems

In December of 2009, several founders of the Information Systems (IS) academic discipline gathered for a panel discussion at the International Conference on Information Systems to present their visions for the future of the field, and their comments were summarized in the inaugural issue of TMIS [Davis et al., 2010; J. F. J. Nunamaker et al., 1991]. To assure a robust future, they argued, IS journals, conferences, reviewers, promotion committees, teachers, researchers, and curriculum developers must broaden the scope of IS. This article explores the need for a broader vision to drive future development of the IS discipline.
Coming out and coming back: Rural gay migration and the city

Abstract This research focuses on the complex meaning and role of the city in American and French rural gay men’s imaginary and life experience. It explores how gay men who grew up in the country build their sense of self through back-and-forth movement from rural to urban spaces. Therefore, it questions traditional gay migration studies, which have often equated gay migration and rural–urban migration, positing a unidirectional pattern. After contextualizing rural male homosexuality, this paper presents four life itineraries which highlight the central role the city has for rural gay men when exploring their same-sex desires and attractions. Based on the analysis of their life narratives, we show that for most of them, their coming out, their first same-sex experience, and coming to terms with their sexuality happens “far from home” in a city or a college town. However, this research suggests that the city has a more ambivalent role for rural gay men. While the city exists as a space of social practices where alternative sexualities can be experienced and explored, at the same time for many rural gay men the city remains substantially unattractive. In their view, the perceived “effeminizing power” of the city questions and challenges their attraction for this space. Therefore, the experience of the city becomes both liberating and disciplinary – liberating because it allows the exploration of their same-sex desires and attractions, disciplinary because it (re)presents a gay identity in which they find no resonance. Thus this research indicates that rural gay migration to the urban spaces, which is key to identity formation, includes not only departure to the city but also a necessary return to the country to maintain rural gay men’s understanding of themselves.
Isolation and X-ray crystal structures of the organolithium etherate complexes, [Li(Et2O)2(CPh3)] and [{Li(Et2O)(2,4,6-(CHMe2)3C6H2)}2]

Abstract The organolithium etherate complexes [Li(Et 2 O) 2 (CPh 3 )] ( 1 ) and [{Li(Et 2 O)(2,4,6-(CHMe 2 ) 3 C 6 H 2 )} 2 ] ( 2 ) have been crystallized from their ether solutions and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The complex 1 has the rare mononuclear structure, with lithium coordinated to two ethers and at least three carbon atoms of the CPh 3 group; it thus offers an interesting comparison to the structure of [Li(12-crown-4) 2 ][CPh 3 ], which contains a free [CPh 3 ] − ion. The structure of complex 2 is dimeric, and features two lithium atoms bridging between two 2,4,6-(CHMe 2 ) 3 C 6 H 2 (Trip) groups. The lithium atoms are three-coordinate, being bonded to diethyl ether in addition to two carbon atoms. A significant feature of this structure is the asymmetric nature of the lithium bridging, with significant distortion in the angles and distances surrounding lithium being apparent. This is suggestive of the weak association due to the large size of the Trip group. These structures represent rare additions to the small number of known structures involving organolithium compounds solvated by commonly used monodentate ether solvents.