cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The changing stratosphere

The current status of stratospheric research on stratospheric ozone is reviewed. Special attention is given to ozone chemistries in the upper and the lower stratosphere at the Antarctic, Arctic, and tropical latitudes, as well as at midlatitudes. The consequences these changes have on global climate are discussed in the framework of a one-dimensional radiative-convective model.
Focused intense ion beams using self-pinched relativistic electron beams

A new two-dimensional diode simulation code is used to show the possibility of using hemispherical diodes to produce converging ion beams in the 1--10-MA range. The pinched electron flow enhances ion emission, while suppressing electron emission, allowing I/subi//I/sube/>1. Such focused ion beams are of considerable interest for use in ablatively driven implosions of fusion targets. (AIP)
Intervention, intervene, interfere ... what are we doing?

TOPIC A concept analysis of the meaning and attributes of the term intervention. PURPOSE To define the essence of the term intervention and the role of nurses in nursefacilitated interventions. SOURCES Literature review of journals, texts, and popular periodicals from 1983 to the present via CINAHL and Medline. CONCLUSIONS A more accurate specification of the meaning and relevant attributes of the term intervention as it relates to nursing may lead to more effective clinical applications, as well as a more realistic definition of the term intervention and how it applies to the role.
Structure–property relationships in the electrostriction response of low dielectric permittivity silicate glasses

Some of the polarization mechanisms that affect the dielectric and electrostrictive responses of low dielectric permittivity glasses are examined in this work. Electrostriction is the basic electromechanical coupling mechanism in all insulators. It is defined as x{sub ij} = Q{sub ijkl}P{sub k}P{sub l}, where x{sub ij} is the strain tensor, Q{sub ijkl} the electrostriction tensor, and P{sub k} the induced polarization. The electrostriction constant Q{sub 11} (in Voigt notation) for glasses containing sodium was found to decrease with frequency in the range 0.1--10 kHz. Q{sub 11} decreased with frequency from 0.95 to 0.55 m{sup 4}/C{sup 2} for sodium trisilicate glass and from 0.6 to 0.45 m{sup 4}/C{sup 2} for sodium aluminosilicate glass. In contrast, the Q{sub 11} for two samples of silica glass remained nearly constant at {approximately}0.4 m{sup 4}/C{sup 2} in this frequency range. The role played by the Na{sup +} ion and that of silicate coordination shells in effecting the different electrostrictive responses of these glasses was analyzed.
Shock Shapes of Blunt Bodies in Hypersonic Helium, Air, and CO, Flows

A primary factor governing hypersonic flowfield characteristics of blunt vehicles entering planetary atmospheres is the normal shock density ratio. Hence, a means of duplicating or simulating the high density ratios experienced during planetary entry is needed. One facility having the capability of generating a range of hypersonic-hypervelocity flow conditions in arbitrary test gases is the expansion tube. Preliminary shock shape results obtained in the Langley 6-in. expansion tube at hypersonic conditions are presented. Normal shock density ratios from approximately 4 to 19 were generated using helium, air, and CO2 test gases at freestream velocities from 5 to 7 km/sec. Test models were a flat-faced cylinder and the Viking aeroshell.
The New Underclass: A Contemporary Sociological Dilemma

This article presents and defends the hypothesis that a new underclass is emerging in America, comprised of the sons and daughters of previously mobile working-class citizens. Through the combined ...
Cell type-specific expression profiling in plants via cell sorting of protoplasts from fluorescent reporter lines.

Cell type–specific expression profiling in plants via cell sorting of protoplasts from fluorescent reporter lines
Neuroimaging and neuroethics: Clinical and policy considerations

Purpose of reviewNeuroimaging is providing a window on severe brain injury and mechanisms of recovery in patients with consciousness disorders. This brief essay will consider the ethical implications of these developments for clinical diagnosis, emerging therapeutics and health policy.Recent finding
Solutions to certain classes of linearized reaction–diffusion equations☆

Abstract A systematic study is presented for the linear manifold of solutions to a generic system of reaction–diffusion equations in the neighborhood of a constant uniform (equilibrium) solution. The theory pertains directly to an arbitrary number of reacting and diffusing molecular or biological species in an arbitrary bounded spatial (1-, 2- or 3-dimensional) region with an impermeable boundary, so that the normal gradient of any species concentration function is zero at all boundary points. The stability analysis developed by previous authors is streamlined here for the case of two reacting and diffusing species, worked out completely for the case of three species, and made more amenable to specialized treatment for cases with four or more species. With the use of modern algebraic computational methods, explicit analytical general solutions to the linearized reaction–diffusion equations are derived for certain classes of model theories. These results either apply directly or admit extension to a wide range of practical reaction–diffusion problems in physical chemistry and biology.
Beam localization in HIFU temperature measurements using thermocouples, with application to cooling by large blood vessels.

Experimental studies of thermal effects in high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures are often performed with the aid of fine wire thermocouples positioned within tissue phantoms. Thermocouple measurements are subject to several types of error which must be accounted for before reliable inferences can be made on the basis of the measurements. Thermocouple artifact due to viscous heating is one source of error. A second is the uncertainty regarding the position of the beam relative to the target location or the thermocouple junction, due to the error in positioning the beam at the junction. This paper presents a method for determining the location of the beam relative to a fixed pair of thermocouples. The localization technique reduces the uncertainty introduced by positioning errors associated with very narrow HIFU beams. The technique is presented in the context of an investigation into the effect of blood flow through large vessels on the efficacy of HIFU procedures targeted near the vessel. Application of the beam localization method allowed conclusions regarding the effects of blood flow to be drawn from previously inconclusive (because of localization uncertainties) data. Comparison of the position-adjusted transient temperature profiles for flow rates of 0 and 400 ml/min showed that blood flow can reduce temperature elevations by more than 10%, when the HIFU focus is within a 2 mm distance from the vessel wall. At acoustic power levels of 17.3 and 24.8 W there is a 20- to 70-fold decrease in thermal dose due to the convective cooling effect of blood flow, implying a shrinkage in lesion size. The beam-localization technique also revealed the level of thermocouple artifact as a function of sonication time, providing investigators with an indication of the quality of thermocouple data for a given exposure time. The maximum artifact was found to be double the measured temperature rise, during initial few seconds of sonication.
Rotation invariant pattern recognition using Zernike moments

A method for recognizing an object in a binary image regardless of its orientation is discussed. The technique is also insensitive to slight deviation in shape and structure from a reference. The rotation-invariant features are the magnitudes of the Zernike moments of the image. Unlike classical moments, the Zernike moments are a mapping of the image onto a set of orthogonal basis functions, which gives them many useful properties. A novel synthesis-based approach for selection of these features is presented. Using this procedure, the discrimination power of features is evaluated by examining dissimilarities among images synthesized from them for different patterns. The method, applied to recognition of all English characters, yielded 95% accuracy. >
HPLC Separations of Meropenem and Selected Pharmaceuticals Using a Polar Endcapped Octadecylsilane Narrow Bore Column

Stability indicating high performance liquid chromatography methods have been developed for the assay of meropenem in combination with either dopamine (A), aminophylline (B), metoclopramide (C) or ranitidine (D) in intravenous fluid mixtures. Separations B, C and D were performed on a polar endcapped ODS column (150×2 mm) with aqueous, pH 3.0—acetonitrile (89∶11, 88∶12, and 92∶8) eluent and detection at 270, 290, 317 nm respectively. Meropenem was linear over the concentration ranges 126.88–507.50, 131.25–525, and 131.25–525 gmg mL−1. Aminophylline, metoclopramide and ranitidine were linear over the concentration ranges 13–52, 37.5–150, and 25–100 μg mL−1. Separation A was performed on a conventional ODS column (150×2.1 mm) with aqueous, pH 3.0—acetonitrile (85∶15) eluent and detection at 280 nm. Meropenem and dopamine were linear in the 61.25–245 and 10–40 μg mL−1 ranges, respectively. Accuracy and precision for all methods were 0.20–3.30% and 0.10–1.58%, respectively. Accelerated stability studies have been carried out on each drug by exposure to acid, base, H2O2, and heat for different time periods.
Sequence-specific DNA binding and transcriptional regulation by the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein.

Chromosomal translocation t(11;17)(q23;21) is associated with a retinoic acid-resistant form of acute promyelocytic leukemia. The translocation fuses the RARα gene to thePLZF gene, resulting in the formation of reciprocal fusion proteins, hypothesized to play prominent roles in leukemogenesis. Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) encodes a transcription factor with nine Kruppel-like zinc fingers, seven of which are retained in the t(11;17) fusion protein RARα-PLZF. We identified a specific DNA-binding site for the PLZF protein and showed that PLZF binds to this site through its most carboxyl seven zinc fingers. In co-transfection experiments, PLZF repressed transcription through its cognate binding site. This repression function of PLZF was mapped to two regions on the protein, including the evolutionarily conserved POZ domain. In contrast, the RARα-PLZF protein activated transcription of a promoter containing a PLZF response element. These results suggest that RARα-PLZF, generated in acute promyelocytic leukemia, is an aberrant transcription factor that can deregulate the expression of PLZF target genes and contribute to leukemogenesis.
Hydrogen bonding effects on the skeletal optical and the longitudinal acoustical modes in long chain molecules and polymers

Raman spectra of stearyl alcohol (n-C18H37OH) indicate that vibrational bands in both the skeletal optical (1000-1200 cm−1) and longitudinal acoustical (0–500 cm−1) regions are considerably perturbed by intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The zone interior skeletal stretching mode reflecting phonon dispersion in the v4 branch of the infinite polyethylene chain is found at 1105 cm−1, approximately 20 cm−1 higher than in the corresponding n-alkane. Similarly the single nodal longitudinal acoustical mode (LAM-1) is found shifted by 12 cm−1 to higher frequency when the expected “mass effect” produced by the OH group is considered. This shift is further increased to 16 cm−1 at −100°C indicating a further perturbation on this accordion mode due to the increased strength of the hydrogen bond at the low temperatures. The positions of the higher multinodal vibrations, LAM-3 and LAM-5, are also perturbed by the hydrogen bond but by differing amounts. The observation of a low-frequency Raman-active LAM in polytetrahydrofuran [(CH2CH2CH2CH2O)n] is discussed in conjunction with the expected effects of hydrogen bonding at the lamellar surface.
Coupled-optical-phonon-mode electron scattering in perovskite oxides

Abstract Conductivity and Hall effect measurements were made on KTa 1− x Nb x O 3 ( x = 0.00,0.04,0.11 and 0.16) in the intermediate temperature range (77–300 K). It was found that the temperatures dependence of the Hall mobility obeyed a semiempirical relationship of Wemple et al . in this temperature range. The main scattering mechanism is proposed to be longitudinal optical phonons which are coupled to the “soft” transverse optical phonons associated with ferroelectricity.
Actinomycosis involving a mandibular odontoma.

A case report is discussed to show the symptoms of actinomycosis associated with dental impaction and infection.
RVUs and DRGs: Do They Fairly Reimburse Physicians and Hospitals and Incentivize Improved Care?

* Abbreviations: BAS — : balloon atrial septostomy BW — : birth weight CPAP — : continuous airway pressure CPT — : current procedural terminology DRG — : diagnosis-related group ELOS — : expected length of stay LOS — : length of stay RVU — : relative value unit In 1989, Congress enacted the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which authorized the Health Care Financing Administration to adopt the use of relative value units (RVUs) as the basis for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to physicians. Each RVU is related to the complexity of the services by a defined current procedural terminology (CPT) code, and each has 3 components: (1) physician work RVUs account for the time spent, the cognitive and technical skills needed, and the overall difficulty involved in providing a service or performing a procedure; (2) practice expense RVUs account for nonphysician clinical staff time, medical supplies, and equipment used to maintain and run the facility where the medical encounter occurs; and (3) professional liability RVUs account for the cost of malpractice insurance. Congress assigns a dollar value to an RVU as part of its annual budget process. The geographic differences in costs across the United States are equalized by a geographic practice cost index applied to each RVU. Over time, the use of RVUs has become the reimbursement basis for many private health insurance carriers and for Medicaid and Medicare and has been used as a surrogate measure of physician productivity; it is of paramount importance that the relative value of a physician’s work be accurately reflected by the RVUs generated, especially when comparing physicians’ work across specialties. Of the three RVU components, physician work RVUs have proven the most controversial and challenging to accurately quantify. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is required by Congress to review and update RVUs every 5 years. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services seeks input from a variety of sources including the American Medical Association–Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee, which is composed of 29 members, most of whom represent medical specialty societies. This committee meets 3 times … Address correspondence to David Rubenstein, MD, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, 3959 Broadway, CHN 1200A, New York, NY 10032. E-mail: sdr26{at}columbia.edu
Use of life table statistics and degree-day values to predict the invasion success of Gonatocerus ashmeadi (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an egg parasitoid of Homalodisca coagulata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), in California

Abstract Life table statistics and degree-day requirements for Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault, a parasitoid of the glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca coagulata (Say), were used to estimate the number of expected parasitoid generations in California (USA). Between two to 51 and one to 37 generations per year were estimated across different climatic regions in California, using life table and degree-day models, respectively. Temperature-based values for net reproductive rate, R o , were estimated in California using a laboratory-derived equation and ranged from zero to approximately 48 and analyses indicate that a minimum of eight generations are required each year to sustain a population increase of G. ashmeadi . Long-term weather data from 381 weather stations across California were used with an Inverse-Distance Weighting algorithm to map temperature-based estimations for the entire state of California. This Geographic Information Systems model was used to determine number of G. ashmeadi generations based on day-degree accumulation, T c , and R o . GIS mapping indicated that Californian counties in the north, central west coast, central west and Sierra Nevada regions may be climatic conditions unfavorable for supporting the permanent establishment of invading populations of G. ashmeadi should H. coagulata successfully establish year-round populations in these areas. Southern counties in California that experience warmer year round temperatures and support year round populations of H. coagulata , appear to be conducive to the establishment of permanent populations of G. ashmeadi . The mechanisms facilitating G. ashmeadi invasion and the implications of these temperature-based estimates for biological control of H. coagulata are discussed.
Worming Our Way In and Out of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline and Developing Embryo

The germline and embryo of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have emerged as powerful model systems to study membrane dynamics in an intact, developing animal. In large part, this is due to the architecture of the reproductive system, which necessitates de novo membrane and organelle biogenesis within the stem cell niche to drive compartmentalization throughout the gonad syncytium. Additionally, membrane reorganization events during oocyte maturation and fertilization have been demonstrated to be highly stereotypic, facilitating the development of quantitative assays to measure the impact of perturbations on protein transport. This review will focus on regulatory mechanisms that govern protein trafficking, which have been elucidated using a combination of C. elegans genetics, biochemistry and high-resolution microscopy. Collectively, studies using the simple worm highlight an important niche that the organism holds to define new pathways that regulate vesicle transport, many of which appear to be absent in unicellular systems but remain highly conserved in mammals.
Biological applications of a technique for broadband complex permittivity measurements

A broadband coax technique developed for the measurement of dielectric properties of biological substances up to at least 20 GHz is discussed. For water-based materials such as blood or muscle substitute phantoms, a 0.047 inch size probe is essential to minimize errors due to radiation. The data indicate the importance of dielectric volume of the constituents, and enable tailoring of phantoms and substitutes for use in biomedical applications. >
A new approach for voltage control area identification based on reactive power sensitivities

This paper presents a new method for determining coherent bus group called voltage control area (VCA) based on reactive power control capabilities of that area. VCA can be used in voltage stability assessment and optimal reactive power allocation. The proposed method is based on the sensitivity of reactive power of generator to reactive power of load which is the direct relation between the production and consumption of reactive power in the system. The results are shown for the New England 39 bus test system and 68 bus test system.
The Relationship of Job and Elder Caregiving Involvement to Work-Caregiving Conflict and Work Costs

This article examines the relationship between job and elder caregiving involvement, bi-directional work-caregiving conflict (work interfering with caregiving [WIC] and caregiving interfering with ...
Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by, and Nonlytic Exocytosis from, Acanthamoeba castellanii†

Cryptococcus neoformans, an encapsulated, pathogenic yeast, is endowed with a variety of virulence factors, including a polysaccharide capsule. During mammalian infection, the outcome of the interaction between C. neoformans and macrophages is central to determining the fate of the host. Previous studies have shown similarities between the interaction of C. neoformans with macrophages and with amoebae, resulting in the proposal that fungal virulence for mammals originated from selection by amoeboid predators. In this study, we investigated the interaction of C. neoformans with the soil amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. Comparison of phagocytic efficiency of the wild type, nonencapsulated mutants, and complemented strains showed that the capsule was antiphagocytic for amoebae. Capsular enlargement was associated with a significant reduction in phagocytosis, suggesting that this phenomenon protects against ingestion by phagocytic predators. C. neoformans var. neoformans cells were observed to exit amoebae several hours after ingestion, in a process similar to the recently described nonlytic exocytosis from macrophages. Cryptococcal exocytosis from amoebae was dependent on the strain and on actin and required fungal viability. Additionally, the presence of a capsule was inversely correlated with the likelihood of extrusion in certain strains. In summary, nonlytic exocytosis from amoebae provide another parallel to observations in fungus-macrophage interactions. These results provide additional support for the notion that some mechanisms of virulence observed during mammalian infection originated, and were selected for, by environmental interactions.
Placental-like growth factor (PIGF) as a marker of ectopic pregnancy: validation in a case control study

costly, and time-consuming clinical dilemmas in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. This study seeks to determine if the pattern of fall in hCG curves can discriminate failing intrauterine (SAB) from ectopic pregnancies (EP). DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women presenting in 1990 to 2007 at a single university center with symptomatic first trimester PULs, multiple declining hCG values managed with expectant management, and a final diagnosis of EP or SAB were included. Days to diagnosis and percentage drop from initial hCG at 4 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks were compared using 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles for sensitivity for ruling out EP. Cut-offs were validated on a cohort of women from three university centers with the same inclusion criteria presenting in 2007-2009. RESULTS: 1551 women (146 EP and 1405 SAB) were included. Women with EPs were older (28.3 vs. 25.1 yrs, P<0.05), had higher gravidity (3.3 vs. 2.3, P<0.05) and had higher hCG at presentation (469 vs. 308 mIU/mL, P<0.05) than women with SABs. An 85% hCG drop within 4 days or a 95% hCG drop within 7 days were both 100% sensitive for ruling out EP. Applying the 4-day cutoff would have saved additional follow-up on 16% of the SABs (229/1405); a total of 2841 person days and 277 visits. Applying the 7-day cutoff would have saved 9% (126/1405) of SABs further followup; a total of 1294 person days and 182 visits. When these criteria were applied to 179 EPs from the racially and geographically diverse validation cohort, each cut-off ruled out EP with 100% sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The decline in hCG is slower in EPs than SAB, and may be used to determine the frequency and duration of follow-up. Costs and patient timemay be saved by allowing womenwhomeet the 4-day or 7-day cutoff for hCG drop to be followed less frequently, as this is unlikely to result in failure to diagnose EP. Supported by: R01-HD036455 (KB, MDS), K24HD060687 (KB) and the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship (KED).
Porcine epithelial β-defensin 1 is expressed in the dorsal tongue at antimicrobial concentrations

Epithelial cells and phagocytes contain antimicrobial polypeptides that participate in innate host defense. A recently cloned porcine beta-defensin, PBD-1, was detected by Northern organ blots exclusively in the tongue epithelium. We generated recombinant PBD-1 peptide by using a baculovirus-insect cell expression system and obtained two forms (PBD-142 and PBD-138), which differed by N-terminal truncation. Only PBD-142 was found in scrapings of the surface of the dorsal tongue or the buccal mucosa. Immunohistochemical staining with antibody to PBD-142 revealed that PBD-1 was highly concentrated in an approximately 0.1-mm-thick layer in the cornified tips of the filiform (but not fungiform) papillae of the dorsal tongue and in the superficial squamous cell layers of the buccal mucosa. By scraping, extraction, and semiquantitative Western blotting, the concentration of PBD-1 in the dorsal tongue surface and the buccal mucosa was estimated at 20 to 100 micrograms/ml. PBD-1 had antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Candida albicans in 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Added NaCl progressively inhibited the activity of PBD-1 against E. coli and C. albicans. In 10 mM sodium phosphate with 125 mM NaCl, the combinations of sublethal concentrations of PBD-1 and the porcine neutrophil peptide PG-3, PR-39, or PR-26 showed synergistic activity against E. coli or the multidrug-resistant S. typhimurium DT104. At its physiologic concentration, PBD-1 has antimicrobial effects under both low- and high-salt conditions encountered in the oral cavity and may contribute to the antimicrobial barrier properties of the dorsal tongue and oral epithelium.
The characterization of a 34-meter beam-waveguide antenna at Ka band (32.0 GHz) and X band (8.4 GHz)

New antennas for the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) have been built to replace the aging antennas of older designs for deep-space communications. These new antennas incorporate a new dual-shape design as well as a beam waveguide (BWG), which utilize a series of additional secondary mirrors to relocate the focal point into a stationary room below the main reflector. The advantages of using such a design include increased isolation of the feed package from outside environmental factors, such as moisture, wind, and temperature changes; and ease of access to the equipment for maintenance, troubleshooting and repair purposes. This article reports on the performance of a beam waveguide antenna at X-band and Ka-band microwave frequencies. The Ka-band antenna performance experiment (KaAP) antenna-efficiency measurements presented in this article were acquired at the Goldstone DSS-13 research and development (R&D) beam-waveguide antenna between December, 1993, and November, 1995. The measured antenna efficiency and ground-station figure-of-merit (gain divided by operating system noise temperature) as a function of elevation angle and their uncertainties are presented. Also described are the station configuration, the measurement technique, the modeling used in the analysis processing, and the historical evolution of the DSS-13 Ka-band antenna-efficiency measurements as progressive improvements and configuration changes were implemented.
Rethinking the global carbon cycle with a large, dynamic and microbially mediated gas hydrate capacitor

Prominent negative N 13 C excursions characterize several past intervals ofabrupt ( 6 100 kyr) environmental change. These anomalies, best exemplified by the s 2.5x drop across the Paleocene/Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) ca. 55.5 Ma, command our attention because they lack explanation with conventional models for global carbon cycling. Increasingly, Earth scientists have argued that they signify massive release of CH4 from marine gas hydrates, although typically without considering the underlying process or the ensuing ramifications of such an interpretation. At the most basic level, a large, dynamic ‘gas hydrate capacitor’ stores and releases 13 C-depleted carbon at rates linked to external conditions such as deep ocean temperature. The capacitor contains three internal reservoirs: dissolved gas, gas hydrate, and free gas. Carbon enters and leaves these reservoirs through microbial decomposition of organic matter, anaerobic oxidation ofCH 4 in shallow sediment, and seafloor gas venting; carbon cycles between these reservoirs through several processes, including fluid flow, precipitation and dissolution of gas hydrate, and burial. Numerical simulations show that simple gas hydrate capacitors driven by inferred changes in bottom water warming during the PETM can generate a global N 13 C excursion that mimics observations. The same modeling extended over longer time demonstrates that variable CH4 fluxes to and from gas hydrates can partly explain other N 13 C excursions, rapid and slow, large and small, negative and positive. Although such modeling is rudimentary (because processes and variables in modern and ancient gas hydrate systems remain poorly constrained), acceptance ofa vast, externally regulated gas hydrate capacitor forces us to rethink N 13 C records and the operation ofthe global carbon cycle throughout time.
The Woods of Childhood: Forest and Fairy Tale in Pavel Zasodimskii's Nature Writing

IB eauteous, sumptuously beauteous are the Zyrian forests in summertime, when they are all in greenery and bloom," proclaims Pavel Vladimirovich Zasodimskii (18431912) in his lengthy sketch "Lesnoe tsarstvo" ("The Forest Kingdom").' Exclamations about the wonders of northern Russia's vast and impenetrable forests occur throughout the works of this narodnik writer. Colored by memory and feelings of both loss and belonging, these extensive passages reflect a fundamental struggle within Zasodimskii and his generation: an attraction to romantic concepts (of childhood, nature, and the supernatural) at war with an educated shestidesiatnik's awareness of a duty to maintain a sober worldview and a positivist appreciation for progress. Zasodimskii, whose works in various ways often foreground nature, childhood, and rural Russia, thus stands at the intersection of several major currents in Russian life during the second half of the nineteenth century: the "battle for childhood," an emerging appreciation of Russian landscape, and an ongoing debate over forests and their significance to Russian identity.2 A prolific chronicler of peasant and provincial life, a journal editor, and a colleague or mentor of many leading progressive writers, Zasodimskii usually receives brief mention
Evidence for AKT-independent regulation of FOXO1 and FOXO3 in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Transcription factors FOXOs (1, 3, 4) are essential for the maintenance of haematopoietic stem cells. FOXOs are evolutionary conserved substrates of the AKT serine threonine protein kinase that are also phosphorylated by several kinases other than AKT. Specifically, phosphorylation by AKT is known to result in the cytosolic localization of FOXO and subsequent inhibition of FOXO transcriptional activity. In addition to phosphorylation, FOXOs are regulated by a number of other post-translational modifications including acetylation, methylation, redox modulation, and ubiquitination that altogether determine these factors' output. Cumulating evidence raises the possibility that in stem cells, including in haematopoietic stem cells, AKT may not be the dominant regulator of FOXO. To address this question in more detail, we examined gene expression, subcellular localization, and response to AKT inhibition of FOXO1 and FOXO3, the main FOXO expressed in HSPCs (haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells). Here we show that while FOXO1 and FOXO3 transcripts are expressed at similar levels, endogenous FOXO3 protein is mostly nuclear compared to the cytoplasmic localization of FOXO1 in HSPCs. Furthermore, inhibition of AKT does not enhance nuclear localization of FOXO1 nor FOXO3. Nonetheless AKT inhibition in the context of loss of NAD-dependent SIRT1 deacetylase modulates FOXO3 localization in HSPCs. Together, these data suggest that FOXO3 is more active than FOXO1 in primitive haematopoietic stem and multipotent progenitor cells. In addition, they indicate that upstream regulators other than AKT, such as SIRT1, maintain nuclear FOXO localization and activity in HSPCs.
Energy drink compounds differentially affect anxiety, locomotion, depression and cognition in adolescent and adult female rats

sensitivity (ˇC =−0.74, p<0.01; ˇO =−0.28, p<0.01), and income sensitivity (ˇC =0.66, p<0.01; ˇO =0.46, p<0.01). The evidence of interactions between the price of one drug and the consumption of another drug are, however, mixed, and drug-specific. Conclusions: The behavior of populations that simultaneously consume cannabis and opium suggests that consumers treat them as substitutes or complements for each other. A key implication of this finding is that the control of one drug may simply lead to consumers switching to or reducing the consumption of the other drug. Financial Support: This research benefited from funding from the NIH under NIDA grants 1R21 DA025917 and 1R21 DA020160.
Molecular structure of [(tBu)2Al(μ-NHtBu)]2

The crystal and molecular structure of [(tBu)2Al(μ-NHtBu)]2 has been determined. The unit cell contains two independent molecules with only slight variation in the orientation of thetert-butyl ligands. Crystal data: Triclinic,\(P\bar 1\),a=9.0138(6),b=10.2944(8),c=15.791(1) A, α=91.262(6), β=89.822(6), γ=106.141(6)°,V=1407.2(2) A3,Z=2,R=0.039,Rw=0.041.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Protein Folding and Stability Using a Tryptophan Modification Protocol

Described here is the development of a mass spectrometry-based covalent labeling protocol that utilizes the reaction of dimethyl(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)sulfonium bromide (HNSB) with tryptophan (Trp) residues to measure protein folding free energies (ΔGf values). In the protocol, the chemical denaturant dependence of the rate at which globally protected Trp residues in a protein react with HNSB is evaluated using either a matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight analysis of the intact protein or a quantitative, bottom-up proteomics analysis using isobaric mass tags. In the proof-of-principle studies performed here, the protocol yielded accurate ΔGf values for the two-state folding proteins, lysozyme and cytochrome c. The protocol also yielded an accurate measure of the dissociation constant (Kd value) for the binding of N,N′,N″-triacetylchitotriose to lysozyme, and it successfully detected the binding of brinzolamide to BCA II, a non-two-state folding protein. The HNSB protocol can be us...
Analysis of AIDS epidemic trend and the main control measures and effects in Mianyang City

[Objective]To understand AIDS epidemic trend and the main control measures and effects in Mianyang City,and provide a reference for the development of prevention strategies.[Methods]According to the national AIDS prevention and control information system,descriptive epidemiology was used to analyze the AIDS epidemic trend and the main control measures and effects in Mianyang City. [Results]From 1995-2013,totally 1 536 cases of HIV/AIDS with local address were reported in 12 counties of Mianyang City,with 244 death cases and 1 292 alive,distributing in Fucheng District,Jiangyou City,Santai County,Youxian District,accounting for 71.90% of the total. Young adults aged 20-49 accounted for 79.69%. The age structure showed the number of 50 years cases was increasing significantly. Farmers,unemployed and housework accounted for 32.80%and 24.28% respectively. The main transmission route was sexual contact,accounting for 88.86%. Fifty five HIV screening laboratories,208 detection points and 1 confirmed laboratory were established in Mianyang City. The HIV/AIDS follow-up testing increased from 85.12% in 2009 to 98.78% in 2013. The proportion of AIDS antiretroviral therapy increased from 60.82% in 2009 to 95.17% in 2013. [Conclusion]The AIDS epidemic is at a low level in Mianyang City. The main control measures have obvious effects. But it is still necessary to enhance the laboratory management and quality control,management and treatment of infected individuals,intervention and health education of high-risk groups.
Secretin inhibition of gastrin-stimulated deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis.

Gastrin has been established as an important trophic hormone for certain tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. This study examined the trophic response of the gastrointestinal tract to pentagastrin, secretin, metiamide (antihistamine, H2 receptor blocker), and histamine by examining their effects on mucosal DNA synthesis. Fasted rats were killed 16 hr after an injection of saline, pentagastrin (250 ?tg per kg), metiamide (2 mg per kg), secretin (75 U per kg), histamine (20 mg per kg), or combinations of secretin and pentagastrin, or metiamide and pentagastrin. Pieces of tissue from the oxyntic gland region, duodenum, and ileum, were incubated for 30 min with 2 gc per ml of [3H]thymidine. DNA was extracted, and the incorporation of thymidine was determined by liquid scintillation counting. Results were expressed as disintegrations per minute per milligram of wet weight of tissue, or per microgram of DNA as a percentage of the saline-injected control animals. There was no significant difference between these two means of expression. Pentagastrin stimulated DNA synthesis to 50, 60, and 100% (P
Damage in Brain Tissue Due to Single Bubble Cavitation Shock

A novel experimental technique was developed to visualize and control single bubble cavitation initiation, growth, and its collapse. The influence of this process on a nearby tissue surrogate was investigated and then extended to a rat brain tissue. The technique utilized a modified polymer Hopkinson pressure bar system which transmits a simulated blast pressure wave with over and under pressure components to a fluid-filled test chamber implanted with a seed gas bubble. Growth and collapse of this bubble was visually recorded with a high speed camera. Using Raleigh-Plessat equation, bubble collapse pressures 29–125 times that of peak blast overpressure are predicted to be the source of localized shock waves. Finally, the value of this experimental platform to investigate the single bubble cavitation-induced fluid jet impact on a rat brain tissue and the associated damage evolution is illustrated.
Bayesian Model-Based Automatic Landmark Detection for Planar Curves

Identifying landmarks, points of interest on a shape, is crucial for many statistical shape analysis applications. Landmark-based methods dominate early literature, more recently, a method combining continuous shape outlines with landmark constraints was proposed. Unfortunately, methods requiring landmark specification depend on the number selected and their locations, such annotations are tedious for large datasets and subject to human interpretation. This work provides a Bayesian model-based method for automatic landmark selection, based on good approximations of landmark set interpolations. We outline an appropriate prior and likelihood, allowing for efficient posterior inference on landmark locations. The model allows for location uncertainty quantification, an important inferential procedure for further analysis. A method for selecting an appropriate number of landmarks is also discussed. Applications include a simulated example, shapes from the MPEG-7 dataset, and mice vertebrae.
Evaluation and politics: tips and barriers to use

ABSTRACTIn 2014, an annual lecture series was established in honour of Howard White, the first executive director of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie). Each year, a 3ie selection committee invites a distinguished international development professional to deliver a lecture on a topic related to 3ie’s mission. This paper is a transcription of the second lecture in that series on use of evaluation. The author gives the perspective from different development organisations in which she worked, including for research, decision-making and commissioning bodies and presents key lessons on getting evidence used in decision-making.
Abstract 3004: Contextual RNAi screen identifies ACLY and ACC1 as mediators of hypoxia-induced apoptosis through metabolic and transcriptional mechanisms

To become established as a solid tumor, cancer cells must adapt to and survive under various tumor microenvironment (TME) stresses, such as hypoxia or lactic acidosis. While many stress-signaling mechanisms have been well-studied, much remains unknown about how tumor cells survive these stresses during tumor progression. To identify genes that modulate cellular survival under stresses, we performed genome-wide shRNA screens under hypoxia or lactic acidosis. We discovered that the genetic depletion of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACACA or ACC1) or ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) protected cancer cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis through both metabolic and transcriptional mechanisms. First, while depleting α-ketoglutarate in control cells, hypoxia unexpectedly increased levels of α-ketoglutarate in the cells depleted of ACC1 or ACLY. Supplementation with α-ketoglutarate rescued the hypoxia-induced apoptosis in a mitochondria-dependent manner. Second, loss of ACLY or ACC1 reduced protein levels and activity of the oncogenic transcription factor ETV4. Silencing of ETV4 protected cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis and triggered remarkably similar global transcriptional responses as with silenced ACLY or ACC1. Importantly, within tumor expression datasets, ETV4 transcriptional activity was highly correlated with ACLY or ACC1 gene expression signatures. Therefore, ETV4 acted as a key regulator of the transcriptional output of lipogenic activity via ACLY or ACC1. These results reveal a novel interconnectedness between cellular metabolic and transcriptional responses for life or death decisions under stress. Since lipogenic inhibitors are under investigation as cancer therapeutics, our findings suggest that the use of these inhibitors will need to be carefully considered with respect to tumor hypoxia, progression and dormancy. More broadly, our screen provides a framework for studying additional tumor cell stress-adaption mechanisms in the future. Citation Format: Melissa M. Keenan, Beiyu Liu, Xiaohu Tang, Jianli Wu, Derek Cyr, Robert D. Stevens, Olga Ilkayeva, Joseph Lucas, Deborah M. Muoio, So Young Kim, Jen-Tsan Chi. Contextual RNAi screen identifies ACLY and ACC1 as mediators of hypoxia-induced apoptosis through metabolic and transcriptional mechanisms. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3004. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3004
Molecular dynamics studies of interaction between asphaltenes and solvents

Abstract Understanding of the molecular interaction between asphaltenes and other molecules, which may act as its solvents, provides insights into the nature of its stability in petroleum fluids and its phase transitions. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed and reported here on systems consisting of a single asphaltene molecule and pure solvents. Three types of asphaltenes with different architectures, molecular weights, and heteroatoms content were investigated. Water and ortho-xylene were selected to be the interacting solvents. All simulations were performed by using GROMACS software. OPLS_AA potential model for hydrocarbons and SPC/E potential model for water were used in simulations. It was shown that the polar functional groups in asphaltenes were responsible for generating hydrogen bonds (HBs) between asphaltenes and water. It was also demonstrated that both electrostatic (ES) and van der Waals (vdW) interaction energies between asphaltenes and water had important roles. On the contrary, ES between asphaltenes and ortho-xylene had a minor effect as compared with the vdW. In all cases, potential energies increased rather slightly when the pressure was boosted. Moreover, they decreased noticeably when the temperature was raised. HBs between asphaltenes and water were not influenced by pressure change. Additionally, they increased slightly when the temperature was dropped.
Advanced Chemical Characterization of Pyrolysis Oils from Landfill Waste, Recycled Plastics, and Forestry Residue

Waste material pyrolysis has proven useful for the production of pyrolysis oils; however, the physical properties and chemical composition of pyrolysis oils are greatly influenced by the feedstock. It is well established that lignin- and cellulose-rich material produces pyrolysis oils high in aromatic oxygen-containing compounds, whereas pyrolysis oils produced from other sources such as plastics and household wastes are far less characterized. Here, three fast pyrolysis oils produced from landfill waste, recycled plastics, and pine forestry residue are compared by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), comprehensive 2D gas chromatography (GC×GC), Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), and liquid chromatography. GC×GC, FT-ICR MS, and liquid chromatography provide insight into the chemical composition of pyrolysis oils, whereas FT-IR analysis identifies functional groups. Landfill and plastic pyrolysis oils were found to contain higher hydroca...
Neuromodulation in multiple sclerosis

Neuromodulation, or the utilization of advanced technology for targeted electrical or chemical neuronal stimulation or inhibition, has been expanding in several neurological subspecialties. In the past decades, immune-modulating therapy has been the main focus of multiple sclerosis (MS) research with little attention to neuromodulation. However, with the recent advances in disease-modifying therapies, it is time to shift the focus of MS research to neuromodulation and restoration of function as with other neurological subspecialties. Preliminary research supports the value of intrathecal baclofen pump and functional electrical stimulation in improving spasticity and motor function in MS patients. Deep brain stimulation can improve MS-related tremor and trigeminal neuralgia. Spinal cord stimulation has been shown to be effective against MS-related pain and bladder dysfunction. Bladder overactivity also responds to sacral neuromodulation and posterior tibial nerve stimulation. Despite limited data in MS, transcranial magnetic stimulation and brain-computer interface are promising neuromodulatory techniques for symptom mitigation and neurorehabilitation of MS patients. In this review, we provide an overview of the available neuromodulatory techniques and the evidence for their use in MS.
Use of Marijuana and Other Substances Among Pregnant and Parenting Women With Substance Use Disorders: Changes in Washington State After Marijuana Legalization.

Objective:In 2012, possession of marijuana for nonmedical use was legalized in Washington State. This study examined how legalization affected alcohol and drug use in a sample of pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders.Method:Study participants from nine counties in Washington State (N = 1,359) were questioned about their substance use after completing a 3-year case management intervention program. The sample was divided into two cohorts based on whether participants had completed the program before or after legalization.Results:Most study participants reported complete abstinence from alcohol and nonprescription drugs at program exit. Among those who were still using substances, women who completed the intervention after marijuana legalization were significantly more likely to report marijuana use at program exit compared with women who completed the intervention before marijuana legalization. Across both cohorts (pre- and post-legalization), we found a positive association of exit mari...