cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-world experience of ocrelizumab initiation in a diverse multiple sclerosis population

Abstract Background Ocrelizumab (OCR) is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 positive B-lymphocytes. It was approved for use in 2017 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for both the relapsing-remitting and primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective To provide real-world data for patients with MS treated with OCR in our center and evaluate both the safety and efficacy across different ethnic groups not studied in previous clinical trials. Methods We performed a retrospective observational analysis of MS patients who were treated with OCR from March 31, 2017 to April 30, 2020. We collected data on patients who had received at least a one dose infusion of OCR at our MS center. Patient characteristics, including demographics, clinical disease course, and documented side effects, were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 82 patients were eligible for this study, of which 72% had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 14% had primary progressive MS (PPMS), and 11% active/relapsing secondary progressive MS (SPMS). 22% of our patients were of African American descent, 61% Caucasian, and 17% of Hispanic descent. The mean age of starting OCR was 41 ± 11 years. 47% were treatment naive when started on OCR, 24% were previously treated with one disease-modifying therapy (DMT), 14% were treated with two DMTs, and 15% were treated with more than two DMTs prior to OCR. 50% of patients had at least one adverse event while on OCR; 4.8% had adverse events requiring to OCR discontinuation, 36% had infusion-related reactions, and 7.3% had viral infections. We found two cases of severe babesiosis along with index cases of re-activation of lichen planus, agranulocytosis, severe lymphopenia, and ectopic pregnancy. There were no cases of malignancy, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or death within our cohort. The mean time after OCR initiation was 17.3 months in the RRMS group, 22.2 months in the PPMS group, and 28.2 months in SPMS group. The annualized relapse rate reduced from 1.33 to 0.15 in the RRMS group. The mean extended disability status scale (EDSS) scores did not worsen across MS phenotypes and ethnic groups while being treated with OCR. Conclusions In a diverse patient population, OCR was well-tolerated without significant adverse events. There were novel cases of severe babesiosis, re-activation of lichen planus, lymphopenia, agranulocytosis, and ectopic pregnancy. It is vital to consider geographic risk factors that may expose patients to Babesia microti (B. microti) when either considering or initiating OCR therapy. There were an additional six cases of severe B. microti cases associated with OCR that were reported to the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) along with multiple babesiosis cases associated with other DMTs, including rituximab. OCR was found in our cohort to be effective by decreasing relapse rates and maintaining EDSS scores. Our study extends the generalizability of OCR from clinical trials to a real-world setting consisting of a diverse population.
Behavioral Medicine for Sedentary Behavior, Daily Physical Activity, and Exercise to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: A Review.

Behavioral medicine is a multidisciplinary field that has a key role in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of this review is to describe the role of behavioral medicine for CVD prevention, using physical activity behaviors (e.g., sedentary behavior, daily physical activity, or exercise) as an exemplar. Application of behavioral medicine to improve dietary behaviors is also briefly discussed. Behavioral medicine interventions that address physical activity behaviors are associated with improved cardiovascular risk factors. Interventions framed in behavior change theory that integrate behavior change techniques to reduce sedentary behavior and promote daily physical activity and exercise have similarly been applied to improve certain dietary behaviors and show promise for reducing CVD risk factors. Behavioral medicine has an important role in improving various physical activity behaviors for all populations, which is essential for preventing or managing CVD. Further investigation into behavioral medicine interventions that address personal, environmental, and social factors that influence participation in physical activity behaviors, as well as the adoption of a more optimal dietary pattern, is warranted.
Mental Health and the Legal Profession

The Fordham Law Review’s Symposium collection on Mental Health and the Legal Profession is dedicated to the memory of Professor Deborah L. Rhode. As the Symposium highlights, the mental and emotional well-being of those in the legal profession is one of increasing concern. This November 2020 Symposium focused on current developments that have exacerbated the extraordinary pressures experienced by many legal professionals: the COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions, and political uncertainty. From law school and into the legal profession, different groups of individuals confront varying challenges that propel mental health problems such as stress, depression, and anxiety. Racial-based adversity in particular compounds these difficulties for minority law students and attorneys; for example, minority women lawyers may be expected to take on additional responsibilities without being credited for their “invisible labor.” This Symposium’s contributors offered possible solutions the legal profession can embrace to address mental health issues and inspire positive change to the legal culture. Such a turnabout could better equip legal professionals to succeed in their professional lives without the cost of their personal lives and mental health.
Edible coatings and lipid oxidation data in walnuts.

Abstract The information presented is part of an investigation that seeks a better understanding of lipid oxidation in walnuts. The data shown regarding edible coating, are one of the strategies used to investigate the effect over oxidation stability. For the present experiments, unshelled walnuts were coated with different formulations, and then stored at 37 °C, 20% RH for 6 weeks. After that time, coated nuts were taken out, cold pressed to extract the oil and analysed. The main data obtained from the oil analysis of walnuts were acid value, peroxide value, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Data show the variation of the parameters during the storage time at 37 °C, considering the different formulations of edible coatings and the control. These data are relevant to walnuts exporters to have a comparison point.
Learning from a Pandemic. The Impact of COVID-19 on Education Around the World

This introductory chapter sets the stage for the book, explaining the goals, methods, and significance of the comparative study. The chapter situates the theoretical significance of the study with respect to research on education and inequality, and argues that the rare, rapid, and massive change in the social context of schools caused by the pandemic provides a singular opportunity to study the relative autonomy of educational institutions from larger social structures implicated in the reproduction of inequality. The chapter provides a conceptual educational model to examine the impact of COVID-19 on educational opportunity. The chapter describes the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it resulted into school closures and in the rapid deployment of strategies of remote education. It examines available evidence on the duration of school closures, the implementation of remote education strategies, and known results in student access, engagement, learning, and well-being.
Maternal and fetal renin activity and renin and big renin concentrations in second-trimester pregnancy

Plasma renin activity (PRA) and the concentrations of renin (PRC) and big renin (PBRC) have been determined in maternal and fetal blood, and renin and big renin have been measured in amniotic fluid, at 16 to 20 weeks of gestation. Gradients between peripheral arterial and venous and uterine venous maternal circulation were not apparent for PRA, PRC, or PBRC. PRC and PBRC but not PRA were consistently higher in fetal cord blood than in the maternal compartment. The concentrations of big renin and of renin were tenfold higher in amniotic fluid than in maternal plasma and were significantly correlated in amniotic fluid but not maternal or fetal plasma.
Algorithmic algebraic model checking IV: characterization of metabolic networks

A series of papers, all under the title of Algorithmic Algebraic Model Checking (AAMC), has sought to combine techniques from algorithmic algebra, model checking and dynamical systems to examine how a biochemical hybrid dynamical system can be made amenable to temporal analysis, even when the initial conditions and unknown parameters may only be treated as symbolic variables. This paper examines how to specialize this framework to metabolic control analysis (MCA) involving many reactions operating at many dissimilar time-scales. In the earlier AAMC papers, it has been shown that the dynamics of various biochemical semi-algebraic hybrid automata could be unraveled using powerful techniques from computational real algebraic geometry. More specifically, the resulting algebraic model checking techniques were found to be suitable for biochemical networks modeled using general mass action (GMA) based ODEs. This paper scrutinizes how the special properties of metabolic networks-a subclass of the biochemical networks previously handled-can be exploited to gain improvement in computational efficiency. The paper introduces a general framework for performing symbolic temporal reasoning over metabolic network hybrid automata that handles both GMA-based equilibrium estimation and flux balance analysis (FBA).While algebraic polynomial equations over Q[x1, ..., xn] can be symbolically solved using Grobner bases or Wu-Ritt characteristic sets, the FBA-based estimation can be performed symbolically by rephrasing the algebraic optimization problem as a quantifier elimination problem. Effectively, an approximate hybrid automaton that simulates the metabolic network is derived, and is thus amenable to manipulation by the algebraic model checking techniques previously described in the AAMC papers.
Nedd4-family interacting proteins regulate T cell homeostatic processes via activation of catalytic E3 ubiquitin ligases (IRC2P.447)

Ubiquitylation tunes signaling pathways in stimulated T cells to regulate activation and function. Catalytic E3 ubiquitin ligases, like Itch, have known roles in these processes. We have found that Nedd4-family interacting protein 1 (Ndfip1) and Ndfip2 promote ubiquitin charging of Itch, a requisite step in protein ubiquitylation. In vitro, Ndfip1 and Ndfip2 have overlapping function. In vivo, Ndfip1 negatively regulates T cell activation and Th2 polarization. The in vivo role of Ndfip2 is unknown. To investigate this, we generated Ndfip2-/- mice. We found that, unlike Ndfip1, Ndfip2 is not a prominent negative regulator of T cell activation or Th2 polarization. However, loss of Ndfip2 exacerbates the inflammatory Ndfip1-/- phenotype, suggesting that, like Ndfip1, Ndfip2 dampens inflammatory processes. Our data indicate a T cell intrinsic role for Ndfips in limiting T cell activation and function, as Ndfip1/Ndfip2 DKO CD4+ T cells in mixed fetal liver chimeras are more activated and produce more cytokine than WT CD4+ T cells in the same host. In vitro coculture of naive WT and DKO CD4+ T cells supports that Ndfip deficient T cells have increased viability and proliferative capacity. These results suggest that Ndfip1 and Ndfip2 together limit T cell survival and proliferation downstream of TCR engagement. We are taking a quantitative proteomic approach to identify ubiquitylation pathways engaged during TCR stimulation that are nucleated by Ndfip-E3 ligase interactions.
Studies on bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A and model compounds in aqueous 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol: I. Amino acid solubility, thermal reversibility of ribonuclease A, and preferential hydration of ribonuclease A crystals

Abstract For X-ray investigations, RNase-A is crystallized from a mixture of 55% 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD) and 45% water. Interactions of RNase-A and amino acids with this solvent have been studied. From the solubilities of amino acids in water and 55% MPD it is calculated that the unfolding of RNase-A in 55% MPD would have a positive free-energy change. RNase-A in 50% MPD and in water has nearly identical CD spectra. After being heated in 50% MPD and cooled, there is nearly complete reversibility of conformation, as indicated by CD, difference spectra, and enzymic activity. Cross-linked crystals of RNase-A are preferentially hydrated at up to 80% MPD (the limit of our studies).
The reversible conversion of lipoyl dehydrogenase to an artifactual enzyme by oxidation of sulfhydryl groups.

Abstract The effect of cupric ions on the activity, fluorescence, and absorbance, and on the sulfhydryl and flavin adenine dinucleotide contents, of lipoyl dehydrogenase has been examined. The changes take place in two phases during the reaction of the enzyme with copper ions. In the first phase, the lipoic activity of the enzyme decreases to about 10% of its initial value, while its diaphorase activity increases about 15 times. Diaphorase activity is defined in terms of the enzyme-catalyzed reduction of 2,6-dichloroindophenol at the expense of reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide. Two sulfhydryl groups are oxidized to a disulfide at this stage, and a slight change in the absorption spectrum occurs, but no change in fluorescence or FAD content takes place. Oxidation of sulfhydryl groups to disulfides continues at a slow rate after the added copper ions have been removed. Changes taking place during this phase of the reaction can be reversed by treatment with cysteine. Longer exposure of the enzyme to cupric ions leads to a decrease in the diaphorase activity, a decrease in flavin content and fluorescence, and an increase in the fluorescence of aromatic amino acid residues. Further oxidation of sulfhydryl groups occurs which cannot be accounted for entirely by an increase in disulfide content. Changes taking place during this phase of the reaction occur less rapidly at low pH and cannot be reversed by cysteine. It is concluded that the oxidation of two sulfhydryl groups to a disulfide is responsible for the changes in catalytic properties of the enzyme and that further oxidation results in denaturation, associated with changes in fluorescence and FAD content.
Hard Magnetic Materials

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Operation of Permanent Magnets Magnet Steels Alnico Barium and Strontium Ferrite Rare Earth Magnets Exchange-Spring Magnets Nitride Magnets Ductile Permanent Magnets Artificial Single Domain Particle Magnets (Lodex) Bonded Magnets Magnet Stability Summary of Magnetically Hard Materials Applications Problems
Rational Use of Cytotoxic Chemotherapy for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death among women with gynecologic malignancies, and the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality in women in the United States. Although many patients respond to first-line platinum-based therapy, most will experience disease recurrence. The role of further therapy in the setting of recurrent ovarian cancer is palliative, and large randomized phase III trials on treatment options for recurrent ovarian cancer are rare. Controversies exist as to the optimal timing and duration of treatment, and many issues regarding treatment of recurrent disease remain.
Work-family conflict across the lifespan

Purpose – Research on work-family conflict has primarily focused on younger workers, with little attention being paid to workers across the lifespan. To address this gap, the current study aimed to examine work-family conflict for individuals aged 18 to 70, focusing on explanations for why age is differentially related to work-family conflict at different points in one's life. Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses were tested using data from two independent samples of working adults from the National Study of the Changing Workforce (n=3,552 and 2,852, respectively). Findings – The results supported a curvilinear relationship, with youngest and oldest workers having the fewest conflicting demands between work and home. Further, the results demonstrated that family satisfaction and the age of the youngest child help explain why these workers are less likely to experience family interference with work. Finally, work hours were found to mediate the relationship between age and work interference with family...
RELIABILITY OF PERSONALITY MEASUREMENT BY INTERVIEW SURVEY METHOD

The purpose of this study was to assess the consistency reliability of shorr personality scales administered by the interview survey method. The method involved the interviewing of 432 Ss, selected...
Control of undesirable higher-order modes excited at a conical-horn mouth

A TE11 mode emerging from the mouth of a conical horn excites higher-order modes, which can adversely affect the radiation pattern. This effect is substantially reduced over a 10% bandwidth by adding a series of resonant foam discs, which provide matching for the mouth and a filter passing only the desired mode over a suitable bandwidth.
Effect of Aging Treatment on the Microstructure and Resistivity of a Nickel-Base Superalloy

The γ′ precipitation behavior of age-hardened WASPALOY, aged at 998 K, 1073 K, and 1148 K (725 °C, 800 °C, and 875 °C) for times ranging from 0.5 to 263.5 hours, were evaluated via analysis of ultra small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) curves and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The USAXS spectra revealed a single precipitate size distribution at the earliest aging times, which evolves into a bimodal precipitate size distribution at later aging times. The primary precipitate radius displayed t 1/3 coarsening dependence for aging at 1073 K and 1148 K (800 °C and 875 °C); however, the primary radius increased with t 0.4 dependence at 998 K (725 °C), most likely due to mixed growth and coarsening. A figure of merit, η′, consisting of two terms, one associated with precipitate size and volume fraction and the other with compositional fluctuations, was proposed. η′ shows direct empirical correlations with changes in the measured electrical resistivity.
The implications of geology, soils, and vegetation on landscape morphology: Inferences from semi-arid basins with complex vegetation patterns in Central New Mexico, USA

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between land surface properties (e.g. soil, vegetation, and lithology) and landscape morphology quantified by the catchment descriptors: the slope–area (S–A) relation, curvature–area (C–A) relation, and the cumulative area distribution (CAD), in two semi-arid basins in central New Mexico. The first site is composed of several basins located in today's desert elevations with mesic north-facing and xeric south-facing hillslopes underlain by different lithological formations. The second site is a mountainous basin exhibiting vegetation gradients from shrublands in the lower elevations to grasslands and forests at higher elevations. All three land surface properties were found to have significant influences on the S–A and C– A relations, while the power-law exponents of the CADs for these properties did not show any significant deviations from the narrow range of universal scaling exponents reported in the literature. Among the three different surface properties we investigated, vegetation had the most profound impact on the catchment descriptors. In the S–A diagrams of the aspect-controlled ecosystems, we found steeper slopes in north-facing aspects than south-facing aspects for a given drainage area. In elevation-controlled ecosystems, forested landscapes exhibited the steepest slopes for the range of drainage areas examined, followed by shrublands and grasslands in all soil textures and lithologies. In the C–A diagrams, steeper slopes led to a higher degree of divergence on hillslopes and a higher degree of convergence in the valleys than shallower slopes. The influence of functional types of vegetation detected on observed topography provided some initial understanding of the potential impacts of life on the organization of topography. This finding also emphasizes the critical role of climate in catchment development. We suggest that climatic fluctuations that are capable of replacing vegetation communities could lead to highly amplified hydrological and geomorphic responses.
Application of reinforcement learning for agent-based production scheduling

Reinforcement learning (RL) has received some attention in recent years from agent-based researchers because it deals with the problem of how an autonomous agent can learn to select proper actions for achieving its goals through interacting with its environment. Although there have been several successful examples demonstrating the usefulness of RL, its application to manufacturing systems has not been fully explored yet. In this paper, Q-learning, a popular RL algorithm, is applied to a single machine dispatching rule selection problem. This paper investigates the application potential of Q-learning, a widely used RL algorithm to a dispatching rule selection problem on a single machine to determine if it can be used to enable a single machine agent to learn commonly accepted dispatching rules for three example cases in which the best dispatching rules have been previously defined. This study provided encouraging results that show the potential of RL for application to agent-based production scheduling.
Chemical variability in the Black Sea: implications of continuous vertical profiles that penetrated the oxic/anoxic interface

Abstract During the 1988 Black Sea Expedition, we employed a pumping system to generate continuous vertical profiles of nutrients, sulfide, temperature, salinity and light transmission to depths as great as 360 m and to collect oxygen samples from discrete depths. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) In contrast to most prior investigators, we did not find regions where both oxygen and sulfide occurred at concentrations >~1 μ m. (2) The profiles demonstrated the existence of a double phosphate maxima in the central Black Sea which disappears at the margins. (3) Our results in combination with historical data strongly suggest that maximum nitrate concentrations in the upper layers of the Black Sea have risen significantly in recent years. The maximum nitrate value of ~7.5 μ M was similar in all pump profiles and found at a similar σ t , even though regional variation in the depth of the maximum was ~100 m. Our data also suggest an increase in the nitrate inventory of the Black Sea. (4) We found undulating patterns of chemical variables (particularly sulfide and ammonium) in the vicinity of the Bosporus, arising from the high salinity inflow. The effect of this process was still evident in one profile located 100 km to the northeast of the Bosporus. (5) In general, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite disappeared within the suboxic region, suggesting that this zone was a sink for all three species. This implies that the deeper strata are not supplying combined nitrogen to the photic zone at least during the spring and summer. (6) Small-scale vertical variability in chemical distributions in and near the oxic/anoxic interface was usually correlated with temperature and salinity fine structure. (7) Our data support the view that the oxic/anoxic interface is rising.
Management of the pediatric liver transplant patient

1. In pretransplant management, the prevention and treatment of malnutrition is essential for pediatric patients as malnutrition is associated with both increased pre- and posttransplant mortality. 2. Technical complications, particularly hepatic artery thrombosis, after pediatric liver transplantation are relatively common given the small size of the majority of the recipients. Early recognition is essential to reduce the associated increased risk for both patient and graft loss. 3. Immunosuppression regimens in children should aim to begin weaning of steroids within the first year after transplant because of their detrimental impact on growth. 4. Long-term immunosuppression strategies must focus on avoiding the risks of long-term immunosuppression, particularly nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, de novo malignancy, and late infections. 5. EBV-associated PTLD is a special problem for young pediatric liver recipients. Strategies for prevention and preemptive management are essential. 6. Noncompliance in teens is a particular problem and is associated not only with graft dysfunction, but also with graft loss and patient death. Recognizing teens at risk and providing intervention strategies require a multi-disciplinary approach.
Impression management during evaluation and psychological reactions post‐donation of living kidney donors

Many healthcare providers have been concerned about the extent to which potential kidney donors use impression management or concealment of important information regarding their medical history, current functioning, or other circumstances that could affect whether they are accepted as donors. To date, however, there has been very little empirical examination of these questions. It is also not known whether donors' use of impression management pre-donation is related to their reactions and adjustment post-donation. Methods This study surveyed 76 individuals who had donated a kidney one to six yr previously regarding their use of impression management and their concealing of information during their psychological evaluations. They were also asked about their reactions to the donation and whether they would make the same decision again. In addition, 21 of these donors participated in focus groups that explored these questions in depth. Results Many of the kidney donors reported that they possessed very strong motivation to donate and consequently used impression management in their interactions with medical professionals pre-donation. Very few donors, however, indicated that they concealed information during their pre-donation evaluations. The donors' psychological reactions post-donation were generally positive, and nearly all indicated that they would make the same decision again.
Modeling the Lubrication, Dynamics, and Effects of Piston Dynamic Tilt of Twin-Land Oil Control Rings in Internal Combustion Engines

A theoretical model was developed to study the lubrication, friction, dynamics, and oil transport of twin-land oil control rings (TLOCR) in internal combustion engines. A mixed lubrication model with consideration of shear-thinning effects of multigrade oils was used to describe the lubrication between the running surfaces of the two lands and the liner. Oil squeezing and asperity contact were both considered for the interaction between the flanks of the TLOCR and the ring groove. Then, the moments and axial forces from TLOCR/liner lubrication and TLOCR/groove interaction were coupled into the dynamic equations of the TLOCR. Furthermore, effects of piston dynamic tilt were considered in a quasi three-dimensional manner so that the behaviors of the TLOCR at different circumferential location could be studied. As a first step, variation of the third land pressure was neglected. The model predictions were illustrated via an SI engine. One important finding is that around thrust and anti-thrust sides, the difference between the minimum oil film thickness of two lands can be as high as several micrometers due to piston dynamic tilt. As a result, at thrust and anti-thrust sides, significant oil can pass under one land of the TLOCR along the bore, although the othermore » land perfectly seals the bore. Then, the capabilities of the model were further explained by studying the effects of ring tension and torsional resistance on the lubrication and oil transport between the lands and the liner. The effects of oil film thickness on the flanks of the ring groove on the dynamics of the TLOCR were also studied. Friction results show that boundary lubrication contributes significantly to the total friction of the TLOCR.« less
An improved interactive buckling analysis of thin-walled columns having doubly symmetric sections

Abstract A comprehensive mode interaction analysis is presented for thin-walled columns having doubly symmetric cross-sections and carrying axial compression. It is shown that as a result of interaction of overall bending with the primary local mode, a “secondary” local mode having the same wavelength as the primary, is triggered. The problem is therefore viewed as one of interaction of three modes: viz. the overall (Euler) buckling mode and the two local modes. The analysis is based on Koiter's theory of mode interaction and employs finite strips to describe local buckling deformation. The column is treated as being loaded by a prescribed end compression at the centroid and a suitably prescribed end rotation to maintain concentricity of load application. Examples are presented to compare the results of the present theory with the currently available analytical results and to examine the behavior of typical cross-sections. Of particular interest is the considerably reduced imperfection-sensitivity of columns with well-separated critical stresses in comparison to that reported earlier in published literature.
Perfusion to Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases Is Not Uniform and Depends on Tumor Location and Feeding Vessel

Future effective therapies for hepatic metastases may depend on a better understanding of perfusion to these tumors. The purpose of this project was to define blood flow to colorectal cancer liver metastases using quantitative autoradiography (QAR). Liver tumors were established in F1 hybrids of WF x BN rats by intrasplenic injection of a DMH-induced rat colon adenocarcinoma. Rats underwent laparotomy 4-5 weeks later and [14C]iodoantipyrine (a radiotracer) was infused via the hepatic artery (HA) or portal vein (PV). Livers were harvested, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and sectioned at 20 microns through all tumors. QAR compared optical density of cross sections of tumors to surrounding normal liver tissue. Tumor:liver perfusion ratios (T/L PR) and tumor center:tumor periphery perfusion ratios (C/P PR) were calculated. All groups were analyzed with regard to tumor location and size. Seventy-seven tumors in 6 rats in the HA infusion group were analyzed; 74 tumors in 8 rats in the PV group were analyzed. Statistical analysis was by repeated measures analysis of variance. Mean HA T/L PR = 0.97 +/- 0.13, mean PV T/L PR = 0.25 +/- 0.11. Mean HA T/L PR for deep tumors was 1.38 +/- 0.17 and for superficial tumors was 0.57 +/- 0.15 (P < 0.01). Mean HA T/L PR for small tumors was 1.09 +/- 0.12 and for large tumors was 0.86 +/- 0.21 (P = 0.27). Mean PV T/L PR for deep tumors was 0.27 +/- 0.14 and for superficial tumors was 0.24 +/- 0.15 (P = 0.71). Mean PV T/L PR for small tumors was 0.31 +/- 0.15 and for large tumors was 0.20 +/- 0.14 (P = 0.54). Mean HA C/P PR = 1.15 +/- 0.15, mean PV C/P PR = 0.81 +/- 0.14 (P = 0.06). Mean HA C/P PR for small tumors was 1.37 +/- 0.16 and for large tumors was 0.92 +/- 0.17 (P = 0.01). Mean PV C/P PR for small tumors was 0.78 +/- 0.18 and for large tumors was 0.72 +/- 0.13 (P = 0.71). HA perfusion of tumors is significantly higher than PV perfusion compared to surrounding normal liver tissue. HA perfusion varies significantly depending on tumor location. There was a trend toward HA perfusion to the tumor center being slightly greater than to the periphery whereas the reverse was seen for PV perfusion. Tumor size did not affect overall perfusion but it did affect regional HA tumor perfusion.
Traditional and Commercial Herb Use in Health Self-Management Among Rural Multiethnic Older Adults

This study analyzes the role of traditional and commercial herbs in older adults’ health self-management based on Leventhal’s Self-Regulatory Model conceptual framework. Sixty-two African American and White adults age 65 and older completed qualitative interviews describing the forms of herbs currently being used, sources of information about them, interpretations of health (acute symptoms or chronic conditions) that led to their use, and the initiation and suspension of use. Traditional herbs are native to the region or have been traditionally cultivated, usually taken raw or boiled to produce tea, and used for treating mild symptoms. Commercial herbs are prepared as pills, extracts, or teas; they are purchased at local stores or ordered by catalog or Internet and used for health promotion, illness prevention, or treatment of chronic conditions. Herbs are widely used among older adults; this analysis differentiates the types of herbs they use and their reasons for herbs use.
Patterned Electrospun Nanofiber Matrices Via Localized Dissolution: Potential for Guided Tissue Formation

With the assistance of an ink-jet printer, solvent (the "ink") can be controllably and reproducibly printed onto electrospun nanofiber meshes (the "paper") to generate various micropatterns and subsequently guide distinct cellular organization and phenotype expression. In combination with the nanofiber-assisted layer-by-layer cell assembly, the patterned electrospun meshes will define an instructive microenvironment for guided tissue formation.
Toxoplasma gondii: ultrastructure and antigenicity of purified tachyzoite pellicle.

Abstract When purified Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were treated with hemolysin, DNase, and RNase, the organisms yielded a three-component system containing the outer membrane (pellicle), microtubules, and conoid in relatively normal morphological configuration. Further treatment of this preparation with protease digested all but the pellicle which was more collapsed in appearance. These two preparations were used in rabbit anti-toxoplasma and goat anti-rabbit ferritin labeling experiments. The three-component system showed ferritin label on the conoid and equal ferritin label on the outer and inner surfaces of the pellicle. The microtubules were unlabeled. The pellicle after protease treatment was labeled equally on its outer and inner surfaces, which indicated that the rabbit anti-toxoplasma serum contained antibodies against antigens on the outer and inner surfaces of the pellicle.
Transient Stability Augmentation using A Hierarchical Control Structure

A two-level hierarchical control structure for augmenting bulk system transient stabilitiy is described. This structure involves localized subsystem controllers communicating control value demands to an area coordinator. The local controllers, making computations in parallel, use locally available measurements to determine the present state in a. modified Zaborszky-Subramanian local equilibrium frame. The Barnard optimal aim strategy is then used to map this state point into a desired control value. This control value from each local controller is communicated to an area coordinator which allocates physical control means under its jurisdiction to optimally implement these demands. This paper deals primarily with the design of the local controllers. The. functional requirements for the area coordinator are also described. Experimental results, using the presented concepts obtained on the New England 10-machine test system, are also included These results indicate that substantial augmentation of transient stability margins can be achieved.
Solid-state 13C magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy characterization of particle size structural variations in synthetic nanodiamonds

Abstract Solid-state 13 C magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy has been used to quantify the different carbon species observed in synthetically produced nanodiamonds. Two different diamond-like carbon species were observed using 13 C MAS NMR, which have been attributed to a highly ordered crystalline diamond phase and a disordered crystalline diamond phase. The relative ratio of these different diamond phases was found to vary with the particle size of the nanodiamond materials.
Clot opacity and the thrombin-plasma reaction.

Abstract The thrombin-fibrinogen reaction in plasma was followed by spectrophotometric measurement of clot optical density. The physicochemical properties of the substrate affect the progress of the reaction and influence the optical characteristics of the clot. Increase in pH (6.6–7.9), in ionic strength (0.05 – 0.15) or in temperature (5 °–45 °C) markedly decrease the clot opacity of plasma or its dilutions. The effect of temperature is nullified if the plasma substrate is diluted with 7% albumin solution. Optical density depends on the concentration of thrombin, and is maximal at 1.0 unit per milliliter reaction mixture. Variations in total protein concentration produce a broad maximum of optical density, between 5 and 7%, whereas changes in concentration of citrate ion produce a minimum at 0.05 millimole per milliliter. Clot opacity increases linearly with increase in fibrinogen at constant pH, ionic strength, and temperature, and when protein, citrate, and thrombin concentration are held constant. Absorption due to hemoglobin and bilirubin in the reaction mixture is easily corrected. Platelets in concentrations greater than about 200,000 per cubic millimeter of substrate initiate clot retraction within 10 minutes and produce a false increase in opacity. The anticoagulant effect of heparin may be overcome by protamine sulfate which itself does not produce any effect on opacity.
Preliminary studies of the CHIM electrogeochemical method at the Kokomo Mine, Russell Gulch, Colorado

Abstract The CHIM electrogeochemical exploration technique was developed in the former Soviet Union about 20 years ago and is claimed to be effective in exploration for concealed mineral deposits that are not detectable by other geochemical or geophysical techniques. The method involves providing a high-voltage direct current to an anode and an array of special collector cathodes. Cations mobile in the electric field are collected at the cathodes and their concentrations determined. The U.S. Geological Survey started a study of the CHIM method by conducting tests over a precious- and base-metal-bearing quartz vein covered with 3 m of colluvial soil and weathered bedrock near the Kokomo Mine, Colorado. The tests show that the CHIM method gives better definition of the vein than conventional soil geochemistry based on a total-dissolution technique. The CHIM technique gives reproducible geochemical anomaly patterns, but the absolute concentrations depend on local site variability as well as temporal variations. Weak partial dissolutions of soils at the Kokomo Mine by an enzyme leach, a dilute acetic acid leach, and a dilute hydrochloric acid leach show results comparable to those from the CHIM method. This supports the idea that the CHIM technique is essentially a weak in-situ partial extraction involving only ions able to move in a weak electric field.
PPARα Ligands Reduce PCB-Induced Endothelial Activation: Possible Interactions in Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can activate inflammatory responses in vascular endothelial cells. Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) by nutrients or synthetic agonists has been shown to block pro-inflammatory responses both in vitro and in vivo. Here we demonstrate that activation of PPARα by synthetic agonists can reduce 3,3′4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB77)-induced endothelial cell activation. Primary vascular endothelial cells were pretreated with the PPARα ligands fenofibrate or WY14643 followed by exposure to PCB77. PPARα activation protected endothelial cells against PCB77-induced expression of the pro-inflammatory proteins vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), and PCB77-induced expression and activity of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) responsive cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1). Furthermore, basal AHR expression was downregulated by fenofibrate and WY14643. We also investigated the possible interactions between PCBs, and basal PPAR activity and protein expression. Treatment with PCB77 significantly reduced basal mRNA expression of PPARα and the PPAR responsive gene CYP4A1, as well as PPARα protein expression. Also, PCB77 exposure caused a significant decrease in basal PPAR-dependent reporter gene expression in MCF-7 cells. Overall, these findings suggest that PPARα agonists can reduce PCB77 induction of endothelial cell activation by inhibition of the AHR pathway, and that coplanar PCB induced pro-inflammatory effects could be mediated, in part, by inhibition of PPARα expression and function.
Simultaneous screening and confirmation of multiple classes of drug residues in fish by liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry.

Abstract LC-ion trap mass spectrometry was used to screen and confirm 38 compounds from a variety of drug classes in four species of fish: trout, salmon, catfish, and tilapia. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile and hexane. The acetonitrile phase was evaporated, redissolved in water and acetonitrile, and analyzed by gradient chromatography on a phenyl column. MS 2 or MS 3 spectra were monitored for each compound. Qualitative method performance was evaluated by the analysis over several days of replicate samples of control fish, fish fortified with a drug mixture at 1 ppm, 0.1 ppm and 0.01 ppm, and fish dosed with a representative from each drug class. Half of the 38 drugs were confirmed at 0.01 ppm, the lowest fortification level. This included all of the quinolones and fluoroquinolones, the macrolides, malachite green, and most of the imidazoles. Florfenicol amine, metronidazole, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and most of the betalactams were confirmed at 0.1 ppm. Ivermectin and penicillin G were only detectable in the 1 ppm fortified samples. With the exception of amoxicillin, emamectin, metronidazole, and tylosin, residue presence was confirmed in all the dosed fish.
ArachnoServer 2.0, an updated online resource for spider toxin sequences and structures

ArachnoServer (www.arachnoserver.org) is a manually curated database providing information on the sequence, structure and biological activity of protein toxins from spider venoms. These proteins are of interest to a wide range of biologists due to their diverse applications in medicine, neuroscience, pharmacology, drug discovery and agriculture. ArachnoServer currently manages 1078 protein sequences, 759 nucleic acid sequences and 56 protein structures. Key features of ArachnoServer include a molecular target ontology designed specifically for venom toxins, current and historic taxonomic information and a powerful advanced search interface. The following significant improvements have been implemented in version 2.0: (i) the average and monoisotopic molecular masses of both the reduced and oxidized form of each mature toxin are provided; (ii) the advanced search feature now enables searches on the basis of toxin mass, external database accession numbers and publication date in ArachnoServer; (iii) toxins can now be browsed on the basis of their phyletic specificity; (iv) rapid BLAST searches based on the mature toxin sequence can be performed directly from the toxin card; (v) private silos can be requested from research groups engaged in venoms-based research, enabling them to easily manage and securely store data during the process of toxin discovery; and (vi) a detailed user manual is now available.
A Suggestion for Determining g by a Two Interferometer Technique

A method for determining the acceleration due to gravity is suggested. Two falling interferometer reflectors illuminated by a laser are used. The falling reflectors are separated by a AT and thus have a constant velocity differential, this generates a frequency linearly proportional to acceleration ( g = kf ) Thus, the metrology of measuring g is simplified by having g linearly proportional to frequency.
Coriolis coupling between rotational bands in the nucleus W183

Abstract The experimental data of the K = 1 2 and K = 3 2 bands of the nucleus W183 have been analysed by performing least-squares fits to energy levels and gamma-ray intensities (including recent measurements) within the model RPC (rotational and particle motion with Coriolis band-mixing). If in addition to the two close-lying levels 3 2 −[512] and 1 2 −[510] seven other levels predicted by the Nilsson model are included, one obtains significant improvement in the energy fit. In the intendity fit, all free electric and magnetic parameters of the two close-lying levels are varied. As one result, the moments of inertia and the intrinsic quadrupole moments consistently indicate a somewhat greater deformation in the K = 3 2 band. The result of the fit is compared with the predictions of the Nilsson model, with suitably adjusted potential parameters; in particular the experime ntal value of the decoupling constant can be accounted for. Magnetic moments have been calculated; for the ground state, the value derived from the intensity fit shows fair agreement with experiment.
Changes in plastid ultrastructure during iron nutrition-mediated chloroplast development

When grown in iron-free media, the youngest leaves of healthy green sugar beet plants became completely yellow after 6 to 8 days. This chlorosis was quickly reversed by resupplying iron. A study of the ultrastructure of the iron -stressed leaves revealed apparently normal subcellular organization except for the plastids which were small and undeveloped, contained a rudimentary, disorganized grana-fretwork and clusters of vesicles in the periphery. Twelve to 16 hours after resupply of iron, aggregates of phytoferritin were observed in the stroma, and the granal fretwork underwent further development. There was an increased orientation of the membranes along the long axis of the plastids and an increase in the length of the individual grana stacks. By 48 hours, leaf chlorophyll content was about 40% of the control. At the ultrastructural level, parallel alignment of membrane orientation was complete and the grana stacks began to increase in the number of thylakoids per stack.
Regulation of nitric oxide and soluble guanylyl cyclase.

Abstract Since the discoveries that have verified nitric oxide (NO) as an endogenously produced cell signaling molecule, research surrounding its production and mechanisms of action have been studied at an exponentially increasing rate. NO is produced by a family of enzymes termed the NO synthases (NOS), which are regulated independently by various stimuli. Once produced, NO can solicit numerous biological events by reacting with various metals, thiols, and oxygen species to modify proteins, DNA and lipids. One of the most biologically relevant actions of NO is its binding to the heme moiety in the heterodimeric enzyme, soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). Activation of sGC by NO results in the production of the second messenger molecule, 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which can regulate numerous physiological events such as vasodilatation and neurotransmission. Here we will review the synthesis and fate of NO, and discuss the activation and regulation of the NO receptor, sGC.