cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bismuth Nanoantibiotics Display Anticandidal Activity and Disrupt the Biofilm and Cell Morphology of the Emergent Pathogenic Yeast Candida auris.

Candida auris is an emergent multidrug-resistant pathogenic yeast, which forms biofilms resistant to antifungals, sanitizing procedures, and harsh environmental conditions. Antimicrobial nanomaterials represent an alternative to reduce the spread of pathogens—including yeasts—regardless of their drug-resistant profile. Here we have assessed the antimicrobial activity of easy-to-synthesize bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) against the emergent multidrug-resistant yeast Candida auris, under both planktonic and biofilm growing conditions. Additionally, we have examined the effect of these BiNPs on cell morphology and biofilm structure. Under planktonic conditions, BiNPs MIC values ranged from 1 to 4 µg mL−1 against multiple C. auris strains tested, including representatives of all different clades. Regarding the inhibition of biofilm formation, the calculated BiNPs IC50 values ranged from 5.1 to 113.1 µg mL−1. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that BiNPs disrupted the C. auris cell morphology and the structure of the biofilms. In conclusion, BiNPs displayed strong antifungal activity against all strains of C. auris under planktonic conditions, but moderate activity against biofilm growth. BiNPs may potentially contribute to reducing the spread of C. auris strains at healthcare facilities, as sanitizers and future potential treatments. More research on the antimicrobial activity of BiNPs is warranted.
Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Genetic Testing and Tailored First-Line Therapy for Patients With Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Importance Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is frequently driven by oncogenic KIT variations. Imatinib targeting of KIT marked a new era in GIST treatment and ushered in precision oncological treatment for all solid malignant neoplasms. However, studies on the molecular biological traits of GIST have found that tumors respond differentially to imatinib dosage based on the KIT exon with variation. Despite this knowledge, few patients undergo genetic testing at diagnosis, and empirical imatinib therapy remains routine. Barriers to genetic profiling include concerns about the cost and utility of testing. Objective To determine whether targeted gene testing (TGT) is a cost-effective diagnostic for patients with metastatic GIST from the US payer perspective. Design, setting, and participants This economic evaluation developed a Markov model to compare the cost-effectiveness of TGT and tailored first-line therapy compared with empirical imatinib therapy among patients with a new diagnosis of metastatic GIST. The main health outcome, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs were obtained from the literature, and transitional probabilities were modeled from disease progression and survival estimates from randomized clinical trials of patients with metastatic GIST. Data analyses were conducted October 2019 to January 2020. Exposure TGT and tailored first-line therapy. Main outcomes and measures The primary outcome was QALYs and cost. Cost-effectiveness was defined using an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio less than $100 000/QALY considered cost-effective. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess model stability. Results Therapy directed by TGT was associated with an increase of 0.10 QALYs at a cost of $9513 compared with the empirical imatinib approach, leading to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $92 100. These findings were sensitive to the costs of TGT, drugs, and health utility model inputs. Therapy directed by TGT remained cost-effective for genetic testing costs up to $3730. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis found that TGT-directed therapy was considered cost-effective 70% of the time. Conclusions and relevance These findings suggest that using genetic testing to match treatment of KIT variations to imatinib dosing is a cost-effective approach compared with empirical imatinib.
Preventing Medication Nonadherence of Youth (13–24 Years) With HIV Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a dynamic, behavioral intervention to optimize medication adherence of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with HIV newly initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and explore its efficacy on adherence and disease outcomes. Methods The two-arm randomized controlled trial piloted a brief, individualized intervention designed for direct integration into standard clinical care. In total, 32 AYAs with a confirmed HIV diagnosis, reportedly horizontally acquired, and recommended to initiate HAART completed a two-week placebo trial before HAART initiation and were subsequently randomized to standard of care or the individualized intervention. Adherence and disease outcomes were measured over the first six months of HAART. Results Results supported the primary study aim regarding feasibility (recruitment = 89%, attendance = 81%–100%, intervention exercise completion = 100%) and acceptability (average favorable response = 89%). Data also supported the positive effect of the intervention on select HAART adherence measures and disease outcomes. Adherence (by pharmacy refill) declined in both groups; however, adherence declined more slowly in the intervention group versus standard of care (p Conclusions This is one of the first interventions to target adherence for AYAs with HIV newly initiating HAART and designed for delivery in existing clinical care settings. Future research will help confirm efficacy and the potential utility of the intervention in promoting HAART adherence from medication initiation and preventing the decrease in adherence often observed over time.
Hemodynamic Assessment of Valvular Stenosis and Regurgitation

Accurate hemodynamic measurements are important for the accurate assessment of valvular lesions, especially when the decision for invasive therapy has to be made. Though guidelines recommend imaging modalities as the standard for valvular assessment, the catheterization laboratory remains important for accurate measurements and the confirmation of diagnoses, especially in patients with suboptimal or equivocal imaging results.
From alcohol to aggression: Examining the structure and nomological network of dysregulated behaviors in a trauma-exposed community sample.

OBJECTIVE A large body of research has shown that alcohol use, drug use, aggression, and self-harm often co-occur within the same individuals, suggesting the possibility of shared etiologies. Research has yet to determine the factor structure of these dysregulated behaviors. METHODS Participants (Mage = 40.33; 74% women) completed self-report and interview-based measures of dysregulated behaviors (alcohol use, drug use, aggression, and self-harm), emotion dysregulation, maladaptive personality traits, and symptoms of DSM disorders (e.g., borderline personality disorder [BPD], depression). RESULTS Results showed support for a bifactor model (i.e., all indicators load on a common dysregulated behavior factor and on unique alcohol, drug, aggression, and self-harm factors), which provided a better fit to the data than other models. In line with our hypotheses, the general dysregulated behavior factor was positively associated with emotion regulation difficulties, negative affect, and BPD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS These results have implications for several areas of psychopathology and intervention research.
Avoid Mask Re-use in Masked Galois Multipliers

This work examines a weakness in re-using masks for masked Galois inversion, specifically in the masked Galois multipliers. Here we show that the mask re-use scheme included in our work[1] cannot result in “perfect masking,” regardless of the order in which the terms are added; explicit distributions are derived for each step. The same problem requires new masks in the subfield calculations, not included in [1]. Hence, for resistance to first-order differential attacks, the masked S-box must use distinct, independent masks for input and output bytes of the masked inverter, and new masks in the subfields, resulting in a larger size. keywords: AES, S-box, masking, DPA, composite Galois field
Fisheries: History, Science, and Management

The overall goal of fisheries management is to produce sustainable biological, social, and economic benefits from renewable aquatic resources. Fisheries are classified as renewable because the organisms of interest (fish, shellfish, reptiles, amphibians, and marine mammals) usually produce an annual biological surplus that, with judicious management, can be harvested without reducing future productivity. In contrast, nonrenewable resources (oil, coal, iron, and copper) are available in fixed quantities and are not replaced except over geologic time. The benefits that humans gain from a fishery are diverse and may be enumerated in several ways. Most commonly, benefits are computed as commodity output—the weight or number of fish produced. Commodity output may be further split between the animals harvested by capture (fishing for wild animals) or culture (produced as captive animals)—commonly called the capture fisheries and the culture fisheries, respectively. Keywords: aquaculture; aquarium; coastal resources; commercial fishing; ecosystem management; endangered species; fish; fisheries; fisheries management; fisheries science; habitat; lakes; multiple use management; ocean; recreational fishing; reservoirs; rivers; shellfish; sport fishing; stocks; streams
Collision Phenomena Involving Highly-Charged Ions in Astronomical Objects

Recent advances in the atomic collision physics of highly-charged ions (HCIs) relevant to new astronomical observations are reviewed. The atomic phenomena include electron-impact excitation, charge-exchange, direct and indirect recombination, emission from HCI metastable levels, and X-ray emission in HCI-neutral collisions. Comparisons with theory are given, where available, to help establish “ground truth” for theory. The experiments and theories can then be applied with good confidence to the modeling of the rich body of high-resolution absorption and emission spectra observed in the interstellar medium, and from solar, stellar, and comet atmospheres by spectrometers aboard the SOHO, Chandra, Newton, Hubble and other NASA-ESA spacecraft. The sophisticated space-borne data require equally high-quality laboratory data to work out conditions of electron density and temperature, ion density, ionization fraction, and E,B fields present in the astronomical plasmas.
Outcomes following Kidney transplantation in IgA nephropathy: a UNOS/OPTN analysis.

This study updates assessment of post-transplant outcomes in IgAN patients in the modern era of immunosuppression. Using UNOS/OPTN data, patients ≥18 yr of age with first kidney transplant (1/1/1999 to 12/31/2008) were analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression models and propensity score-based matching techniques were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for death-censored allograft survival (DCGS) and patient survival in IgAN compared to non-IgAN. Results of multivariable regression were stratified by donor type (living vs. deceased). A total of 107, 747 recipients were included (4589 with IgAN and 103 158 with non-IgAN). Adjusted HR for DCGS showed no significant difference between IgAN and non-IgAN. IgAN had higher patient survival compared to non-IgAN (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.47-0.62, p < 0.0001 for deceased donors; HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.33-0.54, p < 0.0001 for living donors). Propensity score-matched analysis was similar, with no significant difference in DCGS between matched groups and higher patient survival in IgAN patients compared to non-IgAN group (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.47, 0.63; p-value <0.0001). IgAN patients with first kidney transplant have superior patient survival and similar graft survival compared to non-IgAN recipients. Results can be used in prognostication and informed decision-making about kidney transplantation in patients with IgAN.
Lysis‐sensitive targets stimulate an elevation of cAMP in human natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that are capable of destroying tumour cells and virally infected cells (cytolysis) without prior sensitization. When cAMP is artificially elevated in NK cells, it is a potent inhibitor of their cytolytic function. We investigated whether NK-cell cAMP levels are modulated in response to tumour target cells to determine the potential of cAMP as a physiological regulator of NK cytotoxic function. When NK cells are exposed to a range of lysis-sensitive (LS) tumour-target cells there is an increase in intracellular cAMP levels in the NK cells over a 60-min period. The peak increase in cAMP (200-400% above control) occurs at 30 min for all LS targets tested. There is no increase in NK-cell cAMP in response to lysis-resistant (LR) tumour-target cells. The cAMP elevation may be dependent on both LS-target-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC) activation and LS-target-stimulated phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition. When the NK cells are pretreated with the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, genistein (30 micrograms/ml), the AC-activation component of the cAMP elevation is abolished. Thus, the AC-activation component appears to require PTK activation. When NK cells are pretreated with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride (10 microM) the cAMP elevation in response to LS targets was not diminished. This indicates that neither the AC-activation component nor any PDE-inhibition component require PKC activation.
Mutagenicity of trans,trans-muconaldehyde and its metabolites in V79 cells.

Trans, trans-Muconaldehyde (MUC), a six-car-bon-diene-dialdehyde, is a microsomal, hema-totoxic ring-opened metabolite of benzene. MUC is metabolized to a variety of compounds which are formed by oxidation and/or reduction of the aldehyde group(s). In the present studies, MUC and its metabolites were examined for mutagenic activity at the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) locus in Chinese hamster V79 cells. Mutagenicity was scored by counting 8-azaguanine-resistant colonies. Of the 6 compounds tested, MUC and its aldehydic metabolites 6-hydroxy-trans, trans 2, 4-hexadienal and 6-oxo-trans, trans-hexadi-enoic acid were mutagenic in that order of potency. The other MUC metabolites tested (1, 6-dihydroxy-trans, trans-2, 4-hexadiene, trans, trans-muconic acid, and 6-hydroxy-trans, trans-2, 4-hexadienoic acid) had little or no activity in this system. The order of mutagenic activity of MUC and its aldehydic metabolites correlates with their reactivity towards glutathione, suggesting that alkylating potential is important in the genotoxicity of these compounds. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Networked Naturalist: Mobile phone data collection for citizen science and education

Citizen science projects engage individual volunteers or groups to observe, measure, and contribute data to scientific studies. CENS is building a collection of mobile phone and web-based tools to make the citizen scientist experience more engaging and flexible. CENS is an NSF-funded Information and Technology Center that employs graduate students from Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at UCLA to create open-source software that is environmentally and socially responsible. The overarching goal of the Networked Naturalist project is to enhance participatory learning experiences through citizen science campaigns and help transform the associated learning process. We are collaborating with national field campaigns, such Project BudBurst, and also with the National Park Service to increase participation and retention in citizen scientist campaigns through two main avenues afforded by the use of new technologies: (1) to offer new methods for data collection, primarily using mobile phones, through text, picture, and smart-phone applications, and (2) to provide immediate feedback and automated, engaging analysis of data for informal learning opportunities. We are working to create a robust data collection system to enhance citizen science by ensuring data quality and improving data submission, and to transform participation into an active learning, engaging experience. Our experience with volunteers for software testing at UCLA and at the National Park Service has indicated that using mobile phones is an efficient method for collecting environmental and location data and raises public awareness of environmental issues through attracting the attention of the mass media. Individual participation in the What’s Invasive! project by volunteer citizen scientists seems to have been limited by smartphone application availability (iPhone app is currently only available for Santa Monica), although methods for making observations based on text and picture messaging are also available. We have found that running short-term "campaigns" partnered with NPS officials and groups such as schools has been the most effective in not only education-related efforts but also in efficiently identifying and locating species and objects of interest using mobile phones.
Simulated chronic NO3− deposition reduces soil respiration in northern hardwood forests

Chronic N additions to forest ecosystems can enhance soil N availability, potentially leading to reduced C allocation to root systems. This in turn could decrease soil CO2 efflux. We measured soil respiration during the first, fifth, sixth and eighth years of simulated atmospheric NO3 deposition (3gNm � 2 yr � 1 ) to four sugar maple-dominated northern hardwood forests in Michigan to assess these possibilities. During the first year, soil respiration rates were slightly, but not significantly, higher in the NO3 amended plots. In all subsequent measurement years, soil respiration rates from NO3 amended soils were significantly depressed. Soil temperature and soil matric potential were measured concurrently with soil respiration and used to develop regression relationships for predicting soil respiration rates. Estimates of growing season and annual soil CO2 efflux made using these relationships indicate that these C fluxes were depressed by 15% in the eighth year of chronic NO3 additions. The decrease in soil respiration was not due to reduced C allocation to roots, as root respiration rates, root biomass, and root turnover were not significantly affected by N additions. Aboveground litter also was unchanged by the 8 years of treatment. Of the remaining potential causes for the decline in soil CO2 efflux, reduced microbial respiration appears to be the most likely possibility. Documented reductions in microbial biomass and the activities of extracellular enzymes used for litter degradation on the NO3 -amended plots are
Redox reactions in hydrocarbon clastic reservoirs: experimental validation of this mechanism for porosity enhancement

Abstract Oil-rock-water reactions in hydrocarbon reservoirs were evaluated experimentally. Hematitic Tensleep Sandstone samples of 10–20 cm 3 were heated with 200 ml of deionized water and 100 ml of petroleum for 3–14 days at 200–360°C. The Tensleep Sandstone samples are mature quartz arenites with 5–25% carbonate matrix and cement and minor amount of anhydrite pore-fillings. Results indicate that significant potential exists for redox reactions between oxidized mineral phases and crude oil. Iron oxides (± sulfate) were reduced and hydrocarbons were oxidized to oxygenated organic compounds (such as CO 2 and organic acids). Organic acids generated during the redox reactions partitioned into the system water, dissolving framework grains and cements (primarily carbonates). Original porosity of the samples ranged from 6% to 15%, and increased by ∼ 13–20%, to 7–18%, or more after experimentation. As reactions between hydrocarbons and mineral oxidants proceed, redox reactions occur, under increasingly reducing condition as temperature increases, and result in enhanced sandstone reservoir porosity.
Gastric emptying characteristics of glucose and glucose polymer solutions.

Abstract In an effort to evaluate various carbohydrate (CHO) molecules for inclusion in an athletic drink, the gastric emptying characteristics of 5, 10, 20, and 40% solutions of glucose and a glucose polymer were compared. The volume of gastric residue remaining 30 minutes after ingestion of 400 ml of each of the solutions was determined in 15 healthy individuals. The volume of gastric residue recovered increased progressively with increasing solute concentration. At the lowest CHO concentration the glucose polymer yielded a significantly smaller gastric residue than glucose. The smaller residue appeared to be attributable both to a greater rate of exit of the polymer from the stomach as well as to a lower rate of gastric secretion induced by the polymer. The calculated delivery of CHO to the intestine increased with solute concentration. At the lowest CHO concentration the more rapid gastric emptying of the polymer allowed significantly greater calculated CHO delivery. We conclude that at low CHO concen...
Auto Antibodies Present at Onset of Type I Diabetes Recognize Multiple Islet Cell Antigens

Antibodies to islet antigens are useful markers of the pathological process that results in destruction of beta cells in type I diabetes. The targets of these antibodies, however, are not well characterized and their role in the pathological process remains to be established. To better understand the range of antigens recognized by autoantibodies in type I diabetes mellitus, we carried out immunoblotting on protein extracts from human islets and rat insulinomas. Using this approach high titer antibodies specific for islet antigens were detected in 20/28 sera from recent onset type I diabetics and were infrequent (4/28) in sera from age-matched controls. Sera from diabetics reacted with multiple antigens at titers from 1/100–1/4000 while control sera usually bound a single band at lower dilutions. Although antigens of M, 52, 84, 116 and 150 kilodalton were recognized most frequently, no antigen was bound by more than 50% of diabetic sera. Some of these antigens enriched in the membrane fraction while other...
Symbolic subject, subjected symbol: Mizuko Kuyo, gender and the social order in Japan

Abstract The term mizuko kuyo describes a relatively new (mid‐19th century) Japanese ritual performed by women who have had abortions or have lost infants in childbirth. The ritual, which takes place in Shinto, Buddhist, new‐ and new‐new‐religious settings, involves propitiatory offerings to the bodhisattva Jizo, believed to be the protector both of the pregnancy‐childbirth process, and of fetuses and infants themselves. This study classifies the existing literature on mizuko kuyo according to Robert Wuthnow's (1981) consistency‐coherence typology. Following a re‐examination of English‐language primary source literature based on Caroline Walker Bynum's (1986) gendered structural‐symbolic methodology, it offers a reinterpretation of the ritual process, which suggests that mizuko kuyo rituals do not signal a more egalitarian relationship between the sexes, but rather serve to reinforce traditional Japanese gender roles.
Fatigue crack propagation in concrete

Numerous studies have been published on portland cement concrete fracture. But no attempt has been reported to relate the crack propagation rate in concrete to stress intensity factor range. A test is being prepared to obtain such information
On the Stabilizability of Discrete-Time Infinite-Dimensional Systems

This work presents a necessary and sufficient condition for the stabilizability of infinite dimensional discretetime systems by constant state feedback controllers.
Peer review and new investigators.

In his letter “Revamping NIH Study Sections” (6 Jan., p. [36][1]), J. Lenard asserts that removal of assistant professors from review panels “to their own great benefit” would “immediately improve” the quality of review and, presumably, “correct some of the distortions.” The only
A new species of Solanum section geminata (Solanaceae) from Western Mexico

Solanum malacothrix S. Knapp is described from the slopes of the Sierra Madre del Sur in the Rio Balsas drainage in the state of Guerrero. It is apparently rare, and has been collected only twice. Its relationship to other species in Mexico and northern South America is discussed.
Reaction of the Lewis Acids B(C6F5)3 and (AlMe2Cl)2 with Azazirconacycles

B(C6F5)3 opens the ring of the N-tBu azazirconacyclobutane 2 by abstracting the carbon from the zirconium; the resulting amido cation 3 reacts slowly with ethylene to form a chelating γ-iminoalkyl zirconocene cation, 4. Similarly, B(C6F5)3 removes carbon from the Zr of the N-Ph azazirconacyclopentane 5a and the N-SiMe3 azazirconacyclopentane 5b, forming amido cations that are stabilized in the solid state by coordination of phenyl substituents on N (6, from 5a) or C (8, from 5b); 8 slowly loses hydrogen, forming an azaallyl cation 9. In contrast AlMe2Cl coordinates the N of the zirconaaziridines 10, resulting in an sp2 N coordinated to Zr through a p orbital. The structures of 4, 6, 8, and 11a have been established by X-ray crystallography.
Aspects of strong compactness, measurability, and indestructibility

We prove three theorems concerning Laver indestructibility, strong compactness, and measurability. We then state some related open questions.
Development of a food anaphylaxis education program to help parents live well with food allergies

Background Risk for food induced anaphylaxis appears to be increasing with significant impact on children, parents and family life. Families need to understand how to avoid the allergen and recognize and respond to reactions. Safety measures and risk must be balanced to ensure the child and family live well with the allergy. We developed and piloted an education program for parents of children <6 years old recently diagnosed with a severe food allergy.
Soil microbiomes vary in their ability to confer drought tolerance to Arabidopsis

Abstract Drought is a major constraint on agricultural production. Crop genetic improvement for drought tolerance has received much attention and there is ample information about the ability of specific soil microbes to influence drought tolerance in plants. However, in nature, plants interact simultaneously with an array of beneficial, benign and pathogenic microbes. There is a need to understand the cumulative effect of these multiple interactions on a plant's ability to overcome abiotic stresses such as drought. The objective of this research was to investigate the potential of whole soil microbiomes to help Arabidopsis thaliana plants deal with drought stress under in vivo conditions. A sympatric microbiome (i.e., having a history of exposure to Arabidopsis at a natural site) significantly increased plant biomass under drought conditions, but caused earlier death rates as a consequence of drought; whereas, the two non-sympatric soils did not influence Arabidopsis biomass. Consistent with this, we observed reduced expression levels for several Arabidopsis drought response marker genes (ATDI21, DREB1A, DREB2A, and NCED3) in the sympatric Arabidopsis soil treatment. Pyrosequencing analysis of the three soil microbiomes used in this study identified 84 bacterial OTUs (3% genetic distance) from 41 genera (Burkholderia, Phormidium, Bacillus, Aminobacter, Acidiphilum and among others) that were significantly higher in the sympatric Arabidopsis soil, as compared to the two non-sympatric soils. In conclusion, we have identified a robust set of Arabidopsis-associated microbes that when present in the soil can modify the plant's ability to sense abiotic stress and increase its biomass production.
Effects of ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride concentration on PEG/protein liquid-liquid phase separation

When added to protein solutions, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) creates an effective attraction between protein molecules due to depletion forces. This effect has been widely used to crystallize proteins, and PEG is among the most successful crystallization agents in current use. However, PEG is almost always used in combination with a salt at either low or relatively high concentrations. Here the effects of sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate concentration on PEG 8000/ovalbumin liquid−liquid (L-L) phase separation are investigated. At low salt the L-L phase separation occurs at decreasing protein concentration with increasing salt concentration, presumably due to repulsive electrostatic interactions between proteins. At high salt concentration, the behavior depends on the nature of the salt. Sodium chloride has little effect on the L-L phase separation, but ammonium sulfate decreases the protein concentration at which the L-L phase separation occurs. This trend is attributed to the effects of critical fluc...
Treatment of glomerulonephritis in the elderly.

Glomerular disease was assessed in persons who had renal biopsies and who were age 60 years and older in retrospective reviews of referral-based cohorts in Europe, the United States, and Japan. From a cumulative total of 514 patients reported from five centers, 337 (66%) patients had primary glomerular diseases and 177 (34%) had various secondary renal diseases. Amyloidosis was the largest histopathologic group among the secondary disorders. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy was the most common primary glomerulopathy (107/337 [32%] patients) and also comprised 46% of nephrotic patients. In our experience covering two consecutive 13-year periods from 1959 to 1984, there was an increase both in total number of patients, and in percentage more than 60 years old, with membranous nephropathy in the more recent study period compared with the earlier period reflecting a trend to more biopsy procedures that included older patients. Non-immune-mediated rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), thought by some to be more common in older adults, has been shown to represent a crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with systemic necrotizing vasculitis. Treatment with corticosteroids had a shortterm favorable effect on renal function in this disorder over that achieved in antiglomerular basement membraneassociated or idiopathic RPGN. However, the 5-year patient survival was remarkably lower in older patients irrespective of the disease entity. On the other hand, age was not associated with progressive renal failure in patients with membranous nephropathy. Finally, minimal change glomerulopathy accounted for 35 of 204 (17%) nephrotic subjects, and complete remissions occurred after corticosteroid treatment at the same frequency (80% to 90%) observed in younger patients.
Anxiety among widowed elders: Is it distinct from depression and grief?

The purpose of this study was to test the validity and utility of distinguishing symptoms of anxiety from those of depression and grief in recently spousally bereaved elders. We also examined pathways from baseline (six months or less post-spousal death) to follow-up (12 and 18 months post-death) levels of anxiety, depression and grief-related symptoms. Baseline and follow-up data were available from 56 recently widowed elderly subjects recruited for an investigation of physiological changes in bereavement. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a model in which anxiety was specified as a third factor, apart from depression and grief factors, fit the data well and significantly better than either the one or two factor models. Path analyses revealed that both baseline severity of grief and anxiety had significant lagged effects and predicted follow-up severity of depression. Symptoms of anxiety appeared distinct from those of depression and grief, and the anxiety, depression and grief factors differentially predicted subsequent symptomatology. These findings suggest a need for more specific identification and treatment of anxiety, depression and grief symptoms within the context of late-life spousal bereavement.
Teacher professional development: a different perspective

Reform in science education is a slow process. Current professional development experiences may slow the process even more if modeled after traditional top down approaches. The common practice of inviting “experts” to deal with specific local issues supports a covert message that classroom teachers are not capable of meeting the challenges of reform with the resources and expertise provided by their immediate community or network. What is being proposed here is not radical but merely an adjustment in thinking about learning at any level. In any given teacher network, the teachers overall are both highly educated in content and pedagogy, it makes sense to allow them the opportunity to address the obstacles of reform and provide assistance when requested; not mandate professional development that may or may not address the needs of teacher, school or district.
Sulfur species and biosignatures in Sulphur Springs, Valles Caldera, New Mexico—Implications for Mars astrobiology

Abstract A biogeochemical SO 4 2 − cycle was investigated in the acid-hot springs of Valles Caldera, New Mexico using S isotopes and distribution of amino acids. In 2007, a major contribution of SO 4 2 − in this modern volcanic setting came from oxidation of H 2 S from hydrothermal sources, which largely increased SO 4 2 − concentrations (up to 2550 mg L − 1 ) and decreased pH (down to 2.27) in surface water. A relatively small variation of δ 34 S among the analyzed S-bearing minerals (2.1 to 4.0‰), fumarole H 2 S (1.7 to 4.6‰) and dissolved SO 4 2 − in modern surface and groundwater (2.5 to 7.9‰) indicates poor evidence of S isotope biosignatures related to microbial disproportionation of elemental S to H 2 S and SO 4 2 − which, in turn, are not effectively captured in the hydrothermal minerals of the studied volcanic setting. This is mainly due to prevailing contribution of reduced S forms from magmatic/hydrothermal sources and considerably smaller microbial activity in acid-hot spring areas. Although hydrothermal gypsum and elemental S effectively trap amino acids, their preservation lifetimes in S-bearing hydrothermal minerals appear to be small. The minimal lifetimes are inferred to be the result of increased temperatures and rapid recycling time of S materials in hydrothermal settings. Landed missions to the Martian surface at sites inferred to have experienced active hydrothermal activity similar to the one studied in Valles Caldera (e.g., elevated volcanic S flux), may provide valuable insight into geological and geochemical processes that have influenced the Martian surface, but may provide minimal potential for recording either amino acid or S isotopic biosignatures of an extinct Martian ecosystem.
“The Seesaw Is a Machine That Goes Up and Down”: Young Children's Narrative Responses to Science-Related Informational Text

Research Findings: We report on an assessment developed to document young children's narrative production after listening to short segments of science-related informational text (SciT) on life science, earth and space, and simple machines. We examine differences between kindergarten boys (n = 39) and girls (n = 29) on several indices of narrative production as well as on children's interest and reported use of SciT at home and school. We obtained evidence that young children understand and enjoy SciT. After a single reading of the text by an adult, children produced accurate paraphrases of the texts. We found no differences between girls and boys on any measure of meaning making or interest across all SciT topics. Children's scores were highest for the two life science texts and lowest for the earth and space texts. The SciT genre also appealed to the children; more than half said they would like to read similar books. However, opportunities for reading this genre at home or school differed between the se...
A cyclic AMP binding protein pattern useful as a biochemical differentiation marker of erythroleukemic cell lines and normal cloned erythroblasts.

Abstract Previous study of a variety of a human hemopoietic cell lines and normal samples with 8-N 3 - 32 p-cAMP photoaffinity labelling, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography revealed five distinct cAMP binding protein patterns, each of which were restricted to cells of particular lineages. One pattern unique to K562 cells was characterized by the presence of three bands designated a , b and d . In order to ascertain the significance of this finding, we studied by the same methods normal human erythroblasts harvested from methylcellulose cultures of fetal liver and adult blood, and murine and human erythroleukemic cells (MEL and HEL) as well as K562, cultured with and without chemical inducers of erythrodifferentiation. Three band patterns recognizable as similar to that of K562, but distinctive from those of myeloid and lymphoid cells, were noted of cells of erythroblastic origin. Both HEL and MEL, as well as the normal erythroblasts, exhibited heaviest labelling of band a in contrast to K562, which exhibited heaviest labelling of band d . Relative labelling of band b and d of HEL and MEL increased following treatment with 50 μ hemin or 4 mM hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA), respectively. Treatment of K562 with hemin, however, resulted in increased band a . Thus, among hemopoietic cells, an isozymic cAMP binding protein pattern has been identified which is characteristic of the erythroid lineage. The relative abundances of the three components ( a , b and d ) have been furthermore noted to undergo a series of shifts during induced differentiation. Cyclic AMP binding proteins may thus prove useful as a biochemical marker system in the recognition and analysis of erythroid differentiation.
Structure-Activity Relationships of Anesthetic Ethers Using Molecular Connectivity

The structure-activity relationships in the anesthetic and toxic actions of 28 aliphatic ethers were simple functions of molecular connectivity indexes. These quantitative relationships are discussed briefly in the light of theories of the mechanism of action of general anesthetics.
Cytoplasmic delivery and nuclear targeting of synthetic macromolecules.

Delivery of macromolecular drugs (e.g. antisense oligonucleotides, polymer–drug conjugates, etc.) designed to work in specific sites inside cells is complicated as macromolecules typically have access to fewer biological compartments than small molecules. To better understand the fate of macromolecules in cells and begin to alter that fate, we investigated the internalization and subcellular fate of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers and HPMA copolymer–drug conjugates in Hep G2 and A2780 cells. The subcellular fate of fluorescently labeled polymers was monitored by confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation. Initially, the HPMA copolymers and HPMA copolymer–drug conjugates were internalized by endocytosis and remained in endosomes/lysosomes. At longer incubation times (>8 h), small amounts of the HPMA copolymers were observed to enter the cytoplasm and accumulate in the nucleus of the cells. Nuclear accumulation was confirmed after cytoplasmic microinjection. Oligonucleotides conjugated via lysosomally degradable spacers entered into the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cells faster than the polymers. The effect of the subcellular location was correlated to the toxicity of the photosensitizer, mesochlorin e6 (Mce6)-HPMA copolymer conjugates. The plasma membrane and late endosomes were more sensitive to damage by Mce6. Targeting the polymer conjugates to the nucleus with the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) as well as conjugating the Mce6 via a degradable spacer increased cell adhesion and uptake, promoted their entry into the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cells, and increased their toxicity. To further promote entry of the polymers into the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cells, the protein transduction domain, Tat peptide, was conjugated to the HPMA copolymers. This resulted in high binding to the cell membrane, but also facilitated rapid (<5 min) entry of the macromolecules into the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells. These results will prove valuable in the future design of macromolecular therapeutics.
Simulations of nanowire bend tests for extracting mechanical properties

Abstract Mechanical properties of nickel nanowires are characterized based on the numerical simulations of bend tests performed with a customized atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Nickel nanowire specimens are subjected to bending loads by the tip of the AFM cantilever. The experimental force versus bending displacement curves are compared against simulations from finite element analysis and peridynamic theory, and the mechanical properties are extracted based on their best correlations. Similarly, SEM images of fractured nanowires are compared against peridynamic failure simulations. The results of this study reveal that nickel nanowires have significantly higher strengths than their bulk counterparts, although their elastic modulus values are comparable to bulk nickel modulus values.
Rab3a and SNARE proteins: potential regulators of melanosome movement.

Melanosomes are specialized organelles that undergo a dynamic process of transport along the melanocyte dendrite to the dendrite tip and transfer to keratinocytes. We hypothesized that soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNARE), which are involved in membrane fusion, and rab3a, a GTP-binding protein involved in exocytosis in neuronal cells and in SNARE complex assembly, may play a part in melanosome transport and transfer. By reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction we identified transcripts for rab3a, vesicle-associated membrane protein-2, synaptosome-associated proteins of 23 kDa and 25 kDa, and syntaxin-4 in murine melanocytic cells. We also showed that purified melanosome preparations contain rab3a and SNARE, including vesicle-associated membrane protein-2, syntaxin-4, synaptosome-associated proteins 23 kDa and 25 kDa, and the SNARE accessory protein, α-soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein. Ultraviolet radiation is a potent stimulus for melanosome transport and transfer. We show that ultraviolet radiation rapidly suppresses melanosome-associated rab3a expression and that this occurs at the protein and mRNA level. Finally, we show that vesicle-associated membrane protein-2 and synaptosome-associated protein 23 kDa coimmunoprecipitate from purified melanocytic cell membranes, suggesting that they form complexes. The presence of rab3a and SNARE on melanosomes, and of SNARE complexes in melanocytic cell membranes suggests that these proteins play a part in targeting melanosomes to the plasma membrane, to melanosome transfer to keratinocytes, or both.
Comparative study of rhomboidal mixing sections using the boundary element method

The rhomboidal mixing section is becoming very popular in polymer extrusion to provide distributive mixing. Currently, several different designs are used but the details of the flow behavior and mixing efficiency is not well understood. This information is needed to be able to design and find the most efficient rhomboid geometry. In this research, nine different geometries with various pitches (helix of rhomboids) are analyzed using a three-dimensional boundary element method (BEM). The geometries are compared according to mixing efficiency, pressure and energy consumption. The investigation led to the conclusion that the most effective distributive mixing sections were the ones with neutral rhomboids (pineapple mixer). However, the neutral rhomboidal mixing section consumes the most pressure in the extruder.
129Xe nuclear magnetic resonance in the clathrate hydrate of xenon

Abstract The sensitivity of the nuclear magnetic shielding of the Xe atom to the physical environment makes it possible to “see” well-separated. 129 Xe resonances from Xe atoms in the small and large clathrate deuteriohydrate cages as well as in the gas with which the hydrate is in equilibrium. The relative occupancy of the small cages is suostantially less than predicted oy existing models of guest-host interactions in Xe gas hydrate.
Prostaglandin F2α, oxytocin and uterine activation in hypertonic saline-induced abortions

Intra-amniotic injections of hypertonic saline at midgestation induce uterine activity, which evolves into a laborlike pattern in less than 24 hours and is associated with progressive increase in uterine oxytocin response. This uterine activation occurred in the absence of a measurable increase in plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F 2α (PGFM). Only after 25 to 27 hours was a rise in plasma concentration of PGFM detected, which then increased in a parallel manner with cervical dilatation. By contrast, plasma oxytocin levels increased by almost 100% soon after the injection of hypertonic saline, declining to initial levels by 24 to 28 hours. Oxytocin infusions given after the intra-amniotic injection at rates resulting in about a fivefold increase in plasma oxytocin significantly accelerated cervical dilatation and the rise in plasma PGFM. Oxytocin infused before induction of abortion resulted in only a small and transient rise in plasma PGFM. Hypertonic saline injections thus increase the prostaglandin F 2α -stimulating action of oxytocin, which in turn may be responsible for the enhanced contractile response to the hormone. Myometrial activation after hypertonic saline injections is probably caused by an interaction of oxytocin and prostaglandin F 2α , and cervical dilatation depends on contractile activity and a critical increase in prostaglandin production.
ROS are required for rapid reactivation of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in hypoxic reoxygenated guinea pig ventricular myocytes

The cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) contributes to cellular injury during hypoxia, as its altered function is largely responsible for a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). In addition,...
Synthesis and in Vitro Evaluation of 5-Fluoro-6-[(2-Iminopyrrolidin-1-YL)Methyl]Uracil, TPI(F): An Inhibitor of Human Thymidine Phosphorylase (TP)

An investigation was conducted to determine if the 5-fluoro analog of TPI (5-chloro-6-[(2-iminopyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl]uracil), a potent inhibitor of human thymidine phosphorylase (TP), has an IC50 in a range that might allow to use it labeled for imaging of TP expression in vivo. The previously unreported fluoro analog, TPI(F), was prepared and tested against TPI and TPI(Br) using an inhibition assay of [H−3]thymidine cleavage. An assay, performed in the presence of 0.4 mg/ml of human TP, yielded IC50 values of 2.5 nM, 2.7 nM, and 9.0 nM for TPI, TPI(Br), and TPI(F), respectively. The results indicate that further studies to develop 18F-labeled TPI(F) as a potential radiopharmaceutical for PET imaging of TP expression in vivo are warranted.
Evaluation of the WIPP site for the supernova neutrino burst observatory

Abstract Measurements of the neutron background in a potential underground site for the Supernova Neutrino Burst Observatory (SNBO) have been made. The SNBO will ultimately be capable of detecting μ and τ neutrinos from a supernova. Furthermore, masses of the μ and τ neutrinos might be measurable in the range of 10–50 eV. SNBO operates by detecting the neutrons caused by interaction of the supernova neutrinos with rock. It will consist of order ten thousand neutron detectors located in an underground environment having a very low intrinsic radiation level. The limit to the size, hence sensitivity, of SNBO is thus the neutron signal-to-noise ratio, which depends on the neutron background in the environment of SNBO. Thus we have made neutron background measurements at the Department of Energy Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) located near Carlsbad, NM. The value of the ambient neutron flux we determined, 332 ± 148 neutrons m −2 d −1 , shows that the background levels in this facility are sufficiently low to warrant construction of a galactic supernova neutrino detector.